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The HfP chat thread – Thursday 26th November

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We have decided to run this daily chat thread on Head for Points during the coronavirus outbreak.

Historically, the daily ‘Bits’ articles were the de facto repository for random comments and questions.  With the news flow being lighter, we are running fewer ‘Bits’ articles.

The comments under this article are where you should post questions about travel and, indeed, anything else on your mind.  At this tricky time, and given that many of you are at home, we want the HfP community to have a place to chat.

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Comments (354)

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

  • Vit says:

    Query regarding refunded balance from cancelled AMEX plat card to bank account please. I have a small balance refunded from amex ~2 weeks ago and has not reached my bank account as yet. Not sure if I should raise this with amex as I did last time and they confirmed my bank account details provided is correct.

    Had another small amount (refunded from Air Asia) on my cancelled BA blue card and it arrived into my bank account just after a few days after the initial request.

  • JustinJ says:

    Does anyone know if Bendy works with Hargreaves lansdown? With a HSBC Premier behind it?

  • SteveSlow says:

    Has anyone had any success getting a credit limit increase from Creation?

    I seem to be stuck with £1000, am reluctant to call them due to NS&I purchases recently

    • DJ says:

      Yep, stuck at £1000 since the account opened, this is only with the Premium Card. I’ve raised a complaint about it…..

      Anyways, they seem to be offering much higher limit on the white card when I had it.

    • Genghis says:

      When they did the it seems wholesale 20% cut in limits a few years ago, I appealed and got my limit put back to where it was. Left the wife’s at reduced level as didn’t need that much credit.

    • BP says:

      I’m at £8k. I requested an increase and it was automatically refused. A week later I applied for Beardy and got a £20k limit then applied for Hong Kong and got a £30k limit. There was little MS activity in the months before I requested the increase.

  • h.laurence says:

    Do we think South Africa is going to be added to the travel corridor today – all of me is still crossed to save the xmas family visit?

  • TGLoyalty says:

    If you’re arriving in the #UK on 11th-14th December you can also shorten quarantine by booking a text for five days after you enter England. @ThePCAgency

    • TGLoyalty says:

      This applies to England only atm. The rest would have to set their own rules.

  • mutley says:

    Quick Hyatt question, I will have completed five brands in December, it means I get a free night, anyone done this? and what are the best options in Europe as the US is out of bounds at present.

  • MJ says:

    Was just on a call with a BA agent to cancel a flight I booked less than 24 hours ago and get a cash refund. He mentioned they do not do cash refunds anymore and instead just offer a travel voucher. He said this policy came into effect just yesterday! Is this true??

    • Anna says:

      Someone with a bit of free time needs to check the Ts and Cs, could be typical BA/CS nonsense. If it’s true I’m sure it will merit its own HFP article!

      • Rob says:

        This is done to comply with US law which insists that anyone buying a flight to or from the USA has a cooling off period. It’s not done out of the goodness of BA’s heart. They could, technically, change the rules to offer a voucher on non-US routes.

        • Genghis says:

          No change to terms on website:
          If you have booked directly with British Airways and you notice a mistake with your booking after you have paid for your ticket(s), you can cancel your flight booking and claim a full refund without penalty, up to 24 hours from when you make the original booking. Refunds under these circumstances can be requested by calling our contact centres, with the exception of Avios bookings, which can be managed online.

          • MJ says:

            Yes, I double checked that too while on call with the agent. It doesn’t spell out “cash” refund. Agent used that as his argument. Is there a legal requirement to pay “refunds” in cash?

          • Genghis says:

            @MJ. By definition, a refund can only be in the form that you gave. i.e. I “fund” cash; you need to “refund” me cash. That would be my argument, anyway.

    • TGLoyalty says:

      Nonsense. Hang up and try again or are you already outside the 24hr window?

      • MJ says:

        Believe I’ve managed to resolve it. Called BA again and first thing I asked was whether you get a CASH refund if you cancel a booking within 24 hours for which I received a resounding “yes”. Since I had accepted the FTV as I saw no other option he did give me some grief initially but recognised in the end I was misled. Still waiting for confirmation though.

  • Anna says:

    The media is leaking that London is to be in Tier 2, which is going to be a relief for hospitality. We’re most likely to be in Tier 3 but of course our economy is puny compared to the capital!

    • Optimus Prime says:

      Are people from Tier 3 areas allowed to go out and stay in hotels in Tier 2?

      • Anna says:

        Yes – there is no restriction on travelling to other areas and accessing facilities which are open (with proper precautions, naturally!)

        • Navara says:

          Anna.
          “People should avoid staying overnight in another part of the UK if they are resident in a ‘very high’ area, or avoid staying overnight in a ‘very high’ area if they are resident elsewhere”

          • Andy says:

            @Navara. While I wouldn’t personally do it, the Tier 3 not travelling elsewhere is guidance rather than law.

          • Anna says:

            I’m citing the legal position, you are citing guidance, which is not enforceable.

          • Anna says:

            Let’s see how many hotels and restaurants ban guests from higher tiers, shall we?

        • BLG says:

          @ Anna
          You will able to see your family again after all these months

          • Anna says:

            Well no, because we can still only meet outdoor in a public place! Visits to restaurants etc can only be with your household bubble.

          • BLG says:

            *Well no, because we can still only meet outdoor in a public place! Visits to restaurants etc can only be with your household bubble*

            How about meeting in a tier 1 or 2 hotel, is that legal

          • Anna says:

            BLG, no, if you live in Tier 2 or 3 you can meet in a group of up to 6, outdoors. Tier 2 can meet in a garden, Tier 3 only in public places. The regulations relate to where you live, not where you travel to. I can’t see too many checks taking place but I suppose a hotel would have your address and could snitch if they wanted to.

        • Crafty says:

          This is a deeply misleading thing to post, there is very clear guidance against doing this.

    • @mkcol says:

      Are you quite certain it was the media who had leaked it? Or was it that they had reported on the leaks?

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.