The HfP chat thread – Friday 4th December

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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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General

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

ChrisC says:

4 Dec4 December 08:56

@Rob / Rhys

The option to sort the comments from earliest to newest doesn’t appear in its usual place today,

Can we have it back please?
- Rob says:
  
  4 Dec4 December 09:21
  
  That’s because we have added a comment sorting button to the top of the comments!
  - Phil says:
    
    4 Dec4 December 09:30
    
    Is it available on all formats as I cannot see it on Google Chrome (Desktop).
  - ChrisC says:
    
    4 Dec4 December 09:43
    
    Not seeing it on firefox (laptop) or safari (ipad)
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    4 Dec4 December 09:46
    
    Might need to clear your cache.
  - Alex says:
    
    4 Dec4 December 11:06
    
    I can’t see anything, chrome mobile and have cleared any data etc
    - Rob says:
      
      4 Dec4 December 11:45
      
      Have a look at this screenshot: https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/File-04-12-2020-11-42-18.png
      
      You should have the Older / 1 / 2 /3 thing at the top and bottom.
      - TGLoyalty says:
        
        4 Dec4 December 12:42
        
        I don’t think that what they’re asking.
        
        That’s just to go through the pages. OP is asking for ability to sort comments in the order they prefer.
      - Rob says:
        
        4 Dec4 December 13:15
        
        If you click Page 1 it was the same impact though.
Louise K says:

4 Dec4 December 09:07

My April LAX flights have been cancelled – the early BA283/BA282 rotation. So looks like they have gone down to 2 flights in Spring.

Been rebooked on the slightly later BA281 / BA282 which is showing B777 with the new Club seat.

New flights are 1hr 45 mins. Do I have to accept these? Hoping for a rebook for later in the year and these were bought in the 50% off Avios sale.
- Jonathan says:
  
  4 Dec4 December 09:38
  
  Your flight has been cancelled so you have full EU261 rights including rebooking even if the new flight BA are offering is 5 mins earlier/later. May require some pushback as doubtless BA will try & fob you off but persevere & refer them to their Standard Customer Guidelines.
- Umba says:
  
  4 Dec4 December 10:31
  
  Don’t you have the ability to do this in MMB?
- Gavin says:
  
  4 Dec4 December 10:58
  
  Beware that you might have to phone to rebook as online doesn’t seem to let you rebook beyond 14 days, even though it’s allowed as per the COVID rebooking guidelines (the phone agent didn’t know this either when I phoned!). You don’t need Avios availability on the dates you want to rebook.
  - Gavin says:
    
    4 Dec4 December 10:59
    
    COVID rebooking guidelines are here:
    
    https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/traveltrade/bookings-policies/policies/askba?faqid=8166
    - Lady London says:
      
      4 Dec4 December 11:11
      
      And as @Jonathan says any guidelines from the airline are superseded by your EU261 rights.
meta says:

4 Dec4 December 09:10

That was a reply to Paul.
Colin MacKinnon says:

4 Dec4 December 09:14

Emirates going back to two flights a day from Glasgow now Dubai open.
- Blenz101 says:
  
  4 Dec4 December 09:48
  
  Dubai has been open for tourism since early July.
  
  The flights are more a function of the U.K. quarantine requirements being removed leaving it as one of the very few winter sun destinations available to U.K. residents.
C says:

4 Dec4 December 09:35

Does anyone know roughly how much it will cost in fees to upgrade 1 way a LHR-LAS from WTP to CW? Thanks 🙂
- Anna says:
  
  4 Dec4 December 09:38
  
  If this is for an avios booking, just do a dummy booking for each class of travel and you’ll be able to work it out.
- Jonathan says:
  
  4 Dec4 December 09:39
  
  About £100
Tom H says:

4 Dec4 December 09:47

quick check re Hilton current promo, 15 nights for Diamond, do ALL stays this year count towards double night next year, or just the ones completed after the promo launched?
- Blenz101 says:
  
  4 Dec4 December 09:56
  
  There are no double nights as such next year. If you earn 30 nights this year (15 nights required during current double points/nights promo) then you will automatically have them next year, with thresholds reduced you will achieve diamond.
  
  https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2020/10/28/hilton-honors-extends-status-until-march-2022/
- Sandgrounder says:
  
  4 Dec4 December 09:59
  
  I (think) you will need 30 nights to hit diamond next year. All of this year’s nights will be carried over and count towards next year’s 30. Each night under the current promotion will add 2 nights (1+1 bonus) to this year’s total. Is that right anyone else?
  - Sandgrounder says:
    
    4 Dec4 December 10:00
    
    Cross post with you Blenz, I think Ive got my head around it now 🙂
  - Rob says:
    
    4 Dec4 December 11:55
    
    Correct. Just ones since the current promo started are doubled (and they post as doubled after the stay, so what you see in your account is what you have).
    
    However ALL your nights are carried over into 2021, irrespective of when you earned them in 2020.
    
    What’s confusing is that if you are currently on 30 nights then you are NOT Diamond today but you will become it on 1st January!
    - Tom H says:
      
      4 Dec4 December 15:25
      
      Cheers all! I get it now, I have 23 nights showing, 1 more this weekend and a further 3 next week so that will push me over the 30 threshold
Doog1000 says:

4 Dec4 December 10:14

OT but does anyone know when the cash back on the mbna 0.5% cash back cards is paid (the ones that replaced the old Virgin, American, United ones)? Presumably just once a year
- Matthew says:
  
  4 Dec4 December 10:17
  
  Correct, once a year. Mine is every December.
- Vit says:
  
  4 Dec4 December 10:50
  
  yes, mine is every January.
- Rob says:
  
  4 Dec4 December 11:59
  
  It gets knocked off your statement in balance in January or February. You don’t get sent any money.
Adam Fernie says:

4 Dec4 December 10:20

What’s everyone doing with supermarket shopping and fuel since Tesco are stopping Avios? I also used my Tesco credit card when I can’t use my Amex – what’s the next best non-amex card for avios?
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  4 Dec4 December 10:40
  
  The first consideration should always be which has the best quality for the price you are willing to pay.
  
  I go where sells the best produce and if I pick up some points then cool but I’m not going to allow it to lead me somewhere I don’t like.
  
  Also consider your workplace may have give you access to a perks website where you can get 4-7% off your shopping.
  - Anna says:
    
    4 Dec4 December 10:56
    
    +1 – I gave up on Tesco some time ago when Tesco Direct and the Clubcard offers dried up. Main priority is a combination of price, quality and willingness to deliver with acceptance of Amex a close second.
    IHG points and free nights are far and away the best travel loyalty perks to collect at the moment.
    - mvcvz says:
      
      4 Dec4 December 11:20
      
      Couldn’t agree more. But it would still be nice to continue to collect Avios on my supermarket spending on groceries/fuel as well.
      - AJA says:
        
        4 Dec4 December 12:55
        
        You can still collect Avios on supermarket and fuel, just pay with the BA branded Amex cards. 🙂 Seriously I know what you mean, I’m hoping Waitrose or Sainsbury’s link up with BA after Tesco ends in Jan.
- Genghis says:
  
  4 Dec4 December 11:13
  
  No change for me.
- BuildTheWall says:
  
  4 Dec4 December 11:17
  
  I’ll be mostly ordering online for next few months. Combine Waitrose free delivery over £40 and using 4% off employer perks. Expensive, but better quality. Tesco’s groceries quality has deteriorated quite a bit.
- Andrew says:
  
  4 Dec4 December 11:34
  
  Still get my Avios from paying my Octopus bill with my BA Amex. Although, sometimes Octopus pay me to fuel my car overnight!
  
  Supermarket, well I can’t really justify going to Tesco for a handful of Avios when Sainsbury’s are chucking Nectar points at me constantly.
  - BuildTheWall says:
    
    4 Dec4 December 11:45
    
    nectar points are worth far less than clubcard points
    - Genghis says:
      
      4 Dec4 December 16:15
      
      Depends how many you get doesn’t it?
      A £1 coin is worth less than a £10 note.
      But if I give you 50 £1 coins, that’s worth more than a tenner.