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The HfP chat thread – Thursday 10th 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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Comments (383)

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

  • KBuffett says:
    10 Dec10 December 11:43

    Best place to use Marriott / Amex £400 credit in London?
    Is it still only the JW that’s open?

    • Jonathan says:
      10 Dec10 December 12:00

      I’m using it at The Edition on Saturday. £150 healthcare rate leaves £250 for dinner in Berners Tavern (no more tables left for Saturday evening though).

      • TGLoyalty says:
        10 Dec10 December 12:13

        Enjoy 🙂

      • KBuffett says:
        10 Dec10 December 12:17

        Thanks
        I think I would struggle spending £400 at JW with the healthcare rate for one night. Can’t stay two nights this weekend

        • Rob says:
          10 Dec10 December 12:23

          Quick look at the restaurant price list, inc the wines, will change your mind.

        • Gary says:
          10 Dec10 December 23:01

          Spent Tuesday night at the JW – two course meal WITHOUT drinks was over £120 – add a few cocktails and you will hit the £400 mark no trouble!

    • Jonathan says:
      10 Dec10 December 12:01

      Ps. I’d be wary of leaving it too long, very sceptical London will stay in Tier 2 on the 16th.

      • Anna says:
        10 Dec10 December 12:24

        Do you think it will come to that? It’s very irksome being in Tier 3 in a small northern town, but surely the economic hit on the capital at Christmas would be catastrophic? Also, I can’t see the point of closing restaurants when people are still allowed to pile into shops!

        • Jonathan says:
          10 Dec10 December 15:43

          When London now has the highest incidence in the country & it’s increasing rapidly (even went up during last week of lockdown) then it becomes very hard to see how they can leave it in Tier 2 & the system maintain any credibility.

      • Neil says:
        10 Dec10 December 13:00

        I suspect that nothing will change. There are several tier 3 places where rates are dropping by quite a lot but if you moved them into tier 2 then London would have to move up and they will never do that because that’s where all their paymasters are.

        • TGLoyalty says:
          10 Dec10 December 13:55

          It’s more than just rates and so it should be as that’s such a simplistic view of what’s going on.

          However, the areas should have been more targeted

  • Dominic says:
    10 Dec10 December 11:45

    I know this isn’t an original question, so please forgive me… been searching terms on Google but just want to be sure…

    If I used a blue Bendy to top-up my HL account with Beardy (non premium), would I face any issues or fees?

    • Dominic says:
      10 Dec10 December 11:46

      Or an IHG one instead of Beardy, but I think creation is an issue?

    • Grant says:
      10 Dec10 December 11:47

      It used to work fine for me with no fees, but hasn’t worked at all for the past 2-3 months – the transaction is declined by Beardy.

      • Dominic says:
        10 Dec10 December 11:49

        Thanks for the data point, Grant! Trying to more logically top-up the ISA. Appreciated.

    • BuildTheWall says:
      10 Dec10 December 11:59

      HL changed their MCC couple of months back, which bendy passes along. So creation stopped working. I don’t have beardy. The worlds local bank premier one works fine.

  • Mark Harris says:
    10 Dec10 December 11:45

    This posted on BBC News recently…

    ‘Separately, the European Commission has confirmed reports that a ban on travel to the EU because of Covid-19 levels, applied to non-EU countries, will be extended to UK visitors from 1 January.

    Currently only eight countries with low Covid rates are on the approved list for free travel and there are no plans to add the UK to that list.’

  • Richard Cooper says:
    10 Dec10 December 11:56

    I presume folk have started seeing the news that under no deal – UK citizens are not allowed to travel to EU from 1st January (due to COVID-19 rates) and we no longer count as an exempted country.

    • BuildTheWall says:
      10 Dec10 December 12:00

      Discussed multiple times already. See the chat on previous pages.

    • Rob says:
      10 Dec10 December 12:25

      This won’t crystalise until a trade deal is or is not agreed this weekend.

      • marcw says:
        10 Dec10 December 12:28

        It’s irrelevant whether there’s a trade deal or not. From the 1st of Jan, UK will not be considered as a EU member (they are being considered like that until the 31st of December).

    • The real John says:
      10 Dec10 December 12:26

      This has been known since 15 June.

    • Andrew says:
      10 Dec10 December 12:51

      Then do your bit and get your sleeve rolled up and ready for a jag.

      There’s little point hand-wringing about the EU’s position on this. We’re going to have at least a month’s head start on vaccinations anyway.

      British Columbia are intending to have 10% of their population vaccinated by Easter, maybe consider a Vancouver trip instead?

      • Anna says:
        10 Dec10 December 14:04

        Indeed, in a couple of months we’ll have an army of vaccinated pensioners desperate for a bit of sun (this might even include me by Easter). I’m sure they’ll happily head off to Egypt/Goa/Dubai if the EU won’t have them, they’ve had to buy the travel insurance anyway now EHIC is no more!

  • Benilyn says:
    10 Dec10 December 12:16

    IHG – two questions (first one I should know the answer but double checking):
    1) Got my free night cert (from IHG premium CC) extended to 31-dec-2020 – does the night of check-in need to be 31-Dec-2020 latest, or can I book next year?
    2) What time in the day does the next day of IHG nights become searchable, is it US time midnight?

    • Peter K says:
      10 Dec10 December 12:20

      1) book by only

    • Anna says:
      10 Dec10 December 12:25

      Benylin – you asked 2) yesterday – surely you stayed up last night to find out?!!

      • Benilyn says:
        10 Dec10 December 12:44

        @Anna – haha I wake up every morning at 7.30am and check and see next night loaded! I am trying to book BA flights + hotel for end of Nov-21. Right now outbound flight booked for 27 Nov 2021, but IHG have only released 23 Nov. So need it to go perfect haha!

        • Anna says:
          10 Dec10 December 14:06

          Did you say you’re going to LA? You must be spoilt for choice if so, I think they have about 6 ICs & Kimpton, never mind all the others!

  • Mco says:
    10 Dec10 December 12:50

    I booked a £1000 return fare to LAX on AF earlier this year. One of the flights has been cancelled and now AF are asking for £1,500 to book me on the new dates. I understand that under EU261 they need to rebook me but they are refusing too. What should my next step be? I have HUCA a few times now.

    • guesswho2000 says:
      10 Dec10 December 13:04

      If it’s cancelled more than 14 days out, I don’t think EU261 applies?

      • Charlieface says:
        10 Dec10 December 13:16

        That’s only compo. Refund and rebooking applies regardless

      • Mco says:
        10 Dec10 December 13:17

        I thought EU261 applies if they cancelled it? Isn’t this how people are getting to move their Avios 50% tickets to any date as BA has cancelled a flight.

      • ChrisC says:
        10 Dec10 December 13:18

        EU261 cancellation provisions – refund / rebooking – still apply even though the compensation provisions won’t because of more than 14 days notice been given.

        MCO – try and escalate up to a supervisor and quote the relevant sections of EU261 otherwise send an email

    • Charlieface says:
      10 Dec10 December 13:15

      Try calling KLM in Amsterdam (they can modify AF tickets), they might be more willing to make the change.
      Or, tell them you’re happy to rebook at your own expense and claim back the money after under EC261, with possible court costs and interest included.
      Do NOT accept a refund, as this means you have no right to rebooking costs.

      • Mco says:
        10 Dec10 December 13:24

        I told them about EC 261 and the operator was like blah.We don’t care!

        My flight is for this weekend. Should I just no show and book a new ticket? I guess I could book a ticket that offers free cancellation and take them to court over the old one.

      • Lady London says:
        10 Dec10 December 13:56

        court costs, 8% statutory interest p.a. till paid on your whole claim, preparation time at your comercial rate if they are wasting hours of your time on such an open and shut case.

        Do not under any circumstances accept a refund or a voucher.

        MCOL is simple and not costly if it comes to it

    • meta says:
      10 Dec10 December 13:19

      Book your own tickets at the time convinient to you then MCOL them.

      Step 1
      If you have not done already, make sure you have a record of when you called them. I would even record a call, just in case. I would actually get something in writing from them that they refuse. Especially if the flight is months away.

      Step 2
      Book your new flights either with AF or with another airline at the time convenient to you.

      Step 3
      Send AF letter before claim giving them reasonable time (14/21 days are standard, but if you already had susbtantial communication I’d give them only 8 days) to respond and perhaps settle. Send everything by tracked delivery to their registered address.

      Step 4
      If not settled, start MCOL proceeding claiming interest, preparation costs incl. postage, etc.

      I just won a case against BA. Well, they settled before hearing. If the flight is not soon, it might be possible to get your money before your flights.

      Remember that if the flights are not flown in sequence then they can cancel your ticket, so I would advise perhaps paying £1500 with AF if that is suitable and then MCOL for that amount plus interest, preparation costs, etc.

      Gosh, all the airlines are trying it on now and flouting EC261 rules.

      • Mco says:
        10 Dec10 December 13:37

        Thank you for the detailed reply.

      • Lady London says:
        10 Dec10 December 14:12

        Note if you use a travel agent, some types of ticket can be booked on airline systems a d under the airline’s fare rules do not have to be ticketed until very near the flight. You’d probably have to pay a small booking fee and either nothing or a small deposit until it needs to be ticketed.

        To secure your travel without having to lay out another large sum while this is being resolved this may be useful. Of coursr you will put all these costs onto your claim. It could save your cashflow. (Likely to be more expesive ticket but that’s not your fault).

        Trsilfinders, I think, or any upmarket travel agent that sells expensive tickets that may be complex, so they must have access to properly trained ticketing staff) should be able to do this.

        • Mco says:
          10 Dec10 December 14:50

          Very good idea. Thanks

        • Mco says:
          10 Dec10 December 18:31

          So Air France have confirmed back to me via Twitter that they will only allow changes within 30 days and not after that. The rebooked flight is this weekend and I have told them on the phone that I won’t be travelling. She said I would have to cancel or be classed as a no show.

          Is the Twitter response acceptable that they won’t be changing? Also should I no show for the ticket?

          Any negatives to money claim? If for some reason you loose can you be made to pay their legal fees?

          • ChrisC says:
            10 Dec10 December 19:51

            MCOL judge will only award costs against a party if they have behaved especially badly during the process such as causing unecessary delay or raising irrelavant issues.

            In general each side bears their own costs.

          • meta says:
            10 Dec10 December 20:19

            Yes, unless the case is completely vindictive or a party makes it all up, then the court might award legal costs, but only probably if it goes to hearing.

          • Lady London says:
            11 Dec11 December 22:02

            MCOL keeps both sides safe from having the other party’s costs awarded against them that’s part of the point of MCOL. Unless a party’s behaviour very unreasonable in which case a judge can award costs to the other side.

            Some disputes that were so ridiculous they should never have been brought before court have been awarded, say, £1 judgment im favour and £334.61 costs both against the same party. Message is clear.

            AG

          • Lady London says:
            11 Dec11 December 22:11

            AF is being unreasonable. EC261 does not have that limit. If you choose to travel at a later date your choice not theirs.

            Lots of people travel for an event that takes place annually or rarely or only once in a particular place and their cancellation messed up ypur plans so you have to wait before another date can be found convenient to you.

            Or family may need to gather for an event and can only do that once a year.

            Or your holidays are restricted by work or you may only be able to travel rarely.

            Follow @meta’s sequence now. make sure you keep notes /screenshots dated and timed, as much as possible note who you spoke to etc.

  • Sal says:
    10 Dec10 December 12:52

    Hilton and the 10000 points workspaces offer. I have already used it once and got the bonus. I’ve got a hotel stay coming up but will be short of the £200 spend for £50 rebate on the Amex. So thinking of a second workspace day. I briefly read that staying in a different hotel for the day was giving the 10000 points for a second time. Has this worked for most people or a random punt?

    • Rob says:
      10 Dec10 December 13:30

      I have got it twice but it was random – it wasn’t for my first use at the 2nd hotel. I’d used it 3-4 times before the 2nd 10k mysteriously appeared.

      If you’re in Central London, the Costa Coffee in Hilton Olympia credits as the hotel so you can stock up on crisps and biscuits instead if you are only short of £20 or so! They don’t sell gift cards though.

      • Sal says:
        10 Dec10 December 21:50

        Thanks! I’m not sure how many overpriced Costa coffee Lindt balls I wanna stock up on 😉 but I may just do the second stay for a few points and might benefits

  • Bigmaggot says:
    10 Dec10 December 13:18

    HH Barclaycard I’ve noticed that you can link your reward cards “Earn loyalty rewards at selected retailers automatically when you pay with your Barclays card.” Options are limited to Iceland and Harvey Nichols

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