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The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 15th December

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

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General

Comments (261)

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

  • Grimz says:
    15 Dec15 December 09:46

    Further to my post last week about being downgraded from 1st class to business class on a 241 with BA next September from LHR – PHX. I now have a further email saying my flight has been cancelled and I have been rebooked onto the best alternative flights (its the same flight) albeit in a lower cabin (business). Does this change my situation for claiming 75% of the avios and cash once I have flown the flight? Should I still do nothing, turn up, take the flight and claim on my return.

    • Hazel says:
      15 Dec15 December 10:12

      interesting as I was booked on 1st for next August and have been downgraded to Business flying LHR to Vegas. Seems no 1st class seats. Can they put you on another flight – eg to LA on 1st or is it if there is avios 1st seats left?

      • Grimz says:
        15 Dec15 December 10:40

        If flying to LA in 1st suits you then I would ring them up and ask that they put you on that plane even if they don’t have avios seats available.
        You do know that you are in a position to claim 75% of the avios and cash once you flown the flight? Do not accept these changes!

        • Hazel says:
          15 Dec15 December 14:50

          it would suit me but it’s also a 241 which means two F seats. Also my husband and son were on the same flight in Business 241, so that’s another problem. Will have to check if there is any avios seats left for them as well. So you have to fly the new class of seat they have put you in first before claiming the 75% and cash

          • Lady London says:
            15 Dec15 December 15:24

            Talk to BA, do a cheeky ask if they would be prepared to move both bookings for all of you to alternate flights which do have First. Do your researcg first as though you were a new cash customer too see what flights/routing would have first. Might be indirect if you cant find direct. If you have time check for avios seats but it’s such a long shot anyway to ask BA I would just look at cash availability of F then call.

            When they say no be very understanding and say you really just wanted the First experience while you are all travelling together but of course you understand.

            Then follow with looks like better stick with the downgrade even though not your choice and it really wasnt of interest to claim the 75% back that you will be able to after the flight due to the downgrade but due to the disappointment you will be doing that claim for each of the 2 First Class seats but really would have preferred for you all to.be rerouted onto a plane which does have First instead. I’d personally follow up mentioning not even though it’s at least ££££ we’d get back I’m very sad we wont have this treat now”.

            Then shut up. Leave a gap. Agent will either just terminate the call pleasantly or they just might put you on hold for a minute while they check with a supervisor.

            Important to do the work first so you can feed them flight numbers making your request easy for them.

            Worth a try.

            PS it’s either 75% of cash booking F cost or 75% of the number of avios you paid x 1.6p, plus ‘taxes’ less about £200 then 75% of that, x2 for two seats that they will have to pay 75% of even if you booked F in a 241. That’s the figure you float past them sweetly.

            Good luck please let us know how you get on.

  • John says:
    15 Dec15 December 10:33

    Anyone help in reminding me easiest/cheapest way to obtain Marriott platinum for 2021.
    Already have credit card and currently on 28 nights.
    Thanks

  • dezbez says:
    15 Dec15 December 10:35

    Hello all. Apologies this subject has probably appeared a few times over recent weeks – does anyone have any recent experience on how long refunds from BA are taking when you cancel a reward booking? I cancelled nearly 3 ago – Points credited immediately but no sign of the cash yet…

    • Zark says:
      15 Dec15 December 10:58

      I was in the same position and after speaking with agents 3 times (about different matters), but mentioning that cash portion of Avios booking had still not been received, was promised resolution every time, including an agent who said that the previous times, the refund for the RFS cash had been done wrongly and she had corrected.
      Nothing arrived.
      Emailed BA customer services 3 times over a 2 month period and still no resolution including telling them that I would now be forced to request an Amex chargeback, costing BA more.
      No response.
      Initiated chargeback, Amex refunded immediately (5 months after initial cancelllation) and the BA refund appeared 1 month later.
      A complete waste of time.
      Clearly something wrong with BA systems, but resolution was a real pain.

    • Rob says:
      15 Dec15 December 11:09

      Should be immediate now unless it requires manual processing (because you amended or did something to the original ticket) in which case 7-10 days. Any longer than that and you will find the agent processed it incorrectly and it was never done.

    • BP says:
      15 Dec15 December 12:52

      Mine took about 7 weeks.

  • Kevin Devlin says:
    15 Dec15 December 10:45

    Liking the Marriot Status match offer! Just read the article Rhys. Apologies I’m new, but what’s a “mattress run”?
    Cheers

    • rk says:
      15 Dec15 December 11:02

      A “mattress run” is where you book the hotel, turn up for check in and then leave i.e. do not stay in the hotel, you are booking to accumulate nights for credit to status earning.

      You have to do the maths, is it worth the money for the status benefits you will achieve. YMMV

      • Genghis says:
        15 Dec15 December 11:29

        Or to accumulate points if a promotion means you earn back a shed load of points vs the cost of “staying”.

  • mark says:
    15 Dec15 December 11:04

    IHG PLAT FREE NIGHT CERT..
    Just received £150 compensation for the issues I have had in getting the free night issued from Creation.

    • Genghis says:
      15 Dec15 December 11:30

      Is that in lieu of the free night or is it genuine compensation and you’ll then get the free night?

      • mark says:
        15 Dec15 December 11:45

        The email that I got back is worded as I should still receive the free night once they have resolved the issue with Ihg.
        Will update once I know more.

  • Kevin Devlin says:
    15 Dec15 December 11:07

    Thanks rk. Though I think I would stay, just to get away from the wife!

  • Ben says:
    15 Dec15 December 11:14

    Hi,
    If i book a week in the Marriot (Ritz Carlton) via hotels. com do I still get any of my Marriott Gold benifits? Or do they just ignore those as not booked direct?

    • TGLoyalty says:
      15 Dec15 December 11:23

      The terms say it will be ignored unless direct. But the hotel may still consider it.

      There aren’t any benefits at gold except perhaps an upgrade and 2pm checkout

      But remember you can price match Marriott to hotels.com and choose to get 25% off if it goes through. The room terms must be identical.

    • Dave says:
      15 Dec15 December 11:41

      Marriot status doesn’t really have much value at Ritz Carltons

      • Ben says:
        15 Dec15 December 11:45

        Ah I see. I was mainly after the upgrade and the free premium wifi as I will be doing some work out there. I may also go for the status match for the plat (again not all that good with the Ritz Carlton I see)

      • Rob says:
        15 Dec15 December 12:35

        Titanium does, not Plat. Usual weird rules.

        • Ben says:
          15 Dec15 December 12:47

          This is for the RC in Bahrain

          • Anna says:
            15 Dec15 December 14:23

            Have you asked Emyr for a price? You don’t say if your hotels.com booking includes breakfast but Emyr can get this plus $100 room credit and late checkout/upgrade.

    • YC says:
      15 Dec15 December 13:23

      No points or nights too. Weigh up vs 10% back from hotels.com loyalty

      • Ben says:
        15 Dec15 December 14:43

        Hi @Anna – Great point. Do you still get the Marriott points/nights if booked through Emyr?
        (and no breakfast is not included)

  • Mike says:
    15 Dec15 December 12:07

    What is the charge for a currency like RSD, TRY on Curve? It looks like its free during the week and 1.5% on weekends?

    • Mr. AC says:
      15 Dec15 December 20:37

      For RUB and UAH it’s kind of weird – varies between 0 and 1% during the week (I have a feeling they get an “anchor” rate once per day and then it drifts), and on the weekend it’s pretty much always 0.5% compared to what the interbank rate was on Friday. Might be also some weird behavior of legacy Black tariff. I’m not one to complain – this is strictly better than what I can get on any “fee-free” (Mastercard / Visa rate) fx cards!

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