The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 15th December

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Jay H says:

15 Dec15 December 15:23

Any tips of grabbing a return at t355 with BA & Avios? I can always get the outgoing leg but the return leg always goes before I can complete checkout (online) & I don’t know if just my bad luck but the phone staff haven’t been very helpful when ringing up saying they can’t do it
- Rhys says:
  
  15 Dec15 December 15:29
  
  not sure why they say they can’t do it. I was able to book over the phone in Feb.
  - Jay H says:
    
    15 Dec15 December 16:26
    
    US office? Maybe it’s just my bad luck
  - memesweeper says:
    
    15 Dec15 December 16:28
    
    +1
    
    I’ve done this a couple of times. Select the right call centre? I’ve called the US in the past, although that might not be the best choice.
- Genghis says:
  
  15 Dec15 December 18:52
  
  Depending on route (ie not back from US) and assuming you have enough points, book online at midnight then sort out in the morning.
Michael C says:

15 Dec15 December 15:31

Am I right in thinking Rob mentioned some T5 hotels being just inside Tier 2?
Premier Inn T5 goes into Tier 3 and has just cancelled on us.
- stevenhp1987 says:
  
  15 Dec15 December 16:34
  
  The closest I could find is Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. We’re booked into a hotel there for Saturday.
  
  Could also book into Staines?
  
  London & Slough are Tier 3.
Jessiefan says:

15 Dec15 December 15:36

I see Virgin Atlantic sale launched, anyone know if there will be a reward sale to follow??
- Andrew says:
  
  15 Dec15 December 15:43
  
  There was one a couple of weeks ago, so probably not.
  - Jessiefan says:
    
    15 Dec15 December 16:13
    
    Well also a sale a couple of weeks ago as well so hopefully that’s not conclusive!! 🙂
    - Andrew says:
      
      15 Dec15 December 17:01
      
      Rewards sales are a LOT rarer than cash sales – airlines are like sofa shops, always having a sale, whereas rewards charts are quite fixed with a very occasionally reduction in rates for a promotion.
mark2 says:

15 Dec15 December 15:38

I noticed this morning that Morrison’s stock Uber gift cards; useful when there is an Amex offer.
Or I believe that you can give gift cards to people.
- Genghis says:
  
  15 Dec15 December 18:51
  
  Amazon sell Uber gift cards. Buy Amazon gift cards (assuming still for sale?) and then you can spend at Amazon or Uber (or Curry’s, Primark, Netflix etc).
  - Patrick Burford says:
    
    15 Dec15 December 22:11
    
    Or everyone’s favorite, melia!
RussellH says:

15 Dec15 December 15:52

Anyone else experiencing a delay this month in the Bonvoy points from their Marriott M’Card (Creation) not crediting to their Bonvoy a/c?

I know the card statement always says to allow 6-8 weeks(!), but in practice they have always credited very promptly – within about 36 hours of the a/c statement being created.
This month it has been 8 days so far and no points credited yet.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  15 Dec15 December 20:05
  
  I had mine on the 8th as usual which was 24 hrs after my statement.
- ankomonkey says:
  
  15 Dec15 December 20:20
  
  Waiting on mine. Normally post on the 7th of each month, but not this time.
Nico says:

15 Dec15 December 16:20

Hello, do you know if the BA Arrivals Lounge in T5 has reopened, and if so what its hours are? I haven’t been able to find the info on BA or OW sites. Thanks!
- Rob says:
  
  15 Dec15 December 18:59
  
  It won’t be reopening for a long time. It only really exists to benefit those on the overnight flights from the US, and as those flights are virtually empty there is no point opening it.
memesweeper says:

15 Dec15 December 16:30

I know more BA flight cancellations aren’t really news anymore, but hot on the news that BA had cancelled all flights to Costa Rica for the winter season, the route just got the bullet for the whole Summer season too.
- JohnT says:
  
  15 Dec15 December 17:07
  
  Yes we have just had Gatwick flights to Toronto for June bounced to Heathrow, so assuming they are not reopening LGW for even longer now.
  - JohnT says:
    
    15 Dec15 December 17:09
    
    PS not sure when we have to confirm new flights as would that give us a free cancellation option for the reward booking nearer the time? Any risks…
- Chas says:
  
  15 Dec15 December 17:13
  
  I’ve just had my cancellation e-mails for our flights to Costa Rica next summer (redemption flights with 2 x 241). I’ve now got the “fun” task of trying to work out whether to try and force BA to get us there anyway (I guess they might get us there via Madrid, and I’m not sure I’d want to go via USA even if they offered), or have the palaver of getting an FTV and working out where else has redemption availability for our very limited dates next summer…
BuildTheWall says:

15 Dec15 December 16:32

HSBC Premier and Amex transfers to Asiamiles – 15% bonus from 28th Dec.
- memesweeper says:
  
  15 Dec15 December 16:40
  
  thank you BuildTheWall… is this enough to swerve us away from KrisFlyer I wonder? I want some OneWorld diversity in the event I’m every allowed to leave my home town again…
  - BuildTheWall says:
    
    15 Dec15 December 17:08
    
    I think Asiamiles has a lot of overlap with BA, slightly better award chart maybe. They removed the stopover option last year and are now less attractive. Unless you have a particular sweet spot in mind or looking for better Cathay availability, wouldnt recommend Asiamiles. Their multi carrier reward chart is worth a look though.
    Krisflyer’s 15% bonus is ending soon, so you need to decide quickly.