The HfP chat thread – Friday 18th December

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meta says:

18 Dec18 December 10:09

I’m at WA in Ras in January for three nights before moving to Dubai for another five. Got a really great suite deal on Amex FHR rate in February.

I like the relatively new Renaissance Dubai and last time I got a really nice corner suite with a view of waterfront on one side and Burj Al Arab in the distance and Burj Khalifa on the other side and the service was excellent. Given my recent correspondace with the team at Ren, I suspect the service is not as good as lots of new staff. I was thinking about switching to WA DIFC instead.

@Algor What is the upgrade offer for Diamond members if I book the base room? Also how are the views from the rooms?
- meta says:
  
  18 Dec18 December 10:15
  
  Rob/Rhys feel free to delete this duplicate post. Not sure how it happened, must have pressed wrong button.
Jamie says:

18 Dec18 December 10:47

Any ideas as to how can I get some “free” avios for my iberia plus account as I want to combine my avios (transfer from BA to IB) and I am getting an error, I guess due to 0 avios in my IB account 🙁
- Nick_C says:
  
  18 Dec18 December 11:16
  
  Not free, but if you have an Amex rewards account, you can transfer 1000 MRs to Iberia Plus.
  - Jamie says:
    
    18 Dec18 December 11:22
    
    too late as I have clsoed my AMEX account 🙁
- Lumma says:
  
  18 Dec18 December 11:22
  
  Use the iberiaplus store and buy something really cheap off Groupon Spain, account also needs to be 90 days old
  - Jamie says:
    
    18 Dec18 December 15:51
    
    good idea! Do you know if avios from plusstore post pretty soon on your iberia account?
Pangolin says:

18 Dec18 December 10:48

I just updated my Curve app to get the new Anti-Embarassment mode, then I noticed that my limits have gone from 50K to 1.6M 🤩
- stevenhp1987 says:
  
  18 Dec18 December 15:02
  
  The limits were changed a few weeks ago. Monthly limit has also been removed.
Rum says:

18 Dec18 December 11:08

Can anyone advise if Iberia account go dormant after a while?
I’ve been trying to move a bunch of points from Accor to Iberia, but recently got an email saying they have been returned to Accor. Apparently something went wrong at Iberia’s end. Both accounts are in my name with all details identical. Only thing I can think that might not be right is that I have rarely used the Iberia account. I have had it for ages though and have used it to transfer to/from BA in the past.
Can someone shed some light? Thanks!
- Genghis says:
  
  18 Dec18 December 12:36
  
  If there’s been no activity on an Iberia account for 3 years, the avios expire. So if you then combine my avios (which isn’t defined as activity), then those avios are at risk of disappearing. It’s why I transfer in 1k from Amex every couple of years. It doesn’t, however, explain why the transfer wouldn’t happen from Accor in the first place (which would be defined as activity).
  - Rum says:
    
    18 Dec18 December 12:55
    
    Thanks, Genghis. So even if my Iberia balance has been 0 points for years, the account is likely to not be active (or something like that)? I can easily transfer the minimum Amex MR’s if it will help. But I obviously don’t want to end up losing those or any others for that matter.
    - Genghis says:
      
      18 Dec18 December 13:07
      
      No idea if the account itself does dormant or whatever. If I were in your shoes, however, I’d probably transfer in 1k Amex MRs and then retry the Accor transfer. I wouldn’t waste my time with IB CS.
      - Rum says:
        
        18 Dec18 December 13:20
        
        Yep didn’t think their CS would be worth dealing with. Sent 1K just now and initiated the Accor transfer earlier today. Let’s hope one way or the other it works. Thanks for all your help!
  - Gormlesstraveller says:
    
    18 Dec18 December 13:35
    
    @Genghis does this work for negative balances?!
Dominic says:

18 Dec18 December 11:10

I’ve heard back from BA on their refusal to reroute me on my return trip to Sydney in June 2021 which BA have cancelled and insist I accept a refund or voucher. I have now quoted them the CAA’s open letter to airlines dated 5 December 2018 about routing under EU261, and the Annex 1 to that letter. These make it clear that BA is obliged to reroute me on the same dates to SIN with BA (as originally scheduled), and then from SIN to SYD with a different carrier, regardless of whether BA has any arrangements with these other carriers and regardless of whether I paid with Avios using a 2-4-1. I will keep you all posted, but I am not prepared to be bullied or pushed around by BA or told that I can only accept a voucher or refund when I am entitled to be rerouted. The links to the CAA letter and Annex 1 are below if that helps.

https://www.caa.co.uk/uploadedFiles/CAA/Content/Standard_Content/Our_work/About_us/Files/OpenLetterToAirlinesOnRerouting.pdf

https://www.caa.co.uk/uploadedFiles/CAA/Content/Accordion/Standard_Content/Our_work/Annex 1Reouting under Regulation EU261 and the CAAs view on compliance.pdf
- Aston100 says:
  
  18 Dec18 December 11:51
  
  Is class action a thing in this country?
- Lady London says:
  
  18 Dec18 December 12:07
  
  keep us posted
  if it’s been 8 weeks you can start an MCOL for generois expected price of replacement ticket with proof. Lots of anecdotal evidence that BA’s poker game is not to react until they “see’ your MCOL.
  - memesweeper says:
    
    18 Dec18 December 16:59
    
    I’ve not had to do this; but my plan B is to buy a fully flex ticket and MCOL that. It’s closer to the terms of an Avios booking, and if/when BA do rebook me on another carrier I can cancel it.
- Ols says:
  
  18 Dec18 December 12:34
  
  When you say you’ve heard back from them, how did you contact them? Phone/email?
  - Dominic says:
    
    18 Dec18 December 15:42
    
    I submitted online complaint then received email from BA complaints then arranged phone call with someone who could not help as he was post-flight complaints! Phoned First line and spoke to line manager after 60 min delay who gave me same BS and finally telephone number of Chairman’s Office to escalate complaint. Telephone number of Chairman’s Office no longer in use because staff furloughed! Back on phone to the line manager after 75 mins wait who told me to write by snail mail to Chairman’s Office as only way to pursue complaint. Now written with all EU261 materials demanding confirmation of reroute within 7 days or else legal action. BA beyond the pail, – their staff need serious retraining as to law and to customer satisfaction. !
- Michael C says:
  
  18 Dec18 December 13:48
  
  I believe someone mentioned the other day they were rerouted via HKG? Or maybe you’re intending to stop off in SIN?
Kiln says:

18 Dec18 December 11:15

I saw in yesterday’s comments there’s a deliveroo promo for hsbc world elite, but I don’t see it advertised anywhere? Anyone have details?
- Nigel W says:
  
  18 Dec18 December 12:28
  
  Here you go! https://www.hsbc.co.uk/credit-cards/products/premier/promotions/cash-back/
Nic says:

18 Dec18 December 11:15

Question about Tier 3 hotel cancellations for the Amex 400 quid offer.
I did note someone had the bright idea of buying spa/money vouchers before the end of the year. Unfortunately, the detailed T&C’s exclude “transactions where you buy a gift card, store credit, or a voucher”.
Looks like there’s no way to save the value. Unless, anyone has a cunning plan?
- MonkeymaN says:
  
  18 Dec18 December 11:38
  
  I would like to know too. I had been hoping for a quick trip to Turnberry before the end of the year, but that is not to be. It would be nice to be able to lock away the value for later use there or in London.
- KevMc says:
  
  18 Dec18 December 11:46
  
  They have no way of knowing what you purchased. Only time vouchers tend to cause a problem is if they’re bought online (as they’re usually dealt with by a third party).
  
  Another option for you would be to pre-pay for a stay at some point in 2021.
- Harry T says:
  
  18 Dec18 December 12:44
  
  If the hotel processes the gift card or voucher payment, then you will trigger the offer.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  18 Dec18 December 13:41
  
  Ignore it amex have no idea what you bought from the hotel front desk.
Louie says:

18 Dec18 December 12:18

I’ve got two entries on my Virgin Atlantic account as follows:

25 February 2019 26 February 2019 Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Credit Card – Reward Qualification

10 February 2020 11 February 2020 You’ve spent £10,000 on your credit card – call to redeem your Reward

Have I somehow ended up with two vouchers or is the latter entry intended to be a reminder to use the first voucher?
- Sean says:
  
  18 Dec18 December 12:34
  
  IT problems i think – I have 24 such entries in my account – get 1 a week.