The HfP chat thread – Friday 18th December

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• Jay says:

  18 Dec18 December 14:52

  Paid 16th December. No chasing just landed.

  • YC says:

    18 Dec18 December 15:01

    £100 transaction 12th Dec – still waiting for £10

  • Matt says:

    18 Dec18 December 17:18

    +1
    To my surprise it posted early.

• stevenhp1987 says:

  18 Dec18 December 15:01

  Mine didn’t arrive.

  I emailed Curve this morning as it should have been received by yesterday and they just replied with…

  —
  Thanks for getting in touch and I’m sorry to hear you haven’t received your reward!

  We know that something’s not quite right but rest assured, we’re investigating the issue and will give you an update as soon as we can.

  Apologies again and drop us a message if there’s anything else we can help with in the meantime.
  —

  I’m guessing this has affected some other people? They still haven’t applied my credit despite the fact they could have done so manually at this point.

• Gavin says:

  18 Dec18 December 15:19

  Hi all, recommendations for a hotel in Bournemouth, I will be moving there in January to start a new contract, need somewhere to live centrally before I find local accommodation.

  • Jay says:

    18 Dec18 December 15:27

    Hilton or Hampton are good choices. Both pretty new and nice properties.

    • Travel Strong says:

      18 Dec18 December 15:36

      +1 on the Hilton. The downside is you’re less likely to swing an upgrade with a longer stay, wheras if you have status you are very likely to get an upgrade to a great room on a short stay.

      • Gavin says:

        18 Dec18 December 15:50

        Thanks, just checked the HfP reviews of those. Good location for where I need to be.

    • Rob says:

      18 Dec18 December 17:53

      We’ve reviewed both of those, as well as the new (rebrand) Holiday Inn. Hilton clearly the best but also reflected in the cost.

  • Chris Heyes says:

    18 Dec18 December 18:00

    Gavin Hilton Bournemouth, Ask about an upgrade before you commit
    They are “very” accommodating due to shortage of customers
    Would rather have your guarantee of dosh in these times, than an empty room (speak to manager very reasonable)

  • Tariq says:

    18 Dec18 December 18:08

    As per others Hilton is a great choice but parking is pricey. Maximum occupancy per room is 2 people also as far as I can tell. Stayed at the Marriott earlier in the year and had a great stay but breakfast in the branded restaurant was miserly.

• Dominic Barrington says:

  18 Dec18 December 15:40

  If there are people still smarting from the cancellation of LHR/KUL, a small bit of breaking news is that BA and MH have just reached an agreement to rebook pax on to the MH non-stops on that route, as of about 12.30pm today.

  • Aston100 says:

    18 Dec18 December 17:17

    YES!
    Thanks for the heads-up. I was going to phone them next week.
    Instead, thanks to your comment, I’ve just called and got rebooked onto MH1 & MH2.
    It does however mean that I will be forced to overnight in KL as I am unlikely to be able to catch a plane across to PEN.

    BA wouldn’t route me to PEN (despite being within 300 miles of KUL) and I didn’t want to push it since IMO I am getting a better F & J product with Malaysia Airlines.

    Now I wonder if I book a separate flight with MAS (or their cheapo subsidiary Firefly) whether MAS would through check my bags all the way to PEN.
    Anyone have a view?

    Thanks.

    • meta says:

      18 Dec18 December 19:34

      Book to PEN yourself and then claim it off BA later via MCOL or CEDR. Make sure you record the conversation or request it in writing from customer services. You can also include your overnight accommodation, food costs (no alcohol) and transport to/from the airport in KL, interest, etc.

    • Dominic Barrington says:

      18 Dec18 December 20:22

      I’ve found MH very easy about through-checking in the past. You do know they have two daily flights? Would the morning flight help you with the PEN connection?

      • Polly says:

        19 Dec19 December 00:57

        Yep, they’ve always offered to through check our bags to and from PEN. Sadly our Nov one was cancelled as is our Feb one, but haven’t yet accepted the change offered. Now there’s a chance we might just get in…or take a MAS option for Nov. Finally able to think about travel again….

• @mkcol says:

  18 Dec18 December 15:59

  Nice to see IHG *finally* emailing to extend the free night certificate expiring at the end this month to the end of August 2021.

  • Doug M says:

    18 Dec18 December 16:01

    Yes, just received this email. Good news.

  • Doug M says:

    18 Dec18 December 16:04

    “If you have a certificate with an expiry date of 31 December 2020, you will now have until 31 August 2021 to travel.”
    Interesting the emails says travel, but the new extension which is the form of a new free night rather than an extension to the existing one says book by. Makes you wonder whether you could chance using both of them by booking on the old one before the 31st Dec.

    • SamWw says:

      18 Dec18 December 16:34

      Hi I was thinking this as well. Clearly both could be used to book now. However my concern would be if you are seen to have redeemed the original certificate would they then remove the second one?

      What’s everyone’s thoughts on this?

      Rob, if you have time, maybe you could clarify with IHG if you are allowed to use both? Thanks

    • Brian says:

      18 Dec18 December 17:21

      I just spoke with IHG on the phone and they said I can use both the original voucher expiring Dec 2020 and the new one expiring Aug 2021.

      Rob/Rhys – would this be consistent with anything you have been told? Thanks

      • Rob says:

        18 Dec18 December 17:48

        We’ve not been told anything – we don’t have the same dialogue with IHG that we have with Hilton and Marriott.

        • Brian says:

          18 Dec18 December 18:05

          Hi I just spoke with IHG on Twitter. They also confirmed both vouchers can be used. So I’ve been told the same on the phone and online. Using one voucher “will not forfeit another” so seems like IHG have been very generous here.

  • BuildTheWall says:

    18 Dec18 December 16:15

    They are sending the email to the free IHG card holders too! 🤦‍♂️
    I don’t mind a free night.

    • Harry T says:

      18 Dec18 December 16:29

      Yeah, I wouldn’t mind a free night or an IHG black card. The email has promised me both 😂

      • YC says:

        18 Dec18 December 16:58

        I already see the two free nights in my account! Speedy for Ihg. Will try using the 31 Dec and see what happens

        • Small Shop says:

          18 Dec18 December 19:24

          Two? One you already had, surely?

      • Andrew says:

        18 Dec18 December 17:01

        +1 hope it get a free night with my free card!

        • Small Shop says:

          18 Dec18 December 19:26

          The email says “If you have a certificate with an expiry date of 31 December 2020, you will now have until 31 August 2021 to travel.”

          Presumably if you don’t, you won’t.

• Adam says:

  18 Dec18 December 16:35

  Just received an email from Ihg that Creation card free night certificate was extended from 31 december to August 31, 2021

  • SamWw says:

    18 Dec18 December 16:40

    But it hasn’t technically been extended. They have given you a second certificate. I now have two in my acc. The original one expiring 31st Dec 20 and the new one expiring 31 Aug 21.

    It’s either unnecessarily complicated not just extending the date of the original one or incredibly generous if they are actually giving us an extra certificate and can use both.

    Would be great to get comfirmation but contacting ihg directly as a customer probably not going to get the answer.

    • EwanG says:

      18 Dec18 December 18:14

      I wouldn’t risk booking using the first voucher (the one due to expire on 31/12/20) as IHG could easily run a check on 01/01/21 to see who has used their first voucher, and remove the replacement voucher. Fine if you can actually use the first voucher, but I value having flexibility on when to use the free night and having a better probability that hotel I choose won’t be closed suddenly and it’s as enjoyable an experience as it can be (we live in hope!).

  • Brian says:

    18 Dec18 December 17:08

    It isn’t an extension though. It’s a second voucher. Seems a strange way of doing. I wonder if possible to find out from IHG if we are allowed to use both or if using the original one invalidates the new one? Anyone any thoughts? Thanks

    • Matt says:

      18 Dec18 December 20:59

      I now have 3 vouchers! IHG have already shown that their IT can just change the expiry date so, while it does seem strangely generous, I am (cautiously) hopeful that we’ve just got a bonus.

• GT says:

  18 Dec18 December 16:47

  I just had experience trying to use a BA evoucher to pay the deposit on a BA Holiday booking. The first agent insisted vouchers can only be used to pay for flights and not holidays. Rang off and called back. Second agent agreed the voucher could be used so transferred me to another agent to make the booking. This guy said I had to pay the deposit by card and the voucher could only be used to reduce the balance. I eventually persuaded him to check & got agreement that the voucher could be used after all. So went ahead and placed the booking using the voucher as deposit.

  I now have a booking which says the deposit has not been paid and it will be cancelled if not paid within 72hrs.

  We’ll see what happens !

  • James says:

    18 Dec18 December 16:58

    Just for reassurance I had this exact experience and it said that immediately after booking. After a little while it was adjusted so must be done manually.

    • GT says:

      18 Dec18 December 17:42

      Was it done within the 72hrs or did you have to chase it ?

      • James says:

        18 Dec18 December 18:40

        Took about 24 hrs from memory

• YC says:

  18 Dec18 December 16:51

  Langley has cancelled my booking 26 Dec so looks like doors won’t be opening over the 23-28 period

  • YC says:

    18 Dec18 December 16:53

    Not bookable till Jan 10 now

  • Andrew says:

    18 Dec18 December 17:02

    That’s good – it’s encouraging that venues are playing their part to protect the NHS.

    • Rob says:

      18 Dec18 December 17:49

      By forcing people to sleep in their infected relatives houses?

      • Brian says:

        18 Dec18 December 17:57

        People on “weekend breaks” generally aren’t infected though are they?

        • Brian says:

          18 Dec18 December 18:05

          Or are hotels full of people self isolating?

          I highly doubt it unless there’s any data/facts on this, in which case fair enough.

    • Tariq says:

      18 Dec18 December 18:16

      At least the beds at the Langley won’t be wet by the people irrationally concerned about the NHS. 🤣

      • Callum says:

        18 Dec18 December 18:51

        There’s nothing irrational about being concerned about the NHS… The hospital I work in isn’t being hit particularly hard by Covid patients yet staff are still struggling, both physically and mentally. I dread to think how they’re coping in the acute areas.

        Unless you’re laughing because you couldn’t care less about them and you’re only interested in whether there’s a bed available if you ever need it?

        • NHSlover says:

          18 Dec18 December 22:39

          I love the NHS, had 3 neurosurgeries in 2 years and they saved my literal life. If I ever see a Langley staying person hogging a bed in the NHS I will wet myself on their bed.

    • Chris says:

      18 Dec18 December 19:21

      Whilst the garden centre near me remains open and heaving with people in the highest risk groups, you’ll have to go some way to convince me that this really is about protecting lives/NHS and not just a political sop to those whose vote turnout is highest.

      In other words if this really was so deadly, wouldn’t the garden centres be closed?

      • Anna says:

        18 Dec18 December 20:52

        And the hairdressers, gyms, spas, shops? I am all for taking measures which genuinely protect the NHS and the wider community but I just can’t believe that socially distanced hotel stays and restaurant meals can be more risky than the aforementioned.

      • Nick_C says:

        19 Dec19 December 00:39

        The garden centres I have been to have been outdoors, where the risk of infection is lower.

  • Harry T says:

    18 Dec18 December 17:06

    They aren’t opening until tier 3 restrictions end.

    • Anna says:

      18 Dec18 December 17:33

      My booking is in May, so possibly they will re-open in June!

    • Brian says:

      18 Dec18 December 18:19

      Probably a few months still to go then

      • Brian says:

        18 Dec18 December 18:19

        I was referring to tier 3 restrictions ending

        • meta says:

          18 Dec18 December 21:29

          It’s hardly a hotel which people come to for exempt purposes. Furthermore, during Christmas relaxations you should not stay in a hotel, only in a private rented accommodation as per guidelines.

          Whilst this all might be just guidelines, you have to also look at it from hotel’s perspective. Imagine if there is a covid outbreak at the Langley, it would totally ruin the hotel’s reputation as it would always be know as a hotel where there was a covid outbreak. I think they did the right thing. It’s a shame and I totally feel for staff and their jobs, but it’s the way it is at the moment.

  • Lady London says:

    18 Dec18 December 23:20

    Hmmmm Could this be another private party that’s booked The Langley so you are being chucked out?

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