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The HfP chat thread – Saturday 2nd January

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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 (219)

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

  • 747_Brat says:
    2 Jan2 January 02:15

    I have a news, which I am sure many of you were looking forward to! 🙂
    I am happy to confirm that Virgin Points from the Morrisons in-store offer have finally posted. 😎

    • Baji Nahid says:
      2 Jan2 January 02:59

      Btw! I read your post the other day about Avios clawbacks and I have reached out to someone from IAG loyalty in regards to finding out what’s going on as there has been a highly unusual as of late claw back of avios from retailers for no apparent reason. The persons offered me 10K avios for the inconvenience which Im not wanting to accept but in fact pushing to get to the bottom of the issue. Will report back!

      • Baji Nahid says:
        2 Jan2 January 03:00

        The individual from IAG loyalty has offered me****

      • BJ says:
        2 Jan2 January 05:14

        Always found the avios dot com variant better for some reason, had no problems with it except having to chase Hilton a very few times. I have not used it recently though so don’t know how it is performing since it became AerClub etc.

        • RussellH says:
          2 Jan2 January 11:31

          +1
          Have always used the avios.com site since BA site clawed back some avios for no reason.
          I asked the retailer and was told that they quite categorically had not asked BA for the avois to be taken away. Made no difference to the bA shopping site.
          In theory I also had VS miles clawed back from their shopping site. Still listed as clawed back, but never actually removed from my VS a/c.

      • David says:
        2 Jan2 January 07:08

        Out of curiosity, has anyone passed through a Schengen border in 2021 with a British passport? Are they now being stamped?

        • Ct says:
          3 Jan3 January 07:43

          I flew through Madrid airport on 1st Jan on transit back. Given I had arrived in T4S and had 6 hours of transit, I went over to T4 to access the lounge (took me over an hour finding my way round!!). But all in all, I had to go through immigration check – was initially directed to the automated machines but the British passport was declined (Country not recognized by machine) and I had to go through manual immigration where they stamped an entry stamp. Going back to T4S to catch my flight back to London, I went through immigration again (they had a sign for UK citizens and dedicated 2 automated machines for UK citizens – though passing through that, you still have to go up to the immigration officer for an exit stamp)

      • kitten says:
        2 Jan2 January 09:54

        It sounds like you have a clear case with good evidence.

        I would call them again, ask to speak to a supervisor, mention date and time of previous calls and the evidence that you already sent them, and ask them to give you a final answer in 14 days.

        Is there any clause in their overall terms that lets them not pay out? if there isnt I,’d send them a Letter Before Action after the 14 days giving them a further14 then MCOL.

        Small money but think of it how many people they must be doing this to.

    • Super Secret Stuff says:
      2 Jan2 January 12:17

      Just for my future reference, what chanel did you use to speak to someone? I always get that blasted auto chat

      • Super Secret Stuff says:
        2 Jan2 January 12:22

        I ask because I have a large purchase with currys a couple months ago that never tracked

  • Baji Nahid says:
    2 Jan2 January 03:36

    I took out a free BA amex in JAN 19 and i upgraded to the BAPP in October 19 after hitting the 10K spend. Im wondering if my card year ends in January or In October? Appreciate the help!

    • Rob says:
      2 Jan2 January 04:37

      January

    • BJ says:
      2 Jan2 January 05:08

      …and for future reference, ideally you should upgrade before hitting the £10k, not after doing so.

      • Baji Nahid says:
        2 Jan2 January 06:13

        Many thanks BJ.

        Yes sorry, i was meant to actually say that I had upgraded before the 10K spend!

      • tom1 says:
        2 Jan2 January 14:54

        why is that, BJ?
        does that solve the problem with the voucher being issued for 12 months I/o 24?

        • BJ says:
          2 Jan2 January 16:05

          Exactly, problem can be resolved but best avoided in first place.

          • tom1 says:
            2 Jan2 January 17:30

            Ok thanks. Yes it happened to me in the past.
            Another consideration is that the sooner you upgrade, the sooner the expiry of the voucher. So sometimes can be beneficial to wait until nearer the time when you know you need to use.

  • Pierre says:
    2 Jan2 January 08:06

    We’ve been back from our holiday for 4 days now, and in addition to both of us being contacted by Track&Trace on the second day, we also had a visit from the police yesterday evening checking that we are home quarantining and are aware of our responsibilities. While I don’t know if it’s the best way for the police to be spending their time, we have been really impressed by the follow-ups.

    • Jonathan says:
      2 Jan2 January 08:12

      Only about 6 months too late with this tactic! It doesn’t need many doors knocked on for word to get round & therefore compliance to increase above current levels of less than 25%.

      Now they just need to do the same at Heathrow etc. occasionally.

    • Andrew says:
      2 Jan2 January 08:22

      That’s excellent that it’s being enforced so well. All this talk of “no one is going to check so go on holiday anyway” on here is very annoying.

      • Chris says:
        2 Jan2 January 09:05

        Each traveler returning to the UK is surely actually reducing the UK case rate given ours is so high?

        After all, if we invited in the whole population of Australia, our case rate would instantly drop by a third!

        Shame the police won’t come knock on the door of my neighbours who have numerous visitors every day (in Kent so a hotspot).

        • memesweeper says:
          2 Jan2 January 10:33

          Unless someone grasses them up, the police are not likely to know.

        • The real John says:
          2 Jan2 January 11:28

          The case rate is not calculated on a “number of people actually present in the UK” basis.

          For one the government would need to know how many people are currently in the UK at any time.

          I believe the population figures used are merely extrapolated from the last census.

    • John says:
      2 Jan2 January 08:28

      Where did you go

      • Pierre says:
        2 Jan2 January 08:36

        We’re back from South Africa. Which possibly has something to do with the active follow-ups we’ve had… Either way, we’ve been impressed. It has left me wondering though, what the next steps would be if the police found anyone who should be quarantining to not be at home.

        • TGLoyalty says:
          2 Jan2 January 09:16

          Explains it then!

        • kitten says:
          2 Jan2 January 10:15

          what happened with your cancelled flight in the end?

        • The real John says:
          2 Jan2 January 11:32

          I believe that everyone who has recently been in South Africa is being followed up.

          Everyone else just has a 50% chance of phone calls or texts to their phone.

          If you have been in South Africa I guess the only way to avoid the follow up is to lie on your form, and you would probably need to have used another country’s passport to travel from South Africa to the transit point on a separate ticket.

          • Anuj says:
            2 Jan2 January 14:28

            Incorrect. I know someone who came back from India early December and they had police come round to check too

        • Simon says:
          2 Jan2 January 14:03

          You should probably put that as the lead, SA is a unique case in terms of virus control. You weren’t coming back from a weekend in Portugal 😂.

    • Mouse says:
      2 Jan2 January 08:36

      Unless they’re going to waste hours of time hanging around on the doorsteps of people who don’t answer, waiting to catch them in the act of coming home, this is a completely pointless gesture given the powers available to the police at the moment.

    • Michael C says:
      2 Jan2 January 08:44

      We didn’t receive a single call for my MIL from Brazil…
      Test for Release at LHR T2 was good service.

    • BS says:
      2 Jan2 January 09:24

      Did you physically speak to the police? I would be concerned about the same people going around to higher-risk homes and spending time there. It will increase risk most likely for you, and also for them!
      If it were me, there would have been an amusing shouted conversation from me from the 1st floor window!

      • The real John says:
        2 Jan2 January 11:33

        Hopefully the police tasked with this are applying the appropriate hygiene measures. This hasn’t been the case for many police I have seen on the job in the past 9 months.

      • Charlieface says:
        2 Jan2 January 19:21

        Bear in mind you don’t have to answer the door or respond to them at all. They have no warrant

        • Jonathan says:
          2 Jan2 January 22:14

          You could be a smart arse with them or you could just answer the door or even talk through the door. Nothing to hide, nothing to fear and all that…

    • Pthy887 says:
      2 Jan2 January 23:01

      Do you mind sharing where you’re based? is it London? I suspect a higher probability of this happening if it’s in a major metropolis.

      I’m London-based and travelled a few times in 2020 with no follow-ups/phone-calls/visits after any of the trips.

  • Green Plastic says:
    2 Jan2 January 08:45

    Morning all, just in Manage my Booking to cancel my 2-4-1 for later this month but can’t get round the ‘apply for a travel voucher’ page. Searched for previous articles on HFP but last one seems to be from April. Any way of processing my avios / cash refund online these days? Or do I still need to ring BA?

    • Doc says:
      2 Jan2 January 09:26

      I found for redemption booking cancellations, particularly for 241, it is easier to ring BA. If flight is not cancelled, you will have to pay the £35 pp. if it’s a straightforward revenue booking, there is a form you need to fill on BA website for a refund. Haven’t used this form, so can’t comment on this.

    • Charlieface says:
      2 Jan2 January 19:22

      Wait til the last minute in case of cancellation and save yourself the voucher hassle or £35 cost

  • Michael C says:
    2 Jan2 January 09:08

    How long before BA flight can I apply for a voucher?
    i.e. how long can I hang on to see if it’s cancelled?!

    Thanks!

    • Doc says:
      2 Jan2 January 09:21

      Depends on when you bought the ticket and when you were travelling. With certain tickets, you can apply for the FTV right up to check in. I would check the terms and conditions on the BA COVID 19 page on their website.

    • ChrisC says:
      2 Jan2 January 09:21

      until check-in closes so usually an hour before departure but that’s cutting it very fine!

    • Gavin says:
      2 Jan2 January 09:27

      I have a flight in a couple of weeks that I’m hoping will be cancelled. I’ll be setting myself a reminder to apply for an FTV about 3 hours before departure if necessary.

      • Michael C says:
        2 Jan2 January 10:12

        Thanks all – evening before should be fine!

        • ChrisC says:
          2 Jan2 January 11:17

          Yes should be good,

          Leaving to the same day means you end up with the vagaries of a phone system meltdown or BA does a mass cancellation for 6 months down the line and the masses phone in straight away

  • Anthony P says:
    2 Jan2 January 09:14

    What’s the latest on payments to HMRC?

  • Anna says:
    2 Jan2 January 09:27

    Michael C and others may be able to help with this. It’s come up before but I can’t remember if there was a definitive answer!
    Long story short, I am known generally by my maiden name and this is what is on my UK passport, and therefore on any flight bookings I make. When I get my Spanish passport it will show 2 surnames – 1. my maiden name and 2. My mum’s maiden name, which I have never gone by, my parents having opted to follow the UK tradition of just giving a child the father’s surname.
    How does this work with having to have the same details on passport and travel booking? Would I also need a new BAEC account to reflect this?

    • Anna says:
      2 Jan2 January 09:33

      Or alternatively, it is possible to use a different passport to enter a country to the one associated with your flight? I don’t know how connected the systems are but obviously in places like the US they have everything linked on your ESTA so presumably it would flag up if you presented a different passport at immigration?

      • roberto says:
        2 Jan2 January 10:04

        Spanish passports can have one surname if you choose.

        • Anna says:
          2 Jan2 January 11:06

          Thanks Roberto, that’s good to know. The consulate has been so insistent that I have to have my mum’s maiden name in the mix, even though I’ve never used it and she hasn’t for over 50 years!

      • Michael C says:
        2 Jan2 January 10:18

        Hi Anna! As my UK passport details are in the “system”, I’m always ticketed using that, but when I arrive in Spain I enter on my Spanish passport (and/or DNI..which is a different number again!) and never had any problems.
        I also have my mum’s maiden name on my Spanish info, but it’s never been questioned.
        As you suggest, I WOULD do it down to every fine detail on an ESTA!
        BTW saw your Kimpton Fitzroy post: I used to go for Xmas drinks in The Russell, v much a gentleman’s club vibe and very gorgeous!

      • Optimus Prime says:
        2 Jan2 January 10:38

        ESTA’s ask if you’re known by any other name and if you hold more passports. I guess as long as those match your new passport you should be fine.

      • Bagoly says:
        2 Jan2 January 13:37

        It is a good idea to present same passport on arriving into, and leaving, a given country.
        But generally it’s fine to use one for departure onto a flight, and a different one for arrival at the other end of that flight.

        E.g. My wife was born in a police state.
        She uses its passport at that end, and UK passport at the UK end.
        As citizens of that country do not have visa-free entry to the UK, in the days before on-line check-in, for departure from homeland she presented the UK passport to the (state-owned) airline (to prove she would be let in to the UK) and the local passport to the (em)igration desk!

        I suggest that the passport details on the flight should be that of the country into which you will arrive. I can’t remember the BA system, but the Easyjet one allows one to store multiple passports.

        • Lyn says:
          2 Jan2 January 21:38

          I would agree with Bagoly that it is probably sensible to use the same passport for both arriving in and departing from a particular country. So in this case your Spanish passport when you arrive in and depart from Spain, and then your UK passport when you arrive back in the UK (ready to match up with when you leave again).

          I don’t know how many countries actually require this, but Australia for instance says that citizens have to use their Australian passport to enter the country, even if they also have other passports (such as UK) that would allow them to enter.

    • The real John says:
      2 Jan2 January 11:40

      The problem you may have is that when your British passport expires, the UK passport office obliges you to send in all other current passports. When they see your Spanish passport with a name that is not exactly the same they may refuse to renew your British passport unless you change one of them so they match.

      • kitten says:
        2 Jan2 January 13:57

        ,surprised they can and would do this?

        • Lost confused says:
          2 Jan2 January 19:22

          Yes they do insist on the names matching with any other passports you submit, regardless of supporting documents, even if that would cancel your ability to enter the UK. I discussed this at length with a manager and it went to the passport office policy board for confirmation.

      • Charlieface says:
        2 Jan2 January 19:24

        Better idea, don’t tell them.

    • ChrisBCN says:
      2 Jan2 January 14:51

      Surprised you want a Spanish passport as they are part of what you called a corrupt EU the other day? Why not just keep your British one?

  • ayearinmx says:
    2 Jan2 January 09:27

    My COT Business Rewards card renewal is coming up…. i got the bonus last year, so i’m probably going to cancel, but i was wondering when the next time i can re-join is?

    also, just checking if there are any good reasons to keep paying the £99?

    • Rob says:
      2 Jan2 January 09:28

      I think it is one bonus per lifetime.

    • memesweeper says:
      2 Jan2 January 10:45

      That depends on how happy your accountant is with piling lots of company spend into a personal card, and how lucrative your best personal visa/mc is. In my case he has no problem with me submitting receipts even for VAT payments, and I had a decent alternative card charging me nothing per year, so I closed the COT down. Shame really, without the fee it would have been good to keep it.However there are no equally good personal visa/mc cards open to new applications, so if you have a high enough company spend the fee may still make sense.

      • Martin Short says:
        2 Jan2 January 17:11

        Its not your Accountant, he has no power to contradict hmrc rules.
        If the invoice is in the company name then the director or employee can pay it and get it reimburssd.

    • Jonathan says:
      2 Jan2 January 15:21

      I’ve got a good limit with them and put £150k plus a year through so the fee is negligible in the grand scheme of things. Nowhere else can I earn 150k Avios for £99

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