The HfP chat thread – Monday 4th January

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TomD says:

4 Jan4 January 15:47

Flights to IST on BA are now cancelled this month. Understand I don’t have to commit myself to re-booking now but instead can re-book myself anytime in the next 1 year.

1) Is the 1 year from the original date of booking or date of travel? BA hotline is telling me the former. Latter makes more sense to me…?
2) When they re-book me, is it completely free as long as it’s on Club Europe which I’m booked on, irregardless of the fare category I’m booked on originally?
- AJA says:
  
  4 Jan4 January 16:04
  
  1) BA is right – it’s one year from date original ticket issued.
  2) As BA cancelled you should be able to move the flight to any with seats available for no additional cost to you. You would be on the hook for fare changes if you changed the booking
  - Aliks says:
    
    4 Jan4 January 18:40
    
    I agree with AJA on 2)
    
    re 1) That’s not what the EC261 law says. IATA have a rule about changing the date on a ticket – only allowing rebooking up to 1 year from ticket issue. There are no restrictions on issuing a new ticket and PNR although BA would rather not allow this. To enforce your EC261 rights you might have to go to MCOL or CEDR arbitration.
    - Charlieface says:
      
      4 Jan4 January 23:46
      
      If you look at IATA rules, you will see that they specifically allow an endorsement beyond 365 days in case of IRROPS
Anna says:

4 Jan4 January 15:53

I’m contemplating ditching my 4 x CW seats to GCM in July as unvaccinated tourists won’t be allowed in without 14 day quarantine, which basically means we can’t take the kids (and unfortunately can’t go without them lol). 2 bookings using 2 x 241, I treat the cancellation fee as a sunk cost. Am I right in thinking you still have to call BA to do this unless they have cancelled the flight? I know it’s a few months off but if I can get the avios and 241’s back I can start looking at more viable destinations. I don’t want to be stuck trying to get through to BA to use a FTV if good seats come up.
- Chris Heyes says:
  
  4 Jan4 January 16:03
  
  Anna Don’t unless you must ? Give it a thought or two You and other half will probably have been vaccinated by July ?
  Plus just maybe kids will have by then (if it carries on spreading)
  If not you could just pay for kids to be vaccinated
  Then “ALL” four of you could still go ahead
  - YC says:
    
    4 Jan4 January 16:24
    
    Is it likely private vaccinations will be running shortly?
    - Tariq says:
      
      4 Jan4 January 16:28
      
      Not ‘shortly’ as far as I can understand from the information given out by Pfizer and Astrazeneca. However, in the early/mid summer there might well be enough stocks of vaccine available that could go into the private market.
      - Rob says:
        
        4 Jan4 January 16:33
        
        It’s causing some problems in West London where many people have never registered for the NHS but are now scrambling to do so because it is the only way to get a vaccine.
      - Anna says:
        
        4 Jan4 January 16:40
        
        It’s not been approved for kids so I don’t see how they could even have it done privately.
        It’s unlikely that GCM is going to be a viable tourist destination in the short to medium term – the government is giving strong signals that it wants to replace normal tourism with HNW residents attracted from other countries by the (virtual) lack of covid and tax benefits. They aren’t even falling over themselves to vaccinate their own residents (Bermuda, for example has ordered extra stocks of vaccines to supplement what the UK is providing), but Cayman doesn’t seem to be even considering this. Realistically OH and I may be able to return once we can travel as a couple, but will probably have to go via the US as I can’t see enough demand for BA to continue flying there given the entry requirements.
      - Andrew says:
        
        4 Jan4 January 16:55
        
        And how does one even prove you’ve been vaccinated with no certificate given when you get it in the U.K?
    - Mr. AC says:
      
      4 Jan4 January 19:14
      
      Private vaccinations running in some countries already (I got mine Dec 30th, so far so good). Would be shocked if they weren’t available by summer in the UK.
  - BJ says:
    
    4 Jan4 January 20:50
    
    Probably wishful thinking in all respects.
- Craig says:
  
  4 Jan4 January 16:46
  
  Unless you need the Avios I really would hold off until much nearer the time. We just have no idea where we will be by July. My gut feeling is you won’t be going but you never know.
  - Anna says:
    
    4 Jan4 January 17:08
    
    I would need the avios if I want to book an alternative trip, even using 2 companion vouchers it’s 300k avios for 4 of us to go that distance in J.
    Andrew – exactly, it’s just something they are saying to placate the hotel and restaurant owners (which are really struggling to survive). They’ve seen an opportunity to re-invent themselves as the new St Barts or Mustique.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  4 Jan4 January 17:06
  
  Is this a published policy or a hunch? Surprising since it’s only approved for 18+ and there’s no evidence it stops the spread (right now)
  - Anna says:
    
    4 Jan4 January 17:09
    
    Is what a published policy?
    The Cayman Premier announced it a couple of weeks ago in the press, but he does seem to make it up as he goes along. None of my contacts can answer what will happen to visitors with kids or family members who can’t be vaccinated due to medical issues.
    - TGLoyalty says:
      
      4 Jan4 January 17:17
      
      That people won’t be admitted without a vaccine unless they go through 14 days quarantine, and I’m guessing with a vaccine they’ll be ok even though they could be an infectious carrier!
      
      Or in fact they are one of the 38-5% that won’t be protected from getting a mild form of infection.
      - Anna says:
        
        4 Jan4 January 18:15
        
        You’ll also need a pre-travel test plus another test every 5 days but that’s irrelevant as we would fail the vaccine requirement to start with.
    - Brian says:
      
      4 Jan4 January 17:41
      
      “ None of my contacts can answer what will happen to visitors with kids or family members who can’t be vaccinated due to medical issues”
      
      To be fair, I don’t see how anyone could know this yet without mystic meg’s crystal ball
  - Brian says:
    
    4 Jan4 January 17:10
    
    It’s not even been tested on under 18s so there’s no way it’ll be approved any time soon
    - Anna says:
      
      4 Jan4 January 17:12
      
      That’s my point!
    - Jonathan says:
      
      4 Jan4 January 19:01
      
      It doesn’t need testing on under 18’s, children are almost never included in medical trials as it’s an ethical dilemma about consent (unless it’s for treatments of diseases that predominantly affect children).
      
      As & when they decide that children will benefit from the vaccine it will be used for as an unlicensed product. Half the drugs I use for children at work are technically unlicensed for <16’s.
    - BJ says:
      
      4 Jan4 January 21:04
      
      Vaccines have, and are being tested on children as young as 12.
- babyg says:
  
  4 Jan4 January 17:06
  
  July is an age in these covid times. Sit tight and wait, your options will only improve closer to the date. EG BA may cancel and then you can simply rebook for free. I would NOT consider an FTV when with an AVIOS redemption, they are simply to hard to use IMHO. £35pp is peanuts if you need to cancel yourself.
  - Anna says:
    
    4 Jan4 January 17:11
    
    I know, but I don’t want to risk the award availability on other destinations disappearing when we need 4 seats!
    
    But my question was whether you still need to call BA to cancel award bookings for a refund!
    - AJA says:
      
      4 Jan4 January 17:16
      
      I would avoid trying to cancel online. I think it is better to call if you want a refund. Your booking is also more complicated due to 2 2-4-1 vouchers too.
    - TGLoyalty says:
      
      4 Jan4 January 17:18
      
      Yes still need to call for a refund.
      
      If you are going to be booking something else just apply for a FTV online?
      
      You can take a refund after you’ve booked something else with an FTV.
      - Anna says:
        
        4 Jan4 January 18:17
        
        But then you need to call to use the FTV, no? While award seats are disappearing as you wait for BA to answer!
      - TGLoyalty says:
        
        4 Jan4 January 18:53
        
        Yes why I took cash for my last cancellation but tbh I’m not finding the wait that long
- Dr C says:
  
  4 Jan4 January 17:41
  
  Seeing as the vaccine isn’t proven to stop the spread anyway this requirement is a joke!
  - Anna says:
    
    4 Jan4 January 18:14
    
    You would also require a negative test before travel and then at 5 day intervals. But that’s irrelevant for me as the sticking point is the kids not being vaccinated!
    - Anna says:
      
      4 Jan4 January 18:31
      
      For anyone who’s interested, this is the current tourism strategy …
      https://caymannewsservice.com/2020/12/cayman-islands-borders-to-reopen-in-march/
      - Alan H says:
        
        4 Jan4 January 19:16
        
        I’m caymanian with property there and BA CW flights booked for May in the Avios sale but with the ridiculous restrictions I don’t anticipate we will go even though the flights will go ahead. I know Alden and whilst he won’t be Premier then I don’t anticipate much change in their approach. It really riles me that they are being provided with vaccines by the UK on the BA flight tomorrow and yet use lack of vaccination over here as a reason to refuse entry to Cayman. You can’t even book car hire such is the expected level of tourism so I can see why you would want to cancel now and look at other options.
      - Anna says:
        
        4 Jan4 January 20:01
        
        Hi Alan, I was hoping you would post again! It must be awful for you with it being your home (or second home?). I know it sounds like a conspiracy theory but I’ve been following every press release as it’s where we were planning to spend our winters from next year and it really sounds as though they don’t want “ordinary” (i.e. not loaded) tourists back at all if they can help it. Obviously it’s their island and they can do what they want but it buggers things up for us rather!
      - Anna says:
        
        4 Jan4 January 20:02
        
        I agree on the vaccines – Bermuda has purchased extra for their population and Cayman could well afford to do the same. Yet they are making out as though they can only get a few doses (courtesy of the UK tax payer!).
  - Jonathan says:
    
    4 Jan4 January 19:06
    
    That’s only due to the trial not being designed to assess transmission. The U.K. arm of the AZ trial did weekly PCR screening of participants (probably the main reason it shows lower efficacy than Pfizer/Moderna who relied on participants being symptomatic before they were tested).
    
    What’s the likelihood of asymptomatic & PCR negative vaccinated individuals actually spreading a virus they’re not infected with?
- the weasel says:
  
  4 Jan4 January 17:57
  
  I suppose, if you think you are going to struggle for 2 for 1s in the future, I would hang on until June at least.
the_real_a says:

4 Jan4 January 16:32

DragonPass update – apologies if already mentioned. My membership and all passes have extended until 2 Jan 2022. You need to log out of the app and then log back in to reflect the change.
- mr_jetlag says:
  
  4 Jan4 January 17:07
  
  Thanks, did this show up prior to your renewal date? Have the same issue with my passes and account expiring 6 Jan.
  - the_real_a says:
    
    4 Jan4 January 18:17
    
    Unsure – it hadn’t updated this morning (post renewal date), so prompted me to do the log out / log in trick as the counter is cached.
  - Lumma says:
    
    4 Jan4 January 22:08
    
    my renewal date is the 6th too and it hasn’t updated yet
Ammar says:

4 Jan4 January 16:47

Anyone paid Leasys (car lease) with a credit card? and if so was via the phone or app/online?
Tarmohamed says:

4 Jan4 January 16:56

Anyone know if Boris’s announcement is likely to ban travel for “viewing properties” or “weddings” or “business purposes”
- James Vickers says:
  
  4 Jan4 January 17:01
  
  Saw on sky earlier a govt source said was unlikely they’d ban business travel
- Ross says:
  
  4 Jan4 January 17:02
  
  Looking forward to Rob updating the “Is it legal to fly or travel abroad if you live in Tier 4” or creating a new article on this topic.
  - Tarmohamed says:
    
    4 Jan4 January 17:04
    
    Me too. We fly out Monday morning. If need be I will go this Thursday.
    - Andrew says:
      
      4 Jan4 January 17:34
      
      Thursday may still be too late – parliament is being recalled to vote on Wednesday on the new legal changes outlined by Boris is evening and then likely come in to effect from midnight Wednesday once approved (which they will be). He can move areas up to Tier 4 with immediate effect though without the need for a vote.
      - Tarmohamed says:
        
        4 Jan4 January 18:03
        
        As long as he doesn’t ban business travel or property viewings or weddings abroad, we should be good. It’ll be an extreme push having to get a same day test tomorrow Tuesday, and fly out Wednesday.
  - ChrisC says:
    
    4 Jan4 January 18:30
    
    And then the 27 comments on ways to get around it and the 286 ‘will I be ok if I do this …??’ posts
    - Tarmohamed says:
      
      4 Jan4 January 18:36
      
      I don’t think people should be looking for loopholes. If it’s a genuine reason then by all means, but people shouldn’t take mick.
      - Andrew says:
        
        4 Jan4 January 18:39
        
        And even if it is for a genuine reason such a wedding or house viewing, it’s probably best to stay at home too and wait until the summer to go.
      - Blindman says:
        
        4 Jan4 January 18:41
        
        So what excuse (of the three you mentioned) are you going to use to travel?
        
        I assume you are not in Tier 4?
      - TGLoyalty says:
        
        4 Jan4 January 18:56
        
        Genuine question for you. Why do you think they want to ban travel? Because the rate is higher there than it is here?
        
        Or because they don’t want to spend money repatriating travellers back here when borders are closed because it’s out of control?
      - Ross says:
        
        4 Jan4 January 19:06
        
        There’s nothing wrong with understanding the rules.
- BP says:
  
  4 Jan4 January 21:43
  
  We need to.move to a Singapore quarantine model. Leave the country and you quarantine at the government’s chosen hotel for 2 weeks on your return. Too many people have been taking the p**s for too long.
  - Cat says:
    
    4 Jan4 January 21:51
    
    Exactly
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    4 Jan4 January 22:30
    
    So the c50% of people testing positive the British strain caught it out side the UK then came back here.
    
    Give it a test the problem is HERE!
    - Cat says:
      
      4 Jan4 January 23:24
      
      No, obviously most of them caught it here.
      Perhaps we shouldn’t be super-spreading it abroad.
      Perhaps we should all be staying at home and trying not to spread it at all.
      Maybe we should all stick to the lockdown restrictions and exercise extreme caution, rather than trying to find loopholes.
Zoe says:

4 Jan4 January 17:12

We live in a Tier 4 area with latest number of 258 per 100,000. My daughter’s boyfriend’s workplace which has been closed over Xmas tested staff this morning. Approx 100 tested 12 came back positive. Even allowing for false positives on the faster acting tests this seems a shocking number. ‘Assume anyone you come into contact with is positive’ seems to be reasonable advice.
Adam Courtney says:

4 Jan4 January 17:27

Can anyone shed any light on the following from BA avios hotels:

Cancellations made within 3 days of Travel : No Refunds permitted.

Cancellations made up to 3 days before travel : Cancellations made on or after 06/01/21 will be subject to a fee of 165.78 GBP or equivalent cost in Avios + £35 administration fee.

Reading this, it looks like if one were to cancel three days before arrival, all money would be lost but, if cancelling the day before, you’d get away with a £165 fee. This doesn’t make sense – is the second paragraph a typo?

I’m hoping I can get away with the £165 as it’s looking like I won’t be able to travel; even if it’s a typo, will they have to honour this??
- AJA says:
  
  4 Jan4 January 18:05
  
  When were you supposed to check in to the hotel? I read it that cancellations made within 3 days of check-in you get nothing back and in addition are subject to the £166 fee + £35 admin fee (total cost just under £201) if done after 06/01/21.
  - Adam Courtney says:
    
    4 Jan4 January 18:08
    
    Check in is 1400 on 7/1 – I literally missed the 72 hour deadline by an hour.
    So you’re saying it reads like I’d get a £165 ‘fine’ on top of no refund??
    - TGLoyalty says:
      
      4 Jan4 January 18:57
      
      No. It reads you pay £201 to get your avios back or nothing back.
      - Adam Courtney says:
        
        4 Jan4 January 19:57
        
        Oh – I don’t get that from reading that at all.
Jamie says:

4 Jan4 January 17:33

If I get the blue ICC AMEX now, will this count as having a personal Amex and hence stopping me from getting 20k points in 24 months time when I will be applying for a proper Amex gold?
- Rob says:
  
  4 Jan4 January 21:14
  
  No. ICC cards don’t impact your ability to get UK bonuses.
  - Jamie says:
    
    4 Jan4 January 21:24
    
    As I have cancelled all my Amex cards by now do you think they might accept to open an icc account for me?