The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 12th January

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Jonathan says:

12 Jan12 January 12:06

Does anyone know if you can hold both a Premium and free VS credit cards at the same time? I’ve currently got a premium card, which’ll renew around September time (the way things are looking, I’ll almost certainly cancel), I’ve looked on their eligibility page for the free card and it says nothing about currently holding another VSCC, although I had to cancel my free card in order to obtain the premium card, (bizarrely enough I was accepted immediately online, despite hearing both here HfP and from their call centre that I would be automatically rejected for previously holding one of their cards in the last 6 months).

If anyone has both of these cards, please write below your experiences
- ChrisA says:
  
  12 Jan12 January 12:45
  
  Yes I have held both at the same time.
- Bob says:
  
  12 Jan12 January 13:06
  
  Yes I have both
- Steven says:
  
  12 Jan12 January 13:12
  
  VS? Is this the Virgin Atlantic card?
  - Jonathan says:
    
    12 Jan12 January 13:17
    
    Yes, I once put in VA referencing Virgin Atlantic, and some people here thought I was talking about Virgin Australia, which I found a bit odd since they’re rarely mentioned on HfP
    - Aston100 says:
      
      12 Jan12 January 14:02
      
      Just a bunch of pedants to be honest. I’m sure everyone knew what you were talking about Jonathan.
    - Steven says:
      
      12 Jan12 January 14:03
      
      Thanks for clarifying. The application criteria does say:-
      “I am not an existing Virgin Atlantic Credit Card customer and I have not closed another Virgin Atlantic credit card in the last 6 months” but it looks like others have been able to hold both cards at the same time.
      - TGLoyalty says:
        
        12 Jan12 January 16:17
        
        I think as always it’s a case of YMMV
        
        Perhaps others changed address, the IT fell over or some other reason.
        
        However, as per the T&Cs people do get rejected on upgrades/downgraded which are new applications because of this rule.
TGLoyalty says:

12 Jan12 January 12:07

Read Virgin just launched direct flights to San Juan Puerto Rico
- BJ says:
  
  12 Jan12 January 15:08
  
  Probably just to raise some cash in the short term, cancellation to be announced at a later date.
- C says:
  
  12 Jan12 January 16:09
  
  This was briefly a Norwegian route. If the route survives, definitely worth trying once normalised travel resumes. I was there a few years back for NYE (needed somewhere guaranteed to be warm, but inside the US), and had a very good time. I have the feeling it’s very under appreciated amongst UK tourists.
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    12 Jan12 January 16:18
    
    Atm you would need to travel via Madrid so I can see it taking off if we get out of this mess before VS go bust.
Greg says:

12 Jan12 January 12:13

Called to cancelled my BAPP this morning. I was offered 20000 Avios to stay – this is after the 1 additional Avios that was offered to me back in October.
- Idontfly says:
  
  12 Jan12 January 13:00
  
  Very interesting, lets see what happens in a few months when I will be in the same situation.
- DodgyDCF says:
  
  12 Jan12 January 13:38
  
  Never heard of an lump sum avios retention offer before on the BA cards…interesting
- Sandra says:
  
  12 Jan12 January 13:56
  
  They are obviously changing tack – I called several times in September after I got my latest 241 and was told by everyone I spoke to there was no retention bonus available. At the 3rd call with no joy I continued to cancel and downgraded to the free card.
- BJ says:
  
  12 Jan12 January 15:10
  
  Calling to cancel everything gets better results.
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    12 Jan12 January 16:12
    
    May help if people knew what dangling that carrot got you 🙂
- TomD says:
  
  12 Jan12 January 15:54
  
  Just called in. Lady (from Brighton) said she has never heard of that offer. Also had the 1 additional Avios which is finishing next month. Guess I’ll call again and see if there’s anything else will downgrade to the free version.
BuildBackBetter says:

12 Jan12 January 12:15

Eurostar lounge access rules for kids – anyone know what the age restrictions for kids are if the parents are using amex plat card to enter?
Ammar says:

12 Jan12 January 12:18

1) Anyone have the telephone number for Lloyds Voucher Avios booking – need to cancel flights booked for Sat (going to TFS from LHR) as BA have not sent any cancellation email yet so presume they will go ahead.

2) Is it still cancel up until 24 hrs pre flight time or is it two days – cannot reacall?
- Jan M says:
  
  12 Jan12 January 12:26
  
  The phone number is 0344 49 333 49. Not sure about the present circumstances. Normally when you cancel you’ll get the Avios back but lose the voucher…
  - Anna says:
    
    12 Jan12 January 12:31
    
    I had one of these cancelled recently and avios.com said that the voucher would be extended till March 31st (use by). I don’t know what happens if the passenger cancels, though. I can’t think many people would fit the criteria to be flying to TFS just now, though, Ammar, have you checked MMB and if the flight is still on sale?
    - Anna says:
      
      12 Jan12 January 12:32
      
      Though I guess there may be some Xmas/New Year holiday makers coming home.
  - Ammar says:
    
    12 Jan12 January 12:32
    
    Cheers – was happy to get a FTV or rebooking if they allow for later in the year, but will find out options.
    - Anna says:
      
      12 Jan12 January 12:44
      
      Have you tried cancelling online for a FTV? If you go to MMB and choose cancellation options there might be an option to do this (not sure if this applies to flights booked via avios.com)
      - AMmar says:
        
        12 Jan12 January 14:52
        
        Thanks Anna, for all the advice. Will check out MMB, looks like you can still buy flights for that date. Spoke to Avios team who adv if I cancel will loose voucher and taxes, but can rebook future avios seats for no charge, but pay difference in peak/offpeak avios amounts – probably will do that.
Grim says:

12 Jan12 January 12:50

Can you still combine your avios with AER club? I want to move my wife and my Avis out of BA so as I can use the other avios in my household account and then move it back into BA executive club.
- Genghis says:
  
  12 Jan12 January 12:55
  
  Yes. Move your wife’s avios from her BAEC to her Aer Club and your avios from your BAEC to your Aer Club. Most stable is still a pull from Aer Club, given you’re in a HHA.
Peter K says:

12 Jan12 January 12:53

The site is loading much faster today, so something is working!
- Rhys says:
  
  12 Jan12 January 13:04
  
  We’ve implemented some changes which appear to be working…hoping it stays this way!
  - Peter K says:
    
    12 Jan12 January 13:41
    
    Good work! Thank you.
  - Charlieface says:
    
    12 Jan12 January 14:41
    
    What did you do?
    - Rhys says:
      
      12 Jan12 January 14:48
      
      Sorted out some of the caching
Clive says:

12 Jan12 January 13:47

That was quick !!

I am pleased to inform you that you are eligible for our Status Match programme.
We have updated your Flying Club membership to show Gold.
- Rim says:
  
  12 Jan12 January 14:28
  
  Same here, applied yesterday morning. BA Gold to VA Gold. Booked one way redemption economy to London. Already VA Gold on my AwardWallet..
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    12 Jan12 January 16:13
    
    Phone to cancel redemption soon I assume …
    - tom1 says:
      
      12 Jan12 January 20:28
      
      T&C suggest they will revoke status match if qualifying flight cancelled or changed.
- Andrew says:
  
  12 Jan12 January 17:16
  
  But unless you’re flying immediately why do it now and not wait until towards the end of February to maximise your 12 months?
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    12 Jan12 January 18:47
    
    It just ends on a certain date for everyone doesn’t it?
    - TGLoyalty says:
      
      12 Jan12 January 18:50
      
      Actually just re read rolling 12m, another blog mentioned it would end 28th Feb 2022 for all.
      
      I’ll be applying for mine 27th Feb then.
  - tom1 says:
    
    12 Jan12 January 20:29
    
    yep, exactly my plan.
    just hope it isn’t over subscribed and then they pull it before I apply!