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The HfP chat thread – Monday 18th 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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General

Comments (245)

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

  • tony says:
    18 Jan18 January 13:58

    I have a £50 NCP voucher which came about after I cancelled a non-refundable booking at BHX in May. A new booking has to be made by 31/3. Any thoughts on if I use this to part pay for a fully flexible booking then cancel as to what the refund might look like 😉

    Even though it’s valid until August, I can’t see myself being in a position to make a reservation by March.

  • Kevin C says:
    18 Jan18 January 14:07

    In case it’s of use to anyone, D&D At Home have 20% off their at home kits for so-called Blue Monday. Use code NOBLUEMONDAYSHERE which expires at 23.59 tonight.

    Mentioning it as it will presumably stack with the spend £80 get £20 off offer some Amex cardholders got.

    • BSI1978 says:
      18 Jan18 January 16:12

      Useful, although the code essentially just wipes out the delivery cost, which at £19 is somewhat punchy!

      • Kevin C says:
        18 Jan18 January 16:55

        And if you buy two different kits you have to pay the £19 twice! They also have a pickup option if you happen to live near one of the restaurants.

  • chef says:
    18 Jan18 January 14:38

    i sent a text to Virgin last night to transfer some points to Hilton and had a confirmation text within the hour. Much quicker than the last couple of occasions.

  • Lula says:
    18 Jan18 January 14:47

    Hi. Does anyone know if I can use Curve metal, with IHG or HSBC underlying, to fund a Vanguard ISA account without it attracting any fees?

    • rams1981 says:
      18 Jan18 January 15:15

      I have used it with HSBC. IHG I think doesn’t work (applies usual cash limits)

    • Harpo says:
      18 Jan18 January 18:00

      Not sure about Vanguard. HL & Nutmeg attract interest with HSBC, and IHG and Virgin seem to give up for me.

    • John says:
      18 Jan18 January 18:48

      Hilton works

    • Anne says:
      18 Jan18 January 19:09

      Virgin did work for me then stopped. IHG has never worked (not sure it has for anyone?). I’m still doing ok with both Hilton and the old Lloyds Avios cards, no interest to date on either.

  • Venturelog says:
    18 Jan18 January 16:04

    If I paid for a PE BA flight from ex-LHR and there was availability to upgrade to Business on the long haul portion (from LHR) are you able to upgrade with Avios? Or does all of it need to be upgraded and as such availability to upgrade on the shorter portion needs to be available?

    • Rob says:
      18 Jan18 January 16:05

      You can just do one leg, no problem.

    • AJA says:
      18 Jan18 January 16:41

      If you do a one-way upgrade just double check the Taxes and Fees you get charged. There is a thread over on FT of BA randomly charging double the YQ element for a flight LHR-IAH. For some reason BA wants £185 when they should only be asking £95.

  • Tom says:
    18 Jan18 January 16:43

    Can Creation be paid off directly with Beardy with no fees or do i need to do it through bendy?

  • PaulC says:
    18 Jan18 January 17:00

    Is there anything to watch out for or any reason I shouldn’t use a Lloyds upgrade voucher one way and a BA 2-4-1 voucher for the return leg? Can they be linked to the same booking once booked? Also to note with the vouchers, one would be in my name and the other in my wifes. Trying to use up expiring vouchers and cant see any other way other than to book more than one holiday which isn’t happening with the current situation.

    • Lev441 says:
      18 Jan18 January 17:06

      2 for 1 needs to start in the uk – but the Lloyds voucher can be used to return to the Uk. If you did this, the bookings would be separate and not linked.

      You’d save more Avios by just using the 2 for 1 voucher though…

      • memesweeper says:
        18 Jan18 January 17:10

        unless there’s two going out and a different group coming back i’m not sure why you’d want to do this.

      • PaulC says:
        18 Jan18 January 17:12

        Cheers Lev441, just doing the maths now. Seems a shame to lose vouchers but without booking flights for the sake of it I’m unsure how Im going to use them. Hoping BA will extend again soon.
        Also I’ve checked nearly every night last week at midnight (Been working late shifts) and not seen a single 1st class seat released on LHR-DXB route. Trouble is our 2-4-1 voucher is in my wife’s name. Mine expired 27th Sept 2021 which I doubt we will get to use as well as the other two. Nightmare with having them all cancelled/returned last year.

        • Anna says:
          18 Jan18 January 17:18

          You could also just book flights to anywhere using the 241 and cancel for a FTV valid until April 2022.

          BA doesn’t guarantee to release F award seats. You could book J and look to upgrade if F becomes available.

          • PaulC says:
            18 Jan18 January 17:22

            Thank you Anna, can always rely on you.

          • PaulC says:
            18 Jan18 January 17:41

            On this point am I likely to be able to make a booking right now for a cheap flight departing before 31st August 2021 (quickly glancing over the T&C’s) cancel it almost immediately for a FTV and make a new booking with it for January 2022 (When seats are release next week). Effectively extending the expiry date of my 2-4-1 voucher from 21st September 2021 until 30th April 2022 and using my voucher rather than my wife’s that doesn’t expire until 10th September 2022.
            Sorry long winded.

          • Anna says:
            18 Jan18 January 18:39

            You can do that (make a cheap booking and get a FTV straight away) but you have to call to use it to make a booking, so you need to factor that into your booking plans!

        • Genghis says:
          18 Jan18 January 17:45

          “ Trouble is our 2-4-1 voucher is in my wife’s name”
          Just book it using your wife’s account – I assume she’d tell you the password? Then if you need to call BA, set yourself up as a third party nominee on her account (see BAEC) so you can just do it all yourself.

          • PaulC says:
            18 Jan18 January 17:49

            I was more meaning for ringing up at midnight. No way am I going to wake the Mrs up at that time to ring a call centre in America, would you? HaHa

          • Genghis says:
            18 Jan18 January 19:28

            @PaulC No. I’d call on her behalf as I’m set up as third party nominee.

          • Wally1976 says:
            18 Jan18 January 21:09

            Never knew about this! Thanks Genghis 🙂

          • Brian W says:
            18 Jan18 January 22:10

            Mine is blissfully unaware she’s had a BA account for the last couple of decades.

        • kitten says:
          18 Jan18 January 22:14

          book lon-man using each then cancel for ftvthat will get you 241extended to Apr2022. you are not tied to same route when rebooking.

    • Anna says:
      18 Jan18 January 17:14

      Best use of these would be to book for 2 people (including yourself) using the 241 and take a 3rd person using the Lloyds voucher. I have done this a couple of times back in the good old days of travel and plentiful Lloyds vouchers! Of course this may not fit with your circumstances.

      • memesweeper says:
        18 Jan18 January 19:51

        +1 for Anna’s suggestion

        Also calling up at midnight is unlikely to work for First availability… you just have to keep you eye out for that.

  • Baji Nahid says:
    18 Jan18 January 17:12

    I presume that weather delays at destination do not apply to EC261 or duty of care rules for BA? Will be delayed at Heathrow for around 5 hours tomorrow evening after arriving in from my connecting flight to London ( i know its weather related as the destination airport (lahore) is not capable of handling arrivals during its fog season). Plus every flight to Lahore has been delayed for around 5 hours at heathrow so far.

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