The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 3rd February

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

• ChrisC says:

  3 Feb3 February 11:44

  BA Holidays sending out emails advising of the extension to April 2023 of their FTVs

  (Might get a bit confusing as this one mentioned a voucher I’d used earlier this month.)

  • BJ says:

    3 Feb3 February 12:29

    Missed it somewhere in last couple of day, presumably “to April” means end of April?

    • ChrisC says:

      3 Feb3 February 13:04

      Yes. need to travel by 30th April 2023

      • BJ says:

        3 Feb3 February 13:20

        Thanks Chris.

  • ChrisC says:

    3 Feb3 February 13:02

    And another email saying the same for the same voucher

• Aston100 says:

  3 Feb3 February 11:50

  Received a priority pass this week, presumably to replace the lounge pass obtained through my Amex PRG.
  Can I throwaway the lounge pass, as presumably it is no longer useable?
  Secondly, I note the letter states guests will be charged £20 per visit. Does this mean, that I can’t use the 2 visits (that came with the lounge pass) for myself and my wife on one visit? i.e. the 2 visits are only for myself?

  Thanks.

  • Rob says:

    3 Feb3 February 11:53

    You can chuck Lounge Club.

    You still get 2 free visits and you can use them however you want. Taking in a guest won’t be charged if you still have two credits to use up.

    • Aston100 says:

      3 Feb3 February 12:23

      Thanks Rob.

• Mark says:

  3 Feb3 February 12:29

  Just had another free basket of shopping from Sainsbury’s, I can really “taste the difference” especially when its free 😁

  • EwanG says:

    3 Feb3 February 12:40

    You’re taking “be good to yourself” to a whole new level.

    • Mark says:

      3 Feb3 February 13:07

      I can also “live well for less” at the moment

  • BJ says:

    3 Feb3 February 13:18

    Good thread 😀

  • kitten says:

    3 Feb3 February 13:48

    ??you sharing how the numbers work?

    Go on, impress us 🙂

    • Andrew says:

      3 Feb3 February 14:34

      Simple I think – use your avios at Sainsbury’s and get your shopping for free – that’s what I’m doing.

      • Charlieface says:

        3 Feb3 February 14:48

        Not free, is it, if you’re spending Avios?

        Unless your Avios are worth nothing to you. In which case I’ll buy them off you at 0.1p each

        • Andrew says:

          3 Feb3 February 15:00

          My avios are now worth 0.8p each as I spend them at Sainsbury’s/eBay. As I have no other use for the Avios the shopping is effectively free as they are a valueless asset in any other scenario to me.

        • Andrew says:

          3 Feb3 February 15:02

          The flights I did pay for myself, and as the earning of the avios didn’t factor in the decision making for buying those flights, they are free. And I couldn’t possibly use a cash back card, so would need to stick to American Express Platinum or BAPP.

        • TGLoyalty says:

          3 Feb3 February 16:32

          “And I couldn’t possibly use a cash back card, so would need to stick to American Express Platinum or BAPP.”

          Not flash enough?

        • TGLoyalty says:

          3 Feb3 February 19:21

          Thank Rob.

          Yes look at the two Amex Cards

          Free card gets you 1% back plus you even get 5% in the first 3 months up to £100.

          £25 card gets you 1.25% as long as you spend £10k in the year with 5% in first 3 up to £125.

          For example Andrew mentions BAPP which is 195 fee for 1.25 avios/£ and he’s swapping that for 1p of nectar when he can get 1.25% and spend £170 less on card fees.

          If you don’t need or want avios cancel points earning cards and sign up for the above you’ll be far better off.

      • BJ says:

        3 Feb3 February 16:16

        @ Andrew, if you don’t want your avios why not Lego 75318 and keep it a few years?

        • Rob says:

          3 Feb3 February 16:37

          Whilst I used to have a wry smile when people posted this stuff, we found a big unopened box of LEGO when we moved house over the Summer. It does seem to be worth more than the original purchase price as it is now discontinued.

        • Andrew says:

          3 Feb3 February 16:48

          Thanks for the tip @BJ – might look into that! And indeed – @TG – not flash enough for me I’m afraid.

        • xcalx says:

          3 Feb3 February 18:42

          We have a 4’x3’x1.5′ box full of mixed up lego from the 80s (3 boys). No boxes no instructions but keeps the grandkids happy building houses

• Simon says:

  3 Feb3 February 12:45

  Has anyone had difficulty getting a Eurostar refund?

  The long story is I booked a trip last year – the train got cancelled and not able to travel.

  Was issued a refund in the form of vouchers.

  Used the vouchers last year to book a trip for March. Cancelled this as well. I asked for a refund in cash, instead I have been given refund in voucher form (valid to end of year).

  Is a cash refund not allowed?

  • Doug M says:

    3 Feb3 February 13:01

    If they cancelled the train then absolutely. Ideally you don’t take vouchers in the first place. I got cash refunds from them last year, but they tried to make out it was vouchers only. I insisted on cash and they agreed fairly quickly. Think phone agents try it on.

    • Simon says:

      3 Feb3 February 13:10

      Yes, it was poor judgement from me, at the time I was thinking the virus would be long gone by this time.

      Adding insult to injury, my new booking was not up to the value of the first. Thus, one voucher went unused and expired; also they are claiming that one voucher was partially redeemed (this is true, as it was in £50 increments) and cannot be re-imbursed.

      If I am getting nowhere with the agents what is the next step?

    • BJ says:

      3 Feb3 February 13:16

      Simon booked the latest trip in question with a voucher though if I have understood correctly. They are not going to refund trips paid by vouchers in cash.

  • rams1981 says:

    3 Feb3 February 14:02

    this would not surprise me. Eurostar customer service seems abysmal. My points were forfeited for no activity. I wrote to ask for them back and they said you’ve had enough time since last activity to have a trip so unlucky.

    • rams1981 says:

      3 Feb3 February 14:03

      This took place in Dec 2020.

    • kitten says:

      3 Feb3 February 14:54

      They have never been worth loyalty.

      A long time ago but I still remember when Eurostar *retroactively* changed the terms on tickets already bought and purchased many months previously, that effectively removed their semi-flexibility and turned them into pretty much inflexible tickets.

      People protested but Eurostar didn’t budge.

      They are a perfect example of why you should just fix your requirements and just take the cheapest.

• Grimz says:

  3 Feb3 February 14:30

  Am I correct in saying that BA will not let me change the name on a 241 that is in a FTV? I had my daughter in my 241 but she wont be able to go with me next year. What difference is it changing the name?

  • Rob says:

    3 Feb3 February 14:52

    It is all down to the fact that your FTV is your old ticket, frozen, and therefore there are limitations as to what can be done. This is not to say that an agent couldn’t be talked around.

    There are numerous examples now of people being able to convert an FTV Avios booking back to a normal booking and cancel it for £35. This won’t help you if your 241 was expiring though.

• alan says:

  3 Feb3 February 14:57

  has anyone booked Qatar flights under the healthcare promo?
  has anyone successfully managed to change date to beyond 31/3?

• kitten says:

  3 Feb3 February 14:58

  OT if anyone’s a Michael Connelly fan and likes the Mickey Haller/Bosch series, all 6 of the Hallers are available today on Amazon for 99p each

  • The cyclist says:

    3 Feb3 February 15:03

    There are 99p for a reason.

  • Anna says:

    3 Feb3 February 15:49

    I’m up to date but they are a steal at 99p! Well researched and well written crime thrillers.
    The John Milton series (sort of an English Jack Reacher) by Mark Dawson is free on Kindle Unlimited, not as well crafted but still decent escapism just now!

    • kitten says:

      3 Feb3 February 17:44

      Anna I followed your recommendation for the Mark Dawson and steadily amassing my collection when on offer for a rainy day 🙂

      Am looking out for Jack Reacher offers too…. love those 🙂

      • BJ says:

        3 Feb3 February 19:10

        @Kitten, @Anna; if you have not already done so you might want to give the Tom Thorne series by Mark Billingham a try. Best start with the first and the rest in sequence if you like it.

        • charles hawkins says:

          3 Feb3 February 19:24

          Lincoln Rhyme by Jeffrey Deaver are an excellent read

        • Anna says:

          3 Feb3 February 19:49

          Is that “Billy” Billingham the SAS TV series guy? I think I’ve just read his autobiography! I’ll have a look, thanks.

        • kitten says:

          4 Feb4 February 00:52

          Ta will have a look BJ

      • Anna says:

        3 Feb3 February 19:54

        Me too 😍.

        The Mark Dawson Beatrix Rose books are probably his best ones, refreshing change to have a proper kick ass female heroine in this genre!

      • Sundar says:

        3 Feb3 February 22:34

        I have a bunch of Jack Reacher paperbacks if anyone is interested. Have read through.

  • Harry T says:

    3 Feb3 February 23:04

    Thanks 🙂

• Sarah says:

  3 Feb3 February 15:44

  My status match was sorted with Virgin in less than 10 minutes via an online form – very prompt service 🙂

  • Andrew says:

    3 Feb3 February 16:14

    Mine was too yesterday – obviously I left it until we were into February so that I get maximum benefit from it lasting until the end of February 2022, rather than end of January. Was very impressed by the quick turnaround and the no-quibble approach, and already able to select my free exit row seat with my economy light booking. For those who are interested – Gold gives you one free bag with economy light – which is an improvement over BA where you don’t get a free bag if you’re silver/gold on a hand baggage only ticket. To me this represents real value, being able to book the cheapest ticket and still get a bag included.

    • Sarah says:

      3 Feb3 February 17:40

      I hadn’t realised it was until the end of February 2022 if I did it now – I think it was you who posted this fact the other day. Thanks 🙂

      • Andrew says:

        3 Feb3 February 19:53

        Yes it was puzzling why people were putting through their status matches in January as presumably no one is flying right now, so by waiting until February you slip into a new month and the status applies to the end of the month you apply in the following year. Equally there is no advantage of waiting until the end of February to apply as you will still only get until the end of February 2022.

    • Alan says:

      3 Feb3 February 18:37

      Do you know if the gold benefits, exit seat and luggage, apply to bookings made when you are gold or does the flight have to be taken while you are gold.

      • Sarah says:

        3 Feb3 February 19:25

        I don’t know – I am hoping that it applies to bookings made whilst gold.

        • Andrew says:

          3 Feb3 February 19:50

          The benefits will apply based on the tier you are on the day you fly.

      • Alan says:

        3 Feb3 February 21:04

        Andrew,

        Thanks for the reply, bit disappointing but I thought that would probably be the case.

        I wonder if you can still book the exit isle seats though, hard to imagine that they would kick you out of them if you hadn’t managed to earn gold for the following year.

        • kitten says:

          4 Feb4 February 04:22

          They can and do kick you out if someone with higher status than youare (at the time they are looking at the seat map) wants them

          So if no one comes along wanting them you may keep it but don’t count on it.

          Note also that the closer to thr flight this happens the more likely the seat that you’re ejected into will be cr*p.

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