The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 23rd February

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• C says:

  23 Feb23 February 08:16

  Undoubtedly like many on the site, I’ve rebooked my Easter 2021 holiday flights on BA to depart on 17 May. After giving me a hard time a week ago when I tried to rebook for the summer (I was told the fare class only available on certain random dates), this time they had no trouble moving my ultra-discount CE flights to my preferred dates. I’m skeptical I’ll actually be able to travel on those dates (and our destination currently requires hotel quarantine on return), but a lot can happen in the intervening three months. Anyone want to post odds I’ll actually be able to travel without hotel quarantine on the return?

  • Andrew says:

    23 Feb23 February 08:22

    You do realise that May 17th is just a guideline, not a fixed date and certainly not promise of international travel by this date, as that’s subject to a review to publish in April. So it’s just an assurance that it won’t be before this date we were told yesterday.

    • C says:

      23 Feb23 February 08:33

      The flights were paid with BA previously, so if they cancel I can get a refund, and if I cancel I get a voucher. Hotel and car hire will be paid on arrival or refundable until at least a few days before. Thus, no incremental out of pocket cost, until I actually travel, and I can also cancel the entire trip with, at worst, a BA FTV for money I originally spent in October 2020.

    • BJ says:

      23 Feb23 February 09:03

      Setting dates was simply foolish and investing much confidence in them is even more so. I am still not going to plan any overseas travel before my December trip. Sure, there is a good chance that travel will be possible before then but with what confidence? All I see is too much potential for anxiety, disappointment and inconvenience. Where can we actually go? Back in December there were over 70 countries banned travellers or flights from the UK if I recall correctly. Have these restrictions been lifted, is there an up to date list of countfies that ban or alow travel from UK?

      • Harry T says:

        23 Feb23 February 09:41

        I agree with BJ – you could have just waited 4-6 weeks before rebooking to see if May dates would be feasible? Odds are they would have cancelled your original flights for April anyway, giving you even greater flexibility for rebooking. This is one of those times where trying to be clever is actually not very clever. 17th May deadline could easily slip and you have given up some flexibility now.

        • C says:

          23 Feb23 February 11:02

          From my perspective it’s a question of keeping modest expectations, while trying to be optimistic. It’s a nearly free option – no additional cash out of pocket, and I’ll have no issue with an FTV for the modest amount involved, and there is significant potential upside from retaining some optimism and hope. Those dates also have greater personal value than others, if we can get away; waiting (and then rushing to book with everyone else) is more stressful. The last year has shown that government policy will not be predictable or logical. So, from my perspective it’s a free option.

      • Tiff says:

        23 Feb23 February 13:24

        Agreed. Government using the “data not dates” catchphrase in the days leading up to the announcement, but then going on about the dates (which is what people remember) and nothing about the data. Modest expectations is the way to go – many things could still go wrong, unfortunately.

• Rob says:

  23 Feb23 February 08:26

  Looks like the Aegean thing doesn’t work, tried transferring 6k points to accor live account and getting a random ‘73’ error when I hit confirm. Anyone else getting this? Tried different browsers and same thing..

  • Phil W says:

    23 Feb23 February 08:39

    Have you credited a Star Alliance flight to the account yet? If not, it won’t work.

    • Rob says:

      23 Feb23 February 08:49

      I did not. Thanks for the help Phil.. I should’ve read the email more closely

  • Jonathan says:

    23 Feb23 February 09:20

    I had the same problem Rob

    • Rob says:

      23 Feb23 February 09:34

      It’s not a ‘problem’. Aegean changed the rules and you now need to credit 1 Star Alliance flight to the account before you can do transfers.

      • Rob says:

        23 Feb23 February 10:37

        Only a problem if you don’t have any star alliance flights to credit 😢 ..dammit, how dare they block me transferring free points!!

• Nicky says:

  23 Feb23 February 08:29

  My silver Status on BA was extended for a year, does anyone think they will extend again because of not being able to travel for a year (otherwise going to drop to the lowest level in September)?

  • Andrew says:

    23 Feb23 February 08:47

    Here’s hoping!

  • Rob says:

    23 Feb23 February 09:25

    It is in BA’s interests that you have status when you restart travelling, put it that way ….

  • AJA says:

    23 Feb23 February 11:55

    If you’re currently Silver you should drop to Bronze (Rust?) Which is still higher than Blue (the lowest level). Also if you see travel reopening after September and can get the required TP for Silver easily enough fairly soon after dropping to Bronze then you get nearly 2 years of Silver again. Maybe an option?

    That said I think another extension is likely.

• Gareth says:

  23 Feb23 February 08:29

  We have a BA Holiday booked to depart 15th May, before the earliest date for international travel. I see TUI and other package holiday companies automatically cancelling everything before that date. Is it likely that will be what BA Holidays will do too do you think? Would be nice to have a refund rather than a voucher and preferably before the balance payment becomes due.

  • Rob says:

    23 Feb23 February 09:25

    BA isn’t cancelling some flights until VERY late in the day, often 2-3 days before departure, to scare people into taking a voucher when they could get cash by holding on. If you want the money you need to hold your nerve.

    • WaynedP says:

      23 Feb23 February 10:22

      That’s potentially a problem for customers, given that you have to pay full outstanding balance three weeks away from scheduled departure, or trigger FTV by then. I was told that terms of my last BA Holidays booking were no opportunity to trigger FTV inside of three weeks from scheduled departure.

    • Super Secret Stuff says:

      23 Feb23 February 10:46

      I am pretty hard nosed and have pushed it to 5 days before departure over the last year for pre-booked things but 2 days would stress me out. Unless it was guaranteed to be cancelled I can’t imagine how many people stick it out till the end

      • TGLoyalty says:

        23 Feb23 February 21:54

        You can take a flight FTV right up to check in so it’s fine to play chicken.

• Ant says:

  23 Feb23 February 08:31

  HI, My gold card is renewing this month. Once I receive the 10,000MR what is the best strategy to maximise my MR? Upgrade to a green card or Platinum?

  • Super Secret Stuff says:

    23 Feb23 February 08:46

    Ultimate earning strategy is to ring them and say you are thinking of cancelling because you don’t feel like the fee is worth it anymore until travel fully recovers. Ignore ALL the scripted responses around benefits and offering pay monthly fee. Allude to the fact you’ll stay if a better offer comes along but don’t directly say it

    If you do want to change cards, I think BAPP is your best option

  • Rob says:

    23 Feb23 February 09:23

    Nothing you can do to maximise points (Gold is the most generous MR card due to the airline and FX bonuses) but you can save £140 by cancelling and getting Amex Rewards Credit Card instead.

  • Genghis says:

    23 Feb23 February 09:54

    Paying £140 pa on the Gold is never worth it IMO.
    Is your Gold an old charge card or credit? Only the old charge cards can upgrade directly. Get a green and then upgrade but a bit long winded? Not done this route in a while TBH. Get BAPP next if not had BA earning card in the last two years. Referrals with partner possible?

    • Harry T says:

      23 Feb23 February 15:42

      I’ve paid for my Gold card for a few months of the second year due to earning an extra two points per MR – I did the maths and I profited. But mostly it’s better to refer your partner for the card and spend on that for the free first year, or cancel your Gold and get referred for it again a short time later.

• Tony says:

  23 Feb23 February 08:34

  We have a flight booked for 25th May, even if we do open up on the 17th May for flights do you think BA will be running all it’s scheduled flights? If Covid numbers are under control we would love a holiday but probably can not wait so late to cancel hotels etc so looks like we will have to cancel our trip anyhow…

  • BJ says:

    23 Feb23 February 09:11

    What the UK government or BA does or allows is less relevant than what your destination does or allows so I’d base your decision on that.

    • ChrisBCN says:

      23 Feb23 February 09:51

      Agree with BJ, it’s more a question of if your destination will let you in.

• Secret Squirrel says:

  23 Feb23 February 08:48

  Ernie working again today.

  • BJ says:

    23 Feb23 February 09:12

    It was working fine last night.

• YC says:

  23 Feb23 February 08:53

  Any thoughts between Blue Palace vs Domes Elounda?

  • Rob says:

    23 Feb23 February 09:20

    They are only a few minutes walk apart. Blue Palace has a bigger beach and is nearer to Plaka (5 mins walk vs 15 mins). Absolutely no idea what it is like inside though as we only walked past it getting to/from Domes.

    • Magic Mike says:

      23 Feb23 February 20:05

      I’ve only stayed at BP but it didn’t really impress, unless you’re going to shell out for an Island Luxury Suite, which is $$$ and not in the status upgrade pool. The bungalows are not, and some of the rooms that are claimed to have heated pools don’t really (and you really need one because with east facing rooms the pools never heat up in the sun). Flyertalk has a good thread.

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