The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 3rd March

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Benilyn says:

3 Mar3 March 19:12

Staybridge Suites Dubai Financial Centre in Dubai opening in March. Anyone know much about it? It is being refurbished I understand since Staybridge took control… wonder if it will be any good. Staybridge just opened a rennovated hotel near Al Maktoum airport, looks ok.
MKB says:

3 Mar3 March 19:47

I sent a question to Emyr via the form on his Bon Vivant website last weekend. How long does it usually take to get a response?
- Tom1 says:
  
  3 Mar3 March 19:49
  
  Usually very quickly – have you checked junk? My replies went there in the past.
- Cabal of rabid baboons says:
  
  3 Mar3 March 20:09
  
  Emyr has always replied to me the following working day before lunchtime.
- Harry T says:
  
  3 Mar3 March 20:31
  
  He replies very fast to me – maybe check spam folder?
  - MKB says:
    
    4 Mar4 March 00:58
    
    Spam folder empty. I’ll try again.
Secret Squirrel says:

3 Mar3 March 20:37

Just Commercial Bendy cards effected to Ernie or also Personal today?
- Harry T says:
  
  3 Mar3 March 21:02
  
  Personal worked for me about two hours ago.
- FFoxSake says:
  
  3 Mar3 March 21:02
  
  Just tried a Blue Personal (5375 90) backed with a Creator – “card cannot be verified at this time”… so it’s not looking good.
  - FFoxSake says:
    
    3 Mar3 March 21:10
    
    Sorry. False alarm… still working. It’s the Google Pay pre-fill card verification that was failing. Manually keying all card details into Ernie worked OK.
  - Secret Squirrel says:
    
    3 Mar3 March 21:14
    
    So looks like Commercial cards only effected?
    Is it time to switch or wait to see if this rectified itself like it does sometimes?
    - Jay says:
      
      3 Mar3 March 21:43
      
      Personal are working.
- Si says:
  
  3 Mar3 March 21:50
  
  I’ve just set this up. Never done it before but managed to put £1k on Ernie on IHG Black.
  
  Seems to have gone though ok without warning of charge but guess will take a few days to hit my account to find out.
Alan says:

3 Mar3 March 20:48

EasyJet have confirmed to me that if your original flights qualified for the old hand luggage policy you do not lose this when you rebook.
- Jody says:
  
  3 Mar3 March 21:58
  
  Have you got that in writing Alan?
  - Bill says:
    
    3 Mar3 March 22:15
    
    Does this apply to a flight cancelled by them ? Does it apply to a voluntary change I made ?
    - Alan says:
      
      4 Mar4 March 01:19
      
      Again it is not entirely clear but if you have already made the change you can check to see if it has retained the original (pre cut off) booking date.
  - Alan says:
    
    4 Mar4 March 01:18
    
    I got a very woolly response from Customer Services that implied but did not directly state it.
    
    I decided to go ahead and rebook anyway and the new booking retains the original booked on date so qualifies.
  - Michael C says:
    
    4 Mar4 March 08:17
    
    Josy, pretty sure my sis has in writing that you take the carry-ons to the gate (with an old booking) but they put them in the hold (free, of course)
Tarmohamed says:

3 Mar3 March 20:50

I recall someone mentioned, in regards to the Amex Business Charge Card, as to if the applicant needs to be a shareholder or director. The wife applied for the card, she is a shareholder. They just wanted the directors proof of ID and Address as well as a signed letter authorising her to sign on behalf of the company. Based on this anyone can potentially apply if the director authorises the person.
ChrisC says:

3 Mar3 March 21:33

APD will be increading from 1st April 2022

Standard (non economy cabin) by £ 5 and economy by £2

The language in the red book states ‘ Great Britain’ so a freeze for flights departing Northern Ireland?
- ChrisC says:
  
  3 Mar3 March 21:37
  
  estimated receipts are listed as follows
  
  2019/20 – 3.7 billion (actual)
  2020/21 – 0.6
  2021/22 – 1.3
  2022/23 – 2.0
  2023/24 – 3.1
  2024/25 – 4.3
  2025/26 – 4.4
SG says:

3 Mar3 March 22:33

Evening all
Has anyone had any recent experience with booking.com?Dovtgeycrefund if you need to deal with the property?Booked a property in Antigua for October-card details and price in £ confirmed.Property has just contacted me now asking to confirm again card details.Is booking.com acting like a pure intermediate?
Had a good experience with hotels.com that had refunded my booking in about 30 hours but booking.com had the best price on the property I wanted!
- SG says:
  
  3 Mar3 March 22:35
  
  Do they refund…or you need to deal with the property?
- Harry T says:
  
  3 Mar3 March 23:01
  
  You should be dealing with Booking.com, as they are your agent.
  - SG says:
    
    3 Mar3 March 23:18
    
    Thanks Harry T
    The property has just come back with a large forms to fill in,including uploading an ID photo..found it a bit weird and not happy doing it.Will contact booking.com and ask why could they not pass on the payment details I left with them
- DarrenS says:
  
  4 Mar4 March 08:32
  
  Had a problem with them late last year. Booked a property in the UK, then the Covid tiers changed. Tried to cancel, but Booking told me to contact the Owner, who was having none of it. Booking totally washed their hands of the whole thing. Kept all the (unanswered) emails to the owner and used these for a charge back through Amex, which went through seamlessly, as the Owner did not put up a defence. Wont be using Booking again. Will be using Amex.
  - SG says:
    
    4 Mar4 March 09:54
    
    Thanks DarrenS
    I remember now a friend of mine having the same issue,I guess I will just cancel the booking now before any payment taken and go to Hotels.com.After the cash back and with the 10 nights spent with them credit the price will be almost the same.As mentioned,they have refunded a free cancellation booking in just over 24 hours
Ant says:

4 Mar4 March 10:41

Whats BAs policy for moving a 2-4-1 booked during the 50% off avios sale, is it possible to move to a date even if theres no reward seats available? Or is this only possible when they cancel the flight? Do they honour the 50% off?