The HfP chat thread – Monday 8th March

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• Stanley says:

  8 Mar8 March 12:01

  Got a BA email cancelling and moving flights Saturday morning, so called for a full refund. Avios and 241 back instantly. Refund to Amex already on my card today. Bravo the world’s favourite airline !!

  • Anna says:

    8 Mar8 March 12:29

    Lucky you – I’m on day 36 of waiting for my last requested refund; the one before that has now gone to Amex to dispute!

    • Fred says:

      8 Mar8 March 12:36

      140 days here.

      Anna, are you claiming solely for a cash fare, or is there any Avios/voucher component?

      My sought after refund is for cash, Avios and 241voucher.

      • Anna says:

        8 Mar8 March 13:32

        Something’s gone wrong there, have you spoken to BA about it?
        I’m waiting for 3 x cash element of an avios booking (avios came back within a week) and 2 x cash for a 241 booking – again the avios and voucher came back no problem. I called BA last week and they insisted that the latter had been refunded but I then called Amex and went through all my recent transactions and it’s definitely not there (requested mid January) so I’ve opened a dispute as I can’t face any more to and fro-ing with BA.

  • Stanley says:

    8 Mar8 March 12:46

    Ouch and ouch. Hopefully will come through soon

• r* says:

  8 Mar8 March 13:29

  Which is nicer (mainly in terms of plane), lufthansa business on a 747 upper deck or swiss business on an a330?

  • Lady London says:

    8 Mar8 March 13:35

    route? duration?

    • r* says:

      8 Mar8 March 13:55

      London to Mumbai

      • Super Secret Stuff says:

        8 Mar8 March 14:43

        Personally, I would go for a 747 whilst they are still around. Just to ride in the hump

        • Aston100 says:

          8 Mar8 March 17:43

          Isn’t it the 747-8, which isn’t all that old?

        • Super Secret Stuff says:

          8 Mar8 March 21:09

          @Ashton the a380s aren’t that old but seem to disappear fairly quickly!

        • QFFlyer says:

          9 Mar9 March 03:57

          I second this, take the 748

  • David S says:

    8 Mar8 March 14:03

    Depends if you are travelling alone or with someone.
    If travelling with a companion, not much difference although the cubby hole for your feet in Swiss A330 can be uncomfortable for some.
    If travelling alone, at least on the Swiss A330, you have a option of a single throne seat although they are expensive to prebook unless you have high status or they can be booked for free when online check in opens.
    Lufthansa seats upstairs on the 747 are 2×2 and if you are in any window seats and have to get out, steppingout over a companion you do not know is not pleasant.

  • Charlieface says:

    8 Mar8 March 19:52

    Do the A330’s still have the galley and toilets down in the hold? Always thought that was a cool idea, keep the smells away and gives much more and bigger toiletss

    • QFFlyer says:

      9 Mar9 March 03:57

      You’re thinking of the A340 I think?

    • Rhys says:

      9 Mar9 March 08:36

      Those were Lufthansa’s A340s.

• Lady London says:

  8 Mar8 March 13:33

  what about airlines that don’t use GDS, @Nick? if their own systems would do it (I am thinking the likes of Ryanair here) would the airline still be barred from doing this?

• MadeUpName says:

  8 Mar8 March 13:35

  Has anyone not in the initial drop for Barclays Avios rewards had it appear on the app yet? I opened and new account and no sign of it yet. Just wondering if I need to sign up for blue rewards first or something.

  • Rhys says:

    8 Mar8 March 14:01

    Nope, just a matter of time.

    • MadeUpName says:

      8 Mar8 March 14:48

      Cool, thanks

  • Craig says:

    8 Mar8 March 14:32

    Yes, mine appeared a couple of days after I signed up. Started the switch after opting in.

    • MadeUpName says:

      8 Mar8 March 14:48

      Thanks

  • sloth says:

    8 Mar8 March 17:08

    yes but its not obvious, you need to click into the blue rewards part of the app and it should give you the choice to change – not sure if relevant but the app also slightly changed colour (at the top, losing the blue) at the same time

• Mco says:

  8 Mar8 March 13:38

  Had flights to Lapland for Christmas which were cancelled by Finnair. BA are refusing to rebook me to Dec 21 due to the ticket validity. Ticket prices are £600pp for those dates in December now. I don’t really want to go down the MCOL option unless there is no choice. Will sending them a email help?

  So what should I do next just book the dates I want and pay BA for the flights and then ask them to refund me?

  • Super Secret Stuff says:

    8 Mar8 March 14:34

    Press them harder, they have to rebook you onto something. I personally wouldn’t pay for the flights just yet.

    I am sure LL or someone can tell you which part of the law you need to reference

    • Mco says:

      8 Mar8 March 18:18

      Must have made 5-6 phone calls and same response every-time.

    • Charlieface says:

      8 Mar8 March 20:01

      EC261 enforces this.

      ”
      Article 5

      Cancellation

      1. In case of cancellation of a flight, the passengers concerned shall:

      (a) be offered assistance by the operating air carrier in accordance with Article 8;
      ……….

      Article 8

      Right to reimbursement or re-routing:
      ….passengers shall be offered the choice between:
      …..
      (c) re-routing, under comparable transport conditions, to their final destination AT A LATER DATE AT THE PASSENGER’S CONVENIENCE, subject to availability of seats.
      ”

      And I believe the IATA Ticketing Handbook Chapter 7 lays out that the ticket validity should be extended (this is a simple system override for a manager) and the ticket endorsed “INVOL”.

      If they won’t play ball, try push it to higher ups. You may find it easier as it gets closer to the date. Barring that, book it yourself and take them to court/MCOL.

      Do NOT, under any circumstances, accept a refund, or a rebooking that you do not want.

      • Mco says:

        8 Mar8 March 23:00

        Perfect. Thank you!

• Crafty says:

  8 Mar8 March 14:57

  Anyone else suddenly unable to use Curve Metal for paying Amex? I could do it 3 days ago. 2 declines on consecutive days now.

  • S879 says:

    8 Mar8 March 17:00

    Yes facing the same for 3 days.

    • Peter K says:

      8 Mar8 March 20:18

      Same for several days (since Thursday I think).

• Tanya says:

  8 Mar8 March 15:43

  Last year we stayed in hotel Du Lac and park in Riva, lake Garda. Looking at lake como for September and wondered if anyone had hotel recommendations? Someone within walking distance of a few restaurants preferably.

  • Tom1 says:

    8 Mar8 March 23:26

    I stayed in the new Hilton como in 2018 not long after it opened. It’s on the edge of town of Como, around 10-15 minutes stroll in.

    Hotel being brand new was really nice, very modern which I like. roof top pool was lovely although not enough loungers for the size of the hotel.

    Great rooftop terrace for evening drinks too.
    Breakfast was good. It wasn’t cheap though – think 80k per night.

    I remember searching for other redemptions in the area – can only think there was an older Sheraton nearby, although another 10 minute walk out of town.

• The rooster says:

  8 Mar8 March 15:53

  Does anyone know If the Boeing 777-300ER Manchester – Dubai is the new first class suite?

  • Mco says:

    8 Mar8 March 18:20

    Nope. It seems to be the 8 seat cabin which is the old F. The new F has 6 seats.

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