The HfP chat thread – Thursday 18th March

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General

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Mco says:

18 Mar18 March 10:07

BA have cancelled two of my flights and refusing to rebook me to a new date which is 2 and 3 months after the tickets 1 year validity ends.
I am in the process of sending them the letter before claim. Can I do both of these on the same letter and MCO case or does it need to be separate? They are two separate PNR’s for different destinations.
- meta says:
  
  18 Mar18 March 10:10
  
  I’d separate the claims. Makes BA pay twice the fee. Don’t forget to also claim for postage costs, interest and your time.
  - Lady London says:
    
    18 Mar18 March 10:22
    
    8% statutory interest pa to claim for all amounts too.
    
    MCOL/Small Claims is not set up to pay for your time or any professional advice except rarely. BA would have had to put you through a lot and really clearly obviously always been a claim they should have paid for it to be reasonable for you to claim this.
    - Mco says:
      
      18 Mar18 March 11:23
      
      Thank you once again.
Sprout says:

18 Mar18 March 10:15

I’ve tried twice to post a reply on the Morrisons thread and neither have been displayed.
@Rhys / @Rob are you aware of an issue? thx
- the_real_a says:
  
  18 Mar18 March 11:04
  
  Did you mention a naughty word such as c&shb**k? There is a word filter on HfP to protect their revenue.
  - Sprout says:
    
    18 Mar18 March 11:17
    
    Nope, I was just explaining that I’d managed to find a workaround (for me anyway) to see the Morrisons offers when I have never been able to previously.
    Now replied to Tom 3 times and nothing showing – I can’t be arsed to type it again! 🙂
Mco says:

18 Mar18 March 10:16

Ok thanks. One more question. On one of the flights the outbound is in first and return in business. I read that it has to be a like for like booking that you need to do yourself in the same cabins. I was just going to book a business return or should I be booking first outbound and business return. As there are no options for first from my local airport so would need to start on EK from LHR which would not be like for like. Business from my local would be better.
- Lady London says:
  
  18 Mar18 March 10:32
  
  A lesser class would be fine if it suits you. You are mitigating your claim which makes you a reasonable person.
  
  However as much as possible your claim should be for the identical thing you were entitled to but did not provide.
  
  Courts are simple things especially at this level. So the more things you ask them to wonder about is this replacement or betterment or change and has the claimant only done enough to put himself in the position he would have been in had he received what he had a right to from the defendant…or is he asking us to provide something different he doesn’t strictly have a right to.. the more disparities between what you bought to replace and the original, the more chance a disparity could say you’re not claiming the reasonably available like for like and it could sink your claim.
  - Mco says:
    
    18 Mar18 March 15:02
    
    Thank you so much.
Rob says:

18 Mar18 March 10:16

Pleased to see that John’s comment on HfP on the Avios devaluation has made it into the Independent this morning – see https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/british-airways-avios-frequent-flyer-b1818898.html

People do read what you post here ….

You should also note that if you post anything on HfP under your real name you have only yourself to blame if it appears in the national press attributed to you. John didn’t do this but I just mention it as a general point.
- BSI1978 says:
  
  18 Mar18 March 10:47
  
  Has the report been updated? I can’t see that ‘John’ is named….?
  - Rob says:
    
    18 Mar18 March 10:50
    
    He isn’t named. My comment was a general one, not based specifically on this.
- Harry T says:
  
  18 Mar18 March 11:41
  
  And yet, people still don’t think we should use code words in the comments…
  - Super Secret Stuff says:
    
    18 Mar18 March 12:14
    
    Yep it’s mad….
    
    Anyway, my Seagulls are getting fed by bendy when they feel creative. But at the moment they’re angry with Ernie, might send him via Hong Kong.
    
    (I don’t do MS, just a funny in joke)
    - Super Secret Stuff says:
      
      18 Mar18 March 12:17
      
      Oh and I do love a bit of TaCo Bell
  - Aston100 says:
    
    18 Mar18 March 12:58
    
    It really is ridiculous. There have been lots of reasons cited as to why it may be better to use loose codenames that aren’t all that difficult to decipher, but these ignoramuses just revert to their standard mantra of “the financial institutions are all aware of these practices”.
    Just not seeing the bigger picture about scale / volume at all.
Jonathan says:

18 Mar18 March 10:21

Is there a ceiling to paying council tax via pay point using an Amex ? That’s assuming I can find a co op who accepts it .
- Genghis says:
  
  18 Mar18 March 10:29
  
  Your Amex limit? There is a limit of £200 or so IIRC per top up but multiple top ups can be charged to the one card transaction.
- Vit says:
  
  18 Mar18 March 11:31
  
  Second what Genghis said there. Just need to ask them to scan the paypoint barcode 10 times if your council tax is £2k. I normally feeling a bit guilty of holding up the queue but hey ho! 🙂
AJA says:

18 Mar18 March 10:58

Data point: just used my Amex in Waitrose and immediately got a “You just used your Avios Offer” email re the bonus 2 Avios on spend up to £4k . So it is definitely cumulative. Pity I am about to trigger the 2-4-1 so about to switch spending to partner’s card. Had an issue with Amex offers on that card so couldn’t register for the offer.
ankomonkey says:

18 Mar18 March 11:01

Do either Igloo Energy or Octopus Energy have a referral bonus? I’m still deciding, so can’t promise I will use a referral, but happy to use one from someone here if I decide to go with that company. Thanks!
- Rhys says:
  
  18 Mar18 March 11:04
  
  Try mine – https://share.octopus.energy/noble-quoll-57 – we both get £50.
  
  For what it’s worth I really like Octopus Energy. Have always been competitive on price for me, and good customer service.
  - Nori says:
    
    18 Mar18 March 11:19
    
    If I may be permitted to share an Igloo Energy link. We both receive a reward when you join Igloo Energy using this link https://refer.igloo.energy/nbarons3845 . Get £50 for signing up.
    - ankomonkey says:
      
      18 Mar18 March 14:57
      
      Thanks Nori!
  - Steve says:
    
    18 Mar18 March 13:58
    
    Hey Rhys, how’s that article coming along on energy providers? Also in the market soon and a few companies all in the running/close on price. Acceptance of Amex and referral bonuses likely to be deciding factor!
    - Rhys says:
      
      18 Mar18 March 14:28
      
      Working on it!
  - ankomonkey says:
    
    18 Mar18 March 14:56
    
    Thanks Rhys!
- Rhys says:
  
  18 Mar18 March 11:24
  
  Sorry Grant, Nori beat you!
  - Grant says:
    
    18 Mar18 March 12:01
    
    No problemo
- John Caribbean says:
  
  18 Mar18 March 12:15
  
  I got the exact same price with M&S , which is actually Octopus, and a £75 voucher
  - Rhys says:
    
    18 Mar18 March 12:21
    
    Wasn’t that a limited time offer?
MR says:

18 Mar18 March 11:04

Are VA reward tickets cancelable like Avios redemptions?
- Rhys says:
  
  18 Mar18 March 11:06
  
  Yes, although I believe the cancellation fee is £30 rather than £35
  - MR says:
    
    18 Mar18 March 11:10
    
    Thanks, found the info on VA website – FYI
    Once tickets for a Rewards booking are issued, no name changes are allowed. If for any reason a flight Reward is cancelled by the Member outside 24 hours of departure, 100% of the Virgin Points will be re-credited to the Member’s account. A cancellation fee of £30 for changes to flights originating in the UK, US$50 for changes to flights originating in the US or local currency equivalent of US$50 for changes to flights originating in any other region will apply.
    - Magic Mike says:
      
      18 Mar18 March 13:34
      
      My recent VS reward cancellations have ended up with zero cancellation fee, when the refund eventually came through.
    - Travel Strong says:
      
      18 Mar18 March 17:13
      
      Same. Also have not been charged the cancellation fee’s, which is nice. I agreed to the fee over whatsapp, but then they chose not to charge it.