The HfP chat thread – Sunday 21st March

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General

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Nick says:

21 Mar21 March 10:22

Wife’s gold cars anniversary is at beginning of April. We don’t want to renew.
We have met the 15k threshold for the 10000 bonus avios

My understanding, I will get charged the annual card fee at beginning of April. I should get the bonus avios in May. That’s when I can cancel and get the pro rata (11 months) fee refund?

She wants the Amex Rewards credit card ( fee free) to keep the Amex membership rewards alive.

Can I refer her now to this Rewards credit card? Can she hold the rewards card and the gold card together? And will they both be linked to the same MR account?

Anything else to be aware of? I know she won’t get the signup bonus.
- Doug M says:
  
  21 Mar21 March 10:27
  
  Yes get the ARCC now, you get the referral points. She can add it to her online account to make sure MR are retained. I never cancel Gold until the MR are in account. At most she’ll pay about £20.
- BuildBackBetter says:
  
  21 Mar21 March 11:20
  
  Don’t forget to request transfer of gold credit limit to the new Rewards card. It’s not done automatically.
- Chris Heyes says:
  
  21 Mar21 March 11:42
  
  Nick Another possibly Could your OH get the BA Premium Amex with referral from you meet the spend requirement for the bonus Avios, then cancel (or carry on for the 241)
  remembering to transfer out from her Gold Card
  Just another alternative will give around 23k Avios extra plus referral
  - Nick says:
    
    21 Mar21 March 17:14
    
    Yes. But I could do this anytime? Ie can move to ARRC now for her. Then take up ba premium later this year?
Sam G says:

21 Mar21 March 10:24

KUL is cancelled. SIN & BKK are both very competitive (SIN maybe more so with people trying to get to/from Aus) so I’d try for Bangkok if that’s what you really want.

SIN (in the A380 days) tend to a) get some F seats and b) open up later on (especially mid week) if you set up alerts. In my experience BKK can easily never release any further seats
Mikeact says:

21 Mar21 March 10:59

I’ve just run into a Lloyds voucher problem.
I am 99.999% sure that when I spoke to them in February, the helpful guy said, and I wrote it down that it would be extended the end of March which I considered fair enough. Calling up yesterday to use, or maybe extend again, I was gob smacked to be told that it expired last week. I want to make a formal complaint..any ideas?
- Anna says:
  
  21 Mar21 March 11:20
  
  Several other people have reported that the vouchers have now been extended until October so I would definitely try another CSA!
  - Matthew says:
    
    21 Mar21 March 11:32
    
    On request I believe
    - Rob says:
      
      21 Mar21 March 13:51
      
      They are extended to 31/10 on request, yes. I keep forgetting to cover it.
- Matthew says:
  
  21 Mar21 March 11:22
  
  You’ll prob have to request the recording of the call. In my experience extending, when I requested in Feb they did it to end Feb. Then when I called late Feb they extended it to end March. Then called last week to extend to end Oct. So it depends when you called in Feb.
  - Catman says:
    
    21 Mar21 March 11:59
    
    +1 I did exactly the same…..
- GeorgeJ says:
  
  21 Mar21 March 11:35
  
  Mikeact,
  
  Try a different rep, I have had mine extended (in Feb) to 31 March (I used it). I had another booking cancelled for March and the voucher was extended to October.
  If you didnt write down the rep and time, look at your phone records for the exact call time so that you can b very specific as to when you spoke to them.
- Nigel W says:
  
  21 Mar21 March 13:38
  
  There’s also live chat on the website which works! you just have to select ‘Rest Of Europe – English’ and then it appears.
  
  I got my one extended to October 31st last week.
  - Brian W says:
    
    21 Mar21 March 23:59
    
    +1
    
    I had my last two 241’s extended last week until 31st Oct using live chat.
- Wally1976 says:
  
  21 Mar21 March 21:13
  
  Mine was extended to 31st March when February 2021 flights were cancelled. When I phoned to book a couple of weeks ago (for February 2022), I was advised that if I didn’t want to book there and then I could have the voucher extended to 31st October.
Matthew says:

21 Mar21 March 11:25

Just had a random Marriott award booking situation. Booked 5 nights, shows 250,000 points at page before confirming. I have enough in my account. Click book and confirmation shows 250,000 points etc. Notice no email or reduction of points, log back in and the reservation shows 280,000 points and done as points advance saying I don’t have enough?! No idea what’s going on…
- Harry T says:
  
  21 Mar21 March 11:45
  
  Presumably the dynamic award pricing caused the price to go up whilst you were trying to book?
  - Harry T says:
    
    21 Mar21 March 11:45
    
    If you don’t have 280k points then that’s why it’s now a points advance. Which hotel is it?
    - Matthew says:
      
      21 Mar21 March 12:34
      
      But that’s the thing Harry. I clicked book, the immediate confirmation in front of me showed 250,000 points used. But when I click to view reservation later, it shows 280,000.
      
      It’s Westin Rusutsu 1-6 March 2022. Put in exact dates and see what you get!
      - meta says:
        
        21 Mar21 March 12:38
        
        It shows as 280k for me, but on flexible search it shows as 250k. It might be because some days are higher rate than others and the 5th free night is the lowest of all.
      - Matthew says:
        
        21 Mar21 March 12:38
        
        Just did it now…I put in exact dates with for 2 people = 250k points. Put exact dates for 1 person = 280k points?!
      - Matthew says:
        
        21 Mar21 March 12:40
        
        My screenshot confirmation shows 3 nights @ 60,000 and 1 night at 70,000. The free night being the 60,000, hence the 250,000 total.
      - meta says:
        
        21 Mar21 March 12:46
        
        For me it shows for both one person and two people at 280k. The last night (5-6th) has just been released. I’d give it a rest for a day or two then try again. Unlikely rooms will snapped up that early.
      - Harry T says:
        
        21 Mar21 March 12:51
        
        It’s showing as 280k when I look at those dates.
      - Matthew says:
        
        21 Mar21 March 12:53
        
        Ok thanks for looking! I’ll just see what happens in the comings weeks…
Diydegsy says:

21 Mar21 March 11:34

Hi if I have 2 x 241 vouchers do I personally have to be a passenger on each or can I use them for 4 of us travelling together on 1 flight.
- Chris Heyes says:
  
  21 Mar21 March 11:47
  
  Diydegsy Not a problem you just have to be one of the four on the same flight
- KS says:
  
  21 Mar21 March 12:20
  
  You can. This is covered in the article for 241s: https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2020/06/08/how-do-british-airways-2-4-1-american-express-companion-vouchers-work/
jason says:

21 Mar21 March 11:47

anyone else having problems paying virgin with curve?
- PK says:
  
  21 Mar21 March 13:45
  
  Only this morning ,yesterday was OK for two transactions to Virgin
Lou says:

21 Mar21 March 13:54

Hi Rob and Rhys, given that it’s looking pretty unlikely that any of us will be going abroad for holidays this year, is there any chance of running a series on places to go around the UK? Maybe something strategic where you can also got various loyalty targets as well as getting a holiday. Before anyone jumps in and says this is something that exists, I want to know about chain hotels where I know pretty much what I’m getting, not some stuck up B&B in the arse-end of nowhere.

I’d love to know if I’m not the only one who wants something like this!
- Rob says:
  
  21 Mar21 March 13:56
  
  It’s a pretty thin list, unfortunately. It might be something we try to do after 17th May when we can get out and see places in person.
- Tracey says:
  
  21 Mar21 March 14:02
  
  I’m not giving up hope just yet. Seychelles and Gibraltar have vaccinated all their population, Israel not far behind.
  Article in today’s Sunday Times that the Seychelles have deliberately decided to stop South Africans arriving in order to come off our red list.
  - Steve says:
    
    21 Mar21 March 14:07
    
    Like mentioned earlier, Seychelles own population is not the deciding factor. What countries Seychelles is allowing in will be more the point.
    - meta says:
      
      21 Mar21 March 14:11
      
      They are allowing all vaccinated tourists without restrictions no matter where you come from.
    - Steve says:
      
      21 Mar21 March 14:15
      
      Are they only allowing vaccinated visitors? That should get them on the green list.
  - Anna says:
    
    21 Mar21 March 15:42
    
    Are there any refundable options to Seychelles now BA has pulled the route?
    - Cat says:
      
      21 Mar21 March 17:18
      
      Qatar still has a pretty flexible policy, if we allow people to transit through Qatar this summer.
- Steve says:
  
  21 Mar21 March 14:09
  
  Would also be interested in this. Both where the hotel itself is the destination (agree this list will be thin) and others where there are chains in tourist areas (the HIX Bodmin article from last year is a good example).
  - Lou says:
    
    21 Mar21 March 20:35
    
    I’m off to Torquay in the new Hampton by Hilton for starters. Rather looking forward to it
    - Rob says:
      
      21 Mar21 March 20:54
      
      I am tempted to book this too, perhaps tie it in with a few days in HIX Bodmin. Not exactly super luxury but better than £250 per night for a firetrap 2-star B&B which will be the alternative this Summer.
      - AnotherUser says:
        
        21 Mar21 March 21:47
        
        Prices in Scottish cities aren’t so bad this summer (so far). E.g. decent 4* hotel or nice apartment in Glasgow around £80-90/night in July, which doesn’t seem unusual. I know lots of people are booking for more rural areas, though (and there is some lousy accomodation going for high prices).
- Eric says:
  
  21 Mar21 March 14:13
  
  What are everyone’s thoughts on Turkey being a possibility?
  - BuildBackBetter says:
    
    21 Mar21 March 14:54
    
    Definitely for Christmas
    - Grant says:
      
      21 Mar21 March 15:07
      
      😂
    - Peter K says:
      
      21 Mar21 March 15:31
      
      😂
  - Louie says:
    
    21 Mar21 March 22:42
    
    Booked for October, so I hope so. Their vaccine programme is doing much better than most of Europe. Last week they announced they would be welcoming Brits – https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/turkey-british-holidaymakers-covid-vaccination-passport-b924100.html. Big spike in cases there in the last week which isn’t good news though.
  - Aston100 says:
    
    21 Mar21 March 22:56
    
    No chance before October half term.
- BJ says:
  
  21 Mar21 March 14:26
  
  I have an August weekend in a suite at Indigo Bath. Remain undecided whether to use it or not so I might try and sell it back to them 🙂 Never tried that before but something new to add interest to the game.
  - memesweeper says:
    
    21 Mar21 March 15:25
    
    ebay it when the penny finally drops for the masses that the two weeks in the sun ain’t happening this year. 🙂
- The Lord says:
  
  21 Mar21 March 14:37
  
  Wouldn’t say it’s unlikely, you just might be limited on where you can go.
  https://www.ft.com/content/a9817c71-9f22-4e00-91b0-fb7e95e6cf06
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    21 Mar21 March 16:42
    
    Exactly. Look at the vaccine rollout data there will be destinations it just won’t be everywhere.
    
    Malta looks like.
- Harry T says:
  
  21 Mar21 March 16:28
  
  Generally the Indigo hotels are the best in cities outside London, from what I’ve heard. Langley, Turnberry and University Arms are good Marriott redemption options.
IF1 says:

21 Mar21 March 14:23

Just been offered 10000 MR points to keep gold credit card no spend required, card was renewed twice so paid the annual fee twice, last charge in October
- BJ says:
  
  21 Mar21 March 14:27
  
  Harry T reported same a couple of days ago.
- Harry T says:
  
  21 Mar21 March 14:55
  
  Yeah, similar situation for me but I’ve only renewed once. What’s interesting is within the last six months I already received a retention offer where I received an extra two MR per pound spent, which I did very well out of. And I wasn’t paying for the card at that point.