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The HfP chat thread – Sunday 21st March

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We are running this daily chat thread on Head for Points during the coronavirus outbreak.

Historically, the daily ‘Bits’ articles were the de facto repository for random comments and questions.  With the news flow being lighter, we are running fewer ‘Bits’ articles.

The comments under this article are where you should post questions about travel and, indeed, anything else on your mind.  At this tricky time, and given that many of you are at home, we want the HfP community to have a place to chat.

Please only comment under the main articles on the site if your comment is directly related to the topic of the article.  This has long-term benefits as it keeps the commentary relevant for people who read those articles in the future.

Old chat threads are hidden from the HfP home page.  If you want to look for something in an old thread, click here.  This brings up all the articles in our ‘General’ category which includes the chat threads.

Category

General

Comments (338)

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

  • idontflymuch says:
    21 Mar21 March 17:19

    A little off topic but this forum really is unbeatable when it comes to its helpfulness and broadness of knowledge. I need to send funds to China (tens of thousands) to a family member. I understand TransferWise or Wise as they now call themselves is able to send just over a few thousand at a time in CNY – are there any other options that people have used in the past? Thanks again, and sorry for being off topic.

    • Blenz101 says:
      21 Mar21 March 19:28

      Try getting a quote from IFX payments for large amounts.

      • idontflymuch says:
        21 Mar21 March 19:56

        super, thank you @blenz101

      • Lady London says:
        22 Mar22 March 02:31

        Midpoint give avios, could be worth contacting them to see if they will give you a quote. Recent article on here mentioned them.

  • Matthew says:
    21 Mar21 March 17:44

    Reference the points issue I had earlier with a Marriott booking. Booked @ 250,000pts with enough in account. Confirmation page showed this but reservation shows it as points advance @ 280,000pts. I contacted Marriott Twitter team and re-created the issue ‘live’ and they immediately honoured my booking at the 250,000 rate. Great CS from the Marriott Twitter team. Apparently a rare but know glitch that that will help fix if it ever happens to you.

  • Tom says:
    21 Mar21 March 17:59

    Sorry did not realise this exists.

    Is it safe to buy Avios from third party companies?

    I see various companies advertising that they sell points and a friend of mine did.

    But is it genuine and safe?

    • Anna says:
      21 Mar21 March 18:23

      It’s highly inadvisable as there’s no legitimate way of getting them into your account. Also it’s against BA’s Ts and Cs and they have been known to close down accounts (thereby taking all your avios back) if they get wind of it.
      How did it work for your friend?

      • Andrew says:
        21 Mar21 March 18:41

        Gold members can transfer to another member’s account. But of course against the BA terms of exec club to take money for doing this and would advise against doing it as your account might get shut down, or theirs or the seller is just scamming you.

    • Rob says:
      21 Mar21 March 19:19

      No. BA will close your account if spotted and very easy to be ripped off.

  • Bigmaggot says:
    21 Mar21 March 18:05

    Renewed my child’s passport on Thurs 11 March evening, old passport sent off Friday, new passport delivered 19 March. Very impressed, thought there might be a delay with potential travel opening up soon! Though travel looks unlikely now if I’m honest 🙁

  • Ash Raj says:
    21 Mar21 March 18:05

    Was reading the Sunday times today , the travel minster for Seychelles wrote they are trying to persuade BA to restart direct flights from London again. Sounds promising.

  • Billdub says:
    21 Mar21 March 18:30

    Hello, Please can someone advise how to upgrade from BA amex to BAPP online?

    Thanks,

    • Steve says:
      21 Mar21 March 18:35

      It’s a new card application as far as I recall, they will then cancel BA Amex. Don’t believe it’s an “upgrade”, more so a replacement

  • M says:
    21 Mar21 March 18:36

    Am I correct that you can self refer for Brighton cards?

    • Genghis says:
      21 Mar21 March 18:49

      Yes and you will get the points. Whether you should or not is another matter. See US self referrals as a data point.

    • Steve says:
      21 Mar21 March 18:57

      Try and use the referred card for specific type of spend (e.g. fuel), if challenged you can then point to it being used to segregate spend.

      • Track says:
        21 Mar21 March 19:17

        That bears no difference.

        See what happened and continues to be policed in the US AMEX — they simply run a script and take back points from self-referrals.

    • Rob says:
      21 Mar21 March 19:17

      In the US Amex is closing accounts of people who do this. Quite risky at present.

  • Tim Rogers says:
    21 Mar21 March 18:57

    I currently have a pretty-old companion voucher locked up in a September booking to Vancouver.

    The booking was made in the half price sale, originally for February in First, and then involuntarily changed (after a cancellation) to Club World in September.

    Any idea what will happen if I end up turning it into an FTV? Do I get to keep the 241? 🤯

    • Rob says:
      21 Mar21 March 19:16

      You keep the 241, which is valid for a trip ending 30/4/23.

    • Genghis says:
      21 Mar21 March 19:17

      Whatever is in the current booking will be bundled into a FTV

      • mart says:
        21 Mar21 March 19:53

        I thought you would only keep the 241, but not the 50% sale discount on top?

        • Genghis says:
          21 Mar21 March 20:01

          You’d keep the avios in the booking. But when you come to make your next booking with the FTV you wouldn’t get 50% off.

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

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