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The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 20th April

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

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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.

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General

Comments (270)

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

  • Algor says:
    20 Apr20 April 03:54

    Good morning HfP, good news for whoever has some stays with Hilton 3rd May – 6th September.

    IIRC this high bonus was only once for Luxury properties, looks great.

    “More Nights, More Points
    OFFER DETAILS
    Promotion Registration Opens to Members: April 19, 2021
    Promotion Stay Period: May 3 – September 6, 2021
    Offer:
    2x Bonus Points on Stays of 1 or 2 nights
    and 3x Bonus Points on Stays of 3 Nights or more
    Promotion URL: https://www.hiltonhonors.com/en_US/2021-hh2-more-nights/landing/ (Live April 19, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. ET)
    How it works: Members register at the URL above to participate. There’s no limit to the number of Bonus Points a member can earn during the promotion period. For every hotel stay through September 6, 2021, members earn 2x Bonus Points on Stays of 1 or 2 nights and 3x Bonus Points on Stays of 3 Nights or more if enrolled in the current More Nights, More Points promotion.

  • Plane Crank says:
    20 Apr20 April 04:38

    Any advice on the following would be appreciated:

    I have had an aircraft change on my outward flight to Dubai in July 2021 (assuming it comes off the Red List), but there is no First cabin available on the replacement aircraft (has gone from A380 to 777 with a 3-cabin configuration).

    As I have effectively been downgraded to Club World, does this entitle me to EU261 compensation on top of the fare difference which BA have said they will refund to my credit card. I’m not certain whether the downgrade compensation only applies to flight changes made within 14 days of your flight, as is the case for cancellations etc.

    Thanks in advance for your help.

    • Matt says:
      20 Apr20 April 08:01

      It’s not compensation for downgrades, it’s reimbursement of a proportion of the fare, depending on distance. Only claimable after you’ve flown. The BA fare difference refund will form part of it, and you will probably have to fight for the rest of what you’re due. There’s no 14 day limit or exceptional circumstances for downgrades

    • ChrisC says:
      20 Apr20 April 08:07

      I suggest you have a look at the chat threads for the last couple of days as your question has been asked and answered several times.

      The advice won’t change but it will save people typing the same thing again!

    • Rob says:
      20 Apr20 April 09:56

      You qualify for downgrade compo.

  • Sundar says:
    20 Apr20 April 05:45

    GM HfP,
    Any pointers on Leeds Building society or HSBC mortgage(non-Premier) repayments/overpayments using Bendy/Che route ? Rate/terms being almost equal, consideration for points generation possibility being evaluated…

    • gareth says:
      20 Apr20 April 08:27

      Hsbc mortgage overpayments cannot be made via card

    • PK says:
      20 Apr20 April 08:32

      I do believe for Halifax mortgage monthly and overpayments can be made using Bendy.

      • John says:
        20 Apr20 April 09:08

        Interesting. I’m about to take a Halifax mortgage. How does making the monthly payments via Bendy work? I assume you keep the direct debit going? Do they adjust it automatically if you make manual payment?

        • PK says:
          20 Apr20 April 09:18

          Making manual automated payments monthly via bendy and cancelling the direct debit.

          • 747_Brat says:
            20 Apr20 April 10:53

            What is a “manual automated payment”? That’s an oxymoron! :mrgreen:

  • Harry T says:
    20 Apr20 April 07:35

    Kiehl’s Amex offer is back for anyone who fancies stocking up on nice smelling face wash. Two variations – 15% off £50 spend, and 10% off £50 spend. Single use only per card.

    • DJ says:
      20 Apr20 April 07:51

      Nice, thanks for the head up!

    • Andrew says:
      20 Apr20 April 07:53

      Although the 20% off at Harrods would be a better deal if you have it, and you’d earn Harrods reward points.

      • Harry T says:
        20 Apr20 April 08:12

        I’ve actually never received a Harrods offer, despite not spending there on Amex before and probably being a reasonable customer to target.

        • Andrew says:
          20 Apr20 April 08:16

          Whereas I spend tens of thousands a year there on Amex and always get the offers – so perhaps that’s how Harrods have asked Amex to target customers for their offers – encouraging more spending from existing customers rather than acquiring new ones. The usual unknown logic of the Amex offers!

      • DJ says:
        20 Apr20 April 09:04

        There are some items I need is on sale with Kiehl’s at the moment, so it is nice to be able to stack the offers! And free samples too 😂

  • EvilGazebo says:
    20 Apr20 April 07:46

    Morning all. I used to have both the free and the paid Virgin cards but cancelled the paid one when COVID hit. Given the improved benefits I’d like to apply again but technically the rules say you can’t have had another VM card in the last six months.

    Do I really have to cancel the free card and wait six months or has anyone had success another way?

    • Luke says:
      20 Apr20 April 08:03

      If you call them they’ll talk you through it, however you need to cancel the free card, apply for the paid one, then it’ll reject you automatically, you then have to write to them explaining and hope they open the paid one.

  • YC says:
    20 Apr20 April 07:51

    @Harry T – Are u looking to cancel ur Marriott card? U seem to have a good track record of most things Marriott

    • Matt says:
      20 Apr20 April 08:03

      Some news about Marriott/the card?

    • Matthew says:
      20 Apr20 April 08:08

      I have. Although the only thing I see improving is reducing the spend requirement for the 25,000pt free night.

      • DJ says:
        20 Apr20 April 09:06

        That’s not a great news .. it’s the only personal card I’ve got left with Amex.

    • Harry T says:
      20 Apr20 April 08:15

      I don’t think so. I have a few supplementary cards set up now and receiving offers. I’m waiting for the Marriott c@shb@ack offers that should come this summer, as that would save me a pretty penny if they appear on all my supps.

      If they are making substantial changes to the card, then they should apply them to legacy cardholders, as they did when they rebranded the card and changed it last time. If the change is an enhanced sign up bonus, then I doubt I’ll be eligible if I’ve held the card in the preceding months, looking at how Amex currently decides bonus eligibility on other cards.

      TL;DR keeping the card should be more profitable for me. Not convinced about the impending changes being lucrative until I get some more substantial hints.

      • Secret Squirrel says:
        20 Apr20 April 09:14

        I’m thinking it must be an enhanced bonus sign up offer of Marriott points.

      • YC says:
        20 Apr20 April 10:12

        Thanks feels rationale. Equation is something like: [c.£6/month + Unknown new changes] < Chance of specific Marriott offers. Swings and roundabouts

    • N says:
      20 Apr20 April 08:32

      I’ve cancelled mine off the back of Rob and Rhys’ posts yesterday. All my spending is going towards my Bus Plat SUB at the moment anyway, so the Marriott card is resting.

      And if I get another 15 nights when I re-join, then that’ll be a nice bonus!

      • Harry T says:
        20 Apr20 April 08:59

        You will only receive 15 nights per calendar year.

        • Secret Squirrel says:
          20 Apr20 April 09:16

          There seemed to be some talk that you keep 15 nights from previous year over into Y2? However, I’m sure TGL stated you only kept your current years 15 x days. I’m new to the Marriott card so can’t comment what is right or wrong.

          • Rob says:
            20 Apr20 April 09:37

            You don’t get the 15 nights rolled over.

            Marriott may, or may not, do a similar offer next year where they credit you with some free nights based on your 2021 status. For example, this year, I was given 25 nights as I was Plat last year plus 15 nights off my Bonvoy Amex. This meant I had 40 nights on 1st January and only need 10 nights during 2021 to hit Platinum for 2022.

          • TGLoyalty says:
            20 Apr20 April 11:03

            yes I got the feeling the comments were suggesting that which is why i clarified they do not rollover. its 15 nights per calendar year

  • Ant says:
    20 Apr20 April 08:17

    Next week i need to book our 2022 Easter flight to HK but I also have an FTV with a companion voucher that I would like to use for this booking. So is this the best approach?

    Midnight book 2 one way flights Lon -HK using avios for 2 and during the day call BA to use the FTV against it which includes a companion voucher and some cash.
    I assume they will refund me half the avios and the cash.

    When the inbound flight is available i will do do same and book them at midnight and then call to have the companion voucher applied and they will refund me the avios for one flight. Hoping they won’t rework the taxes.

    Any thing i missed out?

    • Michael says:
      20 Apr20 April 08:31

      01:00 due to BST. Don’t get caught out.

      • JohnT says:
        20 Apr20 April 08:49

        So the 1am people can’t use ftv’s? In that case will definitely get cash refund for current cancellation. PS do you have to agree an action before original flight date? Our new flight will be just over 1 year later.

        • Alex says:
          20 Apr20 April 09:14

          Calling 1am won’t be able to use a FTV. So book with full avios etc, call back in the morning for UK and they can add FTV to your booking. If not because you’re in 24hrs you can cancel everything you just booked for free and then immediately go again and hope the two seats you just let go, go straight back into the reward pool.

    • Genghis says:
      20 Apr20 April 09:15

      How much is the FTV for? If enough for one way, great. My advice, based on theory and what I know, not actual practice so others may know better:
      1) Book one way for two at 1am BST using avios and pay taxes.
      2) Call up in morning. Cancel the booking you just made (within 24 hours cooling off period), hope the flight goes back into reward inventory, and rebook using your FTV.
      3) Then when the return flights become available, also at 1am BST make the single return booking. If there’s no more value in the FTV in terms of cash / points, call up and then get the avios refunded. If there is, however, I reckon that you’ll need to cancel, once again hoping the flight goes back into reward inventory, and rebook, but pay the higher return taxes.

    • yorkieflyer says:
      20 Apr20 April 15:45

      I’m not at all sure about this. I was specifically told that an FTV including cash and avios could not be retrospectively applied to a booking made online at midnight.

  • xcalx says:
    20 Apr20 April 08:25

    I am just below the £10k on the free BA card. What is the route forward to get the paid BA card, do I get referred for it or do I need to phone and ask to upgrade and get the cards linked. Thanks. Only had the Lloyds vouchers previously.

    • John Caribbean says:
      20 Apr20 April 08:38

      Call and upgrade. You don’t need to ask for a link

      • JohnT says:
        20 Apr20 April 08:50

        Thought you just applied for paid card but give existing number in the application?

        • Alex says:
          20 Apr20 April 09:15

          If you call to upgrade they sometimes give you circa 6K avios as an upgrade bonus

    • Rob says:
      20 Apr20 April 09:44

      Try applying online for BAPP. On a good day, Amex accepts your application, sees you have the BA card, automatically cancel the BA card and moves all your spend info etc to the BAPP.

      If that fails, call and they can walk you through the application.

    • xcalx says:
      20 Apr20 April 09:54

      Thanks. I will give the online route a try from a referral

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

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