The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 19th May

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Metty says:

19 May19 May 09:18

Currently using the ‘Marriott Intern’ deal at the Sheraton Park La. In case it reassures others, pre-arrival comms were from the delightful staff enquiring whether we had any special requirements and arrival was entirely straightforward, as if we had actually spent £1600/nt on the room. C-19 means Club Lounge is cake and nibbles, definitely not like a UAE Club Lounge spread that removes any need for meals, but alcohol still served 1730-1930. Anika’s review in 2016 piqued my interest but huge thanks to HfP chat thread for leading us here….I’ve not got my head round all the codes used here (Che etc) but I did get the Intern thing. Cheers!
- justinj says:
  
  19 May19 May 09:31
  
  What is the Marriott ‘intern’ deal?
  - gareth says:
    
    19 May19 May 09:46
    
    Implying the rates were probably loaded by a junior member of staff on an internship
  - Dave says:
    
    19 May19 May 09:56
    
    There were some highly-competitively-priced suites available (think ~£200 for a suite that normally goes for ~£1,600) last month – i.e. the sort of rates that were loaded by an intern.
    - Metty says:
      
      19 May19 May 10:07
      
      yes Dave is correct
- Rob says:
  
  19 May19 May 10:26
  
  Excellent, glad you’re enjoying it. Do check out the ballroom if you haven’t already seen it.
  - Metty says:
    
    19 May19 May 10:48
    
    Roger wilco Rob. We’ll explore after our (included) afternoon tea. A shame that in C-19 paper-free hospitality world that there isn’t a QR code you can scan for the potted history of the building rather than rely on Anika’s review or google!
    
    It’s a great time to visit central London as occupancy is so low midweek; there must be great deals around and there are no crowds of tourists!
- Memesweeper says:
  
  19 May19 May 10:30
  
  Thanks @Metty — I’m hoping to check in next week and can’t wait
  - Metty says:
    
    19 May19 May 10:54
    
    Should have mentioned that wet shave an manicure – which may have been included when you booked – no longer are. You’ll have a great time anyway.
- BSI1978 says:
  
  19 May19 May 10:51
  
  Appreciate you taking the time to comment Metty; I like a few on here have some bookings in the coming weeks and I recall there being differing views on what to expect when checking-in etc. Now quite looking to my weekend in June, and should bag some brownie points with the lady!
  - BSI1978 says:
    
    19 May19 May 11:43
    
    *forward
- Babyg says:
  
  19 May19 May 10:58
  
  I did the Suite Sale/Intern deal in the weekend…. I posted a few pics here
  
  https://pointshaka.wordpress.com/
  - APB says:
    
    19 May19 May 14:11
    
    Looked good Babyg – can I assume the champagne in the pictures wasn’t complimentary?
    - Babyg says:
      
      19 May19 May 14:27
      
      @APB – unfortunately not, we did have a complementary bottle of wine and snacks in the room due to the club lounge being closed and the terrace being full…. but we did a combination of in-room dinning from the menu and BYO bollie…
  - Metty says:
    
    19 May19 May 20:18
    
    babyg excellent write up, I couldn’t do better than that.
- Aston100 says:
  
  19 May19 May 13:44
  
  Whatever happened to Anika?
  Wasn’t there someone called Sinead who also disappeared?
  - Crafty says:
    
    19 May19 May 13:51
    
    Didn’t they both go on maternity leave?
    - BSI1978 says:
      
      19 May19 May 15:03
      
      Indeed, although do still notice the odd d-hoc report from them both. Think Anika’s 2nd might be due though so could be a while before she returns.
- APB says:
  
  19 May19 May 14:09
  
  Yes thanks for that Metty – put quite a few minds at rest.
  - Babyg says:
    
    19 May19 May 14:30
    
    Ive actually booked this room x for 3 seperate bookings (2 more to go, one for family xmas lunch in december) and one for valentines weekend in 2022 :-)…. to good a deal not to book…
    - APB says:
      
      19 May19 May 14:57
      
      Just in for one myself – ironic since it was my original post. It is the wife’s birthday weekend and I had a room booking already which I had been checking often just in case the rate dropped
      - Babyg says:
        
        19 May19 May 15:18
        
        ah did you have june 19/20? I wanted that weekend for my wife birthday but it was gone…
      - APB says:
        
        19 May19 May 16:49
        
        No we’re in July.
Sukes says:

19 May19 May 09:22

In NI: Arlene Foster told MLAs on Monday that she hoped to make announcements soon probably this wk with regard to announcing intl travel & Covid vaccine certification policies. She has in person meeting with Boris early tomorrow with virtual NI Exec meeting afterwards so hopefully we’ll get some announcements tomorrow.
https://www.newsletter.co.uk/health/coronavirus/ni-covid-19-travel-passports-set-out-by-arlene-foster-3239212
Will says:

19 May19 May 09:29

My partner booked a euro reward flight saver using Avios.

Went to cancel it and the only option it for a FTV.

Phoned BA and they said no refunds only FTV.

Anyone had a similar experience?

Checked exec terms and conditions and section 17 clearly says reward bookings cancellable.
- Polly says:
  
  19 May19 May 09:32
  
  Hang up and call again
- Rob says:
  
  19 May19 May 10:25
  
  Clearly cancellable, and indeed now cancellable online I believe.
  
  However are you 100% sure he didn’t book a cash ticket and part-paid with Avios?
Ross says:

19 May19 May 09:32

Test To Release – In Person – London

Anyone recommend a “cheap” In-Person, Test to Release, test in London?

Thanks
- Pete M says:
  
  19 May19 May 09:43
  
  Collinson have been reliable for me at the O2 or LCY.
  - Ross says:
    
    19 May19 May 10:01
    
    Thanks. Was hoping for somewhere in Central London
    
    Anyone know of anyone?
James Pleasant says:

19 May19 May 09:35

Ryanair £5 each way sale (ends tomorrow) – genuinely thousands of £5 EW flights to many if not most European destinations all through June
- bafan says:
  
  19 May19 May 17:14
  
  I must have a look, they fly to some interesting places.
marcw says:

19 May19 May 09:36

jetblue LHR – JFK flights start on 12th August. 1x daily flight
- marcw says:
  
  19 May19 May 09:37
  
  Gatwick starts September 30.
  - Sam G says:
    
    19 May19 May 09:51
    
    Suggests the LHR slot is permanent then and they’ve decided to go for a split operation (at least for now) to secure an earlier arrival / departure as well
    
    With LGW now unserved for NYC it could in theory occupy a nice little niche down there but I think the issue will be Jetblue will mainly attract US originating traffic & they quite often think Heathrow or no go !
    - Rhys says:
      
      19 May19 May 10:07
      
      That may depend. Business passengers might prefer Heathrow but I doubt your average American really knows the difference between Heathrow or Gatwick!
      - Sam G says:
        
        19 May19 May 10:45
        
        some Americans definitely not – when I worked at Heathrow I once had a couple ask me how to get to the North terminal. After some investigation of their booking they were most shocked to learn London was even big enough to have two airports, let alone the other one was 45 minutes away! They’d also left their bags on the belt from their inbound flight and cleared customs. I did manage to get the bags and help them on a NatEx, I sometimes wonder if they made it 🙂
        
        Mixing the airports is a little dangerous thinking about it, hope they’ve got some clear warnings on their website …
- Rhys says:
  
  19 May19 May 10:00
  
  Looks like Gatwick too.
sam says:

19 May19 May 09:40

I currently have Barclays premier current account with the blue reward where you get a few pounds per month.

As an existing customer for more than 5 years, my concern is I might miss out on some rewards. for example, a new customer gets 25k Avios while everyone else gets nothing for switching.

Should I switch to the new Avios reward scheme?
- Rob says:
  
  19 May19 May 10:23
  
  Everyone else gets 2,500 Avios for switching – correction.
  
  You lose £3 per month from Blue Rewards but the 2,500 Avios covers that for around 8 months.
  
  The monthly £12 fee is a wash since 1,500 Avios are easily worth £8 and indeed get you £8 of Nectar points. This means you’re ‘paying’ (by giving it up) £36 for the upgrade voucher PLUS benefits that Barclays Avios Rewards members get for signing up to other current and forthcoming products.
  
  Would be hard not to get £36 of value from the upgrade voucher, and in Year 1 its offset by the 2,500 Avios anyway.
  
  So, yes, I’d switch.
  - Sal says:
    
    19 May19 May 11:20
    
    How about if you have a mortgage aswell as I’m currently receiving an extra £5 per month for that?
MCO says:

19 May19 May 09:45

In regards to my EU261 case against BA for a cancelled flight on Finnair. Spoke with small claims and they are saying its ok for me to add Finnair to the same case. Will cost me £100 to add them. I have spoken with Finnair a few times on the phone asking them to rebook me but don’t have any email proof. I have a screen shot of chat in which they say BA have to rebook me.

I have roughly 3 weeks before I need to submit the next set of documents. Is there a way to send letter before action on an active claim? Can I give them 14 days notice now that they are being brought onto an active claim. Maybe that will get them both to talk and sort it out?
- Memesweeper says:
  
  19 May19 May 10:34
  
  IANAL but I would definitely write to them and explain what’s going on, and why.
  
  Under EU261 they are liable to help you
  via contract law, so are BA
  
  Joining them in action is probably a smart thing to do.
- Lady London says:
  
  19 May19 May 13:03
  
  +1 following @memesweeper.
  
  Your multiple attempts that you remember are fine backed by your record of chat. Enclose chat record and refer to other attempts when you write a courteous note addressed /headed FAO Finnair Legal – joining in action informing them you are now joining them as co-defendant. Don’t head it letter before action.
  
  Contact Finnair ask for email to send it to explain it is a live action and their legal dept will want to know. Record the fact that you tried if they won’t give you a commitnent to rouse their Legal to look at it or a specific email addy for Legal. This shows how reasonable you are.
  
  Let us know what happens. Ensure your phone number is on it. It wouldn’t surprise me if Finnair call you to sort out the rebooking.
- Lady London says:
  
  19 May19 May 13:04
  
  PS Dont forget to claim all fees back including this extra £100
  - MCO says:
    
    19 May19 May 13:14
    
    Thank you @Lady London and @Memesweeper. Really appreciate your help.