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The HfP chat thread – Monday 24th May

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Comments (389)

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

  • VickyTM says:
    24 May24 May 15:26

    Thanks for all the advice yesterday on the Qatar airways flight cancellation and possible change fees – They changed my flight without an argument, and no additional fees. Thanks Meta 🙂

  • Colin MacKinnon says:
    24 May24 May 15:40

    Ryanair offering Edinburgh to Faro for just a fiver in June, and back for a fiver too – although on some days it is seven quid – and does go up to 20-40 quid!

    So Portugal can’t be that popular, even though on the green list.

    ps. How does their algorithm decide on seven quid, instead of a fiver!

    • Craig says:
      24 May24 May 15:48

      How much for seats in the no kidnap zone?

      • AJA says:
        24 May24 May 15:50

        That would be whatever BA or EasyJet or any other airline charge.

      • Anna says:
        24 May24 May 17:39

        You actually have to pay extra for being treated to a display from a MiG fighter jet.

    • Rich says:
      24 May24 May 16:30

      My flight to OPO yesterday was still on sale for £10 the night before departure. Was 50% full. Perhaps they’ve overestimated demand?

    • egold says:
      24 May24 May 16:36

      Only worthwhile if you get a free MIG sighting plus one free additional stop in a surprise location

    • Super Secret Stuff says:
      24 May24 May 16:46

      The above comments show why they might have dropped int he last 24 hours.

      Also, I stayed in a hotel near Gatwick over the weekend. Barely anyone in either of the terminal. Most people were like me, using the train station and not the airport. Think there has been a lot of media hype about travel which is not quite reality…

    • bafan says:
      24 May24 May 17:16

      I think most people (like me) are very wary of how much effort and cost it takes. All the testing blah blah blah. £180 on testing (each) for a week in Portugal just isn’t happening for most.

      • TGLoyalty says:
        24 May24 May 17:34

        Agree. Most will be travelling to see family or to long stay holiday homes etc

        Long weekend Tourism isnt worth the hassle with 3 tests.

    • Anna says:
      24 May24 May 17:38

      So you can go to Portugal but not Bolton?!

      • TGLoyalty says:
        24 May24 May 17:56

        Theres no actual restriction on entering or leaving Bolton …

        • Anna says:
          24 May24 May 18:41

          There is if you’re Scottish.

          • TGLoyalty says:
            24 May24 May 18:43

            Wonder how they police that 🤣

          • Anna says:
            24 May24 May 19:01

            I have no idea! Ms Sturgeon also hasn’t seemed to notice that lots of Scots visit Blackpool in the summer, and so do lots of people from Bolton and Blackburn …

      • Andy says:
        24 May24 May 18:23

        There are many reasons to go to Portugal, none whatsoever to go to Bolton!

      • Craig says:
        24 May24 May 18:37

        Notlob.

    • BJ says:
      24 May24 May 20:18

      Kids are still in school in June,.

  • Alan says:
    24 May24 May 16:42

    Are there any lounges open in Gatwick yet, I will be flying out on Thursday and so far haven’t been able to find one that is open.

    Thanks

    • Super Secret Stuff says:
      24 May24 May 16:48

      If airside is like landside over the weekend, the pubs and restaurants will be like having a private lounge all to yourself…

  • Cabal of rabid baboons says:
    24 May24 May 16:51

    Emyr has done is proud , 3 for2 at the Conrad Hilton, £80 behind the bar and the Executive Lounge (Diamond) hosting us for Canapés 5-30 until 7-30.
    Merci

  • Harry T says:
    24 May24 May 17:09

    Alas, all good things must come to an end and the Financial Times is calling time on the free NHS subscription. Does anyone have any tips or tricks for purchasing a discounted subscription?

    • Jill ( Kinkell) says:
      24 May24 May 17:16

      Come and live in Scotland!

    • bafan says:
      24 May24 May 17:19

      My UNiDAYS portal is showing 33% off if you still have a ac.uk account.

    • JDB says:
      24 May24 May 17:31

      I have often tried unsuccessfully to find a discount. My renewal is due this week – I have a 25% off (online only) on my BAPP card, valid until 20 June.

    • NP says:
      24 May24 May 17:55

      ft.com/clubhouse gives 50% off the standard pack, stacks nicely with the Amex offer

      • JDB says:
        24 May24 May 18:14

        Am I missing something? I went to that site and for the Premium Digital it is offering me £1for 4 weeks and then £53/month which is a lot more than the annual subscription of £478.80.

        • TGLoyalty says:
          24 May24 May 18:45

          Standard digital is £154

          • JDB says:
            24 May24 May 18:58

            Indeed, but unfortunately the standard digital edition is like a ham sandwich without the ham. Had hope for a deal on premium that would stack with the Amex offer.

        • Harry T says:
          24 May24 May 18:59

          What extra material do you find valuable in the premium edition?

          • BuildBackBetter says:
            24 May24 May 19:06

            Lex

          • JDB says:
            24 May24 May 19:22

            A lot of the best articles are premium only, the Lex column, M&A stories, quite a few in depth articles covering a wide range of topics and extra tech briefings. If you want the FT to help provide long term investment thoughts (not single stock ideas, more themes), you need premium. For good global news coverage with some financial bias, standard is fine.

      • TheInsiderFly says:
        24 May24 May 20:00

        This is great thanks. Do you know if there’s a discount page for Weekend Print or Digital?

      • TheInsiderFly says:
        24 May24 May 20:02

        Meant to post here >> This is great thanks. Do you know if there’s a discount page for Weekend Print or Digital?

    • BuildBackBetter says:
      24 May24 May 19:07

      Rob had an article a few months ago that had links.
      Also check if this works:
      https://subs.ft.com/spa3_stan50prem?utm_content=%2Fspa2_9%2F

  • QwertyKnowsBest says:
    24 May24 May 17:15

    Look to book a the Shard. I have Amex Jade, so free breakfast X 2. Any booking suggestions? Emyr, Amex travel or direct?

    Thanks

    • Harry T says:
      24 May24 May 17:21

      Emyr is usually your best bet. I believe there is also an Amex c@shb@ck offe floating around for payment at checkout, which would stack nicely with any deal Emyr can get you.

      • QwertyKnowsBest says:
        24 May24 May 17:34

        Thank you.

        • QwertyKnowsBest says:
          24 May24 May 17:38

          Unfortunately no Amex offer for me.

        • meta says:
          24 May24 May 17:44

          Booked with Emyr in June. You get free one category upgrade, breakfast and $100 to spend. I’m hoping to get a further upgrade later as Jade, depending on availability. I also have £100 back with Amex offer and have 2000 points (from various previous promos) across two account to use by 31 Dec, so another $200 to spend. I was planning on spending the $200 in Tokyo, but that never happened obviously.

          • Benilyn says:
            24 May24 May 18:38

            Any experience on Jade upgrades at the Shard? And with Emyr, he charges you right so can’t stack.

          • YC says:
            24 May24 May 18:45

            No emyr is pay at hotel so will stack. Don’t think upgrades are frequent at the shard

    • Harry T says:
      24 May24 May 19:00

      With Emyr, you pay at checkout at the hotel. He receives commission from the hotel.

      • meta says:
        24 May24 May 19:22

        @YC apparently they are for Jade and above, but it obviously depends on the day. I think they are more likely to upgrade now when they have such a low occupancy and less tourists from abroad hence Amex offer as well.

  • Mrs_Fussy says:
    24 May24 May 17:51

    Is there an easy yes or no answer here ( I have looked all over BA webpage but it is not clearly stated). If I were to book a holiday to the Maldives in August and it does not come off the red list, would BA be obliged to rebook it at a date of my choosing or would they offer a refund or a credit.
    Would the same rule apply to flight only bookings. I ask as it is much for lucrative from me to book in august and in case the flights are cancelled, rebook during October half term or December

    • Andy says:
      24 May24 May 18:30

      Aren’t holiday companies obliged to issue a refund if the holiday can’t go ahead? There were comments in recent days of BA Holidays reaching out to some claiming their holiday packages were mispriced, so I’d be surprised if they allowed you to rebook to a much more expensive period when the trip cannot go ahead.

      Flights to red list countries on the other hand can still go ahead, so there is no guarantee the flights would be cancelled and you would be stuck with an FTV if you didn’t want to travel

      • Lady London says:
        24 May24 May 19:33

        There was only 1 case reported here of BA Holidays advising a reader the holiday they’d booked 6 months ago upcoming in July had been mispriced. BA Holidays voluntarily withdrew this when the reader indicated they were willing to accept an offer of a refund plus an FTV of a reasonably generous further amount which had been suggested by BA as one of the options.

        I think BA Hols behaved reasonably in the end here doing themselves no harm in my eyes. But I would be disturbed to hear of any other cases occurring lengthy times after the booking. Were you aware of any such cases @Andy?

      • ChrisC says:
        24 May24 May 19:46

        Holidays (that’s a flight + hotel or car booking) have different regulations to flight only bookings and yes BA Hols can and does cancel holidays in the circumstances you outline because the regulations allow them too if not requires them to.

        This is not a way of booking a holiday at a cheap time of year to be able to rebook for free at a more expensive one. (not that the Maldives are ever cheap!)

        When I had flights in a holiday booking cancelled they told me that I would have to pay any extra if the price of the hotel had changed.

        Flight only bookings have entirely different rules.

  • Rupert says:
    24 May24 May 18:48

    Currently at the Langley – titanium elite. Booked on points. Told no suites available even though can still book a number on the website. Been told by most staff that the hotel is nowhere near capacity so not sure why they haven’t upgraded. In the main house deluxe room.

    • Yorkie Aid says:
      24 May24 May 19:13

      Have you raised with the duty manager? Aren’t you entitled to compensation if upgrade isn’t offered?

      • Rupert says:
        24 May24 May 19:20

        In reality it is an upgrade of sorts from the classic room however titanium elite states “upgrade to best available including suites” – just seeing what opinion is here .

        • meta says:
          24 May24 May 19:28

          You should always contact the hotel the day before or the morning of arrival via the chat function in the app and ask them about upgrade, especially if you see that suites are available.

          • meta says:
            24 May24 May 19:29

            The problem is now due to covid they need to prepare the room, so they can’t just give it to you straight away. In December, they gave me their second biggest suite on the condition that I arrive an hour later.

        • Lady London says:
          24 May24 May 19:43

          You could contact IHG as there might be a rule with some fairly worthless number of points compo however all hotel has to do is mutter Covid and no time to prepare the room and they’re off the hook.

          Personally I would concentrate on enjoying my stay, be nice to all staff, and learn from @meta’s advice next time.

          The Langley failed to impress me when they cancelled Award bookings due to wanting to take up an offer from a filmco (apparently) that would book the.whole hotel and you could hardly blame them given grim times. However what did not impress me was when they tried to make those moved bookers pay higher points rates for replacement dates. Sheer lack of class not consistent with their market positioning and mosr of the bookers who reported this were not actually targeting the most expensive dates.

      • meta says:
        24 May24 May 19:35

        @Yorkie Aid upgrade is not a guaranteed benefit, so no compo. Platinums and above get compensation for not being offered welcome amenity, not getting the room type booked or preference, lounge access and late checkout. The amounts vary depending on status level and hotel brand.

        • Yorkie Aid says:
          24 May24 May 19:46

          Thanks meta. I must have misread the Marriott Titanium benefits then, sorry.

          • KBuffett says:
            24 May24 May 20:03

            I was assertive in Dubai about not being upgraded. Asked to speak with the manager and showed available rooms on my phone. They still didn’t upgrade me but gave me free half board for two of us for a week. I was more than happy with that.

            However, Dubai is far more customer centric.

          • Magic Mike says:
            24 May24 May 21:12

            Langley refused me 4pm late checkout (I am Plat, this is a guaranteed Plat benefit) when we stayed last year. We did get a nice suite upgrade though. They seem to pick and choose what benefits they feel like providing.

            Suite upgrades and late checkout are not compensatable benefits, I think.

            Elsewhere, I once politely did a DYKWIA when given the equivalent of the room overlooking the bins when staying for a week at a resort propery, while the property was still selling suites on their website. Ten minutes later they relented and upgraded us to a villa with private pool…

          • meta says:
            24 May24 May 21:27

            @Magic Mike was it last year or beginning of this year? If so there was a suspension of guaranteed benefits till April (I think), otherwise late checkout is guaranteed. Upgrades are not.

            For detailed explanation on what to do if refused, see the top of this thread on Flyertalk:

            https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marriott-marriott-bonvoy/1930883-4pm-elite-checkout-guarantee-general-discussion.html

        • Anna says:
          24 May24 May 21:43

          I am staying at the Langley next week n points and am only Marriott gold so expect to be sleeping IN the bins if it’s busy 😂

          • Anna says:
            24 May24 May 21:50

            Though I’ve just checked and it now says “Brew House, Deluxe” which sounds like we’ve actually been upgraded!

          • meta says:
            24 May24 May 21:55

            You’re not in the main house, so if it rains you’ll need to walk across to use the spa. I wasn’t impressed with the staff or the food, but hard product is excellent, including the spa.

          • TGLoyalty says:
            24 May24 May 22:03

            It’s a very nice room even if it is in the brew house (potential walk in the rain). The terrace room too if you can swing a better upgrade via app chat.

            The suites inc junior are all very nice but the main house rooms around the landing can be noisy.

          • Magic Mike says:
            24 May24 May 22:33

            @meta, it was last December. Cheers for that info, that’s one way to enforce 4pm checkout I guess!

            @anna book your spa slot now!

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