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The HfP chat thread – Thursday 10th June

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Comments (393)

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

  • DR says:
    10 Jun10 June 08:17

    If I pay for assigned seat nos for club (241)and later manage to secure F,
    will I get monies refunded for club seat nos, looked at BA T&Cs, is avios regarded as paid re the upgrading from club to F?
    you have paid for a cabin upgrade and do not wish to pay the difference to select your seat in the upgraded cabin.

    • MattB says:
      10 Jun10 June 08:21

      I was able to a while back.

      • TGLoyalty says:
        10 Jun10 June 08:26

        One of those YMMV cases … some people struggled to get seat fees back after BA cancelled their flights!

        • Njb says:
          10 Jun10 June 10:25

          I didnt – gave up fighting with BA. Was a POUG – lost £150

    • TGLoyalty says:
      10 Jun10 June 08:21

      I believe it’s viewed as a non refundable fee so in this circumstance you won’t get a refund for seat fees as it was a voluntary change.

      • DR says:
        10 Jun10 June 08:28

        thanks
        it is just that is not very clear – this wording is under the refund section
        you have paid for a cabin upgrade and do not wish to pay the difference to select your seat in the upgraded cabin.

      • Grant says:
        10 Jun10 June 08:52

        This was the line BA took with me the last time I did it.

        • DR says:
          10 Jun10 June 09:00

          you did not get money back?

          • Lady London says:
            10 Jun10 June 13:09

            quite surprised anyone let this go. if you’ve paid for a seat or an upgrade then that is fully dependent on the underlying flight continuing to exist. As soon as the airline cancels that flight then you are also deprived of that money or avios (or avios at std rate of 1.6p each) that you put into it.

            so you are owed the entire return of all that. Nor would the argument wash, that you paid the airline for the service of providing the seat and not for the outcome of a reserved seat, and that service was completed so can’t be undone even when BA cancelled the flight. The argument squashing that is in depriving you of the flight BA also consequentially lost you your investnent in that product that was exclusively linked to that flight therefore they should pay you the whole lot back.

            I am really surprised people are accepting this from BA.

            If *you* cancelled your flight then yes can lose the ancillaries. If you modify it, probably also. But if BA cancelled your flight then IMV they haven’t got a leg to stand on and I wouldn’t put up with it.

  • Andrew says:
    10 Jun10 June 08:18

    Cross posting from yesterday:
    I received the British Airways American Express® Accelerating Business Card offer with 50k Avios signup bonus, applied via the link, received and activated the card. However, the 50k bonus does not appear under the list of bonusses earnable on this card (when I view my online account). Is anyone else in this situation?

    • Rhys says:
      10 Jun10 June 08:35

      Targetted offers like this have been popping up on individual accounts for some months now

    • Rob says:
      10 Jun10 June 08:48

      Totally normal, Amex never adjusts any of this to reflect promos.

      • Matt says:
        10 Jun10 June 09:31

        Is this offer available anywhere by referrals, or is it just targeted?

        • Super Secret Stuff says:
          10 Jun10 June 10:17

          If it is like the 32k for gold it is only targeted people that can hand out enhanced referral offers

          • Ste C says:
            10 Jun10 June 10:36

            I have the “Exclusive Offer” of 70k bonus for the Plat card as well

          • Matt says:
            10 Jun10 June 10:36

            If anyone has a referral for the BA Business card with a 50000 avios sign up bonus then I’d be keen to hear from them

          • Rob says:
            10 Jun10 June 12:54

            It is a direct invitation from Amex / On Business.

      • Andrew says:
        10 Jun10 June 09:33

        Mmm – thanks. But how would I know that the offer will be applied. Guess I need to phone Amex to be sure.

        • Super Secret Stuff says:
          10 Jun10 June 10:18

          If you applied via a link it should be alright, just have to remember to check for the bonus once you hit the spend. Still annoying though

        • Kevin B says:
          10 Jun10 June 18:07

          And take screen shots.

  • Stu N says:
    10 Jun10 June 08:26

    Any recommendations for hotels in the Shoreditch sort of area?

    Around £200ish for a Saturday night, maybe slightly more if we can use Amex offers or Emyr. Looking for something designy/ boutiquey.

    Mondrian looks interesting but only just opening. Nobu is closed, what about Andaz Liverpool Street maybe? Or the Montcalm East (Bonvoy) or Hart Curio (Hilton) if points were a factor.

    • Rhys says:
      10 Jun10 June 08:34

      Rob reviewed the Hart last year: https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2020/10/19/review-hart-shoreditch-hotel-london/

      There’s a Hoxton too, which is now part of the Accor family although I don’t think they’ve been integrated yet.

      • Stu N says:
        10 Jun10 June 10:26

        I saw the Hart review “In truth, the typical guest is likely to be someone visiting a City bank who still thinks they are hip.” and not exactly a glowing review. Good shout on Hoxton, and noted re Andaz, is it the old Great Eastern Hotel?

    • John says:
      10 Jun10 June 08:35

      It’s not really in Shoreditch, but since you mentioned the Andaz at LS – South Place Hotel was nice the last time I stayed.

    • Kai says:
      10 Jun10 June 09:23

      Just completed a three-night stay at Andaz. Don’t think it meets your designy/boutiquey requirement.

      However, with the Hyatt Prive 3-for-2 promotion I paid £340 (£240 with the Amex offer) for 3 nights in King Deluxe including breakfast and $100 hotel credit which was awesome.

      • tony says:
        10 Jun10 June 09:39

        Note they seem to have tweaked the rates. Saw it was very cheap last week, but for next week the base price has gone up, as has the delta between the “members rate” and the “BAR” to the extent it really takes the Prive benefit out of the equation.

        • tony says:
          10 Jun10 June 09:51

          Going to take that back. Just checked again and the price for next week has jumped to £235 members rate, £239 standard rate, so it makes the Prive more valuable (although given the current market, is still punchy for London).

          • Ikaz says:
            10 Jun10 June 12:14

            I stayed at the andaz this weekend, rate went down by over £60 on some nights within a week of the stay

    • FG says:
      10 Jun10 June 10:53

      https://thehoxton.com/london/shoreditch/

      Never stayed but been there for plenty of work events (back when that was a thing!)

    • Toppcat says:
      10 Jun10 June 13:40

      Shame the Ace Hotel is no longer… The Hoxton is a good shout, Andaz would be good with Hyatt status (though it is a bit designy/boutique for a corporate hotel, rather than in absolute terms). Nobu is great – shame it is closed. Hart is also an okay option. Going a bit further East, how about the Town Hall hotel in Bethnal Green? It’s a beautiful building inside.

  • YC says:
    10 Jun10 June 08:47

    Trying to get IHG to extend my AMB Weekend night but they are not budging. Being told because I have already renewed, they can’t extend the expiring voucher. From a customer’s perspective, its nuts that a non-renewing person is better off than a renewing one! I’ve asked if they can provide points in lieu of the expiring voucher and nothing. Anyone in a similar situation who managed to get something from IHG?

    • @mkcol says:
      11 Jun11 June 02:23

      Someone got 40k points, forgotten who either Anna or Lady London I think, I pushed a bit & got 20k.

  • Paul says:
    10 Jun10 June 08:55

    What is the telephone number to cancel an AMEX Business Gold card please?

  • Graeme says:
    10 Jun10 June 08:56

    Morning all. Apologies for asking this – questions that people can find out the answer by doing a bit of research annoy me, but I just can’t find a definitive answer.

    I’m flying to Gibraltar from Gatwick next Saturday morning and staying for two nights before returning to Gatwick Monday evening. The way I read the UK entry requirements, the Gib arrival test (and e-mail proof) will suffice to get me back into the UK. Does this seem right?

    https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-testing-for-people-travelling-to-england specifically says that a professionally-administered non-NHS lateral flow test is sufficient, which the Gib arrival test is – and it’s within three days of my return, so to me that is OK. I’m fully vaccinated and obviously coming from a green country (which matters to Gibraltar). I’ll have pre-booked the UK day two return test already.

    Thanks all. And apologies again.

    • Rob says:
      10 Jun10 June 08:59

      I am in GIB next week and planning to do this, put it this way.

      • tony says:
        10 Jun10 June 09:09

        A mate of mine was in GIB a few days ago for meetings. Checking in for the return flight, he was asked for the COVID test. He said he had it done on arrival the previous day but they told him he needed another for departure.

        • Anna says:
          10 Jun10 June 09:17

          They’re charging about £30 for the pre-departure test I think, could that be why they are so keen for people to have it?! (I appreciate that’s still a lot cheaper than you can get here).

          • Graeme says:
            10 Jun10 June 09:31

            Thanks Rob – that’s comforting! Would you mind dropping me an e-mail if you change your mind, please?

            tony/Anna – the UK requirement is for a certificate/e-mail/text (from a test within three days of your return) saying that you’re clear. If I have that (even if it’s an arrivals test), I can’t see the issue.

            https://www.visitgibraltar.gi/covid-19 says:

            “About the Rapid Test:

            You must register for your test before visiting the test service unit.

            – Register at http://www.covidrapidtest.gi
            – A nasal swab will be taken at the Testing Service Unit.
            – You will be informed of the test result via SMS and email within 30 to 60 minutes and sent an online Certificate.
            – The price per test is £30 (free for arrivals from green list countries and territories)”

          • Travel Strong says:
            10 Jun10 June 09:37

            As above, be prepared to pay £30 extra for a bit of paper certifying the test. You can get it at the same time as your (free) arrival one, but reports are that you don’t get the cert for free.

          • tony says:
            10 Jun10 June 09:49

            @Graeme – all i’m doing is reporting exactly what happened earlier this week. So read whatever you want and interpret it as such, but the reality a couple of days back was they refused to accept the inbound test from the previous day and fortunately the chap was able to get another done in time for departure.

          • Graeme says:
            10 Jun10 June 10:03

            Tony – apologies, that sounded short. I appreciate the first-hand info – it’s exactly what I’m after.

    • Jake says:
      10 Jun10 June 09:34

      A good Q but for the sake of peace of mind of being allowed on the flight is it not easier to book one of those video conference lateral flows? They are about £40 and done in 30 min.

      • Travel Strong says:
        10 Jun10 June 09:42

        @Jake probably not better than just doing it at the airport test center when you arrive.
        Sounds like Rob is going to find out the truth first hand for us though!

        • Rob says:
          10 Jun10 June 09:46

          There are probably 500 people flying into GIB from the UK daily at the moment …. issues would be clear by now.

          Only snag is that they seem to be charging you for the free ‘test on arrival’ now if you plan to use it to leave.

        • Jake says:
          10 Jun10 June 09:56

          You have to do it on Arrival at Gib but the question is whether the arrival test in Gib (as required by the Gib authorities) is sufficient for the pre-departure lateral flow for the British authorities? Probably will be but I wouldn’t bet being refused on a plane for it…

    • Graeme says:
      10 Jun10 June 14:39

      Gibraltar Tourism have replied to my e-mail and have said

      “The test on arrival at the Gibraltar Airport is free.
      On return the UK Government request the PCR test before arriving which is £30.”

      Which isn’t true – the UK are happy with a lateral flow test as long as it’s not an NHS one and professionally administered (link above).

      Interesting to note – you don’t need a test to return if you’re coming from Myanmar!

  • graham says:
    10 Jun10 June 09:02

    So wife and I have five 241 vouchers to take us to July 2023
    We only need to spend another £500 across two cards to get another two vouchers but am delaying the final spend on each card to coincide with the anniversary dates which are 4-6 months away.
    So I have to keep both cards for now but which amex card would be the best one to use in the interim ? Plus once I have got the next vouchers do I cancel both cards to save £500 and then reapply when I am getting low on vouchers ?

    • TGLoyalty says:
      10 Jun10 June 09:05

      Nectar has the best Avios earning rate with no fee in the first year or gold if you can spend £15k.

    • Genghis says:
      10 Jun10 June 09:07

      Looks like you’re not short of 241s! If avios are your thing, perhaps consider the Nectar Amex, free in first year (£25 thereafter), and earns 1.25 avios / £. It also doesn’t affect any further sign up bonus on Amex Platinum. Or go for Plat if you’re eligible for the SUB.

    • Anna says:
      10 Jun10 June 09:07

      On the last point, it sounds like you have so many vouchers you could both take a break from the BAPP and get more sign up bonuses after the 24 month gap! (As long as you have access to another Amex for when you redeem a 241).

    • Grant says:
      10 Jun10 June 09:08

      Worth also bearing in mind the changes to the voucher scheme for vouchers issued after 1st Sept.

      • Jonathan says:
        10 Jun10 June 09:10

        I think that’s why he’s intending to delay the last spend on his BAPP cards

    • Jonathan says:
      10 Jun10 June 09:08

      Probably the best bet would be a MR earning card

  • Reney says:
    10 Jun10 June 09:17

    The last few days several people have mentioned problems topping up Che with Solihull. And they got responses to suggest there might be a block on their Solihull. Did you get it fixed?

    I’m also having problems today, so wanted to check whether the fixes suggested here works?

    Thx

    • John Caribbean says:
      10 Jun10 June 09:26

      Mine isn’t working, and hasn’t worked in shops, though a transaction via Curve went through.
      Agent told me I wasn’t blocked, and they couldn’t see the other transactions

    • NP says:
      10 Jun10 June 10:37

      Just topped up Che from Solihull up a few minutes ago. Worked fine for me

      • Reney says:
        10 Jun10 June 11:06

        Thanks, it worked for a smaller transaction but the larger one that didn’t work is the one that is pending on my solihull transactions.

        • Guernsey Globetrotter says:
          10 Jun10 June 12:11

          I had a £500 stay pending for 24 hours from yesterday and my other card wouldn’t work at all but both allowed £2k transfers today so it seems to have been a systems glitch…

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