The HfP chat thread – Saturday 3rd July

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• Yorkshirerich says:

  3 Jul3 July 10:42

  Not travel related but I have an M@s bank account due to getting a cash incentive a few years ago for switching and having some direct debits. After a couple of months notice, the time is coming that I need to close it. I’ve always just kept switching various accounts for cash but I think I may have run out at the moment. Already got hsbc, and had the first direct and the virgin incentive in the past.
  Anyone got any ideas as just closing it seems such a waste.

  • ChrisBCN says:

    3 Jul3 July 11:01

    Why not just keep it open without using it until a new switching incentive comes along?

    • TGLoyalty says:

      3 Jul3 July 11:30

      M&S are closing all CAs so It’ll be closed for OP if they don’t switch before then.

  • BJ says:

    3 Jul3 July 11:02

    Via the place that boosts you can get £55 plus £60 boost for switching to TSB Spend and Save account. It was boosted last month so might be a while before there is another. You must follow closely as boosts are for 24h only.

  • Anna says:

    3 Jul3 July 11:48

    I changed to Halifax, got £100 for opening the account and get a free cinema ticket each month for reaching the criteria.
    I still have piles of M & S hot drink vouchers from last year which are being accepted in the cafes!

• Sukes says:

  3 Jul3 July 10:52

  Anyone got a promo code for the official car parking at BHD (George Best Belfast City airport)?

  • fivebobbill says:

    3 Jul3 July 17:02

    Depending how long you’ll be away Sukes, park at the railway halt in Sydenham then cross the footbridge over the bypass, only about a 10/15 minute walk, and free 👍

    • Sukes says:

      3 Jul3 July 20:05

      Thks fivebobbill for the tip – appreciated. There was a good promo code during the spring with Aer Lingus (it worked with any airline) but alas the discounts seem thin on the ground now.

• Pieter says:

  3 Jul3 July 10:54

  That’s really useful. Many thanks Andrew!

  • Pieter says:

    3 Jul3 July 10:54

    That was in response to my NHS question…

• Craig says:

  3 Jul3 July 10:58

  It volunteering again, pop-up walk-in centre for over 18s. After a mad 3 hours things have really quietened down, hopefully will pick up again later and will all be over before 7pm.

  • Craig says:

    3 Jul3 July 10:58

    I’m. Argh.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    3 Jul3 July 11:01

    Good work.

    What’s the demographic like?

    Are they generally 18-30’s or are there lots of over 30’s popping in for their 1st because they’ve decided to take it up now rather than when their age group was 1st eligible?

    • Craig says:

      3 Jul3 July 11:04

      Mostly university students getting ahead of the game.

  • Craig says:

    3 Jul3 July 11:18

    So if anyone is in Lincoln, over 18, first dose Pfizer only? Uni sports hall.

• BJ says:

  3 Jul3 July 11:11

  Just got an email from ebay inviting me to activate 12x Nectar points at selected small sellers.

  • MD says:

    3 Jul3 July 17:21

    Seems to be a rather limited selections of sellers, sadly.

• Benilyn says:

  3 Jul3 July 11:13

  Straw poll, applying for 0% purchase card, want highest credit limit / length, available are below. Which one would you go for for those that have experience with them. Looking to get close to £10k as possible ideally in limit. Particularly curious for those that have two of the below cards and who gave the higher limits.
  Barclaycard
  M&S (part of HSBC, which I have a cc with and are quite stingy with limit anyway)
  Virgin Money (already have VA card)
  Santander

  Sainsbury’s & Lloyds have / recently closed so won’t try them for a while.

  • AJA says:

    3 Jul3 July 11:41

    I’d choose Barclaycard over M&S.

  • Harry T says:

    3 Jul3 July 11:44

    MSE are always good for this but I had a positive experience with a barclaycard 0% offer (no fee for transfer either) that I paid off earlier this year. I was randomly rejected for Santander before!

  • AJA says:

    3 Jul3 July 11:44

    Arghh hit submit before finished typing!!!
    Trying again, this would be my choice
    1) Barclaycard
    2) M&S
    3) Santander
    4) Virgin

    • Memesweeper says:

      3 Jul3 July 12:07

      +1 for barclaycard first

      • Benilyn says:

        3 Jul3 July 12:32

        Has anyone held 2x Barclaycards at the same time?

        • Nick says:

          3 Jul3 July 12:43

          Yes no problem, as long as they’re not exactly the same product.

• SilverLining says:

  3 Jul3 July 11:23

  Hoping one of the experts here might advice me on how best to deal with my current situation with BA cancelling a flight on an Avios booking.

  Booked x2 business class seats from LHR on BA with Avios and a AMEX voucher to Paphos (Cyprus) departing Friday 9th July. On 28th June (12 days before departure), BA emailed to inform me that the flight was cancelled and have rebooked me onto a flight on Saturday 9th (just over 24 hours later than the original departure).

  Booked a villa on the weekend before BA cancelled stupidly assuming they would not cancel the flight after the 14 day window had passed.

  I am unable to travel on Saturday 10th so rebooked with Exec club on the phone to take the earliest flight prior to my planned departure so now have to depart on Wednesday 7th July.

  1. Because they have cancelled the flight less than 14 days before departure am I entitled to the EU compensation?
  2. Due to the fact that I am now having to depart 2 days earlier than planned at short notice am I entitled to claim expenses for the two days I arrive early e.g. flights, meals, transfers etc? If I were to take the flight 24 hours they initially offered I risk losing the villa I had booked.
  3. Does the fact I used Avios and an AMEX voucher impact my eligibility to claim for cancellation compensation?

  Any guidance would be truly appreciated.

  • AJA says:

    3 Jul3 July 11:50

    1) I think EU compensation is still suspended due to Covid, so unless you can prove flight cancellation was not covid related you are not going to get anything.
    2) yes duty of care applies to cancellation so keep receipts of hotel and food (excluding alcohol) and submit claim via BA Web form on return
    3) Normally reward flights are still entitled to compensation but see answer in point 1.

    • Optimus Prime says:

      3 Jul3 July 11:58

      Regarding #2, BA will cover £200 per night per person. Am I correct? If you’re a couple and book a £400/night suite will they object?

      • meta says:

        3 Jul3 July 12:07

        They won’t, but split claims into to two. Just submit the same receipt, but ask for half of it on each claim.

        • TGLoyalty says:

          3 Jul3 July 12:23

          I would if I was them!

          You’re meant to book something reasonable / of the standard you were already in not go for the bleed them dry option.

      • Jonathan says:

        3 Jul3 July 15:07

        It’s £200/room as a baseline. 2 rooms would be ok (though they might quibble if same surname/in a HHA). £400 for a single room would be denied & you’d have to demonstrate that was the only reasonable option.

        • SilverLining says:

          4 Jul4 July 00:39

          Just got the following email from BA after asking them to clarify situation with compensation and expenses for arriving two days earlier than planned. They are basically saying I am entitled to nothing. Any advice on how to respond and proceed?

          I’m so sorry your flight to Paphos has been cancelled on 09 July. I realise why you needed to contact us about this.

          I understand you’ve previously contacted us bit have been passed between different departments and told the team you were speaking with couldn’t assist with rebooking. I can see from your booking you have accepted a flight to Paphos on 07 July, although you’ve now incurred additional expenditure.

          I’m afraid we’re not liable to reimburse any additional costs. However, you may be able to make a claim through your travel insurance policy. Please use this letter in support of any claim you wish to make with your travel insurer.

          Whilst I appreciate your reasons for asking for EU compensation, this isn’t something you’re entitled to. Your original flight on 09 July has been cancelled due to operational reasons. This means there can be any number of reasons, including, lack of demand, aircraft shortage, governmental restrictions. As the cancellation is outside of our control, we’re within our rights under EU Regulation 261/2004, to deny paying compensation.

        • SilverLining says:

          4 Jul4 July 09:35

          Got the following response yesterday from British Airways. Basically telling me they have no duty of care towards the costs incurred as result of arriving two days earlier than planned and that I am not entitled to compensation.

          Any guidance as how to proceed?

          I’m so sorry your flight to Paphos has been cancelled on 09 July. I realise why you needed to contact us about this.

          *****
          I understand you’ve previously contacted us bit have been passed between different departments and told the team you were speaking with couldn’t assist with rebooking. I can see from your booking you have accepted a flight to Paphos on 07 July, although you’ve now incurred additional expenditure.

          I’m afraid we’re not liable to reimburse any additional costs. However, you may be able to make a claim through your travel insurance policy. Please use this letter in support of any claim you wish to make with your travel insurer.

          Whilst I appreciate your reasons for asking for EU compensation, this isn’t something you’re entitled to. Your original flight on 09 July has been cancelled due to operational reasons. This means there can be any number of reasons, including, lack of demand, aircraft shortage, governmental restrictions. As the cancellation is outside of our control, we’re within our rights under EU Regulation 261/2004, to deny paying compensation.

          Should you wish to discuss looking at other rebooking options, please contact our Change Booking team, as they’re best placed to assist. I’m afraid Customer Relations are a Post-Travel team and don’t have the required system access to change flights.

          You can call them using the below number:

          0344 493 0787
          *****

• Rh says:

  3 Jul3 July 11:30

  I just spend an hour and 5 mins on hold to the 0344 493 0747 BA executive number and then they cut me off! Grrrr

  I need to cancel and get a refund for an avois flight only in 5 days time, can anyone recommend another number I can call where I might get though please? I remember loads of previous comments on this but when do a search I can’t seen to find…..thanks.

  Is it best to Twitter them or is there a Brighton number I need to call please?

  • Anna says:

    3 Jul3 July 11:51

    Twitter, as previously replied.
    I don’t think there’s a BA office in Brighton but I managed to get through on one of the 0191 numbers last week. You need to dial 141 first so they think you are calling from abroad.

    • Rh says:

      3 Jul3 July 14:45

      Thanks Anna.

  • AJA says:

    3 Jul3 July 11:55

    Not sure if Newcastle number still works. 0191 490 7901

    If that doesn’t work try
    +44 (0)203 250 0145

    Or just send message via twitter

    • Rh says:

      3 Jul3 July 14:45

      Thanks AJA

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