The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 20th July

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• MKB says:

  20 Jul20 July 16:50

  Another place (LL) states that Marriott can lock you out of your Rewards account for a number of reasons including “An excessive number of reservations and cancellations for speculative bookings.”

  Each football season, I regularly make bookings for all nights that a match I’m going to may fall — for example the four nights that each round of Champions League may fall — and then cancel the ones I don’t need when the fixture date is confirmed. Isn’t this the point of higher refundable rates? I didn’t think I was doing anything wrong.

  Could this really lead to my losing my account?

  • jack charlton says:

    20 Jul20 July 16:58

    if your doing 3 matches a year, you are making 12 bookings and cancelling 9 of them, if you see it from their point of view.

  • Mouse says:

    20 Jul20 July 17:05

    Switch you allegiance to Arsenal and you won’t need to worry about that any more.

  • Harry T says:

    20 Jul20 July 18:11

    I’ve been an utter terrorist with bookings (plan A to Z) and never heard a peep from Bonvoy.

  • Jonathan says:

    20 Jul20 July 18:11

    I would imagine they have more tolerance of this for cash rather than reward bookings.

    Also if you book 9 months in advance & cancel 6 months out that’s no big deal whereas if you left it to 48 hours before check-in you’re removing a lot of inventory till it’s almost too late to sell.

  • Andy D says:

    20 Jul20 July 23:19

    How many other stays do you do with them a year? I’m would guess that this is a rule they would use on a case by case basis but that if you give them 30 revenue nights a year with your work in addition to the football ones, you’re not the problem.

• cotfordcretin says:

  20 Jul20 July 16:51

  I have booked planning a holiday in USA in Sept/Oct using Marriott vacation points banked from last year. It is looking increasingly dodgy, with very little alternative use for the points. Does anyone know if Marriott would let me carry the points forward again ?
  Cant imagine I am the only person with this dilemma

  • Cotfordcretin says:

    20 Jul20 July 21:57

    Just me then ?

• Babyg says:

  20 Jul20 July 16:52

  cant seem to find mondays chat? clicking the older link doesnt bring it up (can find sunday etc)…

  • Youllnever says:

    20 Jul20 July 16:56

    Seeing it just fine here

    • Babyg says:

      20 Jul20 July 16:59

      hmm weird… found it by clicking the “general” category.. but not the “older” link.. thanks.

• VickyTM says:

  20 Jul20 July 17:07

  Hi, Travelling to Mexico for the first time (hopefully). Can anyone give some suggestions of where to go and things to do with a 13 year old and a reasonably active golf loving 75 year old. Should we base ourselves somewhere and explore from there? I’m happy to do a little time at the beach, but not all 14 days. Flying into MEX, but happy to jump on a flight to elsewhere. Anything I should be especially aware of? I’m pretty well travelled, but not usually with my son and my dad!!
  Many Thanks in advance

  • JDB says:

    20 Jul20 July 17:24

    It depends a bit on the time of year and budget. There are some brilliant golf courses which even the non golfers might enjoy walking around given all the wildlife – saw a crocodile on a course in Ixtapa this January. Golf is relatively expensive as it is obviously mainly aimed at tourists and rich Mexicans.

  • JDB says:

    20 Jul20 July 17:45

    I’m wary of recommendations, as different people like different things, but we have been to Zihuatanejo for four of the last five years and are booked to go back again in November. There are a few Americans and Canadians there, no Brits and mainly aimed at Mexicans (so good inexpensive real food/drink) – beach, golf, wildlife. For us the east coast (ie Cancun / Maya Riviera etc.) is now very over developed, but it does have some of the best archaeological sites – Chichen Itza and Tulum. Acapulco is by all accounts a no go area for safety reasons. The coast around Manzanillo (inc. Costa Careyes) is beautiful and quite unspoilt, El Tamarindo amazing empty golf course but vv expensive. There is a big new area being developed near Puerto Vallarta called Riviera Nayarit which looks incredible, lots of golf which we plan to try next year. Mexico City is interesting for all ages and serious foodie town, but just be aware, particularly for an older person, the altitude and pollution could be a strain if you are there too long. Day trips from city – pyramids. Really worth getting a guide/driver from your hotel for pyramids and city – we pay about £100/day but it totally transforms experience. If you are interested in art – great private and public museums, some free or very low priced and Frida Kahlo house (must book).

    • VickyTM says:

      20 Jul20 July 20:58

      Brilliant – Thanks 🙂

• Kevin says:

  20 Jul20 July 17:39

  Booked a flight to KL last Oct. and just called BA to change the (moved) flight from Aug to Dec this year based on 12 months from flying date rather than booking date as discussed here yesterday. However the agent confirmed through his supervisor has said that BA policy still based on 12 months of booking date for any flight change.

  Anyone got any luck today?

  • John says:

    20 Jul20 July 18:13

    Agent told me the flight change policy of 12 months from flight date only applies to a cancellation by ba – happy to move my cancelled flight but not me merely requesting a change

    • Kevin says:

      20 Jul20 July 18:19

      My inbound flight has been cancelled for several times then been moved to early available dates. Wouldn’t that qualify?

      • Jody says:

        20 Jul20 July 19:08

        Have you already re-booked it though? If your flight has been cancelled and you haven’t rearranged it, then that’s fine, you can book it for 12 months from the date of the flight. However, if it’s been cancelled and you have changed it to another date, then that’s your free change, so you can’t move it to 12 months out from the flight if that makes sense?

        • BrightonReader says:

          20 Jul20 July 19:19

          It if the rebooked flight is then cancelled the new policy would kick in.

  • VerdantBacon says:

    20 Jul20 July 19:28

    The current flights you have must be cancelled, previous flights that got cancelled and moved don’t count as it’s seen as you agreeing to your new flights as a replacement for the cancelled flight.

    • Kevin says:

      21 Jul21 July 01:14

      The current flight has been cancelled and moved to different dates by BA but I never confirmed to fly with the new date.

• Crafty says:

  20 Jul20 July 18:38

  Amex Hyatt offer – spend £250, get £100 back.

  Can anyone confirm that this is in practice cumulative?

  What I actually want to do is book a room for c.£240, which I assume will be charged before arrival, and add parking while I’m actually there – and trigger the offer, of course.

  • Harry T says:

    20 Jul20 July 18:47

    Is the rate prepaid?

  • Ikaz says:

    20 Jul20 July 18:54

    I triggered it after my second stay at 2 different hotels

    • Crafty says:

      20 Jul20 July 19:47

      Thanks

• M says:

  20 Jul20 July 18:57

  Random question:

  Is there any clever way to buy Royal Albert Hall or Ticketmaster tickets?

  (Either paying with points or earning more points).

  Thanks!

  • Rui N. says:

    20 Jul20 July 19:34

    I can sell you a ticketmaster giftcard for 25% its face value 🙂 I’m @mikex163 on twitter and flyertalk

    • Rui N. says:

      20 Jul20 July 19:35

      Sorry, I meant 25% OFF its value 🙂 so 75% of the actual value.

• Scott says:

  20 Jul20 July 19:10

  Staying at the Hilton Garden Inn at Hatton Cross at present. Can’t comment on an earlier review, but so so place to be honest.
  Stayed here before so easy to find.
  Used the digital key thing without an issue.
  Booked a 2 bed room (no Queen rooms showing), chose one on the 4th floor overlooking the field with horses and geese, and got exactly that. No diamond upgrades to a higher floor, although that would probably drop to a single double bed. Nice views of a BA A321 and an Emirates A380 passing by though, and no road noise as such.

  2 bottles of water in the room, a couple of wipes, and usual tea bags etc.

  Zero room service menus, or anything paper based really, such as a “welcome diamond member” note (same with the Indigo in Newcastle last week – nothing for room service, so no idea what is, if anything, is available).

  Very generic room, with a bath and shower head on the wall. Not updated like one of the review photos.
  Crabtree & Evelyn toiletries.

  Might just walk to Tesco for a snack and to get my steps in 😉

  Moxy or a PI for half the price next time I think as the place just seems souless.

  • mutley says:

    20 Jul20 July 19:23

    I stayed here several times three years ago when Lufty were offering 2500 Miles and more points per stay. Cross the main road A30 by the underground and get yourself down to Super Singhs takeaway on Faggs road, the green man isn’t bad either.

    • AJA says:

      20 Jul20 July 19:58

      I like the Green Man. Used to be my local work pub 10 years ago. Not been since then but it’s good to know it’s still going.

      • Scott says:

        20 Jul20 July 20:06

        Quite a few people sitting outside The Green Man at present.

        My digital key, as every other time I’ve tried the technology, stopped working after one use, so a few minute wait at the desks behind some people, some of whom walked in front of me, and were staying at the T2 HGI.

  • John says:

    20 Jul20 July 21:48

    A higher floor isn’t always an upgrade

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