The HfP chat thread – Saturday 31st July

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• Steve says:

  31 Jul31 July 02:36

  I booked a return internal US flight on AA using Avios (I’m not sure why I booked it as a return rather than two one ways), and I’d like to cancel the return leg (I haven’t flown either leg yet). Is it possible to do this and get the Avios for the return leg back?

  • Babyg says:

    31 Jul31 July 09:41

    yes – you can cancel 1 leg – you will need to ring up for this… ring early in the morning for the best chance of getting through quickly in my experience

• DZOO says:

  31 Jul31 July 03:26

  Are MR transfers to Avios effectively “instant” or normally a couple of days – seem to recall the former so just wondering whether I need to chase Amex? Thanks!

  • Harry T says:

    31 Jul31 July 04:24

    Took about 24-48 hours last time I transferred.

  • Memesweeper says:

    31 Jul31 July 07:45

    Not instant. Last one I did was about 36 hours (two overnights).

  • DZOO says:

    31 Jul31 July 09:26

    Thanks – haven’t done this for some years!

• Louie says:

  31 Jul31 July 05:36

  I have a (not exactly world changing) Marriott Amex spend offer I am a bit confused about. “Earn 500 bonus points each time you spend £500 in eligible purchases with your Marriott Bonvoy™ American Express® Card. Earn up to three times for a total of 1,500 bonus points”. Does that mean I need three separate transactions of £500+ each? Any number of transactions getting to £500+ x3? Would one transaction of £1,500+ suffice? Any help/experience would be appreciated.

  • Harry T says:

    31 Jul31 July 06:21

    Agree it’s poorly written. I’ve already used it. Essentially I was given an extra point per pound up to £1500 of spend, in three chunks of 500 points. So three points per pound instead of the usual two.

    • JohnT says:

      31 Jul31 July 07:17

      Uses cumulative spend across everything…

  • Kevin C says:

    31 Jul31 July 13:42

    I’ve done it. Cumulative spend. You get an email each time you hit £500 so it’s dead easy to track.

• Annabel says:

  31 Jul31 July 06:14

  Morning. Tried last night to use full Avios to book seating in CW on an existing 2-4-1 booking for 2022 but it comes out with ‘sorry unable to complete these seats as requested’ . It seems to have debited the Avios though and seats not showing reserved. Anyone else had trouble? Think the deadline to book was 30-7 for the discounted price. Thanks.

• Aliyah says:

  31 Jul31 July 06:18

  Flying out on AA tomorrow morning from T5. This was through rerouting as original flights were via BA in CW. I know I can use the BA lounge but am I entitled to use the AA one (if any) and if yes, which one is a better option. We are 2 adults and 2 children but the children are older.

  • Cats are best says:

    31 Jul31 July 06:30

    The only airline lounges in T5 are the BA ones, AA uses these.

    Galleries South and North, Galleries First (and the CCR still closed afaik, with the First Terrace used instead).

    If you can use First Wing to check in, it has separate security leading direct to the lounge.

    • Aliyah says:

      31 Jul31 July 06:53

      Thanks. Do they allow CW passenger to check in at the First Wing?

      • Graham says:

        31 Jul31 July 07:07

        Typically you need to have Gold status to use the First check in desks. BA have been running incentives on their holiday deals though. You spend at least £1,500pp I think it is and you get to use the First Wing.

        Otherwise you’ll need to use business desks and then proceed through priority security.

      • Cats are best says:

        31 Jul31 July 07:11

        Ah, missed that, if it’s CW, then you would only able to use First Wing if you are BAEC Gold/equivalent.

        Instead use the CW check-in and you can then use one of the fast track security lanes, I think they are reopened now.

        Then head to Galleries North or South lounge. Btw these may be closed if there aren’t enough people, if both are closed I think you would be directed to use Galleries First instead.

        I was in T5 a few days ago, it seemed pretty busy, airside shops, restaurants, snacks etc. all open.

        • Babyg says:

          31 Jul31 July 09:47

          Agree with Cats are best, i think the days of Club passengers being redirected to First are now behind us, the lounges are now heaving (especially galleries south)… there was an interesting articles written by HFP years ago about how many BA members have status(gold\silver) and access to the lounge(s) on a daily basis, think it was circa 10k per day (during non covid times), when i last past through 2 weeks ago it was difficult to get a seat in galleries south, and certainly no social distancing was possible…

• JustLetMeFlyAgain says:

  31 Jul31 July 06:58

  Heading off today from Gatwick with Priority Pass. What’s the consensus on No. 1 Lounge vs Aspire? Which one’s better?

  • Cats are best says:

    31 Jul31 July 07:14

    Not been there for a while, but No. 1 was better. Though as it was busier it was more likely to turn away PP (in which case head to Aspire.)

  • Travel Strong says:

    31 Jul31 July 08:52

    No1 closes at midday today, Aspire closes at 3pm – in case that influences your decision. Check the priority pass app for opening hours – they are different almost every day right now at LGW!

  • JustLetMeFlyAgain says:

    31 Jul31 July 10:35

    Big thanks to all. Currently sat in No 1 with a Mimosa. Life is good

• Walty says:

  31 Jul31 July 07:37

  Morning All…..If you upgrade to the BAPP card after already spending £10K and the voucher comes theough for only 12 months, is it Amex or BA you contact to get it extended to 24 months? Thanks

  • Doug M says:

    31 Jul31 July 09:17

    Amex.

    • Walty says:

      31 Jul31 July 12:37

      Thank you!

      • Walty says:

        31 Jul31 July 13:22

        Spoke to them over web chat. Tried to pan me off saying it is because all my spend was on the blue free card. Said they have raised a ticket for escalation. Have others gone this route and had the expiry updated there and then, no fuss?

• Sam says:

  31 Jul31 July 07:39

  3 nights at the Mercure in Bilbao. No status. 1st night, aircon diddnt work. Got moved to a room late night and aircon is still sub-par which led to a very terrible sleep. Should I ask them to comp the 1st night…?

  • Tony1 says:

    31 Jul31 July 13:47

    Give it a try. Whatever you do get it sorted before you depart as Accor HO will not be of any help. A chat with the GM sooner rather than later is the best route.

    Try free breakfast if all else fails ( as normally a buffet so will “cost” the hotel next to nothing – but you will get some value )

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