The HfP chat thread – Thursday 5th August

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bill says:

5 Aug5 August 13:40

If I am reading this correctly, it looks like NHS / Jersey / France (by implication EU) have got a solution coming soon for QR codes. I wonder if EU app will begin recognising NHS QR codes ?
- bill says:
  
  5 Aug5 August 13:40
  
  Forgot the link – https://www.gov.je/News/2021/Pages/InterimPassSanitaire.aspx
  - bill says:
    
    5 Aug5 August 13:42
    
    A quick google search yileds this: https://www.thelocal.fr/20210805/new-france-says-uk-vaccine-certificates-now-fully-compatible-with-french-health-pass/
    - Pete M says:
      
      5 Aug5 August 14:15
      
      My French app is now accepting the NHS certificate – the big red cross changed into a big red heart!
      - WaynedP says:
        
        5 Aug5 August 15:53
        
        +1 Seamless
Crafty says:

5 Aug5 August 13:40

Out of interest, does anybody know the rationale why one cannot earn nor spend Hyatt points at Andaz branded properties?
- MinR says:
  
  5 Aug5 August 13:45
  
  You absolutely can earn and redeem Hyatt points at Andaz Property.
  
  What makes you think otherwise?
- Harry T says:
  
  5 Aug5 August 15:11
  
  Your question is incorrect, as you can both earn and spend WOH points at Andaz properties.
Michelle says:

5 Aug5 August 13:42

Hi, I’ve gone to cancel my BAPP card today via Amex chat where they’ve told me if I cancel I will lose my 2 for 1 voucher earned in April 2021. I’m pretty sure I’ve read this is not the case, however I just wanted to check and also to see whether it is less likely to happen if I called to cancel instead? Thanks
- Sandra says:
  
  5 Aug5 August 13:47
  
  No it’s not correct, it is in your BA account so they can’t take it away. When you use it you do have to pay taxes etc with Amex & that can be any Amex currently, not necessarily yours.
- VerdantBacon says:
  
  5 Aug5 August 13:48
  
  They will always tell you this whether you call or chat, it’s part of their script. It will not be removed, they have no control over it once it’s in your BA account. Just say you understand and it’ll move past their script and allow you to progress on to cancelling
- Genghis says:
  
  5 Aug5 August 13:49
  
  Nothing will happen so as long as 241 in BAEC
- Navara says:
  
  5 Aug5 August 13:54
  
  just point them in the direction of Headforpoints as break time reading
  - Jimmy says:
    
    5 Aug5 August 14:32
    
    No please dont!
    Ps are you navara from PTS?
    - Michelle says:
      
      5 Aug5 August 15:09
      
      Thank you to everyone for your replies and the giggle!
Michael O'Donnell says:

5 Aug5 August 13:49

Guys – trying to phone 08444930747 e exec club BA

3 days in a row
Been on hold over 4 hours now
After 1 hour they just disconnect you
Pre 1pm they dont even let you wait in kine – just disconnect you

Trying to book my return open jaw avios flight from different airport on companion voucher – were 8 flights on dat, 4 already gone now

Startingg to panic

Where else can i go /phone/ contact?!?
- Rob says:
  
  5 Aug5 August 15:40
  
  DON’T ring 0844, ring 0344 (rest of number the same).
  
  A reader sent me a copy of a £206 mobile bill after an hour on hold to the 0844 number. Dial 0344 and it comes out of your normal minutes allowance.
  - Will says:
    
    5 Aug5 August 17:04
    
    saynoto0870.com
  - Michael O'Donnell says:
    
    5 Aug5 August 17:24
    
    Ok thanks
    
    Tried again on 03 number but again no answer… any other way of booking my return flight?
  - Michael O'Donnell says:
    
    7 Aug7 August 11:35
    
    Just got text from O2 to say these calls have cost me £149 so far… i am absolutely raging angry. Still cannot et through, now 5-6hours on hold (now calling 0344) still just cutting me off.. this is a disgrace from BA. Literally cant book my flight home!?!
- C says:
  
  5 Aug5 August 17:46
  
  Ring bang on 8am and you should get through straight away
  - Michael O'Donnell says:
    
    7 Aug7 August 18:13
    
    Tried this now.. 6 days in a row… no good. There were 8 flights home.. now only 2 left, im really panicing now.
- LessCleverAndrew says:
  
  5 Aug5 August 18:35
  
  Have you tried the chat? Log into baexec then contact us IIRC.
  - Michael O'Donnell says:
    
    7 Aug7 August 18:15
    
    Yes, its a bot, no option to talk to anyone no option to tryp question only pre selected questions. Going out of my mind here
- Louise K says:
  
  5 Aug5 August 18:59
  
  Nothing to add but Avios are on a huge recruitment drive for CS agents. Hopefully we will see the benefit of this soon.
Rupert says:

5 Aug5 August 14:22

Tampa outbound flight just got cancelled for 1st September. Trying to amend the dates online but no direct flights even though BA are selling flights.

As only outbound flight has cancelled am I covered under EU261 that they need to change both dates for free? Also is getting them to amend destination to say Vegas or another US destination too far?
- Sean says:
  
  5 Aug5 August 14:35
  
  you have the right to re-routing to your original destination at a date convenient to you. You have no “right” to request a different destination but may get a helpful agent.
  - LessCleverAndrew says:
    
    5 Aug5 August 15:20
    
    What are the limitations to this? For arguments sake -BA have cancelled my CE ticket to Sardinia in this October 1/2 term. Can I “force” them to rebook me onto a CE (assuming CE seats are available) in the June 1/2 term of 2022? Do I simply quote EU261 on the phone to the call centre?
    - Sean says:
      
      5 Aug5 August 15:28
      
      Shouldn’t need to mention eu261 as they have recently relaxed rules (internally) to allow transfers up to 12 months from original ticket date. So yes with a call it should be possible to move seats from a cancelled Oct 21 flight to June 22 as long as seats available. Whatever there internal rules you do have the Eu261 protection regardless – but the process for exercising your rights n that instance can be a pain.
      - LessCleverAndrew says:
        
        5 Aug5 August 16:45
        
        Chat thread does not allow me to +1 your answer but thanks.
- ChrisC says:
  
  5 Aug5 August 14:43
  
  They will generally allow a reroute to another destination within 300 miles
  
  Outside of that no chance as Tampa to Las Vagas is over 2,000 miles.
N says:

5 Aug5 August 14:25

I have a 60k referral link for Amex Business Plat, and a 70k link for Amex (Personal) Plat – are these higher than usual?
- Gavin says:
  
  5 Aug5 August 14:30
  
  You ‘have’ as in you can refer a new customer… or you ‘have’ as in someone has extended their link to you?
  
  Be great to know if all referral links are the same (ie net the same for referee and referrer) as I’m about to take out Plat for the first time.
  - Ste C says:
    
    5 Aug5 August 14:34
    
    I have the 70k personal one, its 70k for you and 24k for me.
  - N says:
    
    5 Aug5 August 14:39
    
    I have as in I can offer a referral link to someone else who is signing up…
    
    Business is 60k for you, 30k for me.
    Pers is 70k for you, 24k for me.
    - Gavin says:
      
      5 Aug5 August 15:32
      
      I’d be delighted to receive a referral link (I’ve asked Rob but he is presumably maxed out on the inbound bonuses) so more efficient to help another HfP’r get the 24k. I don’t think I can post my email address on here, but I’m easy to find on LinkedIn (I work for Cardeo).
      - iSub says:
        
        5 Aug5 August 15:44
        
        I have the 70k link – I’m happy to share it. I’ll get searching!
      - Rob says:
        
        5 Aug5 August 16:19
        
        I have one if anyone needs one.
- Duncan says:
  
  5 Aug5 August 14:48
  
  Defo higher than usual. I have the same. But gutted, as I signed up with a special 50k referral earlier this year which I thought was generous at the time. 😒 I think the standard is 35k?
N says:

5 Aug5 August 14:40

Quick datapoint on previous chat about Marriott transfers from Amex being instantaneous – just did 170k MR to Marriott and they haven’t shown up 10+ minutes later. Maybe not so instantaneous for large transfers? Worth a heads up!
- Genghis says:
  
  5 Aug5 August 15:01
  
  Has it ever been instantaneous? Sure it’s taken overnight at least all times I’ve ever done it.
  - Harry T says:
    
    5 Aug5 August 15:13
    
    It happened within hours for me recently – it may have been instant but I didn’t check that quickly. TGLoyalty had a similar experience. If it’s slower, it may be because it’s your first transfer?
    - Tom says:
      
      5 Aug5 August 15:15
      
      Normally happens instantly for me.
  - Rob says:
    
    5 Aug5 August 15:34
    
    It moved to instantaneous – we wrote about it recently and I tested it at the time. Log out, log in, done.
- N says:
  
  5 Aug5 August 15:49
  
  Lots of logging out and in on desktop didn’t make the points appear (I’d done an earlier transfer for 400MR to test all was ok. Find it hard to believe I’d need to clear cache/cookies for that sort of thing, but maybe that’s what’s needed.
  
  Appeared as soon as I checked on the app – make of that what you will!
Laura says:

5 Aug5 August 15:14

Looking at flights to Dubai for January and they are coming up about £350ish in Y.
Is that normal? Flight prices are all over the place and worried that they might shoot up, but also don’t want to rush to book if the prices are artificially high at the moment either!
- John says:
  
  5 Aug5 August 15:53
  
  Yes it’s about right, if there are 10 flights a day like there used to be you might get it for £250 in sales, occasionally under £200 but that usually involves transits