The HfP chat thread – Saturday 7th August

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Alan says:

7 Aug7 August 16:06

We have 2 £995 Virgin UC tickets for the US in early October, if the US fails to reopen by then we have the option of moving the tickets subject to any fare difference but at current prices this would mean paying an additional £7,000, a price we are not prepared to pay.

Has anyone got any better ideas than just letting the tickets lapse.
- Harry T says:
  
  7 Aug7 August 16:09
  
  Wait for Virgin to cancel one or both of them, then move them to new dates under EC261 rights.
- C says:
  
  7 Aug7 August 16:10
  
  Would VS let you rebook in PE, if the prices for UC on your desired new dates shoot up? I would expect prices will rationalise, once anyone has a clear view on future demand.
- ChrisC says:
  
  7 Aug7 August 17:01
  
  If VS cancel then the EU/UK 261 provisions re rebooking for free apply.
  
  If you cancel then you have no rights to rebooking for free and are reliant on VS policy re rebooking / credit for future travel.
  
  At the moment it’s a case or wait and see what happens and taking a decision much closer to the currently booked date or travel. You have two months until you travel and a lot can happen in two months,
- David says:
  
  7 Aug7 August 17:48
  
  When they cancelled mine I took a FTV and they offered me an upgrade voucher (return for each ticket). All you then have to do is find a decent PE ticket.
- Alan says:
  
  7 Aug7 August 19:25
  
  Thanks for the ideas.
  
  If we cannot travel I will wait to see if they are cancelled and if not try the PE suggestion.
Anna says:

7 Aug7 August 16:33

Hi, my daughter has received a Randox green countries test kit. When she ordered it she put in the incorrect date and said she was coming back on the day she was actually leaving. Does anyone know if this will be an issue or will it be ok? Thank you.
- Rob says:
  
  7 Aug7 August 16:35
  
  Doesn’t matter AFAIK. As long as she has the reference number for her Passenger Locator Form before she flies back, she’s fine. There is no proof that the Government even checks that the test was taken, although it does check that it was purchased.
  
  I currently have some we bought for a trip that got cancelled and so will be used a month after the original date we told Randox.
  - Anna says:
    
    7 Aug7 August 16:41
    
    Thank you.
- Harry T says:
  
  7 Aug7 August 19:52
  
  Nah, should be fine. You just need the booking references codes from the email for the PLF when you do the passenger locator form. When you told Randox you were travelling doesn’t matter.
Sina says:

7 Aug7 August 16:41

Can someone remind me the standard comp for IHG Ambassador if a) upgrade is not provided b) 20 USD credit is refused?
- meta says:
  
  7 Aug7 August 16:44
  
  Refusal of upgrade or 4pm late checkout gives 10k points each.
  
  Never encountered $20 credit refusal. Please name and shame so we can all avoid them.
  - Sina says:
    
    7 Aug7 August 16:51
    
    I was upgraded one lever as it was Virtouso booking, but they said a further upgrade is not possible and they no longer offer 20 USD credit?! It was Paris Le Grand, which I’ve heard so much about on HfP!
    
    The room itself wasn’t much to be honest, even though it was an executive room, but it was just big (36m) but part of room was empty with no furniture or anything 😂
    
    The lounge was closed so was given breakfast at Cafe de la Paix which was nice!
    - meta says:
      
      7 Aug7 August 17:17
      
      I’d write to the Ambassador email and say that you weren’t given the upgrade and they refused compensation. Have you checked there are further rooms for upgrade? I’d also say that they refused $20 credit, they’ll give you some points (2k?).
      
      If you booked with a room lounge access (and IC Le Grand lounge has all-day F&B !), then I’d request a difference in price. Breakfast comes as standard with Virtuoso booking so there is nothing extra here. Very poor form. I was planning on going back to Le Grand in November, but now I just think I’ll go to Kimpton.
      - Sina says:
        
        7 Aug7 August 17:37
        
        The hotel was maybe at 20% capacity!
        
        And I stayed once in kimpton was upgraded to top suite as Platinum in 2019 and in summer!! Was given free b/fast and drinks.
        
        Le Grand is a beautiful hotel but the room I stayed in was definitely not worth €450+ per night!
      - Rob says:
        
        7 Aug7 August 18:10
        
        Club is free with all Virtuoso bookings at LeG, a hugely generous perk.
      - meta says:
        
        7 Aug7 August 18:32
        
        Obviously that accounts for nothing when the Club is closed and the hotel doesn’t provide any benefits in lieu. One to avoid for now until they sort themselves out post-pandemic.
Ls says:

7 Aug7 August 16:50

I agree you need tax advice. But putting 40k in, doesn’t mean HMRC sees it as 40k in. Final salary schemes are calculated generously, and not related to amount put in.
I would caution you may not be getting the full tax benefit of putting £40k in if you don’t earn £40k above the higher tax threshold…(ie more than 75k!)
Eric the Half a Bee says:

7 Aug7 August 18:46

Rob – weren’t you staying at SSDV over the last couple of weeks? Any update re: honouring Amb status benefits?
- BP says:
  
  7 Aug7 August 19:00
  
  I’m looking forward to a full review!
  - meta says:
    
    7 Aug7 August 20:46
    
    They don’t provide any Amb benefits, but if you negotiate with them pre-stay you will get an excellent deal.
    - BP says:
      
      7 Aug7 August 22:51
      
      Mixed messages on here. Some people saying full Amb benefits. Can you help out with what to expect for a deal?
      - meta says:
        
        7 Aug7 August 23:10
        
        You get some similar benefits, but different from the published ones for Six Senses. Actually I think they care more about IHG status than Amb status at the moment. They are still integrating into IHG and that’s why it’s inconsistent. The reservation team is actually very good and you should engage with them. They will try their best to give you a better deal than the published ones – from F&B to late checkouts, etc. They do it on a case by case basis. You should contact them before the stay as Spa and lunch/dinner also need to be pre-booked due to regulations.
- Rob says:
  
  7 Aug7 August 22:50
  
  It got cancelled …..
  - BP says:
    
    7 Aug7 August 22:53
    
    That’s a shame. What’s your view on the Amb benefits, Rob?
    - Rob says:
      
      7 Aug7 August 23:16
      
      What you get is clearly listed in the AMB rules ….
  - Harry T says:
    
    7 Aug7 August 23:29
    
    Did you cancel, Rob, or did they?
    - Rob says:
      
      7 Aug7 August 23:34
      
      We cancelled, hotel worked with IHG to refund the points (because if the hotel had simply cancelled the reservation at its end, the points would have been wiped automatically due to the cancellation policy).
- r* says:
  
  8 Aug8 August 00:35
  
  When I checked in the manager went over the benefits, specifically breakfast and a spa visit. Theu had also confirmed in an email prior to checkin status would be recognised.
Allan says:

7 Aug7 August 19:43

From FlyerTalk, BA seems to now be giving access to lounge in Malta.
Simon Schus says:

7 Aug7 August 20:35

Have there been any recent experiences of No1 Lounge at Heathrow Terminal 3? Wondering if it is crowded vs. the BA lounge.
- Rob says:
  
  7 Aug7 August 22:47
  
  Given the modest number of flights in T3 (Virgin is flying under 2,000 people per day) I doubt it is busy.
tony says:

7 Aug7 August 20:40

any idea which number i might reach ba on right now? holding on two different numbers at the moment… thanks!