The HfP chat thread – Saturday 14th August

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N says:

14 Aug14 August 11:28

Got my box of Virgin Marys from Longbottom this morning. Thanks to Rob for the headsup.

Taste test later!
Anna says:

14 Aug14 August 11:36

Weird hacking data point. In April my email account was hacked by someone apparently using a library terminal in NYC (OH cleared it out as he’s quite IT savvy). It now looks like this person has somehow managed to get back into the account and is moving my travel bookings to their own folder embedded in my email account! I realised quite quickly as emails have been disappearing from folders where I know stored them!
Has anyone else ever experienced anything like this? I keep changing the password but they are clearly getting back in somehow. I can only think the ultimate aim is to get into my BA and hotel accounts but so far all my points are where they should be.
- M says:
  
  14 Aug14 August 11:41
  
  In your account settings, look for things like:
  – log out on all devices
  – multi factor authentication
- Harry T says:
  
  14 Aug14 August 11:43
  
  Turning on two factor authentication may help prevent them gaining access. I would be in contact with my email provider at this point though.
- LS says:
  
  14 Aug14 August 11:45
  
  Weird. A few questions/points:
  – Are you using common passwords, moving between common passwords when you reset etc? Password1 -> Password2 for example
  – Does anyone else know your password? Even if you trust them could it be them?
  – Is the email run by work or someone else who has a policy of being able to access your emails
  – Could someone have got access to your recovery email address, and just be finding your updated password, or resetting it?
  – Has someone got access to an old device, with an ‘open’ session still logged in to your email address?
  – Do you use a password store/software, that could be being accessed?
  – Have you got full, up-to-date virus scanning on your machine? Could it be a virus logging your keys?
  – Could it be you, sleep-organising your emails?
  
  I would turn on two-factor-authentification in the mean time until you find out. Choose a mobile phone.
  - Anna says:
    
    14 Aug14 August 11:56
    
    It’s my personal email, nobody else uses it. I use my phone to authenticate password changes.
    It’s as though the hacker has merged profiles with me – I can still see the NYC library address when I look at my profile and can’t get rid of it.
    One of my friends works in cyber security so I’m going to show it to her when I next see her as I’ve never seen anything like it before.
    - Anna says:
      
      14 Aug14 August 11:59
      
      My passwords are generally pretty safe as my OH is very clued up due to his work.
      - KBuffett says:
        
        14 Aug14 August 12:09
        
        Who is the email provider?
      - Anna says:
        
        14 Aug14 August 12:31
        
        Outlook/hotmail
- the_real_a says:
  
  14 Aug14 August 12:51
  
  Have you allowed Tripit, awardwallet or lastpass or similar access to crawl through your emails, either locally through an ad-on or via the cloud? Those apps try to look at your emails to plan an itinerary.
  - KBuffett says:
    
    14 Aug14 August 13:09
    
    They may have connected your Outlook/Hotmail account with their Windows account. This does not disable instantly when the password is changed, access continues.
    Also, they have have set up forwarding/redirect rules, or changed your recovery email or date of birth etc.
    - Anna says:
      
      14 Aug14 August 13:57
      
      I don’t use award wallet or any of those.
      All my details still seem to be the same. How do I get rid of the NYC library address from my profile?
      If they had set up a forwarding instruction, would email still show up in my account? They seem to be being moved from where I am filing them within a few days of me doing that. So I can see that the email has been moved, but can’t open it any more.
      - Lyn says:
        
        14 Aug14 August 14:50
        
        Anna, this does sound rather scary. Just in case you haven’t already seen it, Microsoft has an article called “How to recover a hacked or compromised Microsoft account” that could be helpful
        
        I’ll post a link separately in case it is subject to moderation.
      - Lyn says:
        
        14 Aug14 August 14:51
        
        Anna, here is the Microsoft article
        
        https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/how-to-recover-a-hacked-or-compromised-microsoft-account-24ca907d-bcdf-a44b-4656-47f0cd89c245
- Anna says:
  
  14 Aug14 August 17:41
  
  Thanks Lynn and AJA. I am going to set up a new email account for travel bookings, it will make them easier to keep track of as well!
  - Memesweeper says:
    
    14 Aug14 August 18:54
    
    This, with a physical token, is pretty much the best security possible for a consumer-grade email (on gmail).
    
    https://landing.google.com/advancedprotection/
Mco says:

14 Aug14 August 12:01

Can anyone please double check I got this right? Heading to India for some work with my 12yr old. I am double vaccinated. He doesn’t need to isolate once back right?
We need an antigen test to head back?
- Anna says:
  
  14 Aug14 August 13:59
  
  Is India Amber again now, it’s hard to keep up! If so, to return to the UK you’ll both need an antigen test before you depart plus fill in Passenger Locator Form (12 year old can be included on your form), then a day 2 test when you get back. No need for either of you to isolate unless you get a test & trace notification from your journey.
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    14 Aug14 August 14:50
    
    Even then they won’t have to because from Monday under 18’s and double jabbed no longer need to isolate.
    - TGLoyalty says:
      
      14 Aug14 August 14:50
      
      Unless actually positive themselves ofcourse.
      - Mco says:
        
        14 Aug14 August 15:23
        
        Thank you
Jashan says:

14 Aug14 August 12:08

Had our Virgin UC reward (using 241 & booked in their 50% off miles sale) flight to Florida in September cancelled. Are we able to move this to a carribean destination?
- TJ says:
  
  14 Aug14 August 16:34
  
  Virgin advised me that I can rebook to a different destination but will need to pay the full quota of points and any additional taxes/fees if applicable. Also, will need reward seat availability. Whereas, if I rebook the same destination at a later date, everything remains the same and no reward seat availability is required.
Matt M. says:

14 Aug14 August 12:29

Hello All! A question which I can’t quite get straight in my head. We have two Avios one ways booked to Vancouver next year – separate booking references for outbound and inbound. I plan to phone BA and merge the booking.
My question is this though – if we stayed with two one way bookings does BA have a lesser duty of care to get us home if, for whatever reason, the inbound flight is cancelled? Or is it better to have a genuine return flight in case something crops up? I hope that makes sense.
Any advice gladly appreciated. Thanks!
- Anna says:
  
  14 Aug14 August 12:35
  
  Unless you get a very amenable BA CSA they generally won’t merge bookings any more. However your rights are exactly the same as per any cancellation so the inbound wouldn’t be compromised if you were already there, however if the outbound was cancelled before you flew, your cancellation options for the inbound would be as per Avios Ts and Cs.
  - Matt M. says:
    
    14 Aug14 August 12:49
    
    Thanks Anna. My experience of CSAs (contrary to what others might think, has always been really really good) so I’ll give it a go anyway! Thanks for the info.
- ChrisC says:
  
  14 Aug14 August 13:32
  
  You cannot merge bookings in this way. I don’t think you ever could. (Some very minor exceptions when using 2-4-1 vouchers)
  
  If you want full protection then trips should be booked as returns.
  - Anna says:
    
    14 Aug14 August 14:01
    
    I managed it a couple of times, but then about 3 years ago they started refusing to do it. Only problem I’ve found is that if the event you can’t travel and it’s not BA’s fault, you’re on the hook for more £35 cancellation fees. Not the end of the world though.
Niall says:

14 Aug14 August 12:37

Does anybody with good experience of Melia / Melia Rewards know if either or all of the following apply to a booking with two rooms / 3 adults:
– Platinum room upgrade benefit;
– Platinum access to VIP areas benefit;
– Gold Birthday Upgrade voucher.
- Sina says:
  
  14 Aug14 August 12:42
  
  Room upgrade is provided if you check-in online, I’d avoud try at the hotel as Melia is usually very stingy with any extra! Access to VIP areas should be provided as it’s part of your benefits(you should insist and show them their website if they deny!)
  
  Again, Birthday upgrade is provided if you check-in online, but don’t think it works as double upgrade?!
  - Niall says:
    
    14 Aug14 August 12:48
    
    Thanks! I have actually found terms and conditions document which does state that the VIP areas applies to 2 rooms in one reservation as long as the platinum cardholder there.
    
    It is unclear though if either the birthday voucher or equivalent platinum benefit of room upgrade would apply to both rooms in the reservation or just one (subject to availability etc).
    
    I have noticed Melia’s stinginess, it’s always strangely difficult to get the late check out as Gold. But I am nearing platinum qualification, hence seeing if it might be worth chasing this status (and have a two room booking coming up)
Blair says:

14 Aug14 August 12:55

Radisson Rewards question. Do points expire for elites? I have Gold via Amex Plat. I don’t see any expiry suggested in the app in my account details. But a friend has done a panicked cash-out stay to use up their points. I felt quite certain having looked online that points don’t expire for elites but now the seed of doubt is there I am hoping collective wisdom here can set me right.
- E says:
  
  14 Aug14 August 13:58
  
  I don’t think it helps if you’re an Elite member and they still expire as for non-Elites. But they are protected till the end of this year due to their Covid extension anyway.
- Scott says:
  
  14 Aug14 August 14:12
  
  Expiration of Points: If there is no points activity in your Radisson Rewards account for any 24-month period, we may, at any time and in our sole discretion and without notice or liability to you, void and cancel any or all of your points.
  - meta says:
    
    14 Aug14 August 16:14
    
    Simple book a room and cancel resets expiry.
John says:

14 Aug14 August 13:14

Anyone know how long before a flight I can cancel an Emirates reward flight for a refund?
Thanks
- Blair says:
  
  14 Aug14 August 17:09
  
  Try FT or the Emirates website live chat. Waiting for the phone to be answered isn’t worth your time.