The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 18th August

Links on Head for Points may pay us an affiliate commission. A list of partners is here.

We are running this daily chat thread on Head for Points during the coronavirus outbreak.

Historically, the daily ‘Bits’ articles were the de facto repository for random comments and questions. With the news flow being lighter, we are running fewer ‘Bits’ articles.

The comments under this article are where you should post questions about travel and, indeed, anything else on your mind. At this tricky time, and given that many of you are at home, we want the HfP community to have a place to chat.

Please only comment under the main articles on the site if your comment is directly related to the topic of the article. This has long-term benefits as it keeps the commentary relevant for people who read those articles in the future.

Old chat threads are hidden from the HfP home page. If you want to look for something in an old thread, click here. This brings up all the articles in our ‘General’ category which includes the chat threads.

Category

General

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

Mike says:

18 Aug18 August 03:02

Quick question for you Frankfurt Airport aficionados, I’m arriving a bit late to get a train to my destination, so I have to do an overnight stay at Frankfurt Airport (I can get a direct train in the morning). I can’t decide between the Hilton and the Sheraton hotels, I’m Hilton Diamond and Marriott Gold. Which would you recommend? Thanks in advance.
- George K says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 04:42
  
  I’d go for the Hilton. Spotless hotel – good lounge.
  - AL says:
    
    18 Aug18 August 05:49
    
    +1 to the Hilton. It has the added benefit of being right above the FRA train station and connects directly to the airport terminal.
    - roberto says:
      
      18 Aug18 August 07:41
      
      +2 the Hilton.
      - Joe says:
        
        18 Aug18 August 09:59
        
        +3
      - Mike says:
        
        18 Aug18 August 11:09
        
        Hilton, it is then. Cheers everyone.
- His Holyness says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 14:53
  
  The lounge is open at Hilton FRA?
Bob says:

18 Aug18 August 04:39

Good ‘£70 back on £200’ Amex offer with Millennium & Copthorne

Would a visit to the spa at one of these properties trigger the offer? If you aren’t a guest so just book a spa day etc at one of the above like Chelsea Harbour. Not sure if payment would still be processed by Millenium or not.
- Rob says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 08:14
  
  You nailed it. Depends how payment goes through.
  - Bob says:
    
    18 Aug18 August 13:50
    
    Thanks
- Tarmohamed says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 09:25
  
  Could we not use the Marriot “hack” some people used last year where a “virtual room” was created to bill things to that room and then pay at reception?
  - Andrew (@andrewseftel) says:
    
    18 Aug18 August 10:40
    
    Indeed. Up to the hotel whether they will do this for you. Probably more likely if you want to e.g. use the spa and the restaurant.
    - Paul says:
      
      18 Aug18 August 18:16
      
      Keen to hear an answer to this also! Is a virtual room easily created? Maybe worth a call
Tom says:

18 Aug18 August 05:23

Noob question but say I book a 241 flight with a mate but he only wants to come with me for the weekend. If I use the 241 booking for a long weekend and he flies back by himself will he have any issues if I didn’t fly back with him (I’d then book a separate one way return at a later date). I know this isn’t a productive use of a 241 but it’s a use it or lose it situation. Cheers, T.
- AL says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 05:52
  
  Assuming a BA 241 (some of us still fly VS!), then per https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2020/06/08/how-do-british-airways-2-4-1-american-express-companion-vouchers-work/, this wouldn’t work because both travellers need to travel together at all times.
  
  I was going to suggest a one-way back to the UK to reduce the cost but that doesn’t work either as one way only works with a 241 when departing the UK.
- Louie says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 06:05
  
  Just use the 241 for the outbound and separate Avios (or paid) tickets for the return. Would be no more expensive.
  - Memesweeper says:
    
    18 Aug18 August 07:45
    
    The taxes/fees on one way returns can be very high. Do the maths on 2-4-1 and two one ways, however, it’s almost certainly going to be the better option Louie suggests. Nonetheless I very much doubt BA would leave a solo traveller stranded abroad if the Booker of the companion didn’t show up for the return (even though the T&Cs say they would). I had to consider this when my +3 (two companion vouchers used) might have had to fly without me back home… I was going to check in on app, and no show. Confident that the others would have made it home.
- Louie says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 06:09
  
  Also if you could get better use of the 241 at some later stage, you could book a short flight and then cancel it to get a Future Travel Voucher. Can’t remember when that would extend the 241 to – some time in 2023 I think but someone else will no doubt confirm. Trouble with that is you would need to be sure of your ultimate companion as doing that would lock the companion in to the replacement flight.
- Anna says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 06:10
  
  Assuming it’s BA, you could book a short haul RFS then cancel for a FTV which would be valid until Sep 23 (I think).
- ChrisC says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 07:39
  
  With. 2-4-1 it’s only an issue if YOU as the voucher holder don’t fly back with him on the 2-4-1 book flights.
  
  If he returns back on a separate booking then that’s fine.
  
  TBH doing it your way will cost you more then booking yours and his as separate flights because whilst the avios part is halved the cash element isn’t.
- Rob says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 08:13
  
  All fine. Just book a one way with the 241.
  - Tom says:
    
    18 Aug18 August 09:16
    
    Many thanks Rob and other HFPrs. 100% clear now. What a great community this is! Cheers, T.
- BJ says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 08:42
  
  Learning from feedback you got from others, consider an open jaw booking with a long gap of say 6 months between trips. That way you and your friend can have two trips 6 months apart and get full value from the voucher. Mix and match the flights required in-between with miles or cash on any airline you desire.
Matt says:

18 Aug18 August 06:42

Three questions about avios bookings made at iberia.com …
1. Are these as flexible as BA avios bookings?
2. What is the charge for cancelling?
3. Do you need to phone to cancel?
Thanks in advance!
- Optimus Prime says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 07:22
  
  1. Yes
  2. EUR 25 per person.
  3. Yes 🙁
  - Matt says:
    
    18 Aug18 August 07:36
    
    Thank you. Mostly good news then…
    - meta says:
      
      18 Aug18 August 08:27
      
      But only if you’re booking for Iberia or BA flights. Otherwise non-refundable.
      - Harry T says:
        
        18 Aug18 August 14:57
        
        Meta is correct, from what I can see. I looked into this as I used Iberia Avios and Money on Vueling recently. I suspect you could actually wriggle around this due to covid policies though.
    - Matt says:
      
      18 Aug18 August 10:02
      
      Thank you for the additional info. IB metal, and luckily not urgent atm.
Ryan says:

18 Aug18 August 07:14

Have managed to get myself and my partner some upper class reward seats to Barbados with virgin next month using my credit card upgrade voucher. Just wondering if anyone has stayed at the Sandals Barbados and knows what it is like?
- Degsy says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 08:24
  
  Rob: have a look at yesterday’s chat – there were some comments about this I think
- Tracey says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 08:56
  
  We’ve stayed there in 2018. Busy, very American. The Royal Barbados side is slightly smarter. Staying in either means you can use any restaurant. Good choice of restaurants, you need to book in advance the most popular choices. Dress code is a lot more casual that the websites indicate. It’s a large complex, so you should find some quiet space. Choose your room carefully and look at the maps of the resort, some rooms are in the sun all day and others never see the sun, so if this is important choose carefully.
  Any specific questions?
  - Ryan says:
    
    18 Aug18 August 09:47
    
    Thank you for your reply. Yes I was a bit concerned about how formal the dress code looked but glad it is more casual than it seems. We have booked to stay in a Beachfront club level suite as this was the only availability for our dates. Which would you say are the best restaurants across both of the hotels? We will get some of these booked up as soon as we arrive as have heard that the nicer restaurants get booked up in advanced!
- Jenster says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 11:02
  
  Stayed there in 2017 and had a great time, we had a swim up club room which was nice but ground level was bad for mosquitos, next time I would go for a higher floor I think. Restaurants and bars were all good, no wait times and some lovely people there too.
  Have a great time!
  We are heading to Barbados in October as a family, just a little wary of all the testing especially with kids but hopefully it will all go ok!
Richard says:

18 Aug18 August 08:09

I’ve used points for a night at Crowne Plaza in Edinburgh. All room availability now removed and IHG website says hotel is closed.
Any idea if it remains closed what will happen to a reward night? Cancelled and tough luck or moved to another IHG hotel?
Anyone know why it is closed and likelihood of reopening soon? Thank you!
- Anna says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 08:13
  
  I read that someone got moved to The George due to the CP being closed so if that’s an option for you it’s worth asking!
- Mikeact says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 10:30
  
  For goodness sake…call them and ask.
- Chrism20 says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 11:33
  
  The IC, Kimpton and the CP are all directly managed by IHG and depending on which one is shut they have been moving guests to one of the others. They have called and then followed up with an email to confirm where you are being moved to in the past.
- Richard says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 11:59
  
  Thank you all. I didn’t really want to call in case they say “tough” and felt forced to spend the extra points on IC/Kimpton/Indigo.
  I’ll run out the clock, happy to stay at CP if reopen otherwise reassured they will fix it. Also dawned on me it might not be possible for them to see difference between 100% points or points+cash. I guess for latter they really do need to fix it, not just cancel the stay.
  - Pete M says:
    
    18 Aug18 August 13:11
    
    Remember IHG offer “A Guaranteed Room” (https://www.ihg.com/content/gb/en/customer-care/bwc-lp). The O2 IC is debacle is showing that to be a joke of a guarantee, but always worth having in your back pocket for conversations with the hotel if needed.
- Harry T says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 14:58
  
  They should move you to another hotel – don’t take no for an answer. Any hotel that won’t move you if they stay closed to the public is poorly managed.
  - Paul says:
    
    19 Aug19 August 05:36
    
    Perhaps but the ICO2 issue shows that what they should do and what the actually will do are very different
- Nick M says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 16:53
  
  I should have had a booking at a Radisson in Cardiff last month and that was just cancelled with no alternatives offered… took a few weeks for the points to be returned too. A little annoying as I’d topped my Radisson account up specially for this, which would have then cleared my balance
BJ says:

18 Aug18 August 08:32

Another day, another BA call (or 2, or 3, or 4), so frustrating…
- Jane says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 08:38
  
  Me too, on hold. 36 minutes and counting. Am I really going to get cut of after an hour ? It’s the first time I’ve actually got through to being on hold, been trying for 3 days now and usually just get the ‘call back later’ message.
  - BJ says:
    
    18 Aug18 August 08:48
    
    Yes, we really are going to get cut off unless first calls of day are treated differently. Enough to drive somebody to drink.
    - Jane says:
      
      18 Aug18 August 08:51
      
      Arghhh ! tempted on the drink, already hit the chocolate ! I’ll find out in 9 minutes.
      - Pete M says:
        
        18 Aug18 August 08:57
        
        I consistently get through calling the US number (+18777677970) via Skype, for free, within US waking hours. They usually answer within the hour, never been cut off when it’s gone over 60mins.
      - BJ says:
        
        18 Aug18 August 09:03
        
        Now through 1h and still on hold, let’s see. I think there was reports of people being on hold for about 3h on Rob’s article the other day so … was just about to say maybe there is hope…and I got disconnected!.Redialling.
      - Jane says:
        
        18 Aug18 August 09:03
        
        Thanks Pete, will try that later I think. I assume they can do everything the UK can ? (I want to push my 5th August flight cancelled this year to 4th next year). I was hopeful for a short while as I got to 1 hour and 2 minutes and then it went 🙁
  - Nicky says:
    
    18 Aug18 August 10:00
    
    Yes you do get cut off after an hour….do what I did: if you get through at say 50mins ask them to take your phone number in case you get cut off and ask them to ring you back. I did that – got through after 55 mins, gave them my number and when cut off they rang me back.
- BJ says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 09:05
  
  Thanks @Pete, will give it a try.
  - Pete M says:
    
    18 Aug18 August 09:09
    
    The US number connects to the UK in any case.
    - Pete M says:
      
      18 Aug18 August 09:10
      
      *Sometimes India, to be fair.
- Number9 says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 09:12
  
  I got through straight away on phone at 8am to be told I needed redemption department I would still be on hold if chat hadn’t sorted it out for me. My brother has been trying since 8am been cut off twice already.
  - Number9 says:
    
    18 Aug18 August 10:38
    
    Brother got through after 2 hours today.
    - Anna says:
      
      18 Aug18 August 10:58
      
      I got through to avios.com no problem the other day, while the csa was re-ticketing we were chatting about BA call times and he said the cut off point is determined by YOUR phone provider and you can request a longer time if you want.
      - Jane says:
        
        18 Aug18 August 11:29
        
        Interesting , that does seem to be a thing after checking google, now, how do I get rid of it !?
RTS says:

18 Aug18 August 08:36

Hi,

Has anyone tried using their Virgin card with curve since the TC changes? Does using it via curve cause a fee now?
- BP says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 09:08
  
  Try it with a small amount… it may depend on who you are paying.
- Travel Strong says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 09:11
  
  Curve itself was never going to cause a fee, curve passes on the MCC. The underlying transaction type you were doing may now incurr a fee – but no one has reported for sure yet. I’ll report on creation at the end of the month.
  - Reney says:
    
    18 Aug18 August 09:48
    
    Yesterday several people have reported making transactions and since had passed their statement date. I would consider them as valid data points.
    
    The main issue is the IT could change any time. So a data points yesterday maybe invalid the next day.
- Reney says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 09:12
  
  suggest reading yesterday’s chat, quite a few data points were shared.
  - Travel Strong says:
    
    18 Aug18 August 09:46
    
    Thanks!