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The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 18th August

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Comments (376)

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

  • C says:
    18 Aug18 August 12:17

    Does the backing card for bendy have to be in the same name as the bendy card? Waiting for hubbies ihg card to arrive and have a vets bill to pay on Friday. He currently has the 1% cash back offer on bendy so could I use my card with it? Also is 2 weeks a long time to have not received the ihg card? He was confirmed to be eligible before the full application. Thanks

    • Stephen says:
      18 Aug18 August 12:24

      No it will allow you to add his card, but I’ve recently been flagged for a review with Curve (after 8 months of use) and they have asked me to remove any cards not in my name

    • John says:
      18 Aug18 August 14:02

      Just do it as long as it isn’t a massive amount over what you normally spend, and take it off bendy as soon as you get the right card

  • TJ says:
    18 Aug18 August 12:25

    Can someone remind me of the position regarding downgrades with BA. I’ve been downgraded from F to CW (return leg) on seats bought in the 50% Avios sale. At the moment, I can can’t secure an alternative date in F (YouFirst claim they can only book 3 days either side in such circumstances). If I eventually decide to accept the downgrade, am I entitled to a refund of 75% of the Avios used (which in this case I assume would be 75% of the reduced Avios used as part of the sale)?

    • Lady London says:
      18 Aug18 August 12:32

      please see other commentary already posted within this exact same thread today, as well as page 5 of yesterday’s same thread.

      • Lady London says:
        18 Aug18 August 12:41

        page 2 today, and page 5 yesterday to avoid you doing more work

        • John says:
          18 Aug18 August 13:20

          I received email saying “cancelled” my First flight to Miami and rebooked me into club. Flight no is same but departure time slightly different.
          If they have used the word “cancelled” and different time – is this a cancellation rather than a downgrade?

        • TJ says:
          18 Aug18 August 13:48

          Found it…thanks. Looking forward to the introduction of forums!

    • ChrisC says:
      18 Aug18 August 16:32

      Yes it would be based on the amount you paid for the flight as that is what is specified in the regulation.

  • Ollie says:
    18 Aug18 August 12:46

    My wife and I have 6 companion vouchers in total. Looking to use 2 to book for our family of 4 for July 22, however my “nearest” expiring vouchers expire Dec 21 and Jun 22, both before our outbound leg would be. There are currently 4 flights available each way which obviously I want to bag, but don’t want to use later expiring vouchers when there’s a chance of an extension.

    Is there a way round this? E.g. could I use later expiring voucher now to reserve the seats, then IF they others get extended “swap vouchers”?

    • Rob says:
      18 Aug18 August 13:40

      No

      • Mouse says:
        18 Aug18 August 14:11

        Wouldn’t book a random destination, cancel for an FTV, then use the FTV work?

        Also I swear I remember someone a couple of months (ish) ago saying they’d had success in having the call centre switch vouchers applied to a booking

        • Ollie says:
          18 Aug18 August 14:24

          So I just book 4 flights to anywhere that has availibility using the soon-to-expire vouchers. Cancel taking the FTV, then call up and book the 4 currently available reward flights?

          Would that work Rob? Any downsides?

          • Anna says:
            18 Aug18 August 15:36

            This would work in theory but getting through to BA on the phone to use the FTV before your 4 seats get snapped up by someone else might be an issue.

          • Mouse says:
            18 Aug18 August 16:02

            Anna – Ollie says desired flights already available

          • Ollie says:
            18 Aug18 August 16:08

            That’s correct.

            The flights are available for me to book right now but if I book the traditional way using 2 of my “long range” vouchers, this means the “soon to expires” will expire in Dec and June and I’ll lose them.

            It sounds like what you’re saying is I can use the 2 x “soon to expires” to book 4 seats to ANYWHERE with availability, say, next week. Cancel immediately then call and use that FTV to rebook the currently available seats for next July, effectively using my “soon to expire” vouchers for flights they wouldn’t currently be eligible for.

            Have I got that right?

          • Mouse says:
            18 Aug18 August 16:49

            That’s what I’m suggesting but I’m not one of the great experts on here so I’m not 100% certain, especially in light of Rob’s “no” above

          • Rob says:
            18 Aug18 August 16:53

            What is your voucher? Cash only?

            Question is if a cash voucher can be used to pay taxes on an Avios booking.

            If it can then rest of plan is fine.

            I would try to see if your cash voucher hasn’t had an extension though.

          • Ollie says:
            18 Aug18 August 17:01

            I don’t have a FTV at the moment Rob, what I have is 2 companion vouchers which are going to expire before the flights I want to book (these 4 seats are currently available for July, vouchers expire Dec and June).

            The question is whether I can book, say, 4 seats return London to Liverpool using those vouchers for next week. Cancel those flights for a FTV, then call up straight away and use that FTV for the reward seats I want to book that are currently available in July 2022?

          • Rob says:
            18 Aug18 August 17:25

            Ah ok. That’s fine then. Book away.

            I’d wait until the last minute in case the vouchers get extended naturally though.

          • Ollie says:
            18 Aug18 August 17:42

            Many thanks Rob and all

  • Asim says:
    18 Aug18 August 13:00

    I have a Long haul BA flight coming into London. Have a BA “connection” 15hrs later to CDG. Will baggage be checked in all the way through or will I need to retrieve and check-in again at LHR.

    • Sam G says:
      18 Aug18 August 13:49

      Yes will be checked

    • ChrisC says:
      18 Aug18 August 16:36

      Putting connection in inverted commas implies separate tickets.

      In which case BA won’t interline the bags and you’ll need to enter the UK, collect bags and recheck them in.

    • Kitten says:
      18 Aug18 August 19:22

      If those 15 hours include an overnight then I’d mention when checking in that I’d need my bag in the hotel.

  • Stu N says:
    18 Aug18 August 13:14

    If you are on a single booking (both flights under one booking reference) you should get the option to check bags through or collect and recheck on a long layover.

    If separate bookings you will need to collect and recheck the bags.

    • Asim says:
      18 Aug18 August 15:31

      It’s on a single booking but my preference would be to collect and check-in again as there’s a high likelihood of me missing the connecting flight 😉

      • Jonathan says:
        18 Aug18 August 16:32

        Often they will only short check if connection is overnight. They are the rules & in USA they certainly enforce them. May get away with it from an outstation with very few BA flights but otherwise be prepared to travel HBO or have a long wait & some questions at LHR when you ask them to retrieve your bags.

      • Stu N says:
        18 Aug18 August 16:33

        You might have to ask to collect bags at Heathrow but on such a long layover it won’t be a problem and won’t arouse suspicion.

  • The Accountant says:
    18 Aug18 August 13:22

    Has anyone successfully claimed compensation from Wizz Air? I booked a flight and had my flights cancelled as they temporarily cancelled the route, so had to book on another airline which was significantly more expensive. They refused to book me on another airline when I spoke to customer service, and have automatically refunded the fare to my account as credit, which I believe I can request as refund. I want to claim the difference in flight costs but not sure who to contact. Any suggestions?

    • Pete M says:
      18 Aug18 August 13:43

      You’ll ideally need to get a definitive position from them that they will not pay and then take them to MCOL.

      • Lady London says:
        18 Aug18 August 19:27

        Plus you must not have asked for that refund. If they’ve refunded you when you were asking them for a reroute make sure it’s clear that at no time did you ask for a refund nor agree to it you wanted only rerouting. I’d have put that in writing as soon as any unwanted full or part refund arrived but you’ll probably be ok anyway if you just keep that point clear.

  • Roberto says:
    18 Aug18 August 13:30

    With the end of all the MS bendy/beardy fun maybe this site should be renamed Head for Peanuts?

    • Harry T says:
      18 Aug18 August 13:47

      End of what?

    • The Savage Squirrel says:
      18 Aug18 August 13:48

      plenty of other low hanging fruit even if the route you mentioned changes. 😉

    • VerdantBacon says:
      18 Aug18 August 14:15

      The editorial content of this website has never been about MS though, it’s just the comments.

      Also, just because that route ends doesn’t mean there are others, if you want to MS you must know that every method eventually gets shut down. You just move on to the next one. There is already an interesting way to get around the Virgin card not working to pay off certain cards that might get around the new T&Cs if they ever kick in.

      • Harry T says:
        18 Aug18 August 14:54

        Care to explain, Verdant?

        • VerdantBacon says:
          18 Aug18 August 17:10

          Let’s see if the new T&Cs get applied and if it’ll get around it first 🙂

          At the moment I am enjoying being able to use Virgin for cards it doesn’t normally go through on and would rather not get the route closed down.

          Only discovered it recently after we all started having problems topping up Revolut or paying off Amazon CC!

      • JDB says:
        18 Aug18 August 15:47

        People may have to hope that the Che IPO doesn’t go ahead or is delayed as that is a time when a lot of questions get asked by regulators and investors. Many will be interested to know how much of their turnover/activity isn’t essentially fluff. They may not like the answer.

    • Axel says:
      18 Aug18 August 14:18

      Did someone not also say this when the Travelex Supercard stopped about 4 years ago?

  • Grimz says:
    18 Aug18 August 13:48

    Sorry just posted this on Amex Platinum post

    I have a 1st class flight on a 2 4 1 with BA out INV – PHX on 10th September 2021 and a return from San Diego – ABZ on the 26th September 2021. I have had confirmation that my San Diego leg has been cancelled but nothing has changed on the 1st class flight out to PHX yet. My questions are as follows:
    Can I call the first phone line to rebook these flights without Avios availability over the next 12 months
    Do I have to wait for my 1st class leg to be cancelled
    With no 1st class available on this route do I say I will take CW involuntarily (then claim 75% after I fly)

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