The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 18th August

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BlueLabel says:

18 Aug18 August 20:34

How late can we leave it to see if BA cancel our flight on a reward/241 booking (and so get re-booked in non reward seats any time in the next 12 months) before opting for an FTV? Is it 24 hours before, or right up to departure time? Sorry if this has been asked loads already, I’ve not been delving into the chat thread comments as much lately. Consider my knuckles rapped and thank you.
- ChrisC says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 20:46
  
  If BA are going to cancel it’s usually couple of weeks before departure.
  
  If flight not cancelled and you want an FTV you have until check-in closes (1 hour before departure) to request it but don’t leave it that late as all it takes is for your internet to go down …
Luke says:

18 Aug18 August 21:12

DP on the HK WE card. Called today to say I’d been charged the £195 despite my letter saying zero, and also mentioned a couple of friends had their fees waived. I asked if my fee could be waived due to lack of travel. After a long hold they came back to say they’d got approval to refund the fee. Should be refunded to my card tomorrow hopefully.
- Harry T says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 21:14
  
  Nice work!
- Axel says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 21:44
  
  Thanks thats an incentive to move from Jade to Premier I need.
- J says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 22:44
  
  Interesting – I also phoned up earlier today to query the fee and after a long hold they came back and told me that after reviewing the account they would -not- refund the fee! Admittedly I opened the account a little while ago and the letter didn’t say zero, but still…
  - Polly says:
    
    19 Aug19 August 11:12
    
    Mine was charged, credited back, recharged, and now in the process of being re credited. Again! Let’s see if that’s it for now. OH same with the support fee of £60 too. So far 6 painful phone calls. No reason given. Claimed it was their system fault.
Bobby says:

18 Aug18 August 21:28

Can anyone help me please. I’m new to all of this and loving learning so much from all of you. My husband and I are on a mission to try and save enough Avios to be able to fly business to Turks and Caicos next Oct (22) for our belated honeymoon. We are also hoping to get the 241 voucher from BA Amex. Can anyone tell me please how many Avios we need- I get differing results between 125,000 and 150,000. Don’t want to get to the day before and find we are just short! It seems the seats go really quickly so looks like we will be dialling for flights as soon as it’s midnight on the day they go on sale. Does anyone have any other helpful tips please? Thank you!
- ChrisC says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 21:36
  
  The number required will depend if your date(s) are peak or off peak
  
  https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2021/03/29/what-are-the-2022-avios-peak-and-off-peak-calendar-dates-for-ba-aer-lingus-and-iberia/
  - ChrisC says:
    
    18 Aug18 August 21:38
    
    There are also articles on here and the BA board on flyer talk that will take you through the booking process using 2-4-1 vouchers
    - Bobby says:
      
      18 Aug18 August 21:42
      
      Thank you again! I didn’t know there were separate boards so I will investigate that now and find the articles. Sometimes you just don’t know what you don’t know!
  - Bobby says:
    
    18 Aug18 August 21:40
    
    Amazing, thank you 🙂 It would seem we go out off-peak and back peak so looks like 137,500… simple when you know how, really apprecite your reply, has been driving me crazy trying to work it out. Also means we are closer to our target than I thought!
    - BJ says:
      
      18 Aug18 August 21:53
      
      You don’t have to, HfP has the answer:
      https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2019/01/09/british-airways-avios-redemption-pricing-by-route-2/
      
      There is also a calculator tool at BA and if you log into your account you can just use the search panel on the left hand side to search for flights after choosing the pay with avios option at the top.
- Doogie says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 22:55
  
  Just remember that they go on sale at midnight UTC 355 days before so Oct/Nov this year – they may release more over time, but those will be the only guaranteed release.
  You may or may not be in a position to trigger the 2-4-1 and have enough Avios in hand in that time frame, depending on how long and how aggressively you’ve been saving and spending but that gives you a deadline to aim for at least.
  - Memesweeper says:
    
    18 Aug18 August 23:56
    
    +1
    
    to be *sure* you need the Avios and vouchers ready a year before you want to fly, and be fast on the phone
    - Bobby says:
      
      19 Aug19 August 11:02
      
      Thank you Memesweeper- I’ll be setting an alarm and be ready to go!!
  - Bobby says:
    
    19 Aug19 August 11:01
    
    thank you Doogie! I’m trying to work out how that means we book the return part as they won’t be on sale the same day as the outgoing ones… but sure there is some info on this site about that. We hope to have at least the avios required and the 2-4-1 by the day they go on sale- it’s going to be close as we’ve only jsut got the cards and depends on how soon some people pay out on the Avios but fingers crossed!
Sukes says:

18 Aug18 August 21:49

I’ve no personal experience to share. However this media article would concur with the FCDO advice (& the dates of the advice aligns) but Ideally you would want to find the underlying legislative text: https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/nationals-of-several-non-eu-countries-now-allowed-to-enter-hungary-with-only-a-pcr-test/.
- Sukes says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 21:51
  
  Above is response to @Ukgeorge re Hungary entry requirements
R says:

18 Aug18 August 22:35

Probably a stupid question, but …

The Dixon (Autograph) or Moxy Stratford?

Both locations work for me quite well. The Dixon is £130/n and Moxy is £60/n.

I’ve stayed at the Dixon twice and I was quite impressed. Never stayed at the Moxy in Stratford, just the one in Southampton. I was not very impressed.

I will spend quite a lot of time in the hotel – between 8-9pm until (at least) 1pm. 2 night stay, not sure if it’s worth to stay at a nicer hotel.
- Rob says:
  
  18 Aug18 August 23:21
  
  Not sure what Moxy Excel costs, but it has a small WeWork style hot desk area on the ground floor which isn’t bad if you need somewhere to work. More practical than the desk in your room (although the Moxy won’t have a desk in the room anyway!). You’d need to see if Stratford had a similar hot desking lobby area.
  - Blair says:
    
    19 Aug19 August 00:15
    
    Stratford lobby is awful. Full of pool tables/etc. and young people. Certainly not conducive to working. The rooms are also miniscule; especially the bathrooms. Be kind to yourself and go with the Dixon. If saving money is your focus, there are 2 Residence Inns within 10 min walk of The Dixon. Excellent transport links from London Bridge.
Algor says:

19 Aug19 August 06:21

Thanks, £15 saved.