The HfP chat thread – Friday 20th August

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Jonathan says:

20 Aug20 August 14:12

What’s the difference between a BA e voucher and a BA future travel voucher ?
- ChrisC says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 14:18
  
  basically
  
  e-voucher starting 125-4 can be used on line. This is for cash only bookings
  
  anything else needs a call to use.
  - Nick says:
    
    20 Aug20 August 15:40
    
    Technically any credit issued on an EMD-S (98B) document is an e-voucher. Nothing at all to do with the document number… it’s true most have so far been in the 125-4x sequence but definitely not all, and as those are almost up, a new sequence will be commenced very soon in any case.
    
    But yes, the EMDS type e-voucher is effectively a credit note issued in exchange for your ticket. An FTV is your booking/ticket placed into ‘suspended’ mode, which will be reactivated when you call.
Craig says:

20 Aug20 August 14:12

Any recommendations for Heathrow T5 parking, flight gets back in at 2345 so a bit of a hassle when some of the transfers stop at 2330. Currently booked in the NCP T5 but the Hilton is being used for quarantine so I’m expecting them to cancel my booking soon.
- Paul says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 14:30
  
  Big fan of purple parking (through holiday extras now…), used more than a dozen times meet and greet, never had an issue, definitely worth the extra £20 or £30 over remote parking…
  - Craig says:
    
    20 Aug20 August 14:43
    
    Do you know what time they stay open until Paul?
    - Paul says:
      
      20 Aug20 August 14:48
      
      Think we’ve been back just gone 11 latest but fairly sure they’re 24h technically, though obviously Heathrow has a night curfew so may need to check with them, but they’re pretty good at answering the phone the few times I’ve had to call about something
      - Craig says:
        
        20 Aug20 August 14:50
        
        TVM.
    - Hak says:
      
      20 Aug20 August 15:11
      
      24 hour. Just need to give them a call if it’s very early or late. I always park there but I have a 15 year old car. Last time I picked up my car, some bloke was engaged in a frightful dispute about how his new Mercedas was tracked doing 150mph around the M25 whilst he was on holiday. I was greatly amused but just be warned!
      - Lady London says:
        
        20 Aug20 August 19:04
        
        Would love to know the outcome of that!
  - stevenhp1987 says:
    
    20 Aug20 August 16:51
    
    Not used Purple Parking but Holiday Extras can be good if you have a discount through your work portal!
    
    Used them quite a bit recently for airport parking and car hire!
- Sam G says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 15:00
  
  If your flight is currently scheduled to arrive at 2345 I’m guessing it was originally scheduled at Gatwick? It’ll get scheduled to a pre-11pm arrival or cancelled in due course almost certainly
  - Craig says:
    
    20 Aug20 August 15:04
    
    Thanks Sam, hopefully the former. I haven’t accepted the change yet, waiting until the last minute.
- H says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 15:53
  
  @Craig – use YourParkingSpace… Thistle Heathrow T5 – £5 a day minutes by bus ride or Uber to the terminal.
  - Craig says:
    
    20 Aug20 August 16:04
    
    That looks like good value.
- Degsy says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 23:02
  
  Pod parking? It’s a bit of a novelty and I think it is only one week max, but still a pretty decent option if it suits your itinerary
David says:

20 Aug20 August 14:21

Founders card ? – six month free trail – yes or no. I have an Amex plat.
- David D says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 21:20
  
  Staying at an Omni hotel, planning to fly with Virgin Atlantic a few time in the next six months? If yes, maybe worth it. If not, not really.
DavidC says:

20 Aug20 August 14:23

Has anyone received the Marriott bonus points from the recent Creation 3x points promotion?
- FFoxSake says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 17:03
  
  No. But not expected until mid-September per T&Cs…
  ” Points earned will be posted to your Marriott Bonvoy Account 4–6 weeks after the promotion end date of 31 July 2021.”
Manny_D says:

20 Aug20 August 14:36

I believe TGLoyalty mentioned yesterday that they changed their Platinum AF to monthly. Does anyone know if that is only for existing cardholders or would it apply if say a new card was taken out or upgraded?
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 14:56
  
  I took out the card last september and phoned for monthly billing a few days later
  
  so it was open to new customers but with these things YMMV
  - Manny_D says:
    
    20 Aug20 August 20:19
    
    Cheers I’ll try and give it a go. Was there anything specific you said for them to switch? Or did you just ask the question?
    - TGLoyalty says:
      
      20 Aug20 August 21:14
      
      Just the Q
DAJ says:

20 Aug20 August 14:38

Why is it that when I try and make a reservation for CE flights to AMS and return, when selecting business for both sectors it returns in red that “THIS FLIGHT DOES NOT HAVE BUSINESS – WE’VE SHOWN YOU THE CLOSEST ALTERNATIVE”

Surely CE is operated on these flights! Any ideas as to what is going on?
BP says:

20 Aug20 August 14:41

Anyone at SSDV 13th to 17th September and would like to meet up for a glass of wine and some points/travel chat?
- NC says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 15:57
  
  Yes and would love to – if Portugal drop the quarantine requirement for those of us still waiting for the second jab.
  - BP says:
    
    20 Aug20 August 19:24
    
    Great. Hopefully the requirement gets dropped.
- Pid says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 16:13
  
  Anyone tried to negotiate a food package recently with SSDV as a spire member. Was expecting FB to be the advertised 120 euro minus the breakfast at 35 euros. But at the moment only being offered 100euros which I am not convinced I will get full value unless have two three course meals!
  - BP says:
    
    20 Aug20 August 19:32
    
    Not yet but will probably just go half-board which leaves some flexibility to have room service meals. I think half board is offered at 60 euros pp if you have breakfast included.
    
    I don’t think I’d get value from full board as I tend to have a big breakfast, lighter lunch and big dinner.
LessCleverAndrew says:

20 Aug20 August 15:04

Avios part payment Sale now on – message on my executive club app: “book by midnight 23 August to save big with avios part payment”

I usually ignore these because they are usually more rubbish than rubbish itself, but has anyone seen/looked into this?
- Harry T says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 15:19
  
  You can redeem Avios for part pay and receive 2p/Avios. It’s pretty good. Looks like the maximum is 5000 Avios/£100 per person per flight.
- Andrew says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 15:45
  
  Seems a pretty good deal to me – certainly a good return on Avios at £20/1000 and better than than the £8/1000 at Sainsbury’s I’m getting. You can’t reduce it below the level of the base fare so it won’t allow you to redeem the full £100 for a low cost European trip.
  - Barnaby100 says:
    
    20 Aug20 August 16:21
    
    Our flight were £217 for 2 and the offer was £72 for 12,600. Not sure if that was standard or enhanced
    - Pablo says:
      
      20 Aug20 August 17:47
      
      Some good tier point run opportunities. Business return to Sofia in March for £108, Preveza this autumn for £140.