The HfP chat thread – Monday 23rd August

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• Oli says:

  23 Aug23 August 09:58

  I have raised a claim with MCOL against BA for the cpst of replacement flights. BA have defend the case and I’ve now been sent a questionnaire by the court. The questionnaire asks if the case should be referred to the Small Claims Mediation Service – should I do that?

  • Richie says:

    23 Aug23 August 10:07

    Do you think that will top up your reasonable behaviour score?

  • ChrisC says:

    23 Aug23 August 10:08

    You need to appear to be reasnablness incarnate so I’d say agree to it. You have nothing to lose.

    BA might not though in which case it’s not possible to use mediation

    https://www.gov.uk/guidance/small-claims-mediation-service

    • JDB says:

      23 Aug23 August 12:05

      BA will quite likely not agree, so as Chris C says you will have shown that you are reasonable. If you do go to mediation, you will likely reach a settlement that you might think is less than your full entitlement but might be quicker and less stressful. If it fails, you just go back in to the system to get a court date. Although some people here have referred to ‘open and shut’ cases, there is in practical terms/reality no such thing. If BA has chosen to defend it, they may conceivably have a case that might be enough sway a judge.

      • Lady London says:

        24 Aug24 August 10:57

        Why would BA not agree, JDB?

  • LS says:

    23 Aug23 August 10:20

    This is why I prefer CEDR – it is free, you won’t be lumbered with court costs (albeit low) if you lose, and for open and shut cases they usually come up with the right decision

    • Richie says:

      23 Aug23 August 10:23

      What do you mean by ‘open and shut’ cases?

      • LS says:

        23 Aug23 August 10:47

        Those where the EC261 law is clear, backed up by CAA guidance, but BA refuse to pay because they are making it as difficult as possible to pay out their legal requirements based on the fact 90% of people will just give up.

        • Richie says:

          23 Aug23 August 10:51

          Is ‘…extraordinary circumstances despite reasonable measures…’ clear? I don’t think it is, will 261 be updated for clarity?

        • LS says:

          23 Aug23 August 10:56

          @Richie no it is not clear. Claiming for compensation rather than re-routing is not clear cut. The re-routing due, regardless of cause of cancellation, is not subject to the cause of cancellation, so it very much open and shut. Depends on your case.

      • Rob says:

        23 Aug23 August 11:03

        Where the result is not in doubt because you are legally in the right.

      • Ryan Gill says:

        23 Aug23 August 17:27

        Open the file and then shut it straight away, as it’s obvious what or who is correct and who is liable.

• roberto says:

  23 Aug23 August 10:00

  Hilton Day Room Experiance…
  Paid £40 at the Doubletree near Southampton airport arriving at 8:30 & leaving at 1pm. Its a bit of an older hotel but for forty quid we had somewhere to crash, a warm shower , two reasonable full English breakfast and about 2500 hilton points back in the kitty. It registered as a stay and counted towards my total number nights stayed.

  The lounge at Southampton was ok with a rather huge cheese platter being served. CityFlyer back to Malaga was half full with 3 drink services in ET plus sandwich/coffee.

  • Tariq says:

    23 Aug23 August 12:04

    Is breakfast a standard offering with these day rooms? I had one recently at Hilton Leeds, was offered nothing. Or did you just rock up to breakfast and play it cool? 😎

    • roberto says:

      23 Aug23 August 12:31

      Confirmed at check in that it was included.
      But yes , I was cool too.. 😎

    • Chris H says:

      23 Aug23 August 16:56

      Breakfast is usually included as standard at Doubletree properties, this is different to the regular Hiltons.

      • Crafty says:

        23 Aug23 August 22:59

        Incorrect, and also the question is over day room Vs full stay.

• DaveL says:

  23 Aug23 August 10:09

  Hi all…just wanting to check my strategy against your wisdom and experience!

  Planning a few nights at the intercontinental PL, including a Friday night. I’ve never been IC Ambassador before. Am I correct in thinking i can join Ambassador for just 40,000 points, and get a free weekend night I can book immediately alongside some other free credit card nights – essentially bagging an extra night and other benefits for just 40,000 points (vs. 72,000 usually if I used points for the room)?

  Are there any restrictions on free weekend nights being available or is there a way to check (e.g if free CC nights are available, would that indicate availability for ambassador weekend nights too?)

  Also, my one niggle with the IC PL is no swimming pool – plus apparently spa still closed. Looks to me like the same is true of Kimpton too – and o2 still closed. Are there any luxury IHG alternatives with pools worth a look, within London or a couple of hours?

  Thanks!

  • Harry T says:

    23 Aug23 August 10:40

    The free night is only alongside another paid night. You can easily search for the ambassador rates online if you google it – don’t need to be ambassador to check these. They are usually a bit higher or similar to the best flexible rate.

  • Anna says:

    23 Aug23 August 11:51

    When are you planning to stay? The Kimpton doesn’t have a pool unless I completely missed it when we stayed! I’ve been trying to re-book an O2 stay for ages – I vaguely recall they told me they are re-opening towards the end of September (it’s been a quarantine hotel), but if you contact them they will confirm this.

  • Anna says:

    23 Aug23 August 11:53

    Also don’t forget the Ambassador free night only applies to IC properties. Kimpton are Regent are currently participating but only till the end of this year, and don’t guarantee to recognise Ambassador benefits (though we got a lovely upgrade at The Kimpton Charlotte Square, maybe due to Spire status though).
    So in the UK you’re left with London and Edinburgh.

    • Lady London says:

      24 Aug24 August 11:01

      Kimpton also 7 days per week for that free night unlike IC’s which are restricted to weekends

  • DaveL says:

    23 Aug23 August 15:03

    Thanks both – hadn’t clocked you had to have a paid night to go with it – that changes the maths a bit. Probably better to use up both my credit card nights and then not locked to the weekend. Looking at the next couple of weeks so 02 unlikely to be available….

    • Lady London says:

      24 Aug24 August 11:03

      Kimpton also 7 days per week for that free night unlike IC’s which are restricted to weekends

• Andrew says:

  23 Aug23 August 10:11

  Nectar Connect

  The scheme has been running for over 80 days, so I’m being asked to renew the OpenBanking access. MBNA access has updated straight away with renewal back to 80+ days. I’ve re-approved AMEX access twice, and received the confirmation emails, but it’s still showing as expiring in under a week.

  Anyone else in the same position? Wonder if Nectar are removing Amex from the scheme.

  • bill says:

    23 Aug23 August 10:21

    I renewed the link to my Amex and it now shows 88 days left.

  • KBuffett says:

    23 Aug23 August 10:48

    I’ve been having an issue with Open Banking and Amex with Xero. Amex often have issues with their feeds, it’s very annoying.

    On another note, I haven’t a single point through Amex and Nectar, and I’m a relatively high spender. I may not continue the link

  • Paul Pogba says:

    23 Aug23 August 11:32

    I’ve been sent an email to reauthorise. I earnt once via Lakeland at less than half what I was expecting as a single order went through as two payments (on dispatch). Given the offers currently listed Im not sure its worth the loss of privacy.

• Jacky says:

  23 Aug23 August 10:24

  Seen on numerous posts an avios is worth 1.6p in an MCOL case.
  Does anyone know or can refer me to somewhere that would give an accepted valuation for an Emirates skywards mile to use in MCOL?
  Thanks in advance

  • Rob says:

    23 Aug23 August 11:02

    The ‘buy miles’ page of Emirates.com

• Benilyn says:

  23 Aug23 August 10:41

  Is Amy ok?

  • Harry T says:

    23 Aug23 August 10:48

    I think she said she escaped Morrison’s!

  • Mike says:

    23 Aug23 August 10:53

    I hope so but it was also useful to find out that Morrison’s in Broomhill (Sheffield) closes at 6 pm on a Sunday.

    • Harrier25 says:

      23 Aug23 August 11:10

      🙄

• S says:

  23 Aug23 August 11:06

  What is people’s real life experience with BA offering cash refund on flights booked with FTV/evoucher if they are cancelled?

  • Sam G says:

    23 Aug23 August 11:07

    I had a much rebooked and FTV’d and UuA’d flight that eventually got cancelled, got a full refund no problem, just took a while to come through

  • Reeferman says:

    23 Aug23 August 11:40

    When I tried to do so on the phone, I was told the FTV portion would be returned as another FTV.
    Following advice on HfP, I contacted BA via Twitter for the cancellation and it was indeed al refunded as cash – albeit the FTV portion a little later than the cash portion.

    • S says:

      23 Aug23 August 12:09

      How do they know which card to refund? If the payment was fully by evoucher there would be no credit card associated with the booking. Do they just refund by bank transfer?

      • Sam G says:

        23 Aug23 August 12:47

        It’ll find it’s way back to the original card

• Heathrow Flyer says:

  23 Aug23 August 11:12

  Expert Medicals order form for tests doesn’t seem to be working as of yesterday (i.e you can’t actually order tests anymore).
  Wondered if anyone else had had the same experience? What’s the 2nd cheapest provider now available?

  • Beardless Hipster says:

    23 Aug23 August 11:16

    Website under maintenance, try again later or order from Randox if you have a drop off box nearby.

  • C says:

    23 Aug23 August 11:35

    I am still trying to order. I wonder if they are one of the ones being taken off the list! Hopefully not!

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