The HfP chat thread – Monday 23rd August

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Richie says:

23 Aug23 August 16:06

Does anyone know of a good competitive car hire place in North London with easy access to the M1 and near to a tube/rail station at all? Any ideas appreciated. In the Zipcar flex zone is also possible.
- Nigel W says:
  
  23 Aug23 August 16:08
  
  I work in Mill Hill, i’m not totally sure what car hire places there are locally, but Mill Hill, Hendon etc are both near the M1 and have good train links being on the Thameslink line.
  - C says:
    
    23 Aug23 August 20:22
    
    Sixt, Hertz and Europcar all have offices at St Pancras, outside the congestion charge zone.
  - Lady London says:
    
    24 Aug24 August 13:31
    
    European at Edgware…unsure if they are reopened since Covid
    - Lady London says:
      
      24 Aug24 August 13:33
      
      Europ car at Edgware….I am going to dump this new samsung phone if I don’t find a way to stop its stupid autocorrections
SShark says:

23 Aug23 August 16:09

Flew BA business class for the first time today in club suite. While some parts were very good (hard product) was pretty disappointed with the level of service. Was calling a flight attendant for a good 30 mins and no one came. Also gave me faulty headphones and failed to replace them even when asked.
- Yorkieflyer says:
  
  23 Aug23 August 23:14
  
  Sounds par for the course, looks like pre Covid service has returned.
Clive says:

23 Aug23 August 16:10

Couple of interesting snippets:

BA will resume Sydney flights from 27/3/22 availability is now showing online.

BA to offer traditional roast dinners on long haul flights
- Sloth says:
  
  23 Aug23 August 16:19
  
  Full carvery service I hope…incl the cabin crew with massive chef hats
  - JDB says:
    
    23 Aug23 August 17:10
    
    Those were the days, on Pan Am and TWA rather than BA.
  - Anna says:
    
    23 Aug23 August 17:14
    
    Absolutely – with a choice of 3 different meats and definitely giant yorkies (puddings, not chocolate bars).
  - Phil says:
    
    23 Aug23 August 17:24
    
    Full Toby Carvery job I hope with unlimited veg and multiple types of gravy. Several gravy boats being handed round in CW… what can go wrong!
- Super Secret Stuff says:
  
  23 Aug23 August 17:17
  
  Excellent news! Glad to hear this
Tracy says:

23 Aug23 August 16:11

Hi, I have a 241 expiring in Dec 2021. What is the cheapest and easiest way to get it extended? The only time I use BA for non long haul is the occasional EDI-LON weekend flights….
- David says:
  
  23 Aug23 August 16:53
  
  Book man-lhr and then cancel and take it as a FTV .
- Harry T says:
  
  23 Aug23 August 16:54
  
  Book a domestic flight and then cancel the booking for a future travel voucher. Just make sure the people on your booking are the people who will use the 241 eventually. Be aware you will need to call to use your FTV to book flights. Rob did an article on this recently, which I recommend reading.
  - Tracy says:
    
    23 Aug23 August 17:40
    
    Thanks David & Harry T, have seen comments in posts on what to do but must have missed the article, will look for it….
- Yorkieflyer says:
  
  23 Aug23 August 23:16
  
  Will a single do?
Kevin D says:

23 Aug23 August 16:28

I’ve a flight booked with SAS Dublin to Copenhagen for October, 12.40 ex DUB on a Tuesday. Unfortunately the wife has decided to join me on this trip! But when we go onto SAS to book, the flight is no where to be seen! Anyone any ideas? Its showing no problem on my SAS app and I’ve no other communication from SAS about it being cancelled. Help appreciated. Thanks.
- Sam G says:
  
  23 Aug23 August 17:00
  
  Tuesday & Wednesday is “zeroed out ” on Expertflyer so a cancellation is likely to come soon. They’re planning on flying the other days still as of now so you’d be able to pick a different date once they contact you, or there is a Ryanair flight
Patrick Cold says:

23 Aug23 August 16:37

I`m Spire Amb. with IHG. Can I make a reservation for my partner even I cannot stay with her at the hotel? Thank you.
- BP says:
  
  23 Aug23 August 17:15
  
  Yes. I believe the official way is to book via the call center. Adding your wife as the 2nd name on the booking is usually fine too.
- Genghis says:
  
  23 Aug23 August 17:16
  
  Yes. Best to call to put in her name
  - meta says:
    
    23 Aug23 August 19:18
    
    You can even email Ambassador CS after booking it under your name and they’ll amend it for you if you don’t have time to call or wait on the line.
    - Patrick Cold says:
      
      23 Aug23 August 20:20
      
      Thank you all very much.
Stuart says:

23 Aug23 August 16:39

Just contacted BA about my cancelled flights for this weekend. I managed to get 4 first returns to New York in last years 50% off avios needed sale and used 2 x 2-4-1s. From the previous article I was thinking that I could change these for any date in up to a years time from the departure date. Having contacted BA they have said that I can only travel up until 5th March next year as thats when my ticket was reissued due to a previous cancellation. Because I have already had the ticket reissued the 12 month from departure doesn’t exist and all I can have is either a refund or a FTV. Anyone know any different?
- Blindman says:
  
  23 Aug23 August 16:43
  
  HUACA
- Lady London says:
  
  24 Aug24 August 13:38
  
  Their cancellations so they either operate their new policy of up to 1 year after outbound date, which staff received a memo about on 8th July (tell them) or if they are going to continue to try to be mean then you could use EU261 which puts no time limit on when you rebook after they cancel your flight.
  
  HUACA. So far they’re not even within their own policy.
His Holyness says:

23 Aug23 August 16:53

Since when does DVLA take Amex? That’s very good news
- Michael says:
  
  23 Aug23 August 17:03
  
  I’d say you’re blessed.
- Peter K says:
  
  23 Aug23 August 17:29
  
  It has come and gone over the years and not always for everyone. A few over recent months have mentioned it on here however.
  - Paul says:
    
    23 Aug23 August 17:52
    
    Fine for me last month, however still not accepting on passport site. Do they really have different payment processors for each government site?
    - Travel Strong says:
      
      23 Aug23 August 18:20
      
      Recently had to fill out a form for the DVLA, which could not be downloaded, had to be ordered, with a 1 month delivery time, and arrived as a dotmatrix printed form (triplicate with holes down the side). Do not overestimate government systems!
    - Sandra says:
      
      23 Aug23 August 20:52
      
      Amex worked for me last week when IHG Creation wouldn’t, either Solihull didn’t like DVLA or DVLA didn’t like Solihull, not sure which!