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The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 24th August

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General

Comments (511)

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

  • Nigel says:
    24 Aug24 August 07:36

    Has anyone received their 25k avios Barclays joining/switch bonus yet…?

    • BJ says:
      24 Aug24 August 07:48

      Yes.

    • Mark says:
      24 Aug24 August 08:42

      +1, get in touch with your relationship manager if any issues

    • MD says:
      24 Aug24 August 10:17

      Not yet for me. Multiple people have reported that it only posts with the 5th monthly set of avios, which is the end of this month for me so I’m holding off contacting them for now. If you’ve already had 5 months of normal avios then yes, you need to contact them.

  • Tazzy says:
    24 Aug24 August 07:43

    Decisions, decisions…. I had a California trip booked 11-25th sept. Flights still running. I also changed easyJet flights so have Malaga booked then. I then have read here about Canada opening up potentially on 7th and wondered would I be best cancelling California (it was the afternoon flight which until recently was being cancelled) and book Montreal instead, though taxes are insane. I have 3 241s booked and not sure any will happen as the others are Mexico in November and Jamaica in February. I’m musing and wondered what others thoughts are!

    • BJ says:
      24 Aug24 August 07:53

      I’d avoid arrival into Montreal, in over 40 years of travel it is the only place I ever had a a bad experience at immigration. They were very unpleasant.

      • Guernsey Globetrotter says:
        24 Aug24 August 08:02

        What did they do to you BJ ? 😬

        • BJ says:
          24 Aug24 August 08:34

          Just two women question me for almost an hour on purpose if my visit despite I was attending a conference at which I was a listed speaker. Endless and repetitive questions about why, where, how, when. No issues with customs or searches, just questions, questions, questions which then just abruptly ended.

          • Mike says:
            24 Aug24 August 08:47

            BJ – you probably just got caught in a training serial , most border control agencies do similar. uk border force do the same – select passengers at random to extensively question as part of training serials

          • Andrew says:
            24 Aug24 August 09:13

            I get that most times I visit the States. Invited down to brightly lit white tiled rooms for a chat.

            They have always been very professional and friendly though. But, in the world where everything is digital, and you’re not supposed to use your mobile in the restricted areas (even if you could get a signal in the bowels of the airport) having an old fashioned printed itinerary, with all room bookings, US domestic travel plans, even UK airport parking booking has been a massive timesaver.

            The questions can be a little bit odd. “Can you see the Forth Railway Bridge from the top of the Wallace Monument?” was one I was asked.

          • Paul Pogba says:
            24 Aug24 August 10:04

            Andrew, is this at a specific airport? I always seem to get problems at Newark but the only other place I’ve entered the US (Boston) was fine.

          • BJ says:
            24 Aug24 August 11:19

            Thanks @Mike, never thought of that, it would probably explain why there were two of them.

          • BJ says:
            24 Aug24 August 11:27

            @Andrew, never had a problem in tbe States. That question is weird indeed, while most Scots have probably heard of the Wallace Monument I suspect most would have a problem pinpointing exactly where it is or even what it looks like.

          • Andrew says:
            24 Aug24 August 13:44

            @Paul. Something at every visit whether it be hands wiped down before boarding in the UK, chat at boarding, luggage check at arrival, or taken to the vaults.

            @BJ, it shows place of birth as Stirling on my Passport.

          • kitten says:
            24 Aug24 August 14:07

            Sounds like you got a trainee and her trainer

          • Chrisasaurus says:
            24 Aug24 August 19:41

            Farther in law got hauled out back because his fingerprints didn’t match – it’s hard to know exactly what to say when they through that at you!

      • Guernsey Globetrotter says:
        24 Aug24 August 08:02

        Was it the customs officer with the really big hands ?!

      • John says:
        24 Aug24 August 08:33

        Learn french

      • Yorkieflyer says:
        24 Aug24 August 08:53

        Ditto for Toronto for me questioning and luggage searched in a disbelieving rude and unpleasant manner

      • Mikeact says:
        24 Aug24 August 08:53

        We must have gone through on the same day…horrendous.

        • BJ says:
          24 Aug24 August 11:29

          Surprised at number of comments reporting adverse experience in Canada tbh.

          • John says:
            24 Aug24 August 12:29

            UK is worse, but as most people here are British citizens you don’t have personal experience

    • Barnaby100 says:
      24 Aug24 August 09:00

      I thought there were still restrictions I’d tourism alone didn’t qualify?

      • James says:
        24 Aug24 August 09:09

        If you’re vaccinated you can visit Canada for tourism with a test from 7th September as things stand

  • Luke says:
    24 Aug24 August 08:20

    Hoping someone can answer some FTV questions?
    Currently I have an open jaw cash booking to the US, and I’d like to upgrade with Avios.
    The downside of this, is that if I have to cancel I will get back a FTV instead of an evoucher, correct? Let’s say the FTV is £800 + 30k Avios.
    Can I use the FTV to make a new booking that is cash only? What happens to the 30k Avios? Do you get a new FTV or the Avios back in your account?

    • Sam G says:
      24 Aug24 August 08:28

      You can ask them to take the upgrade back off before you request the voucher so you get the Avios back and can book a cash flight as normal

      This is actually a good idea anyway as rebooking an FTV with avios upgrade inside was a nightmare!

      • Luke says:
        24 Aug24 August 08:44

        I’ve never heard of reversing an Avios upgrade, I guess in normal times you’d never do it! Did they charge to a fee to reverse the upgrade?

        • Mikeact says:
          24 Aug24 August 08:57

          I’ve only been ‘degraded ‘ on the day due to equipment switch…all sorted amicably.

        • Sam G says:
          24 Aug24 August 10:41

          Long time ago now but I did it a couple of times coming back from the US on work trips where my new flight didn’t have the availability so had to be done before I could change. Thankfully back in the day when unsold seats opened up last minute very predictably so then could call back in and get it re-applied. No fee that I can remember

  • Reney says:
    24 Aug24 August 08:28

    +1

  • Simon says:
    24 Aug24 August 08:32

    How late do BA cancel flights?? Hoping Porto in early September gets the chop, but getting v close now!!

  • AP says:
    24 Aug24 August 08:43

    Mine is showing as pending, but at 10%.

  • Mark says:
    24 Aug24 August 08:44

    Hi, I spotted that in the t&cs while doing a BA flight and hotel holiday package that you have to bring the card you use for payment to the airport…I am keen to use my BAPP to pay for the balance but want to cancel soon afterwards, does anyone have experience of BA asking for the payment card at time of flying?!

    • SteveJ says:
      24 Aug24 August 08:50

      Not checked, but better to have it to hand. BUT, why is this an issue? You can still cancel, just hold on to the physical card. Nowhere in their Ts & Cs say that card must be active.

    • planeconcorde says:
      24 Aug24 August 08:55

      Cancel the AMEX account as planned. Don’t cut up the physical card. Keep the card and take it to the airport. BA check in won’t swipe the card, but may ask to see it.

    • WaynedP says:
      24 Aug24 August 10:19

      Good advice to retain cancelled card, as it seems to just be a cursory visual check in my experience.

      Also I once split payment across two cards, took both, and was told “any one will do” for their check. So making a nominal £10 payment with a card that you WILL be retaining should also see you right, in my experience.

      No-one can stop you from using more than one card to settle your balance.

  • Andrew says:
    24 Aug24 August 08:48

    Did it stack successfully with anything else?

    I’m going shopping tomorrow and must make sure I’ve got everything that should tie up linked properly today.

    • Reney says:
      24 Aug24 August 08:59

      Airtime and PAW takes half a day or more after Virgin recognizes it, so I cannot positively confirm yet. I did not get Virgin shop away to stack last time, but noticed they don’t have the expiry date of my card, which I have now added, maybe that will help 🤷‍♀️

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