Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

The HfP chat thread – Friday 27th August

Links on Head for Points may pay us an affiliate commission. A list of partners is here.

We are running this daily chat thread on Head for Points during the coronavirus outbreak.

Historically, the daily ‘Bits’ articles were the de facto repository for random comments and questions.  With the news flow being lighter, we are running fewer ‘Bits’ articles.

The comments under this article are where you should post questions about travel and, indeed, anything else on your mind.  At this tricky time, and given that many of you are at home, we want the HfP community to have a place to chat.

Please only comment under the main articles on the site if your comment is directly related to the topic of the article.  This has long-term benefits as it keeps the commentary relevant for people who read those articles in the future.

Old chat threads are hidden from the HfP home page.  If you want to look for something in an old thread, click here.  This brings up all the articles in our ‘General’ category which includes the chat threads.

Category

General

Comments (536)

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

  • Iain says:
    27 Aug27 August 16:37

    Just had an email from Iberia. They’re doing a similar promotion on their part pay with Avios as BA did last weekend. Only 25% discount this time.
    Don’t know if it’s worth the effort?

  • Donna says:
    27 Aug27 August 17:11

    Louise, did they say if you are getting a future travel voucher or an electronic voucher?

  • Nick says:
    27 Aug27 August 17:48

    DP 50k MR on plat via app live chat. I had 35k last year also.

    • Nick says:
      27 Aug27 August 17:50

      So that’s 50k plus 50 for £1 today 😉 feel like a winner!

    • RobL says:
      27 Aug27 August 18:39

      Thanks Nick. Just got the same via the app.

    • Sarah says:
      27 Aug27 August 18:44

      That’s a great result. I contacts them asking what my options were and said that I haven’t used the card like I had hoped to. I was told to ring customer service to cancel or downgrade to a cheaper or free card! Perhaps I was rather too subtle as she obviously didn’t get what I was angling for!

      • Nick says:
        27 Aug27 August 18:52

        I got a load of spiel about benefits, but in the end I just asked them if I had any MR retention offers. Judging by the spelling it wasn’t a Brighton rep.

    • barnaby100 says:
      28 Aug28 August 15:09

      Had mine for 29 years- they seem happy for it just to be cancelled!

  • Joints&Piles says:
    27 Aug27 August 17:49

    I ordered a test from Chronomics. The order confirmation email stated the wrong type of test. “Customer service” did not reply, so I ordered from a different supplier and requested cancellation and refund of my Chronomics order. (Despite what their FAQ says, there is no option for me to cancel the order online.)

    Chronomics ignored any emails or support requests via their online form for a couple of weeks and then replied asking me to complete a refund request form that I had already submitted. I submitted the form again. A week later they sent the same email asking me to complete the same form again.

    They are a total shambles and I’m still no closer to getting my money back.

  • Stephen says:
    27 Aug27 August 17:49

    Damn Maldives are still red – just tweeted Shapps to make me feel better! BA has cancelled the flights for 10 days in mid-sept so first one noemw 24th sep with next review due on 16th sep. Presume they will wait for next review but if they dont but it does come off red list can i make them reroute day before or day after with Qatar via Doha? I have CW return using Avios and 241 if that makes a difference. I know BA voucher couldnt normally be used but in this instance what are my chances?

    • Babyg says:
      27 Aug27 August 17:56

      cancelled means you have what i call a “golden ticket”.. you can pretty much change to any date you like (including past the 1 year validity in my experience – thou i was on a revenue ticket). I changed to fly BA out and QATAR back.. but even with an avios ticket ba have been pretty good with most things recently

  • GaryE says:
    27 Aug27 August 17:58

    Bournemouth – I think people have said the Hampton is better then the Hilton in Bournemouth, is that correct ? Any other chains recommended for Bournemouth area?

    • Rob says:
      27 Aug27 August 18:05

      We’ve reviewed both plus the updated HInn. If you have status and free brekky I’d go Hilton. No status – Hampton fine.

    • Harrier25 says:
      27 Aug27 August 18:27

      No. The Hampton is not in the same league as the Hilton!

    • Chrisasaurus says:
      27 Aug27 August 19:21

      Tried the Marriott?

    • Njb says:
      27 Aug27 August 19:41

      They are next to eachother. I live near Bournemouth and you need to be aware that Bournemouth has faded glory with a beach that becomes Daily Mail fodder when its hot. Town is overrun with homeless amd addicted folk interspered with stag/hen parties at weekends.
      Sandbanks area is classy – Bournemouth is not.
      Harsh but true
      New Forest is stunning. Southampton is better.
      My advice would be choose somewhere else.

      • Harrier25 says:
        27 Aug27 August 20:32

        I agree. Weymouth is the perfect area, but unfortunately lacks the mainstream chain hotels.

        • GaryE says:
          27 Aug27 August 21:41

          Hi guys – thanks for all the good advice – we have friends in Bournemouth who we are going to visit but think we will stay slightly further afield and travel in.

      • Tariq says:
        27 Aug27 August 22:13

        Noticed a lot of weed being smoked quite openly this year. Seems a lot of domestic tourists who presumably would be on cheap foreign packages. Checked out of the Hilton Bournemouth on Thursday, still a great hotel but dogs seem to be openly welcomed – a lot of guests had their pooches with them. Two false fire alarm activations in the 5 days I was there which was a PITA.

  • Niall says:
    27 Aug27 August 18:06

    As MeliáRewards still a bit niche, I’m struggling to find an answer online… has anyone managed to have success getting a status match in any other hotel programmes with their MeliaRewards Platinum status. Especially Hilton.

  • Steve says:
    27 Aug27 August 18:08

    Suddenly contemplating a last minute trip to France, so won’t have time to get a remote test mailed to me from Qured or whoever. Do any of the testing providers have tests that can be collected in central London or at an airport to take with us?

    (I know I can get one done in a pharmacy there but last time around it was a (literally) painful experience so I’d rather avoid that if possible.)

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

New to Head for Points?

Welcome!  We’re the UK’s most-read source of business travel, Avios, frequent flyer and hotel loyalty news. Let us improve how you travel. Learn more on our About page.

VAA

Latest comments

Latest Forum Posts

Get 30,000 points bonus with American Express Platinum

Amex Gold

Check reward flight availability instantly for free!

See a whole year of reward seat availability on one page at SeatSpy.com

Booking a luxury hotel?

Our luxury hotel booking service offers you GUARANTEED extra benefits over booking direct. Works with Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, The Ritz Carlton, St Regis and more. We've booked £1.3 million of rooms to date. Click for details.

Get 20,000 bonus points and your first year free with American Express Gold

Amex Gold