The HfP chat thread – Sunday 29th August

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• APB says:

  29 Aug29 August 08:38

  Flying back from Nice with BA in late September – just wondered what was the best lounge option? I think our CE flight will get us in to the Infinity Lounge but there’s a Levity lounge we can access via Priority Pass.

  • Gareth says:

    29 Aug29 August 10:59

    Both ba accessible lounges are closed, the levity Lounge will be only option

• Oz_Traveller says:

  29 Aug29 August 09:02

  Hi all

  I have been trying to get through to BA since 0800 yesterday. I have spent at least 4.5hrs waiting (standard is to be kicked off after 1 hour on hold). Does anyone have any advice on how I can get through? For reference I am calling 03444930747.

  Thanks

  • ChrisC says:

    29 Aug29 August 09:07

    What do you want to talk to them about?

    the live chat could be an option.

    • Oz_Traveller says:

      29 Aug29 August 09:07

      Hi Chris, I need to book the 2nd leg of a Avios booking.

      • Pete M says:

        29 Aug29 August 09:19

        I consistently get through calling the US number (+18777677970) via Skype, for free, within US waking hours. They usually answer within the hour, never been cut off when it’s gone over 60mins.

  • Keely says:

    29 Aug29 August 09:43

    I always use this number, never been cut off but you’ll have to ask to be transferred to BAEC – 020 3250 0145

• Liz says:

  29 Aug29 August 10:13

  When did the World Tesco Credit Card go from earning only 1 CC pt for every £2 in store.. I thought I would start switching over my Pay+ app to use my Tesco credit card in anticipation of the Tesco current accounts closing in Nov but just noticed I only got half the points for using the credit card. I see from their website that current credit cards only get 1 pt for every £4 of Tesco spend. I have switched it all back to my debit card for now and will change again after the end of Nov but that’s a poor earning rate going forward. I’m sure it must have been on here at some point but I have forgotten. Debit cards will be sorely missed.

  • Jonathan says:

    29 Aug29 August 10:25

    I don’t think Tesco Bank have many mention of this card on their website, it’s now a legacy card and I believe it was an invitation only card.

    Either way the best way to get to the bottom of your queries is by contacting them directly

    • Lady London says:

      29 Aug29 August 10:30

      +1 as Jonatham suggests. Especially if you were not individually notified of any change to t’s and c’s. The onus is on the provider to prove that you received not just that they sent.

• David S says:

  29 Aug29 August 10:37

  Is anyone else having problems getting emails back from BA when changing an itinerary as a result of BA changing a flight ? Nothing from BA but Award Wallet has just told me there is a return trip to Laconia, NH now embedded within a flight to Portugal. I had to even google where Laconia is !

  • Babyg says:

    29 Aug29 August 12:58

    BA will often “park” cancelled bookings into weird locations (this has happened to me a number of times). Note the BA APP seems to see more data than the BA website, and you can often see these weird bookings on the BA APP..

    • Blair says:

      29 Aug29 August 14:36

      Aer Lingus do this too, the standard routing is Prosperine to Taitung

• Andy says:

  29 Aug29 August 10:46

  Amex datapoint – I applied for a Plat card with the enhanced 70k bonus a few weeks ago. As soon as the transaction taking me over 4k spend cleared, the 70k bonus was added to my account

  • Ls says:

    29 Aug29 August 10:50

    Now you should try for the 50k retention bonus everyone has been talking about over the last few days…

    • J says:

      29 Aug29 August 11:12

      Is this possible over live chat? What are people saying?

      • Sarah says:

        29 Aug29 August 11:17

        On Friday early whinging I was told to ring. I did this and successfully got 50,000 MR

        • Sarah says:

          29 Aug29 August 11:18

          That should say ‘evening!’

    • Andy says:

      29 Aug29 August 11:25

      Maybe later in the year – will see if I can get good use out of the perks and concierge for restaurant bookings. If not the card is just not for me, so no point in getting a retention bonus just to keep paying the fee. Already have more points than I know what to do with…

      • KBuffett says:

        29 Aug29 August 12:31

        Haha, you will find that the ‘concierge’ is a waste of your time.

      • kitten says:

        29 Aug29 August 13:06

        If you find the concierge adds no value I think IHG’s scheme not bad for Top Table? Rob did an article

        • Rob says:

          29 Aug29 August 14:00

          OpenTable. Yes, works well although restaurants which require a credit card deposit are not on the IHG-branded version.

• Mart says:

  29 Aug29 August 10:50

  I have a BA booking (avios in 50% off deal last year) in October to Sydney (rescheduled in last batch of cancellations onto Qatar). Not yet cancelled but I can see the flights are no longer available. What is the best number to call to cancel? And any general tips on best approach? Happy to either rearrange for Sydney next may or somewhere else. Thanks.

  • Nick says:

    29 Aug29 August 11:05

    If it’s not been cancelled yet then it’ll be considered a voluntary change – it’s the flight status in your booking that determines what you can do, not what’s being sold today. As ever, be a bit patient, as soon as the status changes you’ll open up a world of options.

  • Babyg says:

    29 Aug29 August 13:01

    I would try and keep the booking open (eg dont take a refund) – its getting hard(er) again to find LHR-SYD avios tickets, let alone with 50% off, also BA seem to be waiving their own 1 year ticket validity rule ATM, as BA seems to be allowing you to book at any point in the future where they have seats for sale (same cabin) if they cancel your flight. Note they typically wont let you change to anywhere else thou.

    • Mart says:

      29 Aug29 August 17:27

      Thanks very much both

• Harry says:

  29 Aug29 August 11:23

  Looking for some advice.
  I would like to take my 15 y/o son on a boys midweek trip, just with dad. will be 2 days, one night.
  Where in the UK should I go? I’m based in London and we could fly(and rent a car) or drive within reason. Plan to use points for the hotel(which will be a huge treat for my son!)
  any suggestions for a city or scenic experience?
  many thanks!

  • YC says:

    29 Aug29 August 11:35

    Eurostar to Paris? I’ve seen harlem globestrotters being advertised for late sept mid week

  • Memesweeper says:

    29 Aug29 August 11:43

    So many great choices! Manchester, Bath, Cambridge … Belfast + giants causeway + open top bus would be educational, fun and unusual …

  • Andrew says:

    29 Aug29 August 11:56

    Not quite what you asked because it’s two nights away but could you take the Caledonian Sleeper up to Inverness (or, even more picturesque, Fort William and coach onwards to Inverness). Spend a second night in Inverness and fly back from there? Or vice versa of course?

    Was lovely when I did it.

  • ChasP says:

    29 Aug29 August 12:19

    depends on his interests – but heres a few “different” ideas – Ironbridge Gorge Museums take 2 days. Learn to play Golf. Trip to Barra and land on the Beach

  • Andrew says:

    29 Aug29 August 13:20

    Depends on which University you want to inspire him to attend!

    Fly LCY to DDE, taxi or bus across to St Andrews, the Rusacks has reopened and are doing breakfast inclusive rates.

    Pack for glorious sunshine or a freezing sea haar.

  • The Savage Squirrel says:

    29 Aug29 August 14:41

    If you give an idea what he likes then you will get better suggestions. Loads of points hotels attached to sporting locations if he’s into any? Into history at all (York, Bath, Edinburgh)? Shops? Outdoor activities? Golf (any of the Marriott country clubs, although Dalmahoy was a sad loss!)? Beatles fan (Liverpool)? Seaside? I like the Belfast suggestion above. Definitely a few different strands of interesting stuff in that area. What will he enjoy though?

  • Tracey says:

    29 Aug29 August 15:58

    My tip would be to ask your son, he may have a wish list based on where his pals have been. Football stadium tours are a popular option at that age.

• Tracy says:

  29 Aug29 August 11:40

  Just noticed Italy no longer requiring 5 day quarantine if double jabbed, just a PCR test 48hrs in advance….

  • Tracy says:

    29 Aug29 August 11:52

    To go to Italy I will need a test to depart, what is the cheapest option in central Scotland? Thanks

  • Andy says:

    29 Aug29 August 11:58

    Effective from next week – wonder if it was a conscious decision to limit the number of British tourists in July and August as there’s been huge domestic demand this summer.

    • Tracy says:

      29 Aug29 August 12:10

      I’m sure it drastically reduced British tourists over summer. My bday in September though 🙂

  • Harry T says:

    29 Aug29 August 13:21

    Some good news in that front, at last! Thanks for sharing.

    • Tracy says:

      29 Aug29 August 13:25

      I have booked very cheap flights edi-tsf with Ryanair. However, the 48hr Pcr test to travel might cause me issues. Most providers don’t guarantee less than 48hr turnaround 🙁 will probably have to pay £80 for Glasgow airport 24hr turnaround.

      • Harry T says:

        29 Aug29 August 14:45

        FCDO says they also accept a rapid antigen test, from what I can see, so worth double checking!

        • Tracy says:

          29 Aug29 August 14:56

          Thank you Harry T & StevieKicks, indeed rapid antigen test is sufficient. Now to figure out if it’s easy/cheap for 24hr turnaround for this, not done a fit to travel test before. Needs to be reliable as I won’t get on the flight without it 😂
          I have the return to the UK bit down, as have been to Madeira & Malta so far.

  • StevieKicks says:

    29 Aug29 August 14:35

    Rapid test also acceptable according to FCDO, doesn’t need to be PCR

  • Tracy says:

    29 Aug29 August 16:19

    I have just booked 4 antigen tests with chronomics. 2 for outbound fit to fly from UK and 2 for using in Italy to return to UK that I will take with me. Anyone see any issues with these being accepted by Ryanair? I have used the chronomics for return from Malta this month so assuming the return will be ok, provided I receive them on time!

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