The HfP chat thread – Sunday 29th August

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a270 says:

29 Aug29 August 12:21

Read here a few days ago that if BA cancels your flight you can request Avios + 100% bonus for the cash part. How do we do that? Online or on the phone. I had 4 tickets to Istanbul but two were redemptions and two cash bookings. Do we get the tax part converted to Avios for reward bookings? Is that a good deal?
- Richie says:
  
  29 Aug29 August 12:29
  
  There’s a form to fill in on ba.com
- Dave says:
  
  29 Aug29 August 13:22
  
  What do you mean? If you request a refund you get back what you paid.
  
  Are you suggesting that, for a redemption, if you paid 9000 Avios and £34, you’d get back 9000 Avios and £68?
  - Rob says:
    
    29 Aug29 August 13:59
    
    Instead of taking cash when refunding a ticket, BA will let you swap the cash element for Avios at a rate of 0.8p per Avios.
J says:

29 Aug29 August 13:35

Any recommendations for areas/hotels to stay in Palma? First time going with my SO and would like a relaxing holiday away from the party side.

First time going there!

Thanks!!
- Richie says:
  
  29 Aug29 August 13:50
  
  There are lots around the port.
  - Rob says:
    
    29 Aug29 August 13:58
    
    St Regis Mardavall, which Rhys reviewed recently and where I was last week, is a short taxi ride from the town but pricey. To be honest the idea of staying directly in the city centre, if you don’t have kids and want to enjoy the shops, restaurants and galleries, is quite appealing though – I was saying to my wife we should do this one day when the kids aren’t with us.
    - HBommie says:
      
      29 Aug29 August 14:55
      
      Did this last week, which was great and had some lovely meals. Marc Fosh was good.
      
      Hotels –
      Es Princep has a good rooftop restaurant/pool/lounge. Rooms were good but the bathrooms are a bit small. Service was very good.
      Sant Francesc Hotel Singular is a little closer to the action, nice area. Didn’t see the rooms but public spaces are beautiful.
      Hotel Cappuccino has a nice bar and good coffee, which is to be expected.
      - Rob says:
        
        29 Aug29 August 18:07
        
        I was going to mention Hotel Capuccino as we walked past it and it looked interesting. There is an art gallery opposite selling a 2-foot wide American Express card designed by a graffiti artist – was tempted to get it for the office!
      - Super Secret Stuff says:
        
        29 Aug29 August 18:55
        
        @Rob you should have got it, would make some awesome cover photo for the articles! Plus charge Amex to have it in the background when you do TV work 🤣
      - Rob says:
        
        29 Aug29 August 23:13
        
        Look here https://en.galerie-mensing.de/kuenstler/diederik
        
        It is Mr Banksy I saw but there are two others. Almost 5 feet wide it turns out!
      - HBommie says:
        
        29 Aug29 August 19:03
        
        It reminded me of a Crosby Street NYC look in the common areas.
- Will says:
  
  29 Aug29 August 15:45
  
  I stayed in Nakar a few years ago, not worth the expense despite the positive reviews.
  
  If you have Melia gold then in my opinion it’s hard to beat those properties with the 20% off code or discounted amazon options on melia points.
  - Tazzy says:
    
    29 Aug29 August 16:44
    
    I have stayed in the Nakar a few times and really enjoyed it. Great location and clean and nice breakfast. Limited pool area. I second Marc Fosh!
- Njb says:
  
  29 Aug29 August 18:50
  
  We absolutely love the Hotel Portixol just outside Palma. We went there for years as well as the Esplendido in Port de Soller.
  Laid back luxury but they have become too pricey for us.
  - Rob says:
    
    29 Aug29 August 22:45
    
    Yes, it’s a bit mad – need to assume £1k per night in Mallorca for a top 5-star, £500 for a 4-star / low end 5-star in August, inc meals. More if you want more than a basic room.
Anon for this post... says:

29 Aug29 August 13:35

Does anyone know how to link your card on Perks at Work? I can’t find the option anywhere on their site.
- Nectar collector says:
  
  29 Aug29 August 14:02
  
  Use the Card Linked Perks option on the main menu bar And follow the instructions to register your card(s)
Stephen says:

29 Aug29 August 13:35

Just trying to arrange some Day 2 green arrivals tests on Expresstest at the moment and when I try and pay I get a “Umbraco failed to boot message”
Have tried multiple times – anyone else come across this issue?
- Tracey says:
  
  29 Aug29 August 15:54
  
  I just had all the data I’d entered lost and faced starting again, repeatedly. Gave up and paid £40 for nationwide pathology. Easy website and codes for plf came through straight away.
Gtellez says:

29 Aug29 August 14:04

BA has cancelled my flight to Male in September (what I really wanted, as I just came back from there few days ago flying through Madrid and waiting 10 days in Spain before flying back to the Uk next week). I would like to reschedule it to next year, it is a 241 avios booking in CW. When I go to manage my booking, there is the option to rebook online, however every single date I look for says that it is not available. I guess that I would have to call, isn’t it? According to what I have read here over the last few weeks, I should be entitled to change to any date that BA is selling for cash, am I right? Could I wait to do the change to later in the year (after the original flight date cancelled by BA)?
My wife is Silver, is there any specific number I can call and not wait for hours? Thanks!
- Mrs_Fussy says:
  
  29 Aug29 August 19:20
  
  My cancelled my paid CW flight to Male too so keen to hear
Josh says:

29 Aug29 August 14:50

Hi All,

Has anyone stayed at the InterContinental : Malta ?

We are looking at booking 5 nights here in late September. We are IHG platinum members. Would it be worth buying the InterContinental® Ambassador as well? Is there any value in it for Plat members?

We like the look of this due to the private beach + pools and the low cost. Plus it has the lounge availability.

Thanks!
- Harry T says:
  
  29 Aug29 August 14:53
  
  I haven’t stayed at this hotel but the Ambassador benefits are usually more substantial at an IC than the stock IHG benefits. 4pm checkout and an upgrade should be guaranteed (there is a cheeky get out of jail free card where they can offer you points instead, but good hotels won’t do that).
  - Josh says:
    
    29 Aug29 August 15:26
    
    Thanks for that. Would the upgrade and late checkout be available for an award redemption booking?
    - Harry T says:
      
      29 Aug29 August 16:10
      
      I think the T&Cs specify these benefits are for cash bookings but your mileage may vary. Some hotels will go above and beyond the minimum, others will go by the book.
- Tracy says:
  
  29 Aug29 August 16:34
  
  Hi Josh, didn’t stay here, stayed at Hilton Malta this month but we did go for a nosey in the Intercontinental. It had more of a business feel to it than the Hilton. It did not have a resort feel if that is what you are looking for, the pools seemed crowded into the building if you know what I mean. The beach looked ok from walking past, quite crowded.
  The location of the Intercontinental is in Paceville, very lively, youngster oriented with nightclubs & gentlemens clubs etc. I think the Hilton Malta and Westin Dragonara are better located if thats not your scene. Don’t forget that Malta Tourism have an offer with hotels to encourage travel. I have looked at the Westin for September and 5 nights with a 200 euro credit is about £170 a night (books you into a deluxe family room with 2 beds though)
  - Andyf says:
    
    29 Aug29 August 16:50
    
    Having stayed twice once in St Julian’s and second time recently this summer in Gozo. I would thoroughly recommend staying away from St Julian personally and go to Gozo. We stayed at kempinski hotel in Gozo. We had a fantastic stay with excellent food the sushi is highly recommended. You can take a fast boat to Valletta in 45 minutes from Gozo sight see is very easy. The boat is extremely comfortable very cheap and very easy and takes you straight in the harbour. They run till midnight pretty much. Type in fast boat Gozo Malta online.
    - Josh says:
      
      29 Aug29 August 16:57
      
      Thanks Andy. Looks like a lovely hotel but it’s 90 mins away from Malta airport. We are only doing a long weekend so we want to minimize travelling between hotels due to tight timings (Unless im missing something?)
  - Josh says:
    
    29 Aug29 August 16:55
    
    Thanks a lot Tracy!
    
    I remember reading about the offer. How to I access the Malta Tourism offer? Thanks!
    - Tracy says:
      
      29 Aug29 August 17:28
      
      If you google the offer you will find a link to it, all hotels have different requirements & codes. As an example the Westin uses code LPR but you need to book 5 nights.
- John says:
  
  29 Aug29 August 16:47
  
  Yes, the lounge is very nice (though Hilton lounge is just as good), but the rooms are crap
  
  Plat is meaningless at IC
PM says:

29 Aug29 August 15:07

Hi all. Recently booked flights to Dubai using an e-voucher which was the result of a BA double the difference price match on a US flight I’d booked last year. Does anyone have any experience of FTVing when there is a price match e-voucher involved as I’d like to cancel and rebook as a holiday now the double tier points have been extended to cover my travel period. The price match e-voucher was different to the flight cancellation ones as BA confirmed that the expiry didn’t extend to with the rest of the other e-vouchers people have been issued despite having the same numbering format (125-). Thanks
Jeff Greene says:

29 Aug29 August 15:21

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-58376709

“Staffordshire Covid sceptic Marcus Birks dies in hospital”

How sad for his family. Turns out it’s real after all.