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The HfP chat thread – Thursday 2nd September

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Comments (432)

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

  • Lewis says:
    2 Sep2 September 10:24

    Is it possible to book a split class redemption on the phone with BA? (2 seats in CW and 2 seats in WT on the same flight)
    Thanks

    • Rob says:
      2 Sep2 September 10:34

      Not on the same booking reference, so if only one person had status you wouldn’t get seat selection on both bookings unless you were Gold.

    • ChrisC says:
      2 Sep2 September 10:36

      Would need to be separate bookings – one for club and another for WTP.

    • Charlieface says:
      2 Sep2 September 14:03

      Technically speacking, there is nothing to stop different classes of tickets (or even different destinations, one-way/return) on the same folio/PNR in the GDS. Not sure if BA’s systems would cope with it though, and obviously none of the staff have been trained to work on such a ticket

  • Scott says:
    2 Sep2 September 10:35

    I would be grateful if someone could advise: if I downgrade from BAPP to the free version, do I keep the same card number and would the saved offers remain or be removed?

    • BJ says:
      2 Sep2 September 11:05

      Number remains the same but expiry date and code will change. Generally you keep the offers ut I fon’t know what happens to specific BAPP offers such as tge s5000g10000 offer.

  • Andrew says:
    2 Sep2 September 10:38

    If EDI or GLA are handy, Westjet are launching or relaunching services to Toronto and Halifax from next summer.

    I can’t quite work out from the press release or newspaper reports exactly the schedule. 737-Max should be the aircraft.

  • Josh says:
    2 Sep2 September 10:46

    Would anyone be so kind as to advise on the zoo that travels tip for refunding to a different card? Would be extremely grateful !

    • Andrew says:
      2 Sep2 September 10:50

      Next time you visit Heathrow, buy something expensive in WDF, then follow the returns process.

      The mailing centre that deals with the returns can only refund to debit card. Just make sure you return using a tracked, insured method.

      • Josh says:
        2 Sep2 September 11:05

        Thank you Andrew, though if I am following correctly, do I need to manually speak to the mailing centre that deals with the returns, or do I use the automated returns? Trying the latter last night while departing with Brighton did not allow me to return to a different location.

        • BJ says:
          2 Sep2 September 11:12

          If you don’t intend to hold the card long term then there are better ways.

          • Josh says:
            2 Sep2 September 11:36

            I’ve only been used to paying 2.95% at billhop to get my welcome bonus so this would be saving me a bunch over the next 3 cards I am about to order! Would you be willing to share via email?

        • Andy says:
          2 Sep2 September 12:03

          Yeah i tried this approach this morning Josh but even after deleting Brighton it seemed the refund would go back to the original. Clearly am missing something but can’t quite work it out.,

          • r* says:
            2 Sep2 September 12:50

            Is there a timing issue to it? That discovering the date you wanted isnt available happens 5+ days after booking?

          • FFoxSake says:
            2 Sep2 September 13:01

            Does PP in the middle help maybe?
            That’s a question, not an answer by the way – in case anyone misinterprets.

      • JDB says:
        2 Sep2 September 11:42

        Oh dear, we seem to be stooping to new lows of petty scams. Are you suggesting this course of action on the same basis as a dog can lick his xxxxx or because you are desperate for points?

        • Mouse says:
          2 Sep2 September 11:51

          I’m sure we’ve gone lower than this before!

        • Aston100 says:
          2 Sep2 September 11:52

          neee noh, neee noh, neee noh… everyone scram! the morality police are here!

        • Josh says:
          2 Sep2 September 11:59

          haha I’m sorry if I offended you JDB. Considering Q2 revenue for Amex was $10 billion, I’m happy to say my conscience is clean here.

          • JDB says:
            2 Sep2 September 16:47

            They have a lot of revenue, but ultimately the customer pays for all these SUBs, retentions etc. in the form of higher fees, as in Plat, now BAPP. Annual fee up, SUB up.

        • Andrew says:
          2 Sep2 September 12:19

          I only discovered it accidentally and haven’t used it to intentionally generate points.

          Just to be clear, would you take the trouble to phone Amex and ask them to take points back from your account as a consequence of a retailers policy to refund to bank account or debit card?

      • Jonathan says:
        2 Sep2 September 12:04

        Not that I’m in favour of this but loose lips sink ships as they used to say. Can I suggest this is henceforth referred to as the Hounslow excise elastic plastic…

        • JDB says:
          2 Sep2 September 12:27

          Precisely! People’s morals are their own problem, but advertising them on here seems, at best, unwise. I can advise that HAL connections read this chat!

          • Pete M says:
            2 Sep2 September 13:18

            Then HAL connections should close these routes down?!

          • Super Secret Stuff says:
            2 Sep2 September 14:13

            HAL? I thought we where talking about travel zoo

          • Douglas says:
            2 Sep2 September 14:57

            What a long way to go, do you hold your package during the whole trip just to return in your way back? Surely it must be a laptop to be worth it.

  • FatherOfFour says:
    2 Sep2 September 11:26

    Floundering on strategy!

    Neither BA card really works for me now, though I am still holding blue. I would not call myself a casual collector – after all, I’m on here trying to increase collecting opportunities. However, I’m probably definitely a sporadic spender! We’ve saved about 320k Avios in 3 years, acquired 2 x 241s and spent half the Avios on upcoming trips to the Caribbean in Club and a weekend in Europe. (Just me and the wife!)

    However, following these trips, we don’t plan to fly again until Easter ’24 (some driving in Europe and UK trips planned in the meantime) It makes sense to keep on collecting for “Australia ’24” or Florida ’26, though I don’t have a clear strategy of how we will best use these points. As there are six of us, companion vouchers will be hard to deploy, mainly on an award availability basis, but additionally we’d need to split the booking.

    Knowing that I can bail into Nectar if I get bored, or if my accrued points are going to be useful is a good comfort and reason to continue, but it’s not very aspirational thinking of them as c@shb@ck or shopping vouchers!

    The 1.5 Avios per pound is an attraction for the BAPP, as we are spending at least £24k per year on cards (including supps) but really, I think you need to use the voucher to make it worthwhile.

    I’m probably fairly unique on here in the lack of planned air travel (I’d love to do more, but 6 air tickets + hire car when driving is possible can’t be justified!)

    Any other thoughts on a long term collecting strategy where there is little spend planned?

    • Guernsey Globetrotter says:
      2 Sep2 September 12:55

      Hi FoF – strategy is always a tough one as situations are so personal but you’ve done a good summary of your background so I’ll try and make some suggestions that may be useful.

      Number one would to consider other loyalty ‘currencies’: As Rob is always reminding us on here, flexible rewards currencies are more valuable and on that basis, and given your constraints you mention, you could consider diversifying away from Avios. Save yourself the card fees for now and just switch to an Amex Rewards earning card like the free Amex Rewards CC (https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2021/01/07/review-american-express-rewards-credit-card-2/). The Amex MRs can eventually be converted to Avios, hotel points or to Nectar (via Avios) if you can’t find other ways to use the points to your advantage.

      Couple the ARCC with the free Creation IHG Mastercard (https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2021/01/23/review-ihg-rewards-club-mastercard-credit-card/) for places that don’t accept Amex.

      This way you can start to earn points that could be used on hotel rooms on your upcoming non-Avios trips.

      • FatherOfFour says:
        2 Sep2 September 15:35

        Thanks GG for the thorough response.

        I forgot to mention my IHG free card which I’ve been using for my non-Amex spend. (along with my Sainsbury’s Mastercard!)

        I understand the point around diversifying. I need to think about whether to “stick or twist” – If I commit to an ARCC, I wouldn’t be eligible for sign-up bonuses on other MR earning cards in future without a 2 year gap, so the flexibility of the currency, reduces earning potential!

        • Sam G says:
          2 Sep2 September 16:12

          Need to think about potential uses of MR points for hotels though – Marriott & Hilton have devalued quite heavily in the last couple of years and it only makes sense in specific situations IME especially for a group – peak season in Dubai, if you like expensive city hotels, that kind of thing.

          Pre COVID I was a frequent traveler and rarely found that points made sense, especially in a group where I prefer airbnb or a villa.

    • Lady London says:
      2 Sep2 September 21:56

      Yes. Anything too long term beware of devaluations. As much as possible, spend as you go.

  • Michael C says:
    2 Sep2 September 11:28

    Looking at a mini trip, maybe to Paris, during half term.
    Am I right in thinking that if I get tested on, say, any time Monday, that same test is valid if I leave and return by any time Thursday?
    So even if we were tested / results arrive Mon. a.m. before leaving on Tues., we could still catch a Eurostar returning to UK on Thurs at 2000h?

    • meta says:
      2 Sep2 September 11:33

      Yes and if it is a PCR test, only one test is needed I believe as that can count as your day 2 test. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

      • John says:
        2 Sep2 September 11:38

        Err, how can you take the same test both before and after arriving in the UK?

        • ChrisC says:
          2 Sep2 September 12:00

          Because the rules allow it to be used twice as long as the timings are ok.

          • ChrisC says:
            2 Sep2 September 12:00

            * allow the same test …

          • meta says:
            2 Sep2 September 12:10

            To spell it out. If you do a weekend break you only need a PCR test to count as both return to the UK and day 2. This is because return to the UK test needs to be take anytime 3 days before the return. Day 2 PCR test has to be taken from an approved UK provider on or before day 2. So if you do PCR test on Thursday morning in the UK, leave on Friday, receive your result on Friday/Saturday/Sunday morning and return from France on Sunday evening or even Monday, you have fulfilled your obligation. Hence only 1 PCR test is needed.

            You can’t do Expert Medicals ones though as they are unreliable, but I guess Randox would work.

          • Yorkieflyer says:
            2 Sep2 September 12:12

            But you aren’t using it on day 0

      • Lady London says:
        2 Sep2 September 22:03

        Does that give anyone arriving from anywhere the ok for not arranging a Day 2 test (actually a Day 0-2 test) provided they enter the UK wirh a PCR test and not just an antigen test? What aee they supposed to put on their PLF then?

    • John says:
      2 Sep2 September 11:40

      Yes, and if positive you just cancel the trip rather than getting stuck in France.

    • Chris says:
      2 Sep2 September 12:56

      I’ve been thinking about this exact scenario.

      Got a 4 day weekend next week but my thinking was shorten the trip to 3 days and basically use my outbound negative test as my inbound

      • Michael C says:
        2 Sep2 September 13:27

        Yep, that’s the reasoning: so no surprise 10-day quarantine before returning!

    • Tracey says:
      2 Sep2 September 15:31

      You can use the outward test as your pre-return test o get back to the UK. You can’t use it as your day (0-)2 test because you have to have returned to the UK before you are eligible to use it.

  • Grimz says:
    2 Sep2 September 11:40

    Judging by all the comments over the last few days am I right in saying that you will only get to rebook cancelled flights 1 year from the time it was first ticketed? In my situation I had a flight that was cancelled for September 9th and I rebooked onto another flight for November 16th. If the November flight gets cancelled I will only be able to move it 1year from my September date? It looks like this is what the BA customer service agents are insisting on. Rob it would be good to get clarity on this as there must be loads of HFP readers in this situation?

    • Sam G says:
      2 Sep2 September 11:48

      The IATA rule for a ticket is usually 1 year from first issue to have taken the first flight. In IRROPS this can be extended to one year from the original outbound flight date. Until BA were recently refusing to do this but now are. But I believe in your scenario they are advising you correctly as November 2022 would be more than 1 year from your original departure date

      Doesn’t impact your EU 261 right to travel at a date of your convenience but you’d need to take this up this via MCOL/CEDR to get BA to book you correctly (from experiences here sounds they will though & CEDR is free) . Before bothering with this check prices/availability as you may achieve the same result via an FTV with much less hassle.

      • meta says:
        2 Sep2 September 12:16

        Simple re-ticketing overrides any IATA rules. Other airlines are doing it routinely and have no problem making sure that their customers are satisfied. Even putting notes on customers’ accounts to reticket several months down the line when it is convenient for the customer. It’s a high time for BA and other airlines to stop hiding behind IATA rules. They were not designed for situations like this.

        • Sam G says:
          2 Sep2 September 13:11

          Oh I completely agree – BA should have a workaround, even if it’s to internally FTV and issue a new ticket at the same price as the old one or similar. Surely it’s better to keep the cash in the airline than refund and face the user going with a different airline/deciding to redo their kitchen etc.

          Just sharing my knowledge of the BAU rules they (and other airlines e.g. Lufthansa) are sticking to

        • Charlieface says:
          2 Sep2 September 14:07

          IATA rules absolutely were designed for situations like this. There is a whole chapter in the Handbook explaining that they *should* override such rules. It’s only BA who seem to not read all the rules.

  • Anna says:
    2 Sep2 September 11:55

    I managed to do my Chronomics departure test yesterday, hope Ryanair is happy with it! My friend used the hotel “doctor” who took cash only, did the test from a saliva sample and issued her a post-dated hand written certificate in case our flight tomorrow is delayed!

    • WaynedP says:
      2 Sep2 September 13:02

      😆

      Financial creativity that would make the average HfP’er proud, all courtesy of a poorly crafted UK govt policy wide open to abuse.

    • Lottie says:
      2 Sep2 September 13:35

      Just to let you know, Ryanair wouldn’t accept any handwritten certificates on our recent flight back to the UK. They sent everyone who had one for an airport test.

      • Anna says:
        2 Sep2 September 16:18

        Thanks for the heads up – I think Ryanair make it up as they go along! There’s nothing on the government website about types of certificate. My certificate is digital but anyone could have taken the test!

        • Tracy says:
          2 Sep2 September 16:46

          Ryanair happily accepted my Chronomics result to return from Malta last month. Did the test in the hotel room, was very simple.

          • Anna says:
            2 Sep2 September 17:05

            Thanks Tracy, however my friend was tested yesterday by the hotel doctor who filled in the test certificate by hand!
            I can see there might be some ambiguity over the term “printed document” but it could be interpreted as a physical document as opposed to digital?
            I’ve also just seen that the maximum price for an antigen test in Mallorca should be 30 euros!

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