The HfP chat thread – Friday 3rd September

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• Saiz says:

  3 Sep3 September 05:53

  When does the HSBC to Avios 25% bonus end?

  • BJ says:

    3 Sep3 September 05:59

    19th September.

• MisterE says:

  3 Sep3 September 05:59

  I just got my first Companion Voucher post 1Sept and tried to make a Bus Class booking to the West Coast for July 22. However, I am not seeing any extra I Class availability? Do we think they haven’t been loaded yet? Or is the extra availability much less than we hoped for?

  • BJ says:

    3 Sep3 September 06:15

    Do you see any difference in seat availability at all when searching with and without the voucher? Over, say a month, not only on a specific date?

    • MisterE says:

      3 Sep3 September 06:50

      I had a quick look for the whole of July, and no availability for either Old style or new style Companion Vouchers. I’ll dig around in more detail later today but this is very disappointing

      • BJ says:

        3 Sep3 September 07:03

        Hopefully it just means they are slow off the mark and it will be sorted soon. My partner’s spend to hit £10k cleared today so should have a new voucher to play with soon too.

      • Jonathan says:

        3 Sep3 September 07:07

        How are you searching? If it’s anything like the additional Gold V class availability then it won’t appear on the basic search tools that show a monthly view but only when you click through to the specific day. Ie. It may show 0 Business availability on eg. 7th July but if you click on that day it will then appear.

        Do a cash search as well & see if I fare class is being sold on your dates as that is supposed to be available. I have my suspicions that I class will become more restricted in future though as previously there were usually 5+ I class on every flight except super peak dates a few months out.

        • Dave says:

          3 Sep3 September 08:15

          The 241 search on BA.com has had a bug for years, whereby it will only let you view the actual dates if the calendar view thinks there’s availability.

          So you could try searching for a date where there is U class, getting to the actual flight/date view, and then advancing through to other dates where there is I class but no U.

• Mco says:

  3 Sep3 September 06:14

  My BA flight back to T5 is delayed by 2hrs and gets in at 1835 now. What are the chances of clearing T5 airside immigration and catching a domestic flight at 1920?

  • BJ says:

    3 Sep3 September 06:31

    Almost none IMO unless later flight is delayed too. Raise it with the cabin crew, they may get new flight sorted for you before arrival so you can relax and have less fuss when you get to T5.

    • Mco says:

      3 Sep3 September 06:41

      Flight next day after this. How are the waiting times at UK internal immigration?

      • BJ says:

        3 Sep3 September 06:55

        I think the immigration for domestic transfers is fine. My concern is more general: the flight is already delayed to a specified time, usually that ends up with further delays, then you have the usual stuff such as where will the plane park and how long will they take to open the doors etc. If the delay is as specified and the rest goes like clockwork you can do it but I don’t think odds are in your favour so prepare for worse and hope for the best.

        • Lady London says:

          3 Sep3 September 09:56

          PS regardless of any onboard announcements about “Welcome to…” or “We have now landed at..” the plane has not officially arrived till the exact timr the first door opens (usually front left) *and passengers can physically exit*. So not wheels down, and not till stairway or ramp is completely in place availablr for passengers to use to exit (ie the first passenger). That’s the arrival time. So watch carefully particularly airlines like Ryanair. Ignore “the time is….just after wheels down that’s not your arrival time.

  • Mouse says:

    3 Sep3 September 06:40

    Boarding will end at around 1910 which gives you 35 mins – doable if no other delays.

    • John says:

      3 Sep3 September 06:49

      They need to enter security by 1845 to avoid being offloaded which is practically impossible

      • Jonathan says:

        3 Sep3 September 07:14

        The T-35 offload can be overridden by the right people but it’s still very tight. Depends on what gate you arrive/depart from and probably status level as to how much effort ground staff will put into this vs just bumping you to next day.

        You could ask about train ticket if it’s somewhere that’s a good alternative like MAN or NCL.

        • Mco says:

          3 Sep3 September 07:24

          NCL. Think the last train is around 8? But then got checked bags. They will give us a hotel or do we need to get our own?

        • Andrew says:

          3 Sep3 September 08:45

          Can’t quite work out when you are due to land, but the last Newcastle Train on a Saturday night is indeed 20:00.

          On a Friday night there’s a direct service at 21:00 and 22:00 as well.

        • John says:

          3 Sep3 September 09:21

          The last train is normally 2100 but it is cut due to “covid”. From 18 Sep to 14 Oct the last train is 1730 due to track works.

        • Lady London says:

          3 Sep3 September 09:38

          If domestic flight is on same ticket and you miss last connection then airline is responsible for your overnight and meals and rearranging a replacement domestic. You must phone or ask ground staff for this. If they fail you can bill them.

        • Sam G says:

          3 Sep3 September 09:41

          BA will give a voucher at LHR but you might want to just book yourself in the Sofitel as it likely won’t be for there and they’ll pay up (up to £200) + meals (no alcohol) without question

          Likely you’d be auto rebooked in which case you can just clear the border without speaking to them

        • Lady London says:

          3 Sep3 September 09:49

          You *must* be seen to ask airline to provide accommodation if stuck so ensure you phone them at least. They have to be given the chance. Of course if you need to sort accomm etc and the answer is not positive, specific and prompt (eg ridiculous queues and no one easy to find) then you will be forced to take matters into your own hands and make your own arrangements and claim off them later. Rookie error not to be seen to ask them before you do this.

        • Sam G says:

          3 Sep3 September 10:39

          I’d argue the rookie mistake is waiting around to ask BA at the airport and then getting shipped off to the Bath road. They’re very good at paying up no questions asked in these simple 1 night missed connection type scenarios. If it were Easyjet then no way, they specifically tell you that you must use their portal for example

  • AJA says:

    3 Sep3 September 07:23

    Is the domestic flight on the same PNR? If yes then duty of care applies and BA ground staff should be at the arrival gate of your delayed flight to expedite your transfer to the domestic connection. If they think it’s not doable then they should automatically rebook you on the next available domestic flight and arrange accommodation overnight if it’s not same day. If not you’re relying on goodwill to make it. In any case I would tell cabin crew on your delayed flight that you have the domestic connection as they may be able to get a message to T5 which may assist you.

    • Mco says:

      3 Sep3 September 07:25

      Same pnr.

      • John says:

        3 Sep3 September 07:55

        If they don’t get you a hotel, BA will reimburse £200 without a fight, but you’ll have to take them to court for anything more (provided it was reasonable to spend that much).

        • LS says:

          3 Sep3 September 08:48

          A last-minute hotel near LHR will always be reasonable. Be prepared to do a screenshot to show you got the cheapest (or near the cheapest) if it is > £200. I would not normally expect them to be this expensive, but other circumstances (events filling up hotels and pushing up prices) might reasonably push it above this amount.

        • Lady London says:

          3 Sep3 September 09:42

          Also meals £25 per dinner/lunch no alcohol no issue, not sure brekky but hotel rate or reasonable local rate is ok. Also claim transpory to and from hotel. Is Sofitel T5 bacl open yet?

      • HBommie says:

        3 Sep3 September 09:17

        I’ve seen the NCL flight held a few times when we’ve been delayed. Rushing from the B gates to see it delayed, not sure if it depends on the number of pax in the same position.

  • ChrisC says:

    3 Sep3 September 07:59

    Is this a fixed delay or is it moving? Best to monitor it during the day in the app.

    If the out bound flight has been delayed by similar then generally the return will also be delayed but they will try very hard to reduce that delay because of the knock on effects of aircraft availavility and crew hours.

    BA have several options of things they can do but they won’t start those until they know the delay is fixed and won’t change. This could include escorting you to the domestic connection and speeding you through immigration and security on the connections route.

    The 35 minute conformance policy (being recorded as being at security by a certain time) is BA policy and they can over ride it

    • Mco says:

      3 Sep3 September 08:18

      It’s fixed due to the Afghanistan airspace being closed. Flight taking longer route.

  • Tracey says:

    3 Sep3 September 08:46

    Last night my flight from FNC arrived 25 minutes early, 1 minute queue at immigration, 15 minute wait for luggage, was out of the airport by the arrival time.

  • Gareth says:

    3 Sep3 September 15:37

    They should meet you at gate , expedite transfer, but most probably luggage next day. Tell ground staff before , and cabin crew. Specifically ask them to be met at gate and escorted

• Louie says:

  3 Sep3 September 06:15

  Does anyone know….. let’s say in the next traffic light travel review, a country I want to visit goes from red to amber. I fly there on the Saturday, before the change officially takes place, and return the following Saturday. Am I treated as returning from an amber country? Or a red country, as it was red when I flew there and ten days have not elapsed, even though it has since changed?

  • Yuff says:

    3 Sep3 September 06:29

    The date it changes to amber is the date any changes take place, so if it’s red when you fly out but moves to amber midweek then anyone returning the following weekend is treated as returning from an amber country.

    • Louie says:

      3 Sep3 September 07:41

      That’s good news. Thank you.

  • BJ says:

    3 Sep3 September 06:42

    Hopefully the traffic lights will be replaced with a new bypass at the next review!

    • Navara says:

      3 Sep3 September 07:42

      Traffic lights are normally replaced with a roundabout so good luck

      • Chrism20 says:

        3 Sep3 September 08:26

        Knowing this Government you will get a roundabout with traffic lights

        • Lady London says:

          3 Sep3 September 10:01

          …and you’ll have to pay money to cronies of government members, in order to be allowed to pass

    • Louie says:

      3 Sep3 September 07:43

      I’m sure you know that new bypasses require community consultation, planning reviews, environmental reviews, etc – and years of navel gazing. So I won’t be holding my breath, though I do hope you are right 🙂

  • Mco says:

    3 Sep3 September 19:35

    Flight landed 4hrs delayed due to closed Afghanistan air space. Should have taken them 2hrs longer due to the longer route. Missed my connection. Any compensation payable?

• John W says:

  3 Sep3 September 06:38

  Sorry for asking , if it’s been discussed several times . Who is best travel insurance provider for covid? Travel to Cyprus next week
  Many thanks

  • Maciek says:

    3 Sep3 September 06:49

    Battleface ranks high from what I heard.

  • Sandgrounder says:

    3 Sep3 September 07:14

    If it’s the South there is currently no FCO advice against travel, so a mainstream provider will be fine. Cyprus will pay for quarantine and medical costs for tourists (and insist on you relocating to the government facility if positive/close contact), a flight home for you/your remains would be my main concern when reviewing policies.

• AndyW says:

  3 Sep3 September 07:08

  Does Airtime have any referral system. If so would anyone like to share theirs? Thanks

  • Dave says:

    3 Sep3 September 07:12

    MPMURVRB

    • AndyW says:

      3 Sep3 September 07:17

      I’ll go with what I see first, so thanks Dave

• Dave says:

  3 Sep3 September 07:12

  Only £1 each but better than nothing… thanks

• Harry says:

  3 Sep3 September 07:36

  What is currently the best star alliance points card? Is it hsbc premier world elite earning at approx £1 per point through krisflyer? It is there a Lufthansa/Aegean product? If relevant my redemptions are mostly within Europe. Thanks

  • Dave says:

    3 Sep3 September 07:48

    Pretty much.

    The Marriott Bonvoy Amex is worth a look, £30k spend nets 25,000 airline miles, so 0.833 miles per £. This can be quite a good return if you send to programmes with nice ‘sweet spots’ / no YQ.

    • Rob says:

      3 Sep3 September 07:51

      In terms of miles per £1, HSBC World Elite, but Bonvoy is arguably more flexible because of the huge number of Star programmes you can transfer into (but its an Amex, of course, so less flexible that way).

  • Sam G says:

    3 Sep3 September 08:59

    Krisflyer is v expensive for Euro flights though, you’d need to be either using SQ metal or want to use a sweet spot – Dubai, Africa etc

    Agree that Marriott is best – IIRC United is a slightly higher transfer ratio and has a low milage rate for short flights. Turkish miles and smiles is also v interesting for Asia and S.America etc

    • Paul says:

      3 Sep3 September 16:02

      There is currently a transfer bonus from Marriott to United right now, although I’m struggling to work out the benefits of United’s MileagePlus ex-UK!?

      • Rob says:

        3 Sep3 September 16:23

        I think short haul redemptions are decent value – https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2017/11/06/united-airlines-8000-mile-redemptions/ – if they still exist.

        • Paul says:

          3 Sep3 September 18:55

          Thanks – looks like they still exist, steep taxes ex-UK aside.

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