Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

The HfP chat thread – Friday 3rd September

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

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Comments (530)

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

  • Aston100 says:

    Trying to work out the avios cost for a reward flight on Cathay from HKG to DPS next summer.
    No availability on any dates I tried through BA site.
    Does anyone have a link to an up to date chart so I can get an idea?
    Distance is about 2100 miles I think.

    Thanks.

    • Aston100 says:

      Nevermind, managed to find one flight, which helps me with my calculations.
      13000 Avios + £ 35.50 / 38750 Avios + £ 42.10

      I also checked KUL to HKG, and there seems to be a difference in avios and taxes between MH and CX flights.
      So is there not a set table of avios pricing that oneworld airlines use?

      • David says:

        Have you tried using AA availability calendar for one world redemptions. Also single none BA redemptions like this are poor value – try doing it as a multi carrier redemption – if you use 2 different non-BA airlines.

      • Sam G says:

        CX just devalued which is causing the differences now

        https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2021/08/03/avios-devaluation-cathay-pacific-japan-airlines/

        13000 doesn’t sound bad though for a long flight though – multi carrier likely won’t be optimal on a shorter route – they only make sense on longer flights IME

        • Aston100 says:

          Ah right, the devaluation makes sense.

        • Tom says:

          Considering the cash price of those HKG to DPS flights will be north of £250 i don’t think 13,000 AVIOS is bad at all.

          • Aston100 says:

            HKG > DPS on CX is in excess of £600 (in economy) on the date that suits me best.
            I’m guessing that isn’t normal though.
            Makes 38750 avios in business class seem decent.

  • Paul says:

    Does anyone know if i should expect any benefits as gold elite for a moxy stay? I have been told moxy don’t do any status benefits. Initial Web research is inconclusive.

    • Phil says:

      I’m platinum and received my drinks credit and that’s it the couple of times I’ve stayed, but that’s it. In truth they don’t have much they can offer – the rooms are all (largely) the same.

    • Anuj says:

      I’m gold and moxy gave me a minor room upgrade

    • Harry T says:

      Stayed at the Edinburgh airport one as Titanium and received an upgrade to a family room (bigger with two beds) plus some free drinks for both of us. We also had some credit towards food and drinks (?ten dollars). We left too early for breakfast. Moxy does honour elite benefits but there’s just not much they have to offer, as they usually have two room types.

    • OP says:

      Am not sure if I can post a link to another blog but this chart – https://loyaltylobby.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/LL-Bonvoy-Benefits.pdf – is a useful resource for this

  • Gareth says:

    This is a request to HFP. It would be useful if there was a specific thread to collate experience with availability for new BA Companion voucher. To help readers decide if £250 Is worth it.

    What do people think.

    • Richie says:

      So you spend £12,000 and get £250 value, I think most can do the maths

      • Jonathan says:

        No, you spend £250 on the annual card fee & get a 241 voucher worth anything from 4,500 to 300,000 Avios depending on how you use the voucher. With such a wide range of redemption opportunities then it’s hard to put a value on although conventional wisdom would say any longhaul PE/Club World redemption puts you in profit at a 1p/Avios valuation.

        Clearly there’s also the cash vs redemption argument. Most people would find that redemption wins for those who travel in school holidays but cash can win for singles/DINKY”s.

        • Richie says:

          How do you get a voucher worth 300,000 avios?

          • ChrisC says:

            It’s an extreme example but it’s usually 300k avios to Sydney return in club for example.

            So if there are two people that would normally be 600k but with the 2-4-1 you only pay 300k avios hence the voucher is “worth” 300k.

            But it’s only worth whatever trip you’re using it for and only you can decide if that’s value or not.

      • Gareth says:

        If you know there is availability maths is easy. If the chance of getting a ticket is no better than current , you have to try and buy at 12pm UTC, but can’t get it then it’s not value . The hike in price is supposed to be accompanied by more availability, but will it be, especially for hard to get routes.

    • Aston100 says:

      About as likely as a thread for Sandy Bendy bondies via InterConty Creative pointies for Beardy Seagulls named Che from Hong Kong who listen to Eminem.

    • Rhys says:

      We have an article about the vouchers in the next few days. I’m sure there will be lots of feedback there 🙂

    • Rob says:

      I just spent a few hours on it and I think I’ve worked out BA’s algorithm. It is NOT ‘if there is I-class for cash, you can book it’, but it’s close.

  • Mandy says:

    It is proving almost impossible to upload valid bank details to SafeShield for BA data reimbursement. Why they are saying that they coukf not validate the original info. and now wish extra to be sent, which is exactly the same, is very concerning.

  • Chris L says:

    I’ve just had some flights cancelled going to Italy in October (booked via BA Holidays). I’m not very flexible on dates and it looks like there’s no other option for the specific destination. Does anyone know what my options will be? Obviously it’s almost impossible to phone BAH right now.

    • Amy C says:

      I had same to Verona cancelled last week for Dec. BA gave me a text to respond to by today requesting a refund or voucher.

      • Lady London says:

        So they failed to advise you of your full rights, such as would include your choice to reschedule to same date or a later date of your choice even if it meant BA had no flight available so your right would extend to them being responsible for providing you your rerouting on another airline?

        BA is required to advise you of your rights. It appears they are not doing so. Wven if they cancel a route they are still responsible.

        • Sean says:

          BA HOLIDAY – so different rules?

          • Nick says:

            Indeed. This point is often lost on commenters here. For example, Tui books package holidays using BA flights if they don’t have their own. If BA then cancel the flight, it’s up to Tui to find an alternative holiday package, not BA. BA rebooking the flight won’t help the customer whose hotel is at a different time.

            In this circumstance, replace ‘Tui’ by ‘BA Holidays’. Same principle applies, as do the same package holiday regulations. Not that confusing really, however hard some people find it!

          • Lady London says:

            Oops correct. The operator (BA Hols) csn indeed pull the plug on the whole thing in the case of a cancellation. Apologies I don’t pay much attention to BA Holidays as for someone travelling solo the costs never seem to work out favorable.

  • Ashraj says:

    Some advice needed- BA have cancelled my flights to Ibiza towards the end of September. I have tired to call them to see what my options are but its very difficut to get through. Am I ok to let my flying date pass and then ask for the flights to be booked for around the same time next year? Thanks

    • Lady London says:

      Yes but if they didn’t cancel the first flight on your booking let them know you’re not on it due their cancellation as you havecto replan and will get back to them. If first flight is cancelled no need to do anythingv- you can ignore anybalternative proposed aa it’s not valid till you accept it. Don’t touch it you onky get one shot to choose

      • Ashraj says:

        Thanks for your reply. Both the outbound and inbound have been cancelled unfortunately. I will bide my time lady london!

  • John says:

    Going to Dubai. Can I book any day 2 test for my return ie the £20 in person Chester location mentioned in previous pages?

  • Tiger says:

    Just made it to Spire Elite (thanks to my Creation Card). I can’t seem to locate the option to select the 25k IHG points benefit for Spire Elite members. Can someone help please.
    Thanks.

    • Reney says:

      on the app, go to your profile. there are 7 or 8 grey boxes under the circles. If there is 7 choose member benefit (at the bottom), come back out and the 8th box ‘extra benefit’ will appear. choose that and it would be in there.

      Don’t know why the extra benefit box don’t always come up for me.

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