The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 14th September

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Ali says:

14 Sep14 September 11:25

Last year I had the free BA Amex card and bought a club seat in a sale for cash.

In august I upgraded to the BAPP card to get a 2-4-1 voucher.

As BA cancelled my flight it made more sense to use my 241 and get a refund on the cash ticket.

However, while I earned 1.5 avios on the free card, on the refund they’ve taken 3 times the value in avios as I’ve now got the bapp card.

I presume I can call them and ask for that to be corrected!
- Oliver says:
  
  14 Sep14 September 11:28
  
  Hello Ali, yes if you call amex and explain they should be able to figure it out
- StevieKicks says:
  
  14 Sep14 September 11:31
  
  They may stick with it unless you complain strongly, I believe the official policy is for refunds to use the current earning rate, rather than the original one
  - Jonathan says:
    
    14 Sep14 September 13:39
    
    Useful perk when downgrading… 😉
- Jonathan says:
  
  14 Sep14 September 11:46
  
  I can’t figure out why Amex only offers 1 Avios per pound spent with BA.com and BA holidays, where BAPP offers double Avios on these transactions.
  
  The free Virgin Atlantic cards offers double points when spending with at Virgin Atlantic website and Virgin Holidays, so why can’t BA offer this ?
- Ali says:
  
  14 Sep14 September 11:48
  
  Thanks for the advice. I’ll call and see what they say.
Debbie Stephen says:

14 Sep14 September 11:29

Looking for urgent help! I have reward 1st class flights to New York booked 1st-6th October. Obviously can’t go as it’s a leisure trip, however the flights are still running. My flights were booked during the 50% off redemption sale (which has now ended) and a companion voucher. Already rescheduled once due to BA cancelling flights in May. However , BA now saying as I am “voluntarily” re-scheduling, they cannot honour the 50% discount as the sale has now ended. This effectively means I cannot go, as I don’t have enough extra avios to top up! Also note that when I have spoken to BA within the last few weeks, I was not told this would be the case. Help!
- mr_jetlag says:
  
  14 Sep14 September 11:36
  
  I would wait until the week before and, if no flight changes / cancellations, just convert your booking into an FTV. 241, taxes, fees and Avios will then be usable for something else.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  14 Sep14 September 11:40
  
  “I am “voluntarily” re-scheduling, they cannot honour the 50% discount as the sale has now ended”
  
  They are correct the flights are on but you cannot travel and therefore missed out on the deal fare. Hopefully it’ll be repeated when travel opens up more and there’s additional capacity going spare.
  
  You have up until check in closes to accept an FTV or 24 hours before for a refund less £35 each.
- ChrisC says:
  
  14 Sep14 September 11:41
  
  BA are correct.
  
  As the flights are still running and you want to change it is indeed a voluntary change.
  
  It was different earlier in the year when BA had cancelled your flights and they rebooked you for October without extra charge.
  
  That you can’t enter the USA is not BAs fault it is still a voluntary change.
- HBommie says:
  
  14 Sep14 September 12:06
  
  Just bear in mind that if it has a connection, and the connection is cancelled this will trigger the option to move it and keep the 50% avios rate.
  - Jonathan says:
    
    14 Sep14 September 13:42
    
    Correct, may even be worth adding a connection now to up the chances although I think the domestic schedule is fairly settled now.
    
    You will have a battle for rescheduling even with a cancellation though as BA have reverted to the old definition of ticket validity (365 days from initial ticketing).
    - ChrisC says:
      
      14 Sep14 September 14:04
      
      Wouldn’t adding a connection now lead to a reprice of the entire trip?
      
      Is it even confirmed that BA have reverted back to that policy? Yesterday on flyertalk it appeared to be some hybrid policy depending on what previous changes had been made to the bookings.
    - barnaby100 says:
      
      14 Sep14 September 16:24
      
      Adding a connection is a voluntary change and cancels out the 50% and reprices
      - Anna says:
        
        14 Sep14 September 17:29
        
        Also can’t change it in MMB if you’ve got a connection, very annoying.
Cat says:

14 Sep14 September 11:35

Hi all, does anyone know how to unpair your Nectar card from your BA account, and link a new Nectar number instead? I got mugged in June, cancelled my Nectar card afterwards and got a new one sent out to me (also that’s why I’ve been commenting less here recently, as I’m no longer walking down the streets of London on the way to or from work, in my own little points and miles world, oblivious to my surroundings), but I can no longer transfer Nectar points across, as I can’t figure out how to unlink my old Nectar number from my BA account (and you can’t link two Nectar accounts).

Sorry if this is obvious, but I’ve had no luck sorting this one out with BA and Nectar. I’ve tried sorting over the phone with both BA and Nectar, and both told me to do it on the app, but it doesn’t seem to be possible.

Thanks all!
- Anna says:
  
  14 Sep14 September 11:42
  
  I don’t know about the Nectar card, sorry, but I hope you’re ok Cat! What a crappy thing to happen on top of a generally crappy 12 months. Even if it’s only purse/wallet getting taken it shakes you up and causes no end of inconvenience getting things cancelled and replaced.
  - Cat says:
    
    14 Sep14 September 12:06
    
    My phone was the most annoying, to be honest, but I had all my cards and loyalty cards stolen at the same time and it was a right PIA getting it all cancelled and replaced!
    
    The whole thing was really quite unpleasant, and it took many, many cups of tea before my heart rate returned to normal!
- Nectar Collector says:
  
  14 Sep14 September 11:47
  
  If you go to the BA partner page in the Nectar App – where you request Nectar/Avios conversions – there is a button labelled Unlink Your Account so see if that works in your case?
  - Cat says:
    
    14 Sep14 September 12:04
    
    This is the problem – my app displays my new Nectar card number, which is not linked to my BA account, so the option I see is “Link accounts”, so I can’t unlink my old account in the app (and I can’t link my new account until I’ve unlinked my old one)…
    - Nectar Collector says:
      
      14 Sep14 September 12:27
      
      Ooo errr…..sounds like it needs someone clever in the back room of Nectar and/or BA to fix this …….in an ideal world their IT systems should have unlinked things when the card was cancelled but I guess we know that their collective IT isn’t perfect! It seems you can’t access the linking/unlinking process from the BA end either…I got an error message when I tried that just now.
      - Cat says:
        
        14 Sep14 September 12:28
        
        Bless you for trying Nectar Collector!
        
        I might need to make another lengthy phone call when I have a moment later in the week.
      - Nectar Collector says:
        
        14 Sep14 September 13:00
        
        I don’t like being beaten by things that should work! Managed to find a potential web page at the BA end – login to BA at exchange.shopping.ba.com – where I would be able to unlink the Nectar card BA thinks is linked to my BAEC. So may be worth looking there to see whether it shows your old card. Failing that I fear it will be another painful phone call…good luck .
- Peter K says:
  
  14 Sep14 September 15:35
  
  Oh no!! Sorry to hear that Cat. I was mugged when at uni and it really isn’t nice. You definitely view the streets differently afterwards!
- AJA says:
  
  14 Sep14 September 16:31
  
  Oh Cat so sorry to read this. I hope you are OK?
  
  Have you still got the record of your old nectar card? If so can you try logging into the nectar website for the old account on a pc? I have no idea how to do that to be honest as it requires your email address to log in and that is probably going to be the current nectar account.
  
  Or try creating a new online account for the old number and then try unlinking with BAEC? It seems to me that the only way to link and unlink is via Nectar
  
  When I try going to the BA website here
  https://exchange.shopping.ba.com/partner/nectar It just shows my accounts are linked and there does not seem to be a way of unlinking.
  - Nectar Collector says:
    
    14 Sep14 September 16:56
    
    This is the BA page I was looking at too…..on my screen in very small letters next to my Nectar Card number is an Unlink option?
    - Cat says:
      
      14 Sep14 September 20:32
      
      Thanks for trying Peter K, AJA and Nectar collector!
      
      Sadly, when I try to log in to the BA page AJA linked, I can’t get to the next page, as I get a “Bad Request” error message.
      
      I get another error message when I try to log in to Nectar using my old number.
      
      I think it’s going to be more tedious phone calls!
      
      Other than putting my phone away, I’m trying not to vary my behaviour at all. I still take the same route to and from work Peter, I just pay far more attention to what’s going on around me!
      - AJA says:
        
        14 Sep14 September 23:49
        
        Hi Cat I just tried logging on my Android phone via the link in my previous post and I can also see the unlink option there. It doesn’t show on desktop!
        
        If you can successfully negotiate past the BA login screen you should see it.
        
        Not sure if it’s worth trying to use the link in secret / incognito / private browsing mode in your mobile browser?
        
        Don’t give up. This should be possible to resolve! 😀
        
        And it’s lovely to see you here again even if it’s very sporadic. I am glad you are OK.
- Lady London says:
  
  14 Sep14 September 20:22
  
  At least you were OK Cat, thank goodness
  - Cat says:
    
    14 Sep14 September 20:43
    
    It was quite the shock, and not the best way to start the day, on my way to school.
    
    I was fine, just a bit shaken, and very, very cross! At least it happened just before Prime day, so I got a good deal on a new phone…
- Chas says:
  
  14 Sep14 September 21:44
  
  I’m really sorry to hear about that Cat. My wife was mugged 10+ years ago, so I understand how the emotional impact of it can be even more detrimental to your wellbeing than the immediate aftermath and short-term inconvenience of replacing belongings, which is what too often most people focus on. Please look after yourself, and don’t think that every time you go out that the same thing will happen again.
  - Cat says:
    
    14 Sep14 September 21:52
    
    Thanks Chas.
    - Polly says:
      
      14 Sep14 September 22:08
      
      Hi Cat,
      Sorry, only reading this now, how awful for you. But hopefully you will get through it, and stay your usual positive self. Soon we will be travelling! And you will feel really good then… we just got back from France tonight, and felt v brave even going there by car. Hope you have some travel planned for half term?
      Best, Polly
      - meta says:
        
        14 Sep14 September 23:37
        
        Only reading this now as on holiday! So sorry to hear that, but it’s a relief that you’re ok. Take care and think more about some Seychellois beaches instead of the incident.
      - Cat says:
        
        15 Sep15 September 22:16
        
        Hey Polly, Meta and AJA, I started replying here, but (as I had a full day teaching and 2 meetings after school), it wasn’t until 7pm on Wed. I decided nobody would be likely to see a reply here at that stage, so my reply is on page 9 of Wed 15th’s chat thread (on the off-chance I was wrong, and you come back here!). X
Anna says:

14 Sep14 September 11:36

Don’t know if it’s a coincidence but since bendy stopped being creative, partying with Che reflects the morning after! No apologies.
- mr_jetlag says:
  
  14 Sep14 September 11:39
  
  Do you mean Che doesn’t show immediately? Mine still does (bending via china)
  - Anna says:
    
    14 Sep14 September 11:44
    
    It was taking up to a week and incurring corresponding interest recently. Though it could also be because I decided to party on Monday instead of Saturday!
    - Reney says:
      
      14 Sep14 September 11:48
      
      Anna, does 2FA come up for you every time? I find if 2FA does it goes to pending right away and posted in 2 days. If 2FA doesn’t come up it takes a week.
      
      To force 2FA delete the card and add again every transaction. (size of transaction might matter, the smaller ones don’t trigger 2FA).
      
      Friday is the only day I don’t party as it takes longest to post.
      - Anna says:
        
        14 Sep14 September 13:25
        
        I get asked for all sorts of codes every time, it’s a right PITA!
    - mr_jetlag says:
      
      14 Sep14 September 11:49
      
      The best for posting immediately was beardy, the worst by far is china (a week if I’m lucky). solihull was 1-5 days.
      - Reney says:
        
        14 Sep14 September 11:53
        
        mr_jetlag. new hk card holder here. Are you still getting points with bendy and che? Various reports over the last few days so interested in data points. Also any cash fee from using the card with che esp it takes so long to post.
    - r* says:
      
      14 Sep14 September 12:50
      
      What amounts of interest get added creatively after a cuba libre? Is there a way to still have 0 interest or is there always a 1 day interest no matter how quickly its cleared?
      - Anna says:
        
        14 Sep14 September 13:24
        
        I suspect there would always be one day but up to £3 pm doesn’t bother me. Not worth making a fuss about, anyway.
      - Reney says:
        
        14 Sep14 September 18:18
        
        cash advance interest is something like 2.07% per month according to google. so 2.07%/30 per day multiple by how much you want to party.
  - KZ says:
    
    14 Sep14 September 14:26
    
    Is this the China that likes Jade?
Reney says:

14 Sep14 September 11:42

@LS thank you for your advice on 23rd Aug. Just used it to get my annual fee refunded for my Prem WE card on the phone. Took 10 minutes.
- mr_jetlag says:
  
  14 Sep14 September 13:48
  
  @Reney yes I’m still getting points on che spend, hk via bendy.
  - Reney says:
    
    14 Sep14 September 14:03
    
    thanks 😊
Chris says:

14 Sep14 September 11:52

Has anyone yet received the bonus Tesco CC points for the Hotels.com promo back in July?
- meta says:
  
  14 Sep14 September 23:38
  
  14 weeks is lead time. I wouldn’t expect them before November.
ChrisC says:

14 Sep14 September 11:54

They are announcing people over 50 and those younger with certain medical conditions are recommended to get a booster 6 months after their previous jab.booster will be the Pfizer vaccination.

Also boots offering seasonal flu jabs now. If you meet the NHS requirements for a feee jab there is no charge (the nhs pays boots like it does your GP) otherwise it’s £14.99.
- Andy says:
  
  14 Sep14 September 11:57
  
  Disappointed as a 48 year old not to be on the list!
  - Craig says:
    
    14 Sep14 September 12:37
    
    Just pay the fee Andy, I did every year until last year.
    - andy says:
      
      15 Sep15 September 11:10
      
      I mean for Covid!
  - Rob says:
    
    14 Sep14 September 14:00
    
    You still have to be 6 months from 2nd jab, so by the time people like me get a booster (Jan, probably) policy may have changed anyway.
- Andrew H says:
  
  14 Sep14 September 12:26
  
  I have jabs booked for myself and partner at Boots next weekend, both now qualify for free jab as over 50 …do I just tell them then and there?
  - xcalx says:
    
    14 Sep14 September 12:32
    
    We had our flu jabs booked with Boots for Thursday . They phoned on Saturday asking us to come in any day prior to Thursday as they had overbooked the slots we went in yesterday.
  - xcalx says:
    
    14 Sep14 September 12:37
    
    You scan a QR code on the day then answer a few online questions which picks up all the details. I had to download a QR reader from the app store. The two of us were in and out in under 10 mins.
    - Andrew H says:
      
      14 Sep14 September 12:49
      
      Reading a QR code on an iphone camera just opens a safari page automagically…
  - ChrisC says:
    
    14 Sep14 September 12:43
    
    the email I got confirming my appointment says they will check eligibility for a free vacination at the appointment.
    - Andrew H says:
      
      14 Sep14 September 12:48
      
      Ah good – last year we bought the jabs and they seemed to imply that theirs were better than the standard (worked against 4 strains rather than 3….seems a bit like BS to me)
      - Craig says:
        
        14 Sep14 September 12:51
        
        It all depends what your GP surgery has bought. There are several suppliers and each vaccine is slightly different. Last year some worked against 4 strains some against 3.
- bafan says:
  
  14 Sep14 September 13:17
  
  I had mine in TESCO pharmacy yesterday! 28 but multiple pre-existing conditions.
- Anna says:
  
  14 Sep14 September 13:28
  
  I’ve never had flu, or a flu jab and don’t intend to start – I’m hugely healthier now than 4 years ago when I was vitamin d deficient. Will I still be allowed to have the booster covid jab (I’m 51)?
  - Andrew H says:
    
    14 Sep14 September 13:31
    
    Why wouldn’t you?
    
    I didn’t used to catch flu – probably never have (apart from man flu) – but I have a jab because I am self employed and don’t get paid if I’m sick.
    - Anna says:
      
      14 Sep14 September 14:04
      
      It says people are being invited for both, it sounded like this might be at the same time, in which case they might be funny about people wanting to pick and choose.
      - Jeff Greene says:
        
        14 Sep14 September 14:35
        
        They won’t be funny about it. Why would they be?
  - Jeff Greene says:
    
    14 Sep14 September 13:54
    
    If you’re 51 you’re over 50 hence you’ll be eligible for the booster jab
  - ChrisC says:
    
    14 Sep14 September 13:56
    
    You can have the covid booster if you want it because you’re over 50.
    
    It’s not tied to having the flu jab.
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    14 Sep14 September 15:01
    
    Why would you have one but not the other?
    
    You’re at risk from both … Flu is a killer!
Phil says:

14 Sep14 September 12:30

This is perfectly legitimate but might look suspicious. I would recommend calling them in advance to tell them that this is your plan. Remember that some debit card payments to cards can take 2-3 days to apply to the balance, therefore you might need to spread payments out over a week across the two cards.