The HfP chat thread – Saturday 18th September

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• Katie says:

  18 Sep18 September 12:36

  Can you book Day8 test for a return in Nov now?

  • Sam G says:

    18 Sep18 September 12:41

    Why would you, you only need to book it when you are about to fill your PLF in 48hrs before you return. Rules might change before then, provider go out of business, trip cancelled, prices drop etc etc

    • Katie says:

      18 Sep18 September 12:45

      Based on cost and to avoid any last minute running around

      • Mike says:

        18 Sep18 September 12:49

        Katie – I do love someone that plans in advance – seriously there is little worse than last minute running around

        • Sam G says:

          18 Sep18 September 13:28

          I’d do my research and have the link saved etc but not actually buy. That way you’ve done your planning and it’s hassle free on your hols, but you don’t risk wasting any money 🙂

• Song says:

  18 Sep18 September 13:02

  Hi, BA have cancelled my return flights to Istanbul (both outbound and inbound), and they are no longer operating any flights to Istanbul on the days we were originally meant to fly. They do, however, have one flight on each of the days adjoining when we were meant to fly (I.e. we were supposed to fly out on 24th evening, and they have outbound flights on 23rd and 25th, with a similar case for our inbound flight).

  However, the alternative travel days and times aren’t ideal for us. After reading up about EU261 here, I tried calling BA to ask if they would be willing to help rebook us on an alternative airline on our original travel dates (and even told them I was willing to fly the budget airline flights that were operating to Istanbul on our dates). However, I was told directly that even with EU261 (and equivalent U.K. law) that because neither BA nor any of their partner airlines were operating flights to Istanbul on our dates, that they couldn’t get me a flight on our dates. They then told me that if I couldn’t fly the day before/ after, that all they could do was give me a refund, and that if I was dissatisfied with this, I could write in via their web form but the call centre could do nothing more.

  Can I ask if what I was told was correct or if I have any other recourse? Our flights are in a week and they said there could be no guarantee how quickly I could get a response on the web form.

  Thanks in advance.

  • Blenz101 says:

    18 Sep18 September 13:13

    Don’t take the refund from BA. Book reasonable flights under comparable conditions and then take BA to court to enforce your rights to a reroute. MCOL or CEDR will be fine and you will win.

    Just use google to search this site for EU261 and you will find detailed instructions posted almost daily.

  • Richie says:

    18 Sep18 September 13:19

    Art. 8 of reg 261 details your absolute rights to re-routing. It doesn’t say re-routing only on the operating air carriers and its partners flights. They are making it up, airlines do to fob you off and save money.

  • Lady London says:

    18 Sep18 September 13:29

    BA is basically telling you to sue them.
    They’re hoping you’ll be too scared of them and their big name in an industry some still think of as glamorous. Or that you’ll forget, or be too busy, or won’t know how.

    It’s up to you how you feel about these things and whether you feel up to it. They’ll only lift a finger to rebook you onto one of their own flights. But you already know you have to accept flying on dates not convenient or possible for you.

    Who is the most determined here? Perhaps, they’ll hope and know by looong experience, you’ll be amongst the group of people that just forget about their flights and leave the money in BA’s pocket. Or perhaps their obduracy in providing you your EU/UK261 rights will force you to take a refund. Or better yet, an FTV so they can keep your money for a bit longer. Or forever if you forget. Then there’s the upside : you have to pay a new very possibly higher rate if you come back later with your FTV or cash to rebook.

    I’d either take the later flights and make BA pay my extra night’s hotel and food in each direction. Or buy flights on another airline now, charge them duty of care for any extra meals needed or transport needed if either airport is different, get 3 quotes to prove reasonable market rate you paid, and claim it all plus 8%pa statutory interest on the lot because they are as capable as you of obtaining you a replacement ticket on their system or the internet, but want to force you to use your money.

    Google site: headforpoints.com mcol ; also letter before action to see the multiple accounts of how to sue BA.

    Or, make life easy for yourself and either accept BA not providing your rights or go one better and claim Section 75 replacement cost off your UK credit card if you paid this way due to nonprovision by BA of what ypi bought plus nonprovision of statutory rights governing the purchase. Section 75 means card just pays replacement cost even if higher in market jow, they get the money off BA and you are not out if pocket.

    You choose.

• Anthony says:

  18 Sep18 September 13:06

  Any recommendations for a hotel in Dubai near the Marina, that has a balcony and decent pool or beach area.

  Thanks

  • Blenz101 says:

    18 Sep18 September 13:18

    There is no beach in the Marina itself. You could extend your search out to JBR which is walkable from the Marina.

    For the Marina itself either the Address or Intercontinental would by my choice. There is also a large Marriott but I’ve not been to the pool area there.

    JBR will give you pretty much the full range of international chains with beach access and is a more touristy vibe.

  • MisterE says:

    18 Sep18 September 15:42

    We had a very nice break at the Westin just before Covid – great pool area and nice room/balcony

  • David says:

    18 Sep18 September 15:59

    Also think Crowne Plaza on marina has balcony rooms

    • JJ says:

      19 Sep19 September 18:38

      Tiny pool area always in the shade though, wouldn’t stay here again unless just needing a room for the night.

  • Guernsey Globetrotter says:

    18 Sep18 September 16:08

    The Grosvenor has access to the private beach at Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort and Spa so could fit the bill.

• FloriGuy says:

  18 Sep18 September 13:20

  Re a post earlier that has been pushed back.

  If I get a replacement card for one that was lost will my old saved offers get transferred to the “new” replacement card

  • JDB says:

    18 Sep18 September 13:51

    My BAPP card was replaced in Aug and yes, the previously saved (and unsaved) offers carried across. I know it doesn’t help in your situation, but somehow they also put the new card into your ApplePay within a few minutes, so you can use the new card before the physical one arrives.

• Dace says:

  18 Sep18 September 13:48

  Hi

  Is self referral for Amex still working?

  TIA for any replies.

  • Ben says:

    18 Sep18 September 13:53

    Not advised as in the USA they’ve shut down people’s accounts who has done this. I’d try and get someone else to refer you..

  • Paul says:

    18 Sep18 September 14:27

    Didn’t actually work last time I tried it; obviously had more sense than to raise this with their support. I think prevailing opinion is it’s not that advisable I’m any case these days.

  • Lady London says:

    18 Sep18 September 18:32

    This is why you need a wife. To refer, and who will refer you. Swop every year.

    When people’s accounts got suddenly closed by Amex in the US for self-referring, Amex went back years and closed the accounts of people who’d done it.

    If you value your relationship with Amex, don’t.

    • ankomonkey says:

      18 Sep18 September 19:15

      Swap my wife every year?

      • chris says:

        18 Sep18 September 19:47

        all those maintenance payments will take a real hit on your credit score

      • Peter K says:

        18 Sep18 September 20:19

        Ha ha ha. Swopping wives was immediately what I thought of as well reading LL’s post 😂

        • Peter K says:

          18 Sep18 September 20:19

          *Swapping

    • David says:

      19 Sep19 September 01:56

      He might want a husband?

  • JSemity says:

    18 Sep18 September 22:28

    yes it works, go for it.

• A says:

  18 Sep18 September 14:35

  I’m a recent sign up. Done 5+ eligible transactions (Morrisons, Wilko) over last 2 weeks but nothing has registered on my account. How long should I expect to wait?

  • SteveJ says:

    18 Sep18 September 16:07

    If not tracked within 14 days raise a ticket

  • Reney says:

    18 Sep18 September 19:45

    Did you use a curve card in between?

    • A says:

      18 Sep18 September 20:59

      No, haven’t used Curve for quite a while. Morissons wasn’t initially on the app, appeared for a few days/a week, and now disappeared again. Wilko is still on there. I’ll see what happens. Thanks!

• LM says:

  18 Sep18 September 14:37

  If useful for anyone to know:

  Spoke to BA via live chat and EasyJet via phone, both are saying it’s a country’s red/amber/green status at the time you fly back to the UK that matters, not when you departed for that country. I.e. according to them you’re okay to go to a red list country that’s due to go Amber on the 22nd now e.g. Turkey, Egypt etc. and you’ll be in the clear on your return to the UK so long as you arrive in the UK after it’s switched to Amber on the 22nd.

  This may have been obvious to lots of people but I sought clarification as didn’t want to be hit with the hotel quarantine bill.

  • mr_jetlag says:

    18 Sep18 September 15:21

    nothings obvious with this government’s policies, so thanks for checking.

• Ant says:

  18 Sep18 September 14:49

  Has anyone had problems uploading a negative Chronomics test to return result to the VeriFLY app. I can’t seem to download a pdf so I just uploaded a screenshot, VeriFLY has rejected it but not clear why

  • Lakers says:

    18 Sep18 September 15:59

    I had an issue last night. It would not accept my two bar code PDF. I managed to upload it in the end and then got rejected as it said it was outside the 72 hours window- which it wasn’t! Resubmitted it and got approved!

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