The HfP chat thread – Friday 24th September

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Jason Wiltshire says:

24 Sep24 September 12:28

Got a 2for1 BA voucher expiring November (I thought they might extend them but no such luck). Anyone know if using it for a booking in November and then cancelling for an FTV still works? (Then rebook later date?)
- Graham Walsh says:
  
  24 Sep24 September 15:02
  
  Did that the other day. Same Nov expiry and now have a FTV locked in with the 241
  - RJA says:
    
    24 Sep24 September 16:21
    
    +1. Booked Monday this week, cancelled late Tues, FTV with Sept23 2f1 arrived in inbox on Weds
Nicky says:

24 Sep24 September 12:29

Quick question for any legal hpf’ers: When I booked my cruise/hotel package last year I insisted that it had to be twin beds at the hotel as I am travelling with my father. It turns out they have booked us into a double bed room. Could I argue that by my insistence on twin beds be considered an essential term of the contract which they have breached?
- Harry T says:
  
  24 Sep24 September 12:33
  
  Can’t you just ring or email the hotel and explain the situation?
- Rich says:
  
  24 Sep24 September 12:37
  
  More info needed.
  
  Are you on the trip now, or is this in the future?
  Have you asked the hotel or holiday co to fix, and have they refused? What was their response/ reason.
  
  What would you like? I wouldn’t expect to share a bed if I’d booked twin, but the solution might be a separate room, a rollaway, walked to another hotel. If none of that can be done, and you end up sharing, I’d expect something comped from the hotel or holiday co.
  
  Or do you want to use it as a reason for free cancellation?
- Andrw says:
  
  24 Sep24 September 13:08
  
  Check exactly what you asked for to make sure there isn’t a language or interpretative issue.
  
  In the US, a twin bed is just 3″ wider than a UK single bed. They probably didn’t think you were going to fit.
  
  You needed to book either two twins or two doubles. Sometimes known as a double twin or a double double.
  - Rich says:
    
    24 Sep24 September 13:19
    
    +1 With all the opaque layers of reservation systems + language barriers. I’ve lost count of the times I’m looking at a website or messaging someone and I’m thinking ‘just tell me how many sodding beds there are in this room!’.
    
    Particularly bad when booking a ski apartment, and beds start folding down out of cupboards and in corridors…
    - Nicky says:
      
      24 Sep24 September 15:29
      
      Thanks everyone: holiday is over Xmas and New Year to NY. After chatting to a lawyer friend, yes this is an express term. I spoke to my travel agent and eventually they saw it my way and have agreed to cover the cost to book the room I initially requested. Just such a pain in the butt having to deal with these travel agents at times…..and even though I requested to speak to a manager on a number of occasions – they wouldn’t allow it but I have now got it sorted thank goodness. I really didn’t want to sleep in the same bed as my dad – or on a rollaway when I consider how much this ‘package’ has cost.
      - @mkcol says:
        
        24 Sep24 September 22:04
        
        Why didn’t you book direct & get it correct yourself then seeing how it’s “Just such a pain in the butt having to deal with these travel agents”?
Faran says:

24 Sep24 September 12:37

I want to ask how can I improve american express internal scoring as my application was unsuccessfull for this reason.
- Andrew says:
  
  24 Sep24 September 13:12
  
  First of all you check your Credit Report using Clearscore, Experian, or similar. See if there’s any unusual activity on there.
  
  Be mindful that the Score they give is based on their own interpretation – they aren’t lenders.
  - Faran says:
    
    24 Sep24 September 15:00
    
    Yeh I did check my score is in 900+. I was thinking its may be due to my previous card but I have always paid .I did called operator to ask but she said its confidential we cant disclose what’s causing it but thankyou
- Youllnever says:
  
  24 Sep24 September 13:25
  
  Do you already have an Amex or is this a first-time application? If you already have cards with them, it could be due to them extending the maximum amount of credit limit they’re willing to provide you with. Else, I would check your credit report like Andrew has suggested and make sure everything looks good/correct.
  - Faran says:
    
    24 Sep24 September 15:02
    
    I have been with for few years but this is the first time this has happend. I was applying for amex plat. I wil try again and clear any payments and do reguler check for 3 months and try again as suggested
- Lev441 says:
  
  24 Sep24 September 13:53
  
  If you’ve had any direct debits that have bounced back (even after making a manual payment prior to the due date) this would automatically reject you from a new card.
  
  I was told to wait 3 months with payments on time and you should be ok.
  - Faran says:
    
    24 Sep24 September 15:01
    
    I will check this it might be the case as I do have some direct debit payments
- Reney says:
  
  24 Sep24 September 15:47
  
  have you got too many cards with them? Also income level would be my other suggestion. One of my players got rejected because of low income.
  - Faran says:
    
    24 Sep24 September 16:42
    
    No just one card and income is good aswell I just could not understand internal scoring but they have a criteria according to it .Thanks
  - Barry says:
    
    24 Sep24 September 21:55
    
    How low is a low income?
    My newly graduated brother is considering applying.
    - Janeyferr says:
      
      24 Sep24 September 23:48
      
      I got my first Amex whilst earning £14k in my first full-time job 5 years ago.
Alison Day says:

24 Sep24 September 12:41

I changed my car to an EV during lockdown and have my 1st flight from LHR since Aug 2020 next month. Does any-one have experience of Heathrow parking with charging options (typical use LHR T5 long stay or Purple Parking). Thanks!
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  24 Sep24 September 12:50
  
  Nothing fast as far as I know there are a few 7kw in the official car parks (I’ve seen lots of Tesla ones at the Hilton T5) but depending which way you are travelling there are around 8-10 fast chargers at beaconsfield services
  
  Zap-Map should be able to help.
  - Alison Day says:
    
    24 Sep24 September 13:27
    
    Thanks! I have only had to use a public charger once since getting my car & it was Beaconsfield (live in Warwick so M40 route). I was hoping for a ‘park and some-one charges for me’ option so I have a full charge on landing but this might be my best bet.
    - TGLoyalty says:
      
      24 Sep24 September 14:14
      
      Then it’s actually pretty good there are fast chargers at every services down the M40 my go to are beaconsfield or the large bank of Ionity at Banbury (probably too close to home for you though)
      - TGLoyalty says:
        
        24 Sep24 September 14:16
        
        Sorry instavolt. Also a very good charging network.
        
        I honestly wouldn’t pay them the premium to charge your car as it’s unlikely you’d need any more than a £5-10 top up at a fast charger for a round trip from Warwick to LHR if you leave home with a full battery.
      - Alison Day says:
        
        24 Sep24 September 14:57
        
        All useful info. Thanks. Just getting used to not being able to ‘splash and dash’. All my routes have been local since getting the car (& there are charging points at work).
- Duncan says:
  
  24 Sep24 September 12:58
  
  How long are you going for? I wouldn’t expect you’d have trouble leaving your car at LHR _not_ plugged in. Leaving your car plugged in to a charger seems unnecessary since you’ll only be actually charging for a very small part of the time.
  
  I don’t know what you drive, or your range, but I’d aim to arrive with a relatively high SoC and just top up (if necessary) at a rapid charger on your way home.
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    24 Sep24 September 13:04
    
    They charge £15-35 to perhaps charge you car it’s a massive con.
    
    As you say spend the money on rapid charging elsewhere. Ecotricity (Gridserve electric highway) ESB BP Pulse all do decent 50-100kw charge stations IMO Ionity isn’t worth the premium.
    - Jonathan says:
      
      24 Sep24 September 19:54
      
      IONITY definitely worth it if you can get a subscription to a charging service through your vehicle manufacturer. Brings cost down to 25-28p/kWh. If you charge more than 75kwh’s month then you’re quids in on a £12-15monthly subscription.
      
      IONITY by far the most reliable & quickest chargers around & whilst they don’t have the biggest footprint yet they have been clever to place existing stations at locations on key motorways so that you can comfortably get from 1 charger to the next. If you can add 150miles range in 15-20 mins vs 1hour then that brings it into the coffee/toilet/leg stretch territory that I’d be doing every couple of hours even driving an ICE.
  - Alison Day says:
    
    24 Sep24 September 13:30
    
    Thanks! Was hoping for a parking service where you leave your car and it is charged to full ready for your return (purple parking offer this at BHX). Sounds like public charging is the way to go (I live in Warwick so not a long trip back so will just need a top-up).
- Rich says:
  
  24 Sep24 September 12:58
  
  I’ve seen park + charge on the price comparison sites like Holidayextras before, usually with meet & greet. I’ve not heard great reports though – people getting the car back with a ‘sorry mate, couldn’t get the charging to work, wrong cable’.
  
  There are some 7kW chargers operated by Pod Point, but I think they’re a bit iffy and in short stay – not really set up for people to leave plugged in. A big row of very slow chargers in long-stay would be cheap and perfect.
  
  As annoying a it is, I think for the moment you’re better visiting a rapid charger on the way there or back instead. Or at a hotel if you’re staying the night.
  - Alison Day says:
    
    24 Sep24 September 13:33
    
    Yes park + charge was what I was wondering about. Sounds like a service station is my best bet (reliability seems an issue looking at Zap Map). New system for me… I am lacking in confidence at the moment and think I need to crack on try it.
    
    No overnight stay at LHR this time but I noted many charging points at the Staybridge Inn/Holiday Inn on a previous stay.
    - Rich says:
      
      24 Sep24 September 13:41
      
      There’s a super-reliable bank of Instavolt chargers at Banbury OX16 4AE. I would make a beeline for them if your range will stretch that far. Contactless payment, very easy.
      
      Or the new Gridserve Electric Highway ones at service stations. A little less reliable, as they’re new and still having some teething problems.
      - Yuff says:
        
        24 Sep24 September 14:52
        
        There is a bp pulse charger on the bath road 150kw.
        27p per kWh with a subscription 42p without
- Char Char says:
  
  24 Sep24 September 15:31
  
  Use Zap map to find locations and quick charge before you get to Heathrow, there are plenty of options. I think charging whilst away is not needed especially when options are so limited,.
  
  If you are concerned there are 38 x 7kw chargers at Holiday Inn Bath Road/Staybridge suites which you could stay at the night before leaving and charge fully.
Andy says:

24 Sep24 September 12:57

Can I transit through an airport on separate tickets if I have no checked luggage? Flights depart from the same terminal, and I’m sure I’d have to go through passport control since I’d be flying in from Asia and then taking an intra-Schengen flight, but that wouldn’t be an issue as I don’t need visas. I assume as long as I can check-in online for the second flight and therefore can show passport control my other ticket, there should be no issue right?
- Rich says:
  
  24 Sep24 September 13:04
  
  Yep, you can even connect airside, instead of going thorough the arrivals process and walking up to checkin. As long as you have your boarding pass.
  
  You need to have the necessary passport and covid documentation to get in the country though, as the first airline will be assuming you are ending your journey there. Which airport/ terminal?
  - Andy says:
    
    24 Sep24 September 13:40
    
    Excellent, indeed I meant connecting airside. Flying in from Japan (assuming they reopen in time) and transferring via Frankfurt, should be Terminal 1 for both ANA and LH.
    
    Testing should be pretty easy, one pre-departure test if required will take care of both German and final destination rules
    - John says:
      
      24 Sep24 September 15:01
      
      Germans tend not to ask to see any tickets, they just ask what you’re doing in Germany
Paul says:

24 Sep24 September 13:04

Has anyone been successful with raising a compliant or claim to the FO against Creation for missing rewards, in this case the IHG free night! I’ve seen reference to others doing so but haven’t heard reports of the outcome yet.
- Aston100 says:
  
  24 Sep24 September 13:09
  
  Assuming you are Paul the Destroyer, aren’t you content with the shed load of points you received for the £3.5m worth of MSing you did with them every year?
  Of course you might be a different Paul altogether…
  - Aston100 says:
    
    24 Sep24 September 13:09
    
    Though it did sound more like BSing than MSing.
    - xcalx says:
      
      24 Sep24 September 13:30
      
      Think that’s what some would have said about Steve Belkin, David Phillips and Co.
      - xcalx says:
        
        24 Sep24 September 13:42
        
        Or even our own Rob and his multi million Avios earning tax bill paid when the Lloyds 25? per £ offer was on
  - Paul says:
    
    24 Sep24 September 13:51
    
    Different Paul, not a destructive bone here 🙂
- Sam says:
  
  24 Sep24 September 13:47
  
  Are you sure it’s missing? If you’re only checking on the app, click on the 1 free night and you may see a breakdown.
  
  For me, a few hours ago, it said 1 free night but when I clicked on it, I could see both with different expiry. It now says 2 free nights…
  
  Sam
  - Paul says:
    
    24 Sep24 September 13:53
    
    No it’s definitely missing,, I’ve been chasing them and IHG directly for months now to no avail.
- The Urbanite says:
  
  24 Sep24 September 15:37
  
  I chased Creation. Got £150 compo then the free night unexpectedly turned up months later, pretty sure it wasn’t supposed to!
Yorkshire Rich says:

24 Sep24 September 13:10

I have currently spent the last 2 hours searching for somewhere to go for a week from October 9th/10th. I’ve gone from Dubai to Cyprus to Tenerife, and now I’m back to square one.
I Think I may just choose Cleethorpes at this rate and hope that Thailand, bali, Australia etc will open up in January. I won’t hold my breath.
- Andrew says:
  
  24 Sep24 September 13:25
  
  That’s the Scottish October week, so things do start getting busier before the full on English October holidays.
  
  BA Holidays reports 1668 holidays of 7 days departing 9th October.
  
  Residence Inn by Marriott Vancouver Downtown, 7 nights – £887 per person for two people.
  
  Doubletree by Hilton Ras Al Khaimah, 7 nights – £603.50 per person for two people
Amy C says:

24 Sep24 September 13:14

Wow, just tried WhatsApp-ing Virgin and got msg back saying their WhatsApp service is closed! ‘We are overwhelmed’ ring xxxxxx but expect a wait in excess of 90 mins!
- David says:
  
  24 Sep24 September 13:18
  
  Amy don’t – I was on hold for 4 hours and got a 36 quid bill – try normal text !
  - Amy C says:
    
    24 Sep24 September 13:37
    
    Didn’t think they did normal text. £36!!!! ?Christ, I thought they were local rate? I’m getting a bit of a complex now as BA told me to P off via Twitter yesterday stating if it was concerning anything after Oct 3rd to go away (or words to that effect).
    - David says:
      
      24 Sep24 September 14:15
      
      07481339184
- Andy says:
  
  24 Sep24 September 13:48
  
  Normal text won’t work either, I got a response saying the messaging service is closed. However I rang at 7am this morning and got through in less than 5 minutes, and it didn’t cost me anything
  - Paul says:
    
    24 Sep24 September 13:54
    
    Yes isn’t Virgin Atlantic a local 03 rate? £36 – Ouch!
    - David says:
      
      24 Sep24 September 14:18
      
      Wasn’t with SKY – not in my inclusive calls.
      - Magic Mike says:
        
        24 Sep24 September 23:29
        
        03 numbers should be inclusive with all providers (assuming you have an inclusive calls package which covers 01 and 02 numbers). Complain if not
        
        If you dont have an inclusive calls package then 4 hours on hold at however many ppm is Sky’s standard landline rate could well be 36 quid…