The HfP chat thread – Sunday 3rd October

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

• QwertyKnowsBest says:

  3 Oct3 October 10:32

  If you need to call BA re Avios booking maybe good time to call now, through after 5 minute wait. 3 X 1 hour plus unsuccessful calls yesterday.

  • Benilyn says:

    3 Oct3 October 11:08

    What number thanks

    • Graham Walsh says:

      3 Oct3 October 11:33

      It wil depend on what status you are. Different numbers. Log into your BA account and contact us will show the appropriate one.

• Stephen says:

  3 Oct3 October 10:51

  Hi All – anyone got any experience of the Hilton bonus points promotion at present? I just spent about $5200 at the Conrad Maldives but they have only given me 35,249 base points? Is some room spend for excursions, spa, transfers etc. excluded for base points purposes? Additionally, they have credited me the extra 35,249 from the promotion but I used my Barclaycard Hilton Visa to settle over the bill (and was the last card used) so no sign of the 2x bonus for that. Guess its a question of calling Hilton tomorrow but just wondered if anyone had any experience to report.

  • Rob says:

    3 Oct3 October 11:40

    No points on VAT or service charge so that’s 20% gone. Probably no points on transfers and possibly not spa.

  • HH says:

    3 Oct3 October 11:45

    Can’t help with your question, but curious how you found the Conrad and your views on different room categories? I’m booked in a beach villa on points in March, but worried it will be a let-down after my last Maldives stay at the Waldorf…so considering if a cash room upgrade is worthwhile.

    • Stephen says:

      3 Oct3 October 12:08

      So I used points for a Beach villa for 6nts (which they upgraded to Deluxe Beach Villa for 4nts) and I paid a cash upgrade of $755 incl tax pn for an upgrade from Beach Villa to Grand Water Villa w/Pool for the final 2nts. I know they don’t normally upgrade but occupancy was very low and we were on honeymoon so I guess by March likelihood of upgrade may be slimmer. Not sure there’s a huge amount between Beach Villa and Deluxe beyond a small pool but I might just about cough up the $300pn they wanted for cash upgrade.
      The beach villas have the privacy and are lovely inside and more convenient for all the facilities but you lack the direct sea view – instead you have to walk 10 yds out to your own patch of the beach with designated sun loungers.
      We loved the overwater villa and we were right at the far end of the line of villas extending out from main island. I was originally quoted $1100pn for cash upgrade but got them down to $750 – thats about 1/2 the typical cash difference between the two. The Grand Water Villa without pool was all sold out so we paid an extra $100/nt for a small pool we spent 10 minutes in. Don’t think I would pay much more than that really and we only did because there werent any without a pool available and we really wanted to experience it.
      Personally, it feels like in part the decision is a function of how long are you really going to spend in your room? For people who spend all day scuba diving or snorkelling and all evening in the bars or restaurants then I would say the Beach Villas are excellent value on points. We erred on the side of a fair amount of lounging around, particularly for the water villa and I think that worked better at the end of the trip.
      Beautiful hotel and fantastic staff. Easy to spend a fair amount on F&B, excursions, transfers etc. but from my detailed research a 5nts points redemption for a Beach Villa is great value and if you buy the points in the effective 1/2 price offer like I did $380/nt is a truly amazing deal.

      • chabuddy geezy says:

        3 Oct3 October 12:22

        Excursions are not included for Hilton Spend. I had a similar issue when I stayed. We paid a $4k deposit on check in and settled the balance of around $1k. They only gave us points for the $1k. It took a while to resolve and involved CS calling the Conrad.

        • Stephen says:

          3 Oct3 October 12:47

          Hmm OK I will just contact CS and see whether I get anywhere. Either way I am certainly after the Hilton visa bonus as well

    • Stephen says:

      3 Oct3 October 12:38

      I havent been to the Waldorf in person but by the look of it yes the standard beach villa would be a chunky step down for a standard room reward reef pool villa at Waldorf for a saving of just 100k points over 5nts. However, whenever I have looked it seems impossible to get a standard room reward at the Waldorf for any more than on odd single night here or there. Any advice on how to get one of these at some point in the future would be appreciated.

• Sam says:

  3 Oct3 October 11:00

  Hi, I have the free card, but last night applied and approved for the premium + card with my same details. I have now read in the article I definitely won’t get the bonus (was hoping for an IT error). Is there a cooling off period/ best way to cancel thru CS before I have to pay the annual fee? Thanks

  • Reney says:

    3 Oct3 October 12:05

    doesn’t all cards come with a 14-day cooling-off period?

    I am surprised you managed to get both. Others have reported to upgrade they need to apply for the + and get rejected and appeal.

    • Sam says:

      3 Oct3 October 14:43

      I was surprised as didn’t think could get both at same time. Phoned CS who said I do definitely get the 2 lots of introductory bonus points. She checked with her supervisor?!

• Sam says:

  3 Oct3 October 11:01

  Hi, I have the virgin free card, but last night applied and approved for the premium + card with my same details. I have now read in the article I definitely won’t get the bonus (was hoping for an IT error). Is there a cooling off period/ best way to cancel thru CS before I have to pay the annual fee? Thanks

  • Jonathan says:

    3 Oct3 October 11:22

    The annual fee will applied straight away, and there’s no pro-rata refund if you cancel shortly after getting the card

    • Colin MacKinnon says:

      3 Oct3 October 11:28

      There is 14-day period – I checked in case I paid the fee and got one of the crap £1k credit limits.

      • Sam says:

        3 Oct3 October 14:43

        I was surprised as didn’t think could get both at same time. Phoned CS who said I do definitely get the 2 lots of introductory bonus points. She checked with her supervisor?!

• The Original Nick. says:

  3 Oct3 October 11:13

  UUA Question: Can anyone help me out here please? If I was to book and pay for a return flight LHR-JFK in WT+ with BA how many Avios would it cost to upgrade to Club World? And how much are the taxes? I’ve no idea of how to calculate it all.

  • James says:

    3 Oct3 October 11:47

    Can’t you look at the book & upgrade facility on the BA website?

  • AJA says:

    3 Oct3 October 13:40

    It’s difficult to advise specifically but the cost to upgrade is the difference in Avios between WT+ and Club plus any difference in taxes, fees and other charges so search BA for reward flights on the date you are looking for and subtract the quote for CW vs the cost for WT+. Expect to pay roughly 25k Avios plus £95 for off peak. Strangely upgrading a peak flight costs less Avios.

  • ChrisC says:

    3 Oct3 October 15:59

    Taxes will be the same but BA surcharges will be charged.

• James says:

  3 Oct3 October 11:33

  Is it possible to make a free on the day change from BA to QR or is it strictly BA flights only?

  • Rob says:

    3 Oct3 October 11:35

    On a fully flex cash ticket you do it. Avios doesn’t allow this.

    • James says:

      3 Oct3 October 11:37

      Thanks for your reply Rob. This is part of a BA holidays booking (CW).

      • James says:

        3 Oct3 October 11:38

        Just remembered I upgraded from WTP to CW with Avios therefore there’s my answer!

  • Jonathan says:

    3 Oct3 October 20:07

    Same Day Change is a feature of short haul Plus fares. There’s nothing similar for long haul unless you have a flexible ticket which would be very expensive in CW.

• Harrier25 says:

  3 Oct3 October 11:35

  Sounds like you are really racking up them IHG points, Anna. This morning we’ve just booked another 4 night stay in Madeira for the start of November for under £500 for 3 of us with Jet2. I used my Gold Amex for that booking though for the double airline MR points.

  • Harrier25 says:

    3 Oct3 October 11:37

    Sorry, last message is a reply to Anna on page 4.

    • Anna says:

      3 Oct3 October 11:40

      Ha, I took your throwing down of the gauntlet as a challenge!

• Frankie says:

  3 Oct3 October 11:41

  Does anyone know if the Heathrow Terminal 5 arrival queues are still long? I land from Mykonos tonight at 9pm. I heard Sunday nights were particularly bad.

  • Andrew says:

    3 Oct3 October 12:00

    I arrived at T5C at 4pm a couple of Fridays ago and was in Nero in arrivals at 4:30 having collected luggage.

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