The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 6th October

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Craig says:

6 Oct6 October 08:05

Had fun last night, on stand at Heathrow 7.35pm, C gates but through immigration with bags collected at 8.20pm. Had used Your Parking Space to park at the Thistle and caught the 423 bus to get to the terminal. I saw that the 423 was running a detour and would only stop on Bath Road not at the hotel. Also noticed that Pod Parking was running a replacement bus service so we jumped on that. It was all going so well until I pressed the buzzer for the hotel gate, no answer, plan B the telephone, office closed. Plan C was to walk to the main entrance and hope Uber or similar would work, fortunately it did but Mrs S was not a happy lady by the time we got to the car!
- Darko says:
  
  6 Oct6 October 08:46
  
  Oh lord… I have the same route on 26th Oct, I wonder if things will change by then!
- Toby says:
  
  6 Oct6 October 09:10
  
  That’s good to know! Does the pod replacement bus charge?
  - Scott says:
    
    6 Oct6 October 09:19
    
    I had a look at LHR Pod parking at the end of November and it’s still showing as a shuttle bus.
    - TGLoyalty says:
      
      6 Oct6 October 09:28
      
      They were meant to start the actual pods this month.
  - Craig says:
    
    6 Oct6 October 10:03
    
    They didn’t charge to get on the bus, you are supposed to pay at hotel reception.
    - Toby says:
      
      6 Oct6 October 10:45
      
      Ok grand. Thanks.
- WaynedP says:
  
  6 Oct6 October 11:44
  
  Glad you came right in the end, Craig.
  
  We “discovered” a neat one last week. Parked at T5 Long Stay, and stayed overnight pre-flight at Hyatt Place LHR. If you park further down the Long Stay parking against the fence that runs along the North Perimeter service road (Zone D or E) then you can walk (but not drive) out of the Business Parking entrance and across the road toward the clearly visible Staybridge Suites.
  
  It is a 5 minute, easy (even with luggage) walk directly from car to Hyatt Place along Bath Road.
  
  In effect you have the choice of getting to Terminal 5 either by Long Stay coach, or TfL bus 423 (stop right outside Hyatt Place hotel), both take about ten minutes journey time.
  
  Handy tip that I’m sure we’ll make use of again in future.
  - Lyn says:
    
    6 Oct6 October 12:12
    
    WaynedP – how was the Hyatt Place? Would you recommend it?
    
    I had to cancel a booking when BA cancelled our flights but it would be useful to know for the future.
    - WaynedP says:
      
      6 Oct6 October 12:33
      
      Yes would recommend, Lyn. We paid for upper floor room upgrade overlooking airport (my indulgence) and 3-course dinner for two and came away with change from £150 (incl soft drinks with dinner) for a Friday night booking, which we were happy with.
      
      Large well appointed room, large comfy bed, nice black-out curtains, usual tea/coffee offerings. Can’t remember what toiletries were, but Mrs dP was pleased with them and with the hairdryer.
      
      I got free shaving kit from reception (lovely helpful staff) after we’d checked our bags in at T5 before supper. Staff offered to print anything we needed (but we’d already done that at home).
      
      We didn’t pay for breakfast, so can’t comment. Supper was fine on the whole, my Beef Rogan Josh was a little tough and gristlely but that was really the only disappointment.
      
      Nice start to our Greek Island holiday, very convenient for TfL travel to T5 and quick walkable access to car park. Would stay again.
      - Lyn says:
        
        6 Oct6 October 13:28
        
        Thank you, that’s good news.
      - WaynedP says:
        
        6 Oct6 October 15:36
        
        Also check-in from 2pm at Hyatt Place, which was an hour earlier than most other options I looked at.
- Lyn says:
  
  6 Oct6 October 12:08
  
  Oh dear! What bad luck. Craig, does that mean that the 423 bus wasn’t stopping at any of the Bath Road hotels? Do you think this detour would still be in place in 3 weeks time?
  - Nick says:
    
    6 Oct6 October 13:07
    
    The 423 and 81 buses are on diversion between the T5 roundabout and the Premier Inn/McDs area but ONLY in the eastbound direction. Westbound still runs as normal, and it regains the normal route pretty soon so most hotels are covered.
    
    It’s really only 2 stops that are missed, and even then only in one direction (and to be honest, it’s actually only one stop because they’re using the stop on the bypass opposite the McDs/PI) instead of one of them. It’s until November (water main works) – check on the TfL website nearer the time in case it overruns.
    - Lyn says:
      
      6 Oct6 October 13:47
      
      Thank you Nick. Our flights are later in October so the diversion will still be in place. Hope you don’t mind a couple of silly questions, as I’m not as familiar with Heathrow geography as I should be.
      
      I presume the eastbound direction is from T5 to the Bath Road hotels? Would the stop outside the Marriott / Sheraton Skyline be affected by the detour?
      - Lyn says:
        
        6 Oct6 October 13:48
        
        Or the stop outside the Hyatt Place? Thank you
      - WaynedP says:
        
        6 Oct6 October 14:20
        
        Stop BW (Compass Centre) right outside Hyatt Place LHR is unaffected by diversion when we were there last week, Lyn, and looks to be identical for you, up until 1 November. We travelled in both directions on the 423 without problem. Stop BW is close to LHR, fourth stop after T5 departure from stop number 6, which itself is conveniently situated just outside the departures entrance/exit.
        
        Diversion is only eastbound (departing from LHR T5) and further up at Colnbrook around stop E (Hatton Cross).
        
        Check https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/423/ to reassure yourself.
      - Lyn says:
        
        6 Oct6 October 15:14
        
        Thanks Wayne. I did actually look at that detailed tfl route before asking for help but it was like reading double Dutch. No skip that, I can actually make sense of single Dutch. The names of the stops were just too unfamiliar and the Premier Inn and McDonalds Nick refers too looked miles apart on the T5 Bath Road map I found.
      - WaynedP says:
        
        6 Oct6 October 15:34
        
        Indeed, the problem with TfL map is that although it shows the lettered bus stops, it’s not good at showing any other landmarks. Google maps shows landmarks in great detail, but no lettered bus stops.
        
        The trick is to open both maps on two different screens, then it all becomes much clearer if you have a strange brain like mine. If you’re more normal like Mrs dP, you leave it all to your OH 🙂
      - Lyn says:
        
        6 Oct6 October 21:27
        
        Thank you again Wayne. A good idea to “overlay” the maps.
        
        Also thank you for the smile. I’m afraid if I left it to my OH we’d both be in deep trouble! He is not in the least technical. And that is probably an understatement.
Si says:

6 Oct6 October 08:21

Quick question re FHR. Whilst you need to hold a plat card to book a hotel in this programme do you need to still hold your plat by the time you stay? Or could you maximise the plat cards value by booking a number of stays through the year, cancel your card and then pay at the hotel with a different card?
- Harry T says:
  
  6 Oct6 October 08:55
  
  Technically you just need to pay on any Amex in your name, if you’ve booked a pay at checkout rate.
- ATP says:
  
  6 Oct6 October 14:11
  
  Every time I have booked using FHR, the hotel have asked to see the card physically. In theory they don’t know if its still valid (as long as the card expiry hasn’t passed), so you could get away with cancelling it and using FHR scheme and pay with another Amex. I’m not certain, but I doubt Amex travel would cancel your bookings if you cancelled your Plat.
BJ says:

6 Oct6 October 08:24

I see checkmytrip is now an app, are readers still using this and is it useful? With Amercan, Alaska and JAL bookings currently in play I was wondering whether to sign up.
- JDB says:
  
  6 Oct6 October 08:38
  
  CheckMyTrip has had an app for a while, but it doesn’t do a lot! Having suppressed and then re-allowed MyFlights, they claimed they were going to develop a better version, but they haven’t. It does keep your trips in one place and shows (but doesn’t notify) changes in your booking that not all airlines are good at notifying; just found a time change on an AM booking. Also shows the actual airline PNR as well as the Amadeus one that can be useful.
  - BJ says:
    
    6 Oct6 October 08:46
    
    Thanks JDB, very helpful. Do they show the different PNR issued by each airline, e,g. PNR used by Alaska when I book on BA and only have the BA PNR?
    - JDB says:
      
      6 Oct6 October 08:51
      
      Yes, you can see the underlying airline’s PNR, including on airlines that use Sabre. I think some may block it as AF used to and doesn’t seem to work for Chinese airlines that have a different system.
      - BJ says:
        
        6 Oct6 October 09:07
        
        Excellent, I’ll give it a try then as it may help me get seats selected.
  - Joints&Piles says:
    
    6 Oct6 October 10:08
    
    “Re-allowed MyFlights”. Is it working again?
    
    MyFlights was great. I find CheckMyTrip doesn’t notify changes until a day before the flight.
- Spurs drive me mad says:
  
  6 Oct6 October 09:17
  
  I’ve got the app, I find it notifies me off any flight changes before BA does.
  - Yorkieflyer says:
    
    6 Oct6 October 16:15
    
    Same here
JohnT says:

6 Oct6 October 08:25

15mins to get through to BA (good) to query when getting refund as used voucher from longhaul Avois for shorthaul. 2 weeks and still not ticketed or refund received (possibly as LGW now moved to LHR). Apparently need to wait at least another week. PS Surplus Avios were returned instantly…
- Eppleby Green says:
  
  6 Oct6 October 08:32
  
  I have been waiting since July 23rd, with no tickets and no cash refund, despite several emails to BA!
  - Sam G says:
    
    6 Oct6 October 08:56
    
    If you’re waiting for ticketing this can be quite long – especially if your flight is well into the future as they work through them in date order. I imagine a huge no of FTV and rebookings are happening now with US etc opening up & this was a pre-COVID problem also so nothing new! It’ll come eventually and they’ll only do anything about it 72 or worst case 24hrs before departure otherwise it can actually make it worse.
    
    If you owe them money then there is a problem where the CVV drops out of the booking & it can be worth asking them to check/add it back in, but doesn’t apply in either of your cases
ChrisC says:

6 Oct6 October 08:28

Can someone remind me of the BA hols rebooking rules please?

Have a couple of trips booked next year AMS – USA. Last leg on each was LGW- AMS and now cancelled and BA provisionally rebooked ex LHR but not accepted yet (I would prefer LCY)

Would like to shift both trips a couple of days back (as better hotel deals available )

I think this is within the existing rules that mean free change for both the flight and no extra for the hotel (one night in AMS)
- WaynedP says:
  
  6 Oct6 October 11:51
  
  They change from time to time. Best to take a screenshot at time of booking.
  
  Latest are available at
  https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/incident/coronavirus/flexible-booking
  - WaynedP says:
    
    6 Oct6 October 11:52
    
    Be sure to consult the separate sections for BA Holidays (not flights)
ChrisC says:

6 Oct6 October 08:32

Question for Rob / Rhys re the sites affiliate links.

Was reminded in a post last night that the Eurostar triple points deal was about to expire. Thought I’d see if I could put a few pennies your way but couldn’t easily find anything that would have benefited you.

Possible for you to have a consolidated page with all your links on?
- Peter K says:
  
  6 Oct6 October 08:43
  
  Under the title of every article there is a link to all the affiliates, including this chat article.
  - ChrisC says:
    
    6 Oct6 October 08:45
    
    I never actually noticed that before!
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  6 Oct6 October 08:44
  
  They do. Right at the top you’ll see
  
  “ Links on Head for Points may pay us an affiliate commission. A list of partners is here.” Click the link and it’ll show a huge list 3/4 way down the page.
- Rob says:
  
  6 Oct6 October 08:56
  
  Thanks Chris. Sadly Eurostar does not pay us, or indeed anyone.
Gary says:

6 Oct6 October 08:36

Through T5 bag drop/security in 10 mins this morning. Galleries south still table service as thought reverted back to self service
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  6 Oct6 October 08:45
  
  Pastries and hot drinks? Are?
  
  Rumours it’ll slowly revert to self serve over coming weeks.
  - Gary says:
    
    6 Oct6 October 09:40
    
    Pain au chocolat, croissant, pain au raisin after surveying the counter. Usual selection of tea bags and coffees fr the machines. Sparking wine as beverage
Lev441 says:

6 Oct6 October 08:37

A380 now popped up in to Miami over Xmas Holidays
- JRC says:
  
  6 Oct6 October 09:10
  
  Can’t see any first class availability though 🙁
- Grimz says:
  
  6 Oct6 October 09:37
  
  Mine is a 777 in November showing as club suite!
  - Rhys says:
    
    6 Oct6 October 09:40
    
    The A380 isn’t supposed to start until early December so that was never going to change 🙂