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The HfP chat thread – Sunday 10th October

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Comments (363)

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

  • idontflymuch says:
    10 Oct10 October 11:08

    I have tried to contact virgin airlines to cancel some flights booked on points for 3 days, without a response. What phone line has anyone had much success with and what is the best time to call? Thank you

    • Travel Strong says:
      10 Oct10 October 11:17

      If its just a refund or rebooking – submit it online at https://help.virginatlantic.com/gb/en/flight-disruptions/your-cancellation-options.html

    • Travel Strong says:
      10 Oct10 October 11:19

      Apologies – just noted you said the *you* want to cancel, rather than a refund for a cancelled flight. In which case, Whatsapp is an alternative to calling. But to your question, I have called a fw times in recent months in the evening and not waited long.

    • Memesweeper says:
      10 Oct10 October 12:21

      It’s not BA despite the dire warnings when you call up.

      Unless you need the cash or points back urgently you might want to wait until nearer the time, if Virgin cancel then you will save the cancellation fee.

    • Harry T says:
      10 Oct10 October 13:01

      I’ve called the generic VS CS line twice in the last month and got through in 25 mins or less.

    • David says:
      10 Oct10 October 13:15

      I think WhatsApp has gone it took me 3 hours to get through at 5pm last sat – sorry.

  • RH says:
    10 Oct10 October 11:14

    Morning all, do you think 3 hours 10 minutes is enough time to connect from a BA flight to an Emirates flight at DXB (including getting checked luggage)? Or should I book the later Emirates flight and allow 5 hours 10 mins (this seems excessive)? Thanks.

    • Save East Coast Rewards says:
      10 Oct10 October 11:34

      Is it worth seeing if a travel agent can book it on the same PNR so that the bags can be interlined and you have some protection if the flights are delayed or times are changed?

    • TGLoyalty says:
      10 Oct10 October 11:37

      If everything runs smoothly yup.

      Your issue is if it doesn’t and you’re left rushing around not to miss your flight.

      When you consider it’s about an hour to get off your flight through immigration and collect luggage when it goes well. And you need to check your luggage an hour before your flight you actually only have an hour for delays etc.

      • Rh says:
        10 Oct10 October 12:56

        Thanks both, I think I will book the other flight that allows 5 hours 10 mins and also time for some shopping in the Emirates terminal!

    • Harry T says:
      10 Oct10 October 13:01

      5 hours would be better, IMO.

    • blenz101 says:
      10 Oct10 October 13:09

      5 will be less stressful. Remember you are not actually connecting, you BA flight sees you terminate in DXB and start a new journey. You will need to be eligible to enter Dubai so make sure you have a PCR test within 72 hours or BA won’t let you board.

    • Mrs_Fussy says:
      10 Oct10 October 18:57

      We have had a shorter connection time in DXB on many occasions than 3 hours and never had a problem

      • Blenz101 says:
        10 Oct10 October 19:24

        This isn’t strictly a connection, this is two separate bookings. Anything goes wrong with the BA flight being delayed and the EK flight will be lost. Given the size of the airport, the need to collect and recheck luggage, Expo, PCR tests being checked and a terminal change having a couple of extra hours would be sensible.

        It’s not as though DXB is devoid of ways to kill a few hours.

  • DaveL says:
    10 Oct10 October 11:14

    Depending where you are staying in Maui, you might decide to catch a Mokuele flight to Kapalua airport JHM from HNL… Beautifully scenic ride/experience (one of the highlights of our trip, though we flew JHM to KOA), and if you’re staying in Kapalua (e.g the RC) you land a short uber ride from the hotel vs a longer drive/minibus/taxi across the island (they don’t allow uber to the terminal at OGG)

  • Ukgeorge says:
    10 Oct10 October 11:25

    Anyone have any experience of the Yeatman in Porto? Or any other recommendations?

    Also, has anyone had any success getting an Amex FH&R hotel to take payment early on a pay at hotel rate. I’m looking to take advantage of the Amex travel offer, spend 400 get 100 back, on the business platinum card.

    • TGLoyalty says:
      10 Oct10 October 11:32

      Don’t you actually have to prepay via Amex travel for Amex travel offers.

      I’m 99% sure a Pay at hotel rate would be processed by the hotel itself and therefore ineligible.

      • Ukgeorge says:
        10 Oct10 October 11:46

        That would make sense and on checking the terms of the Amex offer it does only apply on pre paid rates. Thanks

    • Richie says:
      10 Oct10 October 12:00

      The Yeatman has a lovely terrace for sunset cocktails.

      • Harley says:
        10 Oct10 October 12:52

        Not stayed at but been multiple times for the bar, great view of the city

      • meta says:
        10 Oct10 October 13:00

        Yes, lovely terrace if you’re there in summer. However, the rooms have not aged well and I wasn’t impressed much with service. It’s fine, but just average. It’s also in Gaia, away from main sights, so it’s a walk across the bridge, tram or Bolt ride.

        My go to in Porto is the Intercontinental (great views from rooms over the main square, Clerigos, etc.). If you want to be on the river, I’d actually rent an AirBnB with a river view. There is also newish Vincci just by the bridge or Pestana Vintage Porto. And handful of lovely independent boutique hotels around Rua de Flores.

  • PAL says:
    10 Oct10 October 11:47

    Off the top of anyone’s head are there some flight booking sites which have a “pay later” function. I realise BA holidays you can but was wondering if any 3rd party sites offer this or a free cancellation like hotel bookings frequently are.

  • GaryE says:
    10 Oct10 October 11:49

    QQ – BA Holidays, naturally closed at the weekend ! Have cancelled trip to Barbados and wish to book trip to Tenerife. Waiting for E-Voucher or FTV not sure what I will get as it is a package holiday. It is unclear from the T&Cs – if I book a new package holiday and pay the deposit, can I then pay towards the balance with the FTV or E-Voucher or can it only be used as part of a new booking? I spoke to someone in BA flights today and they said it could be used as part payment against a further booking but didn’t seem convincing. Hopefully someone on here as experience of this and knows exactly how it works – can see no way of adding any type of voucher to making a holiday booking.
    Thanks.

    • ChrisC says:
      10 Oct10 October 12:03

      BA holidays are open during the weekend.

      With BA hols you get an FTV which can’t be used on line so you either need to phone to book with it or book on line, pay the deposit and then reply to the email saying ‘please apply the value of this voucher to my new booking rex (insert ref)

      • GaryE says:
        10 Oct10 October 12:13

        BA Holidays are only open Mon-Fri 10-6 have been told by BA plus this is the message when they put you through to holidays. So for clarity I can pay the deposit now and then apply FTV to holiday at a later date.

        • Anna says:
          10 Oct10 October 12:50

          i have done this several times over the past year. You should get an email confirming that you have £XX amount to spend. Book a new trip online and pay the deposit, then reply to the email to use the money towards the holiday balance. I don’t know what happens if the voucher is more than the holiday balance, I suppose they might email you again confirming how much the remainder is for future use.

          • GaryE says:
            10 Oct10 October 13:32

            Many thanks Anna and ChrisC – I knew I would get the answers here rather than BA CS agents! I have booked the Tenerife for 1st week in December and paid deposit – waiting for FTV to arrive. It is for £400 so will be part payment towards holiday. Two holidays now booked in the double tier offer in CE – so that should secure BA silver for next 18 months.

    • Aaron C says:
      10 Oct10 October 13:35

      Like Anna I have done this. You book your new holiday and pay the deposit. You then reply to the email that contained your FTV and ask them to take it off your new booking ref. It takes a few weeks but then they email you to say it’s been done and the balance for your new holiday reduces.

      • Anna says:
        10 Oct10 October 19:06

        I got my vouchers refunded in under a fortnight last month.

        • GaryE says:
          10 Oct10 October 19:38

          That’s good to know, as the final payment is due mid November so would like to use it against this holiday.

  • Reney says:
    10 Oct10 October 12:05

    Can I take a straw poll on what people are doing with their Curve card? I feel like there are two main camps, first is I am getting rid of it and hope other card issuers won’t follow Creation. The other being I am going to carry on until it all ends. I note Rob has been very quiet on the matter.

    I am on the fence. Thinking of getting a pro-rata refund on my metal card and wait to see what happens. Or carry on with the one card that I don’t mind if it gets closed.

    • Rob says:
      10 Oct10 October 12:07

      I rarely use mine so don’t really have any skin in the game. I always paid my taxes directly on my Lufty credit-but-really-debit card until it closed.

    • Youllnever says:
      10 Oct10 October 12:10

      Got the black legacy card so I’m not paying for it at the moment. Simply not using it either.

    • Harrier25 says:
      10 Oct10 October 12:17

      I have continued using my Curve with the Barclaycard Hilton card linked, as I just feel that I’m already in trouble by having it linked historically if Barclaycard take the same stance as Creation, but am wondering whether I should start just using the card directly and dumping Curve anyway. I’m at a crossroads and what isn’t helping me with my decision on continuing using Curve is their complete silence on the Creation issue. I certainly won’t be linking any new cards to Curve!

    • mark2 says:
      10 Oct10 October 12:28

      Because my black IHG card was cancelled by me before another £99 was taken my metal Curve card monthly payment failed so it was blocked (they did not tell me).
      I tried to downgrade to blue but it failed so no more Curve. No great loss with no longer being able to use IHG, Virgin or Lloyds.

      • blenz101 says:
        10 Oct10 October 13:04

        Writing has been on the wall since Amex stopped processing transactions. When they last crowdfunded I’m sure it came out later than only around 10-15% of their users actually used their card at least once a month.

        Sooner or later we will wake up to the news that they are no more and those who were still paying fees for metal will be asking how they can go about recovering their cash.

    • Andrew says:
      10 Oct10 October 12:37

      Has nobody made a formal complaint to Mastercard International that, as a direct consequence of using a Mastercard issued product by Curve under license by Mastercard International Inc, they have had Mastercard product linked Credit facilties withdrawn by Creation?

      It does rather feel like Mastercard are sitting on the sidelines looking the other way. (I’ve never hard a Curve product, and never got round to opening the Creation product.)

      • Yorkie Aid says:
        10 Oct10 October 12:58

        But Creation haven’t actually provided any reason for closing the accounts.

    • Jim says:
      10 Oct10 October 12:41

      I downgraded from Curve Metal to Blue and have now cancelled completely. I have no desire to chance Curve messing up any of my other cards.

      • Tw33ty says:
        10 Oct10 October 13:13

        Thing is, curve have had the initial growth from Uk base with early adopters, they are changing the business model with flex and pushing into America.
        With the much higher interbank fees over in America and the apr on flex, they won’t be bothered that much about the creation drama and get there next stage of growth from out with the uk in a big way.

        • blenz101 says:
          10 Oct10 October 13:36

          Which credit card provider is realistically going to put up with flex, Curve are eating the underlying cards lunch by cutting them out of the chance to charge interest and forex fees.

          • John says:
            10 Oct10 October 14:54

            A card provider which charges annual fees and has most customers not paying interest. Flex is no different to getting a loan to pay off your cc

          • Blenz101 says:
            10 Oct10 October 15:43

            John, my point is that they have been a pretty niche product helpful to save some FX fees for some, very helpful to the MS crowd and those paying HMRC but that is rapidly coming to an end.

            If the new plan to launch in the US with a marketing promise that flex offers a lower APR than you would pay to your card provider directly it just won’t be tolerated. Amex were out pretty quickly and there is no way the big players like Chase, BoA and Capital One wouldn’t move to quickly do the same if their customers started putting everything through Curve in any great numbers.

            It’s a parasitic product which relies on the big card issuers tolerating its existence. First investor update where they announce how many millions of $’s are being serviced by flex is the cue for the main card issuers to see how much interest they are missing out on.

    • John says:
      10 Oct10 October 14:53

      I’m using curve for normal forex spending. My view is that Barclays decided they didn’t want to accept curve paying off barclaycards and if they had a problem with their card being used for with curve they would have said so at the same time. Was doing MS long before they stopped curve payments.

      • Blenz101 says:
        10 Oct10 October 15:49

        If Barclays wanted you to have free forex spending and ATM withdrawals they would offer this to you directly.

        Using Curve gets around these charges. There are those who will argue that Barclays could update their systems to catch this and talk about MCC pass throughs but nobody should kid themselves that their card issuer is fine missing out on fees.

        If you haven’t been stopped yet, great, but it isn’t the same as Barclays being fine with it.

    • GeorgeJ says:
      10 Oct10 October 15:53

      I seldom use my blue card. I just keep it for backup cash and midweek fx when travelling. Otherwise its time has come and is now almost gone. Only had one month of paying HMRC!

    • BP says:
      10 Oct10 October 19:28

      Had a MS blowout last weekend. Full limit x4 between 5pm Friday and 9am Monday. No comeback…. Yet! Still useful for now!!

    • David says:
      10 Oct10 October 20:38

      Cancelled it last week. Experience with Creation and closure of black card has made it toxic in my view.

    • GaryC says:
      10 Oct10 October 22:02

      My renewal date for metal was a couple of weeks ago, but with all the fallout from IHG decided to downgrade and then just cancel.

  • Michael AC says:
    10 Oct10 October 12:09

    Where on Earth do you find the progress towards the companion voucher on the Amex app/membership year? I can’t find it anywhere since they updated.

    • Rich says:
      10 Oct10 October 12:25

      I see a progress bar prominently when I log in on desktop, not in the app though.

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

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