The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 13th October

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• AngryOctopus says:

  13 Oct13 October 13:02

  Hi All

  I have a half price Avios + companion voucher booking for LHR to ICN originally for April 2021. But this was cancelled late 2020.

  BA have told my ticket validity is up until April 2022 (one year from first leg of travel) and I have one free change and they can put us on a codeshare with Qatar if we want to go. However there was no option for after December 21 as they said they don’t have an agreement with Qatar after this date and was advised to call closer to end of year. Does this check out?

  From my understanding, after this one free change to fly to ICN via another airline, I can pay £25 to cancel the flight altogether (but forgo half price Avios and companion voucher as it has expired by now) to get a full refund OR get a FTV and preserve the companion voucher. Is this correct?

  • Anna says:

    13 Oct13 October 14:40

    BA talking complete garbage as usual. There are at least two other posts on this subject just today so it might be useful to look at the responses given.

  • r* says:

    13 Oct13 October 15:03

    If BA change your cancelled flight, you still retain the original booking terms (ie avios flight so cancellable for £35) if you then want to cancel the flight afaik

    If BA refuse to change your original cancelled flight, do not take the voucher or refund as you are entitled to a re-booking whether or not they claim to have an agreement with qatar or not.

• Js says:

  13 Oct13 October 13:04

  If I buy hand sfree on easy jet, do I need to check it in or do I have the option of taking it on the flight?

  • Travel Strong says:

    13 Oct13 October 13:44

    If your seat choice allows you to have that sized bag on board, you do not have to use the hands free purchase.

    • Js says:

      13 Oct13 October 13:45

      Hands free is fixed as £7 so alot cheaper then paying for a seat

      • aDifferentSimon says:

        13 Oct13 October 14:14

        hands free at £7 is only an add on if have already paid for an upfront seat, have a flexi fare or are easyjet plus.

        • Js says:

          13 Oct13 October 15:28

          Simon, This is not the case, I have done it many times you book hands free for £7 and you check it in without paying for any of the above.
          I was just wondering If I can choose not to check it in and take it on the plane instead

        • aDifferentSimon says:

          13 Oct13 October 16:27

          ah, I had misunderstood – I thought this changed with their new baggage rules – apologies for spreading misinformation.

      • Travel Strong says:

        13 Oct13 October 15:22

        If you are asking if you can just pay £7 and take a case on board (without having paid for that wit your seat booking) then – No.

• nick says:

  13 Oct13 October 13:07

  Planning an all inclusive break in Dalaman for Oct half term.

  Any considerations? all looks ok re being vaxxed (and kids under 12)

  Just need a PCR test on return to UK

  • Can says:

    13 Oct13 October 15:08

    Just to make sure: do doublejabbed need a pcr to fly to the UK from Turkey.

    I was in Dalaman recently, we loved Hilton Sarigerme

    • Saiz says:

      13 Oct13 October 17:44

      Hilton was sold out over 10 days ago for Half term.

• Mark Peterborough says:

  13 Oct13 October 13:10

  Data point – Virgin credit card

  Applied and accepted 5th October and card received today , 8 days / 6 business days later.

  • Anuj says:

    13 Oct13 October 13:31

    I was approved on 2nd and still no card..

• Toby says:

  13 Oct13 October 13:23

  Not travel related but I feel this community will be able to help:

  Does anyone have recommendations for an accountant who can help me decide whether to shift from being a sole trader to a ltd company? Thanks in advance.

  • Colin MacKinnon says:

    13 Oct13 October 13:46

    Do you need an accountant?
    Software like FreeAgent can compile your annual return to Companies House for you.
    Ltd company gives you some elements of limited liability.
    You can be paid by your ltd company or take income as dividends – but then you wouldn’t have got SEISS covid support, and there is a post-Covid increase in corp tax coming to pay for that!
    IR35 may apply to you – so another issue.

    So, you need to do some research. Perhaps do that first and then decide if you need to speak to an accountant. At least then you’ll have some knowledge so you know what questions to ask.

    Most will give you a free chat. But you can do it all yourself – so ltd company, like sole trader, doesn’t mean you have to have an accountant.

    Of course, because of liability, no accountant can advise you not to have an accountant!

  • The Savage Squirrel says:

    13 Oct13 October 13:54

    There are wrinkles and specific considerations in quite a few particular industries regarding the ST/Ltd issue. If there are accountants that specialise in your field then they are likely to be most useful. It also gets a bit more complex if you have particular contractual or legislative restrictions – especially with HMG.
    I got mine to run a (charged for) analysis of the difference. Due to specific industry considerations it was a lot more marginal than most such decisions; Ltd was slightly better but by a small enough margin that it fell onto the can’t-be-arsed pile. 😀

    • Super Secret Stuff says:

      13 Oct13 October 14:49

      Being nosey, what industry you in?

      • Memesweeper says:

        13 Oct13 October 15:55

        +1

        What’s your industry
        Projected turnover?
        Target clients?

        my accountant *is* a sole trader, might be able to give you the anti-LTD perspective!

  • Toby says:

    13 Oct13 October 15:19

    Thanks Colin and Squirrel!

    I think I need a bit of advice as things grow, so I don’t end up in a muddle down the line. So far sole trader has done me well, but I think you’re right that I need work sector specific advice. I’ll find a sector expert and go from there!

    • Colin MacKinnon says:

      13 Oct13 October 15:33

      Also, we got our accountant on the recommendation of a friend – who also pointed out it might be best to get one who wasn’t in the same village as us!

      (My wife says that when she was a child in Spain, the local priest, doctor, head teacher and landowner all used to have dinner together and gossip about the village! Human nature wins over professional ethics!))

      • Toby says:

        13 Oct13 October 16:31

        Haha. Noted. So I’m looking for an out of area similar sector accountant. I’d better get googling!

• Sal says:

  13 Oct13 October 13:26

  Re: lloyds upgrade vouchers – couple questions

  Firstly i had mine extended until october but can’t remember the expiry date, does anyone know what date it was?

  Also been on hold for over half an hour. Is anyone having success getting through to avios? thanks

  • johnny_c-l says:

    13 Oct13 October 13:29

    October 31st was the latest expiry date.

    • Mikeact says:

      13 Oct13 October 13:46

      Hang in there… 22mins for me one day last week.

  • K says:

    13 Oct13 October 15:17

    It took me about 20mins to get through. They were happy to book my flights one way for 2 pax, but quoted me £200 for a European one way flight. They said to me that I cannot use Reward Saver, because I never earned avios via the AerClub. I told them the voucher was earned under the old rules (no idea what the new rules are, and if she was correct) and that I have earned avios in BAEC, so am entitled to Reward Saver.

    After a lot of calls with other supervisors, she said she will make an exception. In the end she quoted me £71 for two one way, when really it should be £50. I had no energy left to argue any more, so just accepted the extra £21.

• T says:

  13 Oct13 October 13:27

  Dilemma – accidental free redemption

  A month ago, I’ve completed a five night redemption (using points) at a hotel associated to one of the major chains.

  After the check in, the hotel accidentally cancelled my reservation. I’ve received an email confirming the cancellation, the mobile key and info disappeared from my app. I’ve told the hotel immediately but they said that it was probably an error. Contacted the chain directly, was told they had no clue. Spoke to the reception again, they said that my confirmation number was wrong and actually there was a different reservation with a different number in their system. I have even shown them the details in the app, the email and the refund of points. They said it was fine and told me to stop by on the checkout date so they can add the night credit to my account.

  I’ve reminded them of all of this at the checkout … After the checkout, I’ve received the nights instantly (next day). They’ve taken cash for my food and drinks, but the points were never taken off.

  What would a HfP reader do? Should I contact the hotel again?

  I’ve tried my best at three separate occasions with 2 different staff members and they’ve still failed to take the redemption points. Are they going to do this in the following weeks or even months? I am worried that if I don’t contact them, I’ll get in some kind of trouble with the hotel/the hotel chain.

  • Froggee says:

    13 Oct13 October 14:05

    I would email the reservations department setting it out in writing and then do no more. Once you can evidence your attempts to make them right you should not make any further effort and your backside is covered in case something weird happens in the future.

    • meta says:

      13 Oct13 October 14:22

      And copy in the corporate customer services… Many of hotels have new staff which have never heard of loyalty programmes and/or how they work. After that I’d leave it, but don’t plan to spend those points in the next 3 or so months…

    • The Savage Squirrel says:

      13 Oct13 October 18:37

      +1 to Froggee. We had this situation after a recent trip. Reservation cancelled by Radisson system with points returned. while hotel – when contacted and informed of exact situation – said they knew nothing about that and confirmed to me in writing – twice as I asked them to double check – that reservation was live and “paid for”. Once I’ve made an honest effort by informing them twice in writing (well, Email) of the situation then if they choose to do nothing then that’s their problem. The stay for 0 points was very pleasant 🙂

  • Mark says:

    13 Oct13 October 15:24

    What would you do if they took points from your account for a stay you didn’t make?

    In this instance you should do the opposite for the stay you’ve made and points have not been taken.

  • Char Char says:

    13 Oct13 October 17:08

    If you already contacted them then that is their fault, I just wouldn’t spend the points incase they do charge it for some reason in the future, perhaps give them a year to do it.

• Russ says:

  13 Oct13 October 13:29

  Does anyone know if there is a train equivalent to Expertflyer for choosing seats and checking type of train or are all UK trains the same now? Familiar only with the underground and Gatwick Express.

  • Rich says:

    13 Oct13 October 13:33

    Seat61 has links to all the seat maps, I think.

    • Pete M says:

      13 Oct13 October 13:40

      “Are all UK trains the same now” – that cracked me up in a cute way 🙂

      • Super Secret Stuff says:

        13 Oct13 October 14:51

        Rich: +1 seater is the best for this
        and Pete M: +1 😅 I find it funny how naive people are when it comes to trains

  • Sam G says:

    13 Oct13 October 14:55

    Raileasy allows you to select a seat on some companies

  • Russ says:

    13 Oct13 October 19:03

    Thanks Rich and Sam G, I’ll take look at that later. Very helpful

    Pete M and Super Secret Stuff -> I can feel the smugness radiating off you pair down here in sunny Rusper. Gits!@! ;-P

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