The HfP chat thread – Friday 15th October

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• Mojack says:

  15 Oct15 October 02:35

  Hi good morning guys- before I forget- a couple of points in reply to recent comments.
  Regarding supplementary bonuses which have not posted, I think something has changed at Amex in regards to how they’re processed. There is a wording in the ts and cs, which I don’t think has been there previously, which says you will not get the bonus if you have ever received it before.
  In fact an agent told me on chat recently when querying the bonus “I am sorry, what I am trying to say is, since the bonus is applicable on first ever added supp card, it was never credited to your account after you got that card cancelled and applied for second supp card”. I don’t know if he was just shrugging me off but they’re onto something. Additionally, I recently applied for a supplementary card for someone living at the same address as primary cardholder, and I received an email requesting documents such as proof of address. I don’t think that’s ever happened before, they never did any checks at all.
  In regards to a trip to be eligible for plat travel insurance, officially according to the ts and cs it cannot be longer than 90 days. Although if you download your insurance certificate from your account it actually says 120 days. And I did get paid out recently for an incident that happened 90 days+ when I pointed out that my certificate said 120 days. But it is a mistake in the wording.

  • Craig says:

    15 Oct15 October 06:51

    I noticed the Supp card wording in the T&Cs the other day but the agent I spoke to said that I shouldn’t worry and the points would post. One of two possibilities I would suggest, either Amex have changed the rules and the agents haven’t all been told or that wording has always been there and they’ve just changed the timescale?

• QFFlyer says:

  15 Oct15 October 05:30

  Creation payments finally posted from last week. Data point only, nothing else to add!

  • VJ says:

    15 Oct15 October 06:48

    Dated yesterday (not the payment date)

    • J says:

      15 Oct15 October 07:14

      Ditto. Will be interesting to see what interest charges turn up on my next statement, and how much hassle I’ll have getting them adjusted back to what they should be had the payments been credited on-time… Could be a nice little earner for Creation if they do it to everyone and refuse to make right.

      Did someone say the other day that they only start paying FOS fees once there are more than 25 complaints in the month? I feel 2 separate FOS complaints coming on – one for the late credits and one re the account cancelation / free night / fee refund… 😉

      • Tariq says:

        15 Oct15 October 07:30

        I kind of wonder if Creation’a delinquent behaviour is to instigate regulatory action against them, so that they can exit their contract with IHG? Since JDB is clearly an insider, maybe he can enlighten us…

        • JDB says:

          15 Oct15 October 08:27

          I have no connection whatsoever with Creation, but anyone in the industry will tell you that nobody, let alone a major blue chip bank, invites regulatory censure. Excising customers whose activities are a bit dubious and probably loss making will stand them in good stead with the regulator and also with any potential purchaser, if that is relevant.

      • JDB says:

        15 Oct15 October 08:35

        It’s 25 complaints in a year, but note it is complaints that are investigated, not just received. They have already said they will adjust the interest and late payment fees if the payment was credited beyond the three working days.

        • Lady London says:

          15 Oct15 October 12:01

          Will Creation adjust the “missed a payment” report across any credit agencies they report to, though?

          That would be where the damage to you occurs if they credited your payment made on time, late.

    • Sprout says:

      15 Oct15 October 07:31

      I was told that interest charges arising from outside the 3 working days processing time in the T’s & C’s will be reversed. But not from date of payment

• Saiz says:

  15 Oct15 October 05:37

  Booked flights for 4 people via Etihad. Prices have dropped since. Can I call and ask for price refund. Found their phone service poor as held on for an hour but no answer. I used Etihad credit to pay so don’t want to mess it up by cancelling and then gave issued with credit not being refunded. . Is it possible to ‘change’ a booking and rebook same dates online?

• meta says:

  15 Oct15 October 06:10

  Sky News Australia reporting that NSW is reopening on 1 November to all, not just citizens. Just wow! I think this will have an effect on other countries opening up for sure.

  https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/coronavirus/nsw-scraps-quarantine-for-travellers-from-november-1-premier-declares-state-is-reopening-to-the-world/news-story/4b44219543fd31cd2728885ccec893eb

  • Paul pogba says:

    15 Oct15 October 06:39

    ABC sticking to the line that it’s initially only for citizens and permanent residents: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-15/qantas-brings-forward-international-flights-to-sydney/100543080

  • Andrew says:

    15 Oct15 October 06:53

    BBC updated their headline in the last hour to reflect that too
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-58921373

    • Super Secret Stuff says:

      15 Oct15 October 07:17

      Hopefully South Australia follows! Work trip next year if they do 😎

      • meta says:

        15 Oct15 October 07:26

        It seems that Australian PM and NSW Premier are in disagreement, hence different reports.

        • Paul Pogba says:

          15 Oct15 October 07:36

          The NSW PM is talking up the reopening but the international border sits with the Commonwealth so his statement is ultra vires. I’m not sure if he’s trying to bounce ScoMo into actually reopening or whether its just a political ploy so he can say to tourism businesses he tried and that its the other guys fault – but they’re both Liberals so you’d think they might be more politically coordinated than that. I’m hoping they figure it out by Christmas so I can try and book something early next year before the end of (their) summer.

  • John says:

    15 Oct15 October 07:52

    The important thing is not “opening”, it’s the removal of any sort of quarantine for vaccinated. They were talking about 7 day quarantine at first. The states are in charge of quarantine.

    Citizens and their spouses/children/parents and permanent residents will be allowed to travel at first, then temporary residents then tourists last. The federal government is in charge of who can enter and exit

• Anna says:

  15 Oct15 October 06:12

  I got a response from IHG yesterday stating that my 2021 – 2022 Creation free night would be awarded on the card anniversary date, but I’m assuming that the American CS dept isn’t aware of the card closures (even though that’s what I contacted them about) It will be going in with my FOS complaint though!

  On another note, what are people planning to do about retaining IHG status (or are even bothering?) I’ve become very fond of Kimpton hotels especially and find the recognition (in the UK anyway) excellent. We don’t stay a lot of nights so Platinum via Ambassador – I can’t remember if that’s the case?! And use ICs as well to maximise it.

  • meta says:

    15 Oct15 October 06:19

    His excellency will extend your current status.

  • Andrew says:

    15 Oct15 October 06:56

    Is it still the case that if you’re Spire already, then you join AMB, it renews your Spire for the year ahead rather than just give you Platinum?

    • meta says:

      15 Oct15 October 07:10

      I just said that and thanks for spelling it out so obviously.

      • Anna says:

        15 Oct15 October 11:13

        Thanks, will factor that in towards the end of 2022 …

  • Memesweeper says:

    15 Oct15 October 07:20

    Retaining my status is the least of my worries. I used to get almost to Spire with “natural” travel. The card would get me to Spire Elite in January (thanks HMRC), but given the woeful recognition I’m not fussed. My priorities for status are:

    1. Marriott
    2. Hilton
    3. IHG

    • Harrier25 says:

      15 Oct15 October 09:21

      It’s going to be quite a relief not being able to consider crappy IHG branded hotels once the Creation points run dry!

      • John says:

        15 Oct15 October 09:45

        Yeah IHG should thank creation for making me consider holiday inn express in the first place. Don’t think I would have ever set foot in one if I didn’t have so many points

        • Doug M says:

          15 Oct15 October 10:26

          Horses for courses. If you want a room for the night HIE is fine. If you’re planning a 4 days resort break then perhaps it’s not what you’re after.

        • Harrier25 says:

          15 Oct15 October 12:41

          Yep I agree Doug, HIE is a perfect brand for horses that want a room for the night, but for humans, err No!

        • Rob says:

          15 Oct15 October 12:51

          The new ones are actually very good – not as good as a Hampton, but fully acceptable. Whenever I am in Sheffield on my own, I take the HIX over the Crowne Plaza next door (and owned by the same people) because frankly it’s a better hotel. Admittedly we take the CP if the kids are there but only because we use the restaurant.

        • QFFlyer says:

          15 Oct15 October 15:18

          HIX Melbourne Southbank is new and a perfectly nice hotel. The Crowne Plaza nearby is the better option, but during COVID HIX has been dirt cheap (was also an outbreak there, which was nice).

  • Liz says:

    15 Oct15 October 15:49

    I will lose my Spire status but my husbands account is still showing as Platinum despite closing his white card many years ago – the status never dropped down to Club. I’ve got 650k pts to burn through on my account.

• CarpalTravel says:

  15 Oct15 October 06:43

  Morning all! Wanted to check something with you before I make a mistake. Player 2 has a BAPP card which we want to use to pay the taxes for 2x CW companion flight trips, one via P2’s BA account and one via my BA account. We have a spend target to hit which is why we want to use that card

  The question is, if after the booking we subsequently cancel P2’s BAPP card and then at a later date need to cancel the trips (if we cancel one, we will have to cancel the other), what would happen to the refunds and companion flight vouchers? Presumably the vouchers would just be returned to the corresponding accounts?

  • SteveJ says:

    15 Oct15 October 06:59

    Vouchers back to corresponding accounts with original expiry date.

    Money back to cards used for payment, less £35pp fee. Even if card is closed. Amex will then happily return any credit balance to your bank, or transfer to another Amex card account that has a balance.

    At present you can save yourself the £35pp fee by taking a FTV that locks your cash and points into a voucher. But that way BA is keeping your cash. Has the added benefit of extending the companion vouchers til Sept 2023, in case they were due to expire sooner.

    • CarpalTravel says:

      15 Oct15 October 09:24

      That is a fabulous response, thank you very much SteveJ!

• LindaP says:

  15 Oct15 October 06:49

  When asking a few days ago if I could cancel a booking made with my Companion voucher online, the reply was yes you could without the hassle of trying to get through on the phone.

  On trying this morning it says cannot cancel this booking online please phone!

  Any reasons why its a normal 2-4-1 voucher booking made from our household account, will not let me request a voucher or anything so it looks like I am stuck with trying to get through to an agent. Linda

  • Harry T says:

    15 Oct15 October 07:12

    Cancelling online will just give you an FTV. Cancelling over the phone gives you the option to cancel and receive the voucher, Avios and cash back, sans £35pp.

  • WaynedP says:

    15 Oct15 October 08:41

    You don’t request an FTV by cancelling in MMB. In fact you’re instructed NOT to.

    Rather request FTV via the separate link, providing your six digit/letter PNR. BA will go into your booking via back door on receiving your FTV request and will do the business.

    That’s if you want FTV.

    As otherwise indicated above, if you want Avios and cash returned less £35 you’ll have to phone, but FTV can be done online, just not by cancelling within MMB.

    • WaynedP says:

      15 Oct15 October 08:49

      Link to request FTV is

      https://www.britishairways.com/travel/webforms/public/en_gb?eId=120001&wfpId=covidn

      • LindaP says:

        15 Oct15 October 13:10

        Thanks Wayne will give it a try, my Safari does not seem to like some requests on BA from my IMAC I will have to use chrome. LP

• Peter K says:

  15 Oct15 October 07:23

  I went to pay for something yesterday on my BAPP. The lady behind the counter exclaimed “Ooh, British Airways! Are you a pilot?” 😂

  It reminded me how privileged we are to know about and to be able to play this points game.

  • Andrew says:

    15 Oct15 October 07:41

    Well I think anyone that goes around with their eyes open can’t fail to see an advert for a BA Amex card, especially in their local Sainsbury’s.

  • Sandgrounder says:

    15 Oct15 October 07:44

    Long may it remain so! But how they scoff when people use codewords 🙂

  • Dave says:

    15 Oct15 October 08:22

    I had that at one of my local pubs a few years ago. “Ooh we get a lot of pilots like you in here!”

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