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The HfP chat thread – Friday 15th October

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Comments (397)

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

  • Craig says:
    15 Oct15 October 12:02

    Telegraph reporting 8th Nov start date for US travel.

    • KP says:
      15 Oct15 October 12:18

      https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/10/15/us-set-lift-uk-travel-ban-early-next-month/

      But cant read the article

    • Harrier25 says:
      15 Oct15 October 12:23

      Getting through JFK Airport was a complete nightmare pre-pandemic, I don’t want to imagine what hell it’s going to be post pandemic! 😨

      • Rob says:
        15 Oct15 October 12:54

        I’m seriously considering booking on Aer Lingus and clearing immigration in Ireland. For a start, almost everyone will be using a new ESTA after a two year break – you can’t use the machines at JFK unless you have previously entered on the SAME ESTA.

        • Louise K says:
          15 Oct15 October 12:58

          What about if you have GE?

        • Andrew says:
          15 Oct15 October 13:18

          I’ve thought about it, but I’m generally escorted to the white tiled rooms for a chat when I visit the US. Just worry that the plane would leave without me if things weren’t swift.

          My perfect trip would probably be clearing immigration in Ireland then flying direct to DCA. I know a 787 Dreamliner can land there, but not sure what size of aircraft could take off again fully loaded for a transatlantic flight.

          • Doug M says:
            15 Oct15 October 14:22

            DCA doesn’t allow flights greater than a certain distance (1000 miles?). There are exceptions.

        • Andrew says:
          15 Oct15 October 13:52

          I’ve done AA from Dublin to Miami – pros and cons, you get all your admin done before you fly but after checkin, security, security again for the US border area then the US border – you’re exhausted by the time you get on the plane. Whereas I arrive at T5 and I’m through the First Wing in 5 minutes and relaxing before I fly. But then you’ve got the hassle of the border when you land. But don’t be mistaken that there’s no queue for immigration in Dublin – it’s just you queue there rather than New York – a lot of flights go to the US all at the same time from Dublin so there’s still a lot of people to process.

        • Sukes says:
          15 Oct15 October 16:12

          Aer Lingus DUB-SFO direct flights will restart 12 Dec as per announcement today – think this will be the first of their west coast destinations to restart

      • Anna says:
        15 Oct15 October 16:44

        Last time we went, in May 2019, we flew F and landed at 1710 local time, were through immigration and waiting for our taxi at 1725. Don’t know if that’s just a good time to arrive!

        • Andrew says:
          15 Oct15 October 16:51

          BA at JFK is the best option as for most of the day it’s the only airline using that terminal – so if you’re first off your flight you’re likely to be first in line at the border. Virgin is a very different story as it shares a terminal with many international airlines all arriving at the same time.

  • Charlie T. says:
    15 Oct15 October 12:03

    Hi all, looking at booking Domes of Elounda next year. Last there in 2019 and loved it – any recent feedback? I’m a little nervous that there are loads of new rooms (the CORE complex) but seemingly not much extra supporting infrastructure to absorb the additional guests?

    • Harry T says:
      15 Oct15 October 12:15

      Stayed there 2-9 October and had a very nice time, despite full occupancy.

    • Rob says:
      15 Oct15 October 12:15

      It didn’t look like a huge number of rooms – they were half-built when we were there last year, opposite the tennis courts as the top of the hill, so between the two existing wings – but I agree that there was no sign of extra infrastructure to support it.

    • MrDr says:
      15 Oct15 October 13:18

      Was there recently. Was apparently full
      No problems with capacity and a never felt busy.

    • Charlie T. says:
      15 Oct15 October 13:31

      Great. Thanks all.

  • Jon says:
    15 Oct15 October 12:09

    Thought I would share a BA Amex Premium Plus Voucher experience. I booked LHR-HND in CW and then had second thoughts so decided to choose LHR-MIA instead for a trip. That meant I had a Future Travel Voucher but no Amex voucher to use online.

    ITA Matrix was showing I Class availability for my dates so I called BAEC last night and got nowhere (system problems apparently). Tried again today and got a great agent I’ve spoken to before who knows her way around BA systems like some kind of speed demon. Sure enough she searched the commercial flights, found I Class availability, added my voucher and that was it.

    Loving the new vouchers as there was zero CW availability otherwise for Avios.

    • meta says:
      15 Oct15 October 13:49

      Thanks for sharing. I can’t wait to get rid of all the old vouchers as that also means no fake “surcharges”.

  • John Caribbean says:
    15 Oct15 October 12:28

    For those following the Portugal drama (Hannah?) All checked in and air side with BA at Heathrow with nobody asking to see a negative test

  • Craig says:
    15 Oct15 October 12:32

    Trying to use the BuyaGift offer on my Amex Plat but the website doesn’t seem to want to accept my Amex, anyone come across this before?

  • Colin MacKinnon says:
    15 Oct15 October 12:36

    New IHG Cration card arrived in post – old one had stopped working for some reason.

    And when I applied for it, I asked for a higher credit limit – which has been granted.

    All a little worthless, since my card year ends this month, or maybe next, and I have spent the £10,000+ to get the free night. And can’t be bothered spending £10k again before December 3rd!

    So it looks like new card will just sit in drawer so I can claim back the £99.

  • Tony Soprano says:
    15 Oct15 October 12:46

    Anybody else experience American Express support often try to fob you off when chasing missing MR points for referrals / welcome bonus? I am often told the query will be referred to another department, upon following up told I am not eligible despite following terms correctly.

    Context – opened Business Gold accounts some time ago for my parents. Struggled to claim missing bonus points for taking supplementary cards when an offer was on, took months of back and forth / sharing screenshots of offer terms.

    Recently had each parent refer the other for personal Gold cards, understanding the welcome bonus to apply as they had not held a personal card in the last 24 months. Mum got welcome bonus after spend, Dad did not. Queried and was told it will be escalated. Chased up and have been told he is not eligible as he held an MR earning card in the last 6 months – which is the terms for the business card not personal. I fail to believe their staff are this inept. Sorry for the rant just a massive waste of time having to chase these things up so often!

    • Benilyn says:
      15 Oct15 October 14:22

      Have you been speaking on phone or chat? Have you been speaking to Brighton on the phone?

      • Tony Soprano says:
        15 Oct15 October 16:49

        All communication has been on the chat – although did have more or less immediate action when calling previously. Maybe that is the way to go!

  • den says:
    15 Oct15 October 13:01

    I had six hours to kill in T5 this week between flights so wandered between Galleries North and South. One thing that struck me was the state of some of the doors and carpet in the North lounge. You would have thought after more than 12 months of low footfall/lounges closed completely they would have carried out some basic maintenance. It looked more like a rundown scout hut. The doors to the male toilets look like Rottweilers have been chewing on the sides.

    • TGLoyalty says:
      15 Oct15 October 13:30

      They obviously decided they would just put the shutters down rather than take the opportunity to improve their below par lounge offer.

      Those toilets look out of place in a hospital.

      • Andrew says:
        15 Oct15 October 13:45

        Compared to the toilets in the CX lounge in T3 – it’s a world apart.

        • TGLoyalty says:
          15 Oct15 October 13:46

          It’s a world apart from the toilets in the terminal itself!

          • den says:
            15 Oct15 October 14:12

            hahaha so right TG!

          • The Original Nick says:
            15 Oct15 October 14:37

            I’ve just walked out of galleries south after waiting for my food order to then be told over the tannoy that we all have to queue up in front of the chef for our food. Queue was about 30metres long. And when I went to the toilet the toilet door handle fell off. It was so busy in the lounge. I’m now in the Plaza premium lounge with food and a g&t

          • Babyg says:
            15 Oct15 October 14:54

            I wish there were better options than BA, i took some guests into Galleries south a few weeks ago, its just a giant Zoo, they were asking why i even bother with the lounge, and other than free fizz i didn’t have an answer – it was crowded, couldn’t get six of us seated together, food was terrible… you can get a much better experience at a reasonable price elsewhere in T5…. meanwhile in T3 there are amazing lounge options (virgin, amex etc)… T5 has plaza prem – but they charge for fizz sadly..

          • Will says:
            15 Oct15 October 15:50

            Have never used these lounges before but will have my first opportunity to next year. From everything I’ve read in comments over recent weeks, I’m struggling to see why I wouldn’t just go to the big Wetherspoons. Don’t even like fizz that much

          • TGLoyalty says:
            15 Oct15 October 17:07

            I would go for T5B I hear it’s opening again.

      • JDB says:
        15 Oct15 October 16:07

        If you talk to anyone who works at BA or at LHR, getting approval for any sort of expenditure that is discretionary has been impossible; both are operating in crisis mode. In better times, improving the lounges might have been considered investment for the future but now preserving cash is the top consideration.

        • Andrew says:
          15 Oct15 October 16:59

          The T5 lounges are abysmal – particularly Galleries Club – imagine paying for a long haul business class seat and that’s the lounge they offer you. I would be embarrassed if I ran BA by that place.

        • Doug M says:
          15 Oct15 October 22:45

          The toilets have been inadequate, and somewhat grim for years before COVID. I don’t always agree with criticism of various aspects of BA, but the toilets are disgusting. This applies to Galleries and First.

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