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The HfP chat thread – Saturday 16th October

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We are running this daily chat thread on Head for Points during the coronavirus outbreak.

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Comments (302)

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

  • Jane says:

    Morning all, hopefully off to Tenerife on Thursday 🙂 Staying at the Hilton T5 the night before, can anyone advise the best way to get to the airport ? the car is staying at the Hilton & the hotel are quoting £15 but only for 3 and we are 4 so I’m wondering if there are any other options as I seem to remember the Hoppa bus isn’t running ?? . Thanks.

    • Andrew says:

      Uber?

    • roberto says:

      The Hilton at T5 is a bit of an outlier currently and you’re right it’s not that simple to get to compared to the one at T4 where the hoppa was free when I last used it. I also stayed next door at the PI earlier this month (for a fraction of the price) and used the excellent TFL busses at £1.55

      • Jane says:

        Ps. Hilton with 14 days parking was only about £30 more than parking alone. Too good to resist.

    • Jane says:

      Thanks both. Will have a look where the bus stop is when we get there as parents also coming and won’t want to walk far otherwise uber it is.

    • Chrisasaurus says:

      Addison Lee – prebook and relax

    • Lee says:

      Stay at Hilton T4 – much better and they have a decent car park.

      Easy to get to T5 as well.

  • Mark says:

    I could not find this answer anywhere, so please help.
    I am hoping to cancel my Virgin Atlantic reward+ credit card as it is almost 12 months. I am wondering if I will lose my upgrade or 241 voucher in flying club if I cancel? Many thanks!

  • Memesweeper says:

    The part of gov..uk where you pay your corporation tax with a debit card — down for everyone, or just me?

  • RJA says:

    Hi, cancelled Mrs RJA BAPP card, is there a recommended minimum amount of time to wait before applying for the BA free card? Thanks

    • Anna says:

      No minimum time but obviously she won’t get a sign up bonus on that or any other Amex except Plat if she does that. Or is the plan to upgrade before triggering the next companion voucher? People seem to be getting different stories from Amex about whether this can be done any more.

    • Rob says:

      No, doesn’t seem to be a rule if you’re not bothered about the bonus.

      • Salamanderal says:

        When can you reapply in order to start earning towards another 2-4-1?

      • RJA says:

        Thanks all – being done for referral bonus, will cancel free card soon after and start the 24 month wait……

        • Polly says:

          Might not be worth the 24 month wait these days. Plenty of on going good referral deals…worth a thought.
          We keep putting off the start of our 24 month wait. Obvs need a pair or more to keep them going tho.

  • Matthew Peat says:

    Just received new AMEX gold card after 24-months absence to get a new introductory bonus. Surprised to find have no offers available and cannot get Deliveroo credit even though it specifically states this is a gold card benefit. Contacted AMEX and they said no issues on account and offers would start to be available “when I started spending on the card”.

  • Bill says:

    What are people using to top up Revolut now? Anything without fees?

  • a270 says:

    Long time back I remember reading about a way to achieving Discovery Black status. Could anyone direct me please. Have a potential stay at one of their hotels but not sure if that way is still available and if the status is updated quickly. Can’t remeber if it was through a magazine subscription or via status match.

    • BuildBackBetter says:

      It’s platinum status from BT magazine. Not sure if they offered Black status in the past.
      https://www.businesstraveller.com/ghap/

      • a270 says:

        Thanks.

      • Saiz says:

        Does anyone know how quickly this works as in one getting the status? Have a stay coming up too but it’s in about 10 days.

        • BuildBackBetter says:

          Couple of days after subscribing, email BT support requesting them to process it faster. It’s not automatic if I remember correctly. But they responded same day.

    • BP says:

      There was another link someone posted in August that gave Platinum status. One thing to note is you only get local experience vouchers if you’ve earned Platinum the hard way.

  • GT says:

    I know these issues have been covered extensively on this forum but before embarking on the process of trying to speak to someone at BA, I’d be interested to hear of any contributors’ experience in getting rebooked on flights to Sydney when original flights are cancelled by BA.

    Our flights in March 2022, booked using a companion voucher, have been cancelled. I would like to rebook onto flights in Jan. 2022. Is it allowed to bring the flight dates forward if there are no reward seats available & are we likely to be able to get flights on QR, CX or QF ?

    • Sam G says:

      my reading of the BA travel trade website is BA will only offer QR +/- 3 days of your original travel date (standard customer guidelines for a cancelled flight – the covid guidelines all run out 31 Oct)

      No EU rights here as they give you right to reroute at a later date of your convenience not earlier

      Best to call in and see if they can do anything but you don’t have much wiggle room here without any BA metal to book onto

      • Lady London says:

        Just ask nicely. January is of course peak season for Oz, and I doubt BA’s arrangement with QR is one where all the route profits are shared, so I’m doubtful BA will do anything for you.

        Of course you could always wait till January 2023 flights show up bookable for cash. BA would not be able to deny you any seat bookable for cash as a reroute (later rebook) for your EU261-covered cancellation of March 2022.

        Whatever you do, Sydney is as scarce as hen’s teeth so do not take a refund no matter what they try on you and do not take an FTV as neither of those is likely to cover your future cost.

        You also don’t have to decide by the date of your cancelled flight. Just to make it easier later, if they haven’t cancelled your outgoing flight, let them know you won’t be on it as you are considering your options following their cancelled flight.

        I think you have an excellent chance, one way or another, of being on QR to Oz in January 2023. Although you might have to reroute on other flights for same date if you choose Jan 2023 for reroute and wait while it all changes again. Obvs take a look at which days of the week on those routes the flights run on any airline you think you might be rerouted onto when considering dates… ahem. Past patterns can repeat

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