The HfP chat thread – Saturday 16th October

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ACK says:

16 Oct16 October 10:09

We’ve had many cancellations since Jan 2020 with BA and others, we’ve handled them with the airlines without any issues. Our next trip will be a short haul CE as gold, at the end of Nov with BA. Already ticketed and cancelled and changes pending. The complication is our newborn. We knew she was coming but couldn’t add to the PNR before being born. I assume her fare will be 10% of an adult price. What price will this be? The original price I paid for the ticket which is now cancelled, or the price of whatever would be the new ticket which I’ll pick? The question I guess is should/can I add an infant now to a cancelled flight with a known price, or do I have to pick a new flight first and then add her for 10% (and which 10% eill that be)? Thank you for any answers, we’re not new to dealing with changes but are obviously new to infant-related travel.
- Anna says:
  
  16 Oct16 October 10:22
  
  Don’t you have to call to add an infant anyway? It’s not clear what changes you are making, but if you’re just changing a cancelled flight via MMB I think you’ll only get the option to make amendments for the original passenger.
  - ACK says:
    
    16 Oct16 October 10:24
    
    I will have to call, MMB is not an option. Which is why I asked, I’d like to be ready by the time I call.
    - John says:
      
      16 Oct16 October 11:28
      
      It will be 10% of the current fare for the flight you are booking. Which may be higher than expected as you may be rebooked into a flexible fare.
      
      If you had added the infant before the flight was cancelled they would be entitled to free rebooking – and potentially a free seat if they have turned 2
    - Jimbob says:
      
      16 Oct16 October 12:30
      
      I recently added an infant via twitter. It took a few days of back and forth but saved hours on the phone.
  - Denis says:
    
    16 Oct16 October 10:53
    
    Do you guys know if we can add an infant to an existing 2-4-1 booking (CV used, then cancelled by BA, then we rebooked same passengers for another destination)? Thank you.
    - Jimbob says:
      
      16 Oct16 October 12:30
      
      Yes – I did this recently and worked fine. Per above I did this via twitter.
- Chrisasaurus says:
  
  16 Oct16 October 10:47
  
  Almost certainly 10% of fare at time of adding I’d have thought?
Ash Raj says:

16 Oct16 October 10:12

Good morning. I’m looking to book one night in Manchester using my Ambassador free night. Kimpton and Indigo are both available. Any advice on which is better? Kimpton has some poor reviews recently. Thanks
- DJ says:
  
  16 Oct16 October 11:52
  
  The Indigo in Victoria station gave me a nice upgrade the last time I stayed. Although everything was pretty much new, the hotel didn’t have very good noise insulation – I could hear everything that was happening outside throughout the night even with the windows closed.
- Kai says:
  
  16 Oct16 October 13:26
  
  Personally I’d go for the Indigo although it’s worse value for the voucher. Kimpton’s rooms are just despair.
  - Anna says:
    
    16 Oct16 October 18:03
    
    Kimpton rooms are huge! I am currently at The George and the only was to describe our “superior twin” is poky, tbh.
  - Ash Raj says:
    
    16 Oct16 October 22:09
    
    Thanks for the replies 👍
- Chrism20 says:
  
  16 Oct16 October 22:16
  
  Can the voucher be used at indigo? I thought it was just IC and Kimpton
BJ says:

16 Oct16 October 10:23

Anybody know if Donald Russell giftcards from their website triggers the amex offer?
Andrew says:

16 Oct16 October 10:26

I’m a bit confused about Kimpton benefits – is it like IC that only AMB is recognised or is Spire recognised?
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  16 Oct16 October 10:52
  
  Spire is recognised.
Munch says:

16 Oct16 October 10:31

Has everyone received the Nectar Count Up to Christmas tracker. Mrs Munch has the offer on her account but mine is still not showing?
- Steve S says:
  
  16 Oct16 October 10:40
  
  One per Address?
- Tracey says:
  
  16 Oct16 October 10:53
  
  Update the app or logout and back in.
- ChrisC says:
  
  16 Oct16 October 10:54
  
  Delete the app and then download it again. Seems to work for people. Well worked for me.
  - Munch says:
    
    16 Oct16 October 11:32
    
    No didn’t work. I’ll contact Nectar – not sure if its one per address
    - Nectar Collector says:
      
      16 Oct16 October 12:00
      
      We have two cards at the same address for myself and OH, both working fine with the Christmas countdown offer
  - Andrew says:
    
    16 Oct16 October 13:39
    
    Gave that a try, unfortunately didn’t work for me. I did receive the invite though.
- Peter K says:
  
  16 Oct16 October 12:05
  
  Mrs K has countdown. I don’t. Tried uninstalling and reinstalling but still not there for me.
Nick says:

16 Oct16 October 10:44

I purchased 4 tickets on Turkish airlines from an OTA for half term

Is there any possibility (if I contacted Turkish airlines) that they would move me to an earlier flight that day (or a direct flight – instead of via Istanbul for the same day).

Any possibility “flexibility” can be achieved here?
- Sam G says:
  
  16 Oct16 October 11:19
  
  they won’t be able to touch the ticket. Turkish Airlines have no change fees currently so your OTA should be able to change for fare difference + their own admin fee if any. Depending on who the OTA is will dictate how easy this is to achieve!!
  - Nick says:
    
    16 Oct16 October 16:02
    
    Fare difference is huge. Was hoping a couple days out- I could ask for a switch directly with Turkish airlines. I have loaded the flight details in my Turkish airlines app
ChrisC says:

16 Oct16 October 10:57

Email from IHG last night re my account being blocked and the 10k “goodwill points”

“Dear Chris,

We’re reaching out with an apology and a token of appreciation for bearing with us.

We know you had an issue logging into or regaining access to your IHG Rewards account this past week, and we recognize how frustrating that must have been. We are so sorry for this inconvenience.

As a token of appreciation for your patience we have deposited 10,000 points into your account.

We are so thankful for your loyalty, and we look forward to seeing you soon.”
Mel T says:

16 Oct16 October 11:00

Throwing caution to the wind late last night, we booked a spur of the moment trip to Toronto/Niagara Falls over Christmas/ New Year as found a decent business class fare. Emyr is on the case for the hotel at Niagara Falls, but I wondered if anyone had any hotel/restaurant/activity tips. I had seen a thread a while ago on the quarantine plan so I’m going to go try to look for that!
- Rob says:
  
  16 Oct16 October 11:10
  
  The little town of Niagra on the Lake is very pleasant.
- Damian says:
  
  16 Oct16 October 11:13
  
  A must visit is Niagra-on-the-Lake, a beautiful town and a must following a visit to Niagra Falls. The scenery over the Christmas and New Year period is stunning.
- ChrisC says:
  
  16 Oct16 October 11:20
  
  It’s been a long time since I last visited either place but these come to mind
  
  Toronto – Art Gallery of Ontario, CN Tower, Tour the Sky Dome, Royal Ontario Museum, tour of the Maple Leafs Ice Hockey arena (used to be called Air Canada Centre which was interesting even though I’m not a sports fan) and the ferry to the harbour islands and a wander around come immediately to mind.
  
  Niagara Falls – the town itself is a bit of a dump. There used to be an evening light and fire work show show over the falls so check to see if that’s still happening. Last time I went was the spring and I got a bus (private hire type shuttle) to Niagara on the Lake for a few hours. Some vine yards in the area so might be possible to do a tour.
  
  Wrap up warm it’ll be freezing in both places but Toronto has an underground walkways system that will help keep you inside.
- Degsy says:
  
  16 Oct16 October 11:24
  
  If it’s frozen (you might be a little bit early), Niagara Falls is stunning, bit like Narnia. I don’t recall too many top-end restaurants in Niagara, it seems to be mainly the chains – The Keg Steakhouse is probably one of the best (IMO).
  In Toronto you’ve got much more choice. Hotel-wise, Royal York is a solid option (go for one of the Double or Signature rooms though). Restaurant-wise, it’s a bit touristy but the CNTower restaurant is worth the experience.
- Mel T says:
  
  16 Oct16 October 11:26
  
  Thanks all – Looks like Niagara-on-the-lake is on the itinerary for sure. I am expecting Niagara Falls town itself to be a bit rubbish, there is a light show still and some cheesy winter light installations. In fact I’m preparing for full on Christmas cheesiness and tourist tat all together.
  And rummaging out the winter gloves/hat/ski salopettes!!!!
- Lyn says:
  
  16 Oct16 October 11:46
  
  Winter isn’t ideal for visiting wineries obviously, but it has a reputation as an interesting wine area, so you may want to look out for some of the local wines.
  - Keith says:
    
    16 Oct16 October 15:35
    
    Freezing cold winter weather leads to some half-decent Niagara-on-the-lake ice wines though. And that includes the Pillitteri Icewine that Lidl have stocked in the UK in recent years
- Aston100 says:
  
  16 Oct16 October 13:46
  
  I wonder, is it possible or practical to do a day trip to Niagara Falls from New York City at the end of December this year?
  Even if it’s just sticking to the US side of the border?
  - Mel T says:
    
    16 Oct16 October 14:09
    
    Looking at the all-knowing google map might be a bit of a push for a day trip driving . You could prob do an overnight – fly to buffalo get a car drive up. Although potentially if flight times were right, you might be able to do it.
    - Aston100 says:
      
      16 Oct16 October 14:24
      
      Yeah was thinking flying there early, perhaps around 6 or 7 from LGA or EWR to Buffalo.
      No idea what it’s like at Christmas, though I hear the boat trips don’t operate.
      I’m also unsure about crossing the border and back.
      
      Perhaps I’ll just wait for a summer trip to Canada in the future and see it properly.
      - r* says:
        
        17 Oct17 October 08:58
        
        The US side isnt worth going to unless youre going to cross the border as you cant see the horseshoe falls from the US side.
        
        The only good thing u can do from that side is maid of the mist boat that takes u up to the falls.
        
        Best hotel that has views of the falls in niagara are the embassy suites as its closest to the horsehoe. I wentbto niagara hilto which also had a great view, but make sure you are in the highest floors. Also they no longer give breakfast and instead give a 12 cad voucher which isnt enough to get any items lol.
        
        The fireworks are cancelled for the 21 season, or at least thats what it said when i was there in sept
  - mark2 says:
    
    16 Oct16 October 14:13
    
    I have heard that the US side is even tackier than the Canadian.