Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

The HfP chat thread – Sunday 17th October

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Comments (334)

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

  • fivebobbill says:

    Hey Rob, am I an idiot or is there nowhere to leave a comment under the Intercontinental RAK article…?

  • Paul says:

    Can anyone recommend a hotel in Jamaica for a family of 5 with kids aged 13 12 and 10?

  • GaryE says:

    Any idea how far in advance Easyjet cancel holiday bookings? I have a three day trip in mid November booked and they have already moved our flights to times which are far from suitable. The new flights we are booked on no longer appear on their schedule, for any of the weeks before/after our date of travel. I don’t really want to pay the balance in case they at the last minute add the flights back into the schedule, but I need to cancel by the end of this week in order to transfer my deposit into a voucher. The Easyjet holiday voucher is quite restrictive, it is only for holiday booking (cannot be used on flights only) and are non- transferable, and at least one of the names on the original booking must travel.

    • Anna says:

      If it’s a package holiday booking and your original flights have been cancelled (new flight numbers) you might be entitled to a refund anyway. Depends on your destination but I doubt that very much is being cancelled outright now travel has opened up.

      • GaryE says:

        Have spoken to Easyjet Customer Services and even though flight number has been changed, as it is less than 12 hours (but greater than 3 hours) so they do not regard it is a ‘significant change’ and therefore will only offer voucher. Package is to Amsterdam and the schedule is only showing two flights on a Monday and one on Wednesday neither of which are the ones we are booked on!

        • Anna says:

          But check whether your legal rights are different from their policy, which can be the case!

    • Dave says:

      I’m on my fourth iteration of easyJet flights to Amsterdam for a booking last year. Each time to change the flight times it allows ,e to rebook for a future date. So worth trying that online?

      • ChrisC says:

        Needs saying again that there are different regulations and rules for flight only bookings and package holiday bookings and they don’t always apply to each other.

        • Lady London says:

          ChrisC is right this is the problem here.

          On flights only, you’d be correct.

          On holidays, for decades holiday sellers have put things like 12 hour flight shifts being acceptable within their terms, and on holidays ( as the protections are quite high for people who book holidays in other ways) they can get away with all sorts of things they can’t for flights.

          • GaryE says:

            Thanks – have just been onto the booking on the Easyjet website – the flight has been cancelled – but Easyjet holidays have said nothing and the holiday booking is still there requesting payment. I would like to think I have a good case as the only inbound flight from AMS is now 9.30am – was booked on 21.05pm flight – and whilst it is less than 12 hours – I must be able to argue I am losing a whole day of my holidays.

          • Lady London says:

            GaryE read ts and cs carefully. Check if they have the right to move flight forward 12 as welll as back (usually they can). I would expect Easyjet to still refuse and be able to do so.

            Personally I simply would avoid booking anything that could move a flight 12 hours because I am always restricred as to public transport to and from an airpor. A switch from morning to evening could well leave me stranded at landing airport or waste a night’s holiday or hotel costs and in most cases I simply would have no transport access to arrive in time for a flight if it moved 12 hrs earlier to very early alllowing for checkinb time and possible transport delays. But for holidays I gather it’s very common that a 12 hour shift either way is in the ts and cs and unfortunately yes they can get away with it (for holidays). It used to be much less hours but has crept up in the industry. I would expect your request to fall on deaf ears sorry.

  • Njb says:

    Im looking at avios BA flights to/from New York mid December till early Jan. No first at all and limited CW. BA seem to be operating 8 flights day – any thoughts in whether more will be added now US is opening?

    • Richie says:

      The US opening has not yet been officially anounced. I’m not sure if BA will change much until it is announced. Something to just keep your eye on.

    • ChrisC says:

      BA don’t guarentee to release any F reward seats

      BA will want to try and fill flights with full cash bookings before opening more avios seats

      Perhaps take what you can get now and hope to change to a better flight later?

      • njb says:

        Thanks for the replies.
        Am watching it closely – my daughter and her partner has visa interviews at embassy next week. If they get a yes then we would hope to head over at some point over Xmas and New Year and will book next week. . Would love first but no can do atm.

  • Tom says:

    Anyone had any success with Etihad bid for upgrade? Seems like an ok deal, well for the minimum bid amount anyway.

  • Vasco says:

    Sorry if this has been reported already, but Finnair has removed carrier charges on all non-JV flights (i.e., excluding US and Japan). SIN, ICN, BKK probably the most appealing.

  • John says:

    I’m 1500 points of IHG Spire Elite, but have had my card cancelled by Creation. If I do the spending this month am I likely to get the status awarded?

    • Anna says:

      My points are all showing from current spend, can’t see why they wouldn’t be transferred to IHG when the statement is generated next week.

    • Andrew says:

      You could always do the unconventional thing and stay at an IHG hotel to earn the remaining status points!

    • Jim says:

      My IHG card points were transferred from Creation to IHG Rewards account on 12th October as normal.

  • Rich says:

    Could somebody please check my working?

    Vaccinated adult + 2 unvaccinated kids 13 & 15. Flying into Perpignan to travel immediately over the border to Spain.

    I think the kids need to take a (non self-administered) LFT within 24h of flight to Perpignan, and can use that result to get across the border if needed. And kids are allowed to travel to France without an ‘essential reason’ because parent is vaccinated.

    TIA

    • Anna says:

      Once you’re in France though, will they even check test results at the Spanish border? Are the borders still closed?

      • Rich says:

        Almost certain there won’t be any checks at the border. But in any case, I think they need the test for entering France anyway.

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