The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 26th October

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• Anthony says:

  26 Oct26 October 14:34

  I’ve got a BA companion voucher that expires in Feb, any suggestions? Was hoping for a long weekend in NY but doesn’t look like there’s any availability

  • Sam G says:

    26 Oct26 October 14:39

    book a weekend in Manchester & cancel it for an FTV – extends to allow travel to be completed by September 2023 then – you can top up the Avios/cash when you redeem it

    • SteveJ says:

      26 Oct26 October 15:13

      +1 to what Sam G said. Remember you can’t change the named companion, and would have to call up to use the FTV. But it’s the best option if you don’t want to end up using it just for the sake of hitting a date.

  • Damian says:

    26 Oct26 October 17:30

    When are you looking at going? There is hardly any availability for the rest of 2021.
    However there are 9 plus seats daily most of January 22 outbound but returns only from 10th January.

    In February 22, 9 plus seats every day outgoing apart from Friday 11th where there is 5 in club. There are 9 plus seats every day in February on the return leg apart from the 16th where there is zero and the 19th where there is only 2 seats.

• Mikeact says:

  26 Oct26 October 14:47

  Instead of BA and their high costs of US to UK…I’ve made a one way back to the UK with
  a KL/Virgin award instead for next July. Basically a bit staggered with the costs for my wife and self…Upper Class for both of us, Total Euros 378.28.
  You read that right.

  • Sandgrounder says:

    26 Oct26 October 16:40

    For Virgin miles Delta to EU is the king of low cash element TATL redemptions, Aer Lingus with Avios and you probably would have done better than that too, but who can get BA on the phone right now?
    It’s a pretty good deal.

    • Mikeact says:

      26 Oct26 October 16:53

      Couldn’t get the Delta flights….school holidays etc.etc, and we’d rather try out Upper Class to see what all the fuss is about !

• Dave says:

  26 Oct26 October 14:52

  I’m 5 nights short of re-qualifying for Marriott Platinum. I have a 5-night mattress run booked for the end of the year but is there any point now that status is being extended?

  • Aso40 says:

    26 Oct26 October 14:58

    Assuming that means you would hit 50 nights, you would qualify for the annual choice benefit if that is of any value to you.
    You may also want some points to use before dynamic pricing takes effect in March…

    • Dave says:

      26 Oct26 October 15:03

      Yeah, I’ve still got 4 SNAs that will now get extended too. Everytime I try to use them they don’t go through despite suites being available up until check-in day.
      Marriott should really reward those who actually achieved 50 nights this year and last. I could have stayed 0 nights this year yet would still get platinum next year.

      • Aso40 says:

        26 Oct26 October 15:14

        Interesting that so far they are not rolling forward the nights earned like Hilton, or even the 50% they did last year.

        They might give out some other token freebies, although maybe more for higher levels. They have done that for those that qualify for ambassador in the past couple of years, like $50 gift cards or branded stuff in the post, that sort of thing.

• Chrism20 says:

  26 Oct26 October 15:05

  Doubletree London Kings Cross/Angel

  Has anyone been here recently? If so whats your thoughts?

  Thanks

  • Mzb00 says:

    26 Oct26 October 21:29

    Many times as work is nearby. It’s adequate, rooms are generally speaking newly refurbished although on the small side. Breakfast buffet was nice. Tiny gym. Did the trick for me but mostly because of needing to be around Angel.

• ash says:

  26 Oct26 October 15:12

  Very off topic but appreciate any help here as you seem a knowledgeable bunch. Taken a 3 year lease for a Mercedes which is due to be delivered in coming weeks. Been advised today that its in the country now but certain features like wireless car charger, Augmented sat nav are not included because of chip shortage and will not be added at a later date.

  They are asking me to sign a letter before taking delivery that I understand those features wont be included but won’t state if I’m entitled to any compensation until after I take delivery.

  Is this them trying it on and is their anything I can do? Any rights? They seem to be saying take it or leave it and we will refund you. Prices have shot up £150pm since so not keen to leave it.

  What’s people’s thoughts?

  Cheers
  Ash

  • SteveJ says:

    26 Oct26 October 15:17

    They have customers over a barrel.

    Chip shortage and resultant lack of features : known issue and is widely reported elsewhere. That part “is what it is”.

    Happy for you to cancel as they can get more for the lease now, also represents where the market currently is.

    Zero compensation for failing to fulfill their side of what is surely a contract : hopefully someone will be along soon to advise, that doesn’t sound on to me, but all manufacturers seem happy these days to lose a customer for life rather than budge on price.

    • ash says:

      26 Oct26 October 15:43

      I agree they want me to cancel. Just feels wrong to accept!! To say may give compensation one I’ve signed disclaimer and taken delivery sounds like a road to nowhere.

  • Jonathan says:

    26 Oct26 October 15:20

    They can’t get away with that. For context, I bought an Audi 5 years ago with upgraded sound system. Car arrived without it fitted so made a fuss. They ended up ordering me a new car with correct spec & kept the original one until it arrived (4 months).

    • Pete M says:

      26 Oct26 October 15:34

      I think “5 years ago” is the key thing here, Jonathan – I suspect they may be able to get away with it given the current situation?

    • ash says:

      26 Oct26 October 15:39

      While a agree that sounds like a one off issue where as now its a system wide problem.

  • Super Secret Stuff says:

    26 Oct26 October 15:45

    Can they morally get away with it? No
    Can they legally get away with it? Maybe – check your contract
    Can they make a load of money from you cancelling? Yes

    Check the contract you have already signed. Maybe on the day if they still insist you sign the paper to accept changes don’t tick any boxes and put “No – fix it” in the signature box. Then I would presume it definitely wouldn’t stand up in court

    The person dealing the paper work probably won’t care enough to fix it particularly if its right before lunch

  • Andrew says:

    26 Oct26 October 15:53

    Mercedes, like most others, all have long waiting lists new cars. If you refuse to take it, they will be able to sell it to someone else tomorrow.

    Surely the compensation is going to be the brochure cost of the missing bits at the very least with some token gesture eg 3 year servicing for the inconvenience?

    You might even find that if you take it, you can sell it on for more than the settlement value of your lease. My 6 month old Audi, with 6,000 miles on the clock is now worth £1,000 more than I paid for it.

    • QFFlyer says:

      27 Oct27 October 03:11

      Agree, used car prices are crazy, I had a lease end in June with a residual value of $10k, they’re selling used for double that now, I’d have been stupid to do anything but pay it out.

  • Lady London says:

    26 Oct26 October 19:16

    Everyone else’s comments are spot on.

    Read your contract in detail. Absolute detail.
    What are the compensations for them not delivering at all, or not delivering to spec. Look very very carefully.

    Consider taking it and flipping it now or later if contract lets you.

    Is the lease directly with Daimler’s own leasing co? Or is this one of the general leasing companies in the market that’s trying to screw you over?

    My gut feeling would be to say “I’ve got a contract and I expect it to be honoured”. But before you go back with this you must understand the contract as to what you’re entitled to if they fail to deliver completely (they may do that later regardless of what you do now) or if bits ordered and paid for are missing. You have to know how much wiggle room they’ve got and what you can receive in compensation.

    Under NO circumstances sign nor agree to anything until compensation is in writing and in full. If they refuse then they were going to screw you over anyway. This sounds like auction behaviour from them amongst a group of purchasers.

    Let us know what happens

    • Lady London says:

      26 Oct26 October 19:32

      PS the “under no circumstances” matters if you look at the contract and find they won’t give you what you need to have for agreeing to this change ie “contract variation”.

      If the contract is OK for what you need in exchange for the change they’re asking you to accept then just agree to take delivery “subject to the terms of our existing contract”.
      If they try again on the day then stick to this or if you really have to, then do what SSS ssys.

      In fact if it gets as far as delivery day I’d be recording any conversation and if I was forced to sign before they’d hand over the keys then I’d do what SSS says and say I’m signing this under duress as well.

  • Tariq says:

    26 Oct26 October 21:05

    More likely to be able to hold them to something if it’s a contract purchase rather than contract hire, in my opinion.

    I suspect there will be small print somewhere which states that the manufacturers specification may vary and is subject to change due to continuous product development, etc.

    End of the day, you’ve ordered a model/trim level rather than an exact spec. The spec shown in the brochure/website is for illustration. I would concede that it’s a different situation if you had specified cost options which are not being delivered to you – those specified options will be listed in your order so you should absolutely be able to hold them to it, or seek a reduction in the price for their absence.

    If it’s a contract hire agreement then these typically don’t allow for the driver/hirer to purchase the vehicle contrary to some of the advice above.

  • Graham Walsh says:

    26 Oct26 October 21:25

    I’ve got a A250e and many users on the FB group are reporting the same. Take it or leave it. Some dealers are offer John Lewis vouchers as compensation. Are they reducing the cost by taking the options away?

    • ash says:

      26 Oct26 October 22:11

      Just take it or leave it, said no cost reduction period but may offer a token gesture compensation after delivery which just seems wrong in every way posible.

• Alasdair Jones says:

  26 Oct26 October 15:17

  For the double tier points offer, does a night on a plane count as 1 of the 5? E.g. fly to San Francisco, stay 4 nights, fly back so away for 5 nights – the holiday finder gives you this when you select “5 nights” but has anyone done this successfully or not?
  Thanks as always

  • Pete M says:

    26 Oct26 October 15:35

    5 nights in a paid hotel.

  • Richie says:

    26 Oct26 October 15:41

    How many nights hotel or days car hire are you booking? if it isn’t at least five you won’t get the double points.

    • Alasdair Jones says:

      26 Oct26 October 15:59

      Thanks Richie & Pete. I was curious as if you choose 5 nights in the holiday finder it includes a night on the plane, but it looked like from the Ts&Cs that you need 5 nights booked on the ground so I wondered if anyone had booked 4+1 and got the extra points so I could look at that option. I’ll go safe and look for 5+1

• jek says:

  26 Oct26 October 15:27

  Question about Priority Pass / Amex Plat lounge access: Do they allow access to lounges on arrival or only before departure? For example, we are flying into Hamburg where the security area for arrival and departures is shared and will have some time to spend.

  • Pete M says:

    26 Oct26 October 15:35

    You won’t have a boarding pass departing from HAM that day, presumably? So they are unlikely to let you in.

  • Rob says:

    26 Oct26 October 16:54

    It’s down to the lounge, not PP who will never know.

    • Pete M says:

      26 Oct26 October 18:01

      Breaking the rules in Germany? ☠️😂

• Andrew says:

  26 Oct26 October 15:32

  My ex-BMI one has always been subject to Forex charges. There are multiple versions of the Horizon card.

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