The HfP chat thread – Friday 29th October

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• Ian M says:

  29 Oct29 October 09:53

  Received the following email from Marriott today to say “To show our appreciation for achieving Ambassador Elite status this year, you will be invited to gift Platinum Elite status to a family member beginning in January 2022”

  Last year when they offered this I’m sure it was a friend to family member. Now it simply says family member.

  Call me selfish but I’d much rather they offer me something to show their appreciation for me achieving Ambassador Elite status this year. I don’t even have a family member that would benefit from Platinum status.

  The email also says “As travel evolves, we continue to listen to our Ambassador Elite members about their experiences. Heading into 2022, we are taking this opportunity to renew our commitment to the Ambassador program to improve and elevate the experience for our most loyal members.”

  This is laughable. They’ve gutted the Ambassador service in the last 18 months. It now takes days to receive a response to a simple email. By renewing everyone’s status Marriott have ensured that there will be even more Ambassador Elite members next year than there was this year, and Marriott already can’t cope with that number having let go (sacked) a huge number of their Ambassador team staff

  • Froggee says:

    29 Oct29 October 10:04

    Is that you, Uncle Ian!?

    • Mike says:

      29 Oct29 October 10:11

      I suspect he has many long lost relatives in the chat.

      • Ian M says:

        29 Oct29 October 10:36

        Not sure what that’s meant to mean?

  • Anna says:

    29 Oct29 October 10:21

    Is this so your family member (however they would prove that) can enjoy the new dynamic award pricing in the offing?!

    • Ian M says:

      29 Oct29 October 10:38

      Yeah, I’m sure we’ll all ‘enjoy’ the new dynamic award pricing!

      But you’re right of course, I doubt they’ll be asking for proof if someone is really a family member. I wonder what Platinum status is worth, if someone was looking to sell such a gift?

      • John says:

        29 Oct29 October 11:24

        £3.50

        • Aston100 says:

          29 Oct29 October 17:11

          about treefiddy

  • Tom says:

    29 Oct29 October 11:21

    Ian, i have a couple of trips planned with Marriott early next year. I would very happily take the status and happy to pay for you to go out for a nice meal somewhere as a thank you. Email me at tom@emailup.co.uk if you would like!

    • BP says:

      29 Oct29 October 11:26

      I’ll pay more than Tom 😀 £150?

      • MilesOnPoint says:

        30 Oct30 October 00:10

        Hi Ian, I’d also be keen on discussing options to purchase for a reasonable fee. Rob/Rhys can you put us in touch?

• estrangeiro8 says:

  29 Oct29 October 09:55

  Just a quick data point if any of you have Lloyds Avios vouchers to use and are going to call up to book your trips this weekend.

  Called Avios yesterday at 4:15 pm and got through to an agent in 35 minutes. Called again this morning at 9:00 am and got through in 10 minutes. Agents very helpful, and apologetic as they are so busy at the moment. Managed to book flights as two one-ways so as to reduce the overall taxes and charges, but this had to be done manually by the agent as Amadeus was showing incorrect figures.

  Thanks to Aliks yesterday for his helpful comment. I’m sad that the Lloyds Avios voucher is no more – it was great while it lasted.

  • Melonfarmer says:

    29 Oct29 October 10:12

    Glad to read the Avios response time. I’m trying to use a Virgin upgrade voucher. Sat on hold for 1 hr 59 mins last night until they cut me off. Apparently the call centre had closed half an hour before. Seems that upgrade vouchers are impossible to use with Virgin.

  • Mikeact says:

    29 Oct29 October 10:15

    It certainly was a pretty good scheme…now we’ve decided which zone to book into I shall call them later with our last voucher..as you say it was good while it lasted.

• Jonathan says:

  29 Oct29 October 10:01

  Any recommendations of where to stay in Orlando over October half term please with 2 young children 5 and 2 y/o? I have IHG points with Spire status. Also have Marriot points with Gold Elite status or I can transfer AMEX MR points to Hilton or A another but will have no status with them? TIA

  • Terri says:

    29 Oct29 October 10:08

    Have a look at Marriott Harbour Lake – we have enjoyed several very enjoyable October half term stays at the property.

  • Anna says:

    29 Oct29 October 10:25

    Given the food prices in resort hotels, and especially with young children I would recommend a suite hotel with a kitchenette. Homewood Suites by Hilton is an excellent example as they have a separate living room where the children can sleep and also includes breakfast if you don’t have gold status or above. They usually come with free parking as well which is getting to be a major perk for a Florida hotels!

  • Michael C says:

    29 Oct29 October 10:53

    Jonathan, we did HI Disney Springs, with the all-important (as Anna wisely mentions!) fridge / microwave. 10-minute walk to D Springs every evening. Shuttle to parks though Uber easier.

• peter says:

  29 Oct29 October 10:01

  Whats the best code for charlestyrwhitt? I have DMCT10 that give 15% + free delivery. (Trying to make most of amex offer £100+).

  • lumma says:

    29 Oct29 October 10:59

    Install the Honey browser extension (if you find it intrusive put it on a browser you don’t often use), and get it to try all the known codes at checkout

    • peter says:

      29 Oct29 October 11:41

      thanks lumma, I’ve ended up with discount for teachers 25% off, also for NHS

• Andrew H says:

  29 Oct29 October 10:01

  Curve Metal fronted (on VACC+) of £500 to NS&I just been declined…

  • Shaw West says:

    29 Oct29 October 10:45

    I got Curve metal declined at Costa today. on VACC+

    • Andrew H says:

      29 Oct29 October 10:49

      That’s not even “fronted” but normal use!

      Mine worked OK on Amazon yesterday…

    • Youllnever says:

      29 Oct29 October 11:10

      Interesting to see if it’s all coming to a close now.

• N says:

  29 Oct29 October 10:02

  Dull data point request (sorry!) – how long for Amex to Hilton transfers these days?

  • Alex says:

    29 Oct29 October 17:54

    couple days max normally

• James says:

  29 Oct29 October 10:04

  If referring my wife for Amex PP do I need to wait until she hits 6k spend to receive my referral bonus?

  Once the referral bonus posts I plan to open a BA Amex card and then cancel my own Amex PP (I qualify for sign up bonus on the BA card).

  Does this sound like a sensible strategy and is there anything to be aware of?

  • N says:

    29 Oct29 October 10:06

    No – you’ll get your referral instantly.

• JimmyJimmy says:

  29 Oct29 October 10:05

  Any Flying Blue experts out there?

  My points are due to expiry at year end and it doesn’t look like any further expiry extension is imminent hence looking to book something for Summer 2022.

  I believe cancelling / changes are €50, is this €50 per person or per booking (2 on the planned booking)

  If I cancel do I get the points back?
  Do I get the points back even if I cancel next year and the points where due to expire Dec 31 2021?
  Thanks
  J

  • Mikeact says:

    29 Oct29 October 10:17

    If you pay the cancellation charge, you get everything back.

  • E says:

    29 Oct29 October 10:53

    I think you’d lose the points straight away unfortunately. Unless Flying Blue have changed their policy from a couple of years ago (they may have changed it due to Covid).

    • Ben says:

      29 Oct29 October 11:56

      Unfortunately I had to use mine for a flight in Dec as the only way to extend them is to fly with KLM or AirFrance. Even doing a transfer from MR doesnt extend them

  • Mikeact says:

    29 Oct29 October 11:40

    You may be best to post on the FB Forum on FlyerTalk or of course call them.

  • Neil says:

    29 Oct29 October 11:51

    I think the points would expire as soon as you got them back. Only way to extend is to fly or if you have the credit card which isn’t available in uk.

  • Guernsey Globetrotter says:

    29 Oct29 October 16:08

    Otherwise, your only option to avoid a total loss may be a transfer to another program? You can transfer to Accor or Hilton etc

    • Rob says:

      29 Oct29 October 16:30

      4000 FB is 1000 Accor is Euro 20 or 1000 Avios in Iberia (min transfer 3000)

      • jimmyjimmy says:

        29 Oct29 October 17:30

        I got through on the KLM chat you pointed me to a Flying Blue chat – pretty good to be honest! In conclusion, Eur50 per passenger to change/cancel, free changes to Mar 31 2022 bookings only. Paying fee and cancelling, pts expiry not extended, that would be too good to be true.
        So I am either taking the plunge on some dates next summer and hoping myself and Mrs J can make it or transferring to Accor (Avios rich just now).

        • David D says:

          29 Oct29 October 19:34

          Buy something on the Flying Blue shopping portal.

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