The HfP chat thread – Thursday 4th November

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James says:

4 Nov4 November 07:04

Trying to change my flight time today with BA. Its only showing me options to change it to ET with Luggage on the same flight instead of change to another flight time despite there being availability. Is this an error on the BA system?
- Jonathan says:
  
  4 Nov4 November 07:25
  
  Do you have a plus fare? If not then you’ll have to call to take advantage of no change fees for BWC. You would also need to pay fare difference.
  - James says:
    
    4 Nov4 November 07:31
    
    We have hand luggage only tickets. We can “upgrade” this for £17 on change my booking. If we did this, would we then be able to change the flight time?
    - Graham C says:
      
      4 Nov4 November 08:33
      
      HBO are not flexible. Not sure if the upgrade makes it so
      - Nick says:
        
        4 Nov4 November 08:36
        
        Not usually, no. While strange things do sometimes happen, upgrading doesn’t normally book into the correct fare basis for free same-day changes.
      - George K says:
        
        4 Nov4 November 09:13
        
        Unfortunately upgrading an HBO ticket will retain the original fare rules, as BA will tell you that this is a ‘special’ offer that does not represent the full value of a cash fare in your new class. You’d have the same issue if you were upgrading to CE from HBO, so unfortunately, you’re stuck. Any new flights on the same day would incur the full fee.
Anna says:

4 Nov4 November 07:08

Good morning. Just tried calling BA You First telephone number 0800 408 7667 and says not in use now? Is there a new number 🤷🏻‍♀️
- Rachel Robinson says:
  
  4 Nov4 November 07:41
  
  Try 02079493055
  - Anna says:
    
    4 Nov4 November 07:43
    
    Thank you — will try 👍
  - Anna says:
    
    4 Nov4 November 07:55
    
    Got through in couple minutes. Thanks!
Bigmaggot says:

4 Nov4 November 07:19

Can confirm Banca March ATMs are free to use in Spain with Curve, however watch out for clicking the wrong button:

YOU MAY BE CHARGED IN GBP
EXCHANGE RATE 1 EUR=0,932800 GBP
MARKUP 0%
BANCA MARCH WHOLESALE RATE
WHOLESALE RATE CASH
CASH WITHDRAWAL = 200 EUR
WITH CONVERSION = 186.56 GBP

Curve charged me £170.40 (even with the 85p weekend fee)

How many fall for the ATM markup rate of 0% conversion!
- Phil W says:
  
  4 Nov4 November 08:17
  
  The wonders of Dynamic Currency Conversion. Banks and Retailers are only permitted to do this because it rips off customers who are ultimately from outside of the jurisdiction covered by the regulator.
- zark says:
  
  4 Nov4 November 08:19
  
  Exactly the same for me on Tenerife last week.
  Used Banca March ATM and saw the same, but took me so long to read it and understand the con, it simply processed the transaction in Euros.
  Charged forex free rate by Curve
- Andrew H says:
  
  4 Nov4 November 08:44
  
  And there are people on here who, now their milking of Curve for points has been stopped, say what is the point of Curve?
  - Youllnever says:
    
    4 Nov4 November 09:14
    
    Some have stopped using Curve completely because Creation has closed their account simply because they use it to circumvent the FX fee, and haven’t done any MS whatsoever. The concern is, what’s to stop other issuers doing the same?
    - Blenz101 says:
      
      4 Nov4 November 09:25
      
      You would hope other providers may behave in a more reasonable way, warn against using it or just block.
      
      As I said yesterday, Curve Flex is going to put them on a collision course with traditional card providers so I fully expect further action being taken.
      - Youllnever says:
        
        4 Nov4 November 09:32
        
        You would hope so, but with the points/miles credit card options already being so limited here unlike the US, I am personally avoiding the gamble that they do.
      - Blenz101 says:
        
        4 Nov4 November 10:15
        
        Completely the same. And not only are points limited providers are as well.
        
        I know I can generate points on my HSBC WE card linked to Curve but there is no way I am risking all my HSBC accounts being closed.
        
        I would have similar concerns with LBG or Barclays.
    - Char Char says:
      
      4 Nov4 November 11:23
      
      You have confirmation that Creation actually said about the FX fees or was that a rumour because someone yesterday said they used it abroad?
      - Blenz101 says:
        
        4 Nov4 November 12:44
        
        Creation have said nothing to anybody beyond “we don’t need to give a reason”. They can invoke the termination clause for any reason and give you the required notice. I’m sure they have advice not to give a reason as that could form the basis of a challenge.
        
        There is strong evidence only Curve users are targeted. Yes a couple of people have come here and said they never used it but they are a minority and by definition people that ‘maximise their miles’.
- Rich says:
  
  4 Nov4 November 10:13
  
  I swear some of these ATMs are programmed with an extra logic step, and that’s why they’re worded so confusingly.
  
  Pick the DCC option and it goes through. Pick the ‘charge in EUR’ option, and it asks again, but more confusingly.
- Bill says:
  
  4 Nov4 November 12:59
  
  I agree with the Banca March findings. No fees bit be quick on the screen.
  One that really annoys me is the Sabadell card machines which ask the same question if the retailer snatches it off you they’ll just press GBP so keep tight hold
Phil says:

4 Nov4 November 07:21

From iNews via Apple News…

“NHS Covid Passes downloaded before Monday not valid for travel to EU, Foreign Office warns

PDF versions of the NHS Covid Pass downloaded before Monday are not valid for entry to the EU or the 17 other nations enrolled in EU Digital COVID Certificate scheme”

https://apple.news/AXH3eSjk7Se2OMO3awNvlpg
- Andrew says:
  
  4 Nov4 November 07:26
  
  Just download a new one then.
- Michael C says:
  
  4 Nov4 November 14:47
  
  Downloaded mine in April, worked fine yesterday.
Cranzle says:

4 Nov4 November 07:27

Happy Diwali! 🪔
- Froggee says:
  
  4 Nov4 November 08:00
  
  Thank you! It’s prompted me to send Diwali greetings to all my Indian friends which that always seem to like so bonus points for me getting in first this year.
- KP says:
  
  4 Nov4 November 08:23
  
  Happy diwali 😊
- Super Secret Stuff says:
  
  4 Nov4 November 08:51
  
  Happy Diwali!
- Tony Soprano says:
  
  4 Nov4 November 09:29
  
  Thank you, Happy Diwali all!
  - Roger says:
    
    4 Nov4 November 11:11
    
    Happy Diwali to all…
    - Sundar says:
      
      4 Nov4 November 15:16
      
      Wish everyone celebrating a Happy Diwali/Festival of Lights.
Mattb says:

4 Nov4 November 07:27

With the recent T&C changes on virgin and LBG cards, are cash withdrawals via curve impacted or still tested as a purchase?
- James K says:
  
  4 Nov4 November 09:37
  
  I withdrew cash on virgin via curve on Monday and it went through as purchase
Joe says:

4 Nov4 November 07:38

Any idea when fast track security at LHR T5 will reopen or is it still pretty quiet generally so not really of much use?
- Andrew says:
  
  4 Nov4 November 07:40
  
  I think it has hasn’t it? First Wing is certainly open.
- Darko says:
  
  4 Nov4 November 07:49
  
  Fast track on T5 was working a week ago…
  - Joe says:
    
    4 Nov4 November 08:12
    
    OK thanks – still says it’s closed on their website but guess they’ve forgotten to update it!
    - Amy C says:
      
      4 Nov4 November 09:12
      
      I went through two hours ago, no fast track that I could see.
    - Save East Coast Rewards says:
      
      4 Nov4 November 09:15
      
      T5 north fast track is still closed so the most convenient (if silver/business) for the HEX/Tube is still not available.
      - Pete M says:
        
        4 Nov4 November 09:42
        
        I am not sure if north fast track will reopen either, looks pretty boarded up!
      - Joe says:
        
        4 Nov4 November 12:16
        
        So South is open then?
      - Pete M says:
        
        4 Nov4 November 12:35
        
        Correct, south is open and has been for a while + the First Wing is open too.
      - John says:
        
        4 Nov4 November 13:53
        
        Went through T5 N on Tuesday and didn’t have to wait so no need for fast track
        
        Probably won’t be needed until Christmas holiday time
EvilGazebo says:

4 Nov4 November 07:45

I’d like to grab some outbound Avios availability and then add the return at 355 days out for free etc.

I know this is normally possible but has anyone done it with an Avios & 241 FTV? Save me queuing at 7p a minute if the answer is no…..
- Anna says:
  
  4 Nov4 November 08:39
  
  AFAIK you have to call to use a FTV, I don’t know if anyone’s had success getting it added retrospectively – that would be good to hear!
  - Jonathan says:
    
    4 Nov4 November 10:01
    
    I tried and couldn’t get it added retrospectively – because i booked my outbound flight at midnight t-355 they said the only thing they could do is cancel the FTV and return my avios\241 vouchers but i’d forfeit £35 a ticket. This was an overseas call centre with a newish member of staff who had to ask a colleague so will try again in a few days and hope for better luck.
    - EvilGazebo says:
      
      4 Nov4 November 11:24
      
      Thanks, this is what I was afraid of. Fortunately the trip is only a week so I can book it as a whole soon anyway. But it’s a half term week and the outbound availability is tight already 🙄
      - Anna says:
        
        4 Nov4 November 12:59
        
        Theoretically you should be able to call and book the outbound using the FTV then book the inbound online when released then contact BA via Twitter to get the extra avios refunded. I’m assuming this is a route where you wouldn’t be disadvantaged by the fees/taxes being higher on the inbound leg.
- Spurs drive me mad says:
  
  4 Nov4 November 08:51
  
  Try using this number
  0344 493 0787 That shouldn’t cost 7p a min.
  - Jonathan says:
    
    4 Nov4 November 10:31
    
    It’s crazy that they still have the 0844 number ages after the 0344 number was adopted. It’s not at all hard to notice that they’re both nearly the exact same phone numbers, and have the same wait times !
    - Pete M says:
      
      4 Nov4 November 12:03
      
      Crazy that people still call 0844 numbers…
- Lewis says:
  
  4 Nov4 November 13:00
  
  I’ve done exactly that, booked outbound using FTV and then added return at a later date with no cost.
  The agents both times were super helpful.
  Although both times it was a ridiculous hold time followed by very long calls, both times well over an hour in total.