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The HfP chat thread – Monday 8th November

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Comments (419)

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

  • aviosnewbie says:
    8 Nov8 November 04:07

    gm hfp fam! Emirates has delayed our flight from Dubai to Mumbai by 12hrs. I suppose none of the EU compensation rules will apply in this case. Because of this delay, we’ll need to book an additional night in Dubai, and what’re the rules for airline compensation? How do I make a claim? Thank you!

    • blenz101 says:
      8 Nov8 November 05:18

      If the flight started in Dubai then you have no legal remedy. If you are connecting in Dubai and started within the UK/EU then you have a right to duty of care which will include covering your hotel and a meal allowance.

      If you are connecting through Dubai with a layover of 10-25 hour then Emirates Dubai Connect should kick in and they will provide you a hotel in any event. If you are just starting in Dubai or are on separate tickets this doesn’t apply.

      https://www.emirates.com/ae/english/before-you-fly/dubai-international-airport/dubai-connect/

      There is no opportunity for compensation no matter where you started presently as the airline will be able to cite the pandemic as the reason for schedule changes meaning even if you did start within the UK/EU nothing would be payable.

      • BJ says:
        8 Nov8 November 05:52

        Almost two years in, it is time people started testing whether the pandemic can continue to be reasonably cited as extraordinary circumstances. It’s perfectly obvious that most such changes are made for purely commercial reasons and nit necessitated by the pandemic.

        • meta says:
          8 Nov8 November 06:35

          I already did test it. BA made a purely commercial decision to cancel flights to Porto in August and I got 400 euros EU compo as they informed me less than 14 days along with paying for replacement flight and duty of care. I also know some people who got it for technical delay.

          • mr_jetlag says:
            8 Nov8 November 06:40

            Meta, could you share the flight number? having to challenge a similar EU flight with BA.

          • BJ says:
            8 Nov8 November 06:45

            Should have remembered that given the number of times people have re-commented it; good for you and well done!

          • meta says:
            8 Nov8 November 09:48

            @mr_jetlag it was BA2822. I didn’t have to go to MCOL though. Just sent a letter to BA legal and they paid everything up after a week.

        • blenz101 says:
          8 Nov8 November 06:56

          I don’t disagree for the most part although the situation in India is once again deteriorating with hospitals being overwhelmed and a second giant wave anticipated. Many countries have extended their ban on those who have been in India so schedules are being adjusted to reflect this.

          Yes, the consolidation may be partly for commercial reasons but flights would have operated has passengers been freely able to travel.

          In any event taking the original post as read they are flying Dubai to India and as such UK/EU261 doesn’t apply for compensation anyway.

          • BJ says:
            8 Nov8 November 08:05

            I had missed that things were getting very bad again in India. Sorry to hear that, I had beenhopeful pandemic was passing.

          • blenz101 says:
            8 Nov8 November 08:31

            Deaths had been doubling since October but do thankfully remain some way from their peak.

            However, Covid testing and reporting is on the back burner as there is now a severe dengue outbreak overwhelming the already fragile healthcare system so reported numbers aren’t being relied on and countries are being cautious.

            There are 2.5 million Indians in KSA for example but Saudi has closed its borders to anybody who has been in India in the previous 14 day (select categories excluded). Many of these would have been using EK to get home to friends and family, with such large numbers of people unable to travel the cancellation and consolidation of flights is almost inevitable until borders re-open and stay reopened.

          • meta says:
            8 Nov8 November 09:54

            Unless it’s a connecting flight on one ticket. In that case they have UK/EU261 right to duty of care, reroute, etc.

  • Saiz says:
    8 Nov8 November 05:59

    Do you still get 3,000 or some other MR/Avios for adding a supplementary to Gold Amex or BA Amex (after receiving the main card)? What about the Amex Rewards Card? I know Platinum is 5,000.

  • BJ says:
    8 Nov8 November 06:13

    When amex travel advertise a flight as refundable can we be certain this is to the card and not to a voucher issued by the airline? The fare rules and terms amex provides are limited and vague. I would like to book a US domestic flight for us on Delta so we can try the a220 for the first time but I’m reluctant to do so unless I’m certain we have fully refundable tickets. Avios redemptions are available on AA with a 738 but my concerns are that could change to a MAX. However, given it has been flying quite widely without incident (AFAIK) for about a year already I feel much more confident about flying it. Anybody flew the a220, worth passing up an avios redemption in favour of a cash ticket for the experience? Cost is almost identical after amex travel offer and taking avios at 1p value. Schedule is a little better on Delta.

    • Blair says:
      8 Nov8 November 09:50

      Amex’s ‘flexible ticket’ and ‘refundable ticket’ banners beside certain itineraries are utterly meaningless.

      • BJ says:
        8 Nov8 November 13:28

        This is my fear. I don’t understand why TA can get away with nit providing T&C of booking and ticket rules in full

  • patrick C says:
    8 Nov8 November 06:24

    Amy good tips fkr a post pandemic ihg hotel in london?
    I am spire elite as well, sonif any CP has a decent lounge thag could be interesting as well…
    Thanks

    • Andrew says:
      8 Nov8 November 06:27

      A post-pandemic IHG hotel stay? So you want to book something for about 3 years’ time?

      • patrick C says:
        8 Nov8 November 06:32

        Sorry will stay this December, so the idea is to see if anything in the offering has changed since

    • BJ says:
      8 Nov8 November 06:33

      Albert Embankment if it’s still open in 2030 🙂

      • SteveJ says:
        8 Nov8 November 07:11

        Albert Embankment is a decent little hotel, but no lounge access for Spire Elite. River view room upgrade and a late checkout is what Spire Elite will get you. Still probably my fave CP in London, for the location/views.

        • Blair says:
          8 Nov8 November 09:52

          They made a right somg and dance about giving me 2pm check out last time I was there. Made it feel like they were really doing me this extraordinary favour.

    • Yorkie Aid says:
      8 Nov8 November 18:59

      Kings X CP always gave me lounge access as Spire pre-covid. Didn’t stay this year as was being used as a quarantine hotel.

  • Andrew says:
    8 Nov8 November 06:24

    Following the conversation yesterday about coffee chains, the algorithms must have been listening as my least favourite of them all – Costa, has popped up with a 10% back every time on BAPP. If only it had been Starbucks…..

    • DJ says:
      8 Nov8 November 06:28

      Not all Costa take Amex as well. My local home takes Visa Mastercard only.

    • BJ says:
      8 Nov8 November 06:40

      Why do you have to use a chain? Surely you must pass some independent place that would care fore your wishes, and maybe you make a new friend too.

      • Andrew says:
        8 Nov8 November 06:44

        I didn’t say I did have to use a chain.

        • BJ says:
          8 Nov8 November 06:47

          Gave the impressions you might just be seduced by offers 🙂

          • Andrew says:
            8 Nov8 November 07:20

            Well this is HFP – aren’t we all? The lengths people will go to even surprises me sometimes – people booking train tickets they don’t intend to use to get 500 nectar points (£2.50)!

          • BJ says:
            8 Nov8 November 08:02

            @Andrew, guilty here as charged but I have my limits, for example I never did the train tickets for less than 1000 Nectar points.

    • Yorkshire Rich says:
      8 Nov8 November 07:08

      The offer on my BAPP is only 5% every time.

    • John says:
      8 Nov8 November 07:43

      Doesn’t Morrison’s do Costa and Starbucks gift cards? Thought I saw some when I used to do the gift card thing (nearest branch is too far for me now, and also I hate coffee)

      • Andrew says:
        8 Nov8 November 09:13

        PAW sells reloadable Starbucks cards from time to time with a 10% rebate.

        There’s better coffee, but their tea is quite tolerable. Starbucks cards come with the benefit that they can be used almost worldwide at spot rate. Plus you can load your card with the loose change in your pocket at the airport.

    • Mike says:
      8 Nov8 November 08:14

      My Platinum card is 10%, but my BAPP has 5% and 7%!

      What happens if you have multiple offers that could apply to a purchase?

    • Youllnever says:
      8 Nov8 November 10:21

      It’s been a long time since I received the Starbucks Amex offer.

    • Gary says:
      8 Nov8 November 13:06

      BLC giving 10% at Starbucks in case you have it.

  • Toddy says:
    8 Nov8 November 06:55

    I’m in the Hyatt Regency Barcelona Tower at the moment and the food offering in the club lounge is one of the worst I’ve ever seen.

    A few bowls of ‘snacks’, which are mainly sweets – marshmallow flumps, those foam bananas, laces etc. For a moment, I though I was back at one of my birthday parties from 25 years ago!

  • James says:
    8 Nov8 November 06:55

    Q: Need to take an urgent flight.
    Does Emirates accept Collisum group’s PCR – Results in 3 hours Fit to Fly?

  • Paul says:
    8 Nov8 November 07:11

    Curve Metal’s monthly ‘fronted’ limit coming into effect next month! Is that for all or would the limit already apply to any new upgrade to Metal now?

    • BP says:
      8 Nov8 November 07:33

      The limit is mentioned now when you look at the product literature for Metal. Not sure if they actually apply it yet.

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

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