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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.

  • OT says:
    8 Nov8 November 11:56

    Looking for some advice please HfP community.

    Just back from a week stay in a 2 bed family at Hilton Garden Inn Bahrain during half-term. Booked in July via the HHonors app on the HONORS STAY LONGR BB rate.
    At check-out they messed up the billing and tried to charge us for the individual rooms. Showed my booking confirmation and was handled there but in my account showed as 0 points.

    Emailed the HHonors customer care, and just received a response back saying because it was a discounted rate, it’s not eligible for Honors points or stay credit (was doing the status match and hoping to get to Platinum after a 2nd stay I did in Sept).

    So questions:
    a) is it right that this wouldn’t have been qualifying? Nowhere in the booking process was this outlined, and I’d assumed all stays booked directly would meet the criteria.
    b) What chance have I got to get them to recognise the stay credit at least?

    • John says:
      8 Nov8 November 12:21

      Hilton doesn’t have platinum.

      Try calling, but make sure it’s an agent in the US as the Latin American agents probably won’t help. You can tell by the accent (send apologetic brainwaves to any US-based agents with a non-American accent)

    • Anna says:
      8 Nov8 November 12:21

      That doesn’t sound right – surely you should get points based on spend, regardless of what rate it was? I would expect stay credit for at least one of the rooms as well. I’d ask for it to be escalated if it was me.

      • OT says:
        8 Nov8 November 13:20

        That was my assumption too. Thanks for the suggestion re: escalation, I’ll certainly be giving it a go

    • Harry T says:
      8 Nov8 November 12:23

      You won’t be getting to Platinum because that’s Bonvoy (I assume you mean Diamond).

      I can’t see why that rate wouldn’t be eligible, based on the information you’ve provided, and I’m reasonably sure they are wrong. Did you book more than one room? Double check the T&Cs and quote them in your reply. In my experience, the Twitter team for Hilton are very good and you may wish to message them instead.

      • meta says:
        8 Nov8 November 12:31

        If you just got back, it can take a while before the points are awarded, especially for hotels abroad. It will initially show as 0 points in the account, but then after 48-72hrs it will be adjusted. If it was longer than that, then I’d go back to CS and ask them to check again.

        • OT says:
          8 Nov8 November 13:21

          We got back on the 31st so it’s definitely shouldn’t be a timing issue. Will try CS

        • John says:
          8 Nov8 November 13:57

          That hasn’t happened to me – in the past 2-3 years all my Hilton stays post just after 5am UK time (midnight US Eastern) the calendar day after checkout. Reward stays show as negative xx000 points.

          When something posts as 0 points, it stays at 0 and something has gone wrong – but I’ve fixed my issues by contacting the hotel without needing to go to Hilton

      • OT says:
        8 Nov8 November 13:20

        Good shout re: Twitter, thanks

  • s879 says:
    8 Nov8 November 12:37

    OH called Amex to cancel BA Amex. CS kept saying he’d lose the 2for1. I’d already told him it’s not true but she said she’d need to transfer the voucher to another card or else he really would lose the voucher. Is it something new or should we just go ahead?

    • Aston100 says:
      8 Nov8 November 12:44

      “she said she’d need to transfer the voucher to another card”
      This makes no sense to me.

    • Anna says:
      8 Nov8 November 12:59

      They were possibly trying to get her to downgrade to the free card rather than cancelling altogether, so there would still be an Amex associated with the 241. However, this would be misleading as once the voucher is in the BAEC account it stays there till used, as lots of us on here can testify, regardless of whether you have a current BA Amex.

      • Anna says:
        8 Nov8 November 13:00

        Apologies, *him, I was confusing who was the OH and who was the CSA in the post!

      • Ryan says:
        8 Nov8 November 14:09

        While I know that generally it is accepted that you can cancel the card and still keep the voucher and you can pay taxes with any amex, the BA T&C does say ‘All Taxes, Fees and Charges must be paid for using the British Airways American Express Card’, I wonder if in the future if they really wanted they can technically void the voucher if you cancel the card rather than downgrading.

        • BJ says:
          8 Nov8 November 14:19

          It was a concern 1 September with the changes but that has come and gone with no ill winds so far. Those who know things but cannot say some things have suggested amex do not want to rock the boat.

        • Babyg says:
          8 Nov8 November 14:21

          exactly telling BA/AMEX that their T&Cs may say one thing but YOU know it doesnt actually work that way is just asking for trouble… close the account and move on… no need to raise more flags about the 2for1 voucher..

          • Anna says:
            8 Nov8 November 14:43

            Yes – I just type “That’s fine” in the chat to whatever they tell me!

    • Simon says:
      8 Nov8 November 16:05

      Just tell them youve already used the voucher. That always spooks them and proves they cant see it. For added bants I tell them I paid with a different Amex…..

  • rams1981 says:
    8 Nov8 November 12:38

    Looks like Virgin and PAW have extended the Morrisons offer (shame latter only 1% this time) and no Airtime for me

  • Tommy says:
    8 Nov8 November 13:00

    Does anyone now if the Selfridges offer on AMEX (£50 back on £250 spend) is cumulative or has to be done in one transaction? I have a few different addresses I want to get stuff delivered to which I can’t do in one transaction and the terms don’t make it clear.

    • Anna says:
      8 Nov8 November 13:05

      YMMV but I had a to do with Amex and Selfridges a couple of years ago over this as Selfridges sent the wrong item, and the right one was out of stock and not likely to reappear soon. Amex told me that if I returned the unwanted item and got a refund, I would lose the 5000 bonus avios (which was the offer at the time) because the spend had to be made in one transaction. Selfridges refused anything other than a refund.

      • Harry T says:
        8 Nov8 November 13:20

        Refund to a gift card in store is the best way in that situation, Anna.

        • BJ says:
          8 Nov8 November 13:38

          Getting from NW to London would be a big deduction on the 5000 points though. The answer was to transfer out the points, cancel the card then refund at leisure.

          • Anna says:
            8 Nov8 November 13:54

            Correct on both counts BJ (though there is a Selfridges in Manchester so I might have been able to take it back there but couldn’t be bothered!). I think I was about halfway through earning the 241 so the timing wasn’t great.
            The item was a bag for my sister in a specific print, but in the end I told her what had happened and she was happy with the one they sent so it worked out alright.

          • David says:
            8 Nov8 November 15:55

            There are two Selfridges stores in Manchester!

    • HH says:
      8 Nov8 November 16:45

      If you can go in-store, just buy a £250 gift card then apply it to your online orders as wish.

  • Marie says:
    8 Nov8 November 13:05

    Can someone please remind me how to book parking only at the Thistle T5 ? I can’t seem to find the alternative website. Thanks

  • TOBIAS L says:
    8 Nov8 November 13:18

    Virgin Atlantic Rewards+ card clawback question.

    I need to prepay a hotel stay in Euros in Spain shortly. Want to be protected in case I need to move halfway during the stay and recoup remaining prepayment (unsatisfactory rooms, noise, etc). Two questions:

    1) Should I pay with an Amex Plat and eat the hefty FX fee or is it easy to do a S75/Clawback with a Virgin Rewards+ card? I’ve never had issues clawing back with Amex before, but not sure how Virgin behaves (via phone? App? Lengthy or not? Success rates?)

    2) Just to triple check – the Virgin Rewards+ card is properly FX free or adds a margin? In which case back to question 1: better to pay with an Amex?

    Thanks all.

    • Harry T says:
      8 Nov8 November 13:23

      Just get the hotel to refund you if they don’t provide the requisite service and facilities.

      Virgin doesn’t charge FX fees for transactions in euros, from why I’ve seen. You get the MasterCard rate.

      You can’t do a section 75 claim on an Amex plat, as it’s a charge card. You can do a section 75 on Virgin, as it’s a credit card. Virgin customer service are useless though and I’m not sure S75 is appropriate in the case of a hotel being sub optimal. Just talk to the manager.

      • Harry T says:
        8 Nov8 November 13:25

        What*

      • TOBIAS L says:
        8 Nov8 November 13:29

        Thanks for your reply.

        Obviously the first action would be to speak to the manager but I’ve had a couple of instances where the hotels blatantly mislead and fob you off (I think Covid impact means they need every € they can keep). Luckily I’ve had enough evidence to prove this (pictures of rooms, bad internet, etc) which has helped me successfully do chargebacks. People on this site have also advised to do S75/clawbacks where this happens.

        Virgin CS being useless worries me somewhat…wouldn’t want things to go south and then be let down by them.

        • John says:
          8 Nov8 November 13:52

          You can take Virgin Money to court to enforce your S75 rights if necessary. If you think the Amex forex fee is worth it to avoid that then use Amex. I have to say I haven’t had good experiences with enforcing S75 through Amex – though ultimately Amex gave me compensation beyond what they should have.

        • Rob M says:
          8 Nov8 November 14:23

          I’ve used S75 with virgin a while ago due to Covid cancellation – Ryanair wouldn’t refund cancelled flights – virgin sorted out the S75 eventually. Although it was a bit more hassle than my experience with AmEx, it wouldn’t put me off using it for a hotel or something else which might need another S75. YMMV.

        • Harry T says:
          8 Nov8 November 14:52

          Sorry to hear about your negative experiences with hotels. I wouldn’t want to rely on Virgin in a similar situation, to be honest. Could you take out a gold credit card as well? At least you would earn double MR for spending abroad with a gold card to semi offset the FX fees (and probably worth using abroad if aiming to hit the 15k a year spend). You would benefit from Amex CS and the section 75 protection. Just a thought. I hope your next set of travels go more smoothly!

  • Peggerz says:
    8 Nov8 November 13:44

    I have a stay booked at Hilton Maidstone with Mrs P for a family celebration soon – quite the jetsetters. Any advice on nearby decent pubs with food & curry house much appreciated. Will be using taxi’s/walking(?) so not too far would help.
    Thanks.

    • BJ says:
      8 Nov8 November 13:59

      I don’t know around that hotel but in the event you are out and about in the car in that area at some point then I would recommend The Wife of Bath in Wye.

    • Can says:
      8 Nov8 November 14:52

      Hotel is a bit off the town, we drove to the centre and ate at Market House with three generations, and everybody enjoyed it.

      Hilton restaurant was aweful, they brought beef burger to my veggie wife’s veggie burger order.

    • Andrew (@andrewseftel) says:
      8 Nov8 November 18:32

      Finally my specialist subject: I’ve done over a hundred nights there, albeit a few years ago now. You’re a bit out of town so there isn’t much choice on your doorstep. Chiltern Hundreds is an alright pub a short walk away. You can easily bus (stops across the road) or taxi into Maidstone. Shamrat would be my go to for Indian. Going in the other direction, Oak on the Green in Bearsted is a nice pub too.

    • NSL says:
      8 Nov8 November 18:37

      Another vote for Oak on the Green.

      Hilton Maidstone used to be my second home. There’s not much in walking distance unless you have a thing for Next homewards.

    • Peggerz says:
      8 Nov8 November 19:30

      Thanks folks. Much appreciated.

  • Ste C says:
    8 Nov8 November 14:04

    Hi,

    Can anyone recommend an RT-PCR / Fit to Fly test in Manchester. I am flying on a Tuesday so need somewhere that I can get a test done on Sunday to make sure i get the results back in time.

    Preferably under £100 so I can claim the whole cost back – annoyingly part of a vaccine trial that hasn’t been approved yet so have to get tested to go to Ireland.

    Thanks

    • Blair says:
      8 Nov8 November 15:30

      Collinson at MAN at the train/bus station. ExpressTest have a pop up shop where Thomas Cook used to be on Market St. Also another operator (possibly Randox) is set up in a long stay car park at MAN

    • FCP says:
      9 Nov9 November 07:41

      Randox are very good and quick. Used a couple of times at the drive through.

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