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The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 10th November

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Comments (462)

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

  • Tarmohamed says:
    10 Nov10 November 02:43

    Those who have their Dropbox renewal coming next month but the 40% Amex offer expires this month, you can get Dropbox to downgrade your account to the free plan with immediate effect (it won’t delete any files) and then just upgrade back straightaway.

    • Paul pogba says:
      10 Nov10 November 06:06

      You may also have a nectar connect Dropbox offer for 4000 nectar points (2,500 Avios).

  • Amy C says:
    10 Nov10 November 05:22

    I wrote a LBA to BA legal two weeks ago tomorrow and sent recorded delivery. On the same day I emailed Sean Doyle as advised here. This is in regard to them not allowing me to rebook cancelled CPT flights from Feb 2021 to Feb 2022 despite telling me on the phone in October and via Twitter in Sept that I could. All I have received back so far is three emails from minions on behalf of Doyle telling me the Global Exec Team really want to speak to me, it’s just taking longer than they’d like at present and thanking me for my patience blah blah.
    When the 14 days are up on Thur/Fri does that mean anything when I proceed to CDER? Does it work in my favour? Not sure I can go to MCOL as BA customer relations claimed they’d issued a refund automatically two weeks ago without my permission. I’ve not received it yet as if they have issued one it’s to a card I cancelled back in early Sept.🙄

    • blenz101 says:
      10 Nov10 November 05:57

      CDER requires you to wait for BA to issue a final decision or 8 weeks before you can raise a case.

      You can go down the MCOL route if you wish but you will need to evidence to the court the costs you are claiming. i.e. booking new flights. This is obviously more risky is there is no certainty the court will uphold particularly if you have already been issued a refund. The process will may not be concluded by Feb 22 either.

      • Lady London says:
        10 Nov10 November 18:20

        BA had no right to issue a refund unilaterally. EU261 is crystal clear it’s passenger who chooses amongst several options only one of which is refund. JBA’s hint to be very sure you didn’t ask for one : be very sure on.

        BA do issue refunds in error though occasionally in reports on here. More worryingly they also appear to proceed hastily tp preemptive refunds when they cancel a route or suspend it – like LBA when BA stopped flying there. There were a number of reports of refunds being issued unilaterally by BA when the passenger wanted to contemplate their options. They can’t get away with it as meta says but for innocent unknowing passengers it strikes me as am intimidating tactic.

    • Andrew says:
      10 Nov10 November 06:20

      Probably best to chalk up to experience and move on once you have the refund.

      • meta says:
        10 Nov10 November 06:43

        @blenz101 No, court will upheld it even if the refund was issued as it was against UK261 rules (passenger’s choice!). I had exactly the same thing last year with BA after I have already started the claim. Still won. CS might have been lying too.

        @Amy C Go full on MCOL. Send it off asap. Once they receive documents from court it will get them going. You’d probably need to buy a ticket as you need to put the claim amount on the form. The process will likely conclude within 28 days or at most 2 months if BA ask for an extension. Some people have reported that hearing dates are being set far in the future, but this is not my experience in a few claims I did during pandemic. I have no experience with CEDR, but they don’t always rule correctly and based on law.

        • blenz101 says:
          10 Nov10 November 07:48

          Not sure what you mean meta? I said MCOL is available but CEDR needs Amy to wait 8 weeks. I think it is fair to say that MCOL right now is more risky as it is going to require the purchase of a new set of tickets upfront and court fees. Negotiations with the executive office haven’t even begun so it isn’t as though they have issued a final decision and court is now the only way to get this overturned.

          Just because you won your particular claim doesn’t mean that every claim against BA will be successful. BA may defend the claim, it isn’t standard practice for them to randomly issue automatic refunds which makes me more cautious.

          I’ve been through both MCOL and CDER with them myself so I am not at all against enforcing consumer rights but it has always been a last resort and with the knowledge that the outcome isn’t 100% certain to go my way.

          • meta says:
            10 Nov10 November 09:40

            @blenz101 It’s against the law to issue a refund if it was against passenger’s wishes. It is not just my case, I am talking from other experiences as well. BA does this and pretends that’s what customer asked for. Courts will not take this lightly if you say that in the claim.

            @Amy C The reason why you’re purchasing the ticket is that you need them to rebook you. If they won’t, they’ll have to pay for fully flex ticket. If they rebook you, you can cancel your fully flex ticket. It’s just because you need to put a sum for MCOL claim.

            You can use any proof. As part of MCOL claim, you can ask BA to provide recordings of the calls if you know the times when you called although they might again lie and say they don’t have them.

        • Amy C says:
          10 Nov10 November 07:58

          @Meta. I will have to buy a fully flex CW ticket to do this right? As I don’t want any more money tied up in a voucher. Surely they will point out my original ticket was CW but a heavily discounted promotional fare (£990!)

          @Blenz The 8 week thing. I am thinking I can use the complaint I made about this to them on Twitter in Mid-Sept as the point to go by? That complaint is at least in writing and resulted in written proof from a BA staffer I had until Feb 7th to fly outbound.

          • blenz101 says:
            10 Nov10 November 08:18

            I don’t see why you can’t use a tweet although personally I would be waiting for the result of my formal complaint to the exec office / LBA which in theory would give you a deadlock letter and actually refer you to CEDR anyway if you are unhappy. A tweet to me just doesn’t feel like it has the same weight but perhaps I am just old, the arbitrator may feel differently.

            In terms of what ticket you buy that is the risk you have to weigh up. If you buy full flex you can of course cancel if they settle or your claim is awarded before Feb 22. If the case goes beyond this (which I think it would) you can either fly your full flex ticket and pray to god you win or cancel it and buy a regular ticket. You should have your refund well in advance so you are only on the hook for the difference.

            BA will of course know if you have cancelled and obtained a refund for the fully flex ticket that you are claiming for in court as well as any refund provided for your original ticket.

          • meta says:
            10 Nov10 November 11:29

            The fully flex ticket doesn’t even have to be on BA. If there is another airline that has a cheaper ticket then you have to mitigate the overall cost.

            If you don’t want to go to CEDR or MCOL and you paid for the ticket by credit card, there is an option to start S75 claim with a credit card provider. Though you would need to have some a final no from BA to start this.

          • Lady London says:
            10 Nov10 November 18:38

            8 weeks of trying without resolution is enough Amy and we know you’re well over that. Blenz101 probably missed your original posting previously on this.

            The original cost of your ticket has nothing to do with this. You could have paid £1 for it and BA would still owe you a reroute on a date convenient to you regardless of new cost.

            If you are willing to take a risk of the price moving I would get 3-5 quotes of of what replacing your ticket would cost and submit those. Make sure to include itineraries on, say, LH and Air France/KLM. Obvs Qatar, Virgin if they fly there.

            I’d actually find comparable tickets with some restrictions and note those fully in footnotes on the screenshots to show how reasonable you are. So be fair to yourself but don’t go mad on the flexibility. That’s what I’d submit to MCOL.

            I honestly think they’d be nuts to do anything other than provide you a ticket in February 2022 so give it a bit more time. If they’re silly enough to make you MCOL them and it takes longer than Feb 2022 to get resolved you’ll just ask them for Feb 2023 won’t you? Seasonality is important.

        • Amy C says:
          10 Nov10 November 13:14

          The option of section 75 you mention, surely that’s only in cases where you are not getting a refund from somewhere? BA are seemingly so keen to give me mine that would not be possible I’d have thought? But possibly showing my ignorance re how section 75 works.

          • JDB says:
            10 Nov10 November 14:07

            @AmyC it would be a good idea to get the tapes, just in case you said something that might have indicated you wanted a refund. It’s difficult to remember the whole conversation precisely and they could use it against you. Also, if the refund does land in your account, you may want to call your card co. to tell them it has been made in error. It will complicate matters if you are holding the refunded money and asking for rebooking. BA has made it all more difficult, so don’t let them catch you out.

    • Lady London says:
      10 Nov10 November 18:10

      Amy have patience. What you’re seeing is, I would guess, Sean’s office picked it up and has sent off messages internally waiting for comeback.

      Not sure if paralleling a note to Sean was a good idea at the same time as the LBA though. If you appeal to senior management best give them (ie their offices) time to act before you pull the last resort before suing ie LBA. If whoever is taking this from Sean’s office picks up that you’ve already sent an LBA they might feel you’ve foreclosed any efforts they might make.

      I’d give it up to 6 weeks from date of your letter, enquire about every 10 days or so ie every week and a half.

      I think you have a good chance someone will contact you to rebook if you hold on for a bit. They’ll ask Legal internally and Legal will tell them they haven’t gotba leg to stand on. Your job is to let the process work through internally (I’m hoping your having sent an LBA already hasn’t queered it).

      Let us know what happens

      • Amy C says:
        10 Nov10 November 18:23

        Aghhh no don’t say I’ve buggered it! I thought I had to give them 14 days by LBA. Will try to be patient but now I look like an arse giving them 14 days then holding off another few weeks. 😬 Thanks all.

        • Lady London says:
          10 Nov10 November 18:51

          Don’t worry they are not going to hurry you to sue them once your deadline to them elapses. Unless they’re being a$$es most of us would give them an extra week or a bit more beyond any deadline we gave them.

          Just in case the internal process can work I’d give them a bit more time. If it doesn’t then it’s a mess for Feb22 anyway highly unlikely court woukdn’t take longer.

          And anyone else thinking of emailing CEO’s office directly – at least give it 2-3/4 weeks in case someone in their team does pick it up and try to sort it internally, before you then send an LBA.

  • ChrisC, says:
    10 Nov10 November 05:25

    Had to cancel a pre flight Covid test with My Healthcare Clinic at Victoria Station as wasn’t feeling well enough to travel (just that nasty cold that’s around).test was supposed to be yesterday lunchtime and I cancelled very late Sunday night

    Asked if I could rebook for a future trip rather than just cancel and they replied “ yes “ they would hold my payment as a credit for a future test rather than refund me the £39 less their £25 administration fee which I thought was pretty good.

    Cancelling the trip means no 787 for me this morning on the 787 LHR – AMS or returning next Monday. 🙁🙁

  • TJ says:
    10 Nov10 November 05:38

    Finally managed to try out BA’s A350 CW suite flying back from Dubai. Not having to clamber over other passengers to access the aisle is such a game-changer compared to the usual CW product. TBH, having flown out in F, I actually prefer the ‘new’ CW hard product.

    • KP says:
      10 Nov10 November 08:14

      That’s pretty much in line with most comments on the product.

      First is good for additional tier points and avios or if you upgrade your club world ticket using avios

      • TGLoyalty says:
        10 Nov10 November 08:22

        Nice enough seat but if you’re over 6ft it’s pretty tight and the cubby hole for your feet is quite restrictive.

    • Definitas says:
      10 Nov10 November 15:23

      Mrs Definitas didn’t like the new seat because her feet didn’t reach the floor unless she had it reclined. During take off and landing she said she was just left with her feet dangling. She is a little over 5’ so can’t be alone in having this problem.

  • AS says:
    10 Nov10 November 05:41

    BA flights for 1st day of winter 2022 schedule (30 Oct 2022) got released last night and some of their usual destinations were missing – eg Canary Islands.
    Any idea what is going on – are they dropping these destinations?

  • Tony says:
    10 Nov10 November 06:41

    Does a Platinum primary card holder still receive the monthly Addison Lee credit if billed to a supplementary card?

    • Hulk says:
      10 Nov10 November 06:52

      No

      • jj says:
        10 Nov10 November 08:13

        Toyed with Addison Lee last night to get home after a free Amex Platinum meal. Quoted £21 through the app, so £11 after discount.

        Walked out of the restaurant and grabbed a cab instead. £10.

        Your experience may vary, of course

  • Rh says:
    10 Nov10 November 07:16

    Morning all, am I right in thinking that if I have 12:25 flight on a Sunday, can I book the PCR test anytime on the Thursday before the flight or does it have to be after 12:25 on the Thursday? Thanks.

  • Anna says:
    10 Nov10 November 07:25

    Missing MR points for supp Amex – I was told in September these would take 60 days, now being told 90 days. I’ll try again in another month then!

    • Mr(s) Entitled says:
      10 Nov10 November 08:07

      The T&C’s state 90days in “rare” circumstances. I’m in the same boat so not sure how rare it is these days. I’ve also had this bonus before (although not for 2yrs+) so it remains to be seen if I am disqualified or if Amex are just being slow.

      • Anna says:
        10 Nov10 November 10:09

        Yes, I don’t believe they will post at all without manual intervention but Amex won’t look at it until 90 days have passed. It’s a new card (or it was when I requested the supp!) so should be eligible.

        • Mr(s) Entitled says:
          10 Nov10 November 10:29

          The T&C’s state “You will not receive this bonus if you have ever received it before.” That reads to me that it is the person to whom the criteria applies and not the card.

          But it might just be poorly worded and I do wonder if Amex IT is robust enough, or if they care enough, to scrub their historic data looking for previous recipients.

          • Lawro says:
            10 Nov10 November 11:25

            The wording could definitely be better but my reading was that this sentence was aimed at excluding those who add the first supp, bank the bonus, remove the supp and then add a new ‘first supp’…

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