Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

The HfP chat thread – Friday 12th November

Links on Head for Points may pay us an affiliate commission. A list of partners is here.

We are running this daily chat thread on Head for Points during the coronavirus outbreak.

Historically, the daily ‘Bits’ articles were the de facto repository for random comments and questions.  With the news flow being lighter, we are running fewer ‘Bits’ articles.

The comments under this article are where you should post questions about travel and, indeed, anything else on your mind.

Please only comment under the main articles on the site if your comment is directly related to the topic of the article.  This has long-term benefits as it keeps the commentary relevant for people who read those articles in the future.

Old chat threads are hidden from the HfP home page.  If you want to look for something in an old thread, click here.  This brings up all the articles in our ‘General’ category which includes the chat threads.

Category

General

Comments (430)

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

  • Blair says:
    12 Nov12 November 12:41

    Barclays Premier and HSBC Premier held simultaneously: can someone remind me what the sequencing is in terms if which account a salary has to hit and which account can have the money swept across to?

  • Chrisasaurus says:
    12 Nov12 November 12:47

    So I just had an interesting email from Lloyds – “we are closing your account” was the long and short of it…

    Anything systemic or they picking on me specifically? I do have and have certainly used the credit card…

    • stevenhp1987 says:
      12 Nov12 November 13:00

      Have you done anything out of the ordinary?

      Bank account or credit card only?

    • Chrisasaurus says:
      12 Nov12 November 13:02

      Ok scratch that so the app isn’t showing any of my accounts hence the panic – but the desktop site is and it’s an old savings account they’re referring too! Good grief…

      • Rui N. says:
        12 Nov12 November 13:17

        Lately I’ve also had the problem of one or more accounts sometimes not showing up when I login. Always on desktop (barely use the app). So, glad I’m not the only one with the problem. But if Lloyds wants to close my mortgage and clear the balance, I won’t complain!

    • Blair says:
      12 Nov12 November 13:03

      Oh bloody Nora, here we go. Is this going to be another 1,000+ comment day? Chris did you use the card with Bendy? Rather extreme if this is carrying through to underlying bank accounts

  • Spurs drive me mad says:
    12 Nov12 November 12:53

    I logged on to BA chat at 11.48 was 48 in queue which only took about 15 mins to get a real person. 2 cancellations sorted points all ready back and 2 FTV unbundled and points back. There was no chance of me phoning up and trying to rebook using them. Only FTV left now is one with extended 241 till April 2023.

    • Jill ( Kinkell ) says:
      12 Nov12 November 13:52

      I phoned BA yesterday to get refund of 241 etc. due to. flight cancellation. All done and dusted in 20 mins. Gold line and very helpful personable lady CSA. I am now awash with Avios and refunds. OH reluctant to travel beyond home shores meantime.

    • Anna says:
      12 Nov12 November 13:54

      Result – what number did you use? ! I’ve got 2 x 241s tied up in FTVs so just hoping that the phone lines might have calmed down a bit by the middle of next year. I’ve got another one which is 100k avios and about £150 cash and keep meaning to try and get it refunded via Twitter just to get the avios back in my account.
      I noticed that Virgin now have a warning on their home page that it’ll probably take over an hour for them to answer the phone …

      • Jill ( Kinkell ) says:
        12 Nov12 November 14:04

        Anna…I’ve several numbers between Gold and YouFirst. I think it was 0800 123 111 or 01614483013. I phoned about 4 pm. Lovely lady called Sam

      • Spurs drive me mad says:
        12 Nov12 November 14:22

        Go on chat Anna that’s where I got my lot sorted!

        • Spurs drive me mad says:
          12 Nov12 November 14:24

          Points back in my account before I had finished everything along with my 241 voucher. Hopefully taxes etc won’t be far behind.

    • Asim says:
      12 Nov12 November 15:07

      Where can I find the link to BA Chat? Have tried all the Contact Us pages, but can’t find them pointing to BA Chat anywhere.

      • Spurs drive me mad says:
        12 Nov12 November 15:33

        It’s bottom right hand side of contacts page. I tried to post link but site wouldn’t let me.

  • ianM says:
    12 Nov12 November 13:01

    If I use the £100 off £400 spend on Amex Travel for hotels in USA, should I expect no status recognition at either Hilton or IHG??

  • Alex B says:
    12 Nov12 November 13:02

    Can you check on Radisson Rewards when your points expire? Can’t find anything.

    • Blair says:
      12 Nov12 November 13:05

      I’ve never found a way and had one friend panic and redeem uselessly as a result. I was under the impression points are not currently expiring for elite members.

    • Guernsey Globetrotter says:
      12 Nov12 November 14:18

      Their T&Cs say they can (note not will) expire them if you have had no activity on your account for 24 months. You can check activity on the account statement via the web interface (not the crap app though) but of course as the scheme has been restructured the history only seems to go back so far… probably best to use an app like Awardwallet to track expiry dates – it seems to be accurate on Radisson and will also send notifications of impending expiry!

  • Jill ( Kinkell ) says:
    12 Nov12 November 13:10

    Just emptied my Bonvoy Marriott points account on 3 nights at the London Edition in December. Geez….who pays those cash prices? 3 nights £2100 and no brekkie! Several hundred pounds per night cheaper at County Hall, but more points needed! Feel as if I’ve got a bargain for my 200k points.

    • TGLoyalty says:
      12 Nov12 November 13:14

      It seems people actually do

      It’s a relatively small property in a pretty prime location and to be honest there are so many great places to get breakfast/brunch nearby it’s hardly worth worrying about.

    • Blair says:
      12 Nov12 November 13:20

      Just me then who has a mental barrier to ever redeeming Bonvoy points for less than 5 nights? That free night is too tempting for me to forsake it

      • Andy says:
        12 Nov12 November 13:34

        Depends on the occasion – recently redeemed 17,500 points for a room which was going at ~200£ on the flexible rate. Was never going to pay that much so even for a more reasonable rate of ~100 points would have been reasonable.

        For a more aspirational redemption then I’d probably also try to take advantage of the 5 for 4, but I suspect the recent changes have pushed a lot more people to redeeming points in the short term

        • Jill ( Kinkell ) says:
          12 Nov12 November 13:55

          I had a 5/4 booking in Chicago for last September…needless to say it never happened! I’ve decided to concentrate my points on HH and IHG ( I’ve been a good girl!)

      • Anna says:
        12 Nov12 November 13:57

        No, I’m exactly the same, and with HH as well! I actually couldn’t bring myself to use points for our Prague stay next year because it’s only 4 nights 🤣 (though got brilliant deal via Emyr so not too bothered). I now need to find a couple of stellar 5-night Bonvoy redemptions before dynamic pricing kicks in. I’ve booked the Trump Turnberry for next October but not guaranteed to be able to go.

        • Anna says:
          12 Nov12 November 13:58

          Though I confess I have used 60k points for our first night in GCM at the Westin as hotel prices are generally insane there and the cash rate was over $600 – in low season as well!

    • Harry T says:
      12 Nov12 November 13:57

      I have stayed at the London EDITION a few times (I will be there in December too) on the healthcare rate. I would recommend getting breakfast at Scarlett Green, which is five mins walk away. The EDITION is a very good hotel and genuinely sells out at those prices.

    • SwissJim says:
      12 Nov12 November 15:35

      If you want to stay at County Hall stay at Premier Inn….

    • Polly says:
      12 Nov12 November 20:51

      We just did the same for the W on Sentosa island, 400 to 500 pn. Yes, who does pay those prices..
      Now, if we ever get in to Singapore next Friday it will be a miracle, and get a negative PCR. So, it all could be cancelled. Great spend tho, for you also.

  • Alan S says:
    12 Nov12 November 13:21

    Does anyone have any experience of the Marriott M Club Lounge at Manchester Utd?

    Wondering if anyone has had suite seats before and how you found it/what it included.

  • Jonathan says:
    12 Nov12 November 13:44

    After some BA seat advice please.

    We are a family of 4 (including 3yo & 5yo) and booked 4 CW flights LHR>MCO MIA>LHR next October half term. The outbound is scheduled as an A350 with new club suite, the inbound from Miami as a380 with the old seat.

    To book seats (as we don’t have status) is a crazy £800 return, is it really necessary?

    • JD says:
      12 Nov12 November 13:52

      For 800 quid I’d say:
      – club suite, almost definitely no, all the seats are the same, and I’d assume they will seat you next ti each other or at least in 2 x pairs
      – old cw on a380 – probably no as well – even if you end up with last seats remaining you’ll likely get the honeymoon seats which are fine for adult/child double up

    • Simon says:
      12 Nov12 November 13:58

      NO NO NO. please dont. they will put the 4 of you across the middle on the A380 – ideal for the 2 kids in the middle pair together. we have always been allocated those when weve travelled with our kids around those ages…. The club suites it doesnt matter either – they wont split you up – and if they did by mistake, what sort of person would refuse to move to an identical suite away from your 3 year old ?!

    • Anna says:
      12 Nov12 November 13:59

      NO! We have never paid for seats together, and never had any problems.

    • ChrisC says:
      12 Nov12 November 14:01

      NO not necessary at all unless you have a preference for specific seats.

      Travelling with <12 year olds means BA will assign you seats for free to comply with CAA and FAA regulations

    • Jonathan says:
      12 Nov12 November 14:04

      Many thanks all.

      • Simon says:
        12 Nov12 November 14:17

        And have a great trip….. we did a very similar trip a few years ago. Disney/Turnberry/South beach etc…… great memories.

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

New to Head for Points?

Welcome!  We’re the UK’s most-read source of business travel, Avios, frequent flyer and hotel loyalty news. Let us improve how you travel. Learn more on our About page.

VAA

Latest comments

Latest Forum Posts

Get 30,000 points bonus with American Express Platinum

Amex Gold

Check reward flight availability instantly for free!

See a whole year of reward seat availability on one page at SeatSpy.com

Booking a luxury hotel?

Our luxury hotel booking service offers you GUARANTEED extra benefits over booking direct. Works with Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, The Ritz Carlton, St Regis and more. We've booked £1.3 million of rooms to date. Click for details.

Get 20,000 bonus points and your first year free with American Express Gold

Amex Gold