The HfP chat thread – Monday 15th November

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• Alex B says:

  15 Nov15 November 20:23

  Thank you to whoever recommended Do & Co in Vienna the other week. It was delicious.

  Another recommendation request. Can anyone recommend a flight simulator in London/East of England? Dad has always wanted to have a go on one.

  • Sloth says:

    15 Nov15 November 22:36

    Not a recommendation as such as not been but there is one in Putney supposedly

• Crafty says:

  15 Nov15 November 20:25

  Cancelled a future Hilton points booking so that I can instead use the points for a stay tomorrow. But although the first stay is cancelled, the account balance hasn’t replenished. I’ve tried logging out and in again several times without joy.

  I can’t recall there previously having been a time delay on this. Any views? Don’t really fancy ringing up support now, but also don’t want to miss out on my preferred hotel for tomorrow.

  • Craig says:

    15 Nov15 November 20:55

    Was it definitely free cancellation? Some bookings especially around specific events aren’t as flexible.

  • BJ says:

    15 Nov15 November 21:00

    It can take up to 2h for the points to become available for use again after cancellation. Note that sometimes they may be reflected in balance but still not available for use. Either keep checking every 10 minutes, or come back 2h after cancellation and it should be fine. It varies from instant through full 2h.

  • Mick S says:

    15 Nov15 November 21:08

    try the app. I’ve seen the app reflect immediately, but the website taking 2 hours.

  • Travel Strong says:

    15 Nov15 November 21:39

    Once (and only once out of dozens of cancellations) the points never showed up after days, and I had to call Hilton honors and get them to investigate and apply them manually. But usually – they show up soon.

  • NSL says:

    15 Nov15 November 22:51

    I had the same issue last night with a US points booking. It took about three hours to refund the 60k points.

    • Crafty says:

      15 Nov15 November 23:06

      Thanks everyone. Luckily I had the points showing as back in 20 minutes, although it took another 10 minutes before I could actually use them.

• John says:

  15 Nov15 November 20:25

  Usually use my curve with Virgin. Anyone know if I would be charged a fee if use Curve to MBNA Horizon card to earn the 1% ?
  Thanks

  • Axel says:

    15 Nov15 November 21:01

    Got a feeling you get double hit, where there is a charge and the spend doesn’t count.

    Experience from 12+ months ago

  • Andrew says:

    15 Nov15 November 21:03

    LBG are in a completely different league from Clydesdale when it comes to data processing and analysis. Creation is a mere tantrumming toddler with play money by comparison.

    Play games at your peril. At the very least expect a 3% fee for cash equivalent transaction.

    • Harry T says:

      15 Nov15 November 21:21

      Lol Lloyds themselves aren’t exactly playing 4D chess, IME

  • TGLoyalty says:

    16 Nov16 November 00:18

    6012 transaction don’t incur a fee.

• Toaster says:

  15 Nov15 November 20:59

  Anyone have a referral for Monese?

  • Amo says:

    15 Nov15 November 21:03

    Sure: Join Monese and get up to £50 once you start spending! Just enter my invite code when you sign up: AMARJ952

    Download the app here: https://www.mone.se/7vQs/3b73adc

• Chrism20 says:

  15 Nov15 November 20:59

  I’ve been pinged today and I’m pretty sure it’s occurred on BA1312 from LHR to ABZ last Friday.

  My partner was with me right up until I boarded the flight and they took the next one to EDI. When I got to ABZ I picked up the car and drove straight back to Edinburgh without stopping.

  Partner hasn’t been pinged so I’m fairly sure it’s been the flight.

  • meta says:

    15 Nov15 November 22:06

    Do people still have the app installed or Track&Trace called you?

    • Chrism20 says:

      15 Nov15 November 23:39

      I’ve still got the app on my phone and had actually forgot about it. It was the app that alerted me. There was a test centre literally next door to where I was working so went and got one.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    16 Nov16 November 00:20

    A true “ping” You could’ve been stopped in traffic next to someone or your phone closer to someone than your OH

• Jimbob says:

  15 Nov15 November 21:00

  Appreciate any advice from those in the know about seat reservations transferring

  I’m due to be travelling to Cape Town in April with a 2 year old and a newborn. We’d booked a 6pm BA flight but this is now cancelled and we have been moved onto the 9pm flight which is not ideal timing for little ones. I have not accepted this change yet.

  Will our bassinet/bulkhead seat bookings have also been moved? I cannot see this without accepting the booking, and would ideally like to keep open the option of moving flight (by not accepting the change) in case a earlier flight comes available (even on another day) or our plans chance so I can cancel for free. If it makes any difference, I am a silver member.

  • Anna says:

    15 Nov15 November 21:18

    Does MMR not give you any other options for changing the flight? Though a 9pm departure for me back in the day wouldn’t have been an issue as baby/toddler would be asleep by the time we boarded so unlikely to be distressed by takeoff aka scream the place down!
    Seat reservations aren’t guaranteed as someone else may have already booked them on the new flight. If it’s really important you might have to bite the bullet and call BA (or try Twitter initially, you’ve plenty of time yet) and ask if they can see if the seats are taken or not. I vaguely recall there might even be a website which does this for you??!!

    • Jimbob says:

      15 Nov15 November 21:29

      Thank you – good idea, will message on twitter!

• Sundar says:

  15 Nov15 November 21:15

  Any suggestions for The Wine Flyer versus Laithwait ? 25 off 100 on diff cards for both.
  Planning to order only 1 case of wine, so best if a “subscription” can be avoided, which I can’t seem to avoid on Laithwait ?
  Any suggestions on a good mixed case (rather than the Christmas one) ?

  • Anna says:

    15 Nov15 November 21:23

    Laithwaite’s doesn’t require a subscription, what website are you looking at?
    Depends what you like, mixed Australian or Spanish reds can be very good, or if you’re partial to a single grape variety, we’ve had lovely mixed cases of all malbec and merlot.
    Not had many whites from them. If you have a Blue Light card (emergency services), you can get an extra 20% off, stacks well with Amex offers.

    • Sundar says:

      15 Nov15 November 21:47

      Thanks Anna, I was probably led to premiere option on the site for 50£/year, hence thought subscription-only.
      Any specific preference on The Wine flyer versus Laithwait ? Seems to be the same/similar collection anyway.
      Planning on buying just a collection of 12 bottles for various upcoming events, a bottle or two at a time 🙂

      • Anna says:

        15 Nov15 November 23:39

        I think they sell the same wine generally. It’s the same company, anyway.

      • Andrew H says:

        15 Nov15 November 23:39

        Same company.

  • Sundar says:

    15 Nov15 November 21:49

    Thanks Steven 🙂 Sites looked eerily similar 🙂 BA Shopping portal also available for The wine flyer.

  • stevenhp1987 says:

    16 Nov16 November 00:09

    Hmmmm.

    Why was my reply to this comment deleted?

    Didn’t do anything wrong from what I can see.

    I suggested the current offers and listed a well advertised Laithwaites promo code…

• Aston100 says:

  15 Nov15 November 21:18

  I presume people who got the closure letter from Solihull have moved most of their IHG points into bookings as far out next year as possible right?

  Since Solihull seem very cocky and cavalier, I wonder if they know something we don’t.

  • Travel Strong says:

    15 Nov15 November 21:20

    I can’t see why IHG (the hotel chain) would be bothered. They’ve been paid.

    I’ve made bookings I want to make, and not used some points that I have no use for yet (so normal behaviour and nothing strategic)

  • Anna says:

    15 Nov15 November 21:24

    I was doing this already as someone posted a few weeks ago that their IHG account was being investigated for misuse. I’ve not seen any update on that!

    • Anna says:

      15 Nov15 November 21:25

      NB – I don’t consider that I’ve been misusing my account but with Creation behaving so erratically it just seems sensible to tie up some chunks of points.

      • Harrier25 says:

        15 Nov15 November 21:33

        Legally I don’t think they can take past awarded points away. Once put in someone’s IHG account it is no longer their property, so no, I’m sure the Creation cowboys are powerless to grab points back. They really are the San Marino of the credit card market.

        • Blenz101 says:

          15 Nov15 November 22:00

          You have no legal protection over loyalty points. Generally you either don’t own them or they have zero value.

          If Creation are adamant the points were awarded as a result of some kind of breach of their terms then a clawback is possible. You have agreed to IHG and Creations terms. Those being prudent shouldn’t think some kind of property law means they are untouchable.

          I would say unlikely but not impossible. Would you be that surprised to log on here one morning and read multiple reports of their IHG accounts being locked for an audit for weeks, then some closed down? It will be big news for a few thousand here but with 100 million members they won’t miss you.

          Plenty of people have had their loyalty accounts closed for less. I also find it hard to believe Creation haven’t taken advice on the position they have taken. Time will tell.

        • Anna says:

          15 Nov15 November 23:42

          I agree, Blenz, looking at damage limitation really, with no opportunities to use the bulk of the points until well into 2022 and beyond. Though realistically, what would Creation do with them if they’ve closed down the highest generating accounts?!

  • Benilyn says:

    15 Nov15 November 21:32

    Nah haven’t

  • David says:

    15 Nov15 November 22:49

    At the start if this, Rob advised that IHG Rewards customer service team had been briefed in this, and told where this was logged/could be seen in customer accounts.

    Something like this is clearly possible, though hopefully unlikely. Those that say it can’t happen simply haven’t read IHG Rewards T&Cs

    • Char Char says:

      15 Nov15 November 23:09

      I find it odd people are saying it would be ok to do to customers who never did anything wrong.

      • Blenz101 says:

        15 Nov15 November 23:34

        It’s obviously not right unless people have been blatantly MS in which case they knew the risks. It’s more borderline where points were awarded on cash like transactions (tax and premium bonds etc). Some perhaps did nothing wrong and are just caught up in the mix.

        I thought consensus was that Creation are somehow claiming the accounts they are closing are not in good order which is why not points and free night vouchers.

        All of this will come out in the wash. I think what is being pointed out though is that IHG can claw back points and those saying ‘it’s illegal’ don’t understand how the programme is structured or the terms they have agreed.

        • Char Char says:

          15 Nov15 November 23:57

          Creation haven’t issued any statement regarding accounts not being in good order, the letter of closure is the only real information anyone has had confirmed, with their reps just repeating terms and conditions.

          There was enough scaremongering done with the Virgin points last year and now people will rush to cash out of IHG for an unlikely situation to occur due to having used a poorly run card run by a bunch of jokers.

          The creation card was a joke from the start when they lose money on the points and then again allowing it to be paid off with another credit card, just completely not fit for purpose in a business.

    • Anna says:

      15 Nov15 November 23:45

      IHG can’t see which points were generated by MS and which by regular spend. Also it would be pretty much impossible to determine which points were used to make bookings – MS spend from cc, regular spend from cc, points awarded from hotel stays? I think even if IHG was looking at removing points it might just end up in the “too difficult” tray and they’ll leave current balances alone.

      • Char Char says:

        15 Nov15 November 23:58

        Yes seeing as many couldn’t ever get their legit free nights, no idea how they are now expected to suddenly get good at things

      • Blenz101 says:

        16 Nov16 November 03:55

        Of course IHG can see which points were awarded via credit card spend.

        Creation would be responsible for flagging accounts which were being operated against the terms of the programme.

        Would be odd to think the commercial contact between these partners didn’t allow for it. Including Creation getting a rebate on cancelled points when a clawback occurs due to a breach.

        IHG won’t be proactively looking but Creation are either incompetent or prepared to play hardball.

        I don’t think anybody is saying to cash out. The suggestion was to tie the points up in distant future flexible booking. If there was to be any audit type activity the short term the hope being there is little to no balance left to reverse / claw back.

        • Blenz101 says:

          16 Nov16 November 03:58

          Still think it highly unlikely but the point was more that it is not inconceivable.

          The same as VS going bust was not inconceivable.

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