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The HfP chat thread – Thursday 18th November

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Comments (431)

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

  • Hugo says:
    18 Nov18 November 09:36

    I’m planning a trip to NYC in January, and I live in Geneva
    I have -just- enough Avios left to upgrade WTP to Business on one leg of the longhaul, but then I have to connect through to GVA
    Does anyone know if it’s possible to upgrade one leg of a connecting flight on a return ticket?

  • Ian M says:
    18 Nov18 November 09:46

    What hope is there BA can pull off a large IT update when they can’t even manage to update the text when you try and login from “Everything should be back up and running for Wednesday 17 November.” to “sorry, we’re useless, we hope to be back up and running sometime soon.”? I’m pretty sure even I could pull that off.

  • Cathy says:
    18 Nov18 November 09:47

    Looking for help/advice if anyone has had a similar experience they have managed to resolve. Should have flown MAN-LHR-MIA last Thursday but shuttle to LHR went tech, finally flew on Friday via Philadelphia arranged by BA. They advised they had put bags on direct Miami flight on Friday. We are now day seven and no bags. Finally managed to speak to BA yesterday who confirm bags in container at Miami airport, received on Sunday, not Friday and all they can do is send an internal email to ask them to deliver to us. Still no bags, can’t get through to BA, their Twitter won’t respond to us, DM 5 days ago. Any idea for contacting best placed team in Miami. We have not been able to get through to BA US.

    • Anna says:
      18 Nov18 November 10:09

      What a nightmare, Cathy! We had the same issue with our MAN-LHR leg a couple of years ago, but BA paid for a taxi to get us to LHR in time for our long haul connection which saved the day.
      How close to the airport are you staying? I’d be inclined to go back there and find a member of BA staff or failing that, someone who deals with baggage issues. Take all your booking details and emails etc with you.

      • Cathy says:
        18 Nov18 November 10:24

        Unfortunately, after take off the aircraft had a faulty responder whatever that means which meant London air traffic control wouldn’t accept the flight so we had to turn round back to Manchester, you will know how organised they are, hence where the problem went from bad to worse. Missed our connection, as it took a further 4 hours to take off again. We are in Marco Island at the moment but think you are right and we may have to divert via the airport on our way back to Miami which could a long process.

        • Tom says:
          18 Nov18 November 10:37

          That will presumably have been a faulty transponder. The bit of kit that allows the air traffic controllers to ‘see’ the aircraft on their screens. You have my sympathy for the baggage situation. I presume you’re aware that each person in your party is eligible for £510 (was €600 pre Brexit) compensation as a result of a technical issue that resulted in a +3hr arrival delay at your final destination (assuming it was a single ticket all the way from MAN to MIA). You can find the link to apply for it on the BA website. Just Google something like ‘BA EU261 claim form’ and make sure you’re filling it in directly through the BA website.
          Best of luck with the rest of your holiday.

          • Cathy says:
            18 Nov18 November 10:42

            Thanks Tom, you’re right, that was the cause. We were on one ticket and arrived at our destination 27 hours late so I assume I won’t have any problems claiming. Additionally, we have had to purchase some emergency clothing/essentials but kept it to a minimum.

          • Lady London says:
            18 Nov18 November 17:48

            + keep receipts for having to buy complete sets of clothes, toiletries and anything else needed that was stuck in your luggage. Claim separately from EU261

          • Lyn says:
            18 Nov18 November 18:29

            Cathy, good luck with getting your bags as soon as possible! It is a horrible situation to find yourself in.

            You shouldn’t have much difficulty with getting your 600 euros each from BA with your EU261claim. Worth keeping it polite but firm, so they can see you are well aware of your rights and perhaps ending with something along the lines of anticipating a positive response from them within 7 days. The CAA web-site has EU261 information and also suggestions for what to include in your claim letter.

            As Lady London suggests, keep every receipt for everything you have to buy, from clothes and shoes suitable for the climate in Florida down to toiletries and a travel backpack or something to carry them around in! At least pre-pandemic BA were fairly generous about this for longer baggage delays. Did the BA baggage airport staff give you any guidelines for emergency spending or forms or any other assistance when you arrived in Miami? If not, this might be another reason to actually go back to the airport if you are able to.

        • Anna says:
          18 Nov18 November 10:40

          Well don’t forget to claim EU261 compo when you get back – you should be entitled to 600 euros pp as you were delayed so long and technical faults aren’t classed as beyond BA’s control. They may try and wriggle out of it and try and blame it on Covid but pursue via CEDR if necessary. We had a similar problem (different trip!) with faulty air con which prevented the plane taking off and were successful at CEDR.

          • Anna says:
            18 Nov18 November 10:41

            Tom beat me to it!

          • Anna says:
            18 Nov18 November 10:41

            Though if ATC at MAN could see the plane, why couldn’t they at LHR?!

          • Cathy says:
            18 Nov18 November 10:46

            Apparently Manchester can accept a flight with a faulty transponder but London air traffic control can’t due to the amount of flights in the airspace. I’m not technical, can just about fill my car with oil and water so will have to take their word for it.

          • Tom says:
            18 Nov18 November 10:52

            Anna, almost certainly, the transponder failed after take off – by which point the aircraft is already in the air. Primary radar has limited accuracy, and that accuracy fades with distance. It isn’t (relatively) safe to fly in congested airspace without a transponder. Not a shadow of doubt that the decision to return to Manchester was the right call. But nonetheless, it’s a non-extraordinary technical fault and BA will, I strongly suspect, pay this claim with relative ease.

          • Anna says:
            18 Nov18 November 12:06

            Thanks Tom, my question was more about my own cluelessness on technical matters!
            BA refused to pay out on my CEDR claim for the delay caused by faulty air conditioning and I had to go to CEDR (at which point they threw in the towel and coughed up) so it wouldn’t surprise me if Cathy gets some pushback initially. BA tried to tell me that the delay was caused by something else which they weren’t liable for but didn’t bother to try this on with CEDR, which made the process pretty smooth from then on.

          • Lady London says:
            18 Nov18 November 17:53

            Yup. Mechanical failure has been confirmed by solid case law as not an exceptional circumstance. This has been judged as within an airline’s control. Ignore any wriggling by BA you will get compo.

            Though I suppose BA might try to say the transponder caught Covid.

    • Blair says:
      18 Nov18 November 11:15

      No help to you this time but really important to consider Gego or Air Tags for your luggage in future so you’re aware where it is yourself rather than relying on the airline.

      • Cathy says:
        18 Nov18 November 11:50

        Thanks Blair, will definitely look into this when home, would have made things a lot easier.

        • meta says:
          18 Nov18 November 12:49

          Full UK261 compo applies, so 600 euros per person. I got it recently from BA for a cancelled flight for commerical reasons. They can’t blame covid for your technical delay. The baggage delay is regulated by per Montreal Convention and you are entitled to buy things you need, seven days is a long time, so don’t hold back. if after 21 days it doesn’t arrive, you’re entitled to, if I remember correctly $75 per kilo that was checked in up to $1800. That’s per person.

    • BP says:
      18 Nov18 November 13:15

      I’d expect BA will pay for clothes and other essentials. Twice now my bag has not arrived on shorthaul GLA to LON. BA paid about £550 each time to cover the expenses of buying clothes and toiletries as required for a few days.

      • Cathy says:
        18 Nov18 November 13:33

        Thanks Meta and BP that’s really useful to know and I will follow up when home, determined our last 3 days will be enjoying being away and gaining the strength to deal with BA when home.

        • Lady London says:
          18 Nov18 November 17:58

          I’d have thought about asking them to deliver your luggage to your home in the UK as it’s so late it would be no use and your holiday routing makes it too hard to circle back to Miami to collect it etc

          • Cathy says:
            18 Nov18 November 19:06

            Well quite but it’s such a mess. BA logged lost bags at Heathrow and advised would put on Miami aircraft so in effect getting there 3 hours before us. When we landed, they had text whilst in flight to say, not on aircraft it would be the day after and then the day after that! They then changed the lost baggage reference to an AA number. BA now refusing to help, saying contact AA, then AA are saying you flew BA so can’t help. Can’t speak to anyone at MIA by phone, but we are making our way back to Miami tomorrow so will try to do something in person. I have never experienced such awful customer service in my life. I managed a customer service and complaints department so I’m usually the last person to complain and tend to let things go. I’m lost on this one completely!

  • Louie says:
    18 Nov18 November 09:50

    Looking for London hotel recommendations, one night in mid December, 2 adults. Decided to make a night of using the Platinum restaurant credit, probably in Marylebone (Orrery, the first posh restaurant hubby and I went to many years ago).

    I had a look at hotels and thought the May Fair looked good – then looked at Rob’s 2016 review and thought maybe not! Rob, I think you were there yesterday, did you get the impression things had improved?

    I have enough points for most hotel groups’ redemptions plus offers from Amex Travel Australia (spend $300 get $100 back) plus $400 credit and UK (spend £400 get £100 back), plus hotels.com free nights.

    Not looking for anything ultra posh or expensive and have a preference for more modern rather than chintzy, though that’s not a dealbreaker. Doesn’t have to be Marylebone, as there are plenty of areas in London I haven’t explored for years, although easy access to that area would be good. Any thoughts please?

    • Rob says:
      18 Nov18 November 09:52

      There now but won’t see a room. I think as long as you avoid the base level rooms it should be fine. Hotel looks in good shape.

    • Manya says:
      18 Nov18 November 10:02

      The Marylebone might fit your bill. Rooms aren’t too big but has a nice bar and is in a nice part of town.

      If your kind of thing then don’t forget to visit ‘Tommy’s Burgers’ whilst in the area.

      • Gary says:
        18 Nov18 November 19:03

        The Marylebone is lovely & Amex has an offer for the Doyle collection which it is part of.

    • Doreen says:
      18 Nov18 November 10:52

      The Churchill on Portman Sq (Hyatt Regency) is my go to hotel in London. Rooms all updated so no chintz, more modern elegance. Google tells me it’s a 14 min walk to The Orrery

  • Shaw West says:
    18 Nov18 November 10:20

    Anyone tried to set up Clubcard auto conversion to Virgin points? they are running a bonus 2000 points for a £1.50 conversion

  • Michael C says:
    18 Nov18 November 10:36

    Anyone see where to add extra days’ parking onto Sofitel T5? After choosing a room, the “extras” just allows for one night’s parking, although the general Sofitel webpage still advertises 4- and 8-day parking there. Thanks!

  • Tony says:
    18 Nov18 November 10:44

    I recently had a Eurofins fit to fly test done locally. It was basically a portacabin at a supermarket car park. I was greeted by a woman in a puffer jacket who handed me the kit, told me to go sit in my car, do the test and bring it back to her. A few observations:
    1. Not convinced she was medically trained.
    2. She was not wearing a mask or PPE of any sort.
    3. The test wasn’t supervised or observed as I went back to my car to do it.
    4. I handed her the test and watched as she squeezed the sample out into the lateral flow test thing with no gloves. All this was done without much care or attention, as she was looking at me the whole time and talking – some of the gunk went on her fingers. She noticed, and wiped it on her jeans.

    Couldn’t get out of there quick enough. Of course this is just a bit of admin that has to be done to take a trip, but man alive!

    My test was negative, but not sure how long she will be if my experience was anything to go by.

    • Blair says:
      18 Nov18 November 11:17

      I have a mental image of Diane from The Outlaws

      • Anna says:
        18 Nov18 November 12:10

        Lol! Love that programme. Tony, you should have filmed the whole thing on your phone as evidence of the shambles and money-spinning racket that is the travel testing scheme.

      • Tony says:
        18 Nov18 November 13:16

        You’ve pretty much nailed it there.

    • Tracey says:
      18 Nov18 November 15:21

      What medical training do you need to witness an LFT?
      I’m qualified to vaccinate from watching a few videos, observing someone else and then having a go myself! No other medical training.

  • Chelseafi says:
    18 Nov18 November 11:25

    Trip to Scotland in Feb looking at one or two nights Edinburgh FHR options either WA, Kimpton Charlotte or RF Balmoral, any advice on these hotels please? Then driving on to see the lochs 2 or 3 nights stay looking for advice on hotels or Guest House budget around £150pn. Thank you

    • Allan says:
      18 Nov18 November 11:28

      Balmoral is best of those 3 but most expensive. I would suggest Kimpton as next best for location / rooms / price.

    • Clubx says:
      18 Nov18 November 11:28

      Kimpton Charlotte Square is quality. Nice pool/sauna/steam room. Room size is also good and gives out the usual good Kimpton UK vibes. Good location as well for walking around city centre.

      Can’t comment on the other two becusse I never stayed.

    • Vasco says:
      18 Nov18 November 12:59

      The Hilton Grosvenor on North Bridge is pretty good and my hotel of choice in Edinburgh if you want to branch out a bit

      • Chrism20 says:
        18 Nov18 November 16:37

        It’s the Carlton on the bridges, the Grosvenor is at the West End and is no longer a Hilton.

        Have you stayed recently as FT and TA reviews don’t look too hot of late.

        Also North Bridge is now closed for 9 months for roadworks

    • Chrism20 says:
      18 Nov18 November 16:39

      Not sure when it’s opening as the dates have slipped but the Gleneagles Townhouse may be open by February and looks amazing.

      Personally I’d go with the Balmoral

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