The HfP chat thread – Thursday 18th November

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Martin says:

18 Nov18 November 14:02

It’s 2pm on the 18th November and I still can’t get access to the BA executive club… is it just me or is it still down?
- Anna says:
  
  18 Nov18 November 14:10
  
  I could log on yesterday but not today!
- Jane says:
  
  18 Nov18 November 14:11
  
  I can’t get access either.
  What is going on?
- Craig says:
  
  18 Nov18 November 14:14
  
  I managed to log into the app earlier and am still logged in.
  - Doreen says:
    
    18 Nov18 November 14:21
    
    Yes, me too – via the App but not able to log in via a browser. There was a message saying something like we can no longer show flights used to apply for a voucher? I was surprised to see some flights that I have changed are still showing the original date but now flying to/from LGW Gatwick, Terminal 5 ! Why do they keep those flights, sometimes having removed the BAEC number ?
  - Martin says:
    
    18 Nov18 November 14:39
    
    Yes sorry the app opens for me as well, but I can’t get access via the website on a browser… and the app doesn’t show my latest tier points being added from a flight on the 13th either
- Can says:
  
  18 Nov18 November 14:38
  
  One time I wanted to do holidays shopping early without stress, and this sh*t happened.
- NvT1115 says:
  
  18 Nov18 November 14:46
  
  When trying to login now there is a new message saying planned improvements taking a ‘little longer’ than expected…. I suppose ‘little’ is open to interpretation just like a minute to next tube train…
  - CarpalTravel says:
    
    18 Nov18 November 14:51
    
    Just imagine the thrill when we can once again log in!
    
    I for one simply cannot wait to see all the improvements that will no doubt be apparent to all.
    
    🥸
    - Simon says:
      
      18 Nov18 November 17:35
      
      It’s a new font!
  - Mick S says:
    
    18 Nov18 November 16:04
    
    I’ve worked in IT for 30 years. Add the usual contingency time and incorporate this into the outage period.
    
    So they have either got some really poor IT folk there, or they are having some serious issues. It doesn’t sound good IMO
    - Anna says:
      
      18 Nov18 November 16:08
      
      Is the same person doing it who unplugged them at the wall a couple of years ago?!
    - CarpalTravel says:
      
      18 Nov18 November 16:32
      
      Absolutely, I would also have an immoveable deadline in place so that if by a certain point progress wasn’t X percent complete, we would be rolling back and trying again at a later date.
      
      I am sure for the majority of people they probably won’t even notice or care. It’s not like it is the main booking channel that is offline.
      
      Us here though on this site can simply sit back and chuckle at this cracking demonstration of ineptitude.
      - Sam G says:
        
        18 Nov18 November 16:45
        
        They couldn’t seem to (whether planned or not!) keep everyone 100% out. So if you’ve got to a certain point and then transactions have started to happen you may just not be in a position to roll back and have to proceed to fix forward. There is also the consideration that you’ve already been offline for multiple days, a roll back and then multiple more days offline in the future (probably in 2022 now due to Xmas) is a worse option than just riding it out – especially as you say, commercial bookings and the bulk of business can proceed as usual.
        
        But it does seem to have been a less than solid performance by their tech…. however anyone who works in airline IT will know what an absolute headache of multiple interfaces and legacy systems it is and it’s hard to test/emulate exactly what will happen usually. I feel for the poor guys and gals trying to get everything up and running again!
      - Luca says:
        
        18 Nov18 November 17:17
        
        I managed to log in my BA app with the EC logging details that previously was not available but if I open the BA Rewards App, it does not let me log in, still saying that there is a “Scheduled Maintainace”
      - Luca says:
        
        18 Nov18 November 17:17
        
        I managed to log in my BA app with the EC logging details that previously was not available but if I open the BA Rewards App, it does not let me log in, still saying that there is a “Scheduled maintenance”
- Whisper says:
  
  18 Nov18 November 18:30
  
  I have been able to login if I do a flight search from the front page – when it gives you the price and options to book, the “Log In” button at the top right becomes active and allows me to log in to BAEC, Avios seem to be there and correct.
  The “Log In” button on the front page of ba.com is still greyed out and inactive for me.
- Lyn says:
  
  18 Nov18 November 18:56
  
  You could try the Aer Lingus shopping portal. It looks as if it is also 6x avios.
Jim says:

18 Nov18 November 14:43

When booking using a BA 2-4-1 voucher, is it possible to pay the taxes with an evoucher, over the phone?
- Rhys says:
  
  18 Nov18 November 15:23
  
  I believe so, yes
  - Jim says:
    
    18 Nov18 November 15:26
    
    Are BA taking bookings with Avios over the phone now (if you can get through?)
    - Jim says:
      
      18 Nov18 November 15:36
      
      The answer is no and the lady I spoke to said that they still don’t have a timeframe but tomorrow at the earliest…
- Harry T says:
  
  18 Nov18 November 22:41
  
  I think Rhys is incorrect here – flyertalk is the best place to ask.
Dan says:

18 Nov18 November 15:19

Email from IHG… “Enjoy a getaway even more with up to 11,000 bonus points*, on your next two qualifying stays, at IHG® Hotels & Resorts. Just book and stay with your IHG Rewards Club Credit Card, or IHG Rewards Club Premium Credit Card to earn.” Has nobody told them?!
- BrianS says:
  
  18 Nov18 November 15:20
  
  Was just going to post this. Salt in the wounds time!
  - elguiri says:
    
    18 Nov18 November 15:23
    
    Be happy you don’t have the app installed then, got a pop up notification as well as the email…
- John says:
  
  18 Nov18 November 15:34
  
  Still have my black IHG Card, still working, no letter and points still crediting
- EvilGazebo says:
  
  18 Nov18 November 15:49
  
  I mean it’s world class trolling to be fair.
- Duncan says:
  
  18 Nov18 November 16:08
  
  I have to imagine it’s a relatively small proportion of IHG credit card holders who were actually affected by the closure, even if that represents a significant proportion of HFPers.
  
  I got that email too, though it says “Book with the card” rater than “Pay for your stay with the card”. I have some existing bookings that were not booked with the card, but I could PAY with the card.🤔
- VerdantBacon says:
  
  18 Nov18 November 19:27
  
  Don’t think they care enough about the tiny percentage of people who are having their cards cancelled, to bother removing them from the mailing list
  - CF Frost says:
    
    18 Nov18 November 22:19
    
    Might I enquire, kindly, as to the aetiology of your chosen screen name? I have been curious for a while.
Don says:

18 Nov18 November 15:28

Just saw it too and have e-mailed their Corporate Offices in UTAH. Previously they said that they have no influence on Creation. Yet here today is the posting from IHG very clearly promoting the Creation Black Card. It’s dishonest at best.
- Anna says:
  
  18 Nov18 November 16:09
  
  Hmm maybe don’t poke them based on the discussion on page 2ish!
- JDB says:
  
  18 Nov18 November 17:04
  
  IHG’s corporate offices are in the UK; it’s a UK plc. The vast majority of people haven’t had their cards cancelled, so what’s wrong with their email. Inviting attention to anyone’s account is a high risk strategy.
  - VerdantBacon says:
    
    18 Nov18 November 19:30
    
    If people couldn’t be incorrectly righteously indignant over the pettiest thing on HfP the comments would halve overnight
    - Sloth says:
      
      18 Nov18 November 21:58
      
      -90%…
Paul Pogba says:

18 Nov18 November 15:39

QFF members: Accor have extended their existing Air France partnership to Qantas; you can now earn QFF points in addition to Accor Live Limitless rewards at a rate of 3QFF pts per A$1 spent at the hotel chain by linking your account at: https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/partners/accor/link.html

Also, if you have Qantas Gold (Sapphire), you can get ALL Silver by completing one (eligible) hotel stay. Qantas Platinum (Emerald) earn 2 ALL Reward points per A$10 on QF coded flights.
- Paul Pogba says:
  
  18 Nov18 November 16:00
  
  Bugger, just read the T&Cs, it only applies to Asia Pacific hotels. Feel free to delete, I feel this has gone from being a niche interest to no interest.
- marcw says:
  
  18 Nov18 November 16:14
  
  Regardless, it’s quite interesting how this is developing.
  A shame it’s only Asia Pacific, but it is very rewarding.
Anna says:

18 Nov18 November 16:36

Car hire 2022 – many thanks to @Liz for prompting me to have another look! Just bagged a SUV for 20 days next July in GCM for $832 with one of the local outfits. It looks as though stocks across the pond may be in the process of being replenished so it might be worth holding off booking for another few weeks.
- Mel T says:
  
  18 Nov18 November 17:51
  
  Anna – Thank you, I will keep an eye out – I was beginning to think our planned road trip would be suddenly a city tour instead as £2000 adds a fair bit onto our expected budget!
- Alan H says:
  
  18 Nov18 November 18:58
  
  Is that with Andy’s or Marshall’s?
  - Anna says:
    
    18 Nov18 November 19:23
    
    Andy’s, we mostly use them apart from a couple of years when we’ve gone with Avis (no chance with what they’re quoting atm!). They’re really helpful and will come and get you if your hotel isn’t near the office!
    - Alan H says:
      
      18 Nov18 November 19:39
      
      I agree. I looked at Avis through BA for January and it was ridiculous compared with Andys who I’ve used for years and usually get 20% discount as a loyalty bonus but I’ll have to see whether that’s still applied post pandemic. I wonder whether we should DM with our specific experience at this location: I suspect we have similar background!
Stephen says:

18 Nov18 November 16:48

Hilton TRIPLE base points query
Has anyone using the Barclaycard Visa HHonors card had any experience of being credited with the extra “base” points and when were they credited? I have spent the last 6 weeks going back and forth with Hilton themselves and the Conrad Maldives and I appear to be getting nowhere – I am not sure they even understand the offer! I was credited with double base points immediately but no sign of the extra. Any help/advice much appreciated.
I seem to recall some discussion when the offer was announced as to whether you had to pay with the card or just have the card or even just settle – what I believe I have established is the bonus only applies to what you actually spend with the Hilton credit card
Just for clarity, say I got 5000 base points for my stay, I have been credited an extra 5000 per the offer when that should be 10000, then there is 4000 for the gold status bonus as well
- Stephen says:
  
  18 Nov18 November 16:49
  
  Just to add I settled the final half of the bill with the card so maybe that is what has caused the issue. If I had used it for the whole bill maybe things would have been OK but the offer clearly allows you to settle as much or as little with the card as you like.
- Kevin C says:
  
  18 Nov18 November 17:11
  
  Sadly can’t help with your enquiry but did you enjoy the Rangali? We have it booked for next year.
  - Stephen says:
    
    18 Nov18 November 17:50
    
    Yes we had a great time. Real tropical beach paradise. Cant say we did too much whilst there other than fab couples spa visit and whale shark snorkelling. Plenty of others there seemed to be pretty fanatical scuba divers and theres plenty of other water-based activities available. Staff very friendly and helpful. Food and drink obviously not cheap but not outrageously more than we would spend at a fancy restaurant in London so not as much of a culture shock for us as it might be for others. Seaplane transfer a bit of an “experience”. Hope you have a great time.
    - Kevin C says:
      
      19 Nov19 November 20:54
      
      Thank you! We’re looking forward to it.
- Mick S says:
  
  18 Nov18 November 17:13
  
  My most recent booking from Hilton Edinburgh
  Base points 9373
  Diamond Elite 100% Bonus 9373
  Diamond MyWay Bonus 1000
  2021 Power-up promotion – HH Credit card – 9373
  2021 Power-up promotion 9373
  
  These were posted 2 days after checkout
  - Stephen says:
    
    18 Nov18 November 17:48
    
    thanks Mick, I was expecting something like that – I just have the Power up promotion – its a fight for 35,000 points so will keep going!
    - Mick S says:
      
      18 Nov18 November 18:29
      
      def worth the fight. Good luck
- John says:
  
  18 Nov18 November 18:56
  
  The Hilton card should be the card on file (preferably at the time of booking, check-in and check-out) to get the points automatically
  
  Don’t know how this hotel works, but if you want to pay with a different card to the Hilton card, you should not let them enter the other card details into the system – they should only put the amount on the card reader and let you insert the card
  
  If you can get it to be done like this, you will usually get the triple points even if you pay the entire bill with another card
  - Stephen says:
    
    18 Nov18 November 20:17
    
    My hilton card was on the booking but I think i used another card when I checked in to hotel which is maybe what has caused the problem by the sound of it. Hopefully I will get there in the end. Thanks for the info John
ChrisC says:

18 Nov18 November 17:17

BA Holidays 1

Cancelled a BA Holiday to Berlin for December yesterday for a voucher.

Email came today and what an absolute mess it is with a 10 character code that bears no relation to the initial booking and a cash amount that only reflects the value of 2 vouchers I used to pay off the balance and ignoring the deposit I paid plus another voucher I used (and got partial cash refund for)

Good job I keep a record of the initial costs and all the payments I made so when I reply to use it I can quote chapter and verse!

So check voucher values are what you expect them to be especially if you have used other vouchers to pay off the balance!