The HfP chat thread – Friday 26th November

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• Hub says:

  26 Nov26 November 03:05

  Unable to reserve seat as no plane layout appears on BA Manage My Booking – a solution
  For those people who are not seasoned travellers like me I thought this may be useful. It worked for me earlier after not being able to view seating plan on several occasions over the last month.
  – Go to rj.com also works on Malaysian and Qatar
  – On first page click on Manage Booking
  – Enter booking reference and surname
  – Scroll down until you get Buy Extra Services and you will see Seat Map. Mine was £0 as previously bought during the Avios offer
  – Choose seats and save
  – I have subsequently cross checked with the BA site and it has changed the seats.
  Happy seat selection 😀😀😀
  Ian

  • AJA says:

    26 Nov26 November 07:49

    You can also do the same on Qantas and Finnair websites too.

  • Sam G says:

    26 Nov26 November 08:51

    Also handy for any Iberia/ BA codeshare flights which always seem to be a hassle to manage seats on for me

• Magarathea says:

  26 Nov26 November 03:29

  Good morning. Spire suite success! Last week in Staybridge Suites Yas Island Abu Dhabi got upgraded from studio suite to 1 bedroom suite. This week in Dubai Festival city Crowne Plaza upgraded from standard room to massive 1 bedroom suite. Well pleased. Thanks HFPs!

  • Mr. AC says:

    26 Nov26 November 17:22

    Wow! Rare to hear about Spires getting anything like that…

• Terwri says:

  26 Nov26 November 03:55

  Would appreciate some help to know if a compensation claim will be met by BA. Over 1 hour delayed into DFW ( which seems to be a regular pattern for that flight). Not a weather delay but maintenance and change of aircraft at LHR. Missed my onward connection by minutes. Layover was meant to be 1hour 57 minutes. As my onward flight was the last of the evening, I queued up at Aa cust services who arranged an overnight hotel, cab vouchers to and from the hotel and an onward flight next day. I arrived approx 14 hours after my intended arrival. Does this count for compensation for delay? Thanks

  • Tariq says:

    26 Nov26 November 05:21

    Were both flights on the same PNR/booking? Or booked separately?

    • Terwri says:

      26 Nov26 November 13:43

      Same booking with Ba metal internationally and Aa domestic US but with a BA flight number

  • Blenz101 says:

    26 Nov26 November 05:30

    I thought it was 2 hours minimum connection time at DFW from international to domestic. This makes me think if BA ticketed this they shouldn’t have, did any flights get re-timed etc?

    Or was the US domestic on a separate ticket?

    • Terwri says:

      26 Nov26 November 13:44

      I believe the mct is about 1 hour 30 so 1 hr 57 was fine

  • FCP says:

    26 Nov26 November 05:32

    Same ticket, then yes EU261/UK261 €600 for delay

    • ChrisC says:

      26 Nov26 November 06:48

      For accuracy under the UK regulation the € amounts in EU261 were converted into £ amounts in UK261 so in this case it would be (assuming there isn’t an exemption involved) £ 520.

    • Terwri says:

      26 Nov26 November 13:48

      Thanks, yes same ticket

  • Anna says:

    26 Nov26 November 08:00

    BA may well try to wriggle out of paying this in the first instance, you might have to make a claim via CEDR or MCOL. But I had something very similar a couple of years ago and they paid up in the end (broken air con at JFK resulting in missed connection at LHR).

    • Sam G says:

      26 Nov26 November 08:53

      There were some cases (Emirates I think?) that established that it was the journey that is eligible not each flight in isolation. But agree, probably get a decline up front

      • Lady London says:

        26 Nov26 November 11:45

        Yes on a single ticket it’s measured from arrival time at destination if you’re connecting. Delay at the connecting point is irrelevant. It’s delay at final destination so you are due full compo. If they try to say maintenance/mechanical issue is exceptional curcumstances nope it’s not. They have to pay you compo in full plus reimburse your duty of care ie hotel, meals due to the enforced overnight stop, transport to and from your hotel, comms costs as to internet or a couple of phone calls.

        Let us know how it goes but these you will get.

        • Terwri says:

          26 Nov26 November 13:47

          Thank you!

  • AJA says:

    26 Nov26 November 08:05

    Wow that’s not fun. But good on AA on the duty of care aspects. As others have said if the onward flight was on the same PNR then yes BA should be on the hook for delay compensation. What happened to your hold luggage, if you had any? I’d be inclined to claim anyway, you might get extra Avios as goodwill even if it’s not on the same booking ref.

    • Terwri says:

      26 Nov26 November 13:47

      No hold baggage as I had noted that the BA flight is at least 40 mins late each day. DFW immigration ( with no Global entry) was superb, quick and friendly.

• FCP says:

  26 Nov26 November 05:33

  Curve fronted question please.
  I have legacy black, which VS card does not allow deposits to Interactive Investor.
  Does anybody know if Curve Fronted overrides this and works?
  No need for me to get Metal if it does not.
  Thanks.

  • Rui N. says:

    26 Nov26 November 06:28

    You can try Curve Fronted in the free card, just turn it on on the app and see if it works. But usually when a transaction requires Fronted the app sends a notification saying so.

    • FCP says:

      26 Nov26 November 12:47

      Thanks, I was not aware fronted was already there. It declined.

  • Travel Strong says:

    26 Nov26 November 08:31

    You can try it without turning it on. it declines in a different way if it was a ‘fronted off’ rejection, or an underlying card rejection.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    26 Nov26 November 09:00

    Try £100 and see.

• Tracy Regan says:

  26 Nov26 November 06:37

  We’re currently in a hotel at Gatwick waiting for our fit to fly results to travel to Mauritius tomorrow night. I’m now having serious concerns that the red list will be applied to Mauritius and we’ll have to hotel quarantine when we return. I really don’t know what to do. How late can I leave it to cancel. 241 Avios booking without losing the Avios/voucher. Thanks.

  • ChrisC says:

    26 Nov26 November 06:56

    You can leave it as late as the close of check-in to claim an FTV (so an hour before the flight) but that would be cutting it very fine to cancel that late.

    • Tracy Regan says:

      26 Nov26 November 07:21

      Thanks Chris.

  • Rob says:

    26 Nov26 November 09:02

    FTV – one hour before departure

    • Tracy Regan says:

      26 Nov26 November 09:41

      Thanks Rob.

  • Andy says:

    26 Nov26 November 09:11

    Why would Mauritius be a problem? For now the variant is one of concern but there is no point overreacting. It’s very low level on South Africa and quick action has probably meant it will be fine. Take a deep breath and enjoy your holiday.

    • Tracy Regan says:

      26 Nov26 November 09:40

      Thanks Andy. I think that’s what we’re going to do. Your sensible words have put it in to context and convinced me. Now to hope the storms don’t stop us taking off!!! I’m becoming such a pessimist.

    • Ambient says:

      26 Nov26 November 09:41

      Mauritius is popular for people from South Africa

• Shaw west says:

  26 Nov26 November 06:59

  While all other airline are huffing on their BF deals, ryanair announces BOGOF deal for BF . 😛

  • BJ says:

    26 Nov26 November 07:18

    BOFOF deals just infuriate solo travellers.

    • ChrisC says:

      26 Nov26 November 07:24

      Indeed it does!

      50% off suits solo travellers and those travelling in odd numbered parties!

      • Blenz101 says:

        26 Nov26 November 07:46

        But the offer is clearly targeting leisure travellers. If you are travelling on your own you are most likely doing it for business travel or a trip which isn’t discretionary.

        Same reason a friends and family rail card literally requires you to have a friend or family member to travel with.

        Those who travel on their own for leisure must be a tiny minority.

        • ChrisC says:

          26 Nov26 November 07:54

          ALL my travel is leisure travel.

          And solo travellers are growing in numbers and definitely aren’t a tiny minority,

          I’ve heard the “but business travellers will get the cheap deals instead of paying full price” argument.

          Well there are ways around that such as requiring a Saturday night stay or minimum trip length that will put most business travellers off.

        • Andrew says:

          26 Nov26 November 08:02

          Ridiculous comment. There are lots of people that travel alone for leisure.

        • Blenz101 says:

          26 Nov26 November 08:10

          May be growing in numbers but still a minority.

          The Saturday night stay doesn’t work for the way Ryanair sell their tickets.

          BYGOF targets the largest number of leisure travellers and broadly ensures business travellers and those making non-discretionary journeys (travelling to meet family etc) are excluded.

        • Blenz101 says:

          26 Nov26 November 08:15

          The same Andrew that thinks Black Friday isn’t a thing? But when there is an offer targeting a specific group that is also unacceptable.

          Of course Ryanair could have just slashed all ticket prices by 50% if they wanted, no doubt far easier to execute, but they made a very conscious decision to stimulate demand from leisure passengers.

          Solo travellers just get the same price as was previously available. Not like they are introducing a single person supplement.

        • Andrew says:

          26 Nov26 November 08:19

          I certainly have no desire to take up a Ryanair offer of any kind, so my nose certainly wasn’t put out of joint regarding the offer – more your tone that solo travellers are a tiny minority, which is not only incorrect but also condescending to people who do travel alone.

        • Spurs drive me mad says:

          26 Nov26 November 09:06

          Think you have that wrong many single people travel for leisure me included.

        • Lady London says:

          26 Nov26 November 11:52

          And a wealthier minority on average.
          That’s why I don’t even look at the offers from Qatar and Swiss now. Even if the particular offer doesn’t require two travellers. I’m just put off those airlines generally by those offers.

          Same as I ignore any IHG offers. Allowing nights to qualify for an offer only from the second night just feels unfair as above.

          So I don’t even look at other offers for any vendor I see repeating offers only open to 2 passengers.

    • Bill says:

      26 Nov26 November 08:45

      Increases load factor

      • Mikeact says:

        26 Nov26 November 09:36

        I wouldn’t mind being a single traveller sometimes but my wife always wants to come with me….

        • Chas says:

          26 Nov26 November 19:25

          I feel your pain…. 😉

  • Tony1 says:

    26 Nov26 November 14:06

    Will be back to Buy One Get One on Tuesday ….

• Nadeshka says:

  26 Nov26 November 07:03

  Thinking that I’m going to bite the bullet and postpone our spring trip to Japan as I just don’t see them opening up to ‘normal’ tourism in time.
  Would the best (cheapest/easiest) approach be to apply for an FTV and call up once issued to book the new dates I want later in the year?
  Any risks in that approach that mean it would be better to just pay the change fees to do it in one (e.g. delays in Ftvs being issued?)

  • Nadeshka says:

    26 Nov26 November 07:16

    Actually thanks to BAs IT I think this is my only option – it’s not letting me cancel online and it’s not allowing the change (even if I wanted to pay the fees) as it’s more than a year from original booking.

  • ChrisC says:

    26 Nov26 November 07:31

    You could wait until closer to your trip dates before doing anything and see if BA cancels or reschedules the flight by more than 4 hours which would mean you could claim a full refund rather than a voucher.

    If BA cancels or also opens up other options for a free rebooking under the EU/UK261 regulation whereas with a voucher you’d have to pay any fare difference on a future flight.

    In the meantime if you decide you’d rather go somewhere else you could claim the FTV from your Japan trip when you decide that and use it towards your new trip.

  • BJ says:

    26 Nov26 November 07:31

    Have similar issues with an open jaw TYO/BKK in March. Contemplating dropping Japan for just Thailand if seats are available. If so I’ll just pay up for change. If not I will opt for FTV. I’ve only had to opt for two of those so far and used one already without issues. This is our 50% avios booking so I’ll risk seat availability sitting on it into late February for a BA cancellation (the best result as far as changes are concerned) or a change in Japan situation.

    • Nadeshka says:

      26 Nov26 November 08:32

      Thanks, we long since lost our 50% booking so this is a standard 241 redemption and no benefit to holding out Vs taking the FTV as far as I can see.
      Even if they open up it will certainly be with testing and that all sounds a little stressful – we’re traveling with a baby and toddler in tow so quarantine would be less than ideal.
      It was booked 355 days out so from all the comments here it sounds like we’d have a fight trying to get rebooked later anyway, and given there are available seats on dates we could do, it doesn’t seem worth waiting.
      We have hotel bookings to decide too, annual leave to cancel etc so have taken the plunge and requested the voucher. They were almost instant coming through.
      Called up and the hold message says they are having system issues and to call back tomorrow if you can, which isn’t filling me with confidence!

      So if anyone wants march seats to Tokyo next year there might be 4 available now!

• Rui N. says:

  26 Nov26 November 07:09

  All that talk about Monese selling heavily discounted gift cards convinced me to open an account. Any black friday deals or any refs going around?

  • Charlie says:

    26 Nov26 November 07:16

    There is an inflated friends referral of your wish to use mine!

    Join Monese and get up to £50 once you start spending! Just enter my invite code when you sign up: CHENG463.

    Download the app here: https://www.mone.se/7vQs/29ada939

    • Rui N. says:

      26 Nov26 November 07:23

      Fantastic! Do you know the conditions to get the £50 before I go installing the app, etc.?

      • Genghis says:

        26 Nov26 November 07:33

        After they make their first card transaction, you’ll both get £30.

        You’ll both get £20 once they’ve spent £500 with their Monese card (including sending money internationally!)

        https://www.mone.se/7vQs/ad11cdbe

        • Rui N. says:

          26 Nov26 November 07:37

          Thanks a lot Genghis!

    • StevieKicks says:

      26 Nov26 November 09:47

      Thanks Charlie, used your code but can’t activate account until I’m back in UK
      Hopefully the bonus will still apply

  • Swiss Jim says:

    26 Nov26 November 07:46

    To get access to these discounts, am I right that your account needs to be pre-funded?

    • BJ says:

      26 Nov26 November 08:13

      Ot’s a current account, you need sufficient funds in the account to cover anything you purchae.

    • Rich says:

      26 Nov26 November 08:48

      You also need to have sufficient funds in there before you every the promo code, or it won’t work.

  • ChrisC says:

    26 Nov26 November 09:04

    Do you need a particular level of accoutn with them as do you get better offers if you pay more?

    • BJ says:

      26 Nov26 November 22:06

      No, you can keep just a pound there and just transfer in befiore buying voucher.

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