Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

The HfP chat thread – Friday 10th December

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.

Comments (375)

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

  • Definitas says:

    I’m starting to plan a trip for March 2023 which includes a one way trip to Sydney. We have got several 2-4-1s and enough Avios but I am aware that seats to SYD are difficult to come by. I think we could potentially split the journey and use a new style 2-4-1 from the mid point or we could perhaps use a mix of carriers. I would be grateful for any tips or suggestions on the best options including fall back options. Thanks

    • Rob says:

      Sounds like a good question for the new forum – headforpoints.com/forums

      • Definitas says:

        I will do just that!

      • Definitas says:

        Hi Rob. I have left a draft post in Housekeeping because I couldn’t figure out how to create a new topic. Please can you have a look and, if appropriate, move it to where it needs to be. Thanks

    • BuildBackBetter says:

      As Rob suggested, a thread on the forum for planning trips using miles would be brilliant.

    • BJ says:

      While posting that you might want to work in multicarier rewards as it sounds you may have a complex itinerary in mind. Covering the two in one forum thread might get a little messy though so search for the HfP article on multicarrier rewards and have a look see if it is useful to you before incorporating it in your forum thread.

    • DaveL says:

      I got a return from SYD to LHR (first!) and booked an outbound to HKG in eco. Upgraded outbound to business when seats came up. Our destination was NZ, so I booked HKG -AUK on ANZ using virgin points (cheap as chips!)

  • Ali M says:

    BAPP free card – if appliedf within 24 months – you dont get the bonus.I know that.
    Would the referrer get the referral bonus?
    Would I still accrue the voucher at 20000 spend?

    • Ali M says:

      stand corrected – 12000 spend.
      also found out only usable for economy class,ugh.
      but you do still get the voucher right?

    • Reney says:

      yes referrer gets bonus and yes you get voucher at 20k spend if you mean the free card. The PP in BAPP means premium plus so I assume you mean the free card.

      • ed_fly says:

        12k spend on free card now? Economy only voucher

        • BJ says:

          Yes, that’s correct. If OP is in no rush to get the card they should be referred only during period when referrer has a boosted sign up bonus if they wish to maximise avios or points.

      • Ali M says:

        Hey Reney – yes. thank you.
        I just actually read it aloud and realised about the PP. I stand corrected,hehe
        Thanks BJ 🙂 I guess I can wait as my next year’s voucher wont be triggered until next year. We are a family of four so really need two vouchers to maximise. Thank you

        • BJ says:

          Remember too not to apply for the SUPP at time of application. Probably best to hold off the SUPP application until after you upgrade the free card to BAPP later in the year. However, in the past I added a SUPP to Blue then cancelled the SUPP so I could get another bonus for adding SUPP to BAPP. I guess this still works but I’d let the 1k go to guarantee the 3k later.

  • BJ says:

    DP: My request to apply a BAH FTV to an avios reward booking was refused. Will wait a while and try again as commented by @Aston.

    • Anna says:

      Was that via email, BJ?

      • BJ says:

        Yes, replied directly to the FTV email as you instructed. Reply was that it could not be done as I used avios. The CSA referred T&C point 7 to support his decision. I cannot actually find this point 7, only a list of FAQ but I think I best just let time pass and try again instead of querying it further.

        • Anna says:

          Yes, try again in a few days and hope you get a better CSA. I must have struck really lucky back in the summer, got nearly £2k from 3 FTVs applied to new long haul avios bookings which covered a good chunk of the taxes/fees!

          • BJ says:

            That was a result 🙂 Only £150 cash at stake for me. Just want to get it back if possible to keep everything tidy. No problem using it per terms in future if I cannot.

        • Aston100 says:

          That is pretty much what they stated in the initial rejection when I tried.
          Worked when I emailed them again a few days later.

  • YC says:

    A huge 70k personal plat SUB if referred!

  • John Caribbean says:

    Creation wrote to me this morning. They haven’t been able to sort my complaint as they are so busy. They suggested I just go straight to FOS

    • Anna says:

      Hopefully the FOS will take a dim view of such a response!

      • JDB says:

        That response is actually the required response. If they have failed to meet the eight week deadline (and it is not at all uncommon across the industry), they must offer the option of going straight to the FOS, which the person is entitled to do and they would usually ask for an extension at the same time which the customer can refuse although it is not usually in their best interest to do so.

        • Anna says:

          I know it’s the right response, I meant that Creation are obviously so badly organised that they can’t meet the 8 week deadline!

    • Ls says:

      If they have 1000 people they say this to, it will cost them best part of a million quid in FOS fees.

      • Lady London says:

        Not necessarily (though it would serve Creation right 🙂 )

        Since a new interim head of FOS was appointed only a few months ago they’ve reduced their backlog, at least before Creation complaints, by close to 50%.

        I believe one way they are doing that by grouping complaints and bulk-deciding them. So Creation might be getting away with not having to pay £750 per complaint. Or, based on many complaints received, Creation might have previously arranged a ‘season ticket rate’ with the FOS.

        One way or another though Creation’s actions are going to cost them dear.

    • Pid says:

      Got a letter too dated the day before the card was closed raising my credit limit!

      • Lady London says:

        Keep it.
        It may turn out highly useful to prove the inconsistency of the provider’s actions wihch goes towards casting doubts on the reasonableness of other of their actions

  • Mco says:

    Following up from my question yesterday in regards to parking a SUV with suitcases in Mayfair. Is there any street parking outside or close to Hakasan? Just trying to avoid the trip from M1 to Heathrow hotel to drop them off and back. I haven’t been to central London by car in ages.

    • JDB says:

      You can park in Bruton Street itself – 4 hour parking spaces, £5/hour or surrounding streets. I didn’t want to tempt fate on your question/answers yesterday, but my wife drove it home safely last night full of valuable presents and £3k of wine that had been variously parked in Mayfair, Chelsea, Paddington and Ladbroke Grove over the previous 2 days; do this fairly regularly and was quite surprised by all the scaremongers!

    • AJA says:

      Don’t forget to pay the £15 congestion charge – it now operates until 10pm 7 days a week

  • Blindman67 says:

    Sorry -Can’t find the answer.

    Amazon £20 “trick” for removing all but VISA credit cards.

    When\where does the £20 offer appear?

    Thanks

    B

  • Niall says:

    Does anyone know if the Fortnum and Mason Amex offer works on spend in the wine bar? Terms and conditions say excluded events, experiences and services but I guess it’s none of them?

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