The HfP chat thread – Sunday 12th December

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• VickyTM says:

  12 Dec12 December 05:07

  Morning 😊

• VickyTM says:

  12 Dec12 December 05:08

  Apparently saying “morning” requires moderation… sigh

  • Rob says:

    12 Dec12 December 10:01

    Should be fine now – but since the format launch the moderation software has got a little overexcited. Hopefully it will settle down.

• Save East Coast Rewards says:

  12 Dec12 December 05:43

  The easyJet plus article is missing the comments section currently. As there’s now three easyJet companies (EZY, EZS and EJU) is it right to assume the benefits are identical across all three carriers and from a customer perspective they’re all the same airline? Or are there differences in the on-board product like with BA and BA CityFlyer?

• BJ says:

  12 Dec12 December 06:20

  Is BAEC call centre staffed on Christmas day? I’m guessing not but just want to double check as it’ll be T355 for me.

  • Mike says:

    12 Dec12 December 06:50

    I would hope that it is – I can’t really understand why it is not manned 24/7/365.

    • BJ says:

      12 Dec12 December 07:15

      Naturally, but we know the score – for the moment it is very inadequately manned <24/7/365 🙁

  • Anna says:

    12 Dec12 December 08:17

    +1 but I think I’ll just try and grab my outbound flights online, I’m not sure I could cope with the torment of calling BA on Xmas Day!

    • BJ says:

      12 Dec12 December 08:42

      Same, except I just had the thought it might just maybe be relatively painless that day.

      • Anna says:

        12 Dec12 December 09:00

        Will they not just have a skeleton staff on? Though of course Xmas Day isn’t necessarily a holiday in some of the overseas call centres. I might give it a go actually as I have 2 FTVs with 241s!

• Clem Fandango says:

  12 Dec12 December 06:29

  Good Morning from the nearly deserted T5B lounge. Heading to Larnaca, anyone used the lounge there for the way back?

  • Toast says:

    12 Dec12 December 07:19

    The Aspire at Larnaca isn’t too bad – the usual Aspire service. I think there’s an Aegean too, but suspect that BAEC status doesn’t give access. It has a balcony with view of the runway which might be worth checking out.

  • Save East Coast Rewards says:

    12 Dec12 December 07:22

    I’m sure I read somewhere that the T5B lounge had self pour champagne. Is that the case and if you tried it do you know what type it was? The T5B lounge was rarely busy even in the best of times which is why I would often head there given the chance (even though I had Flounge access)

    • AFKAE says:

      12 Dec12 December 11:31

      Yes, it did when I went in mid November. Sadly I can’t remember the details……not because I consumed too much…..I hasten to add

    • davefl says:

      12 Dec12 December 12:26

      One sec.. let me walk 20 ft to check for you 🙂

      The only fizz on offer for self pour is Prospero. I’m sticking to the St Emillion.

  • Gruntfuttock says:

    12 Dec12 December 07:24

    Clem, can you here me? 😅

    • Gruntfuttock says:

      12 Dec12 December 07:26

      🤦‍♂️*hear* jeez what I’d give for an edit button

    • Clem Fandango says:

      13 Dec13 December 17:51

      I can hear you Stephen 🙂

  • davefl says:

    12 Dec12 December 12:18

    I’m Galleries South now having just arrived from in from Larnaca.
    All egates working, zero queues, went to Halo, no queues, same back in via security north only queued for about 5 mins.

    T5 pretty quiet and galleries south deserted. Maybe only 20 people in here.
    I walked up the tunnel to C gates and back. Not a patch on other airport tunnels like Detroit and couple of others that brighten it up with art and exhibitions.

    Was in the Aspire lounge at Larnaca at 6am this morning. 5 people in it as there’s no other flights scheduled out the same time as the BA661.
    Typical Aspire offering, not a bad place to be.

  • Clem Fandango says:

    13 Dec13 December 17:54

    Thanks for all the tips. I’ll see if I can get into the Aegean with either BA Silver or failing that I’ve still got 2 free goes on the PP

• Nicky says:

  12 Dec12 December 06:54

  Good morning, up early to fly to Southampton to board QM2 off to the States:

  • Mike says:

    12 Dec12 December 07:04

    Ooh sounds amazing- let’s have regular updates

  • BJ says:

    12 Dec12 December 07:19

    At these times that sounds like all the romance, glamour and drama of a travel adventure in the olden days … enjoy!

  • can says:

    12 Dec12 December 07:43

    That’s amazing!

  • Paul says:

    12 Dec12 December 08:02

    Would really welcome a mini trip report on how they are handling check in, testing to board, the on board experience (ie masks service etc) and how USA covid testing entry is being handled.
    I am doing my first crossing in April (don’t call it a cruise ) and splashing out as it’s my 25 wedding anniversary year, my fifty tenth birthday and to mark my retirement!!

    • Nicky says:

      12 Dec12 December 13:06

      Yes, no problem. We have to have a test tomorrow to board the ship, a test before we get to NY, another test to board Royal Caribbean, pre departure test back to UK and 2 day test. Hope no more but will post at each stage 👍

      • Bent B says:

        12 Dec12 December 13:13

        Heading of the states next week. Is a rapid test fine?

  • Andy says:

    12 Dec12 December 08:52

    We’re off to the Caribbean with Royal for 3 weeks next week, can’t wait

• Chrism20 says:

  12 Dec12 December 07:37

  You’re all depressing me so far this morning with being up early to go on your travels.

  I’m up early to go and sit on the checkout in Sainsbury’s in keeping with the field team having to work in stores during the silly season.

  Not jealous at all, hope you all have a good time

  • Save East Coast Rewards says:

    12 Dec12 December 07:44

    Well it’s not all roses, I’m still in Egypt waiting for my friend to finish quarantine. Although I don’t have to quarantine as the rest of the group has gone home I pretty much spend most of the time working in my room.

    I can’t imagine it’s much fun working in retail over Christmas though.

  • Andrew says:

    12 Dec12 December 08:16

    But it’s Sunday – supermarkets don’t open early.

    • Save East Coast Rewards says:

      12 Dec12 December 08:49

      Depends how they define early, also how far do they need to travel to get there and any pre-opening briefing.

    • Kevin C says:

      12 Dec12 December 08:56

      Locals do.

      • blenz101 says:

        12 Dec12 December 09:02

        Locals aren’t supermarkets.

        • Geoff 1977 says:

          12 Dec12 December 09:36

          The original poster didn’t say supermarket

        • blenz101 says:

          12 Dec12 December 10:12

          But Andrew did which was the comment that was being responded to.

          “But it’s Sunday – supermarkets don’t open early.” … “locals do”

        • David says:

          12 Dec12 December 10:24

          But it doesn’t matter. Try reeling your neck in for once.

    • John says:

      12 Dec12 December 09:00

      Scotland?

    • Chrism20 says:

      12 Dec12 December 09:16

      We don’t observe Sunday trading laws in Scotland. You can fill your trolley at 5am if you wish up here

    • Spurs drive me mad says:

      12 Dec12 December 09:27

      Haha tell that to my Son who works nights shift for Tesco.

    • TGLoyalty says:

      12 Dec12 December 09:31

      That’s very England centric of your Andrew.

      • Andrew says:

        12 Dec12 December 10:10

        Indeed. Because that’s where I live.

    • StevieKicks says:

      12 Dec12 December 09:45

      They do in Scotland – same hours as the rest of the week

      • TGLoyalty says:

        12 Dec12 December 10:08

        Shame that sensible view hasn’t made its way south.

        6 hours max what a load of nonsense.

        • Andrew says:

          12 Dec12 December 10:12

          I do agree with that. Although much of Europe has no trading at all on Sunday – you go to Paris and the shops are closed all day.

        • Paul says:

          12 Dec12 December 10:26

          I would welcome the European model. More family friendly and in Germany has no discernible impact on economy. I don’t know why shops open at 9am and close at 5:30 M-F open later stay open later in evening and close on Sundays. In Germany I think they still close on some Saturday afternoons .

        • yorkieflyer says:

          12 Dec12 December 10:28

          I’m still sad the Keep Sunday special campaign didn’t succeed. As with many things the continental way is best in my view.

        • Blair says:

          12 Dec12 December 12:23

          People can keep Sunday special themselves by choosing not to go shopping. Governments should have no role in dictating by law when a commercial transaction can occur between retailer anf customer. Especially governments that claim to want to save our high streets.

        • Lyn says:

          12 Dec12 December 16:13

          Blair that’s all very well for the customers, but not for the people that work in retail and often have no choice about whether they work on Sundays. The continental European model does have advantages.

• BJ says:

  12 Dec12 December 07:42

  Anybody know what is going on with BA10 BKK-LHR in late April? Searching it for our dates returns comments that BA does not operate that route or that there are no direct flights regardless of whether I search using avios or money. Only option with both is on QR via DOH to both LHR and EDI looking at dates 22-29/4. Against that background, we have an existing reservation from BKK-LHR-EDI on BA that continues to show as being unchanged from the old 11.40 BKK departure. There have been no notification of changes or cancellations by email, on the app, BAEC ersonal homepage or MMB. My best guess is that BA are no longer operating the route in late April but have not yet got round to sorting out existing reservations, and that we should anticipate cancellation or rebooking on QR some time before departure. Just wondering if iothers would read this situation the same way, or if I’m missing something?

  • Save East Coast Rewards says:

    12 Dec12 December 07:48

    The BA timetables page shows whether that route is still officially in the schedule https://www.britishairways.com/travel/schedules/public/en_gb

    So if it shows up there but not on the bookings page it means that it’s zeroed out (or sold out) but not officially cancelled. Once it is cancelled it should show as such in MMB.

    It’s a waiting game, if you want to refund or rebook then you have to wait, there is a chance that the flights are reinstated but this is unlikely. Check the days around yours too to see if they’re also not available just to verify that it’s not sold out (unlikely this early)

    • BJ says:

      12 Dec12 December 08:31

      Thanks, it still shows in the timetable but I have the suspicion it is for the chop rather than sold out. The reason I am thinking so is that both the timetable and MMB are still showing BA10 as the old 11.40 daytime schedule as opposed to the new overnight schedule. I hope they just update this later, I don’t fancy the middle of the night departure around 3am on QR, or transit in a third country at these times.

      • AJA says:

        12 Dec12 December 08:59

        I thought it was reported a few months ago that BKK was becoming a winter season flight only? If so since summer schedules officially kick in at the end of March (around 29th?) I am guessing that’s why you can’t see it on sale and at some point you should get a cancellation.

        • BJ says:

          12 Dec12 December 10:08

          Not certain but IIRC the first seasonal timetable they loaded for 21-22 ran from some date in October through 30 April. Front end got chopped and chopped again due to covid, wondering if it is wait see on April. Songkran is 13-15 April, I think it is likely that any seasonal timetable for BKK in normal times will cover those dates.

      • SamG says:

        12 Dec12 December 10:34

        @BJ it’s zero’d out the whole season – suspect for the chop. Options will be QR (who do have a 8pm flight but it is v busy most days) or the new Finnair flight via Stockholm connecting onto BA (Tues or Fri) which is a day flight. https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/traveltrade/bookings-policies/policies/askba?faqid=8739 this is the info for that – you might need to wait a little while after cancellation to see if it extends through to April

        • BJ says:

          12 Dec12 December 16:45

          Thanks @SamG, @Yorkiefkyer, @Wollhouse.

          I guess our spring trip definitely now sunk unless I can persuade BA into a return to BKK on AY or QR. A huge ‘if’ given outbound destination is TYO and50% avios. I would prefer one stop AY into EDI if possible but would settle on QR too. Two stops via ARN does not appeal at all.

          Going forward I can live with SIN despite the higher zone, especially if Tiger still exists and are operating flights from SIN-HDY in the future. SIN and HKG will be the only practical options for companion vouchers going forward if seasonal BKK also bites the dust. Not sure if BA still fly to Kolkata, that and even Delhi might be worth considering for variety but my partner has become very travel-averse in recent users pre-covid. Hopefully our USA trip will entice him into further travels opening up new avenues for use of companion vouchers. Hard to tell what shape anything will take over next few years so we’ll all just have to be patient and take things one trip at a time for a while yet. On the plus side for Wollhouse and itger lije us, there are plenty of options exists EDI using cash or all major loyalty currencies so we’ll ot be stuck.

  • yorkieflyer says:

    12 Dec12 December 10:30

    Same for our late January return from BKK

  • Wollhouse says:

    12 Dec12 December 13:57

    I was wondering the same. I now have 4 241’s I’d like to use from EDI! As I actually want to get to samui, I guess I’ll have to come up with creative routing- looks like we’ll be fighting over the same seats;). I just paid for economy Qatar which was painful whilst holding a cluster of 241’s and plenty of miles 🙁

    • SamG says:

      12 Dec12 December 15:28

      Singapore is now a theoretically OK for Thailand on a 2-4-1 – you’d need to overnight both ways on separate tickets to allow for your PCR test results. Outbound you can leave Singapore to Koh Samui directly on Bangkok Airways. Coming back in you need to take a Thai/Singapore Airlines/Jetstar VTL flight from Bangkok and isolate again before taking BA home.

      However it’s a lot of PCR testing & as Polly can attest to – any positive or unclear result in Singapore will result in you being carted off to await a retest/complete a quarantine

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