Bits: BA bacon roll news, 1200 Avios with My Little Pony, win a trip to LA with Hilton

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• Louie says:

  30 Mar30 March 08:52

  OT, sorry. Hubby is flying to HKG from Oz at the weekend on CX, then separate ticket on Virgin to LHR, with baggage. Did I read in the comments somewhere on here recently about the transit desk retrieving someone’s luggage and sending it on in similar circumstances rather than them having to pick it up and recheck it? If so, can anywhere direct me to the article where that was discussed (in the comments rather than on topic I think) and/or give him any tips on where to go/what to say?

  • Rob says:

    30 Mar30 March 09:15

    The article was only about oneworld connections. Cathay has NEVER been obliged to check through luggage to a carrier not in oneworld (like Virgin) on separate tickets. You should assume, unless Cathay is feeling very generous on the day, that you will need to pick it up in HK and recheck it.

    To be fair to Cathay, they are the ones who have to pay for the bag to be sent to on if it fails to connect, which is unfair on them as they have nothing to do with the Virgin flight.

    • Louie says:

      30 Mar30 March 09:28

      I was/am expecting him to have to collect and then recheck and he has four hours to kill anyway. Maybe my memory is faulty but I thought I’d seen something about Hong Kong airport people (not specifically Cathay) retrieving luggage for “separate ticket but connecting” passengers so they didn’t have to go landside, which did seem remarkably customer-friendly of them.

      • James67 says:

        30 Mar30 March 09:50

        It’s a very long journey so if the luggage is not checked through your husband might actually welcone and benefit from the activity more than sitting for another three hours in a lounge. HKG is a nice airport and relatively painless place to transit so no need for anxiety. When I’m flying 8 hours plus I usually enjoy any opportunith for some exercise.

      • Steve says:

        30 Mar30 March 10:02

        Louie – not the same but similar: I connected in HKG from a MH flight BKI-MKG onto the turbojet sea-cat service to Macau. It is booked similar to a flight and they even have an airline type flight number, all starting with 8S xxxx.

        The airside sea cat journey from HKIA is treated like a flight and they have an interline agreement with a lot of different airlines including BA, CX, MH etc to facilitate connections without the need to pass through immigration at HKIA. I did ask MH if they would check my bag through but they wouldn’t as it wasn’t part of the same ticket. Agent said I’d have to clear immigration and collect bag. However I read up on the service and found on arrival into HKIA I needed to go to the air-side transfer desks and check in, giving the staff my MH bag tag. The staff did this and re-routed my bag onto their service to Macau.

        I assume this is how it all works in your hubby’s situation but I wouldn’t rely on it. Perhaps ask VS. In Australia he could ask CX if they will interline bag. If not and he has plenty of time he could try VS transfer desk once in HKIA and they might have a process like turbojet. Failing that it’ll be clear HK immigration, collect bag, and re-check with VS.

        Have a look at:
        https://www.turbojet.com.hk/en/routing-sailing-schedule/hk-airport-macau/passenger-reminder.aspx

      • Gideon says:

        30 Mar30 March 20:47

        Has Head For Points been invaded by MumsNet today? I pity poor ‘Hubby’s across the UK.

  • Kathy says:

    30 Mar30 March 09:56

    This might be useful:

    https://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/passenger/transfer-transit/all/transit_procedures.html

  • Nick says:

    30 Mar30 March 11:51

    Louie you’re absolutely right you can do that at HKG. When he arrives at HKG he should go to the transfer desk-E1 is the main one (just before immigration) but it’s possible VS uses one of the other ones. At this desk he will receive a VS boarding pass, and if he hands over his CX bag tag the airport will find his bag and re-tag it. All without going through immigration. The BA desk for this opens at 1830 but I don’t know about VS. There’s a set of cafes and a waiting area you can hang around in until it opens, but I chose to go into the city instead rather than wait, it’s £9 return on the express train and the in-town check-in took my bag again straight away. If he’s connecting with less time to spare I’d heartily recommend doing the connection route I mentioned, it’s so easy. It doesn’t matter which airline you fly in on, or whether they’re ‘friends’, just the fact you’re there is enough.

    • Louie says:

      2 Apr2 April 08:18

      His bag arrived fine – one of the first to come out in fact.

• Jimmyjimmy says:

  30 Mar30 March 08:54

  OT – Quick question if you don’t mind.
  Stayed at a intercontinental last week and used the ambassador free night certificate.

  I was expecting points for the 1 paid night however 0 posted as ‘non qualifying stay’
  is this correct?

  • Rob says:

    30 Mar30 March 09:12

    No, it is wrong. Contact the service centre and they will correct it.

• rams1981 says:

  30 Mar30 March 09:25

  OT BA 2 for 1. My mum and dad with Bronze status were booked to go to KL last night. As bronze they were able to select seats a week in advance and check in on the day. I checked the flight yesterday afternoon and it was pretty full. Was worried they may have issues but my dad said they were fine. Phew. My Mrs and I go to KL in a few weeks and hope for similar success.

  • Genghis says:

    30 Mar30 March 09:45

    Checking out the BA seat map, it looks like we’re the only people in the F cabin coming back from KUL in just over a month’s time.

    Where in Asia are you off to :rams1981?

    • rams1981 says:

      30 Mar30 March 09:56

      Fly to KL. then hop straight on to a flight to Sri Lanka where I’ll be for a week. Then to Vietnam via KL for 8 nights. Then end in Malaysia for a 5 nights. SL was added on and not originally my plan. We are from there and the Mrs wants to visit an aunt with her dad. Currently booked Hilton in Hanoi, Intercontinental in nha trang with points.

      My parents have a place in KL so we save on hotels there and for parts of SL trip at least.

      • Genghis says:

        30 Mar30 March 10:23

        Sounds like a nice trip. If you’ve not been to Vietnam before, you’re in for a treat!

      • The Original Nick. says:

        30 Mar30 March 13:42

        rams1981, I was at the Hanoi Hilton Opera 2 weeks ago. Very friendly staff, and nice hotel. Was upgraded to a suite too.. Go to the lounge about 5.45 because it gets very busy so people have to sit outside by the desk and wait for a table.. The old quarter is 10 minutes walk.

        • rams1981 says:

          30 Mar30 March 14:24

          great tip, thanks @The Original Nick.

          I was emailed soon after booking a link to request room upgrade to suite for free as I’m diamond so fingers crossed that comes off.

      • James67 says:

        30 Mar30 March 21:50

        CV3V recently been at IC Nha Trang so may have sone tips.

        • CV3V says:

          30 Mar30 March 22:00

          Lol. I was just typing!

      • CV3V says:

        30 Mar30 March 21:59

        I stayed at the IC Nha Trang in January, it’s a great hotel. Really helpful staff, great rooms and try the seafood buffet.

        Also go to Lanterns restaurant, hotel can reserve a table, also Tan Cafe which is a hidden gem.

        • CV3V says:

          31 Mar31 March 13:21

          typo, it is An Cafe, not Tan Cafe.

      • CV3V says:

        30 Mar30 March 22:16

        For taxis stick to Vinasun, although they still might go the scenic route. I’m guessing Uber will be in Hanoi, if so that would be my preference. Uber in Saigon were great, arrive in seconds and no taxi ride was too short.

        Have fun trying to cross the roads, after a few days you will be doing it like a local i.e. not even looking.

        Also see if you can force a smile from the Vietnam immigration staff, I failed.

        If your on Vietnam Airlines then enjoy the great old fashioned service.

        • the real harry1 says:

          30 Mar30 March 22:22

          my delightful colleague Veryan was an early adopter – went to Vietnam in 1996 – came back & said how good it was – I was tempted but never bit

        • James67 says:

          30 Mar30 March 23:03

          The problem is there are even fake vinasun cabs. Our tour guide showed us how to spot them but I don’r recall the details. For anybody needing a tour guide or car in Vietnam we had great service from levietnamcycletours, they are extensively reviewed on TA.

        • rams1981 says:

          31 Mar31 March 09:32

          thanks @CV3V, very helpful.

• Dynamo says:

  30 Mar30 March 09:48

  OT: Is the Cathay Lounge still the best option in terminal 3 for a BA business class passenger who also has a priority pass? Or have things advanced in the last couple of years at other lounges?

  • the real harry1 says:

    30 Mar30 March 11:46

    No1 traveller is pretty good but often crowded – very pleasant light & airy lounge with plenty of different little nooks etc, food good but limited to 1 freebie before you have to pay – plenty of salad etc for free, though. Club Aspire opened last year and is great but a bit dark & pokey IMV – good choice of booze incl Guinness & Peroni – food buffet style & unlimited, good stard.

    Both reviewed on HFP

    • the real harry1 says:

      30 Mar30 March 11:47

      standard

      When are you travelling? I will be in CA tomorrow

  • Rob says:

    30 Mar30 March 14:09

    Cathay – unless you want something a bit more ‘fun’. The Qantas lounge also looks good but not open until later in the year.

• X4.21 says:

  30 Mar30 March 11:10

  OT:
  1) Rookie error – Just booked MAD-BOG Iberia using Avios (32k Avios + £78) for the last reward seat for a week either side. Flight leaves at 12:10pm. There are no (sub £250) Iberia flights that would make it to MAD in time from London. Best course of action if I want to get my bags checked through from London to Bogota? BA have reward seats available on a flight to MAD that lands at 09:40, and I could book those on the Iberia website if that makes it more likely that baggage could be checked through? Any ideas?

  I’m not sure any flight lands early enough in MAD (from London) to permit me to collect baggage and check-in to the 2nd flight with sufficient time..

  • Scott says:

    30 Mar30 March 11:13

    I’d be going the night before on that one….

    • Genghis says:

      30 Mar30 March 11:20

      +1. There are some cheap hotels around MAD

      • Colin MacKinnon says:

        30 Mar30 March 11:39

        Big problem/advantage of MAD flights is that you can’t get there for same-day connections on the outbound. The one hour time difference is the real killer – but also the big risk of fog at Heathrow, LCY etc.

        BA won’t interline on separate tickets – so no protection if there are delays ex-LON and no through checking of baggage.

        You do, of course, save UK air passenger duty by not having a through ticket – and that more than pays for a night in Madrid.

        I would also look at Easyjet etc from LGW or Stansted. Cheap as chips.

        Cheap hotels near the airport – and a great train service and metro into the centre of town, so well worth staying there. Not much slower than waiting for an airport hotel shuttle bus.

        IB has a great lounge, so no need for breakfast at hotel. Being Spain, I don’t think they put breakfast out until about 9/10am!

      • Louie says:

        30 Mar30 March 12:32

        Got a night there en route from CNS to LIS via HKG and AMS in May (don’t ask!). Any recommendations for hotels handy for MAD airport but also sightseeing in Madrid would be appreciated.

        • Anna says:

          30 Mar30 March 14:06

          If you like art the Prado is a must but don’t try and do it all in one go! Or the Baroness Thyssen gallery if you prefer modern stuff (though it can’t compare to Velasquez and El Greco…)

    • X4.21 says:

      30 Mar30 March 19:08

      Thanks all. I think I will have to take the flight the night before and crash in an airport hotel.

      Took CE LHR – LIS on Tuesday. Svc excellent inc. food (tall mug!). Irritating (lack of) service at the Elemis spa at LHR T3 lounge. Six first/biz passengers queued in line for 15 minutes waiting for the sole member of staff to return, when we were informed there was no availability for the next 3.5 hours anyway. If there’s no space fair enough, but just put up a sign saying so…

• Sam says:

  30 Mar30 March 11:57

  Yet the BA business cases for so many other “enhancements” get pushed through.

• mycity says:

  30 Mar30 March 12:48

  O/T sorry cant find this answer, im trying to use my Lloyds upgrade voucher to book a one way flight for two in Business, there’s no conections, but it wont let me it keeps asking for a return flight despite me clicking for two flights outbound, anyone had this issue?

  • Genghis says:

    30 Mar30 March 12:50

    Need to call to make a one way booking

    • mycity says:

      30 Mar30 March 12:56

      Thanks Genghis, ive just confirmed this with Avios, im sure a while back you could do it online, agent told me no issue over the phone

      • Anna says:

        30 Mar30 March 14:10

        Glad someone mentioned this as I was hoping to book outbound with avios.com plus Lloyds voucher then inbound on BAEC! Must now remember that I need the full amount of avios for both legs before my flights are released!

        • Anna says:

          30 Mar30 March 14:12

          I’m assuming avios offices aren’t open in the wee hours but correct me if I’m wrong.

    • Klaus-Peter Dudas says:

      30 Mar30 March 14:12

      Yep. Same. And ask not to pay the booking fee as you can’t book online. They didn’t charge me after initially saying I had to pay when I booked the same

      • Alan says:

        31 Mar31 March 17:17

        Yep, have to call for connecting/open jaw flights too – never been charged a fee.

• Prins Polo says:

  30 Mar30 March 19:17

  I used the new “secret door” in the new First Wing yesterday. Wow. Discussed with a few friends and we were all impressed. We unanimously agreed this is the only positive development involving BA in the last decade – among a myriad of “negative enhancements”…

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