Bits: Air New Zealand LA sale, Nobu Hotel Shoreditch opens today, my Uber milestones

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• JamesB says:

  1 Jul1 July 09:45

  OT @TRH1: Did you take up the Virgin ISA at 8k bonus? I chanced it and left it but they have just extended it. Looks as good as it might get this year so I guess I’ll just have to take it.

  • the realharry1 says:

    1 Jul1 July 10:03

    yep x2

    my assumption is you won’t get better than 8K

    plus it’s obviously much better investing logic to use the 6x £100 method (pound cost averaging) than 1 random date lump sum investment (which ties up more money as well)

    given it’s important to finish the 6 month minimum term this financial year, you need to start 7 months before 5th April 2018

    which means deadline to apply is (say) mid August – but my strong hunch is you won’t see any points better than 8K in August

  • Genghis says:

    1 Jul1 July 10:13

    +1

  • JamesB says:

    1 Jul1 July 10:24

    My thinking too guys so I guess I better get signed up. With the one off investment now at £2000 it is no longer worth the risk for 8k miles. Also I seem to recall that Virgin Money can be a little slow taking the first paynent so I agree Augusg effectively last chance to be certain of completing the 6 months.

  • Genghis says:

    1 Jul1 July 10:44

    I signed up perhaps the second day it went up to 8k but the first payment will be on Monday (1st of the month) – not sure if I chose that or if it was the default.

• Nick M says:

  1 Jul1 July 10:16

  OT – I’m considering the new Premier Inn T4 that Anika reviewed a while ago… We’ll be flying out of T5 & have a luggage, a baby and a toddler – is the bus going to be too much hassle? (Looking for options that don’t require car seats!) The alternatives are spending 10x at Sofitel or driving round the M25 between 8-9am

  • JamesB says:

    1 Jul1 July 11:41

    The former Jury Inn at Hatton Cross tube? It’s been rebranded, DT Hilton I think but others will correct me if I’m wrong.

    • Nick M says:

      1 Jul1 July 12:18

      Thanks – will have a look

    • Rob says:

      1 Jul1 July 12:23

      Hilton Garden Inn which I reviewed 6 weeks ago if you search. Decent place.

  • Nick M says:

    1 Jul1 July 12:17

    Related q – is the Hilton shuttle bus a regular bus? (i.e. No need for car seats?)

    • Nick M says:

      1 Jul1 July 12:18

      (At Terminal 4 I mean)

    • JamesB says:

      1 Jul1 July 13:27

      At LHR all hotels use a shared bus service called Hotel Hoppa as there are no private hotel shutyles. It is vexpensive for a family and can take a while if your hotel is not first drop off (or last for pick up). It is a regular bus though. You can use regular London buses to from LHR bus station for free within airport perimeter to get to some hotels. If not staying at Sofitel or at Hilton T4 best option is probably Hgi at Hatton Cross and using the tube. There is also the car park pods from T5 to one of the hotels (Radisson?) but have not heard about that in ages so it may no longer be an option.

  • Lady London says:

    1 Jul1 July 14:50

    Don’t ever think of that part of the M25 at that time.

  • Gavin says:

    1 Jul1 July 22:48

    Premier Inn T5. Walk across road and use Pods at Thistle. Or the Thistle itself!

• JamesB says:

  1 Jul1 July 10:35

  another OT sorry: I’m trying to sign into full desktop version of Hilton on my android tablet but it keeps switching me to the app. Previously I could sign into the app first and then use browser to view desktop site to which I was auto signed in because the app was open. However, this no longer works either as it just reverts to the app again too. Anybody know how I can uncouple them? Thanks.

  • Alan says:

    1 Jul1 July 10:48

    Being signed in on the app shouldn’t make any difference to the website, it doesn’t pass over authentication. You should just be able to go tother website then choose view desktop version and sign in directly to the website.

    • JamesB says:

      1 Jul1 July 11:00

      Not in my case Alan, when I signed into one I was auto signed into the other. I always thought it was odd but that’s what happened. What is different now is that any time I try to sign into main hilton site in either mobile or desktop view it launches the app and takes me to it by default. I will need to have a look at my phone and see what happens there.

      • Alan says:

        1 Jul1 July 11:10

        Weird – unless it’s some iOS thing? Never seen that behavior on Android.

        • JamesB says:

          1 Jul1 July 11:36

          It is android… original Tab S!

  • Nick M says:

    1 Jul1 July 10:57

    It might be completely unrelated, but having issues with the iOS app at the moment – it keeps crashing as soon as the calendar is opened… so it may be a temporary glitch?

  • JamesB says:

    1 Jul1 July 11:32

    Problem solved guys, thanks. I reintalled the app. No more defaulting to the app or auto sign in. Now, when I try to sign in from web I get a pop up prompting me to choose between browser and app. This is consistent with other accounts for which I have an app such as BA and amazon. The tablet is now three years old but despite being uodated regularly that may explain sond if ggd oddities.

    • Alan says:

      1 Jul1 July 12:05

      Excellent! Never experienced this behaviour on Android myself but glad all good now. Overall the Hilton app has definitely improved but some things do still seem to need the full website.

      • JamesB says:

        1 Jul1 July 15:22

        Despite its limitations it remains my favourite we app so I hope they don’t meddle with it too much in the future. It’s simple and looks good too.

    • Alex W says:

      1 Jul1 July 14:02

      If it happens again you could try clearing defaults in android app settings.

      • JamesB says:

        1 Jul1 July 15:19

        Thanks Alex, my best guess is that I must somehow have given permission for it when I first downloaded the app a long time ago.

• Adrian says:

  1 Jul1 July 12:01

  Wow the ANZ Spaceseat, this is/was the best PE product ever, goodbye you were great! I got the best sleep I have had on a plane in this seat using my carry on to rest my feet on, as a fat guy this offered so much space. Also as an aside still the best meal I ever had on a plane, NZ lamb shank, it was delicious, better than anything I’ve had in BA First and that was in PE!

  • Rob says:

    1 Jul1 July 12:22

    Must say, I am not sure why ANZ killed it except arguably to fit in more seats.

  • Chris says:

    1 Jul1 July 13:09

    I absolutely loved the Spaceseat and even preferred (paying for) the Air NZ PE product to (using miles for) BA Club World. Easy to sleep, work, stretch… good service and food that you can hardly believe was prepared in the air. Very disappointed I won’t get to travel this way again. Just tried booking for October and it’s showing the new 2-4-2 configuration – but at least you can reserve one of the few seats where you still won’t get reclined into for an extra £50.

    In comparison, I just experienced Virgin PE on the 787 service LHR-LAX, which… frankly… felt like economy.

• Marc says:

  1 Jul1 July 12:28

  OT: Has anybody received the 1000 avios from the recent Marriot signup promotion? Mine still have credited.

  • Marc says:

    1 Jul1 July 12:29

    Haven’t!

  • AVM says:

    1 Jul1 July 12:41

    Neither have mine nor my five ba household members. I wonder if anyone has got them? If they dont post i will probably complain.

    • Alan says:

      1 Jul1 July 13:18

      Wasn’t it meant to be 90 days after registration? I thought the promo was more recent than that?

      • xcalx says:

        1 Jul1 July 18:15

        TCs said Points will post at the end of the month that you sign up.. Was expecting them today.

  • Rob says:

    1 Jul1 July 14:12

    Marriott pulled the promo … may not respect existing applicants?

    • Genghis says:

      1 Jul1 July 14:16

      Poor if so

• Kathy says:

  1 Jul1 July 13:02

  A great reminder for me of the Uber sign-up code, as I’m planning to use it heavily in LA in a couple of weeks.

  • Mike says:

    1 Jul1 July 22:24

    Double dip, get lyft too. Try and Google an LA sign up code.

• AndyR says:

  1 Jul1 July 14:16

  Sorry OT – if I want to downgrade my BAPP to the free BA Amex is it correct that I can apply for it online and it will recognise I have a BAPP and cancel/migrate it across? Would rather not have to call. Thanks.

  • Scott says:

    1 Jul1 July 16:02

    Yes, this is the process you’ll be instructed to undertake if you phone up anyway.

    • AndyR says:

      1 Jul1 July 17:35

      Thanks Scott!

• Scallder says:

  1 Jul1 July 17:13

  OT but one for bits: Page 2 of The Times today had a bit about a Which? survey about airline compensation and CAA cases For 2016, 83% of complaints put to the CAA against Norweigan were found in favour of passenger (out of 205). Next 2 worst offenders were Vueling (79% on 103 cases) and Ryanair (77% on 800 cases). BA had 1,166 cases of which 48% were found in favour of passenger…

  • Rob says:

    1 Jul1 July 19:53

    That could mean anything though. I would assume Norwegian tries to avoid settling valid claims whilst BA pays quickly (which it does), so the remaining claims have more ‘chancers’ who lose.

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