Bits: Qatar launches Cardiff with a 787, 500 Avios with £25 Amazon spend, Charles Tyrwhitt sale

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• AndyR says:

  16 Sep16 September 06:34

  Hopefully they do some good deals from CWL. I don’t find the airports QR fly from other than LHR any cheaper though so not sure if they will.

  I also thought DUB might have some good prices as they do going East on BA/AA but nothing so far.

• Egg says:

  16 Sep16 September 06:42

  My worry with CWL is the route will be dead before the M4 around Newport is upgraded & the Severn Bridge tolls are abolished.
  I remember when CWL was bigger than Bristol. Maybe once the M4 is done & tolls gone they can attract a Budget Airline.
  Maybe if Welsh Government can get the same as NI DUP deal and the ability to set its own airport duty’s would help it grow. Being the owners of the Airport its something they would like to powers to do.

  • Nick says:

    16 Sep16 September 09:48

    CWL have killed themselves. They held out and refused to do deals with budget airlines, insisting on sticking with ‘traditional’ airlines. BRS did the opposite. But by the time the owners sold out BRS had become a decent hub and no one wanted to move. BHX did the same for a while, but even they saw sense and invited the cheapies in.

• Polly says:

  16 Sep16 September 07:04

  Would be very happy to support cwl if we could get an almost equivalent ex eu at J sale price from there. No problem driving down the m4 to make a flight there. Always check dub in these sales but think they are price fixed by ba there. So stuck with positioning flights into the eu.

• Tracy says:

  16 Sep16 September 08:10

  Problem with CWL is the lack of public transport and the road from the M4 to the airport is poor.

  • Talay says:

    16 Sep16 September 10:54

    I live 30 minutes from LHR and about 45 minutes from LGW but 3 hours on a good day from CWL.

    Seeing as that 3 hours could turn into 5 hours each way, just how much would you want to save from the far to put up with that ?

    I’m not sure I’d risk that for £1000, maybe not even for £2000 and we’d not save £2000 on 3 x business long haul flights anyway.

    So the market is perhaps quite captive and not too far reaching ?

    • the real harry1 says:

      16 Sep16 September 11:12

      https://www.freemaptools.com/find-population.htm
      says there are 12m people within 100 miles of Cardiff Airport

      you’re probably right to exclude London, as travelling uncertainty is a bit of a risk – western Greater London wouldn’t have much of a problem, though – and neither would Birmingham & Central England

      so catchment area is probably more like 25m+ within 2 hrs drive

      • Talay says:

        16 Sep16 September 13:12

        I live nearer Cardiff than west London but wouldn’t consider it as it is too far away.

        People living in Birmingham and central England already have airports and would also have to suffer 3+ hourly travels to get there. Further away and you have feeder airports into the main hubs.

        I can’t see realistic catchment area having more than the Welsh and an hour over the border (travelling time, not theoretical crow flying time).

        • the real harry1 says:

          16 Sep16 September 16:16

          living in Cornwall, it would be a cinch to get to Cardiff rather than LHR – bought an Ebay rug from Cardiff a couple of years ago (quite a nice one!) and immediately regretted the journey but it wasn’t so bad

  • Richard G says:

    16 Sep16 September 15:16

    Yup, it only takes me about 15 mins longer to get to Bristol airport vs Cardiff despite living in Cardiff (20 miles to Cardiff airport, 43 miles to Bristol airport).

    The roads really aren’t great.

• B says:

  16 Sep16 September 08:30

  What routes?

• SunnyM says:

  16 Sep16 September 08:33

  Anyone else get a BA branded Charles Tyrwhitt catalogue through the post? Offering a shirt for £19.95 with a free tie and also 500 bonus avios and the usual 4 avios per £1 spent. Seemed like a good deal.

  • the real harry1 says:

    16 Sep16 September 08:36

    stick up the code? it’ll probs be generic

    • the real harry1 says:

      16 Sep16 September 09:32

      code is BAEC though good luck in getting that to work online

      however, guy on the phone said he’d do a phone order

      he did start by saying there was a url for the offer but never gave it to me & I’m too lazy to phone back, somebody could do that if interested – definitely generic

      • the real harry1 says:

        16 Sep16 September 09:48

        free delivery UKFREE

    • SunnyM says:

      16 Sep16 September 13:23

      It wasn’t a generic code. There was a unique code that was printed on the magazine that needed to be entered on ctshirts.com/baec.

  • Jonathan says:

    16 Sep16 September 12:29

    Must have missed this one but what’s the usual 4 avios per £1? Where are you getting that from.

• Clive says:

  16 Sep16 September 09:09

  OT: does anyone have a hotel recommendation for a first visit to Bangkok? Paying with own money (not employer funded) and having statuses that come with Plat. Any tips appreciated 🙂

  • Pierre says:

    16 Sep16 September 09:33

    Conrad bangkok

  • Memesweeper says:

    16 Sep16 September 11:42

    How long for? Did three nights at the Conrad with the Amex deal which gives $US 70 off your dining bill. On your own coin anything more than two or three days there is too rich for my blood though.

    Sign up for Grab Taxi app before you leave to avoid rip off cabbies.

    • John says:

      16 Sep16 September 12:47

      Conrad can frequently be something like £75 per night (pound is going up too)

      If you feel that it’s “too expensive on your own coin”, not sure why you would dine at the Conrad when there is cheap food everywhere in Bangkok

    • JamesB says:

      16 Sep16 September 16:46

      I don’t know how people keep claiming they get ripped off by Bangkok taxi drivers. I’ve been here on and off for the last 14 years and problems are few and far between. The important lessons are to flag the taxi down and avoid those that sit at main tourist haunrs. Reputable taxi drivers don’t sit, they move because that way they know they will get another customer soon. Be aware taxi drivers often find themselves far from their normal operating area and sometimes genuinely don’t know how to get to where you want to go so you have to be patient with them as they find their way or find another taxi driver who does know the way. If you or taxi driver wish to use the expressway you have to pay the tolls in addition to the fare. The tolls are clearly displayed at paypoints. If you disagree about using the expressway just ask to be set down by the driver who will not charge you if the journey has not been long to that point. All taxi drivers dis*9play their number inside the doors, remember it or take a picture of it uf youare the worrying type. Some places like Central World now enforce certain ranks and it is otberwise quite difficult to flag taxis down near those areas as they are attempting to reduce congestion. The fares are dirt cheap, grumbling about the fares are inapprooriate. Two or more people will often find the taxi cheaper and more comfortable than using tbe skytrain or underground, especially where a change between the two is required.

      • CV3V says:

        16 Sep16 September 19:10

        I must be unlucky, during 10 years of travelling to BKK I have had a few dodgy taxi drivers, its inevitable. There are the ones who try and keep some of the change as their tip (i.e. they decide their tip). The time we agreed a fare via hotel concierge, then the driver tried to make out the fare was per person! I asked him to let us out on that occasion, instead he drove extra fast, with no seat belts fitted! The driver who swore about us in Thai for only wanting to go to the airport rail link station and not all the way to the airport. The driver who didn’t want to drive in a traffic jam and said we were close enough to walk, and then asked for more cash for traffic jam. The taxi driver who seemed surprised that i had coins for the toll (not notes) and started asking if i had been before, and wanting me to tell him what roads to use.

        Then at BKK terminal they will try and drop you off at the first available point so they can get another fare, if you are getting the Emirates flight where drop off and check in are at the far end they don’t like it!

        Agreed its not a lot of cash involved, but when i do get a good taxi driver i always make sure they get a good tip as reward. But i do prefer to use Grab and Uber whenever i can.

        • JamesB says:

          17 Sep17 September 02:50

          The issues with change, traffic jams and directions are all ‘normal’ in that they do it with Thai customers too. The toll I guess he wanted to try and keep some or all of the change but there is no problem paying exact toll with coins and Thais usually keep their loose change in cars for this purpose. When staying at a medium or high end hotel it is generally better to walk 30m along the road to get a taxi. It is a good idea to be on side of the street heading direction you want to go. If you know it. I heard the departure level pickups at BKK have now been stopped. It is common for Bangkok taxis to refuse fare but to take you and swear at you for it is a new one on me. Personally I’d never take Airport Link over taxi based on few times I tried it. As for the speeding one I’d have paid him exact change and walked off leaving his doors and boot open.

  • Chris says:

    16 Sep16 September 12:01

    Stay near a mrt or sky train station. I’m a big fan of the Sofitel so which is over the road from an mrt station, or an1km walk to sky train. Not a lot around it if you want easy access to 7/11. The higher grade rooms / lounge are excellent and it has the park opposite which is nice for a walk.

    Last trip stayed at IC had suite and lounge access which were good but the So has character. IC is opposite a sky train station. Conrad basically is a station, but I don’t recall it has a lounge. The shangri la is in a nice place but tired, I think some rooms have balconys on the river, their boat cruise evening meal was good. It’s not next to but not so far from sky train tho.

  • JamesB says:

    16 Sep16 September 13:28

    Under £25 Ibis Sathorn for budget.
    Good midrange £40-55 Park Plaza at Sukhumvit 18 or Asoke, Aloft, Doubletree Sukhumvit, Millenium Hilton and Avani Atrium.

    Forget Marriott in Bangkok. Overpriced for what they are. IHG also overpriced except perhaps HIE Sathorn and Holiday Inn Silom which sometimes have decent rates. If you want to push it to £75-110 the choice is enormous. At this price consider Siri Sathorn, Conrad, LEM Suriwongse. Given higher standards of Asian hotels I would suggest midrange is fine though.

    Millenium has a spectacular riverside location but transport is a bit of a pain. LEM is in the heart of the main red light district.

    I agree with comment on skytrain and underground but be aware that for 2 people or more taxi will often be as cheap and more comfortable. Flag down a moving taxi as opposed to one sitting at major tourist areas. Uber in Bangkok is hit and miss, I prefer the regular taxi.

    • JamesB says:

      16 Sep16 September 13:41

      Forgot to mention you might also be able yo make Hilton Premium Club work for you if staying long enough. Rob wrote an article here on HFP so search Hilton Premium Club

      • Rob says:

        16 Sep16 September 16:06

        I complained to a crew member on the way back to Geneva who tried to put a suitcase on top of my flimsy tote bag, which had a laptop in it.

  • Clive says:

    16 Sep16 September 13:30

    Many thanks for the replies, guys! Very helpful!

    • Talay says:

      16 Sep16 September 14:34

      I stay at the JW Marriott usually or the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit with occasional stays in Silom and Lumpini if the deals on various 5* places materialise.

      If looking for waterside then Peninsula is a great choice and you have the hotel boat to Saphan Taksin BTS station. Downstream you have the ex Marriott, Anantara which has a great pool set up.

      Bangkok traffic is terrible and unless you are right next to a MRT / BTS station then walking 10 minutes in the heat is pointless and any advantage over a taxi from your door is wasted as you are sweating anyway. Better to get a hotel next to where you want to be really with so many good 4* and 5* hotels available all over town.

    • Daftboy says:

      16 Sep16 September 14:44

      Just to add Hotel Indigo Lumphini/Wireless Rd and Sofitel So as higher end options, both great

  • Lee says:

    16 Sep16 September 16:43

    W Hotel is beautiful and amazing location but not cheap !

  • CV3V says:

    16 Sep16 September 19:13

    Also OT, but OT related, would welcome any recommendation for hotels in Hanoi.

    • Danny says:

      16 Sep16 September 22:43

      We just came back after a 3 weeks trip to Vietnam and stayed 4 nights in the Hilton Hanoi Opera as a diamond – the lounge was excellent, especially for evening drinks and plenty of hot snacks; and breakfast in the main restaurant was really good; highly recommended.

• Alex W says:

  16 Sep16 September 09:46

  Tried this at a co-op yesterday and they had no idea what I was talking about!

  • the real harry1 says:

    16 Sep16 September 09:56

    I don’t get it, if they are a PayPoint outlet they’ll know all about scanning barcodes to pay a bill such as council tax and this is no different

    my local store hadn’t seen the Amazon barcode before but took it in their stride, 4x success, 4x free fivers

    • Rob says:

      16 Sep16 September 10:06

      The Esso next to Anika couldn’t do it either.

      • the real harry1 says:

        16 Sep16 September 10:15

        but couldn’t do what, exactly? it’s just scanning a barcode, same as usual

        if you mean they thought it was a scam & refused, then try somewhere else

        if they couldn’t scan a mobile phone barcode, that’s understandable – I think somebody said it worked only on full brightness

        printing the barcode is just simple

        no criticism intended but sounds like user error as opposed to any issues with getting the Amazon barcode to scan

    • JamesB says:

      16 Sep16 September 12:56

      You would think so but reports suggest otherwise. The two co-ops I tried in Edinburgh city centre both refuse but have never refused anything else.

      • the real harry1 says:

        16 Sep16 September 13:01

        you should report it to Amazon on Chat and off chance you’ll get a £10 credit, they do that at a drop of a hat

      • JamesB says:

        16 Sep16 September 14:41

        Thanks Harry, I was going to try calling amazon or paypoint but it was the day before my current trip and I had other priorities. Will try again on my return and and follow your advice if they fail to process again.

  • Genghis says:

    16 Sep16 September 09:59

    Surely they just need to scan it?

    • Roger says:

      16 Sep16 September 15:19

      I have used my Esso offer for paypoint top up on two different account (£20 each).
      So if all works out I will have £50 Amazon credit for £35 spend.

      Shown two different barcode but paid £40 using HSBC card (for £5 off £40 spend at Esso Paypoint).

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