Bits: Luxury Travel Diary auctions, get 3000 miles for joining Virgin Flying Club

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• James67 says:

  30 Aug30 August 06:39

  You mention Heathrow Rewards in this post; any news on a new sign-up bonus coming anytime soon? It seems to have been very quiet of late.

  • Rob says:

    30 Aug30 August 07:11

    The 2,500 points for £150 deal is still running, link on the Quick Avios page.

    • Genghis says:

      30 Aug30 August 07:31

      Remember – valid on currency orders too

      • James67 says:

        30 Aug30 August 07:51

        Might do nicely too, thx.

        • Genghis says:

          30 Aug30 August 07:57

          I’ve done it a few times now. Obviously the rate isn’t as good so price that into what you could get but last time I did it work were buying the currency 🙂

        • James67 says:

          30 Aug30 August 08:10

          I would just do a small order. Did you always preorder online?

        • Genghis says:

          30 Aug30 August 09:36

          Yes. Preorder to get a much better (albeit not great) rate

        • James67 says:

          30 Aug30 August 16:01

          HI Genghis, which website do I use and can I doubpe dip avios and heathrow reward points? Thanks.

        • Genghis says:

          30 Aug30 August 16:20

          Preorder through Travelex for collection at LHR making sure to input your HR no. Not sure about avios opportunities. Harry’s the double dip expert…

        • James67 says:

          30 Aug30 August 17:47

          Hi Ghengus, where do you enter HR number please? TIA

      • Alex W says:

        31 Aug31 August 00:28

        I have some USD i want to change back to GBP – can I get the HR sign up bonus this way?

    • James67 says:

      30 Aug30 August 07:50

      Great, thanks 🙂

    • James67 says:

      30 Aug30 August 08:00

      Hi Rob, just been through the post. You stated that HR only allows one account per address. Presumably that means per person and it is ok for my partner to hold an account at same address as me? Thanks.

      • Genghis says:

        30 Aug30 August 08:03

        I think it is one per household. Mine is at our address, my wife at her parents and my secondary at my parents.

        • Alan says:

          30 Aug30 August 09:52

          No it’s possible to have two people at one address but you have to contact customer services to get them to create the account – this happened when we wanted to create an account for my Mum (to transfer out soon-to-expire Emirates miles!) and my Dad already had an account. HR customer services were very helpful (as they always are!) and sorted everything, even gave her a sign-up bonus 🙂

        • James67 says:

          30 Aug30 August 10:34

          Yes, just called before reading your comment and this is exactly what the agent advised.

        • Genghis says:

          30 Aug30 August 11:04

          Thanks – may drop them a line and change my wife’s address.

      • Rob says:

        30 Aug30 August 11:04

        No, per postal address. 2nd account would need to be at 49a High Street if you are 49 High Street, or use work address.

        • Alan says:

          30 Aug30 August 11:05

          They can do it manually at the same address if you phone/email them, Rob 🙂

        • James67 says:

          30 Aug30 August 11:18

          You are both correct, when I called, the agent suggested first trying it online but changing address in some way but if it still didn’t work just to call back and they would do sign up over the phone. I explicitly asked if there is a problem with two people in the same household holding an account and the guy was clear that there is not.

• SImon says:

  30 Aug30 August 09:01

  I can’t see any mention of the offer on the Virgin Red app. Just downloaded for my wife in order to sign her up to Virgin flying club.

  • TimS says:

    30 Aug30 August 09:23

    I can still see the offer in the app this morning. You need to scroll through the offers at the bottom to find it

• Rachel Blundell says:

  30 Aug30 August 09:01

  Hi – is it 3000 Avios for joining the Virgin Flying Club? Or Virgin’s own points. I convert my Abios to BA points. Just wondering how this would work? Thanks

  • Rachel Blundell says:

    30 Aug30 August 09:01

    Avios even!

  • TimS says:

    30 Aug30 August 09:25

    3000 vigrin atlantic points. I’m not sure why you would expect Virgin to offer Avios (a competitor currency) for joining Virgin Atlantic via the Virgin app?

    • harry says:

      30 Aug30 August 13:18

      if only we could convert Virgin —> Avios 1:1

      I’d be about 100K better off in useful currency 🙂

      so just waiting another 8 years or so until I can use them properly, only been about 17 years of keeping them alive so far

      now, like Genghis & MDS, I am just starting to actively accumulate VA in anticipation

  • Genghis says:

    30 Aug30 August 09:39

    I only got into Virgin miles in the last few months but they’re easy to pick up – this joining bonus, the recent ISA offer, the occasional credit card bonus. It adds another dimension and more opportunity to points collecting.

    • mark2 says:

      30 Aug30 August 10:54

      Agreed. I convert them to HHonors at 3:2.

• Andrew H says:

  30 Aug30 August 10:01

  O/T Received my first issue of the Sunday Times travel magazine this morning, which I subscribed to on August 7th. But still no sign of the 4,500 avios. Supposed to have it within 21 days so it’s time to contact customer service. Anyone else in the same boat?

  • Alan says:

    30 Aug30 August 10:19

    My direct debit has now been taken (couple of days ago) but no sign of Avios yet either. For those that have received them, how long was the delay between payment being taken and Avios being received?

    • Scallder says:

      30 Aug30 August 10:44

      On credit card – paid 8th August, posted 24th.

      • Alan says:

        30 Aug30 August 11:00

        OK thanks, that’s good to know there was a few weeks in between 🙂

        • harry says:

          30 Aug30 August 13:28

          they took my DDs today – embarrassed to say the number but just think ‘Snow White/ dwarves’ – too scared to see if I got the points just yet & have a screenshot fight on my hands – thanks Scallder you just gave me a great excuse not to check 🙂

        • Genghis says:

          30 Aug30 August 15:00

          Class action if we don’t get them all?

        • harry says:

          30 Aug30 August 17:39

          not that I have the screenshot yet, dudes lol

        • harry says:

          30 Aug30 August 19:51

          too depressed to log into my BA stuff to check

          the old hols are coming to an end

          school – for the kids – on Monday next – scuse me Raffles, we’re in state schools lol – saving us something like £75000 a year? you tell me (3 kids)

          going to sink a drink to cheer me up

        • Rob says:

          30 Aug30 August 20:00

          £20k each per year now …..

        • harry says:

          30 Aug30 August 20:08

          what I never understood about independent schools was the logic

          OK, I get the networking at top schools

          not that many of those so let’s ignore networking

          I think at 90% of independent schools, you are paying to get your kids an excellent education, ie top results, even if your kids are middling

          but why would you pay all that money instead of getting your kids into the best state schools?

          we got our other 2 kids into 2 of the best state schools in the UK, time well spent in coaching them, they will get better A-level results than most students at eg Eton or Harrow

  • Genghis says:

    30 Aug30 August 10:37

    +1. Avios for me should post by Sunday 4th Sep (within 28 days) so I’m not panicking. All 4 DD payments were taken today.

  • Leo says:

    30 Aug30 August 12:38

    By C/C Avios posted mid last week. No magazine as yet.

  • Gavin says:

    30 Aug30 August 17:58

    DD taken today, and magazine also received today. No sign of the avios yet.

    • Brian W says:

      30 Aug30 August 22:49

      +1.

      First copy of travel mag arrived yesterday morning (no bank hol in Scotland so posty on normal Monday morning duties). Direct Debit take today. No Avios as yet.

      As per Genghis, another few days until Avios are theoretically due so will wait till Monday!

      • Brian W says:

        31 Aug31 August 13:57

        My Avios posted today!

• Charlie says:

  30 Aug30 August 12:33

  O/T
  I put a 2for1 through last Monday online, paid the taxes with the Amex gold and it showed up straight away. It’s been pending ever since and today it’s dropped off completely (leaving my account in credit as I’ve already paid Anex back).

  There’s no trace of the transaction now. The flight is still in my BAEC account. Anyone had any experience of this? Do I need to make equiries anywhere?

  • Alan says:

    30 Aug30 August 12:53

    Have you looked on CheckMyTrip to see if you have an eTicket number OK on the booking?

    • Charlie says:

      30 Aug30 August 15:10

      I’ve looked and it’s still there. Thanks.

      • Charlie says:

        30 Aug30 August 19:30

        Along with an e ticket number for both passengers.

  • Sam says:

    30 Aug30 August 13:16

    Happens to me sometimes. It will disappear but reappear in a few days as two separate transactions for each ticket. No need to panic.

    • Charlie says:

      30 Aug30 August 15:11

      Ah I think that’s what will happen then. Thank you.

      • mark2 says:

        30 Aug30 August 15:35

        I booked flights in Jun 16 to fly next year but no sign of Amex charges for tax etc. many weeks later. Liz has had same problem; probably others. They did say that it might take a time as booked 355 days in advance but this is ridiculous as I foolishly used BAPP card which I now want to cancel before another annual fee charged. I have chased but to no avail.
        I have looked on checkmytrip and found the details but cannot see an eTicket number; is this the six character alphanumeric code please?

        • Alan says:

          30 Aug30 August 15:37

          No that’s your booking reference. The eTicket number is a long number starting with 125 (if BA-issued) – it should be listed under the passenger details IIRC.

        • mark2 says:

          30 Aug30 August 15:45

          Thanks, no sign of such numbers; I will keep chasing.

        • mark2 says:

          30 Aug30 August 15:49

          I have just checked a booking flying next week and the eTicket number is shown; does it show for a flight 11 months in the future?

        • Alan says:

          30 Aug30 August 15:51

          Yes it should do once ticketed – can take 24h from booking for this to show up though. Helpful you were able to see it on another booking for comparison though so you know what to look for!

        • Liz says:

          31 Aug31 August 03:14

          Hey Mark2 – still no sign of my payment going though – I will phone again when we get back from our USA travels next week – I want to cancel this card which is my husbands and get him to refer me for a new one. Presume if you cancel the card when they come to charge it they will have to contact you for another card.

        • mark2 says:

          31 Aug31 August 15:03

          Hi Li,
          I received an email this very morn from BA to say that the tickets were now confirmed. When I looked, they now had an eTicket number and. more importantly, they had been charged to my Amex card (after 7-8 weeks). BA did say when I had rung them that they would contact me if the card had been closed, but I was reluctant to take the chance for the sake of 195/12 but now no problem..

        • Liz says:

          1 Sep1 September 04:23

          HI Mark, that’s great yours is now resolved – checked again just now and still no payment or email – think it is now 12 wks since I booked – will be phoning them next week when I get back if nothing before then!

  • FlyingChris says:

    30 Aug30 August 16:24

    @Charlie – FYI exactly the same thing has happened to me. Last Saturday booked outbound flights online at T-355 with an 241 voucher. Taxes/Fees paid on Amex Gold. Immediately tracked as a pending purchase. Now completely dropped off my account. CheckMyTrip shows an e-ticket number so I’m not too worried – just would like to know when they’ll take the cash. Due to call up to book the inbound leg next week so maybe will trigger something then?

    • Charlie says:

      30 Aug30 August 19:29

      Hi,
      This is EXACTLY what I’m about to do too. Awaiting the T-355 to hit. The wishful part of me hopes they never claim it :D.

      I was informed by the call centre (different query), after being put through by Amex, that there is no telephone booking fee to pay as the flights were not available to be booked when the out outbound was booked. Hope they honour that.

• harry says:

  30 Aug30 August 13:13

  O/T bits – EXPEDIA

  10% discount code – AFFGQV

  seems to work very widely

• Peter K says:

  30 Aug30 August 13:16

  Any sign of an increase in the Virgin Credit Card sign-up bonus yet Rob? I want to go for one but can’t justify the £140 fee for only 18.5k miles.

  • Rob says:

    30 Aug30 August 14:35

    Oddly no

• Allan says:

  30 Aug30 August 17:03

  OT – has anybody had the 500 bonus miles for a Virgin East coast booking applied?

  • Genghis says:

    30 Aug30 August 18:20

    No. It’s due tomorrow. I shall be chasing if not received. Use ref PART375.

    • Allan says:

      31 Aug31 August 18:39

      Thanks

  • harry says:

    31 Aug31 August 18:48

    ISTR I paid £1.50 for that!

    signed

    Mr Appalled from Windsor Castle

    • Graeme says:

      1 Sep1 September 16:32

      Anyone had these since the expected date for miles to be credited has passed?

      • Rob says:

        1 Sep1 September 22:02

        I bought a genuine ticket and haven’t had mine (got the base miles).

      • Genghis says:

        1 Sep1 September 22:13

        Not yet. I chased yesterday by email but no response

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