Bits: 2400 Avios with a Nerf gun, Virgin joins TSA pre-check, Radisson / Park Inn sales extended

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• Mike says:

  28 Jan28 January 04:06

  Always fly with AA transatlantic. Much better product than BA.

  We then get TSA precheck on departure and internal.

  • Alan says:

    28 Jan28 January 10:24

    No EU261 protection on your return leg then though – I’ve got the scars from spending a night in JFK airport thanks to AA’s appalling customer service there (2h rolling delays throughout the night) – eventually got some AA points after lots of complaining but would have preferred €600!

• Guesswho2000 says:

  28 Jan28 January 04:30

  I’ve never been enrolled in global entry, but when I was an AA Elite I used to have TSA Precheck, it made security much easier. I’ve got no idea whether I’d still have it if I flew AA now, or how I had it in the first place, but there you go! Was always a funny experience, as if be pointed down the precheck line, then have to wait for my better half to emerge from the normal channel.

  • James Ward says:

    28 Jan28 January 04:59

    I saw reports yesterday that the TSA will be offering Pre-Check to fewer people who aren’t enrolled in an eligible scheme and have a ‘known traveler’ [sic] number.

    I’d recommend GE to anyone who visits the US on even a semi-regular basis. I’ve had it since the UK pilot a couple of years ago and its saved me literally hours of waiting since then. The only exception was at Dublin’s pre-clearance, where I still had to queue for an agent to manually check my passport even after using the GE kiosk. He questioned why I didn’t have any other US stamps in my passport and flat out refused to believe me when I said that you totally skip a manual check when using GE on the other side of the pond. I guess he had alternative facts…

    • littlefish says:

      28 Jan28 January 12:17

      My last US arrival, GE machine gave me the confirmatory printouts … yet I was still required to show passport to a booth agent (who was very jolly) She stamped my Passport and had me on my way in 30 secs; the issue being I nearly got caught up in a Q. In that 30 seconds another 3 arrivals joined plus the Cabin Crew from an earlier flight.
      So yes, as with DUB, there are alternative norms in the way GE flows.

  • xcalx says:

    28 Jan28 January 07:51

    Mrs xcalx and I always have a boarding pass showing TSA pre approved, usually travelling in Business.
    One OW Sapphire (air Berlin) one no status. Never applied for global entry.

    • Nick_C says:

      28 Jan28 January 12:59

      I’ve been getting TSA pre approved for about 5 years now, but my partner never does so I don’t take advantage of it. Possible factors, I’m British with an American dad and used to have an unlimited visa. My OH is European, born in Africa, living in the UK. Different risk factors I guess.

• edd says:

  28 Jan28 January 08:04

  TSA pre is also coming to BA (unless this weeks announcement has changed anything), this has been discussed quite a lot on Flyertalk.

• Andrew says:

  28 Jan28 January 09:14

  FYI – Hotel Promotions page currently says “No Club Carlson promotion” – I know because I checked before a stay this week, and so didn’t register for the promo referenced in the article. Might be worth updating…

  • Rob says:

    28 Jan28 January 09:33

    Sorry, needs updating I know

• mark2 says:

  28 Jan28 January 09:52

  OT
  Yesterday I was buying some gift cards in Morrison’s to get points etc. when I found some Pay.com cards. I tried to buy one to experiment but they would not even pretend to go through the till.
  So no change there then.
  I will check in Tesco on Monday.

  • the real harry1 says:

    28 Jan28 January 17:22

    life’s too short 🙂

• Boris says:

  28 Jan28 January 13:02

  Affects us?

  >Sec. 8. Visa Interview Security. (a) The Secretary of State shall immediately suspend the Visa Interview Waiver Program and ensure compliance with section 222 of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1222, which requires that all individuals seeking a nonimmigrant visa undergo an in-person interview, subject to specific statutory exceptions.

  https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jan/27/donald-trump-executive-order-immigration-full-text

• Boris says:

  28 Jan28 January 13:08

  Affects any of us?

  >Sec. 8. Visa Interview Security. (a) The Secretary of State shall immediately suspend the Visa Interview Waiver Program and ensure compliance with section 222 of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1222, which requires that all individuals seeking a nonimmigrant visa undergo an in-person interview, subject to specific statutory exceptions.

  https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jan/27/donald-trump-executive-order-immigration-full-text

  • Rob says:

    28 Jan28 January 17:20

    No, because UK citizens never needed an interview anyway.

  • Alan says:

    28 Jan28 January 21:45

    Nope – lots of blogs mistakenly thought it was going to affect Visa Waiver Programme, but thankfully this is something different – just to avoid the need to have an interview when renewing a visa, but most UK travellers will be travelling without a visa under VWP so it won’t matter.

• the real harry1 says:

  28 Jan28 January 17:21

  looks legit to me

  should be able to buy any number you want for 1p

  • Rob says:

    28 Jan28 January 18:37

    Which works how? Can only be done by transferring from some foreign credit cards which have lax name matching systems.

    • the real harry1 says:

      28 Jan28 January 18:40

      the guy gives his phone number, he has good reputation & track record, you wouldn’t go for 1 million @1p the first time but just test the legitimacy with a smaller order

      probably known to hfp 🙂

      • Rob says:

        28 Jan28 January 21:21

        You’re missing the point. Technically this cannot be done except via a few unique circumstances with people not based in the UK, so it is clearly a front for an overseas group irrespective of the £5 per month VPN phone number they may be using.

    • TGLoyalty says:

      29 Jan29 January 08:45

      They are selling the login to accounts with Avios in them by the looks of it which can be done

      • Rob says:

        29 Jan29 January 14:52

        Obviously that can be done. But that is HUGELY risky because BA gets a warning flag if a) an Avios redemption is made for someone with a different surname to the account holder, b) the account holder does not pay the taxes and especially c) the redemption does not start or finish in the country where the account is based. I know someone who did this and BA closed the account and wiped 400,000 Avios.

      • Keith says:

        30 Jan30 January 17:52

        Presumably accounts which they have hacked, and changed login details so that they have control over them.My wife’s account was hacked, her email address and password changed numerous times. Eventually BAEC agreed to open a new account and transfer everything across. Been OK since – quickly touching wood!

        • the real harry1 says:

          30 Jan30 January 17:55

          that is an interesting possibility

          I know this guy giving his phone number & address doesn’t actually signify safety

          steer clear – there are better ways to get 1 million Avios for 1p each 🙂

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