Bits: BA launches two new ski routes, BA drops two routes, Scottish Air Passenger Duty cut

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• Stu R says:

  22 Jun22 June 04:36

  For once, hurrah for those of us living north of the border; its high time flying wasn’t seen as such a tax cash cow. Here’s to the rest of the UK following soon! It’s bad enough that our £’s are so worthless when we get wherever we’re going, hopefully this will soften the blow a little!

• Chris Anderson says:

  22 Jun22 June 04:57

  Any idea whether the change to APD in Scotland will be for flights actually taken after April 2018, or whether it’s just for those booked after that date? i.e. I’ve already made a booking to Tokyo from Edinburgh for May 2018, will I be able to reclaim my APD in line with the changes or not?

  • the real harry1 says:

    22 Jun22 June 06:47

    you can reclaim the excess APD (ie on same model as when kids’ APD got changed, though avios.com never refunded it, the cheats)

  • Chris Anderson says:

    22 Jun22 June 12:53

    Excellent, thanks chaps

• Anna says:

  22 Jun22 June 05:08

  I wonder if BA will “adjust” their charges on redemption flights when this takes effect…

  • Rob says:

    22 Jun22 June 08:55

    Yes. They already do if you start in Inverness or Jersey where there is no APD.

    • Alan says:

      22 Jun22 June 20:38

      Oh, I thought this was one of the few things they didn’t mess about with in that way?? (I’m guessing Anna is implying from the quotes in her message that they would increase YQ to offset APD)

• Hugh says:

  22 Jun22 June 05:25

  If going to Bergen,
  My suggestion would be fly to Oslo and take the train over to Bergen (if you have the time, it’s 7 hours) the scenery is stunning and it’s not that expensive

  • Anna says:

    22 Jun22 June 05:29

    “Passengers have an absolute right to re-routing as Article 8 of EU reg 261:2004 when your flight is cancelled.” This suggests that they have to get you to Bergen, even if they have to use another airline. I know BA are dreadful for evading their obligations, but it would be interesting to see someone pursuing this.

    • Andrew says:

      22 Jun22 June 06:02

      So I spent a good 20 minutes on the phone to a geniunely lovely, helpful BA agent in Manchester yesterday. She said the standard rules are that they can transfer my Bergen booking to an alternative destination within 300 miles’ radius of Bergen. The only option is Oslo. However she said they’d also do Copenhagen or Gothenburg as they’re only about 310 miles out.

      In terms of rerouting, BA are currently looking to get a ticketing arrangement in place with another airline. Not many airlines fly to Bergen, so it’s likely SAS or KLM – the BA computer offers KLM but no flights AMS-BGO which indicates it might be that option BA are pursuing. Either way, I was assured it’d not be Norwegian direct from LGW because “our chief executive doesn’t like them”.

      Advice was to wait a couple of days to see what rerouting options become available, which seems sensible – I have the agent’s extension number so I can get back to the helpful one!

      • Polly says:

        22 Jun22 June 06:22

        Well Andrew, BA absolutely should be considering Norwegian, whether their CEO likes them or not! It’s the customer who should be accommodated really, not their CEOs likes or dislikes. Sounds like you got a nice csa there in MAN on the phone!

        • Andrew says:

          22 Jun22 June 07:18

          Indeed she was super.

          To be honest I’d rather avoid Norwegian just because LGW is the opposite side of the M25 to me and at that time of the morning I’d rather take an indirect route via an extra hour in bed… but quite, I agree with your point, but preferably if it’s part of a choice offered…

      • Anna says:

        22 Jun22 June 08:28

        She might have been lovely, but BA’s rules aren’t necessarily compliant with EU law.

    • Jordan D says:

      22 Jun22 June 06:54

      Fully agree – they are still not assisting me on their cancellation of the Bodrum route this summer after I had bought and paid for 2 Avios return flights in CE.

      • the real harry1 says:

        22 Jun22 June 07:01

        avios.com or BAEC?

    • Dave says:

      22 Jun22 June 08:04

      Why not LHR-BLL-BGO, with the second leg on Sun-Air? Might only operate on certain days, but could be a fun trip!

      • Andrew says:

        22 Jun22 June 09:16

        Yes she did mention that as a possibility but the two days a week that Sun Aur fly BLL-BGO don’t marry up with my dates. She even suggested LHR-MAN-BLL-BGO for additional tier points, but alas not to be.

        • Nick says:

          22 Jun22 June 21:37

          It’s unrealistic to expect BA to pay for flights on Norwegian or easyJet when those airlines refuse to sign up to industry standard distribution and ticketing agreements. BA will be going out now to those it does have arrangements with asking for options to rebook people, so best to leave it a few days-it always takes time to filter through. Sadly SAS terminated its IATA ticketing agreement with BA a few years ago so that’s not an option either. But in a few days I would expect something to come up, as has been mentioned, they’ll get you to BGO if that’s where you want to go.

  • Matthew says:

    22 Jun22 June 08:37

    +1. We did this in spring when there was still snow about. Simply stunning journey. Was only £19ew if booked in advance. I’d recommend paying a few quid extra for unlimited tea/coffee. 🙂

• Doug says:

  22 Jun22 June 05:30

  Any tips or recommendations for booking a ski trip for a first timer? Ideally keeping costs low. Been to Austria and it seems nice, but with so many options there, not really sure what to book

  • Josh says:

    22 Jun22 June 07:13

    For a first timer wishing to keep costs low you could try Bulgaria. I’ve skied at both Pamporovo and Bansko out there and they are both excellent for beginners with fantastic instructors and incredibly good value. Lots of flights to Sofia or Plovdiv (Ryanair), specifically for Pamporovo. I’m actually off to St Anton next Feb but that is most definitely not going to be cheap. Forget about Switzerland (too pricey) but maybe consider some other less fashionable French resorts if you don’t fancy BG. Serre Chevalier has excellent skiing and in my experience is much better value than, say, Val D’Isere. Whatever you choose – have fun.

  • Matthew says:

    22 Jun22 June 08:40

    Try snowtrex.co.uk for your accommodation. They all include a lift pass per person which can be quite a saving.

  • Scallder says:

    22 Jun22 June 08:45

    If you’d prefer France I’d suggest Les Gets or Morzine. They’re both part of the same area but doubt you’d need an area pass for first time. Only an hour transfer from Geneva which is a delight compared to some and very beginner friendly.

    Only downside is that compared to other resorts they’re lower, so perhaps slightly less snow sure, but then again nowhere except the highest resorts seem to be safe from a lack of snow these days.

    Regardless of where you’re going, Is suggest going after mid January based on the lack of snow there has been up to Xmas/NY the past 3-4 years

  • Ah says:

    22 Jun22 June 09:57

    Bulgaria if you want cheap.
    Slopes can be packed though & lift queues long! & a Blue Run is more a Red.

  • Nate1309 says:

    22 Jun22 June 11:40

    Austria is great for beginners at some resorts. Flying to INN makes lots of them very easy in 30-60 mins.

    • the real harry1 says:

      22 Jun22 June 12:02

      There are many Austrian resorts very suitable for beginners just an hour or so’s drive from Vienna, as well.

      I’m a big fan of skiing in Austria – a very friendly country to Brits, not expensive at all in the minor resorts whether you are looking at lift passes, hotels or eating (even en piste bars & restaurants).

      I guess you’d need to factor in car hire, though. Outside school holidays you can easily find cheap rooms when you arrive, no real need to book ahead in my experience.

      • Rob says:

        22 Jun22 June 12:36

        I hate skiing (and don’t) but if you have kids I highly recommend Hotel Elmauhof in Hinterglemm, near Salzburg.

        • Joe says:

          22 Jun22 June 14:46

          I detest it also. Delighted to hear others admitting the same!

        • Anna says:

          22 Jun22 June 17:51

          I’ve never been tempted to even try – cold weather plus a potentially dangerous sport never features on my holiday check list!

        • the real harry1 says:

          22 Jun22 June 21:00

          Anna – you’ve missed out on grand scenery, wonderful winter experiences & an out of season tan, nice sociable people, getting fit in a fun way, mastering a challenging sport

          I’m one of the UK’s best non-Olympian skiers (or so I believe 🙂 )

          Certainly skied more than most people & I don’t fall over

        • Genghis says:

          22 Jun22 June 21:04

          I’m surprised there’s not yet a “place in the snow” ❄️

        • the real harry1 says:

          22 Jun22 June 21:12

          actually you just made me think of a trip up to our place in Scotland when I was a kid (cottage top of Sutherland!)

          my bro & I (13 & 15) had just had 2 weeks skiing with school in Italy, taught, so were OK

          we got my mum to stop & let us ski for a day in Cairngorm on the way up – beautiful sunny day with decent snow for Scotland – my younger sister skiing for the first time

          we coached her & by the end of the day she was better than any of us! 🙂

• Mark says:

  22 Jun22 June 07:07

  Another north of the border giveaway, a country that would be bust without subsidies from rest of UK, with a structural 10% budget deficit. File under tuition fees and prescriptions please Miss Moneypenny.

  • Rob says:

    22 Jun22 June 08:58

    Always slightly bizarre when people think that stuff considered totally normal elsewhere in the EU is somehow impossible …… 🙂

    • Alan says:

      22 Jun22 June 20:42

      Indeed – plus prescriptions isn’t a valid argument at all – the paid-for system had lots of unclear and inconsistent exemptions and the (relatively fixed) costs of collection were far higher as a proportion of absolute revenue earned in a country a tenth the size of England.

  • CV3V says:

    22 Jun22 June 22:58

    you missed out:
    free care for elderly
    free eye tests
    free dental check ups
    free parking at NHS hospitals (except those car parks built under PFI)

    probably other stuff too. But reducing air passenger duty rates to something closer to other countries is a personal favourite.

    But then, the income tax threshold for the higher rate of tax is lower in Scotland, so not that ‘free’ after all, its how a government chooses to spend its money.

    • BlueThroughCrimp says:

      23 Jun23 June 13:36

      My local hospital still has car parking fees, and is definitely not PFI.

      • Alan says:

        23 Jun23 June 14:20

        It’s not just PFI hospitals that charge, it’s any where they sold the parking rights to a private company (e.g., Ninewells in Dundee) – it was felt to be cost-prohibitive to buy-out these contracts.

• Roger says:

  22 Jun22 June 07:23

  IHG White Card

  Can confirm received my second tranche of 10K IHG points on Creation IHG White card.
  I had to make another transaction to trigger statement and the points came with it.
  So anyone who has had the card but not received points should try and spend some money on card to receive the points.

  • Liz says:

    22 Jun22 June 09:13

    My hubby received a surprise additional 20000 IHG pts on his card this morning. He took the black card out before the double points offers were made so didn’t apply through any special link. Spent the £200 back in March and received the bonus back then! Every little helps!

    • Genghis says:

      22 Jun22 June 10:05

      Very tidy. I got the 10k this morning, my Black spend and then triggered SE for another 25k. Been a decent morning for points.

      • Liz says:

        22 Jun22 June 10:21

        I should hit SE by end of Sept with my card – just ordered a new front door so that should help get me over the 75k target!

      • Alan says:

        22 Jun22 June 20:44

        Ditto my 10k through too. Just made £1 VS Black Amex spend in Tesco (will trigger sign-up bonus thanks to applying whilst in Clubhouse). Next stop VS White Amex and perhaps this new AA Visa £70 offer…

• JamesB says:

  22 Jun22 June 07:34

  There is a potential huge spanner in the works of ADT. The rates and bands set will presumably have to be included in the budget so SNP cannot expect support from Greens on this which would be the easiest route to passing the budget. It seems likely it would have to be deferred or watered down to have any chance. A good ADT rate will likely require budget support from one of the other parties.

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