Bits: BA ‘Upgrade to First’ back, SPG / Marriott merger clue, IC Ambassador bonus goes

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• Wally1976 says:

  11 Sep11 September 08:59

  OT – flying out of LHR T3 for the first time soon. We are flying CE and have priority pass with Amex Platinum so which is the best lounge to use please? I think we can access Cathay, Club Aspire, BA Galleries, No1 and AA. Spoilt for choice!

  Thanks.

  • Alan says:

    11 Sep11 September 09:08

    Definitely Cathay IMHO

  • Dimitri says:

    11 Sep11 September 09:11

    First wolrd problems… :D. Cathay!

    • Wally1976 says:

      11 Sep11 September 09:31

      Indeed! Sounds like Cathay’s the way to go.

  • Andrew* says:

    11 Sep11 September 09:22

    Cathay access through status or can you use that as flying CE?

    • Wally1976 says:

      11 Sep11 September 09:32

      We don’t have any status (both BA blue only) but I believe we get access to Cathay lounge as flying CE on BA (at least that’s what Lounge Buddy’s telling me).

      • roberto says:

        11 Sep11 September 09:40

        True….
        Noodle Soup… mmmn.

  • CT says:

    11 Sep11 September 10:05

    Go to Cathay for dim sum, then move onto BA lounge after for the booze 🙂

  • Optimus Prime says:

    11 Sep11 September 10:52

    OT and similar to Wally1976’s question: flying out of LGW South Terminal on BA Club World. Also have PriorityPass. What’s the best available lounge to us?

    • John says:

      11 Sep11 September 11:32

      BA lounge then Grain Store

      • Optimus Prime says:

        11 Sep11 September 12:25

        Thanks!

• BrotherBear says:

  11 Sep11 September 11:57

  OT – looking at a redemption from London to Bangkok. Only options are indirect from Amman with royal Jordanian or Kuala Lumpar with Malaysian. First segments with BA. Will be a one way flight only. I have an Amex 2 for 1 voucher and therefore to take advantage of this I would need to break the booking into 2 separate bookings.

  If I do this, am I correct in thinking BA will not check luggage through to Bangkok? And I would need to collect luggage and check in again and clear security again? Any advice on which option would be better with or without the 2 for 1?

  Many thanks in advance.

  • Rob says:

    11 Sep11 September 12:23

    Correct, BA will not check the baggage through. Never done RJ (although I am thinking about doing a review trip early next year) but Malaysia has a decent hard product – A380, moving to a new A350 soon. I would imagine cash tickets from KL to BKK are fairly cheap on Air Asia etc if you don’t want to use more Avios.

    • guesswho2000 says:

      11 Sep11 September 12:52

      And, if the copious amount of TV advertising they’re (AirAsia) doing in Australia is anything to go by, it looks like a very decent product for your money!

    • JamesB says:

      11 Sep11 September 16:09

      Yes, MH is excellent on a380 and probably better seat on new a350. However, if he wants to use 241 he will need to take BA which is currently a 787 I believe but could well switch back to a 773 as loads have reportedly been good. Air Asia is awesome, what every LCC should aspire to. I believe they are now operating out of KLIA1 which would simplify the connection, bags etc. Flexible flights on Air Asia are usually very affordable and include a seat reservation, a meal, hot seat at front of the plane and priority boarding. The flexible option always shows at flight and fare selection page on their website. I would opt for Air Asia as opposed to avios redemption on MH as the latter are prone to cancellations and less frequent. If Phuket or Krabi figure in plans though them MH is just a zone 1 redemption. I’m a little surprised there is no availability on BA via HKG as it’s relatively easy to find.

  • John says:

    11 Sep11 September 15:55

    Unless you need to use the 241 I’d consider paid tickets to BKK

    TK has a J sale LGW/LHR-BKK for £1100 (not sure if that includes APD or not – but you can avoid long-haul APD by stopping in IST for 24 hrs)

    I think the QR ex-VCE and ex-PRG deals are still on

    BR had a Econ+ sale recently for £600 – might have ended

    There’s also some UL deals via LCA/MCT/DXB/DOH/CMB etc for £1000 or so but you have to get to Cyprus

    • JamesB says:

      11 Sep11 September 16:21

      Good point, there is little value in a BA redemptions to zone 7 these days let alone zone 8 even when using a 241 due to the tax and fees. Thanks for the heads up on current TK offer, I will check if it works for me ex EDI

    • Rob says:

      11 Sep11 September 16:23

      Qatar sale launching tomorrow too.

• JohnNI says:

  11 Sep11 September 12:50

  As bits,
  I flew from BHS-STN with easyJet and took only hand luggage as usual, I had seen from HFP and a notification on the easyJet app about the hands free baggage service to check your hand luggage into the hold pre security for £4. So on my return journey I decided to take advantage of this service. I queued in the bag drop line and when I reached the front advised the lady that I wanted to use hands free, I was then directed to another member of staff member who tagged my bag and took my £4 giving me a receipt and off my bag went. I asked her if many people were using the service and that it was good that you could take through items larger than security allow. It was at this point she said that if my bag had items not allowed in hand luggage taken through security it is no longer hand luggage and would be checked in as hold luggage at £35. I made a joke with her and went on my way. What I didn’t tell her was that I had 3 bottles of full size gin in the bag. When I got to the gate I asked the boarding staff about this and she confirmed that it was correct what I had been told. My bag and gin arrived in Belfast in one piece although no priority tag and almost last on luggage belt. Nowhere could I see on the easyJet website that larger items are not allowed. So it appears this service is not as good as many think.

• Lady London says:

  11 Sep11 September 13:07

  What’s this thing called Royal Ambassador that IHG also have?

  • Alex W says:

    11 Sep11 September 13:42

    Invitation only apparently requires lots of stays at intercontinentals. Free mini bar – sounds awesome!

    • Rob says:

      11 Sep11 September 14:02

      I think the criteria is now $10,000 of annual IC spend. They have tightened up on it – it used to just be 60 nights across all IHG hotels, and you were allowed to give a friend RA status for free. I had it for a couple of years on this basis. To be honest I rarely bothered with the free mini bar, unless there was a half bottle of wine or champagne in it. The upgrades were better – usually to a suite – but that has now been cut back and the only requirement is ‘two levels’.

      • Alex W says:

        11 Sep11 September 17:28

        I would be arriving with an empty suitcase every time and leaving with a full one!!

        Stayed at Indigo Edinburgh recently and they provide a free mini bar with drinks and snacks. No booze sadly but they did refill it every day. Not sure if this is normal or just because I am Spire?

        • RussellH says:

          11 Sep11 September 20:20

          Indigo Newcastle has a free minibar too – with local craft beer back in February, but only non-alcoholic last time – July I think.

          They also seem to have a bug in their booking system; both times booked room only, but told on checjkng in that breakfast was included. Quite decent breakfast too. Prepay rooms at £60+.

        • Alan says:

          11 Sep11 September 22:14

          Routine for Hotel Indigo IME – I think they’re one of the best IHG brands TBH! Had great stays in both York and Helsinki with them recently.

• Jason says:

  11 Sep11 September 13:21

  OT Flybe reward flights anyone know when they release availability? Cash flights live for next April but nothing yet for rewards thanks

• Chris says:

  11 Sep11 September 13:32

  OT – Anyone know if Hertz are OK with early returns? Conditions only state no refunds for early returns, not that they are OK or against them. 2 weeks is cheaper than 13 days on a rental for next year with a high daily rate so looking to save a few quid

  • Rob says:

    11 Sep11 September 14:02

    I have always got a refund when I have returned a Hertz car early!

    • Rash says:

      11 Sep11 September 14:13

      It depends I think whether it is a prepay or not, I returned a prepay a day early and received no refund or no early return fee.

    • Chris says:

      11 Sep11 September 16:19

      I’m thinking (partly educated by reading online) that for the normal rates, they calculate it on return – in which case my 2 weeks might be reassessed as 1wk 6 days, and therefore go up in cost – but even if it does I’m no worse off…

      As long as they won’t get shirty that’s the important thing

• Ben says:

  11 Sep11 September 14:51

  OT but I was having trouble registering for the Marriott “two stay Megabonus” offer from a couple of days ago, so e-mailed them and they added it to my account.

• Lee says:

  11 Sep11 September 17:10

  I managed to get the lego this morning before the prices have been ramped up .

  Not such a good deal now .

  • the real harry1 says:

    11 Sep11 September 17:29

    good of you to post it! 🙂

    • Lee says:

      11 Sep11 September 18:46

      Im not hear to post offers thats no my job!

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