Bits: BA bed bugs, Amex Platinum Waldorf and Conrad offer, Thistle launches free breakfast

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• Nick says:

  20 Oct20 October 06:03

  Bed bugs are often carried in suitcases which they have entered from hotel rooms, or other rooms, after luggage has been placed on the floor. One would imagine then that it would therefore be quite easy for them to get into an aircraft cabin.

• TripRep says:

  20 Oct20 October 06:11

  I’d agree bedbugs on flights are rare & all airlines suffer.

  Looks like its hard to manage treating vs loss of revenue from aircraft being out of service, another case from last year when they decided to keep the aircraft running with the infestation (also on BA)
  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/bed-bug-outbreak-on-british-airways-flight/

  • TripRep says:

    20 Oct20 October 06:17

    And BA do feel they pay suitable compensation for such events…
    http://www.itv.com/news/2016-09-23/man-bitten-over-100-times-by-bed-bugs-on-british-airways-flight-given-just-50-compensation/

• S879 says:

  20 Oct20 October 06:25

  So if I book the platinum offer say Conrad Koh Samui and get 4th night free with platinum and then book 4 nights with Hilton directly and get the 5th free, would that work if I email hotel to link bookings?

  • S879 says:

    20 Oct20 October 06:27

    Also, if you cancel your platinum by the time you stay there, will that be an issue?

    • Rob says:

      20 Oct20 October 08:46

      No, but you may be asked to pay with an Amex (technically that is a condition of booking the rate) although hotels often forget.

  • Jim says:

    20 Oct20 October 07:30

    Depends if you get bed bugs or not…. you might get a 6th night comped…

  • S879 says:

    20 Oct20 October 21:22

    Thanks, good idea.

• Nogoingback says:

  20 Oct20 October 07:00

  My son’s legs were covered in what I am pretty sure were bed bug bites when we arrived in LAX at Easter. He was so upset and itchy. I contacted BA with photos etc and was totally fobbed off.
  Luckily we were at a hotel with access to a tumble dryer etc

• Clive says:

  20 Oct20 October 07:29

  Bed bugs are a scourge. I read that they’re almost impossible to get rid of and can hide under light switches, in curtains and carpets etc – so I’d be less worried about being bitten on a flight than by carrying them home from one.

• Egg says:

  20 Oct20 October 07:42

  Thought Thistle always done free breakfast – at least if you sign up / register for free.
  They have some good pod parking & stay deals for around £80 (8 night parking) if you keep them peeled

  • Volker says:

    20 Oct20 October 09:18

    “…whilst not being the smartest hotel at the airport…” On the face of it, thanks to the driverless pods, the Thistle could be a real, less pricey alternative to the Sofitel T5 – maybe HFP could do a review? I’ve got several stays with late arrivals and early-morning connections at Heathrow coming up in the next few weeks; however, having seen that the Thistle got hundreds (!) of tripadvisor reviews in the categories “poor” and “terrible”, I went for the Sofitel again…

    • Andrew says:

      20 Oct20 October 09:34

      It’s absolutely fine. I’ve used it many times to avoid the M40/M25 in the morning to catch an early flight.

      Obviously it all depends on what kind of experience you are seeking. If you are looking for a WOW 7 night stay to impress your new bride whilst rolling in luxury and not setting foot outside the door – you’ll probably be a bit disappointed. If however, you are looking to spend time with family, put the kids to bed, arrive at the hotel at 11pm, sleep, get up at 6am, hop on a pod and be on the first flight to DC – then it’s absolutely perfect.

      • Matt says:

        20 Oct20 October 10:58

        The Thistle is our default pre-flight hotel. It’s a little bit tatty around the edges and clearly nothing special, but it’s not too expensive, convenient, and perfectly adequate for one night.

        It’s also within an easy walk of good Chinese and Indian restaurants on Bath Road.

      • Anna says:

        20 Oct20 October 12:27

        How exactly does is work with the pods and what is the transfer time? We stay at T5 at least once a year and the Sofitel prices always make me wince.

      • Tom says:

        20 Oct20 October 13:53

        We’ve driven down and stayed here from Leeds. Tatty round he edges, but fine for a 8pm check in, couple of pints and then jumping in the driverless pods to get to T5.

        Short walk to the pod terminal, jump in, the door closes and off you go!

• xcalx says:

  20 Oct20 October 07:57

  OT Re Amex plat insurance

  You will be reimbursed up to £150 per person for refreshment
  costs, or up to £300 per person (including £150 for
  refreshments) for additional travel and accommodation costs
  incurred prior to actual departure on Your Trip if:

  Delay, cancellation or overbooking. Your flight, train
  or ship is delayed, cancelled, or overbooked and no
  alternative is made available within 4 hours of the
  published departure time;

  Has this jumped to 4 hours from 2 hours, was sure it was 2 hours

  • Adam says:

    20 Oct20 October 09:46

    I’ve had my card 10 years and am sure it has always been 4 hours.

    • xcalx says:

      20 Oct20 October 09:47

      Thanks.

  • the_real_a says:

    20 Oct20 October 14:54

    Yes 4 hours – however i felt slightly guilty on a recent delay to gorge myself at Fortnum and Mason in T5. Spent a good hour enjoying the fresh meats and seafood finishing with a £10 cup of blue mountain coffee. Bill came to just shy of £98… Rob mentioned i had made a schoolboy error and should have added a bottle of champagne.

    AMEX settled without even a hint of quibble. Makes delays an absolute pleasure.

    • Alan says:

      21 Oct21 October 12:57

      LOL here was me feeling bad spending £32.50 on some dinner on a recent AMS delay! Claimed on Amex Plat ICC Dollar (as don’t need to spend on card), but put actual food on Amex Plat UK – not an issue, settled over the phone and money coming back via bank account. Schiphol was total chaos that day so not a chance of getting refreshment voucher from KLM.

• Gavin says:

  20 Oct20 October 08:15

  Off topic, posted last night but in case anyone missed and collects Aegean miles, 500 free miles for downloading or opening the Aegean app

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