Bits: IHG Advent game, Priority Pass deal extended, new IHG luxury booking scheme

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• Louie says:

  30 Nov30 November 04:09

  First to take things off topic…. I booked the Qatar deal from Stockholm to Oz and we’re planning three nights in Stockholm before the early flight to Doha. I can’t now find the discussions about Stockholm at the time so would love some suggestions about where to stay and what to do (or to be pointed to the relevant posts). Thanks!

  And whilst I am at it…. is crediting a Hertz hire (£316) to Virgin still thought to be the best approach? I won’t qualify for Hertz’ own double points offer as the hire period spans the offer dates.

  • Rash says:

    30 Nov30 November 07:19

    Regarding Hertz depends on how often you rent with them. Its 800 points for a free weekend day, you’d get 316 (more if you have presidents circle status) for your rental. I credit to Virgin if the rental costs me less than 70, but thats my own logic no science behind that!

  • Alex W says:

    30 Nov30 November 07:30

    Marriott has a good deal with Hertz, 5000 points for a 5+ day rental. If saving for a travel package that’s worth £50. 2000 points for a 2-4 day rental.

    In Stockholm you should visit the Vasa ship museum. Very impressive.

    • Rob says:

      30 Nov30 November 08:19

      Agreed, amazing museum. Mary Rose X 50.

      • Anna says:

        30 Nov30 November 15:04

        Isn’t there an ABBA museum now as well?!

        • Rob says:

          30 Nov30 November 15:10

          Won’t be as cool as the Vasa

    • Ro says:

      30 Nov30 November 17:43

      yeah +1. It honestly sounds quite boring… but the Vasa is bangin.
      Fotografiska is also awesome.

  • John says:

    30 Nov30 November 08:37

    The Hilton is OK if you need a Hilton stay, good breakfast and reasonable lounge but rooms a bit small unless you get upgraded several steps

  • Ade says:

    30 Nov30 November 08:57

    Hi
    We did a similar stopover on the way to NY last summer, if you are travelling as a family I’d recommend the museum/zoo (not sure what its called), but it was a stop on the sightseeing boats.

    I great day out for both the little ones and the grown ups,

  • Ben says:

    30 Nov30 November 21:34

    Elite hotels are good in Stockholm – and the ABBA museum is fun! Try the living museum too out on one of the islands. Try frantzen and carousel for dinner – and if coming from Alexandra, the city express train whilst expensive is very convenient as is the flyggbusarna express coach (taxis are c £50 and are unregulated so prices are all different) – taxi kurir are cheapest from airport and taxi Stockholm’s are reliable in the city. There are great apps you can download to book too.

• the real harry1 says:

  30 Nov30 November 06:29

  O/T http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/american-airlines-pilots-christmas-holiday-cancel-flights-schedule-glitch-union-a8083371.html

  After Ryanair’s rostering debacle, American Airlines messes up its flight crew schedules. A glitch in the system with which flight crew bid for time off granted the Christmas week off for far too many pilots. It is believed 15,000 flights do not have sufficient crew assigned.

  • roberto says:

    30 Nov30 November 08:07

    Great news (not) …. I only have 4 AA flights booked between the 27th Dec and the 7th of Jan.. Grrrrrr

    • Alan says:

      3 Dec3 December 16:00

      Don’t worry, they’ve now thrown cash at the issue (100% bonus payments for pilots) so shouldn’t be a problem now.

  • Richard says:

    30 Nov30 November 08:19

    15,000 flights over 2 weeks call it 1,000 flights a day. Their website says they run 6,700 a day on average. Losing a 7th of your capacity over Christmas sounds fun.

• Andrew says:

  30 Nov30 November 08:36

  Haven’t got the BP one which is disappointing.

  I do have £10 back on £80 at Jones Bootmakers.

• lammy52 says:

  30 Nov30 November 08:45

  OT. I have 3 x Vietnam Air and 1 x Cambodia Air flights upcoming and would like to credit miles to something I may find useful. Currently have both BA and Virgin can anybody suggest a way of getting them to either of these. I notice that Delta is listed for Vietnam, but didn’t think that they would be transferable.

  • fbrj says:

    30 Nov30 November 09:57

    O/T (but possibly relevant for you). Next year I have some VN economy flights in Asia. I am BA gold and have just got a 3 month match to Skymiles Platinum through Delta (BA Silver will match to Skymiles Gold also). Skymiles Plat and Gold give you SkyTeam Elite. VN (and a host of other airlines) are members of SkyTeam. Skyteam Elite will give you priority check-in, boarding, security (at some airports) and lounge access all while you are on VN economy.

    • lammy52 says:

      30 Nov30 November 11:06

      Thank you, very interesting

      • fbrj says:

        30 Nov30 November 11:52

        As I can’t edit my original comment – Skymiles Plat and Gold gives you SkyTeam Elite Plus (not just SkyTeam Elite). It is the latter status (ie with “Plus”) that gives you the benefits I listed.

  • JamesB says:

    30 Nov30 November 10:01

    Not sure how many miles you are looking at but Flying Blue could get you close to European shorthaul if any of your flights with Vietnam Airlines are longhaul. Flying Blue to pointshound is also possible.

    • lammy52 says:

      30 Nov30 November 11:07

      Thank you, will have a look at that.

  • New Card says:

    30 Nov30 November 10:12

    http://www.wheretocredit.com/ should help, at least for Vietnam Airlines

    • lammy52 says:

      30 Nov30 November 11:22

      Thank you

• Dave says:

  30 Nov30 November 08:45

  OT: Looking to fly LON-MEL and then have a stopover in asia on wayback home. Thai Air looking cheapest so far. Any recommendations of family friendly accommodation with 90minutes of BKK?

  Also any suggestions on how to get better stopover deals on return leg.
  cheers

  • Alan says:

    30 Nov30 November 08:51

    Tangentially related – on your return leg remember Priority Pass now has two bar/restaurant options at MEL (see my comment a day or two ago) – $A 36pp credit to use, look decent.

  • JamesB says:

    30 Nov30 November 10:05

    City break or beach break and how many days? Why not do one each in either direction, break the journey?

    • Dave says:

      30 Nov30 November 10:44

      Beach/pool break.
      Maybe 4 nights.

      • JamesB says:

        30 Nov30 November 11:50

        Without any more flying … Koh Samet. Taxi from airport to the pier in 2-3h depending on traffic, followed by short ferry ride.Koh Chang If you are happy to go a little further. If you don’t want to go to an island a resort around Rating, beaches are very quiet and clean but the islands are worth the extra ferry ride. If you must have the bug chain hotels Hua Him but would not be my choice. Apart from these suggestions you are looking at another flight.

      • Dave says:

        30 Nov30 November 15:56

        JamesB – thanks. Rating? wheres that?
        anywhere in BKK itself with a good pool to chill?

      • JamesB says:

        30 Nov30 November 16:20

        Sorry Dave, predictive text…Rayong, about 40 minutes west of Pattaya. There are numerous resorts and it’s popular with Thai people wanting to get out the city for a few days peace and quiet. Search Novotel Rayong but be aware there are many nice non chain resorts to choose from. There is also some great reastaurants along the beach in this area. For better beaches though head to Samet or Chang if time permits. In Bangkok itself most large chain hotels have extensive leisure facilities. However, with family and pool needs one that might work well for you is the all suitee Grand Mercure Residence Asoke. Also good location for getting to both the airport and around the city. Have never stayed there myself but looks good with decent reviews.

• mark2 says:

  30 Nov30 November 09:25

  thanks for the tip; I would struggle to get £45 worth in normally.

  • JamesB says:

    30 Nov30 November 09:57

    Anybody with nectar might have the 250 bonus points offer there too, swiping will be worth another £1 25+

• Rob says:

  30 Nov30 November 09:38

  I had an email yesterday from a readers whose PO was refusing credit cards for One4All cards, so proceed with caution.

  • Tom says:

    30 Nov30 November 11:14

    Really, wow, my cashier laughed when I explained why I was making multiple £10 transactions with my AMEX. Didn’t realise the 24hr rule, though, and let’s say M&S and I were confused when they didn’t work when I was trying to buy some food!

    • mark2 says:

      30 Nov30 November 11:57

      They find it hard to understand that you do not care about the pattern on the card.

  • Peter K says:

    30 Nov30 November 16:27

    My local post office refuses to use credit/charge cards for One4All gift cards.

    • the real harry1 says:

      30 Nov30 November 16:33

      it’s just the staff, not the system

      if you could be bothered to complain, head office would probably give them a spanking as PO HQ presumably wants all POs to stick to the script

      could just be ignorance, ie you could try, a la Tesco: ‘shall I just put the card in and see if it works?’

• rams1981 says:

  30 Nov30 November 09:44

  OT not received my priority pass for getting Amex gold. Usually quite quick isn’t it? Amex gold arrived last week.

  • Genghis says:

    30 Nov30 November 10:00

    Not had Amex Gold for a while but IIRC Lounge Club cards seem to take a bit longer than Priority Pass (with Plat) to arrive.

  • Rob says:

    30 Nov30 November 11:16

    Yes, when my wife got her last Gold the Lounge Club card arrived first.

    • Jay says:

      30 Nov30 November 11:44

      My wife is still waiting for her Lounge Club card after getting Amex Gold 10 days ago…don’t recall it taking as long when I got mine earlier in the year so might be a delay currently.

      • the real harry1 says:

        30 Nov30 November 12:29

        mine was late arriving so I went on Chat a few days ago – official answer is that it can take up to 28 days so you’ll have to wait

        it arrived yesterday so that was just under 3 weeks from Amex card issued

  • Peter K says:

    30 Nov30 November 16:31

    Earlier this year this happened to us when we wanted it for a soon to be taken flight. We rang lounge club and got the card number and expiry date. Make sure they give you ALL the card digits however, as we were initially only given the account number, not the first 5 common digits so had to ring a second time at the airport.
    Once we got all the details however we got in the lounge without needing the physical card.

    • ankomonkey says:

      30 Nov30 November 17:47

      We did the same last month. I gave the lounge receptionist a bit of paper with the Lounge Club details hand-written on it. I was prepared to convince them I should be allowed in, but no problems at all.

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