American Express Platinum closes its ‘UK Hotel Collection’ of special deals

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• Stu P. says:

  7 Feb7 February 05:12

  I did find it staggering that Mr Walsh should complain about Heathrow running a monopoly a couple of days ago. Perhaps if he is such a fan of competition he should give away a few slots!

  • Rob Brown says:

    7 Feb7 February 05:59

    But Walsh is pushing harder than anyone for Heathrow expansion so he doesn’t appear to want the monopoly.

    • Paul says:

      7 Feb7 February 06:37

      Walsh has lately supported the 3rd runway because it maintains BA dominance. He vehemently opposed Borus Island as that is the only way ( short of breaking IAG up) that brings greater choice and more competition to the U.K. market.

  • Mr(s) Entitled says:

    7 Feb7 February 09:27

    He is an employee of IAG. Why would he do anything other than try to further IAG’s ambitions? That is what he is paid to do. Hardly astounding.

• CW says:

  7 Feb7 February 05:37

  How would the stats compare for any other national flag carrier at their home base?

  • mark2 says:

    7 Feb7 February 06:45

    or the various US carriers at their home base?

• Rob Brown says:

  7 Feb7 February 06:06

  I have no idea how the system works, but surely if they are worried about a BA monopoly Virgin can move some of their flights from where there is competition to these routes if they are so worried about it.

  VA press releases always seem to be more whining about what isn’t fair than talking about why they are good (obviously I have never seen any directly but from the news so probably not a fair representation) they remind me of the whiny kid at school who would never try anything and then complain that no one picked them for PE.

  • mark2 says:

    7 Feb7 February 06:46

    +1

  • Rich says:

    7 Feb7 February 06:59

    +1 but then we’re a nation of whingers, just read most of the press for the evidence, especially the comments sections – or ask the Aussies!! I did think that Wee Willie was against the third runway for a while, good to see he’s changed his mind.

    • Rob says:

      7 Feb7 February 08:21

      He is still against because he knows BA will not get any new slots and his landing fees will shoot up. It could be devastating for BA.

      • Intentionally Blank says:

        7 Feb7 February 08:52

        One actually hope that it is. Yes, I fully understand what I’m saying, but perhaps if BA had a worthy competitor in Europe based out of heathrow, then perhaps he’d start competing. Competition is always good for two reasons: Price and Product

  • TripRep says:

    7 Feb7 February 07:11

    “no one picked them for PE.”

    Good product, but I prefer their Upper Class, boom, boom 😀

    • Cat says:

      7 Feb7 February 07:26

      *groans*

  • JAXBA says:

    7 Feb7 February 13:17

    VS’s m.o. since launch has been to complain about BA and cherry-pick their best routes. Ostensibly for ‘competition’ but really where they could make the most money. Ok, they’re a business, they found a niche, but they’re still whining after 30 years??

    BA tried Dirty Tricks, got caught, paid the damages, moved on.
    VS in turn paid their damages, but kept complaining… boohoo!

• JamesB says:

  7 Feb7 February 06:24

  I doubt the situation with BA at LHR differs much from that of other flag carriers at their main hubs in other countries. I would not be surprised if some even had substantially greater dominance. Also, I suspect any measures that might reduce BA dominance at LHR would largely see increased presence of the ME3, none of which have offered particularly great value from LHR, so there would possibly be a risk to the number of longhaul direct flights which would not ne a good thing.

  • Paul says:

    7 Feb7 February 06:33

    Dominance of a hub is one thing but across Europe carriers offer better products and service because they face competition.

    LH dominate FRA but German consumers can also choose MUC DUS. BA don’t have any flights from anywhere north of the M25 except to LHR and occasionally some bucket and spade runs to improve utilisation.

    • JamesB says:

      7 Feb7 February 07:37

      True, but if they did, would you want to fly them given their prices and products? In reality BA already have competion from the regions and it is obviously working well because options from the regions continue to expand. Clearly we are already choosing the ME3, AF/KLM, TK, LH, AY, UA etc as oppised to BA via LHR. Tough luck on BA, they had the opportunity for years and didn’t take it. If they end up with a problem in the future from putting all their eggs in one basket so be it. It is also true that despite BA dominance at LHR people in London and the south east still have more competition than the rest of us in the regions but that is only to be expected given the population and the capital. Personally, the issues relating to BA and London airports have become almost irrelevant to me now, I can fly just about anyplace from the regions on nicer airlines from nicer airports with easier connections and better prices. IMO, those of us in tbe regions should no longer feel any need for BA or LHR.

  • DV says:

    7 Feb7 February 07:50

    It differs significantly. Although those carriers may have a similar or even greater dominance at their home bases, BA has a dominant position at an airport with very lucrative routes that other airlports don’t have, with the exception of JFK/EWR. For obvious reasons, there is a huge volume of premium banking, insurance, military, diplomatic and other business travellers between London and JFK, and other cities in the USA, and some other capitals around the world. So BA’s position at LHR is far more significant than say LH’s position at FRA.

• Paul says:

  7 Feb7 February 06:27

  BAs position at LHR is bad news for customers. Higher fares combined with their pretty appalling service and their dated high density product.

  What Virgin have missed is that while 54% of slots are held by IAG you also need to add in the commercial agreements with the likes of AA JAL Finair etc which allows them to revenue share, set fares and schedules with those airlines and whichbfurther limit customer choice.

  Fares from LHR are the highest in Western Europe and it rare for QR for example to offer fares from the U.K. and Eire at levels they offer from Europe, because they own a chunk of IAG.

  It all adds up to bad news for consumers

  • Seat1c says:

    7 Feb7 February 09:18

    BA’s position at LHR is broadly similar to that of AF at CDG. BA’s operations in Paris are nowhere near as big as VS/KL/DL/AF at Heathrow – strange they didn’t mention that…

    the U.K. has the most competitive aviation market in Europe and is the only European country that has a second major airline like VS (albeit it is much smaller).

• J says:

  7 Feb7 February 06:45

  Re UK Hotel Collection it is for stays until end of March. Coworth Park, Chewton Glen and Four Seasons Hampshire are all FHR.

  • J says:

    7 Feb7 February 06:47

    And Gleneagles and Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh

• mark2 says:

  7 Feb7 February 06:48

  Haven’t Virgin dropped many routes since their association with Delta?

  • thehornets says:

    7 Feb7 February 07:24

    Yes, they’ve dropped a few but the Delta offering (767-3) is pretty solid and you still get Clubhouse access when travelling up front, even on Delta metal.

  • Rob says:

    7 Feb7 February 08:21

    Yes, Tokyo, Shanghai, Cape Town ….

    • Leo says:

      7 Feb7 February 09:00

      Shanghai? Do you mean Sydney?

      • Rob says:

        7 Feb7 February 09:53

        Possibly …

• TripRep says:

  7 Feb7 February 07:09

  Slightly off topic, AMEX are no longer doing Annual Travel Insurance for new customers, this is the paid version that anyone use to be able to buy, ie independent of Plat card.

  • Tilly says:

    7 Feb7 February 08:42

    That’s annoying. I have had this cover for the last 5 years. Expires in May part way through my Toronto trip so need to renew.

    Still considering the gold to plat card upgrade. £450 is a lot though. I could take it out for a few months though, hit the spend for 20kMR , male use of the Hilton gold as have a few stays booked, use the lounge access for one trip where we’re booked into ET and then cancel. All by end of May.

    • JD says:

      7 Feb7 February 11:12

      That is indeed annoying. Especially as I cancelled the renewal of my Amex Travel Insurance last week as I was planning on upgrading to the platinum card. I even told the guy on the phone that was what I was doing? You would think he would know his products!!!!!

      • JD says:

        7 Feb7 February 11:19

        Sorry dis-regard my last comment. Its been a slow morning

  • Jon says:

    7 Feb7 February 10:34

    Yes, I thought this was the case. I bought a family member their travel insurance last year, and while it renewed a few weeks ago without hassle, I couldn’t see how I could get a quote for myself!

  • Sundar says:

    7 Feb7 February 10:42

    That’s disappointing. I’ve had then for couple of years earlier….

  • Lumma says:

    7 Feb7 February 11:23

    Seems like the want to get out of the insurance game. They used to do a great “gadget” insurance policy which basically covered anything electrical that could be used without being connected to the mains (phone, tablet, laptop etc.) It was only £12 a month and there was no excess on any claim. Was ideal for someone like myself in rented accommodation as it basically covered everything I owned that had a high value and the used to approve most claims with hardly any fuss (go to this repairer, get it fixed, email them the receipt and they’d send a cheque in the post a few days later).

    Was great until they increased the price to £18 a month and slapped on a £50-100 excess on each claim.

    • Lumma says:

      7 Feb7 February 13:33

      Every different kind of insurance on there just shows contact numbers and log in details for existing products. Unless something different shows up on a computer rather than a phone

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