Hilton Sa Torre Mallorca and Hotel des Indes leaving Hilton and Marriott to go independent

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

• BJ says:

  9 Dec9 December 05:44

  There is nothing odd about a strike not being about money. It is not uncommon for strikes to address other issues including health and safety, terms of employment, leave, working hours, unfair treatment of colleagues etc.

  • ChrisC says:

    9 Dec9 December 09:57

    Indeed. Most of the threatened and actual strikes on London Undrrground are about complaints that management aren’t following previously agreed policies and procedures on issues such as discipline and changing work rotas.

    Am not sure why Virgin won’t recognise this particular union especially one that represents a third of a rather key workforce.

• Mark says:

  9 Dec9 December 05:49

  Although I had it 2 years. My BA Amex 2for1 expires next week. 15th. Always assumed In the 2 year I had it I’d have somebody to use it with. What a waste watching it expire.

  • TripRep says:

    9 Dec9 December 06:07

    Mark, could always treat a good pal/family member to a trip?

    • Mark says:

      9 Dec9 December 06:38

      Just too late now, that was always the plan just never materlised.

    • Shoestring says:

      9 Dec9 December 06:39

      @Mark – hey good buddy, I didn’t marry & settle down with a special oppo until I was 36 so there’s time yet! 🙂

  • BJ says:

    9 Dec9 December 06:59

    You should fly more, not less, Mark. Rob met his wife on a plane or at the airport I think. A few weeks back I posted a link to an article on the number of people meeting their significant other on a plane … it was surprisingly high 🙂

    • Rob says:

      9 Dec9 December 11:26

      That is true.

  • Cat says:

    9 Dec9 December 11:39

    It happens, one of mine will expire next year too. Get on it with the next one now. Which of your friends would you most like to travel with, and where to?

    I second BJ’s travel more not less sentiments. I met an ex on a plane back from Berlin, we got chatting about the Tacheles. When we split up, I met the next one lakeside in Phnom Penh. I’ve been with my current boyfriend for nearly 10 years now, but the previous two were great travel companions while they lasted!

  • shd says:

    9 Dec9 December 12:15

    I’ve earned *four* 241 vouchers, watched two expire, and redeemed one on a one-way CE flight(!)

    Have one left sitting in my account … time ticking away

    • Cat says:

      9 Dec9 December 15:05

      I’ve used two for long haul (Kenya with a friend and USA with my other half), one for CE (Portugal with my sister), I have currently have 2 sitting in my account, 1 of which I will use (not sure where yet), and the other which will expire.
      It’s annoying, but that’s the way it goes sometimes.

  • Joe says:

    9 Dec9 December 15:23

    I’ve got the reverse problem – thought (and half-promised) i’d treat my parents to a 2-4-1. I now have a partner who also has a BAPP and will be expecting me to treat her instead!

    • Cat says:

      9 Dec9 December 16:02

      Explain that you promised your parents. If she’s a keeper, she’ll get that!
      If she has a BAPP too, you can take it in turns to treat each other. If you’ve used one of the vouchers on someone else already, it allows her to do the same (and treat one of her friends) guilt free. Giving each other a bit of freedom to keep living your own lives is no bad thing in a new relationship.

• Mark says:

  9 Dec9 December 06:58

  Received a quote for BidAir for Jo’burg to meet on arrival and take to international departure. £88 and it’s only 1 person. Seems double what a lot of others quoted receiving the service for. I have 2.5hrs I’m thinking I may risk it now rather than £90!

  • BJ says:

    9 Dec9 December 07:06

    Hope somebody points you to a cheaper option but worth remembering you are not only paying for the service itself but also for peace of mind and that can swing it. I recently paid £87 for a CW window seat despite swearing I’d never do so just for that peace of mind.

  • Boi says:

    9 Dec9 December 08:26

    2.5hrs is enough time in JNB. I use it a lot with both my Botswana and Irish passport. Security are accommodating. In August when I only had 1hr I went straight to the man/woman on the side to take me to top of queue.

  • Vistaro says:

    9 Dec9 December 11:59

    Save your money, it’s an easy transfer 🙂

  • Craig says:

    9 Dec9 December 12:05

    I gave myself 5 hours after looking at some of the delay statistics for BA55, it seems to have improved slightly but when I booked it was 2 hours late about once a week.

    • Sam says:

      9 Dec9 December 22:49

      If I’m following this thread correctly, is this thread about catching a connecting flight from Jo’burg? I’m going to Cape Town in Jan ’19, flying to Jo’burg with Virgin, then a connecting flight to CPT, I have about 2 hours. Will that be enough? First time I’m going…thanks

      • Shoestring says:

        9 Dec9 December 22:52

        If you do that on separate PNRs (tickets) you’re stuffed if you get there too late to make the connection, I’d say 2 hrs is a bit optimistic. If it’s all ticketed on the same PNR, you don’t need to worry.

      • Sam says:

        10 Dec10 December 07:04

        Thank you @shoestring, same ticket thankfully.

• nigel whitehouse says:

  9 Dec9 December 07:15

  im not sure im understanding how on business works; the problem i have is that every time i have tried to book a BA flight or flight holiday package with on business it is considerably more expensive than if i book thru my normal BAExec Account, am i doing something wrong ?

  • dgsupersonic says:

    9 Dec9 December 07:54

    I always book my flights via my personal BAEC account then add my OB number during booking or after via MMB.

    I don’t think you can earn OB points on BA Holidays bookings.

    If you have more people travelling they also count, as well as bookings that you are not a traveller since this is a company wide earning scheme.

    • Rob says:

      9 Dec9 December 11:25

      Correct, no OB points if you use BA Holidays.

• AndyW says:

  9 Dec9 December 07:34

  OT, best priority pass Zurich lounge? Gate D. Thanks

  • Lady London says:

    9 Dec9 December 15:33

    One of the Swiss lounges is now available for that. So at a guess if your gate let’s you access it I’d go for that one. I like those lounges but wish I had been there more often at lunchtime.whereas in bsl I much preferred brekkie.

    • AndyW says:

      9 Dec9 December 20:24

      Thank you

• Mark says:

  9 Dec9 December 07:49

  “Two interesting branded hotels which we have reviewed in the last couple of years have both announced that they are leaving their respected brands.”

  I suspect you meant respective rather than respected 😉

  • Rob says:

    9 Dec9 December 11:26

    Oh yeah ….

• Anna says:

  9 Dec9 December 08:23

  OT – can anyone confirm whether or not avios purchased via The Spanish Groupon site can be applied to an Iberia plus account which is less than 90 days old? I was under the impression that they could, however the two vouchers I bought are still showing as available in my account despite trying to transfer them both twice now. It does look at though Spanish Groupon deals can be cancelled within 14 days of purchase so I will do this if I’m not going to be able to transfer the avios. Thanks in advance!

  • meta says:

    9 Dec9 December 08:52

    That’s normal that they continue to show as available on Groupon. I purchased and redeemed in November and they’re still showing as available now. They now do it manually, so it takes some time. You should receive them in your Iberia account in about 10 days. Did you fill in the form for transfer?

    • Anna says:

      9 Dec9 December 10:14

      Hi meta,

      I clicked on the link (enlace) highlighted on the voucher and put the two codes into the form it took me to, along with my Iberia number. When I submitted this it took me to a page asking if I wanted to make another transaction. I’ve not had an email or any other saying the vouchers have been redeemed. I’m just a bit nervous as I only opened the Iberia account yesterday and there’s this 90 day rule (which so far I haven’t found any reference to in the Ts and Cs, though I haven’t trawled through every single page yet!)

      • RussellH says:

        9 Dec9 December 10:39

        Groupon do say that it takes 10 days for the avios to appear in your Iberia a/c. The first time I used Groupon.es it took elene days, the second time eight days, I think.
        IIRC, the 90 day rule also includes something about avios having been previously credited to the a/c, so you have to be able to put avios in from somewhere.
        Most of mine previously came from e-Rewards – 50% more generous than BA. I have not been on an Iberia plane this century…
        HTH

      • meta says:

        9 Dec9 December 16:32

        You’ve done everything right. Sometimes I get an email from Groupon after the Avios have been dropped in to Iberia account. I never had a problem with Groupon.es not crediting, even when other people had. I am not sure, but I think the first time it takes a bit longer.

• Boi says:

  9 Dec9 December 08:34

  I am struggling to use my OB points from the regions. Often cheaper to fly direct with low cost airlines to Europe. Not enough for CW redemption

  I have some points expiring 31.12.18. Around 13800.

  • Sussex Bantam says:

    9 Dec9 December 09:11

    We just used some of ours this week – needed a day trip to EDI. Economy pricing up at £400 – got onbusiness tickets for £80 plus some miles..

    • Alan says:

      9 Dec9 December 10:00

      Nice value! Have used some shorthaul in a similar way, esp now no longer BA Gold the Avios availability has markedly worsened on shorthaul.

    • Lady London says:

      9 Dec9 December 14:46

      Yes. You need to choose your route carefully. OB does not offer RFS.

  • Kip says:

    9 Dec9 December 12:54

    I flew this year to Shanghai from a ‘region’ using OB points. PE via Middlesex but perfectly good redemption. The taxes/charges were as expected from BA but returning I got LX in biz via ZRH for 36 euros so spread over the two legs it was good value.

  • Lady London says:

    9 Dec9 December 14:58

    Hi Boi, I strongly suggest you pick a route or two and on 31st book the latest possible date maybe each way standalone single bookings on each. OB bookings are changed f.o.c. you can mostly do yourself online. Then just bring date forward when you can use. Choose route and direction carefully because you can’t change route or direction only date time. You can still change date even if booked with now expired points. If points used had not expired you could still have changed route foc by cancel and rebook. If you cancel tix booked with expired points no rebook. Again choose route carefully.

    Did that with 2 SH’s end of last year. As it turns out I will fly only one and lose the points used for the other. No matter it has given me fantastic peace of mind all year knowing I could bring forward those bookings made with now expired points on that route and fly immediately if needed most of the time.

    Historically OB booked into high class. Not quite so high now but still books higher than usual hence most of the time scarce flights remain possible longer for OB.

    • Alan says:

      9 Dec9 December 15:17

      Oooh top tip re free rebookings, LL – I hadn’t realised that was an option, nice 🙂

    • Boi says:

      9 Dec9 December 22:02

      Thanks Lady London, very useful to know. Shall look around

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.