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• BJ says:

  13 Jan13 January 06:03

  The sloping seats on AF versus full flat on KLM is a bit of a dilemma. If you get downgraded on AF you are going to be in arguably the best PE product in the market. If downgraded on KLM then it is Y, and very likely a bad seat in basic Y without the extra pitch at that. Might just be my imagination but I get the feeling reports of downgrades on KLM are high compared to other airlines so there may be issues with overbooking. Also a lot of horror stories with poor treatment of top tier pax, and issues getting EU261. My partner got involuntary downgrade J to Y in February last year, took 9 months and a lot of effort to get them to compensate in full.

  • Dan says:

    13 Jan13 January 10:02

    Not sure I agree, I’ve taken c.20 flights in J with KLM during the last 3 years and never been downgraded. I certainly wouldn’t be choosing a slanted J product because of the potential consequences of being downgraded from it.

    The KLM hard product is a bit unexciting, but fairly functional and comfortable.

    • BJ says:

      13 Jan13 January 13:31

      Chances of a downgrade on any airline are small. Personally, I have never been downgrade in over 38 years of flying. Your comments are encouraging but my partner is one downgrade on 4 trips with KLM. My comments are likely coloured by my seeking out reports on KLM downgrades.

• Roger says:

  13 Jan13 January 06:13

  OT _ Amex Travel

  I need to spend £25 or so to reach my £600 Amex Platinum cashbacj offer target.
  Any easy booking or activity I can do as to use my offer.

  • Anna says:

    13 Jan13 January 07:41

    Depending on where you’re going Viator have loads of excursions and activites which you can filter by price. I’ve never had a problem with them and they seem to let you even cancel without quibble if you need to.

    • tartan says:

      13 Jan13 January 11:24

      The Platinum Concierge are also able to arrange airport transfers which are often booked via Viator on Amex travel.

      • Alan says:

        13 Jan13 January 11:52

        Do you have to book that via Concierge on the phone though? For this offer has to be via Amex Travel website AFAIK?

    • Roger says:

      13 Jan13 January 11:54

      Yes that is a problem.
      I explored this Concierge option for a car hire last time the offer was on but it would not qualify for Amex Travel credit.

    • Boris says:

      13 Jan13 January 12:45

      The concierge book direct with their suppliers. The website is fed by 3rd parties companies like viator. The offer is for pre-paid items.

    • tartan says:

      13 Jan13 January 12:48

      Good point – it did appear on my statement as an Amex travel payment but obviously it wasn’t done on line

  • Alan says:

    13 Jan13 January 09:14

    I’d definitely look at the excursions. I needed about £20 to trigger on one of my cards – booked tickets for Gardens by the Bay and Wings of Time, costs were same (or even a fraction cheaper!) than going direct to buy them. Remember you could book something for during an upcoming trip or for something locally at home. Only issue I had was having to chase to get sent the proper voucher as the first one they send you is just a temporary one.

    • Roger says:

      13 Jan13 January 09:17

      Indeed, I booked Universal Sudios Sentosa last year and it was more than 6 months in advance.

      I had to wait for almost 45 minutes and many phone calls for my tickets before it got sorted out!

      It is difficult to plan third trip, all booked for my next two trips.
      Wish it offered some parking/public transport ticket on Amex Travel

      • Alan says:

        13 Jan13 January 09:20

        Yeah it looks like Amex Travel book with Viator who then get a local travel agent to do the final step. Next time I won’t bother holding and just get them to call me back, although glad I did this time as at first all they did was resend the Viator confirmation!

  • Lady London says:

    13 Jan13 January 12:39

    That is close enough to what a pass bought via Expedia to Plaza Premium lounge at T5 – which unlike all other Plaza Premium lounges at LHR does not accept Priority Pass – would cost you.

    Alternatively any gift card at LHR (not sure if would count) or a prepay for something with an airline?

• Roger says:

  13 Jan13 January 07:41

  OT_ For Eurotunnel check-in can you use a cancelled card for booking verification?
  Looking at FAQ it does say the card is required for identification purpose.

  • tartan says:

    13 Jan13 January 08:41

    Never had to show the original credit card, but I usually check in online and either print out the ticket or use the mobile app. Might be best to do either one of these rather than use the machines at the station if you are worried

    • Roger says:

      13 Jan13 January 08:43

      Great reply, Thanks

• John says:

  13 Jan13 January 07:43

  Another OT. Does anybody know if the current Marriott offer on Amex(£100 when you spend £500) has to spent in one stay or will work across multiple stays?

  • Nick says:

    13 Jan13 January 12:15

    It works on cumulative spend, so you should be okay

    • John says:

      13 Jan13 January 12:45

      Thanks.

• Anna says:

  13 Jan13 January 08:06

  OT – Amex. Twice in the past few weeks Amex have decided that a transaction is suspect, even though we’ve provided verification codes, and suspended 2 of our cards. They haven’t informed us about this so we only find out when the card is subsequently declined (obviously highly inconvenient and embarrassing). We’ve then had to contact them in business hours to get the account re-activated and on one occasion had to wait for a new card to arrive.

  It’s infuriating that they do this and don’t even send a text or email about it but seem to think it’s not a problem!

  • FlyUpTop says:

    13 Jan13 January 08:44

    Unfortunately that’s Amex for you, very bad at communication C+ 😄

    • Anna says:

      13 Jan13 January 08:49

      I find them very good in all other respects though. However, I won’t be leaving it till the last minute to trigger any sign up bonus or 2 4 1 in case this happens!

  • Chris says:

    13 Jan13 January 08:51

    Mine (plat) was locked because of an ‘unusually high’ balance – they gave me a figure to.oay off.mid month which I did and it was then immediately activated again.

    Perhaps they’re a bit twitchy at the mo?

    • Dan says:

      13 Jan13 January 10:04

      How much more than your usual monthly spend are we taking here?

      • Chris says:

        13 Jan13 January 14:52

        A fair bit, at least double – and I don’t have any issue with their being protective, I should add..

    • Anna says:

      13 Jan13 January 12:19

      I don’t mind them being security conscious, it’s just that they can’t be bothered to configure their systems to send you a text or email to let you know your card won’t be working!

      • Chris says:

        13 Jan13 January 14:53

        Yes that was my greivance – my blocked transaction was a £2 lottery ticket at an Esso garage!

        When I went on live chat they said call. When I called they asked if I was returning a call or text – I replied I’d had neither, and he didn’t sound especially surprised at that..

    • Mr Dee says:

      13 Jan13 January 17:37

      Not sure of the plat but there are limits for the charge cards if you spend over a certain amount they get blocked until a payment is made and the amount is the same regardless of previous spending habits.

  • Sussex bantam says:

    13 Jan13 January 10:10

    I had a new card and on the day of activation they blocked my 70 spend at Tesco. On the same day – and without any further verification – they let me spend 1500 on an easyJet transaction !

• Chris says:

  13 Jan13 January 08:29

  OT – booking CP Newcastle on the IHG app and it shows every rate as non refundable. Including award nights and even best flex?!

  I assume this is a glitch in the app not a significant redefinition of the word flex – though it is for dates when there’s a big event. Anyone seen this before?

  • Jonty says:

    13 Jan13 January 08:48

    Not sure, but if you’ve found redemption availability for the great North run I’d grab it.

    • Chris says:

      13 Jan13 January 09:12

      I have and I’ve booked the CP because, well, even if I can’t cancell I still want it!

      but, app, main site and CP site all the same in terms of not being cancellable, though email worded slightly differently:

      “Cancellation Policy: A deposit for the entire stay is due at time of booking.Canceling your reservation or failing to arrive will result in forfeiture of your deposit. Booking requires full prepayment for the entire stay, charged to your credit card between time of booking and day of arrival. Taxes may apply. Failing to call or show before check-out time after the first night of a reservation will result in cancellation of the remainder of your reservation. Points + Cash bookings are charged immediately in USD, and cancellations are refunded in points only.

      Rate Description: Use IHG® Rewards Club Points to pay for your stay. Points will automatically be deducted at the time of booking.”

      Now, seeing as it’s the CP at the station, I’ve no intention of cancelling (and indeed can now cancel my diamond guarantee booking at the hampton) but still this seems unusual?

      • Alan says:

        13 Jan13 January 09:16

        Have seen it occasionally with Hilton too, eg NYC at New Year.

      • Alex W says:

        13 Jan13 January 09:26

        Some chains, including IHG, make all bookings non-refundable for special events. IHG did it to me during Edinburgh festival.

        It seems totally unfair to me – because there is a high likelihood the room will still get sold to someone else if you cancel. Very greedy policy if you ask me.

      • Chris says:

        13 Jan13 January 09:38

        I still can’t understand how best flex – £60 dearer – can possibly have the same cancellation policy as AP?

        Anyone experience actually cancelling? I also have a night at the IC O2 for the marathon weekend to but my brother’s now not running and looking at it the confirmation also says no cancellation…

      • Alex W says:

        13 Jan13 January 09:44

        Dunno but there is probably some small print that says if you don’t turn up they can also charge you a no-show fee on top.

  • E says:

    13 Jan13 January 09:07

    The Hilton is non-refundable for even award stays too when it’s the Great North Run. So not unusual for any hotels there if it’s that weekend.

  • Bach says:

    13 Jan13 January 09:23

    I’ve seen this on a busy week in Paris yes, even my corporate rate which is usually refundable until last minute had to be pre-paid and not refundable. Very rare though.

    • Bach says:

      13 Jan13 January 09:25

      I meant cancellable until last minute, corporate rate obviously usually not pre-paid!

  • Craig says:

    13 Jan13 January 09:50

    Same for the IC Singapore for the F1, but the points for one night was much much less than the cost for a room!

  • Lady London says:

    13 Jan13 January 12:46

    Yes – have seen hotels make the only bookings they will offer nonrefundable when there is a big event. It’s really annoying as if I need any flexibility I’m often happy to pay a considerably higher rate for it. But have seen flexibility simply not offered for certain dates. New Year’s Eve in some places would be a case in point.

• Craig says:

  13 Jan13 January 08:46

  OT: Amex 6 month rule, is this from the cancellation date or the date of the final statement? Also, how long after receiving a card can I expect the progress to bonus box appear? Thanks.

  • Roger says:

    13 Jan13 January 08:50

    cancellation date, as a rule of thumb I would give an extra couple of days just in case.

  • N says:

    13 Jan13 January 08:50

    Cancellation date, as per the date on your cancellation letter

  • Anna says:

    13 Jan13 January 12:23

    It depends on the card, on a BAPP it tends to be once you start spending, on the Platinum upgrade I’ve had it never appear, the points just landed after the £1k spend. On all of them though, the spend bar can come and go which I assume corresponds to when they’re doing account or IT updates.

  • Craig says:

    13 Jan13 January 12:27

    Thanks all, I left it about a month after the cancellation to be safe. I did start to get worried because it took over a week for approval.

• Mikeact says:

  13 Jan13 January 08:52

  Why would Flybe slots be sold to Vueling of all people ?

  • Marcw says:

    13 Jan13 January 08:57

    Because Vueling wanted them and paid for them.

  • Chris says:

    13 Jan13 January 09:40

    £4.2 million is why

  • flyforfun says:

    13 Jan13 January 11:46

    Will Vueling keep the flight to Newquay or will it more likely go to a Spanish destination?

    I’d like to see Newquay back at LCY, but that’s just a pipe dream at the moment.

    • Russ says:

      13 Jan13 January 12:21

      Vueling are moving from LGW to LHR.

      • Alex Sm says:

        13 Jan13 January 12:31

        Why would they buy slots at LGW then???

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