The Marriott Bonvoy St Regis Venice hotel is opening soon

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• Nick says:

  11 Feb11 February 06:08

  Virgin flights to tlv- when will it be available for booking? And can award flights be made using virgin miles?

  • Lev441 says:

    11 Feb11 February 06:13

    25th February is the dates bookings open. No info on award flights yet, but assume will be made available on the same day.

    • filipino_chino says:

      11 Feb11 February 07:10

      Do you know how many miles it might be or should we just wait?

      • Lev441 says:

        11 Feb11 February 14:41

        Not been announced yet, but would probably be similar/slightly lower to BA which are (one way)

        Economy – 10,000/12,500
        Premium – 20,000/25,000
        Buisniness 32,250 /37,500

  • the_real_a says:

    11 Feb11 February 13:17

    Just looking at BA taxes… significantly higher than cash rates on Easyjet (+ legroom and lounge) before we get into the value of miles.

    Debating if CW/UC is worth it for 5 hours.

    • Lev441 says:

      11 Feb11 February 14:42

      Trick is to fly outbound cash and return using miles – no fuel surcharge makes return around £40-50 in taxes.

    • ankomonkey says:

      11 Feb11 February 17:14

      If Israel are in Eurovision and UEFA then surely BA RFS pricing should be applicable shouldn’t it???

      • Mark says:

        11 Feb11 February 17:52

        By the same justification given that Australia are in Eurovision too same should apply to flights there!

      • Alan says:

        11 Feb11 February 22:21

        Haha RFS for Australia too? 😉

• E says:

  11 Feb11 February 06:13

  OT – re the questions recently about what Marriott/Bonvoy will charge for points bookings made in advance for properties which change rates between time of booking and the certificate being issued (eg. new Cat 8 hotels). They’ve changed their policy from 5th March. If you haven’t got the certificate issued by the time the points rate changes, you’ll be charger the new (higher mostly) rate.

  Copie from the T&Cs in their recent Bonvoy preparation email:
  Points Advance – Members can book stays when they do not have enough points if they earn or purchase the needed points at least 14 days prior to check-in. Members who wish to book a points advance redemption under the current Marriott Rewards and SPG award chart are encouraged to order redemption certificates before March 5 to lock in the rate. On March 5, redemption bookings are subject to the new unified program award chart.

  • E says:

    11 Feb11 February 06:16

    Key bit in the T&Cs is the bit about ordering the certificate. If you don’t have enough points to order the certificate by 5th March then you’ll have to order a certificate after 5th March at the new unified program rates (which are mostly higher) even if you’ve booked before then.

    • Peter K says:

      11 Feb11 February 06:58

      You got there 45 mins before me on this. It was on OMAAT yesterday.

    • Matthew says:

      11 Feb11 February 07:34

      I was thinking that wouldn’t impact me as the hotel I’ve booked wouldn’t be changing category, however the dates I’ve booked may become ‘peak’ dates as we have no idea when these are yet? Will sort the points out ASAP and order a certificate!

      • FlyingChris says:

        11 Feb11 February 07:59

        From what I’ve read, peak/off peak is coming this year but not being introduced with the March award chart. But of an underhand sneaky move though if they don’t end up rowing back on these points advance changes. Many people will have made (perhaps non-refundable) travel plans around bookings that, with less than a months notice, have now shot up in price. The prior precedent was that calling CS would correct such bookings to the lower value. Not saying Points Advance was perhaps too generious in its previous form but a poorly implemented/underhand move from Marriott.

    • BJ says:

      11 Feb11 February 08:22

      Thanks 🙂 I was going to risk it but now I will delay my points transfer to LH for a few month and book hotels I want with points now. I hope they don’t devalue airline transfers in the interim.

    • Dan says:

      11 Feb11 February 13:49

      Has anyone had any joy increasing their certificate category with points?

      • Alan says:

        11 Feb11 February 22:16

        Yes, I managed to upgrade my TP certificate when converting it from old to new.

  • Rob Walker says:

    11 Feb11 February 07:26

    Wow, thanks for the heads up! This will impact my booking to Domes of Elounda this year. I better get some MR points over ASAP to make up my shortfall.

    • Bonglim says:

      11 Feb11 February 15:04

      Me too – have a gritti palace booking for later in the year – might need to take some action to lock it in asap!

• Mark says:

  11 Feb11 February 07:18

  It seems El Al are still the only airline with decent flight times for TLV. BA and Virgin both have an outrageously early start in TLV

  • Marcw says:

    11 Feb11 February 07:41

    Who flies EL AL?

    • sunguy says:

      11 Feb11 February 11:07

      The very first time I flew to TLV for work I was advised to fly El Al…whether true or not, I was told it was easier to get through security at both ends.

      After that I flew BA….although, I have to say, I really enjoyed my flight on the way back – I got an entire row 2-3-2 to myself!

      • Charlieface says:

        11 Feb11 February 14:27

        Unlikely flying on LY will make a difference. If anything it will cause more problems when flying into TLV as LY use Israeli security checks for inbound as well.
        The best way to keep under the radar in TLV is by not having weird (by their standards) stamps in your passport, and answering all questions truthfully and with a straight face.

      • Genghis says:

        11 Feb11 February 14:32

        Let’s not beat about the bush. Weird = predominantly Muslim countries. I was selected for enhanced screening due to all the stamps in my passport. Apart from that, great country.

      • Charlieface says:

        11 Feb11 February 19:54

        They profile based on risk. I know people don’t like to hear it but over there the risk is mainly from people who visit those countries.

    • The Lord says:

      11 Feb11 February 11:10

      People going to/from Israel?

  • Genghis says:

    11 Feb11 February 07:46

    Early starts to connect to US flights. El Al doesn’t have that issue.

  • Alan says:

    11 Feb11 February 08:28

    I believe the thinking was that VS are going for the connecting market from the USA – I think their press release mentioned something re this.

    • Rob says:

      11 Feb11 February 08:33

      Yes, in theory it feeds to US departures. I am guessing it will work out. Might even be a bit of a TP run.

  • Dominic Barrington says:

    11 Feb11 February 11:55

    That is not true, as BA also have a 4 PM departure to London.

    • Charlieface says:

      11 Feb11 February 14:24

      I think he’s referring only to the morning flight, which is for connections. BA does move theirs around a bit, anywhere between 7.30am and 9.30am.

  • Lev441 says:

    11 Feb11 February 14:37

    EasyJet actually have the most decent timings for the leisure traveller..

• Kayleigh says:

  11 Feb11 February 07:36

  OT just hoping someone can check my logic on a planned points transferral – hope I haven’t missed anything!
  Husband has 16,000 MR which he will transfer to his SPG account. He will then call SPG and ask to transfer them to my SPG account (free of charge transfer). Combined with my SPG points I will have 60,000 SPG points to turn into 25,000 AsiaMiles for my account.
  Can I just check there are no rules for MR points going into SPG being only limited to being used on hotel redemptions? And no restrictions on SPG transfers based on age of account (like Iberia)?
  Thanks in advance!

  • Shoestring says:

    11 Feb11 February 07:54

    You’re OK on both counts

    • Kayleigh says:

      11 Feb11 February 07:58

      Brilliant, thank you!
      Hopefully my plan will soon come together very soon!

  • Rob says:

    11 Feb11 February 08:22

    None I know of.

• John2 says:

  11 Feb11 February 07:46

  241 weird situation.
  I booked 2 seats outbound with 241 hoping dates for my inbound would come available and would add to my booking. This was NOT 355 days in advance. 3 months or so, just there were no inbound flights available. As soon as inbound flights came up 11pm I booked them using Avios in full for 2 seats. Next day during office hours, I called hoping to add them to my outbound booking and benefit from a) 241, get half avios back for inbound and b) get refund for tax as the 2 separate bookings cost more in tax than had I done both legs in one booking.
  CS were very helpful but said they usually can’t help, but only seeing the time I booked and understood what I was doing they would review and get back to me. CS called later that day saying that they can’t join the 2 journeys onto one booking but will still refund me half the avios for inbound. Regarding the tax they said that only once I have flown should I email CS with request for difference in tax refund.
  They stressed that it is not their policy usually, but only in my situation will they find a way to refund the avios for inbound. CS said I was sensible in booking/blocking the inbound when they came available.
  1) My understanding based on the comments here was that it should not be a problem to add inbound. Is that not the case?
  2) Do I have any chance in getting difference in tax back?
  3) what can I do now? and could I have done any better?
  4) As I could only find economy in the very specific inbound date I needed, I booked it hoping a higher class comes available. But based on this experience, Can I be sure I will be able to add higher class inbound to 241
  thank you so much

  • Shoestring says:

    11 Feb11 February 07:57

    Easy to answer the last question: no.

  • marcw says:

    11 Feb11 February 08:08

    *I think* outbound booking is fine on its own online, but to *add* the inbound to the 241 you have to call.

    • meta says:

      11 Feb11 February 08:22

      Yes, that’s what I always do. There is always a call centre open somewhere around the world, even at 11pm. You can change 241 to a higher class for a fee, but there are risks involved (like someone grabbing seats before the agent and your current seats not going back to award inventory).

      • Dean S says:

        11 Feb11 February 17:33

        I had the same issue recently. You First told me that if you book them separately then they don’t add them together to one booking, I had them calculate the taxes and I was actually better off for doing it this way.

  • GeoffGeoff says:

    11 Feb11 February 08:14

    They don’t refund the tax difference when adding a return leg to a 241. Just half the avios.

    • Rob says:

      11 Feb11 February 08:17

      They will refund the tax when 2xoneway is more than a return. Another reader had this recently and it was corrected when he called back.

      • Genghis says:

        11 Feb11 February 08:29

        IME it’s down to the passenger to request. Get a reprice (and refund) for US, not for HKG.

      • Anna says:

        11 Feb11 February 09:28

        Why on earth they can’t just tweak the IT so that the 2 4 1 can be used in 2 halves is beyond me!

      • John2 says:

        11 Feb11 February 13:33

        Ty.
        So what do you suggest I do if a higher class comes available? try call CS or book immediately with Avios and then call CS hoping they will add adjust it to 241?

• Vasco says:

  11 Feb11 February 08:58

  OT: Can you remind me of what you value a Virgin Atlantic mile as? Welcome everyone else’s thoughts as well.

  • Rob says:

    11 Feb11 February 09:45

    Today, less than Avios, purely due to the restricted route network and the lack of a 241 voucher usable in Upper Class (unless you’re Gold). Value is underpinned by the hotel redemptions and the Kaligo.com hotel, however, which give you a floor value of 0.5p+. This may change when Air France / KLM becomes available for redemption.

    If you are a solo traveller (so no need for a 241) who travels to the US a lot, however, then they are worth the same as Avios. If you never leave Europe, they are worthless for flights.

    • Lumma says:

      11 Feb11 February 09:55

      Even as a solo traveller, I still wouldn’t value as high as avios due to having to have a specific plan for them rather than bring able to use them on short haul like avios.

      I’m currently sitting on 62,000 Vs miles and I haven’t redeemed a single point (I do want to use them for either upper class or delta one at some point) nor have I ever flown Virgin Atlantic for cash

    • BJ says:

      11 Feb11 February 10:50

      Talking of Kaligo, any news on a forthcoming promotion for HFP readers? I’ve got 30 nights I need to book at independent hotels so I’m hoping for sonething useful as tbey are usually on Kaligo.

      • Rob says:

        11 Feb11 February 11:50

        No. We do have a Hotels.com promo launching in the next week or so, with extra reward night credits on 2+ night stays. If it ever gets signed off …

      • BJ says:

        11 Feb11 February 11:57

        Thanks, not in a rush to book so will look out for that and others coming along.

  • The Savage Squirrel says:

    11 Feb11 February 13:47

    JUST FOR ME they are worth more than Avios.

    But then JUST FOR ME nearby airports have a decent Virgin route network and not BA,, AND most of my travel is transatlantic AND I prefer Virgin’s product, AND my nearest airport has much better KLM connectivity to Amsterdam than BA to London which may soon be very relevant.

    Even so, Avios are far from useless, particularly with Qatar and Qantas, so the valuation is pretty close

    Like everything then, it depends :D.

  • Alan says:

    11 Feb11 February 22:10

    0.75p for me, same as Avios – I like travelling to the US though so their route network is fine for me (plus snagged an ANA F redemption!)

• SAJ says:

  11 Feb11 February 09:01

  OT I am trying to convert my SPG points to Virgin. However it doesn’t recognise my flying club number so won’t proceed. Any ideas please?

  • Peter K says:

    11 Feb11 February 12:20

    You may have already tried this but have you tried ringing them?

  • TGLoyalty says:

    11 Feb11 February 23:26

    I tried to send my points to virgin when it was the last day of the old travel packages before the merger and just would not work over the phone.

    Guess not much has changed.

• Benylin says:

  11 Feb11 February 09:01

  OT re Virgin Redemptions: Redeeming in Economy seems quite bad value right given the taxes. LON to NYC was around £272 in taxes return + 20k miles, not too far off a cash ticket (when ignoring peak / booking in advance). Me and my partner will have c20k points each, and probably could hit the 20k on the free Virgin CC to get 2-4-1 economy or upgrade to PE. I guess the upgrade to PE is the best value option right? Or alternatively transfer to Hilton?

  • Dale says:

    11 Feb11 February 09:17

    I just did a MAN-ATL in Virgin Premium for 25k miles and £430 taxes with an upgrade voucher, thought that was pretty good.

  • Doug M says:

    11 Feb11 February 11:10

    Economy redemptions always bad value compared to discount cash ticket. But you have to consider you’re comparing a ticket with some flexability to a discount use or lose. Does flex have value to you?

  • The Savage Squirrel says:

    11 Feb11 February 13:52

    Kaligo can offer some decent hotel redemption with Virgin – although never the same value as redeeming for flights it is generally better than Honors points; Worth comparing to Hilton to see what suits your purposes if you decide on the hotel route.

    • Rob says:

      11 Feb11 February 15:42

      Yes, am planning to look at this again in the next week or so.

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