Air Belgium to operate Toronto flights for British Airways

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• Memesweeper says:

  15 Mar15 March 09:47

  Hilton Amsterdam is another great hotel just outside the centre. Redeemed there to the delight of the family – top floor lounge is really strange (in a good way).

• SimonW says:

  15 Mar15 March 10:10

  O/T – Any ideas of which lounge at T3 is best to head to before 2pm Miami flight in CW. Cathay better than Qantas?? With my wife and kids.

  • Michael says:

    15 Mar15 March 10:18

    They say Cathay First lounge is the best in the whole of Heathrow (I’ve not been in). I have been in the Qantas one however and the gin and cocktail bars are worth popping in for a quick drink.

  • john says:

    15 Mar15 March 11:42

    Could try both Qantas and Cathay. Assuming you are only getting in through CW ticket then you would only be able to access the Cathay Business lounge rather than their First lounge which has a decent restaurant type service. Qantas only have one lounge which covers first + business so is perhaps a little better than your average Business class lounge.

    Both would be better than the BA Club lounge.

  • SimonW says:

    15 Mar15 March 11:47

    Thanks chaps

• alan d craig says:

  15 Mar15 March 10:14

  20 minutes to RAI, your a quick walker sir.

  • Rob says:

    15 Mar15 March 21:09

    I am. I walked almost 1.5 miles each way to work for 13 years ….

• Tim H says:

  15 Mar15 March 10:16

  Thanks guys. I have Gold Card already. Just looking to find ways to maximise points as I am about to move and will be spending quite a lot over next few weeks. I was originally attracted to BA Premium Plus Amex card for the 2 4 1 voucher but not such a big fan now I know can only be used on BA operated flights.

  • Michael says:

    15 Mar15 March 10:19

    Depends what you want to redeem for in the end really. Stick with your Gold MR’s if you want a fluid currency.

    • Alex says:

      15 Mar15 March 10:33

      BAPP, on another hand, gives you 1.5 avios/£.

      • Tim H says:

        15 Mar15 March 13:02

        I am trying to organise a Qatar Business Class redemption so I think I might still go for the BAPP as I will be able to use the additional points I earn towards from spending and the sign up bonus on other partner airlines flights won’t I?

        I am just about to move house so there are a lot of things i need to purchase. I think ikt makes sense to get 1.5 rather than 1 avios per £ when I buy the big stuff. I’ll get the 2 4 1 voucher that I probably won’t use after a couple of months and then I’ll cancel.

        Thanks again people.

        Thanks

  • bsuije says:

    15 Mar15 March 14:17

    Yes, you will be able to use the Avios on partner airlines, but that may not always be the best option because partner redemptions are always at “peak” Avios pricing. There is an Avios Redemption University series running at the moment – have a look at that for a quick briefing on all things Avios.

    The value of the BA 2-4-1 voucher varies. I think people use it either for one of the longer Europe routes (where taxes are capped) or for a First redemption (high taxes, but get a First experience and the Avios saving is huge). But if you are going to be spending a lot, then you might as well get it. Plus, the Avios will be useful – I don’t think I’ve paid for a single BA flight within Europe in the last 5 years thanks to Avios!

    Lastly, as you specifically mention Qatar Airways, just be aware that Qatar runs some pretty decent business class offers from time to time (though admittedly these have dried up recently). The only snag is that these fares are, to a very large extent, for departures from outside the UK, e.g. Scandinavia. If you don’t mind the additional travel and transfer time, then buying a cash ticket, which will earn you Avios and tier points, can be a better deal than using Avios to book a redemption.

• Gary Morris says:

  15 Mar15 March 10:33

  I stayed at the Intercontinental in Mendoza, Argentina this week – no ambassador status, but Spire Elite. Stayed there on points and got room upgrade and free breakfast for two, which was pretty good.

• Graeme says:

  15 Mar15 March 10:46

  OT: I’ve got an Amex plat. Do I need to wait for an offer to appear or email to get the bonus points for taking a supplementary card out? Last time I had one, got an email a few days after.

  TIA

  • fivebobbill says:

    15 Mar15 March 11:33

    No, I’ve never had to wait. Once my card has been registered and I’ve set up/linked to an online account, just go to “Account Management – Add Someone To Your Account”, and add a supplementary. Assuming it’s your first supplementary it’ll come free and you’ll get the card & bonus points within the week

  • john says:

    15 Mar15 March 11:34

    This link has the details on the bonus: https://www.americanexpress.com/uk/benefits/supplementary-cards/index.html

    • Tom W says:

      15 Mar15 March 12:00

      Added my partner to my account, have been charged £45 but have received the 3,000 miles. I haven’t had any supplementary holders before, should this have been free?

      • Grant says:

        15 Mar15 March 12:11

        A £45 charge sounds like its a second supp card on a Gold account. See the ‘important information’ section of the link posted above.

      • Tom W says:

        15 Mar15 March 12:12

        Great thanks. I’ll query that then as it was definitely the first supp card. Didn’t receive any additional card or miles otherwise!

      • MarkH says:

        15 Mar15 March 18:07

        Must be your second supp as first is free.

        I’d simply cancel it for a pro-rated refund. You’ll keep the bonus points.

        Prob not worth the hassle querying it for a couple of quid.

    • john says:

      15 Mar15 March 12:33

      It says you can get 99 complimentary supplementary cards for the SPG card but does anyone know how much it is per card for more? 😉

      • Michael says:

        15 Mar15 March 12:50

        You don’t get any points for SPG sup card do you?

      • Lev441 says:

        15 Mar15 March 19:00

        No you dont

      • Peter 64K says:

        15 Mar15 March 22:05

        @john … Love it. Otherwise your 100th friend will feel left out 😂

• Mikee says:

  15 Mar15 March 10:49

  O/T – on a slightly convoluted BA routing next week:

  DUB-LCY-LHR-MIA (single ticket with 5 hour gap between arriving at LCY and the LHR dep).

  Am flying out on a separate ticket the night before to DUB and staying overnight. Don’t want to take my checked baggage to DUB and then to LCY the next day as will be taking the DLR/Tube to get to LHR and luggage will be a hassle.

  Bearing in mind check-in for LHR-MIA would have opened before I take the LHR-DUB flight the night before, could I check-in bags then? I think I read somewhere this was possible but some agents didn’t know the rules and might refuse check-in luggage overnight at LHR.

  • john says:

    15 Mar15 March 11:33

    It’s certainly advertised as something you can do at LGW but not sure at LHR. If not, Left luggage is always an option.. in T5 it’s Excess Baggage Company, Arrivals level (ground floor), UK arrivals end.. 3 – 24 hours £12.50

    • ChrisC says:

      15 Mar15 March 13:11

      BA does not offer twilight / night before check-in at LHR.

      What some agents get confused about is checking in bags on the SAME day if you have other flights on the same ticket.

      So if your LHR-DUB etc etc MIA were on the same day then they can check them in for just the LHR-MIA flight but you may have to get a supervisor if the desk agent dosen’t know how to do it but it is certainly possible.

      BTW if you have plenty of time before your LHR-DUB I’d put your bags into left Luggage at T3 rather than T5.

  • fivebobbill says:

    15 Mar15 March 11:41

    Jesus Mikee, you must be saving a fortune to use that route to Miami! I live in Northern Ireland so am fortunate enough to be able to drive to Dublin, but for me, the added hassle of having to transit between LCY and LHR… I’d almost need to be getting the MIA leg for free!
    Safe travels however, and enjoy your trip 🙂

    • john says:

      15 Mar15 March 12:30

      £3.10 for tube/dlr off-peak so pretty reasonable price wise. If you are familiar with London underground it’s a pretty easy journey, particularly without any luggage as he’s planning.

      Should crossrail have been live then the journey would have been nicer than the piccadilly line!

    • Mikee says:

      15 Mar15 March 12:46

      Thanks, will try left luggage if BA won’t check-in bags the evening before.
      I’m saving a few hundred ££ but I agree it’s extra hassle…..will see if it’s worth it!

      • Leo says:

        15 Mar15 March 13:06

        Honestly it wouldn’t be that difficult to take luggage between LCY and LHR on the tube but I take your point. Depends when you are travelling – outside of rush hour not a problem, particularly as you are planning to take public transport anyway. There are lifts at Canning town. I don’t like the jubilee/piccadilly change but there are escalators etc.

      • ChrisC says:

        15 Mar15 March 13:14

        The Jubilee / Piccadilly change at Green Park is step free but you need to take the exit route from the Jubilee- so back up to the ticket hall level – then back down to the Piccadilly line. Much easier than the signposted route

      • Lumma says:

        15 Mar15 March 22:18

        Personally I’d DLR to West Ham, District to Baron’s Court/Hammersmith then Piccadilly to LHR if trying to get from LCY with luggage

      • Genghis says:

        15 Mar15 March 22:33

        Yep. I’m a fan of the cross platform change at Hammersmith.

  • Tommy says:

    15 Mar15 March 13:00

    You could try the airportr service (www.airport.com). They will collect your luggage in London from 24 hours before your flight and check-in for you. I’ve used it a few times and can’t fault it- it starts around £40 per bag and if you haven’t used them before I can refer you for 25% off.

    • Tommy says:

      15 Mar15 March 13:01

      http://www.airportr.com

      • Mikee says:

        15 Mar15 March 13:20

        Thanks, looked at Airportr but might just save a few ££ and pay £12.50 to leave luggage at LHR T3 the evening before. I’m also conscious that waiting for luggage at LCY (not usually too long) eats into my transfer and lounge time, especially if there’s a delay. Also the Jubilee/Piccadilly Line change is a pain too.

        I called BA and they said bag-drop only 3 hours before dep at T3.

      • ChrisC says:

        15 Mar15 March 13:59

        Bagdrop is anytime from 5am if you are in Club / F or BA gold, silver, bronze

        As per the BA website.

        https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/airport-information/london-heathrow-airport/heathrow-t3

        I posted on another post the easy way to change between Jubilee and Piccadilly at Green Park

      • Mikee says:

        15 Mar15 March 14:02

        Ok thanks Chris. I wanted to drop at 6pm the night before before heading to DUB so it’s either luggage storage overnight or take on the tube (or pack very light and go HBO!)

• N says:

  15 Mar15 March 11:10

  Frustrating situation where I’m trying to book a hire car with Avis but direct pricing is about 80% more than pricing through the comparison sites… Is there a way around this? Would much rather book direct!

  • Graeme says:

    15 Mar15 March 14:47

    Have you tried using any AWD codes to bring the price down? Or booking via avisba.com can often be cheaper.

  • Charlieface says:

    15 Mar15 March 16:06

    Try avis.ie and avis.com (although avis.com often excludes CDW if you need it)

  • Paul says:

    15 Mar15 March 18:28

    Can depend on timing. Twice recently Avis was pricing at double others through Expedia at T-3months, so booked fully cancellable in Expedia, then when priced dropped at T-7weeks cancelled and booked Avis. Timing floats a bit but Avis has gotten near enough each time so far.

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