Avios seats now bookable on additional British Airways St Lucia flights next Summer

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• Mark2 says:

  23 Aug23 August 06:31

  OT
  I recently upgraded from Amex Green to Platinum and spent £4,000. The 20,000 MR points did not trigger immediately but have now appeared, although the tracking bar still shows £0.

  • BJ says:

    23 Aug23 August 06:59

    Good morning Mark, how long did the points take to appear after hitting the £4k?

    • Mark2 says:

      23 Aug23 August 07:08

      It was about two weeks, but CS told me that there was a technical problem that was being fixed.

      • BJ says:

        23 Aug23 August 07:28

        Thanks, I think I’ll conti ue to keep mine on hold until next years council tax is due although the risk is the offer could be withdrawn. Two weeks is good though, some were reporting bigger issues.

        • Polly says:

          23 Aug23 August 07:44

          Lucky you lot that can use paypoint for your council tax. Our council resolutely refuse to issue such a card. Atm, can only use pp on bt, affinity, so can’t use that route to get the 4k spend in v quickly! But yes, timing of upgrade to benefit is paramount.
          How’s that Addison Lee benefit working out for people?

        • BJ says:

          23 Aug23 August 08:11

          Takes me 10 painful trips to the co-pp Polly, due to cap on 2x£150 payments per day.

        • Liz says:

          23 Aug23 August 08:23

          BJ – My CT bill is £332 per month which I pay manually each month along with my mother-in-laws. The Co-op I use can take a max of £200 but what they do is scan the bill and enter £200 then scan it again and enter £132 and then I put in the credit card and pay the total of £332 in one transaction.

        • Mark2 says:

          23 Aug23 August 08:29

          Have a look at Monese. It does cost £14.95 per month but you can load £500 per day at Post Office and £249 per day at Paypoint and a few Coop branches have both. It is a current account with free FX which I have not tried. You can switch the full facilities and fee on and off.

        • BJ says:

          23 Aug23 August 08:50

          @Liz, in Edinburgh they give us a payment card. Co-Op scans it 2x£150 and then takes a £300 card payment. Twice I tried doing it mire times on same day without success but it was in the same store, I need to get another store on the same day to see if it will allow me additional payments there.

          @Mark, with avios becoming increasingly difficult to collect I guess now is a good time for me to look at Monese and other avenues that I have ignored thius far as simpler opportunities have previously sustained my avios requirements.

        • Crafty says:

          23 Aug23 August 09:00

          Bigger issues here. Three very painful online chats, the last of which lasted an hour (I was doing other stuff at same time), during which they committed to sort the issue during the call, but still failed to do so. Still nothing resolved even though I was told (again) that yesterday should be the date.

          The worst service part of all this is that Amex point blank refuses to contact me with any updates. I am told I have to proactively ask them each time via online chat if they’ve sorted it yet. What a bloody charade.

        • TripRep says:

          23 Aug23 August 09:44

          Liz m- I just wait for a new CC target period and pay CT £200/week at both Tesco & Coop (both have Paypoint). Really easy to reach a target if your Council allows prepayment.

        • Mark2 says:

          23 Aug23 August 10:08

          Thanks for the Tesco tip. Also ASDA apparently.

        • Harry T says:

          23 Aug23 August 11:29

          @Mark2
          Coop and post office are happy for you to load the Monese card with Amex? I thought they would only let you top it up with cash?

          I’ve never used PayPoint before, so I’m unsure how it works.

        • BJ says:

          23 Aug23 August 12:34

          @Harry T, if you are thinking about Monese you can current get over 3600 avios for signing up. Think like @Shoestring might think and you will figure it out.

        • Mark2 says:

          23 Aug23 August 12:35

          Yes; I rarely use cash for anything. As always do not ask; just clutch a card and they will usually just put it on card. Remember the quality of the staff.

        • Liz says:

          23 Aug23 August 13:30

          @TripRep – I don’t use my CT to hit spend targets in one go – i just pay it month to month and chop and change the card spend as I go along. Am now in my 2nd year of BAPP with no £3k bonus to hit so chugging along till I get to £10k for 241. Have already hit Spire on IHG and hit the 10k on Hilton card this year so decided with only 4 mths to go to go for a final Lloyds upgrade voucher so currently putting everything through that for next few months. Then I’ll switch back to BAPP.

      • Harry T says:

        23 Aug23 August 18:40

        @BJ – I catch your drift but I sadly already have Monese. Though they’ve given me Premium free for three months, so I intend to capitalise if I can top up at Post Office or Paypoint.

        @Mark2 – thanks, I’ll see how I fare at the post office five mins walk from me. Think there’s also a PayPoint at the Tesco across the road.

        • BJ says:

          23 Aug23 August 19:53

          Cheers Harry, can you report back on how you get on please. Have every confidence in Mark’s tips but always useful to have more data points on peoples experience in other locations. For example my local Tesco Extra now seems determined to enforce every detail of all t&c regardless of promotion etc.

• BJ says:

  23 Aug23 August 07:40

  O/T: Trailfindees is back on amex offers, £100 back on £1000 spend. Only on my gold card of the four cards currently held.

• David says:

  23 Aug23 August 07:40

  Have BA announced which LAS flights it is droppings?

  • Rhys says:

    23 Aug23 August 09:19

    It is the Gatwick-Vegas flight, BA2277. Not every day. But since it is in the schedule you won’t be able to book it any more. I found it missing on a Thursday but not sure if it’s every Thursday or if it alternates with Orlando.

    • David says:

      23 Aug23 August 10:52

      Thanks for the update, hoped it was the Gatwick flight. Got Avios /BA 241 redemptions booked on the LHR to come back from LAS in August.

• Ian says:

  23 Aug23 August 07:46

  OT – I’m interested in the Virgin Atlantic credit cards but looking at Trustpilot, Virgin Money’s reviews are terrible – almost all are 1 star with many saying they’re struggling to get the cards to work. Should I be worried?

  • BJ says:

    23 Aug23 August 07:57

    Probably most of the reviews are from those who have had their applications rejected. Had issues with android app when first launched but never since, not had any issues with applying for or using the card. Never had to call CS about the card. I have and have had other Virgin Money products, never had any problem with those either and I found CS related to those to be excellent.

    • Mark2 says:

      23 Aug23 August 08:25

      +1

      • Peter K says:

        23 Aug23 August 08:30

        I never found the app good. If after they “fixed” it out still didn’t work very often. Only had to chat to CS once who were okay but the miles credit well.

  • Genghis says:

    23 Aug23 August 08:43

    If you never have to contact customer service, they’re great. Otherwise CS is appalling (first hand experience).

  • Spaghetti Town says:

    23 Aug23 August 08:57

    I have terrible trouble with the app, it’s completely stopped working for me and I’m having to go on to desktop. Will try re-installing.

  • The Savage Squirrel says:

    23 Aug23 August 09:12

    If you never need to do more than spend on the card, look at the statement and pay it then they’re fine. Supposedly fixed, but do also make very sure and then check again later that the DD is set to take full payment before first billing date.

  • BJ says:

    23 Aug23 August 09:16

    I don’t understand why so many get hung up on apps. If it is proving difficult then why not just use the mobile site? These are generally much better than apps anyway.

    • Andrew says:

      23 Aug23 August 09:32

      It’s an irritation.

      There’s been a few major changes to the App so it’s been a full delete and reinstall app a few times. There’s also the security feature that only permits one installation per account. Some of use a tablet at home and their mobile when out and about – but not allowed by Virgin.

      • Bum says:

        23 Aug23 August 10:59

        I’d carefully see the cash price and the points+ taxes. You can only use the 241 voucher in economy unless you have status which makes it pretty useless. Just relieved I didn’t bother aiming for the voucher. Will cancel the card shortly

      • BJ says:

        23 Aug23 August 12:37

        Easy irritated 🙂 Thanjs for comment about it not being allowed on two devices, I didn’t know that.

• Rob H says:

  23 Aug23 August 08:04

  Hi, I have trying to find a number that I can call for an avios redemption at 1am BST (midnight GMT) but have failed to find one that works (i.e. is open).

  I’d really appreciate it if someone could share a number (I tried the standard US one on the BA sight but that closes at 1am)

  Thanks

  • Spurs Debs says:

    23 Aug23 August 08:27

    Have you tried Japan number?

    Are you trying to book a return flight?
    Why not just book on internet when flights are loaded?

    • Rob H says:

      23 Aug23 August 09:05

      Hi, Using the phone rather than the Web as that is what was recommended in Robs redemption article. (Just the article didn’t contain a number – and the one in the comments is closed at 1am BST)

      Haven’t tried the Japan number – didn’t know about the language and suport of English?

      I’m actually trying to book outbound flights using the AMEX 2-4-1

      Thanks

      • Spurs Debs says:

        23 Aug23 August 09:27

        With the time difference Japan is open, my advice is to call a few minutes before to go through security and get in the queue. Don’t worry about language I believe you are actually calling Hong Kong, in any case their English is very good.
        I’ve always managed to book outgoing flights on line at 1am you have to keep refreshing page as they might take a few mins to load flights.
        It’s the return flights you will likely need to call them.
        Remember they release two club world per flight but no guarantees of first. My advice if first isn’t showing is to get the club seats and wait and see if you can upgrade to first, use the flight reward finder website for updates well worth £3 a month.

  • Matt b says:

    23 Aug23 August 10:04

    +81332985209

    I called Japan on this number a few nights back. I am a high flying bronze so not sure if this was a dedicated hotline.

    Read my comments and the replies in the bits article yesterday. I’m on holiday with rubbish wifi and poor signal, had to call from the bus stop down the road at 2am and even then it cut out on me, thankfully they called me back. Still cost me a small fortune so make sure you use skype or something similar.

    • Matt b says:

      23 Aug23 August 10:06

      An just saw you are booking outbound, no need to phone just book online and apply 241, then call to add inbound.

  • Rob H says:

    23 Aug23 August 10:57

    Thank you “Spurs Debs” and “Matt b” for your help and suggestions

• Robert says:

  23 Aug23 August 08:26

  OT – how does Radisson Rewards compare to Bonvoy, HHonors etc, is it better?

  • Genghis says:

    23 Aug23 August 08:44

    Isn’t there an ongoing series doing compare and contrast?

  • BJ says:

    23 Aug23 August 08:53

    No definitive answer, horses for courses.

  • The Savage Squirrel says:

    23 Aug23 August 09:15

    See recent hotel scheme article series. I’d imagine the ‘opinion’ article on Radisson will be posted tomorrow.

  • Crafty says:

    23 Aug23 August 10:06

    It’s easy to earn lots of points, but I find the points are worth significantly less than the valuation Rob places on them.

    Having said that, Hilton seems to be going this way too.

    We get by FAR the most value out of Bonvoy points, and actively seek them out.

    • BJ says:

      23 Aug23 August 12:42

      I cannot get decent points-earning opportunities from Bonvoy for love or money. By contrast, Honors is even happy to lend me a few 🙂

• Nick says:

  23 Aug23 August 08:27

  Last night BA flight arrived back at LHR over 2.5 hours late. Circa 11pm.

  I understand no eu261 compo as less than four hours.

  Would BA accept a expense claim for a taxi incurred (under £50) as was spouse and 2 Young’s kids plus stroller.

  Family friend was arranged but could not wait the extra time due to the delay.

  • Shoestring says:

    23 Aug23 August 08:56

    probably not – you’d have to demonstrate that public transport options had finished for the day & even then 2.5 hrs means it would be a goodwill refund so ask very nicely

    • meta says:

      23 Aug23 August 09:26

      We don’t know from where Nick’s flight arrived. If it was less than 1500km then duty of care kicks in after 2h. I successfully claimed for taxi on a delay of slightly more than 2h from Dublin in the past. If it is more than 1500km, then no luck.

      • Shoestring says:

        23 Aug23 August 10:56

        duty of care doesn’t normally cover transport home after a delayed flight – no matter how long the delay – unless the passenger can make the case for there being no public transport available

        it *is* all about making a reasonable case, but BA are sometimes iffy about paying more than £50 taxi fare at the worst of times, eg they dumped you at Gatwick when you expected to arrive at Heathrow & pick up your car – they really want you to hang around and get public transport, which I guess in legal terms is mitigation of costs

        one tip is to get them to arrange the taxi for you (prepaid/ taxi voucher) at the airport, but then you need to find CS/ manned desk and make your case, not necessarily easy at 11pm

        all of the above is just about getting an easy refund – you would always also have the option of forcing the issue (eg MCOL) if you felt you had no other reasonable option than the taxi & the cost was BA’s fault (eg the 2.5 hr delay late at night) – and BA would very probably back down and refund you without any more procrastination

        • Shoestring says:

          23 Aug23 August 11:05

          you could also add that the taxi option was cheaper for 4 people rather than buying 4x bus/ train tickets

        • RussellH says:

          23 Aug23 August 13:43

          This story was a ***very*** long time ago, last century, but I once offered to mitigate BA’s losses following a delay quite significantly, and BA said no.

          I had an Airmiles (pre-Avios) booking EDI-LHR-BRU, with a rail ticket for onward travel to a small town south of Namur.

          Flight from EDI was delayed, meaning that I missed the booked connection to BRU. BA rebooked me on the last flight to BRU, which arrived long after the last train south. They said that ground staff at BRU would arrange and pay for a taxi to my destination 80km away.
          I offered to spend the night with my parents, who lived quite close to LHR, and fly out the next morning, but BA’s line was they had to get me to BRU as soon as possible.

          I got my taxi voucher, and walked down to the taxi rank; the drivers all seemed to recognise a BA voucher from some distance, and the grin on the face of the driver who got the job has never left me.

        • Anna says:

          23 Aug23 August 22:30

          BA paid £292 for our taxi from MAN to LHR the other week!

• Sussex Bantam says:

  23 Aug23 August 08:41

  They’re dropping an MCO flight in middle of the summer holidays ? Wow

  • Peter K says:

    23 Aug23 August 08:45

    St Lucia is no doubt a premium heavy destination with a whole Virgin jet load of customers ready to fly to it.

    • The Savage Squirrel says:

      23 Aug23 August 09:18

      Makes you wonder why Virgin dropped it then, if it’s so profitable that BA would drop a guaranteed full plane to MCO to service it.

      • Spaghetti Town says:

        23 Aug23 August 10:26

        Virgin seem to be heading in the direction of non Bucket and Spade routes with the Delta tie up now

      • Dev says:

        23 Aug23 August 11:58

        @The Savage Squirrel
        Apparently Virgin tried to negotiate a deal with the St. Lucia government, who refused to pay the multi million dollars demanded by the airline to keep bringing tourists to their island.
        Sounds like a Delta driven initiative.

        • Anna says:

          23 Aug23 August 13:29

          It’s reported that Virgin has also asked for multi-million $ “subsidies” from Grenada, Tobago and Antigua. I’m not an expert on the tourism industry but this does seem to smack of a large company trying to hold poorer nations to ransom.

        • RussellH says:

          23 Aug23 August 13:47

          Sounds not unlikely to me.

          Ryanair’s early business model seemed to be based on most of their income on many routes being incentive payments from smaller municipalities and/or airports. EU commission forced them to return a lot of the cash, IIRC.

      • Roberto says:

        23 Aug23 August 12:01

        I read that virgin wanted money from St Lucia to continue the route and a deal could not be reached.

        Maybe Ba did the deal instead.

  • sunguy says:

    23 Aug23 August 09:41

    A couple of years ago Thomas Cook dropeed ALL MCO/SFB flights from everywhere south of MAN and see where that got them!

  • Anna says:

    23 Aug23 August 11:49

    That was my thought! Economy seats to MCO can hit £1k pp in the school holidays; I can’t see St Lucia having remotely similar demand in July and August.

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