Good British Airways World Traveller Plus flight deals from Switzerland to North America

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

• Craig says:

  3 Feb3 February 04:41

  OT: Xin Chào from Vietnam, still going strong. Quick question for Shoestring, genuine question no axe grinding here, what do you mean by pussycat virus?

  • John says:

    3 Feb3 February 05:50

    He thinks it’s a weaker version of SARS, which it seems to be, but it will still make you feel awful for a week if you get it.

    • Callum says:

      3 Feb3 February 06:33

      And has killed at least 362 people in a couple of months, in spite of extreme containment methods, of course.

      • The Original David says:

        3 Feb3 February 06:37

        Yeah but 700 people are killed every day on China’s roads, big deal.

        • Callum says:

          3 Feb3 February 09:14

          They probably had more road deaths than we had lung cancer deaths. Let’s defund all treatments for the pussycat disease.

        • maccymac says:

          3 Feb3 February 10:51

          Last time I checked road traffic deaths weren’t contagious. I might be wrong however.

        • Charlieface says:

          3 Feb3 February 14:29

          @maccymac Ever heard of a pile-up 🙂

      • Aston100 says:

        3 Feb3 February 12:20

        You’ll always get people in denial for any topic, be it the sorry state of BA products, climate change, viruses or indeed holocausts.
        Never ceases to amaze me how some people have the audacity to think they know better than qualified professionals and subject matter experts. But I guess that’s the internet for you.

        • The Original David says:

          3 Feb3 February 12:58

          Qualified “pandemic professionals” and the WHO have a vested interest in making this into a big a deal as possible. If we haven’t had a global health scare for a while, next time the WHO has a whip round its member states, which politicians are going to agree to throw more money at the WHO? Likewise investments in private healthcare companies – if there’s no threat, who’s going to pay? And then where are the experts’ bonuses going to come from?

          And media organisations are going to give much more airtime to the quack who says “it’s the end of the world as we know it” than the reasonable doctor who says “wash your hands, it’s no big deal”. “No big deal” doesn’t sell newspapers or drive ad revenue.

        • Lady London says:

          3 Feb3 February 13:56

          +1 The Original David
          and let’s not forget big pharma who simply love any hint of vaccinations needed

        • Riccatti says:

          3 Feb3 February 15:11

          David, you are wrong.

          WHO resisted designating it a public health emergency. It required re-convening of their committee in pretty much last days of January (even as they had medical information in say last days Dec/first days Jan).

          Transport blockade is a popular demand (demand from the populus) — this is a case in Hong Kong.

        • ken tinsley says:

          3 Feb3 February 16:24

          Perhaps The Original David could volunteer to help here;

          After all surely its just a con job by the WHO

          https://ebolaresponse.un.org/volunteer

          I’ll chip in with a cash ‘bonus’ if he thinks that’s what motivates health professionals

        • ali says:

          3 Feb3 February 18:11

          There was a time (not all that long ago) when communicable disease was the leading cause of death worldwide. It is largely public health initiatives such as sanitation, education and vaccination championed by the likes of the WHO hat have led to this. These have been superseded by non-communicable chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer where lifestyle factors play a significant role.

        • Callum says:

          3 Feb3 February 19:38

          All the conspiracy theory nuts going on about how scientists and doctors all scheme together to harm the planet and population in order to enrich themselves are not only dim, they’re highly offensive.

          People in this country usually worship doctors (rightly so!). Are you claiming that your doctors are stupid (because they’re being fooled by the WHO and big pharma whereas you’re smart enough to see through it), or evil and are in on the scam?

        • Lady London says:

          3 Feb3 February 20:00

          Are you a doctor then @Callum? I had you pegged as a biologist.

        • Charlieface says:

          3 Feb3 February 23:43

          The truth is far more nuanced than either view.
          Most of the global NGOs (non-governmental organizations) do have good motives, but they can get sidetracked by their executives because of business interests, by competing sponsors and simple politicking.

        • Callum says:

          4 Feb4 February 02:36

          Lady London – I am a biologist (I guess I mentioned it before? Good memory if so as even I don’t remember that!) – though I’ve also studied biomedical science. Not that anything I’ve mentioned requires a degree to understand.

          I would have thought anyone of any background could find the information quite easily, but I may be blinkered given I’m used to doing scientific research.

  • Mike says:

    3 Feb3 February 07:12

    I commend Harry for cutting through the media white noise and providing perspective in an often blinkered / sensationalist world

    • Callum says:

      3 Feb3 February 09:15

      It’s not perspective, it’s ignorance. Big difference.

    • pauldb says:

      3 Feb3 February 10:52

      NYT have been pulling out the “models say it’s probably 100k cases” for at least the last ten days. Since then the day-on-day growth rate has slowed from 50% to 20%. Do you really think their argument is credible?

  • Ken says:

    3 Feb3 February 07:57

    Just as there has always been a healthy market in catastrophists there is a market for “nothing to see here”.

    A bit like Frank Drebin in The Naked Gun – but with a thin carapace of science and statistics.

  • Darren says:

    3 Feb3 February 09:10

    Sawadee krap from Bangkok, sensible precautions here. The face masks may not work but they are very popular and anti bac dispensers everywhere.

    • Peter K says:

      3 Feb3 February 13:23

      Anti-bacterial dispensers to help deal with a virus? Genius.

      A couple of A&E nurse colleagues have basically told me that anti-bac gels in hospitals are a waste of time as what is needed is for people to use soap and water and wash their hands properly to avoid contagion. Less people are likely to do that I suppose than put their hands under an automatic dispenser.

      • Darren says:

        3 Feb3 February 15:10

        “While virologists say hand sanitising can help stop the virus, they say there is not much evidence that face masks help.
        Hand washing with soap is still the best cleaning practice, says the NHS.”

        I don‘t have hot water to hand when I’m out and about in the city so I’ll do both.

      • Lady London says:

        3 Feb3 February 16:28

        Is Hibitane still good or is that old fashioned now?

      • Callum says:

        3 Feb3 February 19:40

        A perfect example of why you shouldn’t unconditionally believe blind declarations by anyone, regardless of their status!

• LetBAgonesbe says:

  3 Feb3 February 05:51

  OT: 20% discount on the entire TAP network, on bookings made until February 5.
  Use promocode SPRING20

• Polly says:

  3 Feb3 February 07:21

  Anyone read about the 2 medics in Thailand who shoved 2 combined vaccines into their very ill patient who 2 days later is now coronavirus free? Interesting, may be fake news ???

  • Michael C says:

    3 Feb3 February 07:28

    It was in Bangkok Post yeserday (and BusinessInsider), so here’s hoping.

  • MD says:

    3 Feb3 February 07:58

    @ Polly – not vaccines. It was a combination of antiviral drugs, including medications used to treat HIV and influenza. It will take at least 6-9 months to develop a vaccine.

    • Marcw says:

      3 Feb3 February 08:57

      Vaccine will take longer than though, all the safety assessment + trials.

• C says:

  3 Feb3 February 07:58

  Has anybody had any luck with Amex CS re recent Marriott Bonvoy bonus points when they weren’t targeted but chat agent said they were eligible? I have my screenshots ready to upload to the document centre with a letter but wondered what they are telling people. Thanks

  • Sanya says:

    3 Feb3 February 08:17

    I raised a formal complaint with them and a manager called me back to say there was nothing they can do. The agent gave me incorrect information on chat and they apologized for that. The best they could do was 5k MR and did not budge when I insisted it wasn’t enough.

    • Lady London says:

      3 Feb3 February 08:27

      If my evidence of that chat was solid I’d call them again and repeat your claim, state the evidence of what they assured you of and say you wanted to give them a final chance to honour it. Mention you are seriously referring this to the Ombudsman.

      Apparently a company gets charged £600by the Ombudsman for every case referred (some companies even have a season ticket rate). State you will give them 48 hours to confirm they will honour it if you do decide to refer it to the Ombudsman.

      • Harry T says:

        3 Feb3 February 08:53

        @Lady London
        Couldn’t AMEX just cancel my accounts if I take them to the ombudsman? They promised me the extra points over chat and I have all the screenshots.

        • BJ says:

          3 Feb3 February 09:50

          They could but in my experience with banks they probably wouldn’t. I have had disputes with banks a number of times over the years and always found that they reach a settlement quickly if you politely inform them that you know exactly what the minimum cost to them will be if it goes to the Ombudsman Service therefore it is in your mutual interest to agree sonething fair without resorting to that. Worked every time. I have one experience of actually going to the Oombudsman Service over b,roadband and it was very unpleasant. Even though they found in my favour I was left with the feeling that they were not impartial, certainly not on my side.

      • Harry T says:

        3 Feb3 February 08:55

        @Rob
        What are your thoughts?

        • Rob says:

          3 Feb3 February 09:09

          I told you it was likely to be targeted! However, I am sure that legally a company is liable for statements made by its staff.

          All I would say, in my own experience, is that FOS does not give a toss about loyalty points complaints. If you have a cut and dried case with screenshots etc, of course, then you should give it a go regardless.

        • Harry T says:

          3 Feb3 February 09:13

          Thanks, Rob. I knew there was a chance it wouldn’t work out, but thought it was worth a punt. I took the screenshots in case it backfired so let’s hope they are reasonable about it. I do think it’s shameful that they haven’t been honouring the promises of their CS agents.

        • C says:

          3 Feb3 February 09:21

          Just uploaded the screenshots, will let you know what they say – will insist on some MR points in any case!

        • xcalx says:

          3 Feb3 February 10:55

          You knew you were taking a chance to get an uninformed chat agent to say the offer was open to you. Personally I would move on.
          You need to decide how far you are prepared to stick your head above the parapet.
          If you have a squeaky clean record with Amex, go for it.

        • Lady London says:

          3 Feb3 February 11:36

          @xcalxuth’taking a chance getting an uninformed chat agent’ with respect that’s utter rubbish. Customer is not responsible for vetting the quality of a provider’s agents. If customer dials the right number and asks the company a question then customer is fully entitled to rely on the answer of the company representative.

          The fact that the company is liable for the statements and actions of its employees is also protective – otherwise employees could personally be sued for losses resulting. Eg Townsend Thoresen etc.

        • BJ says:

          3 Feb3 February 11:46

          @xcalx … great self-indulgent ‘I’m ok, you’re not ok’ comment from the only lucky beggar in Harry’s 2018 Xmas Saver debacle IIRC 😀 I’ll remember next time you come unstuck 😉

        • xcalx says:

          3 Feb3 February 11:53

          @ BJ I must have come across wrong. I am saying go for it but be aware if your throwing stones from inside the greenhouse. Not many on here have taken things to the limits I have LOL but I choose carefully which battles to fight and which to walk away from.

          Apologies to Harry T

        • BJ says:

          3 Feb3 February 12:05

          @xcalx, no worries, I wasn’t taking your comment so seriously, nor was I being so in my reply. Subsequently reading about your works troubles below I feel a bit bad about it now even though it was lighthearted, sorry for that.

        • xcalx says:

          3 Feb3 February 12:08

          @LL It was quite civil until the National Service Providers insurers got involved. It all changed then when they dismissed the engineers report and all dealings went through the companies “Ombudsman liason manager”
          Yes 8% interest was to be added to the above figure.

      • BJ says:

        3 Feb3 February 09:31

        They need to be informed in writing and you have to give them two months to respond before the Batsman Service will touch it.

        • Lady London says:

          3 Feb3 February 10:15

          Or, I think, 3 recorded refusals or if you can get them to provide a statement that X is their final answer or they won’t enter into further correspondence.

          If at all possible I think the approach should be a polite threat and not actually carried out. IME the polite words do galvanise things mostly if they’ve got any sense.

          Conversely I’ve had occasion to inform both bank and phone co that I am fully in the right and we’ll aware I can go to the Ombudsman but as I know this would cost them about £600 and this seems unfair on them then I will let something go. Same as Metro Bank who messed up on something royally very recently but I told them I would live with it as they had treated me very fairly last year on something else. Stupid I know, to value relationships in this day and age but I do.

          IMO the telecoms ombudsman is particularly useless on individuals’ complaints but I think they have done a good job at macro level. Hence my oref for moneyclaim rather than ombudsman if it’s contractual and individual.

        • BJ says:

          3 Feb3 February 10:33

          Thanks, I knew about the final offer but didn’t know about the three refusals.

        • xcalx says:

          3 Feb3 February 11:32

          I have been involved with the Ombudsman for 11 months re a national service provider. A contractor they used caused £6200 damage to my property. Initially they tried to blame the local water board for the damage (who had never set foot on my property) This was followed by numerous other unbelievable excuses.

          The initial Ombdsmans decision was for them to reimburse me fully for the damages plus an extra amount for the way they had handled the investigation. The service provider objected to the decision and now it’s with the senior Ombudsman.

          All this is after the Service providers engineers report placed the blame on the contractor.

          I wish I had gone straight to the courts.

        • BJ says:

          3 Feb3 February 11:57

          Put’s my small case in perspective. Good luck with that. Getting major works done is something we all dread I think as in many cases we are taking a chance if the contractor is not fully known and trusted.

        • xcalx says:

          3 Feb3 February 12:10

          @LL It was quite civil until the National Service Providers insurers got involved. It all changed then when they dismissed the engineers report and all dealings went through the companies “Ombudsman liason manager”
          Yes 8% interest was to be added to the above figure.

• JRC says:

  3 Feb3 February 08:19

  Luxair charges £500 for economy return to LUX from City and the flights are always packed. So the demand is definitely there, in fact hoping BA start doing this route, rather than schlepping over to Heathrow from our London office to travel there.

  • Lady London says:

    3 Feb3 February 08:31

    Why is their such demand for Luxemburg?

    Is it because companies like Vodafone and I think, Amazon are headquartered there thus paying very little corporate tax instead of paying a fair share of corporate tax in places where they earn, like the UK?

    • JRC says:

      3 Feb3 February 08:37

      Yes post Brexit, corporates with European business’ are moving onto the continent. Aligned HR/ employee laws (eg Spanish employee can move to Lux at drop of hat), trade laws and generally more certainty on direction of travel.

    • Rob says:

      3 Feb3 February 08:42

      In my banking days we used to HQ certain businesses in Luxembourg. The tax people say that you need to have board meetings there for the domicile to stand up as legal so you get a lot of people nipping over for the day ….

      • Genghis says:

        3 Feb3 February 09:09

        Same as NL. We have a holdco in NL and pay a Dutch lawyer a few € to hold board meetings with one other director dialling in. Simples.

        • Rob says:

          3 Feb3 February 09:20

          We were told that everyone had to go ….

        • Stu_N says:

          3 Feb3 February 10:24

          Depends on your risk appetite and consequences of creating taxable presence in UK.

        • Lady London says:

          3 Feb3 February 10:25

          It’s safer that way even if the articles do say board meetings can be held by phone and only require 2 participants.

          With the money at stake I think a lot of companies will have decided sending people gives a more protective result. Helps with frequent flyer status too…. And there’s always the LHR T3 lounges to get some work done in on the travel day.

      • Riccatti says:

        3 Feb3 February 22:02

        It is still the case, Rob.

        The company cannot be managed from the UK — without the risk of been assessed to UK tax residency (for corporation tax). It does not matter where company is registered, it matters if it is effectively managed and controlled from the UK.

    • aDifferentSimon says:

      3 Feb3 February 09:58

      It’s a (post brexit) insurance hub nowt too.

      • DB2020 says:

        3 Feb3 February 12:05

        It has been an insurance and treasury centre for international companies for many years, even before the dawn of Brexit.

• MattB says:

  3 Feb3 February 08:57

  £100 off £1k spend on Malaysian Airlines on my gold card, along with Co-op will writing. Not sure if the 2 are connected…..

  • meta says:

    3 Feb3 February 09:02

    I also have £25 off £75 restaurant&bar spend at several Maybourne Group hotels (Claridge’s, The Berkeley, etc.).

  • Neil Donoghue says:

    3 Feb3 February 09:03

    HA! Got the same offers…Made me chuckle very much

  • BJ says:

    3 Feb3 February 09:55

    Prices on MAS have been a joke of late though. However, there was a code Rob published here, is that still valid too?

  • Andrew (@andrewseftel) says:

    3 Feb3 February 10:14

    25% at Buyagift, which I think is a new iteration of the offer.

    • Neil Donoghue says:

      3 Feb3 February 10:16

      Don’t forget you will get a £10 voucher if you stay on the homepage for 5 minutes and sign up with an email address. Stacks well with the 25% off Amex offer

• Pit says:

  3 Feb3 February 10:29

  Ryanair is as well flying from Luxembourg to London Stensted..

• Oli says:

  3 Feb3 February 10:31

  Ryanair also flies to Luxembourg, from Stansted. A few years back, CityJet were competing with Luxair between City and Luxemburg, so there’s definitely space for two airlines on this route.

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