Qatar Airways launches free flight ticket changes whilst S7 launches full refunds

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• KBuffett says:

  7 Mar7 March 07:46

  OT – Has anyone managed to convince AMEX to honour their offers if the retailer has processed the payment a couple l of days after the offer expires?
  I made some online purchase on the expiry date at Apple and Lakeland. Doesn’t look like they’ve qualified for the offer and the processing dates and beyond the expiry.

  • Peter K says:

    7 Mar7 March 08:42

    There is usually a get out clause for Amex like this one for the Outnet:

    Spend must be billed to your Card account by 26/3/2020, to be eligible for this offer. If THE OUTNET does not charge your Card during this period, e.g. because of a delay in dispatching your goods, you may not be eligible for this offer.

    So it looks like you may be unfortunate.

• Paul says:

  7 Mar7 March 07:56

  Hilton Bath- ugly on the outside uglier inside. Service was pitiful!

• Paul says:

  7 Mar7 March 08:04

  Think to S7 waiver is by far the most reassuring. QR is not far behind and I am still planning travel both East and West where it is safe to do so.
  Those plans don’t involve BA though primarily due to their stance on this and because their fares are at eye wateringly stupid levels given the lack of business. No one is going to risk paying £3/4 to cross the pond given their clear intransigence. Stupid!

  • Peter K says:

    7 Mar7 March 08:18

    I’d pay £3 or £4!!!

  • P says:

    7 Mar7 March 08:49

    Unlike you to slate BA Paul 😉

    • Abe says:

      7 Mar7 March 08:53

      And yet BA always speaks so highly of Paul!

      • Sloth says:

        7 Mar7 March 09:39

        Well they do because despite his constant moaning about them he continues to book with them…

  • Lady London says:

    7 Mar7 March 15:32

    Come on this is poker as the biggest player BA are not going to fold too soon.

    Just possible this may all blow over reasonably soon and, while sadly infections probably will continue, panic will subside.

• Roger says:

  7 Mar7 March 08:37

  anyone with screenshot for Amex SPG card who applied before change over?
  Very grateful.

  • Shoestring says:

    7 Mar7 March 09:08

    Roger did you see the banner at the top of your online a/c? (Now replaced with Flybe banner)

    But it read: [We no longer offer the SPG card as it has been rebranded to Marriott Bonvoy. We will write to you in June about migrating you to this new product. You will continue to enjoy your existing benefits including 3 points/ £ on all eligible spend. 6 points/ £ on spend at Marriott properties.]

    so you don’t really need a screenshot – they know the date you got your SPG card and if it was before the cutoff (ISTR 22 January???) then you are fully entitled to the 3 points/ £ and these have restarted after the brief couple of days when it mistakenly went down to 2 ponts/ £. Just go on Chat and spout that at them, get it escalated to a supervisor if you get a dumb BSing agent – & ask for any missing points by starting a formal enquiry/ complaint

    • Roger says:

      7 Mar7 March 09:30

      No, I have no such banner on my account .

      • Shoestring says:

        7 Mar7 March 09:32

        As I already mentioned, it got replaced with the Flybe banner

        • Roger says:

          7 Mar7 March 09:46

          I mean I never had a banner prior to current flybe banner

        • Shoestring says:

          7 Mar7 March 09:49

          I should just go on Chat and spout the banner at them anyway, if you got your card before the cutoff date you’ll be fine

          I’m back on 3 points/ £ with just a couple of transactions on 2 points/ £, not enough to stop me closing down the card as soon as the next points transfer goes through

    • Robert says:

      7 Mar7 March 10:27

      I noticed the banner and immediately got on to Chat (having recently applied for the card under the old system). They’ve given me a ref# and said they will look in to it – I’m going to get back in touch in a few days as requested and see what’s happened. I notice today, though, the “points earned” box has disappeared from the Amex account page – assume this is just while they re-update the systems to honour the promise they made in the banner, but I’d already spent almost £1000 on the card already.

• Paul says:

  7 Mar7 March 09:02

  RE: QRs cancellation policy: what is “for travel up to 30 June 2020” supposed to mean? That your original itinerary should be completed but the, or just the outbound? If it is the former, I am guessing a change of date to, for example July, would entail quite a big fare difference, as this is usually high season. (Even if the change fees are waived). Thanks

  • Joseph Heenan says:

    7 Mar7 March 10:00

    I’d presume just the outbound (it seems to relate to cancelling the full trip, cancelling only inbound doesn’t appear the be catered for) – the text on Qatar’s website refers to ‘departure’. Probably worth asking them if yours stradle end June. Text from their website:

    Passengers travelling with Qatar Airways up to 30 June 2020 can now change their travel plans free of charge by altering their booking dates or opting to receive a travel voucher up to three days prior to departure.

    Fees for booking alterations will be waived if reservations are changed at least three days before departure. Fare differences may apply. The travel voucher can be used for future travel with Qatar Airways, valid for one year from its issuance date. Penalties will be waived if cancellations are submitted at least three days before departure.

    This policy is valid for all Qatar Airways flights and those of its codeshare and interline partners booked as published fares, either directly from or through travel agents.

• Tony says:

  7 Mar7 March 09:21

  OT: What is the MCC of Cash withdrawal on Curve?

  • Travel Strong says:

    7 Mar7 March 09:49

    “Mail Order / Phone / Online Purchase” is the description for the MCC, but thats all I see i’m afraid.
    It always goes through as a purchase either way – but be aware of curve limits, they are the limiting factor (e.g. £200/month fee free on blue card)

  • stevenhp1987 says:

    7 Mar7 March 11:16

    MCC 6540 – POI Funding Transactions

• Travel Strong says:

  7 Mar7 March 09:41

  OT: Virgin card blocked. Called VM, answer: “call back monday” – your account is under review, we do not know why. It’s times like these you really appreciate Amex customer service!

  (Note: suspect account just locked due to large transaction attempt abroad, not curvy seagulls – but will take 3 days to unlock / find out!)

  • The Streets says:

    7 Mar7 March 09:50

    Customer service for Amex accounts under review also operate Monday to Friday

• Grant says:

  7 Mar7 March 09:44

  Given the plentiful supply of reward tickets available LHR > MIA on Virgin I was thinking about booking something for the summer school holidays. Any pointers about where to head from there would be welcome – kids are 3 and 5 and I’d prefer to do the Disney thing in a few years when they will probably get more out of it. i was thinking about the Keys?

  • Qwertyknowsbest says:

    7 Mar7 March 09:56

    Keys stunning scenery, but limited on child friendly hotels and but run down in parts. Key West is over rated (my opinion) and not very child friendly. Look at the Hilton Curio on Key Largo, good kid friendly beach. Also look at Naples just across from Miami, stunning beaches and more.

  • Anna says:

    7 Mar7 March 10:47

    Consider a couple of days in Miami, there is the aquarium if you like that kind of thing. Outside Orlando not that much to do for small kids. North of Miami there are good resorts and beaches, or the gulf coast is lovely. You will need plenty of options to keep cool in the summer so I would go for a resort with good pool facilities and preferably condo-type units so you always have access to chilled water/ice/food your kids will eat!

    • Mj says:

      7 Mar7 March 11:07

      My vote would be to go up the gulf coast too. I also like Fort Lauderdale but not a lot to do for kids.

      • TripRep says:

        7 Mar7 March 13:58

        +1 for Gulf Coast, St Pere Beach, Clearwater and up to Crystal River

        • TripRep says:

          7 Mar7 March 13:59

          *St Pete Beach

        • J says:

          8 Mar8 March 00:39

          Yeah St Pete’s Beach/Clearwater area is great for kids. My daughter (4) loves collecting shells at Pass-a-grill and trying to spot dolphins from the fishing pier at Fort de Soto. And if you drive to Tampa, I reckon Busch Gardens is the best theme park there is for under 5s.

  • thehornets says:

    7 Mar7 March 11:32

    We are using Virgin miles to fly into Miami and back home via Orlando.

    Miami will give time to visit the Everglades, the Keys, Miami itself and some beaches (perhaps Clearwater) and then drive North to Orlando for some theme parks afterwards.

    You could also (depending on how you feel about cruise ships at the moment) take a short cruise to the Carribbean.

  • Ken says:

    7 Mar7 March 12:38

    Would anyone holiday in Florida in the summer with kids if it wasn’t for;
    a) theme parks.
    b) school holidays.

    Heat and humidity so high you will need constant access to air conditioning or a pool.
    Kids would love it in 3 or 4 years. Now just seems like torturing yourself.

    • Lady London says:

      7 Mar7 March 16:03

      Yes but Florida is especially great for the sorts of food or more correctly ‘food’ that kids love.

      I don’t have kids but having been there a few times (for business, personally I can’t stand the place) I would recommend Gulf Coast say around St Petersburg or Naples.

      • Lady London says:

        7 Mar7 March 16:04

        agree with poster above though that unless you personally want to go to this location, they’d enjoy it more from around 7 or 8 onwards.

        • Lady London says:

          7 Mar7 March 16:05

          PS Find out when Spring Break is and avoid it.

  • Clive says:

    7 Mar7 March 12:49

    We have done Marco Island a few times (JW and Hilton). Very laid back, nice beach and child friendly. Clearwater is also good with most things walkable and lots to do. The unlimited crab legs at Gators is a must.

  • Grant says:

    7 Mar7 March 20:12

    Thanks all – plenty to think about. Perhaps summer school holidays is not the best time to go given the high temps and humidity. Virgin miles buring a hole in my pocket!

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