Harrods American Express card adds a new hotel status

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• daveinitalia says:

  18 Oct18 October 04:52

  I thought you were going to say Heathrow is waiving the £5 drop off fee for minicabs so everyone gets an effective £5 discount.

  As the £5 fee is supposed to discourage drop offs rather than just solely being an income source this sends a conflicting message if the £5 off is promoted by Heathrow

  • Paul says:

    18 Oct18 October 07:37

    No conflict whatsoever. It was a simple rip off charge which given the absence of any effective consumer protection laws or organisation in the U.K – was not questioned,
    The idea it was to reduce drops offs is risible for two reasons. 1 – The complete absence of a direct train service from the anywhere in the U.K. other than central London. 2 – The additional fee paid by those using TFL Elizabeth line to access the airport.
    Heathrow have successfully exploited their position for too long while delivering a substandard experience.

    • Jonathan says:

      18 Oct18 October 08:10

      The government allowing the airports to enforce these charges is just ridiculous.

      I once got told (pre – covid, and the visit fee being imposed on the drop off section) that the police don’t like people being picked up in the drop off area, – the police DO NOT have the power, right, or authority to enforce terms set out on private land, and shouldn’t be trying too do so under any circumstances.
      Although we’ll all see police vehicles around, nothing that the airports impose is legally enforceable, as it’s on private land, if you get a penalty notice through the post because you haven’t paid the drop off fee, it’s exactly the same as getting a ticket from a private parking firm as opposed to one you’d get that’s issued by a local council.

      • TooPoorToBeHere says:

        18 Oct18 October 08:54

        I’m unsure of the legal facts, but on misusing the drop off section (at our beloved MAN, of course), I was politely but very firmly asked to move immediately by an armed policeman.

        The food in the cells makes the Aspire lounge look like a palace. I wouldn’t argue.

      • JDB says:

        18 Oct18 October 09:43

        It’s ludicrous to suggest the Police does not have the authority to enforce the Heathrow byelaws. In addition to their usual powers, there are special powers under the Airports Act and s37 of the Criminal Justice Act.

        If you fail to follow the order of a ‘constable’ as defined in the byelaws e.g. to move your car you would also render yourself liable to additional sanctions.

        • Jonathan says:

          18 Oct18 October 10:28

          If there’s a dispute between two or parties, and neither have broken the law, the police must always remain neutral, and mustn’t take sides. So the police helping the airport enforce their private terms would be the wrong action for them to take, and vice versa they can’t tell people it’s okay too use the drop off zone to pick up, what the airport doesn’t allow

        • JDB says:

          18 Oct18 October 10:49

          @Jonathan the Heathrow byelaws are the law specific to the airport – it is not just a civil dispute as you imply. The Police can and does enforce the byelaws all the time and the penalties for breach are as determined on the standard scales in the Criminal Justice Act 1982.

        • BA Flyer IHG Stayer says:

          18 Oct18 October 22:23

          The police aren’t enforcing the drop off fee they are enforcing other regulations which have been in place for years.

      • ken says:

        18 Oct18 October 15:11

        This is the worst kind of ‘ale house’ barrister nonsense.

        Most airports have extensive (and I mean extensive) byelaws covering parking, driving, waiting, roller skating, spitting, busking, begging, loitering
        etc etc
        All liable on summary conviction to a fine (level 2) which means £500 on the standard scale.

        If they have the appropriate byelaws hey can issue parking fines which are not the same as parking charge notices.

• Qrfan says:

  18 Oct18 October 07:23

  Air India for 24 hours… Enjoy that…

  • Harry T says:

    18 Oct18 October 07:49

    I really don’t think its a great price either, even if it was a carrier someone would want to fly.

    • Richard says:

      19 Oct19 October 05:11

      Find me another £2200 Sydney business return

  • BBbetter says:

    18 Oct18 October 09:12

    The seats are probably the worst, but it appears soft product has improved, going by recent reports. Privatisation has helped.

  • AJA says:

    18 Oct18 October 10:07

    I agree. Air India is not an airline I’d choose just to save on the airfare.

    • Dev says:

      18 Oct18 October 16:31

      You could take a pint and lock in the fare for sometime in the next 11 months, and you may get the new A350s on either of the sectors. Also worth noting that AI is going through (positive) change at a blistering pace and the airline in 11 months will be (hopefully) much improved than currently (which is also much improved from 12 months ago).

• meta says:

  18 Oct18 October 07:46

  SLH Invited status with Amex comes and goes. It’s been possible at least in the last 6-7 years (under previous scheme it was Loved tier). It was only valid for a year, so not a permanent offer. But if you wait a year you can then sign up again.

• Mutley says:

  18 Oct18 October 09:57

  Before booking Air India I suggest taking a look at Noel Philips You tube review of Air India Business class

  • lumma says:

    18 Oct18 October 10:02

    Some can be entertaining but I don’t trust YouTube flight reviews as they’re all extra clickbatey

    • GM says:

      19 Oct19 October 08:23

      I don’t particularly like the look of Air India, but agree! Noel Philips and Josh Cahill in particular seem to know that a title about some terrible experience gets them more clicks and views. High percentage are terrible/scary/awful etc.

  • SamG says:

    18 Oct18 October 13:00

    need to make sure you’re watching very recent reviews for the cleanliness / soft product which is improving quickly. A colleague ended up on Air India home to Singapore recently after getting stuck in Europe and everything being full and was surprised and happy enough with the food / service / transit experience.

    Seat isn’t great but still a comfortable enough way to travel and an Indian stopover could be fun!

• Dominic says:

  18 Oct18 October 10:26

  Possibly of interest for readers… Abu Dhabi’s new terminal is *finally* opening on the 1st November (and fully operational within 2 weeks after that!).

  • Numpty says:

    18 Oct18 October 13:47

    As featured in the latest Mission Impossible fillum (the roof is huge….)

• occasionalranter says:

  18 Oct18 October 11:06

  I think I’d rather fly Singapore Airlines in PE, which is the same price…

  • Dev says:

    18 Oct18 October 16:33

    I wouldn’t (and I bet many more wouldn’t either) … I would take Air India J over any Premium Economy cabin.

    • TGLoyalty says:

      19 Oct19 October 01:31

      Not from the J seats I’ve seen

      • Dev says:

        19 Oct19 October 09:42

        You would seriously turn down a flat bed (even if it’s the standard Boeing 2x2x2) for a premium economy seat for 24hrs?

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