Chat thread – Monday 11th November

[Rob]

This is today’s chat thread.

If you have specific questions about Avios, hotels or credit cards, please ask them in the appropriate forum and not here. This thread is a good place to post interesting deals you have spotted or your general thoughts on travel and all things miles and points. Thank you for contributing.

[Andrew.]

Just had the longest ever cancellation of points – 8 Years and 3 months after the transaction. (Six years after they expired for the first time)

MyMillenium account is now overdrawn thanks to the double expiry of points I earned in a Radisson Hotel in 2016.

The points I earned last week aren’t showing yet. Something weird is going on.

[Gordon]

Andrew. wrote:

Just had the longest ever cancellation of points – 8 Years and 3 months after the transaction. (Six years after they expired for the first time)

MyMillenium account is now overdrawn thanks to the double expiry of points I earned in a Radisson Hotel in 2016.

The points I earned last week aren’t showing yet. Something weird is going on.

MyMillenium Have purchased BA”s old IT system!

[Gordon]

Just shows how dynamic pricing can be, from one month to another, and beyond.

Booked an Andes view corner suite at the Grand Hyatt Bogota, check in 27/12/24 for 3 nights, £795.97 inc taxes.

Looked at booking 3 weeks later on our return,
Same room check in 14/01/25 for 3 nights, £1,226.29 inc taxes.
Even the suite upgrade on points, 3 nights for the January stay is £904.37 plus 27,000 points.

This higher price is continuing through to July 2025, so does not relate to high and low season.

[yorkshireRich]

Gordon, I read your post yesterday.
I know you are going to Colombia, but what’s your Itenriy for Brazil?
I was going to post a separate thread but I’m looking at Central or South America for November.
Can’t seem to make any of it work at present

[Gordon]

Morning Rich, Tbh I’ve not looked yet, just secured the flights last year, I will let you know in tomorrows daily chat, should be the first post in the morning, as we are going to spend all of today looking at options, but as we have only two weeks, it will not be as adventurous as Colombia.
No internal flights hopefully.

[Peggerz]

It is getting no better at Border Control area at EDI. Congrats to airport for announcing new flights from around the world this year but after the experience last night in the arrivals hall at 11:00pm I don’t know how they’ll cope. 10 electronic gates open, 4-5 staff at desks. Non UK passport holders straight through with normal checks (lucky them). The 600+ crammed in, going thru the gates had a torrid time. Something really does have to change. The whole arrivals experience is utterly dreadful. Although the signs say ‘Welcome to Edinburgh’ the experience definitely does not.
Rant over for now…….

[davefl]

@Peggerz It’s everywhere, don’t take it personally.

JNB last week, 30 seconds to get through security then 40 mins in the passport control line to leave the country and enter the departure area.

[CJD]

The issue at EDI is that it’s still the same shed it was when it was Scotland’s 3rd airport. The number of flights has expanded well beyond what the terminal is capable of dealing with.

[freckles]

Totally agree re EDI arrivals, spending millions upgrading the departures etc is fine, but nothing being done about the appaling international arrivals experience.
I far rather land in LHR and connect with BA

[Norsksaint]

You hear rumours of how bad CDG are for connections… but having been schooled in LHR, FRA and AMS you think it can’t be that bad… it is.

Must be the only airport I’ve had to ask people for directions… it just seems nothing makes sense. Looking forward to some champagne at the very least, although gate means I don’t get the nice lounge, it’s the bunker for me.

[robert1]

Will EasyJet do a 2024 calendar?

[LittleNick]

Norsksaint wrote:

You hear rumours of how bad CDG are for connections… but having been schooled in LHR, FRA and AMS you think it can’t be that bad… it is.

Must be the only airport I’ve had to ask people for directions… it just seems nothing makes sense. Looking forward to some champagne at the very least, although gate means I don’t get the nice lounge, it’s the bunker for me.

How do the lounges work at CDG with AF? You not only have the sub Terminal 2A…2F etc? Do you also have a concourse within these? Is that right?

[dundj]

Peggerz wrote:

It is getting no better at Border Control area at EDI. Congrats to airport for announcing new flights from around the world this year but after the experience last night in the arrivals hall at 11:00pm I don’t know how they’ll cope. 10 electronic gates open, 4-5 staff at desks. Non UK passport holders straight through with normal checks (lucky them). The 600+ crammed in, going thru the gates had a torrid time. Something really does have to change. The whole arrivals experience is utterly dreadful. Although the signs say ‘Welcome to Edinburgh’ the experience definitely does not.
Rant over for now…….

Please make complaints to the Home Office about it as they are the only people who can make the changes. EDI can only suggest a change to the Home Office, and the Home Office are the only ones who can give the go ahead to make the changes. Same as all the UK Airports for border control.

[Gordon]

robert1 wrote:

Will EasyJet do a 2024 calendar?

I am guessing you mean 2025 Calendar?
They have bookings available on their website, now until December 2025.

[Gordon]

For anyone interested, I did add to a post yesterday re a booking at Bluedoors apartment company that I booked a suite in Medellín with, well today I’ve booked another one (Emerald loft) could have booked a 144 M2 presidential suite in Bogota at a remarkable cost of 202 USD per night, but would be a waste for two people.
They are definitely worth considering.

https://www.100luxurysuites.com/

[AndyGWP]

Gordon wrote:

I am guessing you mean 2025 Calendar?
They have bookings available on their website, now until December 2025.

I think they’re talking about the advent(ure) calendar that’s been done in previous years…

[Norsksaint]

LittleNick wrote:

Norsksaint wrote:

How do the lounges work at CDG with AF? You not only have the sub Terminal 2A…2F etc? Do you also have a concourse within these? Is that right?

Correct there are multiple lounges, it seems there is one at almost every satellite. The top one revied by Rhys is at 2E(L) but you can only get there if you have a flight departing from those gates. Have checked out a Schengen and non-Schengen and am impresed by the food and drink available, Pommery on self pour at least.

[Gordon]

AndyGWP wrote:

Gordon wrote:

I am guessing you mean 2025 Calendar?
They have bookings available on their website, now until December 2025.

I think they’re talking about the advent(ure) calendar that’s been done in previous years…

Ah ok.

[StanTheMan]

robert1 wrote:

Will EasyJet do a 2024 calendar?

Yes, JDB is on the front cover.

[tical]

Any recommendations for hotel at/close to Dubai Airport for a family of 4? Arriving at 22:30 and looking to spend the first night somewhere convenient before moving on to Abu Dhabi

[Gordon]

tical wrote:

Any recommendations for hotel at/close to Dubai Airport for a family of 4? Arriving at 22:30 and looking to spend the first night somewhere convenient before moving on to Abu Dhabi

We stayed here a few years ago, the service was spectacular! But arriving that late, I guess you just want a bed for the night.

https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/dxbmd-le-meridien-dubai-hotel-and-conference-centre/overview/

[davedent]

tical wrote:

Any recommendations for hotel at/close to Dubai Airport for a family of 4? Arriving at 22:30 and looking to spend the first night somewhere convenient before moving on to Abu Dhabi

Raffles ?

[yorkshireRich]

I’m sure Rob has stayed at the Sofitel Obelisk and did some sort of write up on it (unless I’ve dreamt it).

What time you heading to Abu Dhabi?

[Wurptu]

Rob, informative & worrying part 1 today about lack of reward seats.
I wonder how different this is to the old regime. I find with both BA and Virgin (main experience LHR to BGI) that reward seats (now saver seats) are snapped up early when released and the balance of outbound from London to inbound is illogical as often there are far fewer or no return flights. So, I hope, without confidence,looking at new reward seats released each day might improve the picture.