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Forums Daily chat thread Click here for today’s chat thread Chat thread – Monday 14th October

  • BBbetter 1,077 posts

    Any others routes to a discount?
    Do PP still do Black Friday discounts in November?
    Any other credit cards or bank accounts that include PP?

    The cheapest currently is the Halifax / Lloyds world elite mastercard that is £180 and comes with unlimited PP. You can also add a supplementary cardholder who will get another unlimited PP.
    Natwest and a few other banks include PP as part of their packaged bank accounts, but usually more expensive.

    Travel Strong 354 posts

    Eventful week for Gibraltar this week – border politics came to a head in a more severe manner than I have seen for many years – with the Spanish refusing entry to resident card holders unless presenting a passport for stamping… and Gibraltar reciprocating by refusing entry to Spanish / La Linea residents without a passport – which has a huge impact at the border.

    This has affected flights as it is not unusual for a GIB flight to be diverted to Malaga – and a coach of passengers from GIB to Malaga was also blocked by the Spanish border officials last week, leading to the airlines no longer coaching folk over that direction for the past few days.

    At the same time some ATC equipment at GIB airport has been failing in the bad weather both yesterday and today – leading to Malaga diversions and no flights landing at GIB for a lot of the day. My colleagues could not leave GIB yesterday and had to return to the airport today… where the ATC equipment failed again for a second day … and no alternative routes were available due to the border politics.

    I myself got lucky and ended up on a flight which took off despite ATC equipment problems – due to the Chief Minister of Gibraltar being on board in the seat in front of me! The BA crew were very thankful to him as apparently we have only got home due to his presence on board and a security decision to stick with the original travel plans!

    TGLoyalty 1,216 posts

    I think the missing piece of info to really help
    Is how many people do you usually visit the lounge with is it usually just yourself and occasional guest or do you always travel as a couple / family etc

    Super Secret Stuff 394 posts

    Priority pass ran a Black Friday discount last year I believe, if you don’t immediately need one I’d wait until then (that said, regardless I’d advice waiting until a few weeks before you need it whichever route you choose, to maintain “useful” validity for as long as possible)

    Go197 87 posts

    I think the missing piece of info to really help
    Is how many people do you usually visit the lounge with is it usually just yourself and occasional guest or do you always travel as a couple / family etc

    I travel solo. Typically ~20 PP lounges per year

    TGLoyalty 1,216 posts

    I am travelling Business Lite P class fare, and have the ability to pick & change seat FoC with OW Sapphire/BA Silver.

    Do you know fare classes which don’t allow this?

    Unfortunately, the reason why I know this is due to Qatar changing the equipment on my Doha-Cape Town flight next month to a 777-300er with the dreaded 2-2-2

    Luckily I managed to bag the two remaining middle seats, but only by checking my flights by chance this morning. Annoying when change equipment & chuck you out of seats without notice.


    @JDB
    mentions it a lot more no idea what fare class it is because never seen anyone mention they can’t

    Business lite excludes Lounge but OW elites can still use one

    Nico 26 posts

    In the “vienna lounge”, it is so nice, will be hard to go back to any lounge in london after that

    strickers 931 posts

    Back in Blighty after probably one of the best Club World experiences on the flight from San Diego. Pre-dinner drink offered, wine served with meal and regularly topped up, lamb shank was tasty, breakfast was hot with yellow rather than green eggs this time. Cabin crew were polite, attentive and efficient. Shame about the Aspire Lounge (Should really be called Decline!), no hot food, no seats, dirty toilets etc. etc. Probably going to put a complaint in but it’s not up to standard by any stretch.

    SamG 1,859 posts

    After half an hour in the security queue at 0430 at Luton airport this morn I was expecting the ‘My Lounge’ to be full (as it often was when an Aspire). Was delighted when door lady said otherwise and informed me that actually it was ‘Quite quiet’.
    Found my seat in front of the window overlooking the departure lounge & felt relaxed content.
    Didn’t last long. Lounge music is intrusively loud. Man to right of me endlessly playing Bollywood dance videos aloud from his phone, two babies behind me screaming their heads off and a toddler to the left watching cartoons loudly on an iPad.
    Hell is other people and what passes as acceptable behaviour these days.

    Agreed.

    But I can’t help thinking you *did* choose Luton to fly from, which can’t have helped.

    This is true LL, however, in my defence, I live 20 mins away and at 0430 that makes Luton more tempting than anywhere else. Also, I’ve had similar experience (bar the loud lounge music) at every lounge I’ve been to in almost every country I’ve visited in the last couple of years. And All BA lounges in LHR/LGW. People just don’t give a toss about others these days. Sales of headphones/earphones must have plummeted.

    Always pay the fast track when “first wave” out of Luton/Stansted. I’ve really gone off lounges to be honest- use Dragonpass to get into No
    1 at Gatwick the other night and it was packed , food really couldn’t get any worse and everyone was very loud. Wished I’d put the 20 odd quid towards a nice dinner instead !

    Flew Aegean biz today- what a delight! The beef was lovely and the service genuinely delivered. Heraklion airport however….it’s like they built an airport but forgot people would wait in it so seats were an after thought. Must be hell at peak times.

    Super Secret Stuff 394 posts

    Just booked my first ever flights on Ryanair and wizzair, lord help me… what have I done

    TGLoyalty 1,216 posts

    I think the missing piece of info to really help
    Is how many people do you usually visit the lounge with is it usually just yourself and occasional guest or do you always travel as a couple / family etc

    I travel solo. Typically ~20 PP lounges per year

    Then Halifax/Lloyds WE Mastercard is probably your best bet.

    ChrisBCN 343 posts

    Just booked my first ever flights on Ryanair and wizzair, lord help me… what have I done

    I can’t speak for wizz, but you may well appreciate the efficiency and on-time nature of Ryanair if all you are used to is BA. Nice and efficient bar service too. Also their app works 😂

    SamG 1,859 posts

    Ryanair is fine. Just stick to the rules re:bags. I’ve never flown Wizzair, I suspect onboard also fine but they seemed to have real issues with on time performance though I believe that is better these days

    NorthernLass 9,440 posts

    Just booked my first ever flights on Ryanair and wizzair, lord help me… what have I done

    Indeed, you may be pleasantly surprised with Ryanair, they don’t mess about. And they don’t try and take your hand luggage off you if it’s part of your fare. And their exit row seats have twice as much leg room as BA’s.

    On my last trip on the O’Leary jet, it looked for a short while as though a man in the row behind us was going to start a fight because they had no ice for his breakfast G & T, but he settled down and we got to Malaga without further incident.

    Nico 26 posts

    Just booked my first ever flights on Ryanair and wizzair, lord help me… what have I done

    I can’t speak for wizz, but you may well appreciate the efficiency and on-time nature of Ryanair if all you are used to is BA. Nice and efficient bar service too. Also their app works 😂

    Wizz not so different from ryanair, maybe less on time, on the plus side they dont speak all flights or dont speak at all: took them 30mins this morning to say we are delayed with ATC restrictions and not the first time.

    Andrew. 594 posts

    So MyMillenium is down for 4 days (Singapore time).

    “We are undergoing system maintenance from 14th to 18th October 2024 (Singapore Time), and MyMillennium members will not be able to log in or use their membership benefits during this period. Members will be able to log in and use their points from 19 October 2024 onwards. During this period, guests can use the discount code “MMGETS10″ to receive a 10% discount on all applicable rates. We apologise for the inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding.”

    Which overlaps some of their offers:-

    Earn 20,000 MyPoints (worth US$100) this October!

    This October, get rewarded with 20,000 bonus MyPoints (worth US$100) when you stay a minimum of 2 consecutive nights with us. Whether you’re planning a well-deserved getaway or a spontaneous escape, this limited-time offer opens the door to exceptional rewards.

    Simply book at any rates from 7th October to 18th October 2024

    Their best rates, eg 25% off 5 day stays in the US aren’t available due to MyMillenium being down.

    It’s a bizarre way to run a business.

    Super Secret Stuff 394 posts

    Ryanair is fine. Just stick to the rules re:bags. I’ve never flown Wizzair, I suspect onboard also fine but they seemed to have real issues with on time performance though I believe that is better these days

    I’m aware of the rules and have already decided it’s cheaper to buy a new under seat bag that fits their rules than pay for a larger carry on. Have packed for 5 nights in my easyJet under seat bag can’t be that hard with there slightly smaller sizes!

    Just booked my first ever flights on Ryanair and wizzair, lord help me… what have I done

    Indeed, you may be pleasantly surprised with Ryanair, they don’t mess about. And they don’t try and take your hand luggage off you if it’s part of your fare. And their exit row seats have twice as much leg room as BA’s.

    On my last trip on the O’Leary jet, it looked for a short while as though a man in the row behind us was going to start a fight because they had no ice for his breakfast G & T, but he settled down and we got to Malaga without further incident.

    It’s more the leg room that worries me. EasyJet is just about ok, who knows about Ryanair! I’m 6ft 4 and as I’m visually impaired, not allowed to sit in vast majority of exit row seats. Surprisingly good flight times though, I don’t do early mornings

    FatherOfFour 317 posts

    Flew Aegean biz today- what a delight! The beef was lovely and the service genuinely delivered. Heraklion airport however….it’s like they built an airport but forgot people would wait in it so seats were an after thought. Must be hell at peak times.


    @SamG
    Was there a lounge at Heraklion for Aegean bus passengers? I’ve had an experience there with a delayed flight- perhaps 5 hours late leaving and remember it being pretty bad. This was back in 2011 and either EC261 didn’t exist, and/or I was completely naiive to it.

    Anyway- probably back with the fam there next year and considering options.

    Amy C 393 posts

    Since when did BA ET give out a *cup* of water and small bag of corn nuts? I’ve just returned on a 3.5 flight in ET (for once, after being CE for last 20 flights or so). I thought you recieved a cake/flapjack thing and a bottle of water? I’m astonished it’s only a cup. And I had to ask for it!

    Alex1904 13 posts

    Since when did BA ET give out a *cup* of water and small bag of corn nuts? I’ve just returned on a 3.5 flight in ET (for once, after being CE for last 20 flights or so). I thought you recieved a cake/flapjack thing and a bottle of water? I’m astonished it’s only a cup. And I had to ask for it!

    The corn snack isn’t new but it should still be a small bottle of Harrogate Spring. Might have run out

    ChrisBCN 343 posts

    It’s more the leg room that worries me. EasyJet is just about ok, who knows about Ryanair! I’m 6ft 4 and as I’m visually impaired, not allowed to sit in vast majority of exit row seats

    I’m also 6f4, and if you can’t sit in front/exit row seats, the best seat on the plane for you is 2c, or 2a if you prefer the window. You will be OK for legroom there.

    JDB 5,618 posts

    @FlyingTayto – your question re free seat selection in business from time of booking on different QR fare buckets is quite complicated. In theory C, J, I and D allow it but P, R don’t. You refer to being on a P class ticket and I don’t know whether that was booked directly or as a result of a BA rerouting, maybe on an Avios ticket. If BA reissues an Avios rerouted ticket correctly in R/P it should block Avios/TP collection via endorsements, but allow otherwise blocked seat selection that would have been available on the original ticket. OW Emerald/Sapphire doesn’t/shouldn’t allow override. I say this is all in theory because there are various ways it can turn out differently in practice. I have an upcoming reroute from Beijing rebooked into R so have investigated this issue with BA and QR. That’s also usually on a 2-2-2.


    @TGLoyalty
    – I avoided mention of lounges in relation to these fare buckets because the considerations are different. Only the P fare bucket doesn’t give you access to QR’s own lounges, but you can use OW status to access other lounges, albeit they are not of the same standard.

    FlyingTayto 14 posts

    @JDB the flights are cash bookings direct with Qatar, with the BA FF number aligned to the booking at time of purchase. All 4 flights within the booking are P fare bucket.

    The 2 flights that have an equipment change are both still showing as P. The other person on the booking is only BA Blue, although able to have free seat selection as well. I did the booking so maybe my status works for both?

    Anywho, just hoping that there is another equipment change in the next 5 weeks. Annoyingly it seems every QR flight on the route is 2-2-2 from November – early December, having previously been A350-900s.

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