Chat thread – Monday 20th November

[Lady London]

BajiNahid wrote:

Travelled gulf air to Manila from Manchester connecting in Bahrain, was delayed over 9 hours from Bahrain to manila due to aircraft failure, we all had to get offloaded and sat around the airport. I believe that UK261 does not apply in this case as the delay was from Bahrain and not Manchester correct?

Will write to gulf air but their customer service is awful and i don’t have any patience chasing it up.

If your connectionin Bahrain was < 24h then the journey that counts is Manchester-Manila. So it’s your arrival time, how late you were landing in Manila as compared to booked time, that counts and yes you can claim as you departed from the UK on that journey so where the airline you flew is based, does not matter. And at maximum rate £520 due distance Manchester to Manila

[meta]

@iEimis Well, the contents of your luggage are damaged by water, aren’t they?

[Lady London]

iEimis wrote:

Curious if anyone has had a similar experience and what’s the best course of action. Landed in DXB this morning on a MAN-LHR-DXB-LHR-MAN itinerary. Only just had a chance to open my checked bag to discover half of my clothing items are soaked wet with a pretty strong moisture smell. It’s safe to assume given the heavy showers in the UK yesterday, that this has occurred yesterday at some point. As I have a hard shell I wonder if someone just decided to leave my suitcase outside or accidentally dropped it into a big puddle? I am honestly baffled as to how this could have happened. Trying to dry all the clothes now but the moisture smell isn’t pleasant and I am not sure it’ll go away without a proper wash. It’s a 2 week holiday so I am kind of in need of clothes but this isn’t your typical lost or delayed baggage situation, I am not sure how to act.

Clear your luggage was sat outside at Heathrow on a trolley and not covered during heavy rain, likely yours on top of the pile. So negligent but hard to prove.

Naturally you can’t photograph a smell and it will cost you to immediately hand all contents to hotel to rewash and dry, or clean (unless you can find DIY laundry ho ho). I’d notify claim immediately of damage to luggage contents discovered as soon as the suitcase was opened on arrival, and say alongside cleaning/ laundering and drying costs for your luggage contents you will also follow up with photos and replacenent cost receipts for any items which are still damaged, eg if musty smell several wet items were delivered with does not disappear after this process. But get the claim opened online innediately and keep hold of your luggage chits after photographing. Get the receipts in asap after that but don’t delay opening the claim.

If you can find a cheaper service than the hotel then do so as some airlines may try to resist paying (I usually Nikwax any new luggage pieces when I remember as I had damp luggage delivered a few times in Asia and this stopped stuff inside getting wet even if suitcase did) but absolutely do a claim.

[iEimis]

meta wrote:

@iEimis Well, the contents of your luggage are damaged by water, aren’t they?

That’s right, contents.

Lady London wrote:

iEimis wrote:

Curious if anyone has had a similar experience and what’s the best course of action. Landed in DXB this morning on a MAN-LHR-DXB-LHR-MAN itinerary. Only just had a chance to open my checked bag to discover half of my clothing items are soaked wet with a pretty strong moisture smell. It’s safe to assume given the heavy showers in the UK yesterday, that this has occurred yesterday at some point. As I have a hard shell I wonder if someone just decided to leave my suitcase outside or accidentally dropped it into a big puddle? I am honestly baffled as to how this could have happened. Trying to dry all the clothes now but the moisture smell isn’t pleasant and I am not sure it’ll go away without a proper wash. It’s a 2 week holiday so I am kind of in need of clothes but this isn’t your typical lost or delayed baggage situation, I am not sure how to act.

Clear your luggage was sat outside at Heathrow on a trolley and not covered during heavy rain, likely yours on top of the pile. So negligent but hard to prove.

Naturally you can’t photograph a smell and it will cosy you to immediately hand all contents to hotel to rewash and dry, or clean (unless you can find DIY laundry ho ho). I’d notify claim imnediately of damage to luggage contents discovered as soon as the suitcase was opened on arrival, and say alongside cleaning/ laundering and drying costs for your luggage contents you will also follow up with photos and repkacenebt cost receipta for any items which are still damaged, eg if musty smell several wetitems were delivered with does not disappear after this procesa. But get the claim opened onlibe innediately and keep hold of your luggage chits after photographing. Get the receipts ib asap after that but don’t delay oprning the claim

Thank you, will open it asap. It’s hard to photograph the clothes to an extent as well, most are quite light in colour so difficult to show the water and obviously impossible to evidence the smell.

[Lady London]

Just point this out on the original claim message and do your best. Very important to mention the smell on the clothes in your suitcase delivered making clothes unwearable and say you can’t photograph the smell.

[meta]

I’d be tempted to take it to the airport if not too much of hassle and report the damage, but very likely they won’t even look at it. The contents, any damage that’s not caused by you or poorly closed luggage, are also covered by Montreal Convention up to 1288 SDRs, about $1700, maybe more since the beginning of the year. To rely on Montreal Convention you need to file the claim within seven days.

[Lyn]

smitrax wrote:

We have upcoming reward flights (London – Chicago) booked with BA and have seen there is single First seat available as a reward flight on the outbound flight.

I’m not sure if BA297 has the Club Suite but even without, we may not end up seating together anyway so was thinking about changing the booking and putting one of us in First. My questions:

1. How do I know if I used a companion voucher for the original booking as I guess I won’t be able to change if I did?
2. With one of us in First, will we both be able to use the First wing and First class lounges in Heathrow?
3. Does it increase the likelihood of the passenger in Club being upgraded as the other is in First?

Thanks

1. Sorry i don’t know, but you can call You First to book an award in First, which should make it a lot easier to call BA if you need to. They answer fairly quickly and are friendly and effiient in my limited experience.
2. Yes, you can both use the First Wing and the Concorde Room.
3. I doubt it.

[executiveclubber]

French ATC restrictions means we’re sat ready to go with our next airborne slot from LIS to LHR… in 1.5 hours. 🥱

[Jill Kinkell]

executiveclubber wrote:

French ATC restrictions means we’re sat ready to go with our next airborne slot from LIS to LHR… in 1.5 hours. Not a moment of proactive thought from crew, who’d rather sit around chatting than offer even a sip of water or humble nut.

Seems to be the norm these days. We were delayed and sat for almost in 2 hrs Madeira . We were in row 1 and crew very happily chatted. F&B duly served at 36000ft . What was meant to be lunch turned into and early tea and we were all gasping… those behind us must have found it really tough. I wonder if there’s a time limit of on tarmac delay that triggers crew into ‘sip and nut’ mode

[executiveclubber]

Jill Kinkell wrote:

executiveclubber wrote:

French ATC restrictions means we’re sat ready to go with our next airborne slot from LIS to LHR… in 1.5 hours. Not a moment of proactive thought from crew, who’d rather sit around chatting than offer even a sip of water or humble nut.

Seems to be the norm these days. We were delayed and sat for almost in 2 hrs Madeira . We were in row 1 and crew very happily chatted. F&B duly served at 36000ft . What was meant to be lunch turned into and early tea and we were all gasping

It’s woeful. I’d understand it for an unconfirmed short delay but when the captain knows it’s at least an hour, water and snacks should be the minimum, especially for flights at dinner time. Particularly poor for CE.

As per with BA, it seems entirely at cabin crew discretion as to how good or terrible the service they decide to provide is.

[JDB]

executiveclubber wrote:

French ATC restrictions means we’re sat ready to go with our next airborne slot from LIS to LHR… in 1.5 hours. 🥱

Michael O’Leary was complaining about this again at Ryanair’s recent Q3 figures and he has filed another complaint to the EU re freedom of movement – 60 days of French strikes this year, plus a lot of work to rule. When they are on strike, new French laws require minimum service levels so some domestic routes and departures allowed, but overflights are not catered for and when they are short staffed, again it’s overflights that bear the brunt. Massive inconvenience to passengers and cost to airlines.

[elguiri]

Toppcat wrote:

Bloxorus wrote:

Rui N. wrote:

How easy is it to travel 3 people in 3 consecutive seats on CE?
I have some longer distance travel coming up and am considering CE. But there’s 3 of us now, and to take care of the kid might be easier to be all together.
Can I just ask the flight attendants to remove the middle table so that we can all seat together?

Why would you not just travel in economy?

Says someone not experienced in travelling with small children?? Fast track security and being first off the plane and therefore quick to the immigration line are both pretty valuable benefits if you have a toddler whose patience is running thin! Lounges can also be a respite from a busy terminal (more at the other end than LHR though!).

We have done this plenty of times, with our eldest ranging from 6 months up to nearly 3. It works really well. We have just asked the cabin crew to remove the middle table, which they have been more than happy to do, and have generally been really great with the kid. I think we had one flight where they didn’t know how to remove the table, but we got it resolved in the end.

Second this. The ability to lesson the potential moments of frustration of a young child makes for a much more enjoyable holiday. We normally sit in alloted seats for boarding then once everyone has boarded ask a flight attendant if we could sit together. But normally it works well having a central table where they can out their books, toys etc.

[h1jfg]

I’ve just cancelled a Qatar Airways Avios redemption flight for April 2024, and received the refund.
But when I’ve checked I have noticed that I haven’t been refunded for the Al Maha Meet and Assist services at Doha.
Investigating further I found a page on Qatar’s website saying that following a flight cancellation the Al Maha services will be deemed a no show and no refund will be provided.
If I had booked these same Meet and Greet services directly with Al Maha I would have been able to get a full refund as I’m cancelling 5 months before the flight.
I’m sure Qatar themselves will be fully refunded by Al Maha and are simply choosing to keep my money. All £186 of it.
I find this a very disappointing stance from the so called World’s Best Airline!!
Has anyone else been caught out by this?
Maybe you could warn people about this.

[memesweeper]

ChrisBCN wrote:

memesweeper wrote:

Apple are very good at supporting older models with software updates, unlike just about everyone else in the market

7 years Apple
7 years Google

According to this, many Pixels have less than seven years support: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Pixel

eg Pixel 5 discontinued 2021 support ends 2023

[AnotherUser]

Any recent experiences at EDI priority pass lounges? Both were rejecting priority pass/plat when we visited in October. Trying to decide whether to reserve a place (£6 each) in the Aspire lounge at the start of next month.

I’d not realised the EDI lounge was now taking prebookings. Anyone know when that started, out of interest?

[Peggerz]

AnotherUser wrote:

Any recent experiences at EDI priority pass lounges? Both were rejecting priority pass/plat when we visited in October. Trying to decide whether to reserve a place (£6 each) in the Aspire lounge at the start of next month.

I’d not realised the EDI lounge was now taking prebookings. Anyone know when that started, out of interest?

Hi @AnotherUser I know the lounges have been a problem for PP users recently, particularly Plaza Premium. I got in there last time on a Dragon Pass without paying extra. For personal reasons I haven’t been through EDI much recently, but in September used the Aspire at Gate 16 on an early weekend morning, again without paying the extra and it was surprisingly quiet. Aspire at Gate 4 is the least popular of the three from my experience so your luck may be better there.
All the lounges have been offering the guaranteed entry for a small fee for some while.

[Paul]

BajiNahid wrote:

Travelled gulf air to Manila from Manchester connecting in Bahrain, was delayed over 9 hours from Bahrain to manila due to aircraft failure, we all had to get offloaded and sat around the airport. I believe that UK261 does not apply in this case as the delay was from Bahrain and not Manchester correct?

Will write to gulf air but their customer service is awful and i don’t have any patience chasing it up.

If you were in a single ticket MAN to MNL then yes UK261 applies. It’s time of arrival at destination.

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

Paul wrote:

BajiNahid wrote:

Travelled gulf air to Manila from Manchester connecting in Bahrain, was delayed over 9 hours from Bahrain to manila due to aircraft failure, we all had to get offloaded and sat around the airport. I believe that UK261 does not apply in this case as the delay was from Bahrain and not Manchester correct?

Will write to gulf air but their customer service is awful and i don’t have any patience chasing it up.

If you were in a single ticket MAN to MNL then yes UK261 applies. It’s time of arrival at destination.

Poster said in another post that it was a single ticket.

But “aircraft failure” can cover a multitude or things some of which may qualify for compensation and some may mean it doesn’t.

[AnotherUser]

Peggerz wrote:

AnotherUser wrote:

Any recent experiences at EDI priority pass lounges? Both were rejecting priority pass/plat when we visited in October. Trying to decide whether to reserve a place (£6 each) in the Aspire lounge at the start of next month.

I’d not realised the EDI lounge was now taking prebookings. Anyone know when that started, out of interest?

Hi @AnotherUser I know the lounges have been a problem for PP users recently, particularly Plaza Premium. I got in there last time on a Dragon Pass without paying extra. For personal reasons I haven’t been through EDI much recently, but in September used the Aspire at Gate 16 on an early weekend morning, again without paying the extra and it was surprisingly quiet. Aspire at Gate 4 is the least popular of the three from my experience so your luck may be better there.
All the lounges have been offering the guaranteed entry for a small fee for some while.

Thanks! Can you reserve the Plaza Premium lounge for priority pass access now? I couldn’t find that anywhere

[Peggerz]

AnotherUser wrote:

Peggerz wrote:

AnotherUser wrote:

Any recent experiences at EDI priority pass lounges? Both were rejecting priority pass/plat when we visited in October. Trying to decide whether to reserve a place (£6 each) in the Aspire lounge at the start of next month.

I’d not realised the EDI lounge was now taking prebookings. Anyone know when that started, out of interest?

Hi @AnotherUser I know the lounges have been a problem for PP users recently, particularly Plaza Premium. I got in there last time on a Dragon Pass without paying extra. For personal reasons I haven’t been through EDI much recently, but in September used the Aspire at Gate 16 on an early weekend morning, again without paying the extra and it was surprisingly quiet. Aspire at Gate 4 is the least popular of the three from my experience so your luck may be better there.
All the lounges have been offering the guaranteed entry for a small fee for some while.

Thanks! Can you reserve the Plaza Premium lounge for priority pass access now? I couldn’t find that anywhere

Sorry @AnotherUser I’m not aware if PP can pay a small fee for entry at Plaza Premium Edinburgh. I’ve looked at their website and it certainly doesn’t say anything I can find. I used Dragon Pass last time in any case.

[ChrisBCN]

memesweeper wrote:

ChrisBCN wrote:

memesweeper wrote:

Apple are very good at supporting older models with software updates, unlike just about everyone else in the market

7 years Apple
7 years Google

According to this, many Pixels have less than seven years support: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Pixel

eg Pixel 5 discontinued 2021 support ends 2023

It’s a ‘buying from now’ comparison

[Lady London]

executiveclubber wrote:

Jill Kinkell wrote:

executiveclubber wrote:

French ATC restrictions means we’re sat ready to go with our next airborne slot from LIS to LHR… in 1.5 hours. Not a moment of proactive thought from crew, who’d rather sit around chatting than offer even a sip of water or humble nut.

Seems to be the norm these days. We were delayed and sat for almost in 2 hrs Madeira . We were in row 1 and crew very happily chatted. F&B duly served at 36000ft . What was meant to be lunch turned into and early tea and we were all gasping

It’s woeful. I’d understand it for an unconfirmed short delay but when the captain knows it’s at least an hour, water and snacks should be the minimum, especially for flights at dinner time. Particularly poor for CE.

As per with BA, it seems entirely at cabin crew discretion as to how good or terrible the service they decide to provide is.

The point when they are responsible for any refreshments is technically after 2 hours delay on shorthaul.

[AviosNovice]

AnotherUser wrote:

Any recent experiences at EDI priority pass lounges? Both were rejecting priority pass/plat when we visited in October. Trying to decide whether to reserve a place (£6 each) in the Aspire lounge at the start of next month.

I’d not realised the EDI lounge was now taking prebookings. Anyone know when that started, out of interest?

Couple of months ago (tail-end of school holidays, if I recall correctly) I got in without issue, and had a whole section of the lounge to myself. So I guess it’s just luck.