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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.
Tipping in the US – Mysteriously absent in my 1st four days. No jars anywhere, no ability to tip when ordering food online for pickup and no jar at the restaurant. Nothing in the supermarkets or at the petrol pumps. Got to the Hampton and there’s a QR code in the room to tip housekeeping but that’s all so far.
There was a news story last week about some amazing reductions in the petrol prices and everyone in the US was now paying $1.79/gallon on average or some such bollocks… well it’s $2.90-3.60 here in the sunny Dakotas, so it must be incredibly cheap elswhere to bring that average down or someone orange doesn’t do “math”.
I’m really not seeing crazy pricing anywhere, nothing more than last year and certainly no more expensive than either Sicily or Chile/Argentina.
Good morning from the Standard hotel, Kings X. Availing of the current offer on the Amex with this spot having recently joined WOH.
Upgraded from an interior to a studio suite, lovely room notwithstanding the bath being directly by the large king bed.
Bottle of wine and some fruit in the room upon arrival, and the included amenities raise this above most standard (apologies) Hyatt options in town.
Cracking view on the 9th floor across the Renaissance and station.
Stack of stealable hangers should one so wish, good sized room with standalone kettle (Good & Proper teabags) and a Cafeteria (Ozone coffee brand), along with an extensive mini (chargeable) optionality.
Rooftop bar was on point yesterday evening 🤌🏾, and had a much better kip than I was expecting with no noise leakage that I could hear (admittedly the Negronis may have helped with that….).
Going to be hard to revert to the Stratford Regency or Hyatt Place London city after this…..(price points notwithstanding).
Speaking of tipping, what is the etiquette with a concierge outside of the US? This uncultured swine doesn’t tend to avail of their services often, and I’m off to the IC Chantilly today. What is the general view? Three scenarios to ponder that may have different outcomes:
1 – Advice on where the nearest bus stop is
2 – Using detailed knowledge to recommend a half day of activities followed by a good place to eat
3 – Arranging for the purchase of tickets to an event/show including transport to and from.Would you tip in any of these situations?
Speaking of tipping, what is the etiquette with a concierge outside of the US? This uncultured swine doesn’t tend to avail of their services often, and I’m off to the IC Chantilly today. What is the general view? Three scenarios to ponder that may have different outcomes:
1 – Advice on where the nearest bus stop is
2 – Using detailed knowledge to recommend a half day of activities followed by a good place to eat
3 – Arranging for the purchase of tickets to an event/show including transport to and from.Would you tip in any of these situations?
All apart from number 1. I would find this out using the map on my phone and not waste time asking.
Speaking of tipping, what is the etiquette with a concierge outside of the US? This uncultured swine doesn’t tend to avail of their services often, and I’m off to the IC Chantilly today. What is the general view? Three scenarios to ponder that may have different outcomes:
1 – Advice on where the nearest bus stop is
2 – Using detailed knowledge to recommend a half day of activities followed by a good place to eat
3 – Arranging for the purchase of tickets to an event/show including transport to and from.Would you tip in any of these situations?
The French are incredibly mean tippers! Since the Olympics, some restaurants have tried to draw the distinction between a service charge statutorily included at 12.5% (but which staff are unlikely to see) and a ‘pourboire’ and offering the option of 5-10-15-20% on card payment.
I don’t think the concierge would expect a tip in any of the scenarios mentioned and say €5 might be seen as embarrassingly low. The Gault & Millau guide will probably offer you a far better restaurant choice than the concierge’s view of what a foreigner might like.
1 – Advice on where the nearest bus stop is
Assuming that you are seriously considering asking that a quick search on Google Maps suggests you will be laughed at by the concierge as the closest public transport I could find is either at Parc Asterix or the Airebus stop La Chapelle-en-Serval. Be prepared for quite a long walk to either place.
1 – Advice on where the nearest bus stop is
Assuming that you are seriously considering asking that a quick search on Google Maps suggests you will be laughed at by the concierge as the closest public transport I could find is either at Parc Asterix or the Airebus stop La Chapelle-en-Serval. Be prepared for quite a long walk to either place.
That hotel is indeed quite remote and a bit far to walk into the lovely town of Chantilly, the château or racecourse although one can walk in the woods.
For clarity, I won’t be asking where a bus stop is – we have a hire car. It was just a hypothetical to help illustrate the range of ‘effort’ a concierge may need to put in.
For clarity, I won’t be asking where a bus stop is – we have a hire car. It was just a hypothetical to help illustrate the range of ‘effort’ a concierge may need to put in.
So is the question ‘Where’s the nearest petrol station?
@phantomchickenz – would be interested to hear how you find the hotel. We had booked to stay this week en route to SW France. We decided to fly instead so have rebooked for next Spring.
@phantomchickenz – would be interested to hear how you find the hotel. We had booked to stay this week en route to SW France. We decided to fly instead so have rebooked for next Spring.
It’s worth looking at Le Grand Pavillon (formerly the Hyatt) as well. Both hotels are on the corporate side (and that is the market they are trying to attract) but LGP rather less so. Chantilly is an attractive town (plus great racecourse, beautiful château and royal forest) but quite BCBG/snotty and correspondingly expensive!
As we’re based in Scotland, if I book something like LHR-HND-OKA on JAL or LHR-KUL-LGK on MH via the website at release, is it then possible to phone to add a domestic leg (GLA-LHR)?
I have phoned to add domestic legs to companion-voucher bookings on BA without trouble, but not sure about multi-leg reward bookings with partners. I can get some three-flight itineraries to price up on the website via the stopover functionality, so it seems like it should be possible.
@JDB – BCBG?
“Holidaymakers are being told to beware buying Avios points on Facebook after scams”
Amazed that booking 3 BA flights to Miami on AA website was 30% cheaper than on BA website (Thanks skyscanner). Maybe i should have used the BA Best Price Guarantee but was happy just to lock in the cheaper flights.
I can see the booking on BA.com, but every bulkhead seat is blocked off. The flight is 6 months away, and barely any other seats are blocked. Is this because I’ve booked via AA, or is there another way to unblock these seats (happy to pay the fee)? thanks
Non-bassinet bulkhead seats are only available in advance to status holders, doesn’t matter how you booked. They get released at T-72 if not taken by then.
As you might know I’m a SkyTeam-centric person who has been dabbling in OneWorld a bit over the past few months. Sorry, I just need to get this off my chest (perhaps a visit to the psych would be better):
Why on God’s green earth is everything so incredibly difficult with these individual airlines? I’ve gotten used to the whole RJ thing. And Iberia being a wonderful airline with downright aweful customer service (two cancellation/delay compensations were thrown out “due to operational reasons”, one of which included a flight number I wasn’t even on). My first time flying Qatar: nowhere to insert a frequent flyer number on an OTA booking. Do I need to phone for this as well to get seat reservations sorted?!?!? When does the bleeding agony stop?!?!? Why is all this shit not integrated?!?!? I’m so tired of OW at this point. These really are a bunch of soul depleting airlines…
There was a news story last week about some amazing reductions in the petrol prices and everyone in the US was now paying $1.79/gallon on average or some such bollocks… well it’s $2.90-3.60 here in the sunny Dakotas, so it must be incredibly cheap elswhere to bring that average down or someone orange doesn’t do “math”
Surely only the worst kind of MAGA propaganda outlets would publish a story as obviously false as this
Non-bassinet bulkhead seats are only available in advance to status holders, doesn’t matter how you booked. They get released at T-72 if not taken by then.
aaah that makes sense. Shame, I’m the only one with status in the family, and I’m not travelling !
Mentioned in the chat on Friday about my BA best price guarantee apparently being in the wrong workflow.
Email today received that the claim had been accepted so now have a voucher for £ 40 (the £20 difference doubled) to be used by 2nd June 2026.
Not bad for literally 10 minutes of time and a couple of screenshots.
Mentioned in the chat on Friday about my BA best price guarantee apparently being in the wrong workflow.
Email today received that the claim had been accepted so now have a voucher for £ 40 (the £20 difference doubled) to be used by 2nd June 2026.
Not bad for literally 10 minutes of time and a couple of screenshots.
I have had one accepted recently for an ex-EU trip, where they refund the cash difference. Approaching a month now and no cash, despite chasing…
@JDB – BCBG?
Bon chic Bon genre! Say the letters with a French accent. Sort of Sloane Ranger / preppy.
The kids will be dressed beautifully in matching smart clothes – think of how Princess Charlotte and Prince George dress.
As you might know I’m a SkyTeam-centric person who has been dabbling in OneWorld a bit over the past few months. Sorry, I just need to get this off my chest (perhaps a visit to the psych would be better):
Why on God’s green earth is everything so incredibly difficult with these individual airlines? I’ve gotten used to the whole RJ thing. And Iberia being a wonderful airline with downright aweful customer service (two cancellation/delay compensations were thrown out “due to operational reasons”, one of which included a flight number I wasn’t even on). My first time flying Qatar: nowhere to insert a frequent flyer number on an OTA booking. Do I need to phone for this as well to get seat reservations sorted?!?!? When does the bleeding agony stop?!?!? Why is all this shit not integrated?!?!? I’m so tired of OW at this point. These really are a bunch of soul depleting airlines…
There there my flightless fellow, it’ll all be alright once you’re in a Q Suite with something fizzy in hand.
On the immediate issue, might a message on Twitter/X work? Though I left that swamp some time ago I still keep an account for contacting companies, and BA have been good at responding to things that needed sorting out.
Finally managed to use my Virgin CC voucher, I’ve never done Virgin UC before. Recommendations on seats on the 787-9?
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