Chat thread – Sunday 11th May
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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.
I attempted to book a hotel in July 2024 for June 2025 via an online platform. At the time it seemed to freeze and I never got a confirmation code or email through. My online account didn’t show any bookings, so I emailed the company helpline and asked if this booking was received. I don’t get a confirmation so I rebooked some hotel, same dates etc(it was now £200 more expensive). In spring this year my parent took unwell and we are now in a situation that long haul travel is off the cards, so I cancelled the booking free of charge.
Yesterday £5000 was charged to my Amex, which I am guessing is for the booking that was never confirmed and email was never replied it, I have phoned company and they couldn’t see any active bookings on my account and advised me to raise a dispute, which I have done (I am unable to send them a pdf of charge as statement won’t be available until 28/5/25). Have also raised a dispute with Amex. I am very anxious that I won’t be refunded this amount. Has anyone else any experience of this or any words of wisdom ?
Are you sure that is what the charge was for? What does it say in the Amex transaction details? Can you recall what the original cancellation/no show terms were (you might be able to check this by looking at the hotel website). Which booking platform was it? Did you ask if they could make contact with the hotel to try and find out if a booking was ever received via them?
It would also probably be helpful if you contacted the hotel directly and asked them to forward you any booking details they have.
“My online account didn’t show any bookings, so I emailed the company helpline and asked if this booking was received.“
Did the OTA reply to this and do you have that reply? If so, it really is an open and shut case either with them or Amex.
No reply to my email which I sent questioning booking. No I never contacted the hotel directly as I was booking via platform and instead contacted booking platform. – to be honest I’ve used company quite a bit before and my profile always listed bookings, including pending, cancelled, past etc. I never got a reply to the email I sent, so based on no reply, no confirmation number, no confirmation email and nothing showing as pending in my account with this agent, I rebooked. I have a copy of email I sent agent which was sent 7 days before I made a repeat booking. The agent who I spoke to this morning did advise that my account was showing work no active bookings and she was unsure why money has been taken hence the dispute process (I am assuming it related to the original booking that I didn’t think went through, but can’t be sure, as no emails/ booking reference etc). In my experience he always revived an email in the days before payment was deducted from this company and didn’t get anything over the last week. I have no emails and reference at all in relation to this.
Are you sure that is what the charge was for? What does it say in the Amex transaction details? Can you recall what the original cancellation/no show terms were (you might be able to check this by looking at the hotel website). Which booking platform was it? Did you ask if they could make contact with the hotel to try and find out if a booking was ever received via them?
It would also probably be helpful if you contacted the hotel directly and asked them to forward you any booking details they have.
It would have been a free cancellation until 30 days before departure , which is now.
https://x.com/simoncalder/status/1921495413460226229?s=46
Is the airport required to provide compensation by law in these cases?
Morning, read through many articles and forum discussions on here re Thailand and plunged ahead and booked the Kimpton Koh Samui on points for March. I have plenty of time to change my mind. It’s probably not my thing but the wife is insistent nowadays that wherever we book, it must be with the child at the forefront of our minds, and it seems to have a good kids club.
I’ve booked 7 nights there, so I may do chiang mai, chiang rai, koh samui then 2 nights in Bangkok, or Hua Hin, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Bangkok. I ended up being quite put off by some parts of Krabi by the end of my research.
I do have a companion voucher but not so easy to use for this trip, so I think Thai airways or Singapore airlines maybe the way to go.
Morning, read through many articles and forum discussions on here re Thailand and plunged ahead and booked the Kimpton Koh Samui on points for March. I have plenty of time to change my mind. It’s probably not my thing but the wife is insistent nowadays that wherever we book, it must be with the child at the forefront of our minds, and it seems to have a good kids club.
I’ve booked 7 nights there, so I may do chiang mai, chiang rai, koh samui then 2 nights in Bangkok, or Hua Hin, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Bangkok. I ended up being quite put off by some parts of Krabi by the end of my research.
I do have a companion voucher but not so easy to use for this trip, so I think Thai airways or Singapore airlines maybe the way to go.
I’m off to SEA in Q4 this year, for several months, on a grand tour! Have you looked at QR for redemption flights, Thai airways is a solid choice, and I also rate EVA, when we flew them many years ago, they used metal cutlery in economy, when most other airlines were still using plastic.
I do have a companion voucher but not so easy to use for this trip, so I think Thai airways or Singapore airlines maybe the way to go.
Not going to be of much help if you cannot move the dates, but if you can, April has some good availability for reward seats.
I’ve booked 7 nights there, so I may do chiang mai, chiang rai, koh samui then 2 nights in Bangkok, or Hua Hin, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Bangkok. I ended up being quite put off by some parts of Krabi by the end of my research.
Chiang Rai is pretty close to Chiang Mai and you can base yourself in one of the two and visit the another via day trips. Chiang Mai better if you would like to explore the old town and eat at a new place every time. Hua Hin is just another beach city though has a theme park for the child and is the weekend getaway place for Bangkok residents. But its just a poor cousin to Koh Samui unless you want some cheaper places to eat. Krabi was terrible before covid, absolutely mobbed by tourists, but sad to hear its not cleaned up yet.
I would also add, be aware the burning season in northern Thailand in normally April and may, and the dates can sometimes move, it can get quite smoggy, and it’s not pleasant.
@yorkshireRich as per @Gordon suggestion of QR I appreciate you are travelling with a child and may prefer to go direct but have you considered BA to and from Doha to use a companion voucher and then QR to Thailand?
https://x.com/simoncalder/status/1921495413460226229?s=46
Is the airport required to provide compensation by law in these cases?
No.
https://x.com/simoncalder/status/1921495413460226229?s=46
Is the airport required to provide compensation by law in these cases?
Not to the passenger who has the usual ‘right to care’ and rerouting rights (but no compensation) vs the airline if a flight is delayed or cancelled, but the airlines may negotiate some settlement with the airport to compensate actual losses incurred.
@yorkshireRich – I would make the same point as @Gordon but slightly more forcefully.
If the holiday revolves around the bairn then I doubt she will enjoy the air quality in either Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai in March.
Definitely check with the Mrs,so you are not blamed.
Air quality in Northern Thailand in the spring is up there with some of the worst cities in India. I know some air quality connoisseurs (staff of a charity I am a trustee of) who spend a lot of time in India and South East Asia and they felt physically sick during their most recent Chiang Mai trip. The conclusion was do not visit again during the burning season.
I have only been in the autumn and found it bad enough then!
I’ve booked 7 nights there, so I may do chiang mai, chiang rai, koh samui then 2 nights in Bangkok, or Hua Hin, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Bangkok. I ended up being quite put off by some parts of Krabi by the end of my research.
Is seven nights the entirety of your trip to Thailand?
If so, do you think it would be better to focus on 1 or possibly max 2 places, especially given you need to move around with a child?Hi all thanks as always for suggestions
The whole trip together will be around 2 and half weeks. Booked 7 nights on points at Kimpton in Koh Samui. That is it so far. Plan was to probably fly upto Bangkok and then have 2 nights there before home but that doesn’t have to happen as I’ve visited Bangkok ample times.My wife mentioned Northern Thailand as she’s only ever visited Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand, and I’ve read conflicting reports on the air quality, and that Chiang Mai is okay end of Feb time. I will however put all my trust in Frogee and that’s enough to put me off.
The suggestion to Doha on BA is a good one and I’ll look at that one. I actually looked at Mumbai and then having some days there before flying Thailand. I’ll just keep playing around with flights. I’m open to anywhere really.Thank you all for advice on taking car seats from LHR – TFS in July. I think I’ll bubble wrap at home and as we’re there for a couple of weeks I’ll pick up a roll while there and do the same on return/wrap at the airport.
We were thinking of using Airportr to take most of our luggage the day before flight. Anyone have any experience using this service before?
I’ve been told I cannot apply for an amex card within 12 months of cancelling the same card. Is this correct; in the back of my mind it used to be 3 months?
re Airportr just remember to follow the rules including being checked in as the driver will want to see you have plus also passports etc.
And the collection time can’t be earlier than 24 hours before departure.
Now I feel bad @yorkshireRich
You are more likely to get away with it in February than March. It all depends on your tolerance for such stuff. Mine is pretty low when the kids are involved.
I would say that Samui is a winner though.
re Airportr just remember to follow the rules including being checked in as the driver will want to see you have plus also passports etc.
And the collection time can’t be earlier than 24 hours before departure.
Thanks! With 2 kids and a lot of associated gubbins, plus an early flight the next day it seems worth the fee to remove the hassle!
Now I feel bad @yorkshireRich
You are more likely to get away with it in February than March. It all depends on your tolerance for such stuff. Mine is pretty low when the kids are involved.
I would say that Samui is a winner though.
Absolutely agree if children are in tow, we’ve always been to the north in November and December, and it’s been fine, Koh Samui is a nice location, if your into scuba diving, you can take a speed boat an hour or so out, to Koh Phangan, and dive in that area, weather dependent though.
I love the Kimpton in Samui although for my money you need a pool villa. They rarely acknowledge status for upgrades tho and last time I stayed I had to be moved because there were snakes in the room. The Melia next door is probably better value but I would get a boat villa .
snakes in the room.
🙀🙀🙀🐍🐍🐍🙀🙀🙀
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