Chat thread – Sunday 19th March

[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.

[Scottpat78]

Morning from Cebu, Philippines.

Been an interesting trip for business so far…

QR from LHR to Manila was excellent – but the 9h layover at Doha was a little boring. My flight timings were changed a little and a 1.5h layover turned to a 9h. I could have switched to a later flight from LHR but decided to stick with it to have a look around and do work whilst at the airport. I done all that in 4h!

Shangri-La in BCG, Manila was superb and like a 5 star in Singapore which I’d been to – and wasn’t expecting that level of quality or service. Spent a week there and it was fantastic.

Flew Philippines Air from Manila to Cebu Saturday and I was the only passenger in business class! The flight was only 1h 15m and I saw the cabin crew twice – drink then snack which suited me rather than having 2 crew watching / serving me every 5 mins (which I was slightly concerned about on take off).

Now in the Radisson Blu Cebu which again is very impressive and has more of a leisure feel to it. Here for 5 nights before I start the trek back.

[tom1]

I have a Virgin upgrade voucher expiring today.

I’ve had a look through the forums but can’t see anything obvious – are there any creative ways to extend/use when I don’t have any firm travel plans?

I am happy to give it to someone here if it can be done and someone can stop it being lost.

[tom1]

Anyone here with experience of credit cards in Thailand and willing to share some tips on SUB, best earning cards, status etc?

[roger]

Council Tax
Amex
Payzone

Anyone had any luck with post office that accepts payzone payment or other independent shops.
Co op seems to be paypoint only

[davefl]

roger wrote:

Council Tax
Amex
Payzone

Anyone had any luck with post office that accepts payzone payment or other independent shops.
Co op seems to be paypoint only

Payzone seems to be crumbling. Look on google maps for their outlets. Every one for miles in my area says temporarily.

[roger]

davefl wrote:

roger wrote:

Council Tax
Amex
Payzone

Anyone had any luck with post office that accepts payzone payment or other independent shops.
Co op seems to be paypoint only

Payzone seems to be crumbling. Look on google maps for their outlets. Every one for miles in my area says temporarily.

Yes observing the same.
I was hoping if someone has used post office that wouldn’t mind Amex for the payment of council tax.

[mark2]

roger wrote:

davefl wrote:

roger wrote:

Council Tax
Amex
Payzone

Anyone had any luck with post office that accepts payzone payment or other independent shops.
Co op seems to be paypoint only

A few years ago I used cards a lot at the Post Office for PayPoint, Pockit, Monese etc.
Then one day the software (presumably an update) prevented it.

Payzone seems to be crumbling. Look on google maps for their outlets. Every one for miles in my area says temporarily.

Yes observing the same.
I was hoping if someone has used post office that wouldn’t mind Amex for the payment of council tax.

[mark2]

A few years ago I used cards a lot at the Post Office for PayPoint, Pockit, Monese etc.
Then one day the software (presumably an update) prevented it for all credit cards.

[MCO]

Can I use the Amex Platinum dine local benefit over 2 meals at different restaurants?

[roger]

mark2 wrote:

A few years ago I used cards a lot at the Post Office for PayPoint, Pockit, Monese etc.
Then one day the software (presumably an update) prevented it for all credit cards.

Went to a post office with self service facility and that only allowed debit card not even visa or master card.
At least online I can use master card.

[roger]

MCO wrote:

Can I use the Amex Platinum dine local benefit over 2 meals at different restaurants?

Yes. It is cumulative. I spent £90 and then £80 but received £90 plus £60 so total £150 is paid out as per offer terms.

[sussexsb]

the value trade redemption using Etihad Guest on Oman Air looks to have disappeared since alignment of partner award pricing on March 10th. Think it looks twice the price in miles now. Not sure if HfP has covered it, but I only read the daily emails as a rule.

[PJJ]

mark2 wrote:

roger wrote:

davefl wrote:

roger wrote:

Council Tax
Amex
Payzone
Our local Post Office accepts Amex as long as the Bill has a Barcode or QR Code. Used for Council Tax and Car Tax so far
Anyone had any luck with post office that accepts payzone payment or other independent shops.
Co op seems to be paypoint only

A few years ago I used cards a lot at the Post Office for PayPoint, Pockit, Monese etc.
Then one day the software (presumably an update) prevented it.

Payzone seems to be crumbling. Look on google maps for their outlets. Every one for miles in my area says temporarily.

Yes observing the same.
I was hoping if someone has used post office that wouldn’t mind Amex for the payment of council tax.

[travelwell]

Does anyone know if the BA Amex premium offer might return? Keen to get going on the 2 for 1 voucher but it’s painful how much lower the sign up
Bonus is now 😭

[gtellez]

Question regarding Barclays upgrade voucher. I was trying to book an open jaw LHR-LAX, LAS-LHR and I would like to upgrade the inbound (no availability in the outbound) for two passengers. Is it possible if I call BA? If I do two bookings, I cannot use the voucher, as it is only valid for flights departing the UK. I prefer to first ask here, in case of any of you have tried before, to avoid the pain of calling BA to be tell that it isn’t possible. Thanks!

[SamG]

Can’t see why not. I did a relatively complicated upgrade voucher booking the other day and even to the agents surprise it all priced up correctly and deducted the vouchers etc. Didn’t even have any hold time on the phone !

[Carlos]

surfShark 2 year package is ending, can anyone recommend a good VPN in particular for UAE. I found this one to be a bit choppy for calls and choppy in general

[ExpatInBerlin]

@Carlos I use ExpressVPN living in Germany. Player 2’s dad works in the Middle East and uses it too. I’ve never had any problems with it, would highly recommend as you can use one account across multiple devices, so P2 and I both have it on our phones, laptops and our smart tv whilst only paying for one subscription which I think is about £6 a month.

[Carlos]

ExpatInBerlin wrote:

@Carlos I use ExpressVPN living in Germany. Player 2’s dad works in the Middle East and uses it too. I’ve never had any problems with it, would highly recommend as you can use one account across multiple devices, so P2 and I both have it on our phones, laptops and our smart tv whilst only paying for one subscription which I think is about £6 a month.

Thanks. Renewal is £40 and if I recall TCB offer great deals. But not sure of the quality. Rather buy once

[MCO]

roger wrote:

MCO wrote:

Can I use the Amex Platinum dine local benefit over 2 meals at different restaurants?

Yes. It is cumulative. I spent £90 and then £80 but received £90 plus £60 so total £150 is paid out as per offer terms.

Thank you

[flymeanywhere]

BA cancelled our flight with about 3hrs notice. Does this sound like a reasonable excuse not to give compensation? (BHD-LCY)

“We’re sorry it was necessary to cancel your flight to London City on 14 February 2023 and understand why you needed to get in contact about this. We take all reasonable measures to avoid cancelling a flight and we’ll always consider if there are any alternative solutions available before we make a decision.

Your claim’s been refused because BA8753 on 14 February 2023 was cancelled due to adverse weather, namely fog and low visibility at London City and the resulting Air Traffic Control arrival flow rate restrictions.”

There were other flights landing and taking off on that morning.

[Richie]

BA8752 LCY-BHD is part of the first wave of morning take offs which can be cancelled in foggy conditions to avoid delays for the second wave when conditions are likely to have improved.

[JDB]

flymeanywhere wrote:

BA cancelled our flight with about 3hrs notice. Does this sound like a reasonable excuse not to give compensation? (BHD-LCY)

“We’re sorry it was necessary to cancel your flight to London City on 14 February 2023 and understand why you needed to get in contact about this. We take all reasonable measures to avoid cancelling a flight and we’ll always consider if there are any alternative solutions available before we make a decision.

Your claim’s been refused because BA8753 on 14 February 2023 was cancelled due to adverse weather, namely fog and low visibility at London City and the resulting Air Traffic Control arrival flow rate restrictions.”

There were other flights landing and taking off on that morning.

It’s difficult to be certain about why your flight was cancelled, but it really makes no difference that other flights were taking off and landing. In the last sentence of BA’s response, they reference the flow rate – ie ATC is instructing a reduction in overall landings and takeoffs (probably by half in these circumstances) and each airline has to take its share and can decide which flights to cancel or reschedule. In addition, for ATC related weather cancellations, the airline can rely upon earlier impact of delays/cancellations for that aircraft.

[nectar collector]

flymeanywhere wrote:

BA cancelled our flight with about 3hrs notice. Does this sound like a reasonable excuse not to give compensation? (BHD-LCY)

“We’re sorry it was necessary to cancel your flight to London City on 14 February 2023 and understand why you needed to get in contact about this. We take all reasonable measures to avoid cancelling a flight and we’ll always consider if there are any alternative solutions available before we make a decision.

Your claim’s been refused because BA8753 on 14 February 2023 was cancelled due to adverse weather, namely fog and low visibility at London City and the resulting Air Traffic Control arrival flow rate restrictions.”

There were other flights landing and taking off on that morning.

Unfortunately adverse weather and Air Traffic Control restrictions are legitimate exceptional circumstances for no compensation being payable. Duty of care and the obligation to get you to your destination at the earliest opportunity still apply. Air Traffic Control can reduce the rate of arrival of flights due to poor visibility, so in foggy conditions some flights may still be landing and departing, but with much bigger gaps between them. To manage this safely, some flights would be cancelled . So in your case I think you are going to be out of luck……..