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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.
Good morning from a bus stop on Bath Road. Stayed at the Hyatt place, before our short flight to Prague.
We have booked on Avios. There is me, the wife and infant.I had pre selected our seats on Row 2 for the past few months. Yesterday row 1 became available. I decided to stick with Row 2. There were only 5 rows available. I’ve now looked and we have been moved to Row 6. Is this common practice?
Can you change back to Row 2 or are you stuck with row 6? Sounds like a change of aircraft as curtain roulette (extending the Club cabin) wouldn’t make you lose your seats like that.
Good morning from sunny Mijas. @yorkshireRich I’ve only known that happen with a plane swap, and I can’t imagine they would be juggling a lot of families around on that route? Hopefully you’ll still have a good flight and is that a T3 route as well?
Have a lovely weekend as well, Prague is on my list to re-visit!
Clearly something odd going on there, even a plane swap wouldn’t obviously cause that as five or six rows of four is exactly the same layout on any short haul aircraft.
Strangely 2F is empty but blocked, while 1D is available, suggesting 1F is not a Gold so that doesn’t appear to be factor. If there was a late influx of parents needing to sit with children I can’t see why they wouldn’t put them at the back.
Good morning from the Ouigo train 7851 near Aix en Provence. We visited Parc Asterix on Friday and had a day in Paris yesterday.
I would recommend ascending Tour Montparnasse ahead of the Tour Eiffel tower be honest. Especially if you’ve already done Eiffel. It’s quicker, cheaper, less crowded and you get a very similar view. But for my boys, who haven’t been before, it was worthwhile.
We stayed near Gare de Lyon last night due to the early train departure 0821. We have been travelling at 183kmh. Apart from a handful of fireworks there wasn’t too much noise in the area.
The streets were almost car free during the match. We went to Dorocco Bourse to use the Amex platinum dining credit last night.
We will be in St Raphael Verscourse until next weekend.
I meant 183mph ! 👍
Good morning from London City Airport. Having to get used to the no lounge concept…it’s been a while!
Am I right to be fed up – booked a hotel on a fully flexible and no deposit rate and then out of the blue they take the full amount for the stay. My intention was to pay with GHA$ on checkout. Contacted the hotel and they admit it’s a mistake but it will take four weeks for a refund (it’s not a small amount of money). What should I do ?
Help required please. For the first time ever we checked the pushchair in, and here we are at Prague with the knowledge that it’s still in London Heathrow.
They said it would arrive tonight or in the morning. The wife states that’s not good enough but I am like “whatever”. Is there anything we physically can do, as it’s far from practical. I asked at the desk and they said “no sorry”
I’ll reply to myself. After asking again and explaining that my wife doesn’t laugh at things like me, they have miraculously found a spare stroller. I’ll hand it in at reception when they bring me mine.
Good afternoon
Staying at both Intercontinentals in Washington next month (always nice to say next month now it’s the 1st June) – IC The Willard (The Willard Suite booked) and IC The Wharf (Compass Suite booked) However, neither mention Club Lounges which is disappointing. Should we ask or expect anything in lieu of no lounge? I know that’s an odd question – but unsure of the history behind why they don’t have a lounge……was it Covid? Was there even a lounge? Thought IC usually have lounges. As know in such instances they give you something because the lounges are closed etc. Asked the hotel but vague response on this. For reference – Diamond with lounge pass.
Also – Flying BA in F on A380. Both kids asking if there is a snack bar set up the galley? Know you can basically ask for anything but they like the seek and find option better 🙂
Know the 777 offers a dedicated area for snacks and refreshments etc, but can’t remember on A380.Good afternoon
Staying at both Intercontinentals in Washington next month (always nice to say next month now it’s the 1st June) – IC The Willard (The Willard Suite booked) and IC The Wharf (Compass Suite booked) However, neither mention Club Lounges which is disappointing. Should we ask or expect anything in lieu of no lounge? I know that’s an odd question – but unsure of the history behind why they don’t have a lounge……was it Covid? Was there even a lounge? Thought IC usually have lounges. As know in such instances they give you something because the lounges are closed etc. Asked the hotel but vague response on this. For reference – Diamond with lounge pass.
Also – Flying BA in F on A380. Both kids asking if there is a snack bar set up the galley? Know you can basically ask for anything but they like the seek and find option better 🙂
Know the 777 offers a dedicated area for snacks and refreshments etc, but can’t remember on A380.I think the simple answer re the hotels is that better hotels (including many ICs) simply don’t have lounges as their traditional guests don’t want or need them and can afford to feed/water themselves.
In terms of snacks on board, the BA A380 is no different than any other BA aircraft. They have a Club Kitchen which has been much downgraded and rarely has much available not only from cost cutting but more as a small number of passengers raid it to the detriment of others. If you were to find anything, there’s none of the more decent stuff they had some years ago. There’s no F equivalent, you just need to ask.
I’ll reply to myself. After asking again and explaining that my wife doesn’t laugh at things like me, they have miraculously found a spare stroller. I’ll hand it in at reception when they bring me mine.
Does that mean that someone travelling from Prague to London this afternoon is going to arrive without a pushchair?
Am I right to be fed up – booked a hotel on a fully flexible and no deposit rate and then out of the blue they take the full amount for the stay. My intention was to pay with GHA$ on checkout. Contacted the hotel and they admit it’s a mistake but it will take four weeks for a refund (it’s not a small amount of money). What should I do ?[/quote
You’re right to be fed up. If the charge left you out of pocket by enough to be worthwhile pursuing – say you got stung for card fees – it’s reasonable to ask to be made whole. If you’re not out of pocket, you could ask for something like a comped upgrade or breakfast by way of apology – there’s no entitlement to anything, but I’d hope the hotel would offer something as a goodwill gesture
Am I right to be fed up – booked a hotel on a fully flexible and no deposit rate and then out of the blue they take the full amount for the stay. My intention was to pay with GHA$ on checkout. Contacted the hotel and they admit it’s a mistake but it will take four weeks for a refund (it’s not a small amount of money). What should I do ?[/quote
You’re right to be fed up. If the charge left you out of pocket by enough to be worthwhile pursuing – say you got stung for card fees – it’s reasonable to ask to be made whole. If you’re not out of pocket, you could ask for something like a comped upgrade or breakfast by way of apology – there’s no entitlement to anything, but I’d hope the hotel would offer something as a goodwill gesture
The only reason I don’t want to kick off just yet is its Singapore Grand Prix weekend and it’s the only trackside room left – otherwise I would have done a charge back and submitted a grim review. Hoping to save 15% with GHA$.
Had to laugh. Just received usual email from BA re flight next week. I’m sure the wording has changed. “You’re getting closer to take off …. Exceptional service. All part of the flight plan”!
I’ll reply to myself. After asking again and explaining that my wife doesn’t laugh at things like me, they have miraculously found a spare stroller. I’ll hand it in at reception when they bring me mine.
Does that mean that someone travelling from Prague to London this afternoon is going to arrive without a pushchair?
no, it’s a cheapo airport one by the looks of it.
On this discussion of GHA, I’ve arrived in Prague at the NH Carlo IV from a booking through the app. They swore blind I had cancelled the booking. I explained it was a non refundable rate, and I had the confirmation infront of me.
Anyway, after around 1 and half sorting it all out, I’m now waiting for the room to be ready. I don’t think I’ll bother next time.
@bibby135, quite a few ICs don’t have lounges. The Willard is gorgeous, however, though we were there at Christmas when of course it was all decorated for the season. As diamond we got something like $42 daily credit which covered breakfast for 2 of us in the restaurant. I’m pretty sure we got an email covering all this after booking.
We also got some nice welcome goodies in the suite, including a bottle of wine and a chocolate model of the Washington monument! The location is excellent for sight seeing.
@NorthernLass We stayed at The Caledonian in Edinburgh earlier this year and I was delighted with a dark chocolate model of the hotel — always better than cheap plonk benefit in my books, especially as wine taste is so subjective!
I did the Club Avolta status match a few months ago but haven’t really paid much attention to the scheme since.
However, I noticed today that I have a balance of 5000 points.
Does anyone know if this is spendable, or is it just an indicator of status similar to BA nTPs ?
I did have a look at the Club Avolta website but remain none the wiser…I see that having Club Avolta Platinum means 10% off stuff, but no idea what the membership points can be used for (if anything).
For what it’s worth, I am due to pass through BHX, AYT, SAW, CDG, BER, LHR, LGW and TIA in the coming months.
Am I right to be fed up – booked a hotel on a fully flexible and no deposit rate and then out of the blue they take the full amount for the stay. My intention was to pay with GHA$ on checkout. Contacted the hotel and they admit it’s a mistake but it will take four weeks for a refund (it’s not a small amount of money). What should I do ?[/quote
You’re right to be fed up. If the charge left you out of pocket by enough to be worthwhile pursuing – say you got stung for card fees – it’s reasonable to ask to be made whole. If you’re not out of pocket, you could ask for something like a comped upgrade or breakfast by way of apology – there’s no entitlement to anything, but I’d hope the hotel would offer something as a goodwill gesture
The only reason I don’t want to kick off just yet is its Singapore Grand Prix weekend and it’s the only trackside room left – otherwise I would have done a charge back and submitted a grim review. Hoping to save 15% with GHA$.
I can see why you might want to hold off on complaining, then – it’s not like you can easily change hotel, and they may not have a trackside room to upgrade you to
I did the Club Avolta status match a few months ago but haven’t really paid much attention to the scheme since.
However, I noticed today that I have a balance of 5000 points.
Does anyone know if this is spendable, or is it just an indicator of status similar to BA nTPs ?
I did have a look at the Club Avolta website but remain none the wiser…I see that having Club Avolta Platinum means 10% off stuff, but no idea what the membership points can be used for (if anything).
For what it’s worth, I am due to pass through BHX, AYT, SAW, CDG, BER, LHR, LGW and TIA in the coming months.
If you have a look in the app wallet section there is an area titled ‘How it works’ that explains. You don’t get to spend these points but rather collecting them moves you up the benefit tiers. You need to have 5,000 to reach Platinum so this has been credited to your account as part of the status match to that level. As you say, it is analagous to the BA Tier Point system.
OK many thanks 🙂
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