Chat thread – Thursday 14th November

[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.

[Metty]

Good morning from a sun lounger on the beach outside the Slate, Phuket. High overcast and nobody within 100m here, lovely.

Chatting to Finnair cabin crew at breakfast; despite Finnair’s financial woes they still get a whole week here as the flight is weekly in November so a very popular – thus senior crew heavy – trip and plenty of ‘clingons’ sharing rooms with Mum/Dad/partner.

Some may be interested that there are now two cafes overlooking the runway that are really very close.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/svZG2UNSEDtpRYbp6?g_st=ic

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ygwEfEXNHrkcPu2J9?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

There’s also the beach at the southern end of the runway which has long been an Instagram favourite.

Back to the weather; as we know, it’s far less predictable so planning a trip is trickier. What I can’t quite understand is that even now BBC/Met Office say full sun most of the day and the Thai Met office have thunderstorms and rain most of the day. The reality is neither of these.

[AndrewT]

Good morning from LHR T3, where we arrived slightly early (probably one of the first flights to land), to find all the passport e-gates closed and one single Border Farce (no typo) agent on duty!

Welcome to the UK.

[markdhayes]

Morning from Clubrooms Birmingham, we’re off to SIngapore via Doha. Straight Avios redemption but still was refused lounge access even though only upgrades and business light have restricted access. Luckily I’d read about it being a common occurnace on here and used 2 of my Amex plat priority pre books (they were expiring in December anyway). I’m guessing Qatar won’t be that bothered even if I complain?

[Blair Waldorf Salad]

markdhayes wrote:

Morning from Clubrooms Birmingham, we’re off to SIngapore via Doha. Straight Avios redemption but still was refused lounge access even though only upgrades and business light have restricted access. Luckily I’d read about it being a common occurnace on here and used 2 of my Amex plat priority pre books (they were expiring in December anyway). I’m guessing Qatar won’t be that bothered even if I complain?

Good grief, how frustrating. I have taken to asking the check in agent to write fast track or lounge access or put a sticker on boarding passes when travelling on a redemption. I’m forever wary after stories like this one. I am not sure what Qatar would do, but I’d be inclined to complain to whoever their ground handler at Birmingham is – that their contracted lounge operator needs a reminder from ground staff as to the access rules.

[Blair Waldorf Salad]

@Metty, I am absolutely stunned at Finnair’s week-long layover. I’d have thought that sort of thing died out with Pan Am!

[BBbetter]

Metty wrote:

Chatting to Finnair cabin crew at breakfast; despite Finnair’s financial woes they still get a whole week here as the flight is weekly in November so a very popular – thus senior crew heavy – trip and plenty of ‘clingons’ sharing rooms with Mum/Dad/partner.

That’s one way to retain staff.
Strickers might be interested in moving to Finnair.

[Andrew.]

5% Rebate on BA Holiday – Max £30
5% Rebate at BA – Max £30

Expires 18th December.

Currently showing on my BoS, Halifax and MBNA accounts.

[Cat]

Hi all,

I thought this was worth mentioning here – I’ve made a few bookings with Hotels.com, mostly to use up my OneKey cash, and to take advantage of an offer I was sent as a Gold (“As a One Key™ member, you can now save up to 20% when you book more than one hotel for your trip.”). I booked several consecutive hotel stays, some of which showed the discount on the search page (it doesn’t apply to all hotels, just select hotels), but then the discount didn’t appear on the final payment page. I spoke to an agent on chat (after being cut off by 3 previous agents, presumably for having a too-difficult question), who advised me to make the booking, and that he would escalate my query to a supervisor so that I could be refunded the discount. I sent screenshots of everything and explained the issue in detail, and have since received emails from 4 different supervisors, all of whom appear to be completely incapable of reading what I’ve written or opening the screenshots sent. Every single reply has basically said “You’ll receive your OneKey cash after your stay”, and in no way addresses the issue I’m raising.

I’m just sharing this here to advise anyone who was considering staying with Hotels.com or Expedia for their (once pretty good) customer service for status holders – don’t bother. I’m glad that this is happening now, rather than having problems while staying. The level of frustration I’m experiencing, trying to sort out basic problems with them now, would spoil my holiday! I’m planning to cancel any stays that haven’t been booked with OneKey cash, and book via Booking.com or Trip on Black Friday.

I realise most people had come to the conclusion that they would avoid Hotels.com from now on, but I just wanted to add my two pence.

[aviosnewbie33]

How is Egypt over Easter holidays? Just booked flights for next year (Easter 2025 is a bit later than usual on 21 Apr) for a 6N trip. Hopefully it won’t be too hot. Thinking of the waldorf astoria in Cairo and maybe a side trip to Alexandria. Would love to get ideas for things to do (other than the Pyramids, of course!), eat, stay, etc… 🙂

[strickers]

@BBbetter Why would I want to move to Finnair and have a week in Thailand when I can spend two nights in drizzly Manchester?

[Metty]

strickers wrote:

@BBbetter Why would I want to move to Finnair and have a week in Thailand when I can spend two nights in drizzly Manchester?

I am amazed that they don’t ferry the crew to BKK or SIN esp as I think Finnair still fly for Qantas BKK-SIN-BKK so if not a crew base as such there must be a lot of crew around.

[Cat]

Good morning from grey, drizzly London. @Metty that sounds incredible. I am officially jealous of you, and the cabin crew, even with the threat of (possible) thunderstorms!

[Sudz74]

Metty wrote:

Good morning from a sun lounger on the beach outside the Slate, Phuket. High overcast and nobody within 100m here, lovely.

Does the proximity of airport to beach mean it’s practical to spend a few hours on the beach before a flight? (Will be arriving a few hours ahead of a flight to BKK in January after being transferred at end of a sailing trip.)

[Cat]

aviosnewbie33 wrote:

How is Egypt over Easter holidays? Just booked flights for next year (Easter 2025 is a bit later than usual on 21 Apr) for a 6N trip. Hopefully it won’t be too hot. Thinking of the waldorf astoria in Cairo and maybe a side trip to Alexandria. Would love to get ideas for things to do (other than the Pyramids, of course!), eat, stay, etc… 🙂

It’s wonderful over Easter. Personally I would only stay in Cairo long enough to see the Pyramids and the Museum. After that, I’d head to Aswan and/or Luxor and see the sights (if you can squeeze it in, felucca trips are just wonderful) . The Valley of the Kings is absolutely not to be missed. If you had longer, I’d recommend Abu Simbel, Marsa Alam or one of the lesser travelled places like Farafra (just for anyone else reading this!). Enjoy!

[Gordon]

@Metty – I always welcome posts from people in SEA particularly Thailand, my favourite destination, I’ve not had the chance to return since Covid, but I will be returning this time next year, can’t wait. Enjoy your trip!

On the subject of airport lounge views, I’ve traveled through a few times, but I’ve never used it,
PUJ have a VIP lounge in Terminal B $50 entry, that has a pool overlooking the runway!

[AndyGWP]

I’m sure this has probably been covered somewhere – but I noticed this article about Amex Shop Small being cancelled this year

https://becleverwithyourcash.com/make-amex-shop-small

[zapato1060]

AndyGWP wrote:

I’m sure this has probably been covered somewhere – but I noticed this article about Amex Shop Small being cancelled this year

https://becleverwithyourcash.com/make-amex-shop-small

A Genghis comment wouldnt go amiss.

[memesweeper]

markdhayes wrote:

Morning from Clubrooms Birmingham, we’re off to SIngapore via Doha. Straight Avios redemption but still was refused lounge access even though only upgrades and business light have restricted access. Luckily I’d read about it being a common occurnace on here and used 2 of my Amex plat priority pre books (they were expiring in December anyway). I’m guessing Qatar won’t be that bothered even if I complain?

Not a fun or premium start to a journey – and well done you for planning ahead. Are the rules on lounge access that Qatar are breaching published anywhere? I’ve never redeemed on their flights before and if this continues I never will!

[drdan]

I have an avios booking in J SYD-doha-Man next September 25… No status but I assumed lounge access at SYD and Doha… Am I wrong?

[webloid]

“A Genghis comment wouldnt go amiss.“

Does the mayor of London read this forum then?

[SamG]

Metty wrote:

strickers wrote:

@BBbetter Why would I want to move to Finnair and have a week in Thailand when I can spend two nights in drizzly Manchester?

I am amazed that they don’t ferry the crew to BKK or SIN esp as I think Finnair still fly for Qantas BKK-SIN-BKK so if not a crew base as such there must be a lot of crew around.

They have crew bases in Asia so it’s probably too complicated to start interworking the Finnish crews. I can’t imagine they’re paying much at all for hotels in Phuket so vs positioning costs, city hotels etc I doubt it is costing them too much vs just leaving the crews there at a quieter time of year. I know some of the TUI trips out to Asia from the UK/Nordics are also a decent length too at points – likely very popular! Whereas Cancun is often a 1 night trip with an arrival back into a different UK airport which sounds less fun…

[Sip]

Has anyone experienced this with Qatar website?
Redeemed a flight for LGW to Sydney via DOH, and it shows up on the dashboard in my profile but when I try to “manage”, the authentication fails and says to try again.

Have tried multiple times (both logged in and not logged in) and it doesn’t seem to work.
Is it a Qatar website issue or shoudl I be worried.

[ThriceForgiven]

Which service are people using to monitor/get alerts for BA Avios flight availability? I’ve read mixed reviews about Seatspy / RFF…

I have a specific route in mind for a specific day if it helps…just want to know if Avios seats free up closer to the date.

[jintycat]

Sip wrote:

Has anyone experienced this with Qatar website?
Redeemed a flight for LGW to Sydney via DOH, and it shows up on the dashboard in my profile but when I try to “manage”, the authentication fails and says to try again.

Have tried multiple times (both logged in and not logged in) and it doesn’t seem to work.
Is it a Qatar website issue or shoudl I be worried.

Think it must be an It issue as even when I booked the qatar flight with Ba on redemption I could book my seats on qatar when Ba wouldn’t let me.