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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.
Hotel tycoon reveals Heathrow expansion proposal
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd6nvzjvwgqo
Hotel tycoon Surinder Arora has announced he is submitting a Heathrow expansion plan which rivals a proposal from the airport’s owners.
The billionaire’s Arora Group said the “primary benefit” of the plan it submitted to the government was a shorter new runway which would avoid the costly and disruptive need to divert the M25 motorway.
Building a 2,800-metre third runway instead of the full-length 3,500-metre runway planned by the airport would result in “reduced risk” and avoid “spiralling cost”, the company said.
The airport declined to comment on the Arora Group’s proposal.
This is either madness or genius and I can’t tell which.
Also I never knew there was an actual Mr Arora!
Surinder Arora does indeed exist, I’ve met him a few times and I seem to recall Rob has mentioned him (& his story of coming over to the UK and beginning life as a waiter?) many times.
Surinder Arora does indeed exist, I’ve met him a few times and I seem to recall Rob has mentioned him (& his story of coming over to the UK and beginning life as a waiter?) many times.
He certainly exists and has a very colourful reputation in the hotel industry. Bechtel adds clout to the proposal but the mystery is how he could fund the project given his funding position. It’s a scale of project way behind anything he knows. Also, as things stand there’s only permission for the longer runway and any change to that might lead to new legal challenges rather than relying on existing wins.
British Airways bargain of the day. LHR – SEA Club reward seat booked with a Barclays upgrade voucher. Offer popped up this morning for a cash upgrade to First for £357!
and yes it is a real one – paid for, ticket reissued and seat selected. Very glad I didn’t follow through with rebooking it all for the First reward seat that I was looking at a week or so ago.
@AndrewT Fingers crossed it’s a B787-10 operated flight.
No it’s a 787-9, so a huge improvement from the old CW seats. It was originally a 787-10, so lost the outbound CS previously.
CS on a 777 on the way back.
You should have great flights AndrewT.
@AndrewT I imagine the timeline went – What? Really? Where’s my credit card? Booked. Email refresh, email refresh, email, refresh. Ticket!
Great result, enjoy.
@strickers Almost spot on, you missed one additional step resulting from my impatience / nervousness:
Email refresh, email refresh, email, refresh, **** no email, MMB, Ticket!
Fundamental problem with BAPP as Rob has mentioned many times, 3 month in at £12k/£15k spent. I’ll spend the rest slowly now so as to take advantage of any offers. £6k to spend on the free Barclays Avios card and 8 month to do that in. Mrs S doesn’t meet the income requirements, so we might be doing the Virgin CC again despite the issues with the dynamic pricing.
Last week I posted a rant about Avis US and their persistent fraudulent extra charges on pre-paid rentals (booked in GBP)
After 3 emails to customer services and an email in response to their social media team who asked for the details in a reply to my negative review on google maps, I finally got the charge refunded. Just a one line email, nothing addressing the lack of a post rental invoice.
Seven weeks for a response is unnacceptable.
This is the fourth time in a row that Avis in the US have done this to me, (each time the charge has been refunded when I’ve challenged it) and I know it’s a widespread issue so they’re now moving to the bottom of my preferred rental company list just above Hertz. I vote with my wallet where unethical companies are concerned.
Morning from the Dominican where my sunburn is starting to heal!
Quick question for those who may have done this.
We have booked flights for next year, and have booked 2 x 2 person using 2 BAPP vouchers (1 in my name, 1 in partners). When the return flight is released, can an agent hold all 4 seats then add them to the 2 separate bookings, or does this require 2 calls? Anyone have experience of this please?
Ouch, @Scottpat78, try lavender oil!
The long “Booking the return” thread does have examples of agents doing this, subject of course to you being named on your wife’s account. However, as always you need to get one who’s willing and able so I would always be online at the same time. Your wife might not be so keen, however!
If I get the currensea Hilton card does it give me the ability to use instantly via Apple Pay?
Afternoon all,
A whisper coming out of Edinburgh today that Etihad are to return after leaving in 2018 when Emirates filled a void. That would mean the ME3 are all flying from EDI for the first time. Etihad has just taken delivery of new aircraft, including 5 A321LR and an A350. Would they fit the bill for this flight if the rumour is true?
Thank you Anna, that is what I thought.
I did manage to do this a couple of years ago but I’m sure (like you say) I’ve read very varied experiences from others since.
Normally we time our vouchers so we can use both in the same name for a trip, but for some reason the 2 in my wife’s name expire in 2025 and 2027. We must have used the 2024 issued voucher by mistake! Still hurting over that, as we may not get to use the 2025 expiring voucher which will absolutely kill me.
I think she is going to have to do a midnight run with me in a few weeks, the price of selecting the wrong voucher. I am a nominated 3rd party on her account too.
Sunburn is just a by product of being Scottish!
Ouch, @Scottpat78, try lavender oil!
The long “Booking the return” thread does have examples of agents doing this, subject of course to you being named on your wife’s account. However, as always you need to get one who’s willing and able so I would always be online at the same time. Your wife might not be so keen, however!
Am getting sticker shock from Avanti and Seatfrog.
EUU – MAN standard premium is now £ 32.50
Seat frog upgrade bids to First are now a minimum of £ 47!
Though not found out they offer upgrades to SP starting at £26.
Both plus their fee of £ 3
@Scottpat78, that would kill me as well! I know the tail shouldn’t wag the dog, but don’t forget you only have to fly the outbound by the expiry date. I managed to use an expiring 241 from the pandemic by eking it out over 2 holidays, 10 months apart!
I had sticker shock from airport parking and drop-off fees so am currently on a £6 train ticket to MAN, which in railway parlance is, hilariously, MIA.
And I’m clawing some of that back charging my phone 😂Am getting sticker shock from Avanti and Seatfrog.
EUU – MAN standard premium is now £ 32.50
Seat frog upgrade bids to First are now a minimum of £ 47!
Though not found out they offer upgrades to SP starting at £26.
Both plus their fee of £ 3
Seatfrog on Avanti has gone completely crazy and really not good value. LNER and EMR are still very competitive, starting around £10. GWR tends to start just under £20.
Avios only flight to cape town for xmas!
Avios only flight is Cape Town .
Nice, we can expect some seats opening up on other routes!
I had sticker shock from airport parking and drop-off fees so am currently on a £6 train ticket to MAN, which in railway parlance is, hilariously, MIA.
And I’m clawing some of that back charging my phone 😂I do very much appreciate this effort. If it weren’t so unhygienic, I’d swipe a loo roll as well. It’s the principle of the matter.
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