Chat thread – Tuesday 17th September

[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.

[Jill Kinkell]

Hi everyone from the Durango Coffee Company cafe in Durango ,Colorado. Only taken us 1100 miles and 8 days to get a decent cup! My brother, who is travelling with us, has moaned constantly regarding the awful ‘cawrfee’ .
Enjoy your breakfast cuppa HfPers

[AL]

Are there any UK transfer partners to Hyatt? I see MR isn’t but the rates from airlines are probably poor. Looking for an option I may have missed.

[tomtom135]

Anyone remember the SAS Euro Gold match to BA silver. Rob wrote in the article you can keep the gold status – “take five cash SAS flights by 31st March 2025.” Is this definitely correct as in the app it says I need to do 45 flights to make gold. If I book a flight LHR > CPH > MUC return would that count as 4 of the 5 flights?

[LD27]

@Jill Kinkell. Have been to Durango many times. Glad you enjoyed the coffee. Are you going to go on the Durango & Silverton Railroad? The autumn leaves should be changing colour by the day and getting more spectacular as you continue to travel through the Rockies.

[Ladyshopper]

Our Antipodean adventure is fast approaching (3 weeks time!). First leg is from Birmingham to Doha, with the flight at 8.10am. What’s the deal with Birmingham these days, would you recommend 3 hours or 4 hours before the flight for check in. Google search just gave me a vague 3-4 hours before.

[executiveclubber]

Just had an email from Barclays Premier to a free Apple TV film premiere at Everyman, including pizza, a cocktail and popcorn. Not to be sniffed at, especially if you’ve seen Everyman’s normal prices, you’re looking at the best part of £100. Have fun if you manage to find tickets!

[anuj]

Very Off topic but just wanted an opinion on what you would service recovery you would expect in this scenario:

Ordered a fridge from Samsung, took over a month for them to finally deliver it, arrives with damaged door and broken shelf and drawers.
Rang up Samsung they can’t replace as out of stock, can’t supply similar fridge at price I paid, can’t return the fridge they took away for a trade in discount, and also can’t reinstate the birthday discount code. So begrudgingly ask them to repair it but can’t help but feel they should offer a discount for me effectively having to keep a refurb fridge for full price. Am I being unreasonable? Can’t return my original fridge so refund will be inconvenient at best.
Was over £1k and now the same fridge elsewhere is out of stock or no longer on sale.

[JDB]

@anuj – it may be a bit late now, but personally I would ask for a full refund to which you are entitled. You should really just have rejected the delivery if it was damaged as other defects are likely to manifest themselves given the extent of the damage you report. To the extent you wanted compensation, that should have been agreed prior to accepting repair as a remedy. Get your money back and get a Fisher & Paykel fridge instead!

[LD27]

Definitely recommend F&P. We first came across the brand years ago when staying with relatives in NZ. Once you buy one, you will never look back. Can also recommend their dishwashers. We had major issues with JL once with cookers. We refused 2 deliveries due to damage and the 3rd one was delivered to my home address when it should have been delivered to my daughter’s flat where I was waiting! Eventually no 4 arrived safely and was fitted for free. We were compensated with JL vouchers which virtually covered the cost of the cooker, which is still going strong! So no complaints.

Final preparation for flight to Madrid tomorrow. A big thank you to @JDB and everyone else on HfP for all the info you have provided about 241 on Iberia and travel in South America. Only downside. Mentioned Durango to OH. So instead of listening to classic FM, or Latino music, it’s George Strait! He’s just making sure we’ve plenty of C&W to listen to on our travels!

[anuj]

JDB wrote:

@anuj – it may be a bit late now, but personally I would ask for a full refund to which you are entitled. You should really just have rejected the delivery if it was damaged as other defects are likely to manifest themselves given the extent of the damage you report. To the extent you wanted compensation, that should have been agreed prior to accepting repair as a remedy. Get your money back and get a Fisher & Paykel fridge instead!

Unfortunately we didn’t realise the damage till later on, all the protective film on the drawers etc hid the damage very well. If I get a refund I’m then without the fridge I traded in which apparently can’t be returned. Fisher & Paykel did look very good, the only reason I went with Samsung is their new ones have the ice drawer in the freezer so no more jams caused by the ice maker battling the humidity of the fridge compartment.

[Froggee]

@anuj – you are in a rubbish position.

Your old fridge is gone and is not coming back. I am sorry for your loss.

Your new fridge has clearly been thrown around. Maybe the damage is “only” cosmetic but I would also be concerned about the integrity of its insides. When it decides to stop working a week past its guarantee that would be decidedly rubbish.

As always @JDB gives good advice.

If I were in your shoes, I would not wish to keep this fridge. You should still be able to reject it if you are within 14 days of receipt:

https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/consumer-contracts-regulations-ajWHC8m21cAk

The act of rejecting it may well trigger a negotiation as the problem then becomes Samsung’s, whereas currently they have your money and you have the problem. If Samsung do not cooperate, remember s75.

To keep it I would want at least. £259 off but might settle for less than that if they could offer e.g. a five year warranty given concerns about other unseen damage.

For what it is worth you can buy small travel fridges for very little money while you decide on a replacement. We have one in our attic which was a lifesaver for us when the integrated fridge in our old flat gave up the ghost. Since then we have lent it on four occasions now! I got loyalty for life from my former boss’ PA when I dropped it off in time to save the day.

[JDB]

@anuj – the fact they didn’t give you time to examine the goods is very much in favour. When this happens, one should write something to the effect that the goods are only accepted subject to inspection. F&P is good on delivery which they handle themselves using their own staff, so they unpack, connect the water etc.

[Aston100]

anuj wrote:

Was over £1k and now the same fridge elsewhere is out of stock or no longer on sale.

I think the real issue here is paying over a grand for a fridge.

[james747]

Just completed oneworld mini lounge safari at Singapore terminal 1. Qatar lounge for a la carte dining still winning hands down with business ticket. Sadly no status or first class upgrades available for the Qantas first lounge 😪

[Jill Kinkell]

@LD27 not going on Durango-Silverton train, but driving north to Montrose, so will see it all . Mega thunderstorm last evening and a bit grey outside this morning. Hotel just beside the station, but whistles not annoying us too much!

@executiveclubber thanks for reply. I’ll maybe submit something on return.

[HampshireHog]

As my old man would say “How much?!” For a device that is pretty simple with a compressor to keep stuff cold… I’ll show myself out

[Andrew.]

anuj wrote:

Very Off topic but just wanted an opinion on what you would service recovery you would expect in this scenario:

Ordered a fridge from Samsung, took over a month for them to finally deliver it, arrives with damaged door and broken shelf and drawers.
Rang up Samsung they can’t replace as out of stock, can’t supply similar fridge at price I paid, can’t return the fridge they took away for a trade in discount, and also can’t reinstate the birthday discount code. So begrudgingly ask them to repair it but can’t help but feel they should offer a discount for me effectively having to keep a refurb fridge for full price. Am I being unreasonable? Can’t return my original fridge so refund will be inconvenient at best.
Was over £1k and now the same fridge elsewhere is out of stock or no longer on sale.

Search for Miele Outlet Abingdon if you want immediate delivery of top-brand kit. You get to choose whether you want “A” grade end of line equipment, or you can have C-grade bashed stock with full warranty for your “dirty kitchen”. Stock list updates daily.

https://application.miele.co.uk/resources/pdf/MieleOutletPricelist.pdf

[NorthernLass]

HampshireHog wrote:

As my old man would say “How much?!” For a device that is pretty simple with a compressor to keep stuff cold… I’ll show myself out

It depends what it is in our house. OH has a fondness for expensive gadgets, but the bill for MOT, service and new brake pads yesterday did elicit an agonised Yorkshire-genes “How much?” Nor did it seem to alleviate his distress when I pointed out that at least Halford’s takes Amex 😂

[executiveclubber]

Eton Shirts have launched a campaign – they’ll apparently replace any shirts an airline loses for you…. https://www.etonshirts.com/au/en/page/phoenix

[LittleNick]

Good evening all from the business lounge at Valencia airport. Had a thoroughly enjoyable long weekend here with lovely warm weather and capturing in a lot of the sights. Just thought I’d give a mini report on the flights and hotels I stayed at.

Flight out on BA on Friday from LHR T3 was all fine, except being about 30 minutes or so late as we had to wait at the gate/taxiway for quite a while. Enjoyed the lounge hopping in T3 of course. Was a bit surprised that for a scheduled flight of over two hours the CE catering was the afternoon tea and sandwiches and not the usual meal.

Stayed at two hotels, the estimar then the only you (via Emyr) both excellent hotels. Estimar was a great hotel with a lovely rooftop bar which was great watching the sunset with great views over the city with a drink. Unfortunately, very strangely is that this hotel doesn’t accept Amex, never knew a hotel of this calibre not to take it. Also oddly instead of putting a hold on my card for any dining/bar spend they charged €50 then refunded on checkout which means I’ve lost out on the FX but never mind. Seems their card technology is out of date. Great service at Only you with the usual benefits Emyr provides which covered dinner last night.

Of course the BA flight back to LHR is delayed by about 30 mins again, no doubt similar to Friday that the inbound departed late. Wonder what CE service I will get tonight.

And of course Valencia is well worth a visit if you’ve not been.

[Andrew.]

Even at EUR330, I’d probably put the elbows through after about 26 wears.

[phantomchickenz]

Andrew. wrote:

anuj wrote:

Very Off topic but just wanted an opinion on what you would service recovery you would expect in this scenario:

Ordered a fridge from Samsung, took over a month for them to finally deliver it, arrives with damaged door and broken shelf and drawers.
Rang up Samsung they can’t replace as out of stock, can’t supply similar fridge at price I paid, can’t return the fridge they took away for a trade in discount, and also can’t reinstate the birthday discount code. So begrudgingly ask them to repair it but can’t help but feel they should offer a discount for me effectively having to keep a refurb fridge for full price. Am I being unreasonable? Can’t return my original fridge so refund will be inconvenient at best.
Was over £1k and now the same fridge elsewhere is out of stock or no longer on sale.

Search for Miele Outlet Abingdon if you want immediate delivery of top-brand kit. You get to choose whether you want “A” grade end of line equipment, or you can have C-grade bashed stock with full warranty for your “dirty kitchen”. Stock list updates daily.

https://application.miele.co.uk/resources/pdf/MieleOutletPricelist.pdf

Someone (might have been you) gave me similar advice a few weeks ago re a new dishwasher. It arrived last week and I thought I’d be clever and fit it myself saving £90. Took the best part of a day, but got there in the end, and now very happy with the purchase. Ordered on a Monday, was delivered that Wednesday.

[TooPoorToBeHere]

NorthernLass wrote:

an agonised Yorkshire-genes “How much?”

The Yorkshire War Cry!

[TooPoorToBeHere]

anuj wrote:

Very Off topic but just wanted an opinion on what you would service recovery you would expect in this scenario:

Ordered a fridge from Samsung, took over a month for them to finally deliver it, arrives with damaged door and broken shelf and drawers.
Rang up Samsung they can’t replace as out of stock, can’t supply similar fridge at price I paid, can’t return the fridge they took away for a trade in discount, and also can’t reinstate the birthday discount code. So begrudgingly ask them to repair it but can’t help but feel they should offer a discount for me effectively having to keep a refurb fridge for full price. Am I being unreasonable? Can’t return my original fridge so refund will be inconvenient at best.
Was over £1k and now the same fridge elsewhere is out of stock or no longer on sale.

Samsung fridges are garbage, to the extent that there are memes about how bad they are.

NFI if still the case but when we last looked, Liebherr were considered very solid, and the Miele were rebranded Liebherr with a much fancier price.