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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.
The BA twitter team don’t seem to think it is possible to use a companion voucher for Madrid to San Jose with the return Bogotá to London via Madrid. Is this just a case of bad training or have I missed something?
The BA twitter team don’t seem to think it is possible to use a companion voucher for Madrid to San Jose with the return Bogotá to London via Madrid. Is this just a case of bad training or have I missed something?
Re adding the return, @Hampshirehog was enquiring about adding the return MAD-LHR, on IB with Avios a few days ago, to check bags through, and it was possible, what was the reason for their decision?
The BA twitter team don’t seem to think it is possible to use a companion voucher for Madrid to San Jose with the return Bogotá to London via Madrid. Is this just a case of bad training or have I missed something?
Re adding the return, @Hampshirehog was enquiring about adding the return MAD-LHR, on IB with Avios a few days ago, to check bags through, and it was possible, what was the reason for their decision?
They told me they thought it had to be the same distance band and so are checking with the avios team – it is just a shame they cannot train their staff properly in the first place.
There’s been a thread recently that IB is now enforcing the terms in respect of open jaw bookings so they’re no longer possible at origin, although you might strike lucky and get an agent is who is still willing to do this. Otherwise the only option is to book a separate MAD-UK flight and collect and re-check bags. Reader @Ladyshopper seemed to have fallen foul of this new stance.
They told me they thought it had to be the same distance band and so are checking with the avios team – it is just a shame they cannot train their staff properly in the first place.[/quote]
@Hugog
I think that’s a bit unfair. BA/IAG is such a vast organisation it would be impossible for tel ops to be experts in everything.
I think “I’m not sure but will check with Avios team” is a reasonable answer@NorthernLass – I was under the impression from the thread on the 10th April, Re, @PeteM post at 11:15, that you could add the return leg, MAD-LHR, but book the outbound LHR-MAD as a separated one way ticket, or am I not understanding this correctly?
I actually didn’t know this was allowed, so on a booking last year, I just booked a separate IB LHR-MAD return.
Coming to the end of a stay at the IC Barclay New York. The lobby restaurant beef burger (my version of the Big Mac index) is now $40 before tax and service.
Further afield, a pre-packaged turkey sandwich at a Rockefeller Center food store was $21, again before tax.
And a single Haagen Dazs ‘Magnum’ on a stick ranges from $6-7.
In Waldorf Astoria news, there’s rather a lot of construction still taking place, with pavements still closed outside it. However, a uniformed door man was in situ yesterday, at a door stranded beyond the construction zone. There is safer pedestrian accesss to the sales office for the residences. It feels like if a June opening for paid guests happens, it will be whilst construction is still progressing.
The lobby restaurant beef burger (my version of the Big Mac index) is now $40 before tax and service.
Further afield, a pre-packaged turkey sandwich at a Rockefeller Center food store was $21, again before tax.
And a single Haagen Dazs ‘Magnum’ on a stick ranges from $6-7.
This, and the awful tipping culture is the reason I travel east, I understand you travel for business though, so not too badly affected by prices.
@hugog – returning to London via Madrid on one ticket has been allowed for several years, but there has been a change of policy within the last few weeks. Call centre agents clearly aren’t all aware, but when adding the Madrid to London leg separately from the SAm to Madrid leg it requires manual intervention by the fares/ticketing team which is fully aware of the change. If a passenger is misinformed about this by the booking agent, BA will potentially honour what was advised.
@NorthernLass – it’s not exactly that you can no longer have origin open jaws. They are allowed, but seemingly not across pricing zones.Good morning from a beautiful morning in St. Helier. Frustratingly, I have noticed that a charge yesterday of £100 went onto my Halifax Credit Card. Just says ARGOS. Certainly not me as only really use it when go abroad. And not used it for ages. Imagine it wasn’t online as when I have used it online it should take me through the app to confirm the transaction, so must be in store but don’t know any further details yet. Tried to call the credit card fraud line but just kept disconnecting after putting details in. Useful. So will have to wait until 8am for the normal lines to open….
Coming to the end of a stay at the IC Barclay New York. The lobby restaurant beef burger (my version of the Big Mac index) is now $40 before tax and service.
Further afield, a pre-packaged turkey sandwich at a Rockefeller Center food store was $21, again before tax.
And a single Haagen Dazs ‘Magnum’ on a stick ranges from $6-7.
Thank you for this. Seeing the dollar at $1:34 it’s almost tempting to say let’s go for a weekend. But really no. That is a $60 Big Mac!!
Everything else aside I think a long weekend in the classy civilisation of most of Europe is a far better option
My OH flew to HEL on April 1st in Y and had their IB number in the booking. It took 3 weeks, a claim for missing Avios (which IB cancelled) and a complaint to IB, before the flights credited.
75 Elite points each way but 572 Avios outbound and 286 inbound.
Pretty sure the Avios was higher than if the flights had credited to either BA or AY. What is absolutely certain is that status is unobtainable via IB or BA.
So next up is a trial of AY to see how it performs with BA flights.£100 back on £800 spend with Virgin Atlantic showing up on Amex plat this morning
@JDB – so does that mean MAD-MIA-MAD-MAN would still be allowed or not?
@JDB – so does that mean MAD-MIA-MAD-MAN would still be allowed or not?
Morning, NL!
I THINK the problem would be MAD-MIA / LAX-MAD-MAN (for example)Morning Michael! Yes this is what I’m trying to get my head around – which zone is causing the problem?! I think @Ladyshopper was just trying to do a simple return from NRT but IB would not add the MAD-LHR leg.
Considering starting a trip next year in MIA and using the Barclays voucher for J works out similar in avios pricing to just booking from MAD using no vouchers! I also have a 241 which would reduce the cost further, but if going down that route would obviously want the return all on one ticket.
@JDB – so does that mean MAD-MIA-MAD-MAN would still be allowed or not?
Theoretically, that journey should be OK, as the origins are both in Band 6. At least this is how it was explained to me by a BA fares/ticketing manager last week. The band rule is apparently now being applied even though each sector is being charged separately.
@JDB – so does that mean MAD-MIA-MAD-MAN would still be allowed or not?
Theoretically, that journey should be OK, as the origins are both in Band 6. At least this is how it was explained to me by a BA fares/ticketing manager last week. The band rule is apparently now being applied even though each sector is being charged separately.
The BA twitter team don’t seem to think it is possible to use a companion voucher for Madrid to San Jose with the return Bogotá to London via Madrid. Is this just a case of bad training or have I missed something?
Re adding the return, @Hampshirehog was enquiring about adding the return MAD-LHR, on IB with Avios a few days ago, to check bags through, and it was possible, what was the reason for their decision?
They told me they thought it had to be the same distance band and so are checking with the avios team – it is just a shame they cannot train their staff properly in the first place.
There has been a change of policy within the last few weeks. Call centre agents clearly aren’t all aware, but when adding the Madrid to London leg separately from the SAm to Madrid leg it requires manual intervention by the fares/ticketing team which is fully aware of the change. If a passenger is misinformed about this by the booking agent, BA will potentially honour what was advised.
Coming to the end of a stay at the IC Barclay New York. The lobby restaurant beef burger (my version of the Big Mac index) is now $40 before tax and service.
Further afield, a pre-packaged turkey sandwich at a Rockefeller Center food store was $21, again before tax.
And a single Haagen Dazs ‘Magnum’ on a stick ranges from $6-7.
In Waldorf Astoria news, there’s rather a lot of construction still taking place, with pavements still closed outside it. However, a uniformed door man was in situ yesterday, at a door stranded beyond the construction zone. There is safer pedestrian accesss to the sales office for the residences. It feels like if a June opening for paid guests happens, it will be whilst construction is still progressing.
Ah have less than fond memories of that hotel.
Years ago, did a long weekend in NYC for a significant anniversary and it was a disaster end-to-end !
Flight was late, with a bumpy ride and grumpy crew.
“Limo” service from the airport was an unremarkable sedan whose driver lost the parking ticket so wasted ages p***ing about then drove like a maniac while constantly on his mobile… very unhappy bunny when I declined to tip 🙂
Late at night by the time we got to the IC Barclay only to be rudely told “you should have been here earlier, we’ve given your room to another guest” – I had a confirmed reservation and was an IC Ambassador at the time ! Eventually sorted out and we ended up in a poky double with views of New York’s finest brickwork & air conditioning vents.
Overnight, several inches of snow fell which in fact we had packed for so we (genuainely!) had a lovely time wandering around Manhattan in our boots and parkas.
On departure day the Airtrain went down :0
Years later we look back and laugh but at the time it was stressful !
The BA twitter team don’t seem to think it is possible to use a companion voucher for Madrid to San Jose with the return Bogotá to London via Madrid. Is this just a case of bad training or have I missed something?
As others have mentioned, there has been an update. This thread will give more details:
https://www.headforpoints.com/forums/topic/calling-ba-to-book-an-iberia-flight/Afternoon all,
I have to make a last min trip to Ireland this weekend and need to park at Heathrow (normally I take the Tube but have a lot of stuff to take). Appreciate it’s last minute but Heathrow want £85 for a park and ride! Any other suggestions I can look at?
Afternoon all,
I have to make a last min trip to Ireland this weekend and need to park at Heathrow (normally I take the Tube but have a lot of stuff to take). Appreciate it’s last minute but Heathrow want £85 for a park and ride! Any other suggestions I can look at?
https://www.yourparkingspace.co.uk/
JustPark.com
@jumpersforgoalposts Maple parking have an offsite car park for T5 with regular shuttles. I’ve had pretty good service over the years.
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