Chat thread – Wednesday 2nd April
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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.
Hi from the Doubletree Melbourne who are proper fierce about gold breakfast benefits. In contrast to 95% of Hiltons it really is continental only – they do make you pay extra for hot food and don’t let kids in the second room booked tag along on the free benefits. Not complaining in the slightest – that is after all exactly as advertised. In fact as it’s in the midst of Melbourne’s famous arcades and laneways so there’s an infinite choice of decent options in the area, it is far more interesting to go out anyway. Just a novel outlier vs typical Hilton experience.
Hi from the Doubletree Melbourne who are proper fierce about gold breakfast benefits. In contrast to 95% of Hiltons it really is continental only
Despite some of the issues previously mentioned about the HGI Little India Singapore, having a freshly cooked omelette every day is lovely as part of the free breakfasts for gold+ Sounds like the owners of the DT melbourne are tight wads.
Eating outside watching some of the birds swoop across the swimming pool surface catching the insects is also lovely, but that’s not relevant 🙂
Hi all, is there a OW chart / page anywhere I can find the rules for OWE free seat selection across all OW airlines? I’ve been looking on flyertalk for some time and I simply can’t find anybody keeping track of this. I don’t want to bother anyone with the same questioms for the umpteenth time (nor do I feel like asking for every single occasion).
I know this is not a benefit across the board with OWE, nor is it with ST EP. But at ST it is reasonably easy to remember for all airlines (i.e. not applicable on VS. All flights except to the US and all fare classes except V on AM) and the ST website also has a handy “find your benefits” guide if travelled on a partner airline.
Morning from the Gatwick purple palace, off to Mickey Mouse world later with the kids on a 2-4-1.
Check-in/ bag drop last night was complicated by being on separate bookings for outbound and return flights. The computer system threw up an error message, due a lack of return flight. After providing evidence of my return flight and a call to supervisor, eventually the check-in agent was able to process us.
This probably explains why I couldn’t check in online. Thought this was worth noting for others booking 2-4-1’s (to US) as separate tickets.
Morning from the Gatwick purple palace, off to Mickey Mouse world later with the kids on a 2-4-1.
Check-in/ bag drop last night was complicated by being on separate bookings for outbound and return flights. The computer system threw up an error message, due a lack of return flight. After providing evidence of my return flight and a call to supervisor, eventually the check-in agent was able to process us.
This probably explains why I couldn’t check in online. Thought this was worth noting for others booking 2-4-1’s (to US) as separate tickets.
Did not know you needed a return ticket for the US, or maybe a new one?
This has been standard for the US for years if you are visiting. And it’s not just the US. Many countries have such a requirement.
You don’t need a return ticket but a ticket to show you have plans to leave the country – this could be a cruise for example or an onward flight on a separate booking to back home or to another country.
And airlines will check this even if only to protect themselves from being fined.
@ed_fly keep the “return” sector itinerary handy as the CBP will want to see it.Does Hilton status usually take a few days to reset? Sitting at Diamond and was expecting to drop to Gold?
This has been standard for the US for years if you are visiting. And it’s not just the US. Many countries have such a requirement.
You don’t need a return ticket but a ticket to show you have plans to leave the country – this could be a cruise for example or an onward flight on a separate booking to back home or to another country.
And airlines will check this even if only to protect themselves from being fined.
@ed_fly keep the “return” sector itinerary handy as the CBP will want to see it.thanks for the tip! Most appreciated, I’ll keep it handy
I’ve flown to the US on one-way tickets several times and never had to show any return arrangements at check-in (or, indeed, at US immigration), including last month when we flew MAN-MCO on VS. And not just from the UK, also from Caribbean islands as part of longer itineraries. I always assumed that the American authorities are aware of which other flights you’re booked on and therefore know your exit plans in advance!
Check-in/ bag drop last night was complicated by being on separate bookings for outbound and return flights. The computer system threw up an error message, due a lack of return flight. After providing evidence of my return flight and a call to supervisor, eventually the check-in agent was able to process us.
This is also common in many South American countries. On my recent trip I wasn’t allowed to board the bus from Argentina to Chile until I could show evidence of my entry date into Argentina so that the bus driver could confirm it to the authorities at the border. (Argentina were the only country on my recent trip not to stamp passports)
I was also asked by pretty much every check in agent to show evidence of my onward flight as I was travelling in and out of every country on a different airline.
I’ve flown to the US on one-way tickets several times and never had to show any return arrangements at check-in (or, indeed, at US immigration), including last month when we flew MAN-MCO on VS. And not just from the UK, also from Caribbean islands as part of longer itineraries. I always assumed that the American authorities are aware of which other flights you’re booked on and therefore know your exit plans in advance!
Guess they can see onward bookings – sometimes. You won’t get on a QR flight from MAD without some visible proof whereas I was all prepared to show my BA DXB LHR a while back at DOH but wasn’t asked.
On the trip I’ve just completed, I flew MAN-MCO on VS, then FLL-BIM-FLL on Silver Airways, then MIA-GCM on AA, then GCM-LHR-MAN on BA and wasn’t required to show any evidence of onward travel at any point.
A basic question which I feel I should know the answer to, but have never actually tested it: I am travelling HBO to VIE tomorrow – if I buy duty free (alcohol) on the outbound, can I bring it back (also HBO) if I keep it sealed in the duty free bag, without worrying about the liquids limit? My Club Avolta discount won’t be applicable if I try to buy the bottle I want (even if available) in VIE on my inbound.
Good morning from a Supercharger on the Dutch/German border, next stop Cologne/Koln.
HIEX Arnhem, no ‘removable’ hangars, small kettle, no milk jiggers, very basic loo roll but a fairly decent breakfast spread. One of the best HIEX I’ve stayed in to be fair.
A basic question which I feel I should know the answer to, but have never actually tested it: I am travelling HBO to VIE tomorrow – if I buy duty free (alcohol) on the outbound, can I bring it back (also HBO) if I keep it sealed in the duty free bag, without worrying about the liquids limit? My Club Avolta discount won’t be applicable if I try to buy the bottle I want (even if available) in VIE on my inbound.
I would be super surprised if VIE security allowed you to come through with it on the return.
@Chas You’ve got three hopes, Bob, Cape of Good and no.
Thanks @PeteM and @Strickers – shame, but as I suspected. Had (forlornly…) hoped I might be wrong.
On the trip I’ve just completed, I flew MAN-MCO on VS, then FLL-BIM-FLL on Silver Airways, then MIA-GCM on AA, then GCM-LHR-MAN on BA and wasn’t required to show any evidence of onward travel at any point.
Likely because it’s all tied together on the ESTA system. You can see all your entry and exits on there.
A basic question which I feel I should know the answer to, but have never actually tested it: I am travelling HBO to VIE tomorrow – if I buy duty free (alcohol) on the outbound, can I bring it back (also HBO) if I keep it sealed in the duty free bag, without worrying about the liquids limit? My Club Avolta discount won’t be applicable if I try to buy the bottle I want (even if available) in VIE on my inbound.
Years ago, i had a flight JFK->LHR->AMS->LHR all HBO and managed to do something similar buying duty free in JFK. In this case it was perfume and probably below the 100ml limit though. In the US they bagged it in special security bag and it had the receipt or something showing where it was purchased and flight I was on etc inside specifically because i had connecting flights. I think this was the time i went landside at LHR and went back through check in as transfers at T5 had a horrendous queue. AMS was a back-to-back so I didn’t leave the gate. It’s a different scenario to yours though and if you are leaving airside at VIE then I think it’s unlikely they’ll let you!
A basic question which I feel I should know the answer to, but have never actually tested it: I am travelling HBO to VIE tomorrow – if I buy duty free (alcohol) on the outbound, can I bring it back (also HBO) if I keep it sealed in the duty free bag, without worrying about the liquids limit? My Club Avolta discount won’t be applicable if I try to buy the bottle I want (even if available) in VIE on my inbound.
It’s a different scenario to yours though and if you are leaving airside at VIE then I think it’s unlikely they’ll let you!
I recall having been able to do something similar to you on connecting flights before, where the receipt in the bag was fine for connecting flights. I had hoped that there might be something I was unaware of for my scenario, but the robust responses prove that my hopes were aspirational only!
Hi from the Doubletree Melbourne who are proper fierce about gold breakfast benefits. In contrast to 95% of Hiltons it really is continental only – they do make you pay extra for hot food and don’t let kids in the second room booked tag along on the free benefits. Not complaining in the slightest – that is after all exactly as advertised. In fact as it’s in the midst of Melbourne’s famous arcades and laneways so there’s an infinite choice of decent options in the area, it is far more interesting to go out anyway. Just a novel outlier vs typical Hilton experience.
Reminds me of Hilton Melbourne. Ordered a gin and tonic (not self service), lady poured a single. I asked her to pour a double, she said not allowed. Quoted local laws 🤷. I asked for a single gin. She said no. I walked to table, plonked glass down on table. Went back, asked for single gin, tonic on the side. Sure. Went back, gin poured into one on table, extra tonic went to waste…
On the trip I’ve just completed, I flew MAN-MCO on VS, then FLL-BIM-FLL on Silver Airways, then MIA-GCM on AA, then GCM-LHR-MAN on BA and wasn’t required to show any evidence of onward travel at any point.
Likely because it’s all tied together on the ESTA system. You can see all your entry and exits on there.
But departing MAN, we were in the same position as ed_fly. Our ESTAs wouldn’t be showing that our onward travel was to BIM, surely?
But departing MAN, we were in the same position as ed_fly. Our ESTAs wouldn’t be showing that our onward travel was to BIM, surely?
Why not? They have your name, address, passport number, and esta and probably way more data on you before you set foot on an aircraft. If you’re checked in for your onwards flight that’s the minimum.
You can see your data here, and it even links new and old passports. https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/home
This has been standard for the US for years if you are visiting. And it’s not just the US. Many countries have such a requirement.
You don’t need a return ticket but a ticket to show you have plans to leave the country – this could be a cruise for example or an onward flight on a separate booking to back home or to another country.
And airlines will check this even if only to protect themselves from being fined.
@ed_fly keep the “return” sector itinerary handy as the CBP will want to see it.Oh I did not know, might be one the new administration is enforcing more then.
Flew to Boston last summer, was leaving the country on a cruise ship but was never asked.
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