[chelseafifi]

I have a flight coming up LHR to CFU, I’ve booked 6 of us in club with Avios, I’ve just had a look at seat selection (just out of interest as I don’t have status and I’m not paying £25 per seat) and there are only 5 seats available? They have 8 rows available, I’m assuming blocked seats will open up before check in and we should all be ok?

[chelseafifi]

AJA wrote:

chelseafifi wrote:

Advice for a friend please and before you say I know I need to talk to her about her choices! In Jan she booked BA return flights LHR to ATH (for her virgin cruise this Aug which she paid cash for). She is a solo traveler and booked club return paying cash (just under £1k) and used 10,400 Avios to save £70 and 2 weeks before travel paid £46 to preselect her seats both ways! On the way to LHR she received email from BA to say flight cancelled and was put onto a flight hour or so later but in euro traveler. She asked at airport but think BA customer services weren’t too helpful and it was a full flight. Return flight all ok, can you please advise what she is entitled to claim from BA as they haven’t provided any information. Thank you

Hi. I really don’t understand what is going on with BA at the moment. Cancelling a flight as you’re on your way to the airport is a nightmare.

First things first. She should get compensation for the cancelled flight unless unit was down to extraordinary circumstances

Secondly she should request a refund of the outbound seat reservation fee. Fill in the form here

https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/seating/seating-changes-and-refunds

Thirdly she is entitled to downgrade reimbursement for being placed in a lower cabin than she paid for. There is something called the Mennens formula to work this out but I’ve no idea how it actually works. I think she is entitled to 50% of the fare from LHR to ATH. That’s not 50% of the total fare though.

Plus dont forget to apply for reimbursement for the difference in APD between EuroTraveller and Ckub Europe.

Read this article:
Downgraded by British Airways? You could get a 75% refund. https://www.headforpoints.com/2020/08/13/british-airways-first-class-downgrade/

Thank you very much

[chelseafifi]

Advice for a friend please and before you say I know I need to talk to her about her choices! In Jan she booked BA return flights LHR to ATH (for her virgin cruise this Aug which she paid cash for). She is a solo traveler and booked club return paying cash (just under £1k) and used 10,400 Avios to save £70 and 2 weeks before travel paid £46 to preselect her seats both ways! On the way to LHR she received email from BA to say flight cancelled and was put onto a flight hour or so later but in euro traveler. She asked at airport but think BA customer services weren’t too helpful and it was a full flight. Return flight all ok, can you please advise what she is entitled to claim from BA as they haven’t provided any information. Thank you

[chelseafifi]

Thank you all for the comments so far, @Mikeact yes the afternoon tea on last day looks like a great tip along with the city tour bus. I know 8 days isn’t long but I’m sure all going well, we can definitely return the following year. Planning to pick up car from airport for the duration. @Harry T yes we do enjoy good food, I’m not necessarily looking for fine dining but would definitely welcome restaurant recommendations. Also any hotel recommendation for base in Cape Town. Thanks again

[chelseafifi]

Hi would really appreciate any advice/recommendations on car hire at Cape Town 9 days, first time visit, I have Amex Plat so I assume I can turn down any extra insurance they usually try to sell and also have Hertz Gold and Avis Preferred. Thank you

[chelseafifi]

Richie wrote:

I’m on holiday in Greece at the moment, it’s wonderful.

+1 currently in Ikos Dassia, Corfu would never swap for Caribbean.

[chelseafifi]

Thank you very much meta, after the annoyance of IC Rome 40k intern rate stay that obviously didn’t happen earlier this year I am looking forward to our 3 nights here in early August. I have booked the first two nights using Ambassador Cert and the third night is via FHR, I’m Ambassador diamond elite for first time so should I email hotel to merge the two bookings and any experience on how the FHR $100 credit will work, will I be able to spend over the 3 nights or just the third day? Thanks

[chelseafifi]

This was the post yesterday at 1.30pm from shub…..

“As a data point, I recently cancelled my economy flight from Gatwick to Dalaman booked using Avios using £35 cash option (return trip). When cancelling it showed the refund amount of £34 per ticket, and the same has been refunded to the bank. So just charging £1 cancellation fee. Not sure if it’s BA IT that worked in my favor or there has bee some change in the policy.”

It also worked for me yesterday evening cancelled online.

[chelseafifi]

shub wrote:

As a data point, I recently cancelled my economy flight from Gatwick to Dalaman booked using Avios using £35 cash option (return trip). When cancelling it showed the refund amount of £34 per ticket, and the same has been refunded to the bank. So just charging £1 cancellation fee. Not sure if it’s BA IT that worked in my favor or there has bee some change in the policy.

Thanks just worked for me too, 2 lots needed cancelling so £68 x 2 back good post.

[chelseafifi]

jek wrote:

chelseafifi wrote:

Returned from Rome last weekend, had a lovely 3 days, hadn’t been for 12 years and went same time of year, it was so busy this time! Used Amex dining credit at All’Ora, lovely atmosphere & service, food was good. Due to IC cancellation ended up staying in a small B&B, not what I’d originally planned and really wasn’t very good, clean & good location was it’s best points! Very nice Premium Plaza at FCO E gates, massive lounge Monday midday around 15% full!

We did almost the same last weekend! All’Oro on Sunday and Plaza Premium on Wednesday. We stayed at the Indigo as I made backup reservations there just in case the IC would not open in time…

Hope you had a good time unfortunately Indigo was fully booked for our dates.

[chelseafifi]

Returned from Rome last weekend, had a lovely 3 days, hadn’t been for 12 years and went same time of year, it was so busy this time! Used Amex dining credit at All’Ora, lovely atmosphere & service, food was good. Due to IC cancellation ended up staying in a small B&B, not what I’d originally planned and really wasn’t very good, clean & good location was it’s best points! Very nice Premium Plaza at FCO E gates, massive lounge Monday midday around 15% full!

[chelseafifi]

meta wrote:

chelseafifi wrote:

Well I have got absolutely nowhere with my end of March booking, I did two IHG in app chats early Feb, they rang hotel and spoke to “Alice” who confirmed absolutely the hotel would be ready and open for my stay, I was not to worry. I then called IHG and was on phone for over hour whilst they looked into if hotel would be open end March, they said they had been told to move guests to Indigo, ended up getting cut off on phone before anything was resolved, no return call, even though they had taken my number in case the line dropped. I have now emailed 3 times and it’s just getting worse the customer service. Basically Indigo is fully booked for my dates, they are recommending Holiday Inn or Crown Plaza!!!
I am Diamond status and joined Ambassador only cause I had this hotel booked!
I’m loosing the will on this one, I’ve now booked a little B&B for our stay.

Send an email to IHG CEO and ask them to pay for the bill of a new hotel. You won’t get anywhere with CS. If you want your case be heard louder write a bad review on TA or post/comment on their social media preferably under a cheerful promo post.

Finally got something for my cancelled reservation, thanks Meta I emailed CEO after 6 days got response, given 80k points, plus I’d already been given 10k from a previous CS rep.

[chelseafifi]

Well I have got absolutely nowhere with my end of March booking, I did two IHG in app chats early Feb, they rang hotel and spoke to “Alice” who confirmed absolutely the hotel would be ready and open for my stay, I was not to worry. I then called IHG and was on phone for over hour whilst they looked into if hotel would be open end March, they said they had been told to move guests to Indigo, ended up getting cut off on phone before anything was resolved, no return call, even though they had taken my number in case the line dropped. I have now emailed 3 times and it’s just getting worse the customer service. Basically Indigo is fully booked for my dates, they are recommending Holiday Inn or Crown Plaza!!!
I am Diamond status and joined Ambassador only cause I had this hotel booked!
I’m loosing the will on this one, I’ve now booked a little B&B for our stay.

[chelseafifi]

Thanks everyone really appreciate all the replies, I’ve gone with Chase for now as that’ll suit my current needs.

[chelseafifi]

Great thanks for all the recommendations

[chelseafifi]

Thanks Anna Just had a quick look at Virgin but think they still charge for online purchases. Thanks Aston Will take a look at the Halifax Clarity

[chelseafifi]

Yes this is the thing, I’ve just gone on IHG chat to discuss my booking and options and they just basically said the hotel will be opening 14th March 23, I challenged this and said “is this definitely correct and up to date information? Reply was “Yes”. I asked if I could have that in writing via email or email the chat conversation, they said “no it’s not possible! Just screenshot info.

I’ve now emailed the hotel to check – info@ic-rome.com I’ll update any info here.

[chelseafifi]

Oh no that’s not good I have 3 nights via the 40k points’offer’ 24th March and cash flights booked with BA, got the diamond status from the special link and joined Ambassador to keep the status for this trip. So very annoying, I’ve booked DT on points as a backup as I’m Hilton Gold but no comparison. I genuinely don’t know whether to go ahead with trip or move to later in year as DTHilton isn’t what I wanted, would I get any compensation for hotel not opening, I have my plat insurance but flights were only £120pp LHR return as booked last summer.

[chelseafifi]

I have amex plat Priority Pass and used the credit given at Moevenpick Cafe when I was there 8 weeks ago, myself and guest.

[chelseafifi]

Yes this is available to redeem under the Hilton Experiences
https://experiences.hiltonhonors.com/a-maldivian-culinary-adventure/isynmv1/aucd/4322611

[chelseafifi]

jarul wrote:

Has anyone used the dining credit for 2023 and if so how long did it take to get the credit?

As I’ve used it in 2022, and both times received the credit the next business day. But for some reason this time I haven’t, its been 3 working days since.

Used @ Ivy last Fri 13th credit received today Wed 18th

[chelseafifi]

JD wrote:

Hi all

I am looking for a hotel (or AirBnB, frankly anything…) recommendation for a trip to Rome at the start of April. We are a family of 4, kids are 9 and 11. As usual, it is almost impossible to find a hotel room in Europe that can sleep 4, so I am looking for any recommendations.

I have Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond.

Thanks in advance for any help

JD

We stayed here with our boys similar age https://lapiccolamaison.com/#/(beddy:home)
Excellent location

[chelseafifi]

Going to Harvey Nicks, then onto The Cavendish, Mayfair (walk or tube depending on weather), can anyone please advise on an Ivy, (to purchase gift-card for dining credit) close-by either location?

[chelseafifi]

So I’m Diamond Elite and purchased Ambassador and extended status til 2023. I have a 3 nights stay later this month booked via Amex FHR at The Regent, Berlin. As booked via FHR I added my membership no during booking but not showing in upcoming stays in IHG app. Should I contact hotel in advance of stay to ensure they have my status? I assume I will receive FHR entitlement, which included $100 credit, plus $20 Ambassador credit?

[chelseafifi]

I did the Diamond Elite upgrade last week and I’ve got a 3 nights cash booking via Amex FHR for Regent Berlin next month, I added my IHG number during booking, pay at Hotel.

I have a 3 nights points stay booked on the “special IHG points offer” at The IC Rome next March. So before my Berlin stay, if I purchase Ambassador for $200, I should receive 20,000 points from my Berlin stay, extend my Diamond status til end 2023, receive a possible upgrade for my Rome IC Stay and also get free Breakfast for my Rome stay? Is that how it should work?

Thanks