[JohnTh]

Hope you enjoyed it and went up the castle and also used the trams! Curio was full when we stayed there so no upgrade, but side rooms were still good.

[JohnTh]

Sounds like I should have just used the lower cash amount! Amex must treat them as a single transaction somehow.

[JohnTh]

I have a flex rate at Canary Wharf for “twixmas”. Already been upgraded to exec room and shows as full so not going to change. May have to prepay 50 to complete spend to offer amount before then. Presumably they would refund if for any reason we had to cancel.

[JohnTh]

Yes got ours too. May even try it at Malaga in 2 weeks. Good to see if you prepay you get a booked slot included. I think you can prebookonly if already have a free pass through another route..

[JohnTh]

I am sure I have seen elsewhere – it says in T&Cs about qualifying spend posted in UK£, but for European hotels in the list – that won’t happen. Is credit still awarded if charged to card at hotel in € (obviously for equivalent >£250 – allowing for conversion surcharge as well).

[JohnTh]

Blair Waldorf Salad wrote:

Why would AwardWallet email be considered proof? Surely the original Hilton booking confirmation email or nothing.

I was very pleased they did, although their own systems should have the info! Oddly original email had never come through.

[JohnTh]

Update – Diamond team put me in contact with front desk who very quickly manually reapplied the original rate, phew. Goodness knows what would have happened if I hadn’t spotted it before checkin or realised AwardWallet could be so useful for proof.

[JohnTh]

Don’t think voucher shows in Virgin Red, only in Virgin Atlantic app/account..

[JohnTh]

stevenhp1987 wrote:

Dudulle wrote:

Like some others here there was money missing in my balance. I’ve contacted support and was told it was a fee.
The fee was related to paying off a credit card and is 2% of the transaction.
I looked in the terms of the card and cannot find any mention of such fees though. I might try to get it removed and will report back if that worked.

There is no such fee in the T&C so they cannot charge it.

The Help Topics also make it clear that any charges will show as a line item.

—

Q. If I am charged any fees, when will they appear on my customer statement?

A: Any fees will appear immediately on your customer statement which can be viewed within the British Airways Executive Club Rewards app.

—

They cannot legally charge these “fees” without changing their T&C.

—————-
I did get a line showing as “Cash Adv Inter Fee” £0.08, realised is 2% of a test £4 payment to Amex so it must be that, Oops! (Did earn 2 Avios though on the payment).

[JohnTh]

Yes posted ok, first time since November – hope they have finally fixed it.
Phoning and using Hilton option did get all backlog points posted within a fortnight previously. Also Hilton spend bonus points not awarded.

[JohnTh]

I found the Hilton rep helpful when I used the Barclaycard number 03332021145 but then used option 1 for Hilton (who would guess this route!). It does go to Hilton but they understood it was an issue with Barclaycard and told me they create a case for Barclays so they can work together! Resolution when I did it before took a couple of weeks, but did work. Apparently the underlying cause HAS BEEN fixed at long last, so we will see when the June statement finally gets processed across!

[JohnTh]

Apparently the “issue” with points transfers should be solved for the end June statements! Been going on since at least Jan. PS Wasn’t sure who to call, but seems if you phone the Hilton BarclayCard number 03332021145 but choose option1 you get to Hilton reservations and they can raise the case for you – just done it for April and May statements, plus I also noticed I didn’t get any bonus points on my Hilton spend last month.
I did manage to get Barclays to raise a case in April via chat (and got the 3 months credited within a couple of weeks) but lately they just say don’t have access call instead!

[JohnTh]

Drat – Toronto gone back to the 789 old style club layout!

[JohnTh]

For info some images for 777-200er that seem closest to my booking seatmap show the plane with 2 rows 1st (however they may be club suite instead), 3 more Club suite rows starting at row 5, catering and finally rows 9-17 Club suite.
Agree can’t see it on BA or Seatguru yet!
Closest seatmap I can find

[JohnTh]

It is the 777 with club suites 1-2-1 layout. We’ve just noticed this and delighted to try them (all being well) mid June.

[JohnTh]

At last you can now select offers by category in the App. More filter options still needed though.

[JohnTh]

Also looking at New York for October – either Hilton Midtown or Hilton Brooklyn as only 2 showing Exec lounge (as Diamond). Or else the new Embassy Suites Times Sq (with breakfast and drinks reception instead of Exec lounge) – all 70-80k points or between $320 and $400 per night – so not super redemption value.

[JohnTh]

PPS Naples Airport lounge was good (and at least we were allowed in ok), although not large. Staff served you from buffet and drinks cabinet.

[JohnTh]

Just as an update following short trip to Sorrento this week.
– uploaded vaccine doc and plf to BA booking a few hours before online check in opened.
– after that we didn’t need to show anything during our entire trip until joining the security queue for return flight which accepted NHS Covid pass.
– Masks required on transport and official indoor spaces.
Naples Airport did NOT let Club Europe passengers use their fast track!

[JohnTh]

Just seen for tonight’s stay at Heathrow T2/3 that our room now shows as (upgraded to) High floor Runway view. First time seen auto upgrade.
Surprised that these rooms are ones looking over T2 even if on floor 13.
Hoping to try Qantas and Cathay lounges tomorrow before early Naples flight!

[JohnTh]

Thanks – done, we’ll see how much clearer info is on 1st April

[JohnTh]

I have noticed quite persistent too!

[JohnTh]

OH had the usual spiel about needing a BA Amex Premium in their name for 241 redemption, but also the offer of 10k for 3k spend. Have a large payment coming up soon, so decided worth sticking for now but will still canx before renewal date.

[JohnTh]

Muchas gracias!

[JohnTh]

Hilton Metropole Brighton has indoor basement level pool jacuzzi sauna steam room & gym. Not huge but quite pleasant.