[marshy11]

Don’t forget JL do a two year guarantee on Apple products.

FWIW I checked my purchase from the Education Store two years ago and it did track.

[marshy11]

BA Flyer IHG Stayer wrote:

It’s 7 days starting based on the time of the flight,

If your flight is at say 2pm then seat selection should open up at 2pm 7 days before and not before.

To be fair he/she does say

CharlieUK wrote:

it’s now exactly 7 days before that flight, and it’s still asking me to pay for seat selection. Any ideas?

I would hope it’s been sorted, hopefully they will come back and update.

[marshy11]

JDB wrote:

marshy11 wrote:

TGLoyalty wrote:

Official Heathrow meet and greet was great when I used leave T4 arrive T5. No problem handing over my keys to the airport but I don’t leave personal items in it when it’s parked for multiple days regardless.

Caused a lot of damage to the underside of our car which we didn’t notice until we got home to Cornwall. Fortunately during the email exchange of them refuting it was their fault, they sent the photos of us on entry and exit. Clear to see the damage occurred whilst in their care. It’s a big BMW and the turning circle isn’t great, they just rammed it into the kerb and did an up and over by all accounts. No apology but they did send out a mobile repair to have it sorted.

On 4 November 2022, you reported this as happening at Gatwick and sought advice, but now Heathrow is getting the blame for the damage to your car?

You are right, that is my mistake, for some reason I had this in my head as a Heathrow flight. It was Gatwick Official parking. Apologies for any confusion. I don’t think I can edit an old post so have reported it in the hope it can be removed as it is incorrect.

[marshy11]

TGLoyalty wrote:

Official Heathrow meet and greet was great when I used leave T4 arrive T5. No problem handing over my keys to the airport but I don’t leave personal items in it when it’s parked for multiple days regardless.

Caused a lot of damage to the underside of our car which we didn’t notice until we got home to Cornwall. Fortunately during the email exchange of them refuting it was their fault, they sent the photos of us on entry and exit. Clear to see the damage occurred whilst in their care. It’s a big BMW and the turning circle isn’t great, they just rammed it into the kerb and did an up and over by all accounts. No apology but they did send out a mobile repair to have it sorted.

[marshy11]

BA Flyer IHG Stayer wrote:

BA will not give you cash when it was an avios redemption. They will only give you avios.

The only time they will is if you need to make a MCOL claim as MCOL can only deal with cash.

But you aren’t there yet.

Before doing anything else e.g. going to CEDR / MCOL I would wait until BA refunds get back to you and then revert back here with what their calculation is for further advice.

We had cash for an Avios redemption last year. Didn’t ask for cash but it was given. Worked out very favourable.

[marshy11]

The Cordis. We booked direct and got a fantastic rate, excellent food too and right in the action (at least it was in 2019 when the troubles were in full swing).

[marshy11]

BBbetter wrote:

John wrote:

Although it doesn’t matter in practice, a spreadsheet is not really the correct tool to store dates (for expiry/cancellation deadlines), the correct tool is a calendar or just a list.

A calendar for such things is highly limiting. Limits the ability to add comments, notes etc.
There are subs that you need to renew with a new email id to get the new user discount.
Or, car insurance, you need to research 25 days before renewal.
Many subs, you don’t need to wait until the last day to renew.
In fact it’s risky to leave it to last day (Virgin credit card annual fee is non-refundable). You need to start planning ahead.
List them on a spreadsheet, sort them by renewal dates and you can focus on tackling them one by one. As simple as that.

I love a good spreadsheet but disagree that a calendar is limiting. I use ical and it’s the best tool for all those things you mention it can’t do.

I set up a category (colour coded) and can share with anyone in my contacts/email addresses. The calendar for the cars for example can include anything – purchase dates, mot & vel reminders. There is plenty of space for notes, so you can record new tyres at 40000 miles for example, which garage, how much they cost and can search by word for all those entries.

I wouldn’t be without excel (may have a look at Numbers as lifelong mac user) but I would never go without ical.

[marshy11]

yonasl wrote:

AndrewT wrote:

Row 11 – someone has to sit there. Nothing to complain about.

Preferred drink – several alternatives available. Probably unlikely to get a positive response.

No meal – clearly an unacceptable cock up. Run with that and don’t confuse the complaint with other minor items which are unlikely to go anywhere.

I accept the preferred drink only that unless the whole cabin was drinking Bailey’s how many bottles had been loaded to start with?

I think it is fair to make a complaint on the basis meal was not served (to offer economy or the crew meals is even worse than saying “sorry we got nothing and will refund you”) and that drinks ran out on the first service. It shows there was something odd with how the plane was loaded.

I think that 10k or more avios pp would be a fair stating point.

Disregard all the other issues as they will just muddy the waters.

Last November we got 5k Avios each for one leg of a CE (paid with avios) flight for no first or second choice of food – the complaint was for poor cabin service. They had no champagne either, we were in row 10 I think.

The return flight was operated by Avion and the legroom was appalling. That complaint (with perfect service) was awarded as a £200 e voucher.

Personally, I would rather they provided what I paid for.

[marshy11]

Without doubt The Q – Washington Street. Authentic and fabulous tasting food. We went a few times and every single meal was excellent. Try the sesame chicken and the hot pot, oh and the sushi…..

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g60745-d2285799-Reviews-The_Q-Boston_Massachusetts.html

[marshy11]

NorthernLass wrote:

Do you not have a points-earning MC or Visa?

Sadly not. Did have the Barclays Avios but had an unpleasant time with the way they dealt with a fraudulent trans, so somewhat cut of my nose with them!

[marshy11]

Any ideas on how to make paying for someone elses* council tax more palatable? We are due to pay Richmond Council and they say they only take Mastercard/Visa. When I asked about Paypal (on live chat) they didn’t know…(great answer!).

*son’s

Edit – they just came back via email. Paypal is a no. Paypoint only with the bill (which is in Richmond and we are in Cornwall).

[marshy11]

No, she would not be doing any harm to her SUB by being a supplementary cardholder.

There is a really good article on here about how you can gain the max Avios/points by working your way through the cards and referring your partner (and vice versa) as you go. I shall try and dig it out.

https://www.headforpoints.com/2023/01/03/maximise-american-express-signup-bonuses/

[marshy11]

Thanks very much, I really enjoyed reading that. I have no plans to go to Aus but it was an interesting read all the same.

[marshy11]

sayling wrote:

JDB wrote:

yorkshireRich wrote:

A family member cancelled after taking out the Plat at the end of last year for the sign up bonus. The 10K spend target was reached, and a couple of weeks later after asking to cancel, they were offered 50MR points to stay.

On the other hand, I asked about cancelling and was my loyalty was thanked and they said they could downgrade me. Not surprising as I’ve hardly put any spend through it of late. I’m tempted to just cancel all together and re-start the cycle.

It’s quite funny how thick Amex seems to be. They see spending so offer a retention seemingly without realising that the higher recent spend was to reach a SUB so they pay the cardholder twice. Great for the recipient, rubbish for all the other cardholders who subsidise the MR confetti.

Agreed.
It would make some sense if they put further spend targets to earn the retention bonus, but just giving them away for a few more months of the fee seems a little blinkered

It’s worse than that. As soon as the MR points clear then people are closing the card. Amex aren’t even getting ‘a few months of the fee’.

[marshy11]

redethernet1 wrote:

Looks like the gravy train is going, as we come closer to 29 Feb

29th Feb is no longer ‘a thing’. Read todays article.

[marshy11]

Halifax Clarity is where we put most of our non UK spend. They do cashback offers. I would never book with a third party (even one like Expedia) as I want control of what I have booked.

That said, with Amex Plat we will swallow the FX fees IF it suits.

We only generate the 2-4-1 on the BAPP when it suits us. If that fits you then trigger it, but don’t do it unless it does.

[marshy11]

Ah there is the missing post. ^

[marshy11]

TGLoyalty wrote:

KLflyer wrote:

I’ve been waiting for mine to show up since 31 January. Wondering if they will delay until after they stop doing the refund card charge option? What would happen if I cancel card before it pays out I wonder – probably lose the benefit?

Yup you would lose the benefit

Not according to the terms and conditions.

Shazza12 wrote:

This was quoted recently…….

For me the T&C are very clear. Penultimate paragraph of the Dining Credit T&C. https://www.americanexpress.com/en-gb/benefits/diningbenefit/Terms-and-Conditions-GB.pdf

If we withdraw this benefit or your account is closed, and you’ve earned a statement credit which has not yet been added to your account, we’ll add this to your balance unless your account was suspended before closure or we have the right to reverse a statement credit as explained above

Yes it was me that quoted it. The T&C on the dining credit are very simple.

[marshy11]

KLflyer wrote:

I chatted with Amex yesterday and they confirmed that the benefit will be lost if card cancelled before credit added. I also asked about cancelling and retention bonus and was offered nothing other than Gold card option. Whether the delay in crediting is intentional or simply down to inefficient handling doesn’t matter to me – I just want the credit due paid before I cancel.

Pointless chatting with Amex staff when the T&C are clear. You WILL get the statement credit if you cancel. You can’t force the 150 days – if you sit it out then it will cost you more than the credit.

Log into your Platinum and go to the benefits. On the global dining are the specific T&C you need.

https://www.americanexpress.com/en-gb/benefits/diningbenefit/Terms-and-Conditions-GB.pdf

[marshy11]

TGLoyalty wrote:

KLflyer wrote:

I’ve been waiting for mine to show up since 31 January. Wondering if they will delay until after they stop doing the refund card charge option? What would happen if I cancel card before it pays out I wonder – probably lose the benefit?

Yup you would lose the benefit

Apologies if this posts twice.

The T&C are very clear as I posted previously.

Penultimate paragraph of the Dining Credit T&C. https://www.americanexpress.com/en-gb/benefits/diningbenefit/Terms-and-Conditions-GB.pdf

If we withdraw this benefit or your account is closed, and you’ve earned a statement credit which has not yet been added to your account, we’ll add this to your balance unless your account was suspended before closure or we have the right to reverse a statement credit as explained above

[marshy11]

gtellez wrote:

I am still waiting for my dining credit since Feb 4th, used it at the Ivy Glasgow. Contacted Amex and said to wait up to 90 days… if I downgrade the card to gold (instead of cancelling), would I still receive the credit?

For me the T&C are very clear. Penultimate paragraph of the Dining Credit T&C. https://www.americanexpress.com/en-gb/benefits/diningbenefit/Terms-and-Conditions-GB.pdf

If we withdraw this benefit or your account is closed, and you’ve earned a statement credit which has not yet been added to your account, we’ll add this to your balance unless your account was suspended before closure or we have the right to reverse a statement credit as explained above

[marshy11]

JDB wrote:

windym wrote:

Would they be that devious or is it just sour grapes by me as I want to cancel the card when the credit has landed.

@windym – there’s nobody at Amex sitting there trying to deprive you of your credit. It’s an automated process that happens when it happens or can fail, something they won’t correct until the end of the waiting period, now extended to 150 days. Equally, they aren’t going to pander to churners by accelerating your credit.

Sigh.

You don’t know the individual circumstances of the cardholder.

It is tardy to not pay the credit promptly and it by no means illustrates the cardholder is a ‘churner’ just because they want the credit and to close the card.

Like me, perhaps they are finding no value in the Harvey Nicholls credit or travel insurance. I live at the end of England and there is nothing down here to use. It used to give value and it no longer does. Having had it for x years and no longer needing it, doesn’t make me a churner.

Circumstances change. Closing a card doesn’t make you a churner.

[marshy11]

Misty wrote:

marshy11 wrote:

Another Grenada lover here. The history on this island (it being so recent) is really quite something. Lovely people and stunning beaches. You must take a stroll (if you can’t stay) on Grande Anse.

@marshy11 Thank you, unless I have it incorrectly, I believe Mount Cinnamon is on/close to Grande Anse beach, which is one of the attractions for us, as it is supposed to be stunning. I’ve mind trawled all the various Caribbean Islands that BA fly too and Grenada is the only one that stands out for me. Although I am the first to admit I’ve never been before so have no comparators.

Yes it is, what I meant was if you don’t stay there then do at least visit the beach. It is stunning.

I do love Antigua but Grenada comes a close second for us. Very envious of you.

[marshy11]

Try and sell Hong Kong to her. It does tick all your boxes. It has F and some fabulous lounges for the return. The city itself will give tons to do and see and the beaches are not too far away. We only had five days but packed it all in including a day at Repulse Bay. We totally loved it.

Don’t do Mauritius, it’s a long flight and old CW and whilst there are one or two decent hotels the others are rather stuck in the ‘need refurbishment’. However the beaches are stunning and snorkelling/diving is a delight.

[marshy11]

Another Grenada lover here. The history on this island (it being so recent) is really quite something. Lovely people and stunning beaches. You must take a stroll (if you can’t stay) on Grande Anse.