Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

Forum Replies Created

  • t0m 87 posts

    Good reminder – thanks! Countdown still showing in my Nectar app. Just moved another 75k Nectar points 🙂

    t0m 87 posts

    That’s great, but is there any availability? I always struggle to find anything from CX!

    in reply to: CPH DOH Finnair business 20k Avios and £40!?
    t0m 87 posts

    https://youtu.be/255v1S_CmAs?feature=shared

    @AmyC – above is the link to the video. Please delete the link if not allowed – I have no connection with it whatsoever. Whilst obviously inconvenient compared to a direct flight, valuing an Avios at 1p, you’re talking only £480 return in Finnair flat bed business, a solid business class product even on their old seat (no idea if the A330 used has the newer seat?). It’s only a deal if you want/need to get there but it’s unquestionably ridiculously good value. And CPH far cheaper to get to than HEL for example.

    Indeed, 4750 avios each way in economy from LHR to CPH..

    t0m 87 posts

    Nice! This is targeted? I’ve not received the comms yet… crossing fingers..sitting on a lot of Nectar points!

    in reply to: CPH DOH Finnair business 20k Avios and £40!?
    t0m 87 posts

    Not wasting any time on this one.. I jumped in quick! 😀 Epic value.

    in reply to: Nectar email
    t0m 87 posts

    I also didn’t know about this. 8% on TCB is also good.

    in reply to: The HSBC Premier Mastercards thread
    t0m 87 posts

    Apologies if this was already published elsewhere om site

    65gbp off with 500gbp spend for Premier card holders with expedia

    https://www.homeandaway.hsbc.com/gb/en-gb/details/?oid=HA0022024_UK

    Interesting.. not seen that advertised anywhere else! Good spot

    in reply to: Help Flying to Bangkok
    t0m 87 posts



    @Tom
    , there seems to be mixed results on the mixed class pricing, while I got it previously at 75k it would not work for our flights last month. However, ISTR commenting on it at the time of booking and I think it was @Aston who said he still managed it around the same time.

    Yep, I managed to make a booking from MAN last week..flying in April.

    in reply to: Help Flying to Bangkok
    t0m 87 posts

    I’d recommend looking up Qatar availability. There is a glitch in their booking system that means if you book a business flight to Doha connecting to Bangkok from various UK airports then they price it as business class (75k Avios each way). I booked from Manchester, but you can find these from Birmingham and Edinburgh too. I didn’t see any from London airports yet. I managed to book first class in both directions between Doha and BKK, then business to Manchester.

    Thanks for all the replies guys. Ended up booking with Quatar, it was 180k points for a split Business/First class booking each ways, so I used a total of 360k points, plus £1044. Im chuffed to have been able to get first class flights for such a special birthday, it’ll be worth the extra effort going from a non-London airport.

    Well done and great work!!

    in reply to: Parking at Heathrow – Recommendations
    t0m 87 posts

    £27 per week at the station car park at Hayes and Darlington then Elizabeth line to Heathrow. Easy.

    t0m 87 posts

    I booked a family room for 4 and only flights for 3 on a recent trip to Japan. No problem for a 4th person to join us – I just let the hotel know in advance.

    in reply to: Help Flying to Bangkok
    t0m 87 posts

    I’d recommend looking up Qatar availability. There is a glitch in their booking system that means if you book a business flight to Doha connecting to Bangkok from various UK airports then they price it as business class (75k Avios each way). I booked from Manchester, but you can find these from Birmingham and Edinburgh too. I didn’t see any from London airports yet. I managed to book first class in both directions between Doha and BKK, then business to Manchester.

    in reply to: TopCashback conversion ends 31st December
    t0m 87 posts

    Ah yes, and now confirmed by Topcashback customer services. Boo! Never mind 🙂

    in reply to: TopCashback conversion ends 31st December
    t0m 87 posts

    It looks like the option has gone early? I was planning to do a transfer but I can’t find the transfer option any longer..anyone?!

    in reply to: Nordic Choice options – likely in Stockholm
    t0m 87 posts

    Thanks! I wasn’t that taken by Oslo (or the area that the Thief is in) when I visited, though it does look like a good value redemption. Will have a think.

    Damn, because I am in the market for some Choice points and have some Radisson points which are expiring!

    in reply to: Nordic Choice options – likely in Stockholm
    t0m 87 posts

    Looking for a spring/summer long weekend away with partner and our 2 year old. Have a load of Choice points transferred from Radisson. Thinking Stockholm might be fun (though also open to suggestions elsewhere).

    I know I can’t quite book yet, but will be able to soon. Any hints/tips, or hotel recommendations?

    I didn’t know about transferring Radisson to Choice.. does it work from the UK scheme or only Radisson Americas?

    in reply to: Black Friday deals?
    t0m 87 posts

    Not sure if this is Black Friday or not, but this deal at Malmaison is decent.. £100 with a £50 dinner/drink credit. Shame I don’t need to be in any of these cities any time soon.. https://www.malmaison.com/offers/room-offers/winter-flash-sale/

    in reply to: Black Friday deals?
    t0m 87 posts

    I was hoping for a few more Black Friday deals… Crossing fingers that more emerge this week!

    t0m 87 posts

    9 days after my first anniversary here and no voucher yet..

    Hey, just thought I’d share my experience of booking the return leg of a trip from London to Tokyo using a Barclays Upgrade Voucher, as I found this thread really useful for a first time booker. Last night I phoned the north American call centre at about 11:40pm and got through pretty much straight away (to an agent based in India). However, they were entirely unhelpful and as per previous reports refused to add a return flight to my booking. I pushed them several times on this without success, and they kept on stating I had to have booked both legs at the same time. They also incorrectly told me if I cancelled my existing outward flight to Tokyo although the points would be refunded, I would loose the upgrade voucher. I ended the call around midnight, so decided to book a one way flight from Tokyo to London using Avios (thankfully I just had enough points to complete this) and try and claim 50% of the points back. In the morning I used the online BA chat and they also categorically refused to help, saying that it was not possible to refund the Avios as I should have booked both legs together. Feeling a bit of despair, I called the UK call centre and after a half hour wait spoke to a really helpful agent who totally understood my request and refunded 50% of the Avois without any discussion. She said this was totally normal and an expected way for me to book using a voucher, and also that the American / India call centre should have accommodated my request to add a return leg to my existing booking. Anyhow all a bit frustrating, but got there in the end. I definitely wouldn’t bother with the American call centre. From my experience likely the easiest thing to do is make your return booking as a separate reservation and then speak with a UK agent the next morning to get your points back. Hope that’s helpful to someone!

    Good report. When booking to go to Tokyo earlier this year I booked the return leg as soon as it went on sale and then asked BA customer service on Twitter to refund the 50% on the return leg. Took a few days but they came back positively with no debate.. so all in all pretty easy.

    in reply to: Trip Report – Bali, Singapore and Taipei
    t0m 87 posts

    Thanks for the great report! Weirdly I’ve been trying to book BKK to BHX in First on the A380. Currently pricing up as 150k Avios on the Qatar web site for me..

    in reply to: Help please re todays Air Traffic Control problems
    t0m 87 posts

    Well.. a couple of months later and BA finally replied saying they would cover the costs incurred for our delay (and getting back from Spain via TGV+Eurostar + hotels) in full. I’m shocked!

    in reply to: Better to renew Ambassador at hotel or online?
    t0m 87 posts

    Use the new Amex IHG offer and save on Ambassador membership renewal by paying on checkout? 🙂

    in reply to: Help please re todays Air Traffic Control problems
    t0m 87 posts

    My claim was reviewed after 10 working days due to the amount of claims because of Greece fires and ATC, The claim is still pending because as I haven’t taken a refund from cancelled BA flight and also they need letter from BA that the flight was cancelled.

    I raised a claim with BA on the same day. No news yet except an acknowledgement and an automated note to say they hadn’t forgotten me.

    t0m 87 posts

    Be worth checking the hotel actually accepts them. I booked the Kempinski St Moritz to use mine up and upon checking out they told me their systems didn’t actually allow them to accept Discovery $. After much back and forth with customer services they did finally agree to accept them via a manual process but it was very frustrating.

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