Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

Forum Replies Created

  • in reply to: Best Western data leak
    33 posts

    Just had the same regarding a future booking (made directly via the BW website). Reported to the hotel in question. Had something similar last year in advance of a stay at the IC Sydney which at least had the name of the hotel correct but had an incorrect reservation number.

    in reply to: Chat thread – Friday 6th February
    33 posts

    Greetings from the Seven Seas Grandeur. Just completed our passage through the engineering
    marvel that is the Panama Canal. Next stop Cartagena and then (weather permitting)Grand Cayman.

    in reply to: 2026 travel plans
    33 posts

    Jan – a few mights in Santa Monica before boarding Seven Seas Grandeur for a cruise to Miami, through the Panama Canal with stops in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia and Grand Cayman. Once in Florida driving up to Blue Springs and Crystal River with hopes of seeing manatees. Finishing up in Clearwater Beach (might persuade the wife to sample some MLB Spring Training).

    June – Crete
    August – Leeds, for the test match. Fortunately tickets are for the first day.
    September – Hawaii for the third time. Stops on Kauai, Oahu and Maui for just under four weeks.

    Considering a few short trips to Rheims, Valencia and perhaps a Christmas market to end the year (having had our first taste of these in Prague a couple of weeks before Christmas)

    in reply to: Welcome drinks by status level
    33 posts

    Definitely varies by hotel. At Gold level I’ve been offered just beer and wine (Sofitel
    LHR) and full access including champagne and cocktails (Sofitel St James and in Auckland)

    in reply to: Critique my journey
    33 posts

    The main issue (and for us a deal breaker) when considering Qatar for LON-AKL trip last December was the 0300 arrival in AKL. Flew with SQ and landed around 1300.

    in reply to: Where are you going next?
    33 posts

    Intercontinental O2 for a Virgin Red point sourced Darius Rucker concert
    Prague in December with Easy Jet – was going to be BA from LCY but they moved the flight to LHR so canned that (I would have taken it on the chin if I had any realistic chance of maintaining silver)
    Regent cruise in January from LA to Miami through the Panama Canal followed by 2 week road trip in Florida, hoping to see manatees in
    Crystal Spring

    33 posts

    Just sitting in the BA lounge at IAD. At the end of a three week road trip through Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and DC. Stayed in some great
    Hotels, eaten and drunk very well and quite reasonably (and in the case of W Va cheaply). Seen some beautiful country and met some
    great friendly people. Plenty of British and European travellers in DC. Didn’t see a single MAGA sign anywhere other than on TV where some of the political commercials are very punchy – on both sides of the political debate.

    in reply to: BA app Manage My Booking is not working
    33 posts

    For me, this problem has now lasted 12 days. I only noticed because BA sent me an email with an offer to upgrade.

    in reply to: BA app Manage My Booking is not working
    33 posts

    I’ve been having the same issue, on the app and website but only with one of my three future bookings. Tried the chat function yesterday and their response was that it is a technical issue impacting some reservations, which I took to be tech speak for “we’ve got no idea what the problem is”

    33 posts

    Stayed at IC Sydney in February. Particularly enjoyed the evening drinks and canapés. Could do with one of their Spicy Pineapple Margaritas right now.

    in reply to: Texas hotels
    33 posts

    St Anthony in San Antonio is a historic hotel well placed for the Riverwalk.
    Springhill Suites FW Historic Stockyards is very good for that part of Fort Worth with easy parking and a very nice rooftop bar and restaurant.
    Austin Marriott Downtown similarly well situated for the downtown and entertainment areas.

    in reply to: Auckland Airport – 4 am arrival
    33 posts

    Flying into Auckland ourselves later this week. One of the reasons we chose Singapore over BA/Qatar was the 1-20pm arrival time so jet lag after 27 hours of travel may make this a moot point. Been looking at the biosecurity requirements which look rather daunting. Online resources have left us confused over what we do or don’t need to declare. Literal reading suggests shoes, toiletries all need to be declared on tne NZTD.

    in reply to: New Orleans
    33 posts

    Additionally take in the Saints game on the 29th, always an experience. The Superdome is an easy walk from the CBD/ French Quarter.

    in reply to: New Orleans
    33 posts

    I’d recommend GW Fins for a high end meal. Carousel Bar is an experience but be prepared not to get a seat at the bar itself. Sazerac House is a nice little tour if you are interested in some of the cocktail history of New Orleans. Also worthwhile riding the St Charles streetcar, gives you a good view of some of the fancy houses. Also take in the Sazerac Bar in The Roosevelt. The lobby has one of the best Holiday displays and the bar itself is consistently one of the best hotel bars in the US.

    in reply to: Where’s my 241?
    33 posts

    Same for me. Voucher arrived less than 24 hours after investigation opened.

    in reply to: Where’s my 241?
    33 posts

    Investigation launched for mine as well. Apparently it was issued on October 27th. Told it will take 7-10 days as well.

    in reply to: Where’s my 241?
    33 posts

    Same for me. Triggered on the 27th. AMEX chat confirmed voucher issued but suggested I might have to wait 2/3 weeks for BA to put it into my BAEC account.

    in reply to: Amex Platinum benefits into 2025
    33 posts

    HN offer has disappeared from my saved offers (where it had been since day 1 more or less) and whilst I continue to wait for the latest credit to post.

    in reply to: NYC hotel: US Open Tennis
    33 posts

    Stayed at the IC Barclay during the final stages of this years tournament. IHG were a title sponsor and apparently (per the bar staff) several of the players stayed there. On the day of the final there must have been 20 plus US Open badged vehicles outside waiting to transport people. Therefore might be worth investigating any packages for ordinary fans.

    in reply to: Travel Insurance for trip departing Dublin, Ireland
    33 posts

    Not particularly transparent when it comes to identifying the insurer(s). Dipping into the grey market when it comes to Travel Medical insurance can be difficult (for policyholders and insurers) and the protections UK policyholders have might not be available. As a (now retired) underwriter I bet those policies available to those already abroad cause all sorts of fun in the claims department. My personal favourite was one of our insureds bought a policy whilst sitting in the emergency room of a New York hospital.

    in reply to: Jam Doughnut cashback site
    33 posts

    Likewise, i’ve used JaneDoe’s code. here is mine:

    P3OD

    in reply to: Credits failing to post incl Harvey Nics
    33 posts

    Dining credit for my visit to a Montreal restaurant (Joe Beef, which is highly recommended) took 2 days at the end of last month. Waiting on HN from just over a week ago, so nothing to do on that one other than wait.

    in reply to: Prices in the USA
    33 posts

    Our recent experiences (none this year yet) have been broadly consistent. Over three and half weeks in Texas last October we (wife and I) averaged USD 160 per day on
    Dining (includes drinks). We stayed mainly in the big cities, other than a week in Fredericksburg. Over a week in December in New Orleans the average was USD 168. It helps considerably that we book, where possible
    Via FHR or similar which often includes free breakfast which can in a lot of city hotels be fairly punchy in terms of price. In terms of budgeting both these were within what I had expected.

    in reply to: Texas in August/September
    33 posts

    Close to both Austin and San Antonio is Texas Hill Country. Would definitely recommend Fredericksburg. Good also for getting acquainted with Texas wine. For high quality hat, check out ML Leddy’s in FW Stockyards (bring your credit card though!) Bureau of Printing and Engraving in Fort Worth well worth a visit.

    in reply to: US Mobile Passport experience
    33 posts

    Baggage before immigration on arrival in New Orleans

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