Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
#991
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
I have, twice. Needed to get from Singapore to Budapest last June. Not much choice regarding award availability, but found SIN-LHR-BUD on BA and BUD-HEL-SIN on Finnair. By booking via AA I used far fewer miles/points than spending Avios, plus benefiting from the fact AA offers free changes if origin and destination stay the same (was hoping for a non-BA routing to open up, which it never did).
Similar story to get Mrs tonrob and the sproutlet to the in-laws in Germany. Booked for next summer SIN-DOH-FRA on Qatar then FRA-LHR-SIN on BA.
Neither ideal, obviously, but I’m relatively well-stocked in both programmes and using AA miles was the best choice in each situation.
Similar story to get Mrs tonrob and the sproutlet to the in-laws in Germany. Booked for next summer SIN-DOH-FRA on Qatar then FRA-LHR-SIN on BA.
Neither ideal, obviously, but I’m relatively well-stocked in both programmes and using AA miles was the best choice in each situation.
#992
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
Not a 'points' question, but travel related. Seems a shame to start a new thread for this.
Just landed yesterday at MAN airport and picked up my Europecar rental which I reserved / paid for through Auto Europe. My reservation was for an automatic, 'Compact' - Vauxhall Astra or similar. When I got there, they said the only automatic they had was a vauxhall Corsa. Not knowing anything about UK model designations, I said 'fine', and took it. Turns out the Corsa is a smaller model than the Astra. So I'm assuming the reason he said 'the only one we have is a corsa' is because he knowingly gave me a 'lower category model'. Do you think I'll have the right to any refund, since they didn't give me the model I reserved and pre-paid for? I'm trying to call them but the published number on the paperwork seems to be non-functional
This seems to be a common pattern ... despite having reserved an auto, they always seem to be struggling to fulfill the request, and they often try to upsell or get me to take a manual.
I also had to fight with the counter guy to decline insurance coverages. He really tried to force me to pay 10 GBP / day for theft coverage (having already fought with him over the CDW option).
Just landed yesterday at MAN airport and picked up my Europecar rental which I reserved / paid for through Auto Europe. My reservation was for an automatic, 'Compact' - Vauxhall Astra or similar. When I got there, they said the only automatic they had was a vauxhall Corsa. Not knowing anything about UK model designations, I said 'fine', and took it. Turns out the Corsa is a smaller model than the Astra. So I'm assuming the reason he said 'the only one we have is a corsa' is because he knowingly gave me a 'lower category model'. Do you think I'll have the right to any refund, since they didn't give me the model I reserved and pre-paid for? I'm trying to call them but the published number on the paperwork seems to be non-functional
This seems to be a common pattern ... despite having reserved an auto, they always seem to be struggling to fulfill the request, and they often try to upsell or get me to take a manual.
I also had to fight with the counter guy to decline insurance coverages. He really tried to force me to pay 10 GBP / day for theft coverage (having already fought with him over the CDW option).
#993
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,852
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
Not a 'points' question, but travel related. Seems a shame to start a new thread for this.
Just landed yesterday at MAN airport and picked up my Europecar rental which I reserved / paid for through Auto Europe. My reservation was for an automatic, 'Compact' - Vauxhall Astra or similar. When I got there, they said the only automatic they had was a vauxhall Corsa. Not knowing anything about UK model designations, I said 'fine', and took it. Turns out the Corsa is a smaller model than the Astra. So I'm assuming the reason he said 'the only one we have is a corsa' is because he knowingly gave me a 'lower category model'. Do you think I'll have the right to any refund, since they didn't give me the model I reserved and pre-paid for? I'm trying to call them but the published number on the paperwork seems to be non-functional
This seems to be a common pattern ... despite having reserved an auto, they always seem to be struggling to fulfill the request, and they often try to upsell or get me to take a manual.
I also had to fight with the counter guy to decline insurance coverages. He really tried to force me to pay 10 GBP / day for theft coverage (having already fought with him over the CDW option).
Just landed yesterday at MAN airport and picked up my Europecar rental which I reserved / paid for through Auto Europe. My reservation was for an automatic, 'Compact' - Vauxhall Astra or similar. When I got there, they said the only automatic they had was a vauxhall Corsa. Not knowing anything about UK model designations, I said 'fine', and took it. Turns out the Corsa is a smaller model than the Astra. So I'm assuming the reason he said 'the only one we have is a corsa' is because he knowingly gave me a 'lower category model'. Do you think I'll have the right to any refund, since they didn't give me the model I reserved and pre-paid for? I'm trying to call them but the published number on the paperwork seems to be non-functional
This seems to be a common pattern ... despite having reserved an auto, they always seem to be struggling to fulfill the request, and they often try to upsell or get me to take a manual.
I also had to fight with the counter guy to decline insurance coverages. He really tried to force me to pay 10 GBP / day for theft coverage (having already fought with him over the CDW option).
Last car rental in the US, Enterprise tried to charge me extra for a larger vehicle when what I had reserved wasn’t available. A threat to post their tactics on a Trip Advisor review resolved that one!
#994
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
Steerpike if they have given you a lesser vehicle you should be entitled to a refund of the difference in rental between the two classes.
I'll be picking up a rental at Manchester (Enterprise), an automatic Focus booked through Delta Vacations. Hopefully they don't have it and offer me something bigger as Mrs L has packed 3 suitcases so far.
I'll be picking up a rental at Manchester (Enterprise), an automatic Focus booked through Delta Vacations. Hopefully they don't have it and offer me something bigger as Mrs L has packed 3 suitcases so far.
#995
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
Steerpike if they have given you a lesser vehicle you should be entitled to a refund of the difference in rental between the two classes.
I'll be picking up a rental at Manchester (Enterprise), an automatic Focus booked through Delta Vacations. Hopefully they don't have it and offer me something bigger as Mrs L has packed 3 suitcases so far.
I'll be picking up a rental at Manchester (Enterprise), an automatic Focus booked through Delta Vacations. Hopefully they don't have it and offer me something bigger as Mrs L has packed 3 suitcases so far.
They post this number for 'help' -
*** TOLL-FREE NUMBER FROM U.K. 00 800 223 5555 5 ***
When I call that from my iPhone (with an O2 sim), I get an long 'tone' and then nothing. Consistently. But my brother, who has an iPhone with an O2 sim, he calls it and connects! Who knows what is going on.
I will say, I did the exact same thing in Jan; Europecar through AutoEurope, reserved an 'Astra or similar'. Got a lovely big Kia Sportage, with all kinds of gizmos. For a lot less money ... but that was January, this is May ...
#996
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
The sales guy I got was very relentless on the insurance. Finally his colleague in the next 'station' chimed in and told him I was covered and he still didn't agree; he then 'offered' some form of a 24 hour grace period where, it sounded like, I could rethink the situation and call back to change, but I still insisted he take off the charge. I was so worn out after the flight, I really didn't want to deal with this! I looked around at all the other empty rental desks and considered just walking away, but finally he relented. Obnoxious kid with a bleached white 'mohican' streak front-to-back on his head.
#997
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
The sales guy I got was very relentless on the insurance. Finally his colleague in the next 'station' chimed in and told him I was covered and he still didn't agree; he then 'offered' some form of a 24 hour grace period where, it sounded like, I could rethink the situation and call back to change, but I still insisted he take off the charge. I was so worn out after the flight, I really didn't want to deal with this! I looked around at all the other empty rental desks and considered just walking away, but finally he relented. Obnoxious kid with a bleached white 'mohican' streak front-to-back on his head.
#998
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
#999
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
I've just booked another flight back to UK in 3 months (mum's not doing well) so will try Enterprise. I'm thinking of giving up on the desire for an automatic. I grew up on 'manuals', it's just that I hadn't driven in UK for years so didn't want to deal with the 'gear knob on the other side'. It's nuts that I had to pay $600 for 2 weeks of a crap car!
#1000
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
I've just booked another flight back to UK in 3 months (mum's not doing well) so will try Enterprise. I'm thinking of giving up on the desire for an automatic. I grew up on 'manuals', it's just that I hadn't driven in UK for years so didn't want to deal with the 'gear knob on the other side'. It's nuts that I had to pay $600 for 2 weeks of a crap car!
Most of the airlines do package deals, as does Expedia.
#1001
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
I recently found an advantage to having gold status with United. I had an award miles trip booked to the UK in July, but then my mum suffered a compression fracture in her spine and I had to change my outward flight at short notice. I was on the plane 36 hours after receiving her email (culd have been 12 but my brother was there which gave me time to tie up a few loose ends) with a change fee of just $75 and a refund of $2.60 for flying via Chicago rather than Washington, presumably due to cheaper airport fees.
#1002
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
I recently found an advantage to having gold status with United. I had an award miles trip booked to the UK in July, but then my mum suffered a compression fracture in her spine and I had to change my outward flight at short notice. I was on the plane 36 hours after receiving her email (culd have been 12 but my brother was there which gave me time to tie up a few loose ends) with a change fee of just $75 and a refund of $2.60 for flying via Chicago rather than Washington, presumably due to cheaper airport fees.
Unfortunately, nothing seems to beat 'Thomas Cook' right now - non-stop return flights from SFO->MAN for about $560 in the middle of summer! Even with their high seat res fees, it's still only $650 - and the last three journeys I've made with them all had an empty window seat next to my (high fee) aisle seat.
#1003
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
Unfortunately, nothing seems to beat 'Thomas Cook' right now - non-stop return flights from SFO->MAN for about $560 in the middle of summer! Even with their high seat res fees, it's still only $650 - and the last three journeys I've made with them all had an empty window seat next to my (high fee) aisle seat.
#1004
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
In my view they are a bit 'light' on amenities; their in-flight entertainment package only gives 5 movies and 5 TV shows - they want you to buy an upgrade package - and the meal was as basic as basic gets. Also, first time I flew with them I made the mistake of asking for a soda when they did the first 'drinks' pass, and found I was charged for a sparkling water! But - the seats are comfy enough, you can bring your own food, and the planes overall seem decent. $650 for a great seat, round-trip, non-stop SFO-MAN in June (and again in Sept) is pretty amazing, really!
#1005
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,852
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
In my view they are a bit 'light' on amenities; their in-flight entertainment package only gives 5 movies and 5 TV shows - they want you to buy an upgrade package - and the meal was as basic as basic gets. Also, first time I flew with them I made the mistake of asking for a soda when they did the first 'drinks' pass, and found I was charged for a sparkling water! But - the seats are comfy enough, you can bring your own food, and the planes overall seem decent. $650 for a great seat, round-trip, non-stop SFO-MAN in June (and again in Sept) is pretty amazing, really!
It's too bad the Virgin Atlantic non-stop to Manchester only lasted one summer season. Thomas Cook is for sale so there must be at least some doubt as to whether this service will exists down the road.
Last edited by Giantaxe; Jun 26th 2019 at 4:07 pm.