Firstly from this evening, you will notice that we have switched on video advertising. I know there have been complaints about the advertising before, but this will be a temporary measure for September due to a partner relevant to nearly all TLFL readers specifically wanting to advertise on video. To make the site less cluttered I have reduced the rest of the advertising to the minimum level allowed and removed the banner adverts.
In this post:
White House comments on reopening after EU take US off safe list
Yesterday, as expected, the EU took the USA off their “safe list” after a rise in Covid cases due to the Delta variant. This is the latest in a battle to get transatlantic routes reopened. This reverses the decision in June, when the EU decided to allow US visitors to visit Europe. It was hoped that this would encourage Biden to do the same for Europe and the UK, but so far there has been no action. The ruling is not binding as EU countries can chose to make their own policies.
In response, the White House Press Secretary said that Biden administration is weighing a new policy on travel from Europe and elsewhere that would strengthen testing protocols (you already need a test to get in, so no idea what that means, or why you would apply more testing to some countries and not others). The US may try to ensure “foreign nationals who come to the United States are fully vaccinated, with limited exceptions,” she says. No decision has been made yet.
BA extend upgrade & companion vouchers
British Airways have not communicated it officially yet but after a tip off from a friend in my What’s app group (thanks!) I checked my Gold Upgrade voucher and Amex Companion voucher and they have both been extended for a further 6 months. Not everyone has had the update but it could be being done in batches. From what we can ascertain at the moment it appears to be for Gold Upgrade vouchers expiring in 2021 and for all Amex companion vouchers, though again this is not uniform across everyone’s accounts.
Have your vouchers been extended? Let us know in the comments below.
New Marriott promotion
It feels like forever since Marriott last had a promotion. Although I like certain aspects of having Marriott status, it’s definitely much harder to earn bonus points than with Hilton. Finally, they have launched a new promotion from 14 September but you can now register. My cynical view is that they waited until the main summer travel period was over as they didn’t need to incentivise travel during the peak period.
The promotion gives you 1,500 bonus points on each stay, plus 3,000 more points on stays at All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy™ resorts. These are mainly the former Elegant hotels group in Barbados which includes Waves and Colony Club which I have reviewed. Hopefully, I will be trying out a couple more of their hotels this year.
37 comments
As at 3.50pm UK time, no 2-4-1 vouchers extended further (two for me, two for my wife).
Hi Michele, I just looked at a booking that I have to the US in October which uses a 241 voucher. That appears to have been extended to end of June 2022 rather than Dec 21. I’m still in two minds whether to go for a future travel voucher or cancel and hope that I can find the time (and Avios availability!) before June.
Always a tricky decision. I ended up taking a refund in the end as I found the voucher restrictions too much. Could only use the cash part on another Avios booking and had to be same people. But if neither are a concern, it’s worth doing.
Thank you Michele, I think the challenge for us is likely to be reward seat availability in all honesty, but we can be flexible thankfully….
My Gold Upgrade for Two: 06 Dec 2019 now extended until 06 June 2022
Thanks for the insider info!
Nothing yet for the 3 that we have.
My Nov 21 voucher hasn’t been extended yet.
Our 2-4-1 vouchers (expiry Feb 2022 and June 2022) have not yet been extended again unfortunately!
My vouchers haven’t yet been extended
>> Winner, winner. Chicken dinner! << ( I've switched this on for today!)
Yup Amex vouchers all given more time. Just as well as we still have 4 sat in the account(s) unused.
If this is taking it from 2 years to 2 years six months, mine seem to have been extended quite some time ago. Is there a further extension to come?
The extension I am talking about happened yesterday but as yet we can’t determine why some are being extended and not others.
Neither mine or my husband’s 2-4-1s have been extended.
From looking at my account it would seem that GUFs expiring this year, but not next year have been extended.
No movement on my companion vouchers, which had, and sadly still have, expiry dates in early 2022
Michelle. I am surprised that you have a CV issued two weeks ago. Wasn’t it worth diverting spending for two weeks to get the CV issued in September and get the enhanced benefits?
Well I always use an upgrade voucher to get first so the extra I class makes no difference, plus as a GGL I have jokers which release space anyway. So it that respect I don’t need them. Secondly being able to use to start from elsewhere outside the U.K. I would never use. The only circumstance I would see is for a one way return which would be a waste. So I decided it wasn’t worth worrying about.
If the companion voucher is being used as a currently booked flight – how can you see the expiry date please?
You can’t see it. You would have to call up.
If this is a “further” extension to the one we had ages ago. Wouldn’t the total validity period be 3 years not two years six months?
If you mean my own voucher it has not had an extension before as it’s brand new. So it has got an extra 6 months.
Ah I see. Maybe they are just extending new vouchers by the same amount as older ones?
My two still have just the original 6 months, total 2.5 years!
While an extension of vouchers is welcome, what many of us are waiting for is for BA to extend status for those whose year ends in 2022 but who haven’t been able to fly even to achieve the currently reduced target. I do hope that BA realises that a decision not to do so is likely to alienate previously loyal customers who might then be trying competitors such as Jet Blue instead of using BA.
Michele,
This may be of interest to some readers. I had a 241 Amex Voucher due to expire in April 22 (after a 6 month extension). In April 21, I booked a trip to Singapore only to have it cancelled in July so I was offer a Voucher (covering Avios, Amex Voucher and money paid) for the cancelled booking. I accepted the Voucher as I could use it up to April 23 which effectively extends my 241 Amex by 12 months. I did get this info in writing from BA Twitter.
Sage advice ????
Many thanks.
Thx for the heads up. Checked my account this morning. GUFs expiring in Jan/Feb 22 no change. Companion vouchers that have already had multiple extensions to June/July 22 no additional changes as yet.
We have 7 AMEX 2-4-1’s between us – first 6 do not appear to have been extended, however, the most recent one (issued on 30.08.21) is valid until 29.02.24. We have been using these vouchers for 8 or 9 years now and never wasted one yet (i.e. used them on minimum long haul Business Class), however, will be a bit of a challenge to maintain that record going forwards.
Mine is extended till DEC 23
I have an Amex 2-4-1 voucher which expires on 26 October2021 which has not been extended yet. I have not wasted one yet over a good few years but this is going to be a challenge.
My Amex 2-4-1 voucher expires 26 October 2021 but has not been extended yet. I have had a number of these vouchers over the years and used them all but this looks likes a challenge.
I have two due to expire in early 2022. Neither had a recent extension. One had 6 months and the other 1 year, so I think the new extension might be for newer vouchers.
FYI: You actually can see the expiry date on a voucher that is being used towards a booked flight. On the executive club app I can see it for a flight in November (it is below where it shows your available vouchers)
Ah yes. I’d forgotten about the user vouchers part. Thanks for the reminder
My Amex 2 for 1 voucher expires in February 2021
No extension yet
It’s very odd how some have been extended but not others with no clear criteria.
Thanks for your email of 1st Sept regarding the further extension of the Companion Voucher. However to date, I still have not received confirmation of the further 6 months extension of my Companion Voucher as my voucher expires on 8th Oct 2021. Please advise whether I should contact BA or to leave it for another week or so. Thank you.
I would leave it as it’s not officially announced yet.
But why is BA not extending the Companion Voucher across all members but only some. My voucher will be expiring in approx 3 weeks so anxious to know if it will be further extended.
No idea. I think we may here something official early next week
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