Hedging your bets!
 

I can't resist sharing this with you all. I received my Malev (Hungarian Airlines) FF Gold Membership card this morning - 'Gold Duma Club'.

The thing that made me laugh was this 'benefit' listed (as the main benefit of Gold) in the Members Handbook.

"at check-in you CAN be upgraded from tourist to the higher SkyClub class IF you have an IATA-published rate, tourist class ticket, AND after due consideration to free places AND the company's principles AND the check-in staff member considers it possible."

I think that roughly translates to 'you can ask for an upgrade'?

Perhaps there should be a Freddie for the most polished way of presenting a 'benefit'.
MF

Too many can, and..and, if for me to be a useful feature!

MF - I think that by now you probably have sufficient ff cards to start a bridge game... among the FlyerTalk Freddies there should be one for the person with the most gold memberships - I think you'd be the frontrunner!

Baobab: Please don't say that, I think that must be about the saddest thing that can said about anyone :-(

However, I have decided today that I just MUST have a Marriott Platinum - I only have a Gold at the moment - once I have that I think it is time to give up!

I am at home this week, and am having a FF day, so far I have found 13 nights at Hilton's I have not had credited, 2 united flights, 2 SAS flights and 10 nights at Marriott's - I just need to find another 6 nights at Marriott's for Black...

Oh well... I suppose I had better get back to checking those AMEX statements.
MF

PS: Does anyone know if Marriott's do comp/dsicretionary cards? If so I may promise them some of the company's business! [I feel a change to the approved hotel list coming on...]

power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely....

(where are your boxing gloves, Merry?)

Yes MF. Marriott does comp. up to Black card. I was Black last year and did not requalify for this year and they comped me without me even asking for it. I do not know about Platinum. You may just have to earn that. Even when you get there, its no picnic. Trust me.

Merry Flyer: This probably isn't much help, since I was so close, but Marriott did give me Platinum status for this year even though I was 2 nights short of the required 75. I know 2 nights doesn't amount to much.

It does show, though, there is *some* decision-making going in to this, since, like vgrove, I didn't request an exception either.

Vishal,

"no picnic"... It sounds like you have a story to tell, come on spill the beans. What have they done to you?
MF

Baobab: I really think you are after a fight today!

I tell you what, you insult British Airways and I'll rise to the bait!

I don't need boxing gloves by the way (i) I have a weight advantage (ii) I'm in HR - I just charm people to death with a fake smile... perhaps I should work for Virgin?
MF

But Merry, BA is my favourite airline - I'm not the one who goes off & tries other carriers...

You may be right about the weight advantage, but I'm pretty quick on my feet!

It sounds like Roberto wrote the text for the Malev product literature....

merry - you asked for it (my London weekend report):

check-in Zurich, Saturday, very early morning, with BA (my first flight ever with BA), party of three, eco: Zurich-check-in 5 min, even a deep look into the eyes of the "check-in-lady" didn't produce any upgrade (I did ask "hat vielleicht einer meiner Freunde einen Upgrade für uns erreicht?"). The flight was sold out.

There are no direct Zurich-London-flights of any StarAlliance-member or mileage-marketing-partner (BD British Midland, marketing-partner of UA and others, gave up that connection last April 98).

at the gate: passport controle (again), no problem of getting our hand-luggage on board.

on board: Swiss breakfast (and the always ice-cold bread they serve you in eco worldwide), and a SWISS TEA on BA!

arrival: no admittance to UA's Red Carpet (sea under the UA topic).

immigration: Swiss have to queu with/at "OTHERS", as Switzerland is not in the EC (and not member of the Commonwealth either as we killed all austrian-german kings in 1291 ...).

the piccadilly-line (6 zones £7 for unlimited weekend-travel) is faster for us than Heathrow Express to Paddington, as we head for "The Connaught" near Knightsbridge: Gisela tests our credit-card-limits at Harrod's, I have a short business (beer) meeting at the hotel and a nearby Pub.

Hotel: The Connaught: wonderful british, as one of the Old-Bonds-Street-clubs (for men only), and a first-class-restaurant (Michelin 1*). Hotel prices in London beat even New York.

afternoon/evening/night/early morning: "whistle down the wind" latest musical from Lloyd Webber (Aldwych); THE roastbeef and Yorkshire pudding at "Simpson's at the Strand"; Pub Crawl on our way from Covent Garden to Soho (looking out for merry flyer- in vain - every second man looked the way he described himself); jazz at Ronnie Scott.

Sunday: another midday-lunch and afternoon Pub-crawl (and our two ladies had a late lunch at the Had Rock Cafe).

Piccadilly Line again to Heathrow, check-in at the hand-luggage-only-counter: the (nice) lady did call for another BA-employee to look at our handluggage (he checkid it and decided that we had to check them in: 10kg - allowed are 6kg only), no upgrades again (sold out again), free Diners Club Lounge at terminal 1 (to my surprise even this late-Sunday-night-flight out of Heathrow was on time).

Flight-comfort: I had the impression that BA's eco-seats provide a little more space than other airlines do (or at least their practical designe let me stretch my legs/feet better).

Zurich-Parking: SFr 48 ($33) for 42 hours!

And now I have 1'000 AA-miles (for flying BA) - and they will very probably be lost in three years from now.

Rudi - what did I tell you about all the MF lookalikes in Soho on Saturday evenings? Did you spot anyone with blue fluff in their turn-ups?

BA can be strict about carry-on luggage, particularly if flights are full. Heathrow isn't usually too bad for this, but try getting on to an overcrowded flight to Africa (mostly from Gatwick) - everyone tries taking at least ten pieces of hand luggage!

At one point in my student days I had to deceive the check-in/gate staff, because I was taking a bag containing over 200 cds and an expensive camera with loads of lenses, camera equipment, etc. The bag was heavy, but there was NO WAY I was going to check it in - the contents would never have made it to the other end safely. (Not to mention the amount of duty I would have had to pay on arrival) So the check-in staff, who were sympathetic, told me that I could take it through and check it in when I boarded - this got me past the man who wouldn't let me into the passengers-only area with the bag - and when I got to the plane the crew told me I could keep it with me.

Of course, when I arrived, I went sailing through the 'green' line! (Everything was eventually re-exported, so I feel no guilt...)

At the risk of turning this into an OMNI thread - if it isn't already - Rudi, how was "whistle down the wind" ?

My fiancee and her (early 20s) daughter plan to transit London in mid-December and thought they might stop off for a few days. Knowing them, it's Portobello Road during the day, but they asked about theatre recommendations, so I thought I'd inquire.

P.S. Rudi, if you don't want to clutter up the thread with theatre reviews, you can let me know by e-mail.

"whistle down the wind": actors = first-class, playwright = ideal for children age 8 to 14 or for the very romantic (my Gisela).

I would consider to go there the afternoon before christmas-night with my grandchildren.

http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/main.html

Catman is also often a good source for theatre & other arts advice...

I went to the theatre once. Everyone went to the bar at half-time, I never went back.

But the show sounded good.
MF

Merry - I deliberately didn't suggest asking you, as I was sure that you'd be able to recommend the best pubs in the Shaftesbury Avenue/Covent Garden area - but that's not where the Counsellor wants to send his fiancee and her daughter - who knows: they might meet you!

Bab's: The French House, it has to be The French House. A must!

For those of you who don't know: 49 Dean Street, Soho W1V 5HL.

"Eat, Drink and MEET Merry!"

Ok, I know some of you will be questioning why I would support anything French, let me explain. Let me give you the history of The French House...

Formerly the York Mister, but known as 'Frenchie's' since having been the unofficial meeting place for the Free French during the war. Hence I have no problem with this Soho's most bohemian of public houses.

Now, have I ever told you about the Lamb & Flag (just of Garricl Street)...?
MF

please tell me.

HEY and MEOW! I thought we were talking about
"hedging our bets' regarding frequent flyer
travel! This forum went on to food, theatre
pubs! YIKES!

Merry Flyer! Do tell us about these pubs, but maybe send us a group e-mail off-line.

Counsellor: If your daughter's going to LONDON see CHICAGO (if still there!) Better
than the original. Did not see "whistle" but I probalby will when I get to London and share a beer with Merry Flyer at his favorite
pub. Also if Cabaret's there... amust.
And my favorites: Phantom, Le Miz and, of
course, CATS! CATMAN

Counsellor...sorry about the misdirected
message but my reviews are right on target!
CATMAN