The new HFP chat thread – Wednesday 6th May

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We have decided to run this new daily chat thread on Head for Points.

Historically, the daily ‘Bits’ articles were the defacto repository for random comments and questions. It is unlikely that the news flow will be so big over the next few weeks that we will need many ‘Bits’ articles, however.

The comments under this article are where you should post questions about travel and, indeed, anything else on your mind. At this tricky time, and given that many of you are stuck at home self-isolating, we want the HFP community to have a place to chat.

Please only comment under the main articles on the site if your comment is directly related to the topic of the article. This has long-term benefits as its keeps the commentary relevant for people who read those articles in the future.

By default, HFP shows the last page of comments under the article. If you want to see the first page of comments and read them all from beginning to end in order, click here: https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2020/05/06/the-new-hfp-chat-thread-wednesday-6th-may/comment-page-1 The page will refresh with this article but the comments will now show the first page and not the last page.

We will continue to monitor how this is working. Let’s see how it goes. Take care!

Category

General

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

Charlieface says:

6 May6 May 15:23

Not quite MS, but I just fully cashed out a new Plusnet reward card straight into my council tax online. Probably not what they were thinking I would do…
- Genghis says:
  
  6 May6 May 15:44
  
  There are ways of turning it into genuine cash.
  - Harry T says:
    
    6 May6 May 16:00
    
    I’m curious, let’s hear the details!
    - Secret Squirrel says:
      
      6 May6 May 17:56
      
      You use them to pay an account that you can withdraw cash from or transfer the funds to Bank account!
  - Charlieface says:
    
    6 May6 May 20:54
    
    Couldn’t be bothered to be honest. Either way my council tax was due, I only missed 75 VS miles because of it.
Axel says:

6 May6 May 15:26

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/personal-banking/credit-cards/customers-unable-spend-virgin-money-blocks-32000-credit-cards/

responsible lending –
Telegraph article behind the paywall – Virgin Blocks 32000 Credit cards
- mark2 says:
  
  6 May6 May 15:40
  
  The article contains a big shock. Apparently a disgruntled customer has ‘snapped his card in half’; I did not know that they were so fragile.
- Rob says:
  
  6 May6 May 15:45
  
  …. out of 2 million.
  
  If I suddenly decided to tighten my lending standards I’d be getting rid of far more than 1.5% of my customers.
  
  VM is doing other stuff too as you will learn later in the week …..
  - Harry T says:
    
    6 May6 May 16:01
    
    @Rob
    I’m looking to cancel my Virgin Rewards Plus card this week before it renews – should I wait for this news at the end of the week?!
    - Dezbez says:
      
      6 May6 May 18:37
      
      I’m the same. For the sake of a couple of days I think I’ll wait. It’ll probably be negative, but I’m hopeful they’ll follow Amex’s lead and it’ll be beneficial…..
      - Rob says:
        
        6 May6 May 20:15
        
        Does not impact renewals.
  - Lev441 says:
    
    6 May6 May 16:05
    
    Ohh cryptic. Assume VM changes are for the worse…
    - Boi says:
      
      6 May6 May 20:51
      
      I am the opposite- looking to apply and been putting it off. Should I apply now or wait?
      - Dezbez says:
        
        6 May6 May 20:57
        
        Yes, I’d be inclined to wait, it’s about time for another increased sign-up offer.
  - Grant says:
    
    6 May6 May 20:51
    
    Perhaps another one of the incresed sign up offers that they seem to run periodically. Odd time to do it though.
- AJA says:
  
  6 May6 May 17:54
  
  For those who can’t get behind the Telegraph paywall here is a link to the Guardian’s report on the same story:
  
  https://www.theguardian.com/money/2020/may/06/virgin-money-suspends-thousands-of-credit-cards-with-no-warning
  
  It may well only be a small portion of their overall customer portfolio but it’s more bad news for the brand. And on the back of a reported loss for the half year for the bank.
Paul says:

6 May6 May 16:04

Qatari looking hard at the books too, it seems. Tough times the world over…
https://www.pprune.org/rumours-news/632233-qatar-airways-warns-substantial-job-losses.html#post10774416
Sk123 says:

6 May6 May 16:05

Does Curve accept the HSBC Premier Credit card? I registered with Curve but it’s not accepting the details when I’m adding my first card.
- Rum says:
  
  6 May6 May 16:49
  
  Curve works fine with it. I added my HSBC card in March and it has worked the few times that I used it. Sounds like curve may be having IT issues lately.
- memesweeper says:
  
  6 May6 May 17:02
  
  I’ve had endless problems getting multiple HSBC Premier cards, regular and World Elite, added. Numerous chats opened with Curve, to no avail. Others have reported no problem. Given I hardly have a reason to use the Curve/HSBC combo (Curve+IHG where possible for me; Curve+Hilton when not) I have given up pursuing it.
  - MD says:
    
    6 May6 May 22:59
    
    @MS Surely you do have reason to use HSBC PWE for pretty much anything, once you’ve hit Spire via IHG premium? Only so many IHG points you can use. HSBC pluripotent points much more valuable IMHO.
    - memesweeper says:
      
      6 May6 May 23:07
      
      I have my reasons — and they are very good. Catch me at Rob’s next party and I’ll explain.
      - 😉 says:
        
        6 May6 May 23:15
        
        Always interested in people’s convoluted schemes with these cards. I will buy you a drink and hold you to that, cheers! 😉
- Craig says:
  
  6 May6 May 17:31
  
  Works fine with mine.
Baji Nahid says:

6 May6 May 16:30

Phoned tesco insurance today and told that it will be after 80 days that we will get the bonus points.
- Jon says:
  
  6 May6 May 19:13
  
  Thank you
- Secret Squirrel says:
  
  6 May6 May 19:39
  
  They change the statements per cs agent. We were first told 60 x days then 2nd time around points will be in account next statement.
  - Baji Nahid says:
    
    6 May6 May 20:45
    
    Thanks SS, the agent said to me he spoke to his supervisor and they have a document which states that you get your points after 80 days. Hopefully its before then!
Optimus Prime says:

6 May6 May 16:54

IHG Points sale – https://onemileatatime.com/buy-ihg-points/
- bazza says:
  
  6 May6 May 17:42
  
  Bit rude! robbing Rob of his commission…..
  
  This aint a charity mate!
Anna says:

6 May6 May 17:03

Some aviation expert (used to work for Virgin) on the news saying it should be feasible to re-start air travel if everyone is screened for COVID before boarding. Who in their right mind is going to pay for a flight or holiday knowing they might be denied boarding? Under no circumstances can I see travel insurance covering such an eventuality either!
- Craig says:
  
  6 May6 May 17:32
  
  But the airline might, especially a holiday company. Refund or rebook?
  - Anna says:
    
    6 May6 May 18:27
    
    If you’re a single traveller with loads of flexibility, maybe. It would be a logistical nightmare for families.
    - Callum says:
      
      7 May7 May 03:05
      
      So a very large number of people then!
      
      Though I can easily see many families deciding that booking a holiday and maybe not being able to take it is preferable to not having a holiday at all. If they’re able to postpone it, what have they got to lose?
marcw says:

6 May6 May 17:33

Societé Générale acquires 5.15% of IAG. Deutsche Bank, 3%. You know, Brexit