The new HFP chat thread – Thursday 7th May

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• Daniel says:

  7 May7 May 06:48

  Can anybody confirm that the HSBC Premier credit card(s) work well with Curve?

  I have a few significant bills to pay off soon and if I can funnel the payments through Curve onto my HSBC World Elite Card then I would be doing pretty well. Also, can I pay off my Amex balance each month using Curve from the HSBC card (if I have the paid account) and effectively double dip?

  • Tom H says:

    7 May7 May 07:13

    Why not try?

  • Yawn says:

    7 May7 May 07:32

    Wasn’t there an HfP article about Curve blocking double dipping not too long ago?

  • Grant says:

    7 May7 May 08:03

    Depending on who the bills are owed to – maybe.

    Paying Brighton – yes, if you have Curve Metal or are prepared to accept a 1.5% charge on each payment for Curve Fronted.

  • Jonny says:

    7 May7 May 09:21

    Yes – I use my Premier credit cards (US and UK) on curve without issue.

    If you don’t have a US premier account set up, might be worth doing and using the US credit cards on curve for 1.4 avios per £ instead of 1 avios per £ on the free card (no fx fees on the US card)

    • New Card says:

      7 May7 May 09:36

      Possible to get the US card without a US address/connection?

      • 😉 says:

        7 May7 May 09:58

        I am also interested in this statement…

        • Andrew M says:

          7 May7 May 11:23

          Me too!

      • James M says:

        8 May8 May 11:14

        Yes, I live in the UK / am a British citizen but have US interests.

        I have a HSBC USA premier checking account (current account) and credit card, and they matched the limit on my UK HSBC card. I had no prior credit history in the US – they based the check on my UK status.

        https://www.hsbc.co.uk/international/overseas-account-opening/

    • Daniel says:

      7 May7 May 12:04

      Thanks for that, good to know that it works!

      I too would be interested in knowing how easy it is to get the USA card…

• Sal says:

  7 May7 May 06:48

  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52488134

  Silver lining to reduced air travel – cleaner air and reduced greenhouse gases.

  • BJ says:

    7 May7 May 07:37

    It’s not just a simple question of relative proportions J. It is about the type of damage being done, where it is being done and over what timescale adverse impacts will occur. There is no question that air travel is a key contributor to the greenhouse effect and climate change. However, we rely on air travel just like we rely on cars and other contributors to global warming Both are inescapable facts and we need to balance our needs with the harm caused. I’ve always felt that the best solutions are to be found in using l political tools that drive new cleaner technologies forward, and by education so that people can learn and buy into small changes in behaviour that can make big differences. There is no doubt though that the improvements in environmental quality seen around the globe in recent months supports the arguments of those demanding action on air quality and climate change, and they will be able to use this evidence in the future to ensure the likes of Heathrow’s third runway is dead. However, we are not hearing much yet about the negative environmental impacts although I expect we will do so in due course. For example, waste separation has decreased and land filling has increased, plastic bags of the worst type have returned on a massive scale. It is not all good news.

    • J says:

      7 May7 May 08:35

      Agree with you all good points.

  • Andrew says:

    7 May7 May 21:00

    It’s getting warmer and fewer people are using deadly polluting wood burning stoves.

    Back in January 2017, half of the worst particulates in London came from burning wood.

    https://www.theguardian.com/money/2018/may/26/wood-burner-open-fire-pollution-cleaning-up-air-quality

• BJ says:

  7 May7 May 07:10

  Another day, another points or miles sale. Regardless of the spin on blogs, it should be obvious to everybody and their granny that should people heavily subscribe to these then they herald a devaluation at the very least. Perhaps even more substantial changes to scheme rules. This is not to say there are no opportunities is the short term, there will be but these are hardly secure. We cannot be certain how reliable published airline schedules will be next season, and whether hotels will remain with their current management groups. Indeed, we cannot even be sure if an airline, a hotel or a loyalty scheme will still be in business next year. While it is more likely than not most will be in some shape or form, the reality is that the buzz word is currently ‘unceryainty’ and in buying points or miles at the moment we don’t really have a clue exactly what we are buying. It could be argued that this is true at any time; I wouldn’t disagree with that but it is certainly more true right now than at any point in in our livetimes. Perhaps fortune will indeed favour the brave, good luck to any reader brave enough to buy huge stacks of points or miles at this time 🙂

  • Genghis says:

    7 May7 May 07:36

    Uncertainly in these unprecedented times…

    The only points I’ve ever bought were SPG points which were on at a v reasonable bonus, so that I could then transfer to Marriott and buy a travel package. Then Marriott moved the goal posts and the points became less valuable to me. I’ve got my money back and more since, however, since I find Marriott points hard to acquire and their hotels in SA are good value on points.

    The only time I might even consider buying is if I have a need for an instant redemption.

    • BJ says:

      7 May7 May 07:42

      Oh yes, bought for travel packages too .. higher £, purchase bonuses and transfer bonuses all combined to great effect 🙂 Apart from that only little bits here and there to top up to round numbers for redemptions.

    • Commercial Brontosaurus says:

      7 May7 May 07:50

      There is an alternative view to point pessimism.

      When airlines start flying again, the increase in passenger numbers will be slow to start, will pick up, but it will not be rapid. Planes flown will accordingly be fewer, but with a reduced economy of scale, filling those planes will be harder, especially on lighter routes. What better time then to incentivise people to burn avios and to fill those seats? Maybe there may be something positive down the line, perhaps even something like the great 241 of, when was it, some ten years ago? It’s solid PR, a reward for loyal customers, and flying full planes is financially smart.

      • Genghis says:

        7 May7 May 08:07

        Or more than likely cash fares will reduce to fill seats (rendering the avios less valuable)?

        • Commercial Brontosaurus. says:

          7 May7 May 08:14

          To a great extent yes, but I’d suggest not quite enough to do the job and not lose out. Isn’t this what ‘air miles’ were once all about?

      • BJ says:

        7 May7 May 08:17

        I wasn’t being pessimistic, I was highlighting uncertainty over what exactly we might be purchasing. I acknowledged that there were opportunities in the short term and that fortune might favour the brave. But the bottom line is that none of us know. A lot will depend on future J/Y capacity relative to recovery in business/leisure travel, both of which will depend on unknown and uncertain trends in Covid-19. To take a pessimistic or optimistic view requires answers to some of these questions unless you are happy to rely on guesses.

        • Commercial Brontosaurus says:

          7 May7 May 08:52

          Absolutely no disagreement here with that. More a comment to enliven debate about whether widespread devaluation – with arguments made well in this forum – has a good counter-argument. Airports need people in lounges and to sell watches to Rob! Taxis need to take people to airports, etc. Are avios etc a cheap and savvy kick-start?

      • Marcw says:

        7 May7 May 08:23

        Yes, paying 700£ to fly business (+ thousands of Avios). Or you pay 250£ flying in the back but having 3/4 seats for yourself.

        • meta says:

          7 May7 May 08:50

          It’s also what kind of service you’re getting. What’s the point flying J/F if no lounges, no proper food&drink? 3 rows of economy would be similar to a flat bed. I suspect M3 airlines would keep the service, not so sure about European/American ones.

        • John says:

          7 May7 May 09:14

          The point is to have a flat bed. I get lounge access anyway. I would still fly J even if there were no extra services at all and they served all cabins the same meals – if planes were 95% full. If they won’t be I would certainly be interested in having a full row of Y instead.

        • Chrisasaurus says:

          7 May7 May 09:59

          I upgrade to J whenever I can on work travel and book in J for leisure and for me it’s about the rest – mainly the lie flat bed, especially travelling East. I’m sure everyone here has lounge access many times over, but the main point is to not lose a day because of the journey in terms of recovery

    • Harry T says:

      7 May7 May 11:23

      @Genghis other than “15 on Orange” which I’m considering for CPT, any other good uses of Bonvoy points in South Africa, off the top of your head? I note they have a Protea property in Franschoek. I speculatively booked the African Pride Melrose Arch, Autograph Collection in Jo’burg for a couple of nights too – works out at 0.87p per point (I would pay the cash rates).

      • Genghis says:

        7 May7 May 13:04

        I’ve stayed at all those + the Protea at North Wharf in CT (not as good as 15 on Orange). All good value vs cash.

        • Harry T says:

          7 May7 May 14:32

          Thanks, may just grab myself Marriott Platinum status next year in conjunction with the 15 nights from my Bonvoy Amex.

  • Rhys says:

    7 May7 May 08:55

    Let’s be real – hotel points sales aren’t exactly uncommon, even during ‘normal’ times! I doubt this moves the needle much.

    • BJ says:

      7 May7 May 09:53

      That’s not so much my point though, the question is more what are we buying if we buy points or miles? We are now less certain than ever before. HFP and other blogs seem to be working on the assumption that cornavirus is a blip on the landscape and that, hopefully sooner rather than later, things will return to business not that much different from usual. Obviously that is what most readers want too (apart from a few taking pleasure in this company or that failing) so I hope you are right. However, I believe it is likely that the nature of the loyalty game will change in some way. Whether these are subtle changes or sweeping changes I have no idea but I think change is more likely than not.

    • AJA says:

      7 May7 May 11:34

      I agree but taking BJ’s point it means there will be a lot more points liabilities on the balance sheet which will need to be dealt with at some point. It’s logical, if unwanted, that a devaluation will come. The only reason airlines and hotels are offering these bonuses is to entice us to purchase getting real cash into the business today. There are some people still buying flights and making hotel reservations but the numbers must be low, the stats on revenue must be making miserable reading.

• Rum says:

  7 May7 May 07:18

  Can anyone who has recently upgrade to or taken out a new Amex Platinum card account confirm that they are receiving double MR points?

  • Nelson says:

    8 May8 May 02:57

    I do.

• Sonicoid says:

  7 May7 May 07:35

  I am thinking of adding my son as a supplementary gold to my amex platinum card. Can anyone let me have all the benefits to him of me doing this please? Also, are the bonus points strictly for the first supplementary card issued?

  • Genghis says:

    7 May7 May 07:36

    He can spend all of your money?
    Yes.

  • Anna says:

    7 May7 May 07:52

    If he qualifies, you could refer him for his own card and get referral points and sign up bonus.

    • Genghis says:

      7 May7 May 08:08

      And that’s in addition to adding the supp.

• Yawn says:

  7 May7 May 07:35

  So my flights to Tenerife next month were finally cancelled. I used my last Lloyds upgrade voucher on them. Does anyone have any experience getting such a voucher back? There can’t be many of those left!

  • Anna says:

    7 May7 May 07:53

    I think people have, and have also got the voucher extended. I think you have to call Avios.com, though, not sure how long it takes to get through at the moment. I’ve still got my last voucher but nothing to use it on at the moment!

  • Pierre says:

    7 May7 May 11:41

    Yes, no problem getting back the voucher. And as mentioned, the expiry will be automatically extended.

• Anna says:

  7 May7 May 07:59

  So…does anyone have any thoughts about whether it will be allowed (and acceptable) to travel in the UK in July/August? I’ve pretty much given up hope of any foreign travel at that time. There seem to be plenty of cottages and lodges to rent in this country but prices seem to be generally non-refundable when I’ve looked on hotels.com so don’t want to commit just yet. We would travel by car and generally keep to ourselves on holiday anywhere but obviously wouldn’t consider it if it goes against medical/scientific advise at that point.

  • Anna says:

    7 May7 May 08:01

    *anyway *advice. Autocorrect got me!

  • Spk says:

    7 May7 May 08:06

    August should be ok. The expectation is govt will announce phased relaxation of lockdown from this weekend. Even accounting for a 2 month gradual release, I think we can travel within uk in august.

  • Genghis says:

    7 May7 May 08:11

    Happened in China…
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-52309414
    Not surprising, however, as we experienced quite a bit of racism towards black people in 2016 all across China.

    • BSI1978 says:

      7 May7 May 09:42

      There’s been reports of huge racism towards black Africans in China recently despite the fact the virus originated at the Wuhan wet market (assuming one doesn’t buy into the lab engineered theory….)

    • I'm not racist says:

      7 May7 May 11:03

      Happened in Britain…
      https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-hate-crimes-against-chinese-people-soar-in-uk-during-covid-19-crisis-11979388
      Not surprising, however, as hate crimes against Chinese people soar in UK during COVID-19 crisis

  • Michael C says:

    7 May7 May 09:06

    I have a Cornwall He-de-Hi trip (don’t ask!) reserved for mid-July. For now, the campsite is saying “taking bookings as from May 22”, but as others have said, might know a little more on Sunday. Might be different rules depending on type of accommodation, I guess.

  • Alex says:

    7 May7 May 10:22

    Italian government was talking about people there having summer holiday. So if we assume we’re a few weeks behind them then late August or September seems reasonable.

  • Anna (the original) says:

    7 May7 May 10:32

    I totally get that and would do some research before booking. We have family in Perthshire so would consult them about a trip to that area.

    • TGLoyalty says:

      7 May7 May 15:04

      Lots of the UK is very different to where I live. tbh if i go out about 45 mins to the cotswolds that’s very different to my suburban neighbourhood and inner city etc

      I’ve always talked but seeing Devon, Cornwall etc I might just do that over the next couple years.

  • Harry T says:

    7 May7 May 11:25

    @Anna the real question is, will the spa at the Langley be open in July/August?!

    • Anna says:

      7 May7 May 14:01

      I doubt we’ll be using it even if it is! But no matter, my booking is secure and that’s what matters 😂

      • Harry T says:

        7 May7 May 14:34

        I don’t think I would pay their cash rates! But tactical use of Bonvoy points may be fair, even if purchasing them in a sale.

        I’m glad your booking is secure 🙃

• Nige says:

  7 May7 May 08:04

  If BA does withdraw from LGW, will existing LGW bookings be counted as cancellations (ie will we be entitled to ask for a refund) if they change departure airport to LHR? Or can they change airport within London if they give enough notice? Thanks.

  • @mkcol says:

    7 May7 May 08:34

    I’m certain they can switch you to LHR as they look at LCY/LHR/LGW/STN as all LON.

    • Lady London says:

      7 May7 May 09:40

      Not sure that’s legally sustainable.

      • Rob says:

        7 May7 May 10:17

        I think it is. This has come up before.

      • Charlieface says:

        7 May7 May 15:14

        Not legal. It’s classed as a cancellation by EC261, ergo you can ask for a reasonable rerouting or a refund, and extra costs, and compo. Compo not applicable more than 14 days in advance though.

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