The new HFP chat thread – Monday 11th 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/2020/05/11/the-new-hfp-chat-thread-monday-11th-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.

Yueueh says:

11 May11 May 10:11

Any kind souls sitting on Monese Premium upgrade codes? Feeling the urge to tiptoe back into the water at a PO or PP…

Thanks!
Zara says:

11 May11 May 10:19

Hi – if I upgrade from green to platinum and have a credit balance (currently -3k), do I need to spend 7k or 4K to trigger the 20k upgrade bonus?
I’ve asked for the amount to be transferred to my bank but it says it can take 10 days … thanks
Blindman says:

11 May11 May 10:23

CURVE
Any one having issues getting a response from Curve CS?

I raised an issue a few weeks back, got a response about 3 days later, but then nothing for the follow up?
Tried through the APP and email direct to support@imaginecurve.com
I’m trying to do a charge back on a flight I cannot take.

Anyone got an actual telephone number I can ring?

It’s not urgent as such, just annoying.

Thanks
- mr_jetlag says:
  
  11 May11 May 11:05
  
  They may be busy for a while. I’ve got thousands of fraudulent transactions on my card right now (Russian Rouble denominated), I suspect there’s been a breach of some sort.
- Pierre says:
  
  11 May11 May 11:08
  
  I literally just contacted Curve CS 15 minutes ago – and already have a resolution to my issue.
berneslai says:

11 May11 May 10:30

What is the Amex concierge number? The one on the back of my Platinum just appears to be the vanilla freephone number.
- berneslai says:
  
  11 May11 May 10:31
  
  Is it the 8054 number?
Lockdown Larry says:

11 May11 May 10:30

“In his address to the nation on Sunday, the prime minister said: “I am serving notice that it will soon be the time – with transmission significantly lower – to impose quarantine on people coming into this country by air.”

The government later clarified that the rules would apply not just to air passengers, but also those arriving by other means of travel.”

So not just air, even though he said by air.
- Freddy says:
  
  11 May11 May 10:33
  
  France is also excluded
  - Anna says:
    
    11 May11 May 13:35
    
    Are we less likely to infect the French, and vice versa?! (Ditto the Irish who will also be part of the arrangement, apparently).
    - Lockdown Larry says:
      
      11 May11 May 14:03
      
      “Are we less likely to infect the French, and vice versa?! (Ditto the Irish who will also be part of the arrangement, apparently).”
      
      Apparently so. You’re also less likely to be infected if you take a flight to Spain, for example, via Paris than if you went directly apparently.
      
      I’m sure this will also well enforced too….
      - Lockdown Larry says:
        
        11 May11 May 16:30
        
        The 50+ page document doesn’t have any detail either (other than stating there’ll be a couple of exemptions).
        
        Good stuff.
    - Novice says:
      
      11 May11 May 17:12
      
      Lower down I already pointed out; they are saying they are following science to dodge scrutiny. If they were following science then everyone should be questioning the fact that why did the government redact all scientific advice documents from Sage? If we already supposedly know everything the scientists have advised through govt then why hide anything? It’s not exactly a document that could get in wrong hands eg national security docs.
      
      These are the questions ppl need to be asking.
- Novice says:
  
  11 May11 May 11:06
  
  I didn’t watch the speech as I don’t have the patience of a saint and can’t tolerate lying buffoons 😂. But I’ve been told the guidelines via family and I must say the buffoon has gone crazy.
  
  He’s allowing millions back to work and to ‘exercise’ but apparently no mention of being able to see family. So it’s apparently safe to mingle with colleagues and strangers but not your own family. What a joke! He’s trying for population control. Kill the poor and save the rich. I’m glad to be in the not so poor category.
  
  If one learns anything in this pandemic, learn that you gotta be rich by the time next pandemic happens if you by some miracle survive this pandemic.
  - The Lord says:
    
    11 May11 May 11:39
    
    Or aged under 70 and you will probably be fine too
    - Rob says:
      
      11 May11 May 12:21
      
      If the schools don’t open in September (my kids are not primary, Year 1 or Year 6 and won’t be next year either) I could see us popping over to Europe for a year and sticking them into an international school. My kids will be going backwards if not. Has zero impact on HFP or my wife’s job, since if schools aren’t open you can be sure not much else will be open either.
      - Michael C says:
        
        11 May11 May 13:17
        
        Our son does happen to be in F1 (and in a class of 8 pupils), so certainly hope he’ll get some schooling, but like you Rob, wouldn’t mind doing, say, a year at the Bangkok British School if there’s not much progress in the UK (and if can fly, of course! Otherwise, Eurostar destinations…!).
      - Anna says:
        
        11 May11 May 13:38
        
        I’m retired so was day dreaming about abandoning my husband and teenager for a few weeks in the sun as I could happily quarantine for 2 weeks on my return!
      - Spaghetti Town says:
        
        11 May11 May 13:43
        
        How the other half live.
      - Rob says:
        
        11 May11 May 15:24
        
        This is a money saver, not a money spender. My wife’s bank has a big office in Amsterdam, we could live like royalty in Amsterdam for the cost of West London and I doubt the international school would be pricier than the schools here.
      - Optimus Prime says:
        
        11 May11 May 19:16
        
        @Rob – do you mean that people in Amsterdam with same role as your wife’s are paid that much or you’re talking about moving there while keeping her current UK salary? The latter would not be the usual case, would it? All the people I know who relocated to another office got a salary according to the new location.
      - Rob says:
        
        11 May11 May 20:16
        
        They would second her for a year, same terms.
      - Liz says:
        
        11 May11 May 19:28
        
        My daughter works for the new International School in Bridge of Allan – run by a Malaysian company – they are continuing their curriculum online. School only has about 16 pupils in total so far.
      - Lady London says:
        
        11 May11 May 20:55
        
        IIRC isnt there some sort of international school in HAM? IIRC nice train and possibly plane connections to AMS.
  - Nick_C says:
    
    11 May11 May 12:05
    
    “I didn’t watch the speech … But I’ve been told the guidelines via family … He’s allowing millions back to work … So it’s apparently safe to mingle with colleagues and strangers”
    
    Really best to get your information first hand instead of chinese whispers.
    
    You can read the speech at https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-address-to-the-nation-on-coronavirus-10-may-2020
    
    He said “We said that you should work from home if you can, and only go to work if you must.
    
    We now need to stress that anyone who can’t work from home, for instance those in construction or manufacturing, should be actively encouraged to go to work.
    
    And we want it to be safe for you to get to work. So you should avoid public transport if at all possible – because we must and will maintain social distancing, and capacity will therefore be limited.
    
    So work from home if you can, but you should go to work if you can’t work from home.
    
    And to ensure you are safe at work we have been working to establish new guidance for employers to make workplaces COVID-secure.
    
    And when you do go to work, if possible do so by car or even better by walking or bicycle. But just as with workplaces, public transport operators will also be following COVID-secure standards.”
    - The Lord says:
      
      11 May11 May 12:12
      
      It all seems very clear to me but apparently it isnt?
      Media 2 weeks ago – You are treating the public like idiots by not sharing the roadmap out of lockdown with them
      Media now – The public arent intelligent enough to use common sense, you must tell them exactly what they can do and who they can do it with.
    - Ronald Jeremy says:
      
      11 May11 May 12:16
      
      So then to summarize this sh*t show from our esteemed PM.
      
      Go back to work if you are a working class pleb. ( Construction, nurse, essential worker etc)
      Stay at home if you are a middle class professional who afford can work from home.
      
      If you take public transport be it on your head, you die you die.
      Errr that’s it.
      - The Lord says:
        
        11 May11 May 12:22
        
        Go back to work with your employer ensuring distancing can be enforced. Go back to work if your place of work is outdoors as the chances of catching it outdoors are extremely low. Go back to work if you are under 70 and dont have a pre-existing condition as 1% of deaths have been people who meet this criteria. Go back to work or if this drags on for a couple of months longer there wont be much of an economy left. Use your common sense.
      - Josh says:
        
        11 May11 May 15:19
        
        Common sense is in increasingly short supply these days 😂
      - Lady London says:
        
        11 May11 May 20:56
        
        Was it any different in the war?
- Michael Keneally says:
  
  11 May11 May 12:23
  
  You appear to be towing the party line Nick, well done, your kidding no one.
  
  This is policy on the hoof, the hapless buffoon Boris has been found wanting, just when the country needs leadership, he blusters, procrastinates and lets others take the blame for his abject failure. Hancock will be offered up as a sacrificial lamb, largely to deflect attention away from Johnston’s catastrophic mismanagement of the crisis..
  - Rob says:
    
    11 May11 May 12:25
    
    Pretty sure the US will be excluded too, or that trade deal won’t be along in a hurry 🙂 Potentially Russia and China too. Perhaps Hungary as well, as good to keep all the despots on side.
    - Alastair says:
      
      11 May11 May 12:43
      
      This has made me chuckle. Sadly it’s probably all too true.
      Currently living in a county with a tenth of the death rate of the UK and think it’s a bit of a ridiculous situation should I wish to travel and see my family at any point in the foreseeable, when UK lockdown eases up enough.
      
      Sounds like the usual political fluff to make them look like they’re doing something, and pinning it on those nasty foreigners and the ‘traveling elite’ or whatever.
    - Don says:
      
      11 May11 May 12:51
      
      Did any of us have any real doubts about your Leftist traits Rob?
    - Chris Heyes says:
      
      11 May11 May 14:33
      
      Hmmmm So now we are getting “Political” after all, (even you Rob) lol lol
    - John says:
      
      11 May11 May 14:49
      
      Americans can just take an Aer Lingus service to Dublin, then travel on to GB/NI without restriction.
      
      If they (or any other traveller) want to stay in Republic, they’re supposed to fill in the PDF self-isolation form from this site, hand it over at the airport, then hide away for 14 days:
      
      https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/travel.html
      
      Printed copies are also available in arrivals hall.
      
      Latest official figure is that only 66% of passengers fill in a form. Rest just leave airport unchecked.
      
      This is system Boris J is planning (although online rather than using print outs, supposedly).
  - Nick_C says:
    
    11 May11 May 12:45
    
    I am not a member or active supporter of any political party. I am merely quoting the facts on the bilateral arrangement with France regarding international travel, as some people seem to be ignorant of them. I was under the impression that this is a travel blog, not a political one.
    
    I’m trying to keep politics out of this. I’m franky disgusted by people who criticise everything our Government does simply because they are politically opposed to them. At times like this, we should all be on the same side. We need to minimise both deaths and the damage to the economy. This is not the time for trying to score points.
    - J says:
      
      11 May11 May 14:44
      
      It’s not about scoring points though. As a “rich” country how is the UK doing such a bad job? The UK looks like a third world country compared to Germany and South Korea. How has it come to that? Boris’ speech last night leaves me genuinely concerned – he is clearly not well and completely out of his depth. Don’t expect things to get better anytime soon. I actually miss Theresa May – what ever her faults she was conscientious and had an eye for detail, Boris is a lazy charlatan who I hope will one day stand trial for the deaths his failures have caused.
    - Novice says:
      
      11 May11 May 15:14
      
      All this political talk started because of my morning rant but I agree with Rob and J and the others who have pointed out the flaws of government policy.
      
      I saw the media pics shown of today’s traffic and travel and also read Raab said ppl were meant to go work on Wednesday although apparently buffoon in charge made no mention of Wednesday. I don’t know what is true but I do have common sense and the buffoon despite being a churchill worshipper has no quality of leadership. I basically don’t even listen to the govt advice. Not because I’m being reckless but the truth is I wouldn’t trust them with my well-used luggage case never mind my life.
      
      And if they were following science as they keep repeating to dodge scrutiny, why redact the entire documents from Sage?
    - J says:
      
      11 May11 May 15:59
      
      You are very right novice .
Cheshire Pete says:

11 May11 May 10:36

Accor just emailed me about Business Plus membership has been extended by 6 months.
my curve has been hacked says:

11 May11 May 10:42

Everyone should check their Curve card accounts asap. Over £2k of Russian rouble spending has just been logged on my account. Could be a major hack related to their change of issuers.
- GeorgeJ says:
  
  11 May11 May 10:50
  
  Really,
  Whats the game
  
  Given your very specific name, why should we trust you?
  - To George from the Curve team says:
    
    11 May11 May 10:55
    
    LOL. No game, Georgie. Happy to provide screenshots to Rob.
    - Rob says:
      
      11 May11 May 11:04
      
      My Curve got cloned two years ago. It is no less at risk than any other card if you use it at a vendor which gets hacked or has dodgy staff.
      - mr_jetlag says:
        
        11 May11 May 11:22
        
        I understand, but the concern here is that with just the curve number they seem to have been able to charge multiple cards AND turn off spending notifications on my account. I thought the whole point of the biometric apps were that these settings were controlled app-side and not server-side. It seems that not only were they able to select which cards to charge, but suppress the app from notifying me. This is p*ss poor implementation at best and sinister at worst.
        
        It doesn’t help that no one has called me back yet and I’m having to report the fraud to each of my card issuing banks one by one … I can think of better ways to spend Monday morning!
      - GeorgeJ says:
        
        11 May11 May 11:23
        
        Yes, all vulnerable to that. Though i have my doubts about the worth of Curve long term, some of their features are quite useful, including notifications of use in these circumstances (if you read them).
        Any suspected this was part of a denial of service attack, website down at present which raised my suspicions.
      - mr_jetlag says:
        
        11 May11 May 11:39
        
        I did have spending notifications on, whoever did this also turned them off (which I thought wasn’t possible, see note to Rob above).
        
        Someone else suggested keeping the card on lock which isn’t realistic since I was using the card as it was meant to (daily spend, coffees) and not “just” as an MS engine.
      - TGLoyalty says:
        
        11 May11 May 16:27
        
        Mr_jetlag I’d check your email account if I was you.
        
        You sure it’s just your curve that’s been “hacked”?
- Don says:
  
  11 May11 May 11:13
  
  DCC forced on me with a terminal that defaulted to GBP without local currency option. Disputed. I was after £0.70. No dice says Curve. £100k protection can’t even cover <£1!
  - Lady London says:
    
    11 May11 May 18:57
    
    i’d threaten them with the Ombudsman for that. not just for my 70p. for the other 99,999 people thar get charged the 70p extra that shouldnt.
    
    since apparently each complaint will cost Curve about £600 fee regardless of the outcome perhaps woukd like to proceed correctly and sort the matter out with the vendor forcing DCC uncorrectly.
    - TGLoyalty says:
      
      11 May11 May 22:10
      
      How can you complain about curve not refunding you because a terminal forced you to DCC to GBP instead of using local currency?
      - Lady London says:
        
        11 May11 May 22:37
        
        it’s illegal and now that its been discovered its the way to resolve it. standard thing.
simon says:

11 May11 May 10:50

Looking at the T&C’s on Amex Platinum travel insurance, it states that they will cover medical on future trips if you contract covit-19, provided you have not travelled against medical and government advice. My current travel insurance through my packaged bank account categorically states that it will not entertain any covit-19 cases going forward as it is now a known event. If this is the case then I will seriously consider upgrading my gold charge card to the platinum and cancel the insurance through my bank account as the thought of travelling to the US or South Africa once restrictions are relaxed with no medical cover against the virus seriously concerns me. Have I got this right regarding the Amex Plat card and can anyone offer any advice regarding this?
- Lockdown Larry says:
  
  11 May11 May 10:55
  
  This “known event” stuff makes travel insurance a waste of time doesn’t it?
  
  Malaria, for example, is a known event. Does that mean you wouldn’t be covered for it?
  
  I read that HSBC travel insurance have said they wouldn’t cover cancellation costs due to covid-19 but they would cover healthcare costs
  - simon says:
    
    11 May11 May 11:36
    
    Exactly my thoughts Larry. Pointless having travel insurance if that is the case.
    - Rob says:
      
      11 May11 May 12:24
      
      I would imagine historically that 99% of cancellation claims on travel insurance were due to ‘change of circumstances’ and ‘known issues’ for the traveller, not the destination.
      - TGLoyalty says:
        
        11 May11 May 16:31
        
        Not true for places with higher risk of catching malaria etc. They are known risks and yet fully covered for medical … if not my cover is useless.
- GeorgeJ says:
  
  11 May11 May 10:58
  
  It depends on what aspect you are talking about, cancellation disruption and curtailment are only included by Amex platinum travel for bookings prior to mid March for Covid 19. Anything new is a known event and not covered. Even this is actually ex-gratia to the underlying policy.
  Medical is covered provided the FCO or other national agencies are not advising against non essential (or actively preventing) travel. Covid 19 is just another disease you can catch and low risk for the majority (the higher risk clearly shouldn’t be going anywhere).
  - simon says:
    
    11 May11 May 11:43
    
    That was how I understood it. I can take the cancellation and disruption risk myself, it was the medical cover which concerns me. We’re fit & healthy but if one of did have to be admitted to hospital in a US or S African private hospital it could be very expensive. Beginning to wonder if my current insurer has the same policy but just worded it poorly.
    - GeorgeJ says:
      
      11 May11 May 13:51
      
      Simon, You have to get out of the summary of cover and into the detail of the medical policy itself and any clarification they have issued. However its actually quite difficult for an insurer to deny cover against a specific disease or accident (they tend to exclude the action which gave you the accident, not the injury itself, ditto with disease and travel to where it is unsafe in the FCO view, ie currently everywhere). There is also some ABI guidance on this.
      Amex/Axa have been better than most in at least writing to all their customers and spelling out what it means in practice.