The new HFP chat thread – Saturday 23rd 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/2020/05/23/the-new-hfp-chat-thread-saturday-23rd-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.

Ron says:

23 May23 May 15:00

We’ve a holiday booked to Madeira in August, villa with Airbnb and flights with BA. The owner messaged us saying from 1/7, people who can provide a proof with negative covid within 72hrs before arrival can enter Madeira freely or pay to get test done at arrival. I’m hoping we can still go, but understand chance is slim. Especially BA flight is from LGW. The U.K. 14 quarantine rule doesn’t bother me too much, as we can both work from home and kids are on holiday anyway.
- Navara says:
  
  23 May23 May 18:15
  
  What happens if you test Positive on arrival?
  - Lady London says:
    
    23 May23 May 18:41
    
    you get crated up and shipped back.
    - Navara says:
      
      23 May23 May 19:33
      
      Infecting another plane full of passengers on the way back.
      Stay home
      Or travel to Durham
      - Chrisasaurus says:
        
        23 May23 May 19:53
        
        +1 while at the same time dying a little inside at the parody that is running the show right now…
    - Chris Heyes says:
      
      23 May23 May 22:26
      
      Lady London@ In Answer to Friday’s question Yes “DIAGO DARCIA” now an American Base
      Was British human rights most shameful act SHOT their pets in front of them burned their crops told them they were only leaving temporary & could come back shortly that was around 1966
      That was the British not the USA
      Micheal Palin did a documentary on their plight (story) worth a read or wiki
      also a BBC Archive film showing how they lived 1947 as proof they were “NOT MONKEYS”
      Makes me Ashamed
      - Chris Heyes says:
        
        23 May23 May 22:40
        
        EDIT DIAGO GARCIA (not Darcia)
      - Lady London says:
        
        23 May23 May 22:51
        
        outrageous. And yet the British Government continues to lie about it ?
      - Charlieface says:
        
        23 May23 May 23:21
        
        Diego (with an e) Garcia. Yeah it’s a pretty sad story.
      - Spaghetti Town says:
        
        24 May24 May 00:56
        
        The people who made that decision are very likely dead to face up to it now.
        It’s been a British territory since Napelonic days, but yes it’s very shocking what went on.
BP says:

23 May23 May 15:53

I want to book a companion flight for outbound May and return June 2021. If I book outbound now, how can I add my return leg also on the BA companion voucher given the phone lines are busy?
- Anna says:
  
  23 May23 May 17:11
  
  You can book it online if you have enough avios and then call to have the voucher applied (i.e. avios refunded) when lines are less busy. I don’t think there is another option.
  - Rob says:
    
    23 May23 May 17:19
    
    BUT … the new rule is that BA does NOT equalise the taxes. This is OK for most destinations, where return = 2 x one-ways, but for North America you pay a HUGE premium for booking 2 x one-ways instead of a return.
    - Ron says:
      
      23 May23 May 18:06
      
      Hi Rob, did you do an article about this? Seems to remember I’ve read something about this before. I’m planning to book 4 CW on 241 to the west coast next year. Would BA re-calculate tax if it’s open jaw, as can’t book it online? Thanks.
      - pauldb says:
        
        23 May23 May 19:02
        
        Yes they will calculate normal return taxes if you call (at midnight or whenever) to add the inbound to your outbound booking, even if open jaw. The problem is only if you make a separate inbound booking online. But no guarantee of 4 CW seats
      - Rob says:
        
        23 May23 May 22:08
        
        Open jaw has no impact. Key is whether you call to add the return (you pay ‘return’ taxes) or you book the return separately online and call to get half the Avios back (pay 2 x one way taxes).
      - Ron says:
        
        23 May23 May 23:50
        
        Thank you! I will have to call anyway, as we don’t have enough Avios to book another four inbound without the 241s. However, just realised earlier, I’ve been calculating the required Avios using the peak First amount (100,000), but we are only planning for CW.
- MattB says:
  
  23 May23 May 17:52
  
  In my experience they aren’t that busy of late. I got through straight away ringing Japan at 1am a few weeks back and even calling the UK line in the day to cancel some hotel bookings was sorted in less than 10 mins.
Michael C says:

23 May23 May 17:18

So Spain open to tourists as from July…bet those Easyjet flights are..errr…flying off the shelves!
Matt says:

23 May23 May 18:29

I’ve got flights booked on Qatar Airways with Expedia for later this year. I’m looking to take advantage of the current flexibility QR are offering to change dates and destination. I’ve phoned up Expedia to try to change – the first agent seemed to know what I wanted to do and what the rules were, but we got cut off. I then phoned again and got someone who insisted QR’s flexibility was only up until June.

Has anyone managed to do this for an Expedia booking on the current rules?
Rossy says:

23 May23 May 18:56

Can anyone confirm if Revolut will charge any kind of fee/interest if I set up a direct debit from it to pay off my IHG CC balance in full each month? Equally, would a charge be incurred for adhoc payments directly to my IHG account?
- Secret Squirrel says:
  
  23 May23 May 19:16
  
  Yes, top ups into Revolut from IHG incur fees as soon as they credit so leaving until DD could cost you.
  - Rossy says:
    
    23 May23 May 20:58
    
    Sorry not quite what I meant. I mean will I be charged by Rev for paying IHG, either directly or via a direct debit?
    - John says:
      
      23 May23 May 21:08
      
      Revolut doesn’t charge for normal bank transfers by FP. But if most of your funds were deposited by credit card and you bank transfer them out then they may not like it.
      - Rossy says:
        
        23 May23 May 21:44
        
        Event if it was a card transaction to IHG, not a FP transfer?
  - Rossy says:
    
    23 May23 May 21:07
    
    Out of interest though, do you know the percentage that the fees are charged at for Rev topups?
    - Anna says:
      
      23 May23 May 21:54
      
      If you mean IHG top ups to Rev, it’s a daily interest charge best avoided by paying off straight away (or in advance).
      - Secret Squirrel says:
        
        24 May24 May 08:11
        
        Put yourself in credit by the amount you want to top up, that way you know your not getting charged.
- ashish says:
  
  25 May25 May 00:31
  
  Then what? transfer to revoult and then to IHG?