The new HFP chat thread – Monday 15th June

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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/2020/06/15/the-new-hfp-chat-thread-monday-15th-june/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.

George K says:

15 Jun15 June 02:41

Shop Small is back… one transaction per card. Available on my main cards but not their companion equivalents (so got it on my Plat, but not my plat supplementary credit card, etc)
- James says:
  
  15 Jun15 June 02:46
  
  Up to ten times!
  
  OT: I’ve no update on my gold supp card application (for expenses) for myself, does it usually take 10 days?
- PeckishPassport says:
  
  15 Jun15 June 02:51
  
  I have it on both, Plat main and supplementary!
- Oli says:
  
  15 Jun15 June 04:05
  
  I have it on my Plat and its supp
  - EKFan says:
    
    15 Jun15 June 04:58
    
    I have it on my Gold and my wife’s supp Gold too.
Baji Nahid says:

15 Jun15 June 03:13

IHG hotel redundancies in both Edinburgh and Glasgow. thoughts with the staff.

“Hundreds of jobs are under threat at five Scottish hotels run by the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) amid the coronavirus crisis.

IHG has started a redundancy consultation process with staff at its hotels in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

They are the Kimpton Charlotte Square, InterContinental The George and Crown Plaza in Edinburgh, and Grand Central and Kimpton Blythswood Square, Glasgow.

The hotels have been closed since the lockdown went into effect in March. Most of the staff have been furloughed.

IHG has not confirmed how many redundancies it will be seeking. The five hotels employ well over 500 staff between them.” BBC.
- ChrisC says:
  
  15 Jun15 June 03:46
  
  Been mentioned a few times over the past week. Not sure if there is a dedicated thread though.
- Gormlesstraveller says:
  
  15 Jun15 June 13:19
  
  Is it IHG’s decision or the hotel operators’?
  - Genghis says:
    
    15 Jun15 June 13:45
    
    Aren’t these hotels owned and operated by IHG (ie non-franchise?)
    - Rob says:
      
      15 Jun15 June 14:05
      
      IHG and a French property group bought Principal together IIRC
Ajdt says:

15 Jun15 June 07:17

Datapoint – Lufthansa cancelled my flights on 5th June. Phoned up and asked for refund on the same day. Refunds for all 4 tickets showing in my BAPP today.
- Spk says:
  
  15 Jun15 June 07:53
  
  A €9bn bailout helps.
Anna says:

15 Jun15 June 07:50

Has anyone ever had a successful upgrade from standard to family room (or at least one able to sleep 3) at The George in Edinburgh? I’ve managed to get 2 nights pre-Xmas for 52k points but will probably need to take the teenager. I’ve emailed (as IC Ambassador) but just got an automated response saying they are closed.

Also – apologies Cat, I missed your question re Carcassonne. I’ve got the Doubletree booked at the moment as they have rooms with 2 double beds and I get free breakfast as HH gold. I’m primarily going for a bit of French practice but it has been on my bucket list as a destination for about 30 years!!
- Rachel R says:
  
  15 Jun15 June 11:50
  
  I had a lovely upgrade from the smallest room to a suite there in November last year. The staff at the hotel were fantastic.
  - Anna says:
    
    15 Jun15 June 14:59
    
    They’ve just emailed back to say they’ve found us a room which can accommodate a roll away bed. It sounds like they are pretty full with Xmas shoppers that weekend.
    - Anna says:
      
      15 Jun15 June 15:11
      
      The reservation is now showing King Deluxe so it was worth asking!
- Polly says:
  
  15 Jun15 June 17:48
  
  Carcassone is so lovely, plenty of locals to practice your french on…must revisit this place sometime.
  - Cat says:
    
    15 Jun15 June 21:49
    
    Lovely food, lovely wine, lovely locals, lovely walks around the walled city, it’s a marvellous place (and free brekkie is often a decider for me too!).
    
    Enjoy Anna!
    
    Polly – we do seem to have been to many of the same places! This one was because I had a Eurostar voucher to use up, some Flying Blue miles to save by taking a flight, and one more stay necessary to trigger an Accor promotion. I picked Carcassonne on the basis of the number of times I’ve played the board game, and I’ve seen so many pretty pictures which helped. I absolutely loved it!
Nick M says:

15 Jun15 June 09:07

Morning everyone!

Forgetting about current restrictions, I’m looking to do some solo travel (2/3/4 night trips) over the next year or so, I have some hotel points but ideally spending as little cash as possible…

Ideally using Hilton and IHG; I also have some Marriott and Radisson points. Would be flying from LON so regularly cheap routes or RFS preferred.

Where would people recommend? There’s nothing particular I’d want to do/see – just somewhere nice to explore by myself!
- Rhys says:
  
  15 Jun15 June 09:11
  
  I was in Granada in February which is a beautiful area. Excellent tapas (one of the few places where they still give them to you for free for every drink you buy), I’d recommend Los Manuelos which was filled with locals every night!
  - Concerto says:
    
    15 Jun15 June 10:08
    
    I found plenty of those (where the tapas are free with the drinks) in Madrid and Palma. You have to look a bit, not in the tourist areas. Certainly not somewhere the yacht club crowd would go.
- AJA says:
  
  15 Jun15 June 09:25
  
  I’d recommend Seville, Granada, Malaga and Lisbon. I really fancy going to Porto too.
  - Darren says:
    
    15 Jun15 June 09:53
    
    Must get back to Lisbon at some point, had a curtailed trip a couple of years ago.
- marcw says:
  
  15 Jun15 June 09:26
  
  There’s plenty to do and see in Spain: Toledo, Sevilla, Granada (as Rhys suggests), Valencia, Barcelona + coast (the Costa Brava is beautiful, with some very very nice town like Peratallada, Pals, L’Escala… all extremely beautiful), then northern Spain can be very nice as well with excellent food (Vasque country)
  - Michael says:
    
    15 Jun15 June 11:17
    
    Alicante is lovely city and well worth seeing for a short visit.
  - memesweeper says:
    
    15 Jun15 June 13:55
    
    Valencia was one of my favourite ever city breaks. Only stopped on the way somewhere else! It’s marvellous.
  - BJ says:
    
    15 Jun15 June 15:08
    
    Both are superb and worth combining in a single visit.
  - Lady London says:
    
    15 Jun15 June 17:43
    
    Ta all three !
    - Josh says:
      
      15 Jun15 June 18:33
      
      Agreed. Alicante is lovely and I’ve heard Valencia is a wonderful city. Hopefully will be able to go to ALC in September…
- Craig says:
  
  15 Jun15 June 10:49
  
  I have to agree completely, that corner of France/Spain is fabulous. Some of the best food and wine I’ve had in Europe. Heading further along the coast of Spain is really pleasant too.
  - Nick_C says:
    
    15 Jun15 June 13:03
    
    A Coruna is worth a visit (IB used to fly direct from London). Also a good jumping off point for a longer trip to Santiago, Braga, Viana do Costello, and fly back from Porto.
    - Genghis says:
      
      15 Jun15 June 13:47
      
      And head to Cies Islands, beautiful.
    - Nick_C says:
      
      15 Jun15 June 14:36
      
      @Genghis – never ever heard of them but wow, they look beautiful!
    - Anna says:
      
      15 Jun15 June 16:31
      
      I’ve never come across another Brit (apart from my family) who has been to the Cies! Yes they are unbelievably beautiful. Sadly the last time we were in the region we had to cancel our trip due to my son having a bad bout of prickly heat.
    - Genghis says:
      
      15 Jun15 June 19:11
      
      We went a couple of years ago. V beautiful and good walking routes; stayed the night in Vigo. I’d like to go back as Santiago was great too.
    - Cat says:
      
      15 Jun15 June 21:53
      
      Ooooh, thanks Genghis! I like a good walking recommendation!
- Dan says:
  
  15 Jun15 June 11:44
  
  Lisbon, Porto, San Sebastian – yes, I like food!
- Nick M says:
  
  15 Jun15 June 16:16
  
  Brilliant – thanks everyone!
  
  Some excellent tips to start researching!
- Sukes says:
  
  15 Jun15 June 18:33
  
  Almeria on southern Spanish coast for your Marriott points. Completely untouristy Spanish old walled city, not much English spoken. Super cheap but high quality. 15min taxi from airport to city centre. Stay in the 4* AC Marriott, only hotel in the city with pool (open summer months). Staff are exceptional. Don’t bother with breakfast as there is brilliant bakery around the corner. Terrace bar facing the hotel does incredible local Spanish lunch of the day for eur4. Wish I was there right now….
  - Nick M says:
    
    16 Jun16 June 12:44
    
    Perfect- thank you… I guess I should improve my Spanish then!
Nigel says:

15 Jun15 June 10:05

Looks like my trip to USA booked for this winter might be too soon to avoid travel ban after all…. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/coronavirus-anthony-fauci-travel-ban-us-uk-vaccine-a9565841.html
- Andrew says:
  
  15 Jun15 June 10:09
  
  He’s even suggesting borders might not open until there’s a vaccine – so never then! Hopefully these are all just off the cuff interview remarks rather than actual policy proposals.
- marcw says:
  
  15 Jun15 June 10:13
  
  I believe the travel ban will not be lifted BEFORE us elections in November.
- TripRep says:
  
  15 Jun15 June 10:51
  
  I also wonder how much the BLM protests escalate near the election?
  
  Pre-empted this, cancelled my VS redemption flights to Florida for November, been approx a month since doing so, likely take a couple more months before a refund appears.
  
  ps Florida just made another all time high record for daily new cases, now > 2000 / day
  - Darren says:
    
    15 Jun15 June 11:31
    
    and Texas
- Anna says:
  
  15 Jun15 June 15:17
  
  There can’t be many nations which actually pose a higher risk than the US though, now!
Concerto says:

15 Jun15 June 10:17

Frankly, I don’t know who would want to go back to the US just now. The place has become so horrible it beggars belief. Even without all this BLM uproar.
- BrightonReader says:
  
  15 Jun15 June 11:36
  
  BLM don’t want special treatment. They want equal treatment anf not to be treated as inferior and to end discrimination against them. Not too much to ask surely?
  
  Same as the LGBT community – equal rights not special rights.
  - fivebobbill says:
    
    15 Jun15 June 11:55
    
    Quite right too, however the anarchy we have witnessed lately from some of their support is doing nothing for their cause, and putting an awful lot of moderate people like myself right off …
    - Chris K says:
      
      15 Jun15 June 13:18
      
      Note also that BLM’s aims include, among other things, “an end to capitalism” (check their website).
      
      So no, not just a rights advocacy group.
      - Rhys says:
        
        15 Jun15 June 13:31
        
        No it’s not. Never once mentions it on the official BLM ‘What we Believe’ page, so not sure where you got that quote from.
    - Chris K says:
      
      15 Jun15 June 13:43
      
      @Rhys
      
      On their (official) UK GoFundMe page , full quote:
      
      “ We’re guided by a commitment to dismantle imperialism, capitalism, white-supremacy, patriarchy and the state structures that disproportionately harm black people in Britain and around the world. We build deep relationships across the diaspora and strategise to challenge the rise of the authoritarian right-wing across the world, from Brazil to Britain.”
    - the_real_a says:
      
      15 Jun15 June 14:48
      
      @Rhys will be including blank squares on the HfP Instagram and suggesting a reading list of racial divisive texts so we can educate ourselves next 🙂
      - Rhys says:
        
        15 Jun15 June 15:01
        
        Nothing racially divisive by acknowledging that BAME people face discrimination in the US and UK. Ask any black person you know and I’m sure they can tell you a story, in the same way that if you ask any woman or gay person they can tell you stories about harassment they have faced.
        
        It’s easy to assume that everyone experiences the world in the same way that you or I do, but this assumption quickly crumbles in conversation with people.
    - Nigel says:
      
      15 Jun15 June 15:00
      
      Chris K – you seem to be confusing a gofundme page of ‘BLM UK’ with a UK page of the US organisation BLM (these comments were in the context of travel to USA). Rhys is right.
    - Chris K says:
      
      15 Jun15 June 15:28
      
      @Nigel
      
      I was responding to fivebobbill in that context, of recent activities and the wider aims which put moderate people off BLM.
      
      I will accept that BLM US, unlike the UK chapter, does not explicitly call for an end to capitalism. In the interests of harmony and keeping this relevant to points and travel I will leave it there! 🙂
    - the_real_a says:
      
      15 Jun15 June 15:56
      
      Unfortunately the thought process often finishes at the “ideal” and “principle” which the vast majority of right minded people agree. It does not extend to tangible “solutions” which is where skepticism and opposition arises.
      
      For example HfP editorial staff are now 100% white. Many would argue that Ryhs should not have been hired in the current climate, and a BAME person should have gotten his place. They might organise a social mob to boycott HfP and its advertisers until HfP staff is representative of the demographics of the country.
      
      For many of use the above scenario is something we are attempting to manage in our day jobs.
    - Peter North says:
      
      15 Jun15 June 17:00
      
      Have you suffered from hrassment Rhys?
      - Rhys says:
        
        15 Jun15 June 17:04
        
        I have
    - Cat says:
      
      15 Jun15 June 22:12
      
      👏 @Rhys, @BrightonReader and @Nigel.
      Seeking equal rights and the ability to exist without fear of being targeted and brutalised by police because you “fit the profile” are not special treatment.
      @the_real_a “For example HfP editorial staff are now 100% white.” Racial discrimination is generally proved using Stats. Rob has hired a staff of 3 – that’s really quite a small sample size. I have no idea of the ethnicities of the applicants, but assuming they were broadly in line with London as a whole, that wouldn’t even come close to being statistically significant at the 10% level…
- CV3V says:
  
  15 Jun15 June 14:00
  
  I think the whole point was that she hasn’t played the ‘victim’ – but if that’s what you chose to pick out of her post then what’s the point trying.
  - Cat says:
    
    15 Jun15 June 22:16
    
    Agreed CV3V.
    In this day and age, phrases like “play the victim” just shouldn’t be used, nor should your first assumption be that it was her fault.
- Nick_C says:
  
  15 Jun15 June 15:09
  
  Completely agree LL. The US has an issue with undue force being used by the police, but I’ve seen no evidence that the police are racist. I think if a white man high on a cocktail of illegal drugs was arrested for using forged currency to buy cigarettes, and resisted arrest, he would probably have been treated the same way. One they had him on the floor, he should have been cuffed and maybe shackled or his legs tied. Kneeling on his neck for 7 minutes was not necessary. And to what extent did his use of illegal drugs contribute to his death.
  
  But this is a US problem, and it is annoying to set it being used as in issue by anarchists and criminals to cause damage on the streets of Britain and illegally gather in a way that could spread infection.
  
  We abolished slavery 200 years ago. We never had apartheid. We legislated against racial discrimination 55 years ago.
  
  We have equal opportunities in this country. But not everyone takes the opportunities available to them.
  
  We need to continue to work to reduce social inequality by improving education and encouraging all young people to strive for a better life, eschewing drugs and gang culture.
  
  All lives matter.
  - Rhys says:
    
    15 Jun15 June 15:20
    
    If you don’t believe racism in policing exists you haven’t been paying attention. The evidence is overwhelming. This article from the Washington Posts cites countless studies: https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/opinions/systemic-racism-police-evidence-criminal-justice-system/
    
    PS. on the subject of ‘anarchists and criminals’ – only 14 people were arrested in London last weekend, during anti-racist protests. This weekend, it was over 100 thanks to the ‘counter protestors’. The anti-racism protests have been largely peaceful.
    - Anna says:
      
      15 Jun15 June 15:27
      
      As far as I can see, this article only refers to the USA, not the UK. It’s not really possible to conflate such profoundly different organisations in any case.
      - Rhys says:
        
        15 Jun15 June 15:29
        
        Yes, but Nick stated that he did not see that there was racism in US policing, which I was responding to.
    - Rhys says:
      
      15 Jun15 June 17:07
      
      So what you are saying is that you don’t believe the many, many studies cited in the WP article and think there is a conspiracy against arresting people of colour in London based on absolutely no evidence?
    - Cat says:
      
      15 Jun15 June 22:51
      
      @Nick_C
      Christopher Alder
      Sean Rigg
      Kingsley Burrell
      Stephen Lawrence
      Darren Cumberbatch
      Simeon Francis
      Have a Google and a read.
      None of the police officers involved have been convicted for their role in the deaths. Sickle cell anaemia and sickle cell trait make people far more likely to die from positional asphyxia, this has been known for a while, yet we keep reading about deaths where POC are restrained with their windpipe constricted for 7+ minutes.
  - Baji Nahid says:
    
    15 Jun15 June 23:14
    
    Nick your whole post screams ME ME ME ME! Allow it man, do some research as to why people ALL OVER EUROPE are protesting and bringing down statues, you were not affected by the slave trade, you are not affected by the racism and micro agressions people of colour face today in Britain. If we really want to stand with POC here, lets try and understand listen and hear to what POC go through on a daily basis living in the UK.
    - Cat says:
      
      16 Jun16 June 05:57
      
      Agreed Baji.
- Graeme2 says:
  
  15 Jun15 June 17:35
  
  This thread reads like alt-right bingo – so much for travel broadening the mind!
  - Rachel R says:
    
    15 Jun15 June 19:49
    
    Yep, some of these comments are pretty shocking. People presuming to know about the experiences of others and just refusing to listen….
    - Cat says:
      
      15 Jun15 June 22:53
      
      Agreed
  - James G says:
    
    15 Jun15 June 22:41
    
    Yeah, I’ve seen the odd entitled comment on here before, but this thread really takes the biscuit.
    
    Still, I suppose it’s a good demonstration of why the BLM movement – and others fighting for equality – are still so relevant and important.
  - Baji Nahid says:
    
    15 Jun15 June 23:18
    
    Graeme2, I’d be damned to believe to think that brits dont infiltrate and moan and complain when they go abroad and not respect the culture, telling people to speak english in places where english is not their language, heck even as brits we flaunt our privileged of being british,and having to deal with the crap from british people in those countries put up with. Ignorance comes to mind, and its really funny.
    
    Some people have travelled the world, but yet will always remain ignorant.
Don says:

15 Jun15 June 12:10

I follow HFP on Insta. I was surprised to see no one taking the knee in a post or at least a story.

Now that things are getting back to normal might it be time to make the gesture to readers of colour?
- Rob says:
  
  15 Jun15 June 14:17
  
  If you’ve met our team you will know that our commitment to inclusion in all its forms is clear.
  - Don says:
    
    15 Jun15 June 21:18
    
    Except you’re all white? Not one person of colour or transgender and white male gays tend to be the worse transphobes. I also note that despite Rhys praising BLM they have not taken the knee.
    
    Didn’t you write about your readership is 80% from London yet doesn’t seem to represent the population at all.
    - Lee says:
      
      15 Jun15 June 21:26
      
      Are you high?
- Nick_C says:
  
  15 Jun15 June 15:12
  
  You don’t solve these issues by making gestures. And I hope HFP remains politically neutral.
  - Anna says:
    
    15 Jun15 June 15:29
    
    I agree – I’ve sponsored BAME girls in developing countries for 3 decades since I started paid employment. I think that should be valued slightly more than changing my Facebook or Twitter profile.
  - Josh says:
    
    15 Jun15 June 18:38
    
    You’d hope so but….