The new HFP chat thread – Monday 29th June

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• TonyG says:

  29 Jun29 June 12:17

  On a new Amex card, can you straight away benefit from small shop or do you have to wait for the offer to show on your account and register?

  • MD says:

    29 Jun29 June 12:40

    @TonyG You have to have registered the card for the Shop Small offer. If it isn’t showing up in the app try and make a couple of normal transactions, that usually wakes the offers up on new cards. Or call customer service and ask them to add it manually.

    • Sundar says:

      29 Jun29 June 17:08

      Customer service can add shop small manually, got them added recently.

• Cheshire Pete says:

  29 Jun29 June 12:32

  My BA account with Y/E May 8th has just been updated. Card expiry now June 2022, and lower threshold showing.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    29 Jun29 June 12:43

    +1

  • Stu N says:

    29 Jun29 June 12:44

    Same here. Also a May month-end, shows TP year to 8.5.21 and card expiry 30.6.22.

• Gerry says:

  29 Jun29 June 12:33

  Airbridges: Any idea what time announcement is due today, pretty quiet on news front.

  • Anna says:

    29 Jun29 June 15:03

    Apparently it’s going to be Wednesday now. It’s clearly causing a lot of issues.

• Aston100 says:

  29 Jun29 June 12:41

  IHG:
  Staybridge Suites vs Holiday Inn.
  Looking at Cairo at Easter next year. Just one night before an afternoon flight out of CAI back home.
  Both places are charging the same number of points. They are apparently on either side of an Intercontinental which for my purpose isn’t worth the (almost *2.5 more) points for just that one night.
  The reviews of the Holiday Inn over on Tripadvisor are not that good, but there are insufficient reviews of the Staybridge to get any real comparison.
  Both have breakfast facilities on site.
  The only significant difference i can tell is one has a pool and the other has a full kitchen for presumably self catering purposes.
  As I only need a place to stay overnight near the airport, I’m tempted to go for the Staybridge.

  So my query is, does anyone have any experience of a Staybridge and is there anything I need to be aware of if I’m looking to book only one night?

  Thanks.

  • Genghis says:

    29 Jun29 June 12:47

    I’ve only stayed in one in Newcastle. I liked it – some free beers and some “ket” as Spire Elite. Decent breakfast. Room was nice – reasonable size and clean. I’d stay again.
    I’ve also stayed at some really nice Holiday Inns and some not so nice…
    I wouldn’t necessarily rely on the brand to guide whether a hotel is really good or not.

  • Catman says:

    29 Jun29 June 13:26

    There’s a Marriott hotel at the airport which has a pool. From memory the airport is quite far out of Cairo so presumably you would need a taxi from the airport for the IHG’s.

    Don’t forget you need to buy a visa on arrival – USD 25

    • Aston100 says:

      29 Jun29 June 15:48

      I have no status with Marriott.
      The IHG properties are at a large mall – about ten minutes by car.
      The mall location suits me as it gives me something to do, and even grab some quick lunch on this my last day before I head to the airport.

  • BJ says:

    29 Jun29 June 13:27

    Staybridge brand includes breakfast. In most counties, especially outside the USA, they are relatively new while the opposite is true of most HI. In most cases I would be much more likely to choose Staybridge. While designed for longer stays there is no problem staying only one night.

    • Aston100 says:

      29 Jun29 June 15:43

      Thanks, I’ll likely go ahead and book the Staybridge.
      Not sure why the 2 properties are pretty much identical in cash price (and exactly the same for points price) when everything I read indicates the Staybridge should cost more. This is what is making me wary – as if there is some catch I haven’t found yet.

      • memesweeper says:

        29 Jun29 June 16:45

        Staybridge are often excellent, and new. Go for it.

        • Aston100 says:

          29 Jun29 June 18:28

          Thanks. I will do now!

• Alan S says:

  29 Jun29 June 12:46

  BA – Las Vegas or Los Angeles back?

  I managed to grab a couple of first class seats out to LA on a 241 next June (fingers crossed it can go ahead).

  Loose plan is to spend a few days in LA and then head across to Vegas for c 10 days (I’ve been a few times, so I know what I’m getting myself in for).

  I’ve never done that journey between LA and LV. My initial thought would be to hire a car but then ditch it when we get to Vegas and fly back from there, rather than heading back to LA only to fly. Plus I don’t see that we’d need or want it in Vegas.

  Has anyone here done something similar? What am I missing?

  Presumably it’ll be 747’s between Vegas and Heathrow still in 12 months time and I’d imagine we’ll be in Club World, but it’s a night flight anyway.

  Share your wisdom!

  • MattB says:

    29 Jun29 June 13:01

    Personally we always end our west coast trips in LV, your only ever a short taxi to the airport and with it being a fairly quiet terminal for the night flights home you can really maximise your last day.

    Also absolutely no need for hire car in LV with Uber/Lyft being everywhere and cheap.

    We are booked in for Easter but I’m really not confident the way things are going to be honest.

    • MattB says:

      29 Jun29 June 13:04

      Also depending where you are staying in LA flights to LAS are like buses, lots of options from Burbank or John Wayne for example. We use Southwest as it’s so cheap (as low as $49 one way) and 2 X 23kg allowance each.

      • Alan S says:

        29 Jun29 June 18:40

        Hadn’t actually really considered flying. Sounds like we have a choice though, which is useful.

  • Stuart Evans says:

    29 Jun29 June 13:13

    Done both and a couple of factors to consider. In LAX and if you’re flying in First, there is a wonderful Lounge – basically a copy of the Qantas First Lounge in Sydney. The lounge in LAS is very mediocre from what I remember. Rental Cars in LAS are cheap and parking is usually free. Of course, it limits how much you can drink unless you have a designated driver. But there are lots of great excursions from LAS for which a rental car is better than Uber etc. Finally, in terms of the journey LAS/LAX or vice versa, there are lots of flights and quite often reasonably cheap. But all-in travel time isn’t much different, and there are several interesting places to visit en-route if you take a full day over it. Whatever you do, Bon Voyage and safe travels.

  • Dezbez says:

    29 Jun29 June 13:57

    It’s a cool drive from LA to Vegas, think of The Hangover. Not too long but if you want a stopover, I can really recommend Lake Arrowhead.

  • Stanley says:

    29 Jun29 June 14:00

    Im assuming Vegas is non-negotiable. But if not, my suggestion would be driving up to San Fran on the PCH, via santa barbara, carmel, etc etc….. or start in san fran, drive to LA, then on to Vegas and ditch car as you mentioned

    • Sukes says:

      29 Jun29 June 22:53

      +1 to this vs Vegas. However Amtrak vs car up to SF is so much better (with stop off at Santa Barbara). Train hugs the coastline and, even though it’s an amazing road trip, it’s an even better train ride on the coast starlight. In good ole pre Covid days anyway….another thought would be to fly vegas-San Diego on southwest for end of your trip and fly from SD.

      • Doug M says:

        29 Jun29 June 23:26

        Amtrak has appalling time keeping. The train actually runs to San Jose and then goes up the inside of the bay area (Oakland) rather than to San Francisco. I did the journey last year in reverse, local train from SF down to San Jose, and then joining the Amtrak service headed to San Diego. I should have a had a pleasant evening in Santa Barbara, instead of which the train was 6+ hours late, and my arrival was after midnight. So I had an overnight at an expensive SB hotel only to leave early for the train onto San Diego the next day. The Train is OK, but not a patch on the drive up or down the PCH.
        The OP says they know Vegas and want the 10 days there, so I’m not quite sure what these California ramblings add.

  • Travel Strong says:

    29 Jun29 June 15:20

    I do this regularly, and so long as you can get out of LA without crazy traffic, its a nice drive – highly recommend it! I also keep a hire car for the whole duration of any Las Vegas stay, it might stay in the hotel car park for half the time, but I have the flexibility to go to Red Rock, Hoover Dam, Downtown, Grand Canyon, Mount Charleston, GVR Cheesecake Factory, and any number of off-strip activities. Most of my best days in Vegas are outside of Vegas! (Red Rock, Kayaking Colorado river, Quads to Primm – all made easier by having a car).

    Another big plus is the SS Camaro’s and 6.2L V8 Challengers from Hertz – for next to nothing!

    Post above is spot on – you can enjoy your whole day flying back from LAS on a late flight, takes no time to get to the airport and in to departures.

    I have booked in to do this again next year with virgin upper flights – in to LAX (A350), Return from LAS (787).

    • Doug M says:

      29 Jun29 June 15:34

      LOL. 4 minutes apart and completely opposite views. My recent California trips have been heavily impacted by awful traffic. Google maps helps versus any inbuilt Sat Nav, but the swot issue makes any drive there far less pleasurable than 20 years ago.

      • Travel Strong says:

        29 Jun29 June 15:58

        I totally agree when the traffic is bad, it can be hell.

        Once took 5 hours to get from LAX to Barstow!

        However on that occasion desire to not sit in traffic also took me on an amazing detour through winding mountain lanes. I’d happily do it again.

        It’s an absolute must to avoiding heading LA > Vegas direction on a Friday PM! That was my mistake. Same goes for heading Vegas > LA on a Sunday.

        • Funtime says:

          29 Jun29 June 22:57

          Top tips.

          Avoid Las Vegas at the weekend.

          Hire a car when in Las Vegas, so many day trips to get away from the Strip. Enjoy the tables when you get back.

          Go for a show or two. Penn and Teller.

          When staying for 10/14 days make sure you drive to the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley (especially) during the weekend. Make sure you book a room well in advance on route.

          Got married out there in 1990 on a Virgin Holidays Package and been unable to stay away since, although this year is looking unlikely.

          Wife got a bit frustrated with going there so did road trips all over the USA and joined the all 50 States Club. Nearly always pulled in a flight or drive to Las Vegas whilst we were that way on lol

          It’ll be a sad day if I don’t make it back this year.

  • Doug M says:

    29 Jun29 June 15:24

    If you just want to get from LA to LV fly, the drive is tedious, and depending on time of day the LA area traffic is so heavy it could take ages to get to I15 proper. If you, understandably, don’t want the car in Vegas the drive seems pointless. Outside of LAX there’s several LA area airports with services to LAS.

  • louise says:

    29 Jun29 June 16:10

    Did you book these as soon as they opened up?

    I’ve been searching for weeks for F seats to LAX next year!!

    • Alan S says:

      29 Jun29 June 18:40

      Hmm, maybe took me a few hours to make the decision to do it and book them. I’ve got a ‘first class’ account on Seat Spy and so I think it’s ‘instant’ alerts.

  • J says:

    29 Jun29 June 20:38

    I enjoyed the drive between Vegas and LA – some interesting and very impressive landscapes driving through the desert. Think it was about 6 or 7 hours so with some stops, did it in a day both ways and it didn’t feel arduous.

  • Doc says:

    29 Jun29 June 22:22

    I would definitely fly unless you are really wanting to drive miles with a few places to visit on route. One way car hire is likely going to be more expensive than a return flight if booking ahead.

• Martyn Ford says:

  29 Jun29 June 12:49

  MY BA year ends in May, status extension to 2022 has just clicked over.

• Andreas says:

  29 Jun29 June 12:51

  Quick question for those with a supp cardmember: Does the Amex app show how much was spent on each supp card in each statement month, or do I have to add them up myself?

  • N says:

    29 Jun29 June 12:54

    Broken down on the statement separately

    • Andreas says:

      29 Jun29 June 12:58

      Excellent, thanks!

  • Craig says:

    29 Jun29 June 13:03

    You can do this through the website too by selecting each holder individually.

  • Anna says:

    29 Jun29 June 13:18

    The transaction list on the app shows which payments have come from the supp holder, their name will appear underneath the payee details.

• Colin JE says:

  29 Jun29 June 13:11

  Hi, have recently self-referred myself from BAPP for the Amex Gold for Business. Got the card in two days, which was impressive!
  Wondering if anyone out there knows when referral points might be applied to my BAPP account and if not, what hope I have of asking for them? Also, does Amex Gold for Business offer points for first supplementary card?

  • BJ says:

    29 Jun29 June 13:19

    Nope, nobody does as there has been problems lately and some have been waiting weeks. A few of us, but not all, got some through a few days ago.

  • Anna says:

    29 Jun29 June 13:22

    Referral points usually arrive within a week of acceptance (but can be much sooner). However, there have been numerous references on here and other blogs to Amex cracking down on self-referrals, which are technically against the rules. If you draw attention to yourself you risk getting banned from having any Amex accounts, but I can’t see in any case that Amex would agree to give you the points for asking!

    • Colin JE says:

      29 Jun29 June 14:11

      Thanks for the info. Looks like I’d better sit tight and cross my fingers on the referral points. Anyone got any info about whether Gold for Business awards points for getting a supplementary card?

      • Wally1976 says:

        29 Jun29 June 16:18

        I think in the past people have reported getting points for this but my recent experience suggests not.

        • BJ says:

          29 Jun29 June 16:51

          Has your referral points come through yet Wally? If not within next few days try chasing up with Brighton as most of us seem to have got them.

      • Secret Squirrel says:

        29 Jun29 June 17:24

        Usually 2 x days, you will see referral points in your account before you even been confirmed new card has been set up and on its way. However, appears to be a lag at the moment on referall points so hang tight.

    • Doug M says:

      29 Jun29 June 17:08

      Are any of the self-referral comments based on UK rather than US Amex? This so far seems to be a comment based fear campaign rather than any actual evidence of Amex action.

      • BJ says:

        29 Jun29 June 17:47

        As far as I could tell, vast majority of those comnenting had not self-referred. Probably only those who had were feeling anxious whilst the rest of us were just frustrated.

      • TGLoyalty says:

        29 Jun29 June 18:42

        All based on US experience.

        Tbh it’s not hard to imagine they would crack down if you take the piss

        • Doug M says:

          29 Jun29 June 20:42

          Which is near impossible given the 2 year churn rule.

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