The new HFP chat thread – Wednesday 1st July

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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/2020/07/01/the-new-hfp-chat-thread-wednesday-1st-july/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.

Tim says:

1 Jul1 July 10:47

Asked before but I’m now even more confused by the BA app…

I’m Gold, have 1085 TPs, renewing November. I’ve already been extended by a year to end Nov 2021.

My understanding was that next year would be my ‘lowered threshold’ year, requiring 1125 TPs to re-qualify. But BA’s app shows me as 40 TPs away from ‘renewing’ as Gold this year.

So, if I get another 40 TPs (guaranteed anyway) will I get *another* year on top of the extension- therefore extending to Nov 2022?? Or will absolutely nothing happen, next year require 1500 TPs, and I somehow in no way gain from BA’s generous new extension policies?
- mr_jetlag says:
  
  1 Jul1 July 11:09
  
  The latter, judging by my experience (1350tp, Nov TP, still stuck on Dec21 card expiry despite having “renewed” Gold)
  - Tim says:
    
    1 Jul1 July 11:54
    
    Thanks. Is your tier point requirement showing 1500 or 1125? Seems a bit rubbish not renew for a further year.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  1 Jul1 July 16:48
  
  You will renew for this year. But next years threshold should still be reduced.
Simon says:

1 Jul1 July 10:51

Do we know when the announcement of the air bridges is happening? Tonight? Tomorrow? Or not clear if this week…
- Anna says:
  
  1 Jul1 July 10:56
  
  It’s currently tomorrow, although of course it may not be later!
  - Rhys says:
    
    1 Jul1 July 11:05
    
    Was supposed to be Monday so who knows!
    - Anna says:
      
      1 Jul1 July 11:16
      
      Yes, on Monday it moved to today, and earlier this morning it moved to tomorrow. I think the government wants to keep everyone in the UK, spending their money at home.
      - TGLoyalty says:
        
        1 Jul1 July 16:51
        
        But spending with British airlines and British travel companies will help the British economy.
        
        Let’s no forget tourists coming here and spending their hard earned.
      - Lady London says:
        
        1 Jul1 July 16:58
        
        I have wondered if they’ve been trying to find some good news and haven’t found any.
Lee says:

1 Jul1 July 10:52

Back in April, Rob reported that IHG members were getting their status extended to 2022, and that Spire Elite members were getting another Choice Benefit (25,000 points or gift status to a friend), and that these extra benefits might take a few weeks to come through.
Has anyone received this (or anyone not)?
Mine is showing as valid until August 2021 and I’ve not had an extra Choice benefit…
- Ja says:
  
  1 Jul1 July 11:07
  
  Mine has been extended from 01 jan 2021 to 01 jan 2022. This was done a few weeks ago but no offer received.
- Rob says:
  
  1 Jul1 July 11:53
  
  The extensions have been processed but no-one has had the 25k – seems that IHG has either had a change of heart here or is waiting until the year end.
Lev441 says:

1 Jul1 July 10:54

Got an email from Virgin Money about my Virgin Atlantic rewards+ card. Renewal is this month but getting back £40 refund for the card fee…

I was thinking of cancelling but now having second thoughts..
- mark says:
  
  1 Jul1 July 11:12
  
  Same here. £40 back
- eligold says:
  
  1 Jul1 July 12:11
  
  why £40 back?
  - happeemonkee says:
    
    1 Jul1 July 12:48
    
    We hope you’re keeping safe and well. As a Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Credit Card customer, we know that these last few months, you won’t have been able to take advantage of your Flying Club rewards in the same way.
    So we’re refunding £40 of your annual card fee. There’s nothing you need to do – just look out for your refund landing in your credit card account in the next few days.
    - eligold says:
      
      1 Jul1 July 13:56
      
      sounds lovely! money back is always welcome
      
      no email or refund for me yet. got charge new annual fee a month ago
      - eligold says:
        
        1 Jul1 July 17:43
        
        got the email now.
        will AMEX BAPP do the same? would be very nice of they did
RK says:

1 Jul1 July 12:06

Does anyone have an email address for BA Onbusiness, I tried the onbusinees at britishairways dot com, but bounced back?

Thanks
- RK says:
  
  1 Jul1 July 12:07
  
  correction of typographical error, onbusiness at britishairways dot com
- Lady London says:
  
  1 Jul1 July 17:00
  
  I always found it besr to phone them during normal business hours.
r* says:

1 Jul1 July 12:12

Anyone having curve issues? The app is saying having trouble migrating acct and purchases are being rejected?
- Secret Squirrel says:
  
  1 Jul1 July 14:06
  
  Online or in store purchases failing?
Alex M says:

1 Jul1 July 12:19

I have travel insurance through Amex Plat. Checked with AXA today and they confirmed Amex told them not to honour any covid-related claims if travel has been booked from March, when pandemic was declared. Please discuss.
- Eugene says:
  
  1 Jul1 July 12:57
  
  Just been looking at this in a another matter. Spoke with Axa today , Amex were no help.
  If you book a flight / have booked a flight since FCO global travel advisory went out then you only get partial cover. If you crash a car etc, you get combo, but ANY Covid expense like lockdown hotel or repatriation , you’re on your own. Which is fair enough if you travel against the Govt advice as it became a known risk.
  
  However if , as I did yesterday, one books flights to Spain for travel in August and the FCO Spanish Advisory changes to all clear then my cover in August stays partial. In the event I got Corona out there or the resort got lockdown and I had to stay in hotel longer then Amex/Axa would not cover me because my travel booking date (irrespective of my flight date) was under the FCO no travel advisory. Rang another co. who had the same policy get out.
  
  Result is I have exchanged my booking this am for a voucher. And will wait for the official no-go advisory for Spain to end before booking again. What a sneaky trick.its not mentioned on website and maybe you could challenge it or go for s75 claim but who wants that hassle.
  Longer term I was thinking about my 355 day bookings for 2-4-1. They will have to wait until a particular destination you want has no FCO advisory outstanding against it on the day you book- even tho you are not flying for a year- or take the risk that you have no Covid cover going forward. Even tho the risk might be low.
  Insurance companies, gotta love them..
  - Jen T says:
    
    1 Jul1 July 13:55
    
    The only reasonably priced insurer I have found to cover COVID-19 related claims (health, repatriaton) for trips booked after mid-March (date of WHO pandemic declaration) is Staysure. I was surprised how competitive their pricing was (we have the Amex Plat coverage but also personal travel insurance policies for the gaps that Amex don’t cover). Staysure won’t cover cancellation etc due COVID, but with so many flexible booking policies now, that isn’t an issue for us. Of course, everything requires FCO happiness on date of departure.
Don says:

1 Jul1 July 12:39

Any corporate schemes offering discount Argos gift cards?
- JPa says:
  
  1 Jul1 July 12:49
  
  All the one’s I have seen have discount Argos gift cards.
- Pat the Postie says:
  
  1 Jul1 July 12:50
  
  yes
  - Don says:
    
    1 Jul1 July 13:07
    
    Better than 4%?
    - Secret Squirrel says:
      
      1 Jul1 July 14:03
      
      Yes 8%
      - Don says:
        
        1 Jul1 July 15:49
        
        Oh which one is that?
    - Andrew (@andrewseftel) says:
      
      1 Jul1 July 15:57
      
      I have 5% through Perks at Work
    - Andrew says:
      
      1 Jul1 July 18:46
      
      Airtime is 3%
      Spree is 5%
      
      Perks At Work vary between companies, so for me it’s 1%, 5% or 6% depending on the method.
      
      I haven’t experimented yet, so I’m not sure if a Spree Card (prepaid debit card from Sodexo) can be registered with Airtime to make 8%.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  1 Jul1 July 16:54
  
  7% with an “easysaver” card on mine.
- The Urbanite says:
  
  1 Jul1 July 17:27
  
  Reward Gateway offers 7% with Easysaver, sometimes boosted to 9%.
  
  Argos used to be 8% on there but went down a while ago.