The new HFP chat thread – Thursday 2nd 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/2020/07/02/the-new-hfp-chat-thread-thursday-2nd-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.

Boi says:

2 Jul2 July 05:58

Does anyone have recommendations on shipping bicycles to Canada?
- BJ says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 06:54
  
  I don’t know about bikes in particular but ahead of your move you might find it useful to read the information on the Martin Lewis site about using parcel brokers to send stuff overseas. I found this very helpful in the past when I had to send stuff to the USA. The brokers use all the couriers you might expect but at much lower cost than you can get going to them directly. I guess they have bike boxes or you can dismantle the bikes to get them in as small a box as possible. To avoid any issues I used to quote for boxes that were 1cm bigger in each dimension than the box I planned to send. Make sure you complete all paperwork precisely as possible.
  - Boi says:
    
    2 Jul2 July 22:51
    
    Thanks BJ
Yawn says:

2 Jul2 July 06:02

I have decided to move a big chunk of my savings into NS&I Premium Bonds and then discovered you can buy them using a debit card like Curve. I spotted an opportunity to earn some Virgin points. Anyone any experience doing that? I just bought 500 pounds worth which seemed to work fine but don’t want to be surprised by sudden fees. Thanks!
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 07:38
  
  You’ve just uncovered what other posters have been talking about for months.
  
  No problems as long as you don’t go crazy and remember it takes about 8 days for the funds to clear
  - stevenhp1987 says:
    
    2 Jul2 July 08:20
    
    Even if you go crazy it doesn’t seem to be a problem.
    
    Income bonds are easier, especially if Curve notifications are a problem for you.
    - Yawn says:
      
      2 Jul2 July 08:26
      
      Thanks both! I only dip in and out of this forum, because it so tricky to navigate, so missed those earlier discussions. Looking forward to some extra points on top then. 🙂
    - Andrew Mc says:
      
      2 Jul2 July 08:45
      
      Steven, can you elaborate on “especially if Curve notifications are a problem for you”. Probably being thick! Thanks.
      - Andrew Mc says:
        
        2 Jul2 July 08:47
        
        And can I take it that this should work equally well with extinct HH Barclaycard behind Curve? Thanks.
      - stevenhp1987 says:
        
        2 Jul2 July 09:13
        
        IB don’t seem to use 3DS, while PB do.
        
        They *should* work on the Hilton Card as they do work on my old BC CB card, but don’t quote me on that!
      - BJ says:
        
        2 Jul2 July 10:18
        
        I can confirm they work very generously with HH 🙂
Mr. AC says:

2 Jul2 July 06:27

A word of warning: while paying with Curve is fixed already, some things aren’t working yet, including MCC passthrough. All transactions seem to be recharged with MCC 8999 (Professional services), the same way Curve used to work in 2018.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 07:54
  
  “Warning” 🙂
- Wally1976 says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 07:59
  
  I’m not sure if this opens up ‘opportunities’. I did a test paying the seagulls yesterday but still wouldn’t work without allowing Curve Fronted.
  - aDifferentSimon says:
    
    2 Jul2 July 10:23
    
    i guess it’s more about a transaction that the underlying card might charge for?
- BJ says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 10:21
  
  Nice, you have a way with words 😀
  - Genghis says:
    
    2 Jul2 July 10:56
    
    Exactly. I don’t see the risk
- @mkcol says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 13:31
  
  Oh I see what you mean. That helped with Monese this afternoon.
  - Laura_D says:
    
    2 Jul2 July 16:27
    
    Care to elaborate? I’ve effectively shelved my Monese as am not paying for Premium and cannot find any codes…used to top up direct without need for Curve. Would love to stop the Monese from gathering anymore dust 😉
    - @mkcol says:
      
      3 Jul3 July 09:00
      
      I use my Curve (charged to IHG) to top up my Monese.
      IHG used to limit it to £200/daily, I guess when they could see the real MCC
      - Laura_D says:
        
        3 Jul3 July 15:50
        
        But you are incurring a fee with Monese? Unless you’re paying for Premium…the top up fees sting quite hard. How are you avoiding these?
Mark says:

2 Jul2 July 07:15

Hi, any updates I have missed on BA Lounges re-opening? Looking at booking a CE reward flight in September but wont bother if the lounges are closed as well as reduced in flight service…thanks!
- Andrew says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 07:31
  
  You’ll be waiting a while for an update from BA in lounges. At the best of times CE isn’t worth it, now it definitely apart from the social distancing with the middle seat. You don’t even get to board first – in fact you get the pleasure of boarding last now!
  - The Original David says:
    
    2 Jul2 July 07:40
    
    Rumour is 4th July.
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    2 Jul2 July 07:55
    
    They’ll open before Mid July
  - Paul says:
    
    2 Jul2 July 08:03
    
    Go on then, what’s the problem with boarding last?
    - Andrew says:
      
      2 Jul2 July 08:07
      
      I like to board as group 1 so everyone looks at me and is envious of my wealth and status as they sit awaiting their economy flight.
      - Mark says:
        
        2 Jul2 July 08:10
        
        This is worth the extra Avios in itself! Sitting there with my blocked middle seat and the anticipation of a ragged edge hot towel must make them green with envy as they file down to the back of the bus
      - Secret Squirrel says:
        
        2 Jul2 July 09:16
        
        I have heard comments from E passengers as they pass through CE, “Is that all you get for the extra couple of hundred of pounds”.
        Get to the back of the bus Peasants! 😅
      - Rob says:
        
        2 Jul2 July 09:23
        
        I often wonder what people used to think when they walked through Business Class on a long-haul to their economy seat at the back, passing our (then) 3 / 4 / whatever year old playing around with their flat bed seats …..
      - Ming the Merciless says:
        
        2 Jul2 July 09:42
        
        @Rob
        
        We had this exact situation last year. A family with kids of similar age stood by our seats in J while we were disembarking.
        
        “Why have they got beds Mummy and we have small seats”
        
        “They pay a lot more money for their flight”
        
        I then gave the mum a quick run down of points and referred her a BA amex from my business platinum- 18,000 points for me.
    - Jeff 99 says:
      
      2 Jul2 July 13:00
      
      I prefer boarding last as I get to the airport as late as possible (whilst leaving some buffer). The plane won’t leave any earlier if I board first.
- Rhys says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 08:13
  
  We are expecting them to re-open very soon. Still waiting to hear from BA.
  - Andrew says:
    
    2 Jul2 July 08:24
    
    According to TLFL the staff have been recalled for training. But Concorde Room won’t be reopening for now, but a Concorde Bar (like in Dubai etc) has been created on the balcony of the First lounge – so presumably you can still get a glass of LPGS but won’t get fine dining and have to make do with the burger.
    - Rhys says:
      
      2 Jul2 July 08:27
      
      Plans are for the South lounges to re-open. We had this info last week but BA promised they would clarify the service ‘soon’…
    - Secret Squirrel says:
      
      2 Jul2 July 09:17
      
      Best off reading FT BA Forum first as that’s where TLFL get most of their info from daily!
Liz says:

2 Jul2 July 07:46

I bought some Marriott points in the 60% promo on Monday. The base points arrived on Tuesday. I asked on Tuesday when the bonus points normally arrive and others said the next day but so far they haven’t arrived. What are others experience? Or do I need to be contacting Marriott. Receipt confirmed the bonus was included.
- Dave says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 08:34
  
  I bought the same day and yet to receive the bonus. I guess there is probably a backlog from people rushing in at the end of the promo.
- Harry T says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 17:26
  
  Looks like it takes a few days for some. There’s a thread on Flyertalk about the promotion: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marriott-marriott-bonvoy/2017967-buy-gift-points-get-60-bonus-promo-2.html
Anna says:

2 Jul2 July 08:10

Definitely something amiss with IHG’s IT on desktop at the moment (though it seemed to work to my advantage yesterday to book using the 3 for 2 offer with no deposit). I have 10 future stays booked with them, all are showing the dates and rates of my first upcoming stay at the end of this month! Fortunately the confirmation emails (and the app, currently) are showing the correct details.
eligold says:

2 Jul2 July 08:13

I seriously cannot believe my luck.
After posting on the chat the other day that I was short £166 of achieving the BAPP companion voucher, due to amazon freezing my account and cancelling orders
I JUST RECEIVED AN EMAIL THAT I HAVE RECEIVED THE VOUCHER and it is actually showing in my account
to all those that told me it would be a valuable lesson for next time bla bla bla, having a sob over the chat seems to have pulled it off. I’m a happy man this morning
just gotta hope they don’t claw it back now
- Secret Squirrel says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 09:18
  
  What did you do to get a ban from Amazon?
  - Eli says:
    
    2 Jul2 July 09:58
    
    Was buying lots of gift cards to get to the £10k on time
    - Secret Squirrel says:
      
      2 Jul2 July 12:49
      
      Ahh yes, gift cards are notorious if you buy too many in a short period of time on Amazon.
  - Michael says:
    
    2 Jul2 July 10:04
    
    Paid tax? Thank you, I’ll be here all week
    - Nick_C says:
      
      2 Jul2 July 12:35
      
      😁
Anna says:

2 Jul2 July 08:18

I’m trying to do web chat with avios.com as I have a letter saying I have earned an upgrade voucher from last October but it doesn’t mention the expiry date! However, it says I have to log in to use web chat, and when I try to log in, it directs me to BAEC! Any ideas how to get round this?
- Rhys says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 08:19
  
  Are you sure you’re logging in with an Avios.com account? Remember that BAEC/Avios.com etc are different
  - Anna says:
    
    2 Jul2 July 12:56
    
    Yes, when I try and reset my password for avios.com I just keep getting an error message. I’m assuming it’s because my avios.com account is closed. Any other navigation of the website just ends up asking me to go to BA.com/aerclub/whatever account I now use for avios issues.
- pauldb says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 09:19
  
  Try https://chat.avios.com/Live/webchatLoginD.php (and try and retrieve your old avios number 308147****** from an old email.)
  - Anna says:
    
    2 Jul2 July 12:57
    
    Thanks but this just seems to be an inactive page?
    - @mkcol says:
      
      2 Jul2 July 13:36
      
      Works for me!
      Try an incognito tab perhaps?