The new HFP chat thread – Saturday 4th 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/2020/07/04/the-new-hfp-chat-thread-saturday-4th-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.

Matty says:

4 Jul4 July 09:05

I have the Curve Black legacy card. It has commercial on the rear. I want to upgrade to Curve Metal but I want the personal version of the cards. What’s the easiest way to do this? I fear if I just upgrade in the app then I’ll receive a business version of the upgraded card, which will cause further faffing.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  4 Jul4 July 09:35
  
  I would request the legacy is changed to a personal then when it arrives upgrade to metal. Metal benefits are activated straight away.
  - Jay says:
    
    4 Jul4 July 11:45
    
    Mine has changed from personal blue to metal which is business!
    
    Have not activated new card, what are my options?
Vit says:

4 Jul4 July 09:06

Data point — just got 250 + 25 accor points from a recent posted by Rob another day. I am just another ~1000 short before able to transfer to iberia. 🙂
- Secret Squirrel says:
  
  4 Jul4 July 11:49
  
  Keep going Vit, I’m on 6k accor points since joining a while ago.
  - Vit says:
    
    4 Jul4 July 13:18
    
    haha. Thanks. I remember redeeming 2k accor point for ibis style in Nice. Pretty decent room for a university student standard!
Michael C says:

4 Jul4 July 09:11

So with UK travellers “allowed” to go to France…are there any requirements still in place on arriving in France?
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  4 Jul4 July 09:36
  
  If you check the wunderlust website it says you still have to quarantine (for now) that may change now french citizens are exempt here
  - Michael C says:
    
    4 Jul4 July 09:51
    
    Cheers TG
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    4 Jul4 July 10:57
    
    btw its Wanderlust
    - Secret Squirrel says:
      
      4 Jul4 July 11:47
      
      Anybody know Accors policy at present on breakfasts or is per individual hotels decision, we have booked a Sofitel for next week.
Steven C says:

4 Jul4 July 09:27

I’ve a Curve card linked to my Virgin Atlantic Credit Card. Does anyone know if I can use my Curve card to pay into my ISA (With Vanguard), and not get hit with any fees? Thinking probably ~ £500 per month. Thanks.
- fivebobbill says:
  
  4 Jul4 July 09:43
  
  I cancelled my Virgin card a few months back, but I’m pretty sure they will treat a Vanguard transaction as a cash advance and apply a fee, the did when I topped up Revolut a while back – the main reason I cancelled.
  Someone else could confirm if that is still the case…
- Doug M says:
  
  4 Jul4 July 10:08
  
  Do £100 5 day’s before your statement and see. But things do change, nature of the game.
Reney says:

4 Jul4 July 09:40

So I have updated my Curve app this morning, I now get the pop up to approve payment, but I have not managed to get my cc payments to work. Are others having problems too?
- Mark Peterborough says:
  
  4 Jul4 July 10:29
  
  Same here, first attempt failed as I had to re-register my ihg card to curve. After doing this it declined again. Not going in shops much at the moment do haven’t tried again yet.
  - James says:
    
    4 Jul4 July 11:49
    
    Do you have Metal? If not and Curve Fronted is not enabled the transaction will be declined.
    - Mark Peterborough says:
      
      4 Jul4 July 23:29
      
      Another Curve / IHG decline for me today and having seen the reply above (thank you) I noticed that Curve Fronted was switched off . I have enabled Curve Fronted now , so hopefully the next attempt will work
- BJ says:
  
  4 Jul4 July 12:13
  
  Mine worked fine yesterday, no upgrade was required and nothing to be disappointed about (so far).
krys_k says:

4 Jul4 July 09:44

Are we likely to see any discounted J offers from the UK in the next few months. Last year took a Qatar J to Singapore from Stockholm but this Time round would be keener not to take a positioning flight. There’s probably an excellent reason why ex UK flights are cheaper (although not sure myself) but perhaps the lockdown’s economic fallout means there will be more aggressive UK J flights in the offer. Thanks !
- Andrew says:
  
  4 Jul4 July 10:07
  
  You’ll never see those ex-Stokholm/Oslo fares from the U.K. on QR. This is partly due to airport tax from the U.K., partly due to demand levels to/from the U.K. being higher (the J cabin is usually half empty ex-ARN), and partly due to QR’s JV with BA on LHR- DOH, which keeps prices high as they don’t compete with each other.
  - krys_k says:
    
    4 Jul4 July 10:47
    
    Thanks for explanation ! I get it now !!
    Guess will be looking out for those ex UK offers which I am sure must be on their way …
Stoneman says:

4 Jul4 July 10:08

Anyone know whether I could transit into France (currently not allowing uk visitors) via Luxembourg or Germany which is? Thinking just getting a car and driving across so wondering on border crossing procedures?
- Anna says:
  
  4 Jul4 July 10:13
  
  According to the media, you can enter France from the UK, however at this time there is a 14 day quarantine requirement in place.
  - Stoneman says:
    
    4 Jul4 July 11:41
    
    Yes but if I went via Luxerbourg can I avoid the quarantine?
    - pauldb says:
      
      4 Jul4 July 12:07
      
      The French quarantine is voluntary. It will likely be lifted on July 10th when our changes kick in. If you want to “avoid” the quarantine then just ignore what is basically a request.
      
      In my opinion the ethical thing to do, if arriving from another EU country, would be to isolate for the remainder of the 14 days or until it is (hopefully) lifted on the 10th. However the strength of that argument is heavily diluted by the fact that their quarantine is entirely a tit-for-tat against our own.
      
      Legally I believe the requirement is only tied to your entry point (“travellers arriving from the U.K.”) not your citizenship. https://uk.ambafrance.org/IMG/pdf/lifting_of_travel_restrictions_press_release_12_06_20.pdf?10550/66a5f1665858c32611c633dc6ee98cbbd28f85a0
    - Lady London says:
      
      4 Jul4 July 12:18
      
      Why would you want to avoid the quarantine, if it’s bern asked for by the country you’re visiting? With respect, are you special or something?
      
      As a matter of fact in the case of France the request has now been removed.
      
      This disease keeps spreading because people think they’re special and shouldn’t have to do what they’re asked or they don’t take care because they think they know better. Ignorance or accidents I can excuse but you have no right to circumvent official requests even if you know for a fact.they are not science based or dont suit your personal beliefs.
      
      3,000 people are still dying of coronavirus each month in the UK. Other countries are doing much better. Why do you think this is?
      - pauldb says:
        
        4 Jul4 July 12:55
        
        Has it been removed by France? The French consulate in London still species it.
      - Jeff 99 says:
        
        4 Jul4 July 12:57
        
        Loads of middle class snowflake sissies won’t be able to survive another couple of weeks without a holiday though. Please think of their feelings and mental health.
      - pauldb says:
        
        4 Jul4 July 14:21
        
        OK boomer
      - Anna says:
        
        4 Jul4 July 14:46
        
        Lol, I have to keep correcting my teenager that I am Generation X, not a boomer (although he initially thought it was “bloomer” 🤣). Much cooler and calls to mind a leather-clad Billy Idol in the 80s.
Carl says:

4 Jul4 July 10:16

I cancelled a flight yesterday that was booked with BA AMEX companion voucher. I actually wanted to change dates to next June but online system wouldn’t let me go beyond April, the original expiry date. I knew it could be extended by 6 months so hoped the change could be made on the phone. Unfortunately I had to cancel and make a new booking. It was only as the cancellation was being processed that I was informed the money would take 6 to 8 weeks to come back to my card. I thought it was meant to be immediate. Still waiting for the Avios and voucher. Not happy. Any suggestions. Fortunately I had another voucher and enough Avios to make the new booking, Club to LAX hence the rush as only 2 seats showing. On making the new booking I saw the terms advising if cancelled money back within 10 days but immediate if I phoned in.
- Anna says:
  
  4 Jul4 July 12:18
  
  As has been widely discussed, cash refunds have been taking several weeks recently as there have been so many cancellations; they are carried out by a separate department so will be processed when they get to you.
  Avios and voucher usually come back within 24 hours though, so I would expect those a lot quicker.
  If you had taken a voucher instead of a refund, your companion voucher would have been extended to April 2022.