The new HFP chat thread – Thursday 9th 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.

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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.

Oh! Matron! says:

9 Jul9 July 08:30

Morning all.

I need to escape london. I haven’t ventured more than 10 miles from my house since march, nor have I taken a day off. So, I’d like to do a week in the alps (chamonix area).

But the flip of this is the prospect of being in a metal tube with people that are not taking Covid as serious as me, which terrifies me.

So, question: Have any of you gotten the train down to chamonix before? Thoughts?
- Colin MacKinnon says:
  
  9 Jul9 July 08:55
  
  Aren’t trains also metal tubes?
  - Alex M says:
    
    9 Jul9 July 10:15
    
    Yes, but slightly different shape therefore must be safer!
    - Dubious says:
      
      9 Jul9 July 13:31
      
      I think you’ll find the shape of the carriage does not help avoid COVID-19 – it’s the bigger windows that help!
  - Aston100 says:
    
    9 Jul9 July 12:34
    
    Metal rectangles.
    Can’t catch Covid in a rectangle.
    - Alex M says:
      
      9 Jul9 July 13:05
      
      I am not geometer at all, but isn’t it parallelepiped rather than rectangle?!
    - MD says:
      
      9 Jul9 July 19:29
      
      Maybe a rectangle if you’re commuting in Flatland. 😋
- Rich says:
  
  9 Jul9 July 08:57
  
  I went by train a couple of years ago. Eurostar + TGV to Geneva, then bus. A shade over 12h from Newcastle. You can also go by train all the way to Cham, but it tends to be slower and usually involve changes in Bellegarde and St Gervais.
  
  Either way, I’m not sure it’s any less risky than a plane, especially with the metro across Paris.
  
  I’m going in September, hopefully. Flying. Fingers crossed!
- Luckyjim says:
  
  9 Jul9 July 08:59
  
  I’m not sure if the train would be any safer. You won’t in such a confined space but you will be there for a much longer period of time. If I was doing it I’d fly and endure a medical grade (N95) face mask for a couple of hours. Either that or drive.
  - Rob says:
    
    9 Jul9 July 09:35
    
    Or just look up how HEPA air filtration on aircraft works ….
    
    Unless you are in a high risk group you’re just being silly. On the current numbers (1 in 12,500 people in London has active covid) it is unlikely that even one person per day is flying from T5 with it.
    - Luckyjim says:
      
      9 Jul9 July 10:41
      
      HEPA filtration? Like the one they had on Air China Flight 112?
      
      Where did I read about that again?
    - Chris Heyes says:
      
      9 Jul9 July 11:10
      
      Rob@Wow i didn’t realize “ALL” the people in London had been tested ? When did it happen ?
      Hopefully it will be rolled out to the rest next week lol
      - GeorgeJ says:
        
        9 Jul9 July 11:29
        
        Rob is actually correct in saying that data is available based on the ONS survey and blood transfusion samples amongst other sources. It might have an estimating error but it is good enough to give an estimate of the rate in the community, unfortunately the rate outside London is a lot higher so it would be better to use the national one for these purposes. Testing everyone is actually an illusion and it is only good for the day you did the test.
        Read the weekly surveillance report on the UK gov website if you want more details.
      - Chris Heyes says:
        
        9 Jul9 July 11:47
        
        Goorge G @ laughing my socks off reading your reply lol
        Keep it up lol
      - GeorgeJ says:
        
        9 Jul9 July 12:16
        
        Always happy to amuse Chrissie!
- Spaghetti Town says:
  
  9 Jul9 July 09:32
  
  No disrespect, but why not travel to somewhere in the UK if you’re worried about covid?
  
  Might not be as thrilling as the alps but a change of scenery never the less.
  - Freddy says:
    
    9 Jul9 July 09:43
    
    You mean there’s stuff to see in the UK but not in London, your crazy!
    - Doug M says:
      
      9 Jul9 July 10:48
      
      I live in London. What is this UK you speak of?
  - sloth says:
    
    9 Jul9 July 09:46
    
    also take a couple of days off work and relax. I was in the same situation, working every day, no holiday since start of march and I was knackered. just had 2 days off at the start off this week and feel better for it. I’m not normally one to take holiday and not do much as I feel like I’m wasting the time but I think with current circumstances you need to
    - Crafty says:
      
      9 Jul9 July 10:27
      
      Agreed, I had yesterday off and deleted Outlook from my phone, it was very relaxing!
  - Stoneman says:
    
    9 Jul9 July 11:57
    
    Drive to Scotland. Or if worried by Covid get the Euroshuttle, driving on and off the train so you remain exclusively in your car. No nasty germs that way!
- Brian says:
  
  9 Jul9 July 10:51
  
  You do realise that London is in the UK, don’t you? It’s not an island, surrounded by nothingness. If you need to escape it, but are terrified of flying, why not hire a car and spend a week walking in the Peak District or elsewhere??
  - Stoneman says:
    
    9 Jul9 July 11:58
    
    Or if you need to go to Europe just get the euro shuttle from Folkstone. May be as quick as getting to the Lakes or Scotland.
- Oh! Matron! says:
  
  9 Jul9 July 11:01
  
  Thanks all for the responses. Yes, I see the oxymoronic nature of my question, and yes, am aware that the air in a plane is refreshed every x minutes.
  
  For those saying to holiday in the UK: Good point. However, the UK doesn’t have 4000m metre mountains with snow and ice, etc….
  
  Again, thanks for the balanced responses. Appreciated, as always
  - Rich says:
    
    9 Jul9 July 11:27
    
    One other benefit of flying to GVA is that you have the choice of exciting directly into France. Normally it’s a right PITA, and Secteur France is hard to get to by road, but a useful option when countries are going on and off the green list.
  - BJ says:
    
    9 Jul9 July 12:31
    
    What are you going to be doing at 4000m in the snow and ice that is less terrifying than a trip to Watford these days?
- Chris Heyes says:
  
  9 Jul9 July 11:20
  
  Oh! Matron!@ i don’t blame you wanting to escape London, Tiny Gardens or “NO” gardens not a place to bring Children up Visited 5 years ago glad to get back to Bognor Regis which would be a lot better if they pulled “Butlins” down
  London just seems to be full of people mulling around near enough anywhere is better than London
  ok not Blackpool lol
  Yes get out of London as soon as you can lol
  - youty444 says:
    
    9 Jul9 July 18:01
    
    Your grammar is awful. That post is almost cryptic and your message vague.
    
    You might’ve benefitted from staying in London a bit longer and soaking up some of the arts/literature/education.
    
    On a side note, outside of London and possibly Scottish highlands, there’s nothing but bad weather, provincialism, brexiteers and racism on this island.
    - Chris Heyes says:
      
      9 Jul9 July 22:52
      
      Youty444 @ Another post to laugh my socks off,
      Been London, seen it done it, run two Marathons in 80s there
      visited Tuts Exhibition, when it first was allowed out of Egypt, done museums
      Was okyish them days a lot less people in London then
      Nowadays the quicker i can get to Heathrow (or Gatwick) the better
      and about my grammar lol i just don’t care lol
      My point was/is read first post on Chat then you would realize why I’m “Laughing” lol
- cinereus says:
  
  9 Jul9 July 13:30
  
  Trains are beautiful all across Europe. Not really sure what the question is asking. What concerns do you have?
  
  I refuse to fly in Europe even though trains cost more and not just for environmental reasons.
- Jonty says:
  
  9 Jul9 July 13:44
  
  Yes. But not in times of Covid. It can be a pleasant journey, and in first class you can have a seat with a window on one side and an aisle on the other, but you’ll be in this more spacious metal tube quite a bit longer: two and a bit hours London to Paris, cross Paris, five and a half hours from Paris to Chamonix, changing in Saint Gervais or Lausanne and Martigny. If you can get a decent connection in Lille you can miss out the usually unpleasant crossing of Paris, or you can spend the night there if that appeals. Seat61 will give you the basics, forums like this but for trains will give you more gen but beware, some of the nerds on train forums think social skills are for wimps.
Craig says:

9 Jul9 July 08:37

What are peoples thought on hotels passing on the reduced VAT, I acknowledge that for small restaurants at least this will be more difficult? I have several bookings for Scotland coming up with VAT included at 20% on some of the invoices.
- Stanley says:
  
  9 Jul9 July 08:40
  
  Unlikely. They havent earned a dime for over 3 months, let them keep the extra 15%.
  - Qwertyknowsbest says:
    
    9 Jul9 July 08:42
    
    +1
  - Jimbob says:
    
    9 Jul9 July 08:51
    
    Although the flip side of this, is that the VAT reduction is to encourage people to book hotels.
    
    So if hotels don’t pass on the VAT reduction, then their business won’t pick up.
    - Andrew says:
      
      9 Jul9 July 09:19
      
      And that was really his main aim – to encourage us out of our homes with lower prices, not to help the margins of businesses. And the more those businesses encourage us to spend, with reduced prices, the more money they will make. There will be lots of social shaming of businesses which don’t reduce prices – imagine the backlash on Twitter if Nando’s just charged the same as it does today.
      - Rob says:
        
        9 Jul9 July 09:32
        
        Given that I think everyone knows the financial crisis facing all bars and restaurants, I very much doubt that.
        
        Very small cafes won’t pay VAT anyway. I doubt many tea rooms in a seasonal resort take £85,000 per year. If the big boys cut prices, all it does it pushes the small places closer to bankruptcy.
      - Pat the Postie says:
        
        9 Jul9 July 10:40
        
        There is no set rule to reduce the VAT, has Nandos even said they are reducing their prices? As a business I would not be concerned about backlash on twitter unless it was something serious, not reducing prices which isn’t a requirement is not serious.
      - Rob says:
        
        9 Jul9 July 12:26
        
        It’s all a mess. Look at Pret or McDonalds. If you eat in during August, you get the £10 off. If you take away, you won’t.
      - Pat the Postie says:
        
        9 Jul9 July 10:41
        
        Given people are also getting vouchers I think the only backlash on twitter would be people who weren’t going to these places anyway, most backlashes on twitter are from people who are just moaners and not spenders. If Nandos didn’t reduce their prices then people will still go!
      - Ming the Merciless says:
        
        9 Jul9 July 16:18
        
        @Rob, I know a burger van that had to be relocated to allow construction wok to be undertaken. They provided accounts to show annual Turnover of circa £150k and received appropriate compensation…
    - Rob says:
      
      9 Jul9 July 09:39
      
      Elasticity of demand anyone?
      
      Does cutting your prices by 12% really cause a spike in demand big enough to justify not keeping your prices the same and pocketing the difference?
      
      I doubt it, because price is not necessarily the issue at the moment. I haven’t heard anyone say “the only thing that stops me going on holiday this Summer is the price and if it was 12% cheaper I’d be there in a shot”.
      - Chris Heyes says:
        
        9 Jul9 July 11:40
        
        Rob@Your wrong it does make a difference, ok maybe if you live in London it wouldn’t
        I normally go on Holiday (fly) twice a year, could afford to go more but don’t
        Would a VAT reduction tempt me yes it would (it’s not the cost it’s the incentive to do it)
        not only that instead of traveling to Blackburn (family) i would offer to pay for them to meet us elsewhere
        If Hotels didn’t reduce VAT I prob wouldn’t, i know that sounds daft
        Also we don’t go out for meals in general, but will prob go at least 5/6 times in August
        could afford anytime but its just the incentive (that would be 7 of us who wouldn’t normally)
    - Stanley says:
      
      9 Jul9 July 09:45
      
      I think the half price eating vouchers are to encourage consumers to spend….. £20 set menus at local restaurants will hopefully be packed out. £10 from consumer, £10 from Rishi….
      - Lady London says:
        
        9 Jul9 July 12:56
        
        Can you imagine the level of fraud on this?
      - Stanley says:
        
        9 Jul9 July 13:08
        
        Have been saying the same. Why would you even open your cafe? “Yes, we had 350 in last night, cooked all the frozen stuff we stored over lockdown. Here’s the £3500 they spent- it was all cash, and I’m claiming another £3500 from Rishi.” I might even open a cafe in my spare room.
  - GeorgeJ says:
    
    9 Jul9 July 11:31
    
    Yes, they are welcome to it – just glad they are open.
  - Stoneman says:
    
    9 Jul9 July 12:00
    
    Agreed. No chance and i do not blame them.
- the_real_a says:
  
  9 Jul9 July 09:05
  
  There is bound to be some downward pressure – especially at the low and mid range. The chains may try to pocket the difference but there are plenty of independents that cannot be materially more expensive than their neighboring hotel. The local market then drags down the price of the chains. Different economics entirely at the high end/luxury side.
  - Rob says:
    
    9 Jul9 July 09:33
    
    Independents might not pay VAT – a small B&B certainly won’t. If Holiday Inn Express etc cut prices, all that will happen is more independent hotels who don’t pay VAT and can’t cut prices going to the wall.
jason says:

9 Jul9 July 09:24

Is it still possible to cancel bookings with 24 hours online, at the moment ?
- Rhys says:
  
  9 Jul9 July 09:27
  
  Depends on what type of booking you’re talking about!
  - jason says:
    
    9 Jul9 July 09:28
    
    A miles booking
    - Steve says:
      
      9 Jul9 July 09:30
      
      You’ve given no detail yet expect a helpful reply. Hotel, airline, train company. Lots of possible “points bookings”
    - Rhys says:
      
      9 Jul9 July 09:32
      
      Assuming Avios then no, you can’t currently request a cancellation/refund online, only a voucher.
- Andrew says:
  
  9 Jul9 July 09:30
  
  Depends on what company, hotel, airline, cinema…. you’ve booked with?
Graeme2 says:

9 Jul9 July 09:35

Business Traveller reported this week that Qantas is doing three special one hour ‘farewell’ flights for the 747. If BA is taking theirs out of service it would be great to see them do the same sort of thing – I would definitely sign up.
- Nick_C says:
  
  9 Jul9 July 09:50
  
  Wouldn’t bringing a 747 out of storage be insanely expensive?
  - Rhys says:
    
    9 Jul9 July 09:53
    
    No – Willie Walsh said the cost of re-activating the entire IAG fleet from storage was only a couple million. Besides which, they need to fly to the scrap yard either way!
    - Alex M says:
      
      9 Jul9 July 10:26
      
      Retiring doesn’t necessarily mean scrapping – they could sell it to Africa for few bucks…
      - Rhys says:
        
        9 Jul9 July 10:27
        
        Either way, it won’t be stuck where it’s been parked!
      - Aston100 says:
        
        9 Jul9 July 12:39
        
        Ah yes, that famous airline called Africa…
      - Dubious says:
        
        9 Jul9 July 14:00
        
        Do you mean Africa or Toto?
      - BSI1978 says:
        
        9 Jul9 July 18:09
        
        “sell it to Africa”…?
        
        Never heard of this country, airline or single entity before. Pray give me some insight?
        
        Stupid moronic twat.
  - Graeme2 says:
    
    9 Jul9 July 09:55
    
    I would have assumed that they would need to be taken out of storage at some point in any case to be flown to their final resting place. Maybe making them passenger-ready again is more expensive still though.
- Andrew (@andrewseftel) says:
  
  9 Jul9 July 10:18
  
  Seems unlikely given the criticism of the (aborted) anniversary flights last year on environmental grounds.
John says:

9 Jul9 July 09:46

Pretty niche?

https://www.ccfmonair.com/
- dezbez says:
  
  9 Jul9 July 12:24
  
  Just clicked the link: Katy Perry – Chained to the Rhythm playing. Super timing 👍
BA-Flyer says:

9 Jul9 July 09:51

What’s the legal position concerning passing on a VAT cut? If you made a non-refundable booking in Jan, but don’t have to pay until August, can you demand the price is recalculated?
- BH says:
  
  9 Jul9 July 10:42
  
  I would think that the date of supply would govern the VAT rate, so it should be recalculated.
- Rob says:
  
  9 Jul9 July 12:28
  
  No. You agreed to an all-in price.
  
  If VAT had gone up, I bet you’d be refusing to pay the extra.
- Andrew (@andrewseftel) says:
  
  9 Jul9 July 12:43
  
  Depends on the booking terms I would have thought.
  
  Marriott is quite clear that:
  
  Changes in taxes or fees implemented after booking will affect the total room price.
  
  IHG for example says:
  
  As taxes and additional charges may fluctuate from the time a reservation is made until the actual stay and during the actual stay, the Total Price is an estimate. Estimated price includes Room rate, Extra person charges, additional charges, Total tax and Total hotel charges.
  
  Read your confirmation and see what it says.
  - Charlieface says:
    
    9 Jul9 July 14:52
    
    No, it depends on how HMRC understand the VAT rules, in this case the VAT is fixed on the date of invoice so it makes no difference.
ben says:

9 Jul9 July 09:53

Anyone have any recommended promo codes / good rates for Europcar? Need to do a long term rent soon.

Cheers,
Ben
- Luckyjim says:
  
  9 Jul9 July 10:15
  
  Why just Europcar?
  - Jeremy I says:
    
    9 Jul9 July 11:11
    
    Hi Ben Try the EBU code 51621035 for Europcar. Also try the local country website for where you’re hiring from (even if in a foreign language).
- Charlieface says:
  
  9 Jul9 July 14:54
  
  Long term rate you can’t use codes for. it’s often worth it to just return the car every 28 days.
  Europcar have a 20% off sale now. Also on Europcar’s deal page there is usually an offer labelled something like ‘from £15 a day’ or £20 or something, usually also good.
BH says:

9 Jul9 July 10:43

Has anyone had any success in getting any avios or a rebate of fees on a BA Premium Plus AmEx?