The new HFP chat thread – Sunday 12th 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/2020/07/12/the-new-hfp-chat-thread-sunday-12th-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.

Old chat threads are hidden from the HFP home page. If you want to look for something in an old thread, click here. This brings up all the articles in our ‘General’ category which includes the chat threads.

Category

General

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

Amit says:

12 Jul12 July 13:35

Amex Plat: does the £100 credit apply to new cardholders. Online chat are refusing to add, stating only applies to card accounts opened before 15 May
- jamie says:
  
  12 Jul12 July 13:46
  
  Well you’ve answered your own question then.
  - Amit says:
    
    12 Jul12 July 13:57
    
    Thanks for the helpful response
- Andrew says:
  
  12 Jul12 July 15:30
  
  Best to call and ask to speak to Brighton – they will be more flexible than the chat which is in Manila.
  - Lady London says:
    
    12 Jul12 July 16:19
    
    always worth another HUACA in case the first agent did not write a note that landed in your file
    - Amit says:
      
      12 Jul12 July 17:08
      
      Will give it a try, thanks
Jason says:

12 Jul12 July 15:05

Can anyone recommend a hotel that does all inclusive water in Europe thanks
- Anna says:
  
  12 Jul12 July 15:32
  
  As in drinking water? You can drink the tap water in most European countries so I wouldn’t choose a resort on that basis!
- Lady London says:
  
  12 Jul12 July 16:23
  
  I buy large containers in local supermrkets if I’m staying more than a long weekend.
  
  A tip I have found if I arrive and everyyhing is closed is usually the hotel’s spa or gym has a cooler.
  - Lady London says:
    
    12 Jul12 July 16:27
    
    Local tap water usually upsets me so I do the above and often carry a resilient travel kettle with me (dont forget plug adapter). For a very long stay or if drinking local fruit juices etc I’ll look for some local live yogurt to start with to get used to the local microorganisms.
  - Anna says:
    
    12 Jul12 July 18:14
    
    We tend to do that in GCM as although the tap water is safe, it has a slightly brackish taste we’re not keen on. We take reusable bottles to decant it into more manageable quantities when we’re out and about. But travel kettle is also a good option for if the shops aren’t nearby.
  - ChrisBCN says:
    
    12 Jul12 July 22:45
    
    +1 on taking your own bottle to the hotel gym to refil if you don’t fancy the tap water!
- Harry T says:
  
  12 Jul12 July 19:06
  
  Some of the better hotels usually have a cooler or a fridge full of free bottled water.
Tom says:

12 Jul12 July 19:14

Amex have given me a pitiful credit limit on my BA card. I want to book a couple of flights which exceed my credit limit. Can I over pay on the card so I can make the payment? Or is there any other way (I have already applied for a credit increase which was rejected).
- Anna says:
  
  12 Jul12 July 19:42
  
  I’ve found I can’t overpay Amex, the system will only let me pay the current balance as maximum. Did you get a reason for being refused an increase on your limit?
- Dave says:
  
  12 Jul12 July 20:31
  
  I’ve had a temporary increase in my credit limit from Amex when buying a car. Maybe worth asking.
- mark2 says:
  
  12 Jul12 July 21:48
  
  You can overpay via FastPay but may annoy them. Details on statement.
- Eligold says:
  
  13 Jul13 July 00:29
  
  I recently tried overpaying but it it still blocked a transaction higher than the credit limit despite having the balance available
  - Dominic Barrington says:
    
    13 Jul13 July 01:07
    
    I think AMEX has a high doctrine of what it thinks you are allowed to spend on a card, and it does not like to exceed that, unless you make a specific request. So the logic of putting extra money in credit does not do it for them, sadly.
Tracy says:

12 Jul12 July 20:11

Trying to figure out my Marriott status. Checked tonight, I am currently platinum and now have 40 nights. If I do no more stays this calendar year, when will my platinum status end? If I do another 10 nights this year to get to 50 will it last longer?
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  12 Jul12 July 20:22
  
  Jan 2022 in either case but 50 nights will get you some Suite night awards etc
  - Tracy says:
    
    13 Jul13 July 11:36
    
    Thanks for the reply. Probably not much point in doing another 10 nights then.