The new HFP chat thread – Wednesday 5th August

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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 de facto 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.

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Category

General

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

SteveSlow says:

5 Aug5 August 13:36

Seems like Creation have started to block payments to ERNIE via Curve for me today. Has anyone had this issue before?

Payments to other merchants inc Revolut are unaffected
- Andreas says:
  
  5 Aug5 August 13:45
  
  Okay, my interest is officially piqued. I’ve seem ERNIE mentioned a lot and STILL haven’t figured out what it means. The only hit I get on google is electronic random number identifier equipment…
  - rams1981 says:
    
    5 Aug5 August 13:52
    
    NS&I
    - Andreas says:
      
      5 Aug5 August 13:56
      
      Consider my dots officially joined. Thanks!
      - Nik says:
        
        5 Aug5 August 14:51
        
        Electronic Random Number Indicating Equipment (tenuous acronym for Premium Bonds)
        
        If credit card payments are being declined, I would assume it’s due to the new gambling codes of practice. Banks have pledged not to allow people to borrow money for gambling. I think buying Premium Bonds with a credit card would count.
        It is however just a code of conduct, not a law, so different banks may apply it differently
- Secret Squirrel says:
  
  5 Aug5 August 14:06
  
  Have you made any other payments via Creation today? My Ernie was declined but I overpaid a Revolut TU & next day was fine.
  - Secret Squirrel says:
    
    5 Aug5 August 14:07
    
    Sorry, should of said did you make the other payments today before attempting Ernie?
    - SteveSauceman says:
      
      5 Aug5 August 16:17
      
      Yeah have tried several before and after ERNIE that all worked, I guess it could be because yesterday’s payment is still pending, I’ll wait until tomorrow any try again
- dezbez says:
  
  5 Aug5 August 15:23
  
  No problems for me with a £25 payment just now (I’ve got the Legacy product)
Kipto says:

5 Aug5 August 14:21

Apologies if this has been asked before but if in receipt of a FTV will ba let you book outgoing flights 355 days ahead and then book the return flights when they become available or do both outgoing and return flights need to be available when booking
- Harry H says:
  
  5 Aug5 August 14:27
  
  Kipto – yes. Just book them as you would a traditional booking calling later when the return sectors are added.
- meta says:
  
  5 Aug5 August 14:29
  
  Not sure, but having bad experience using the voucher recently I would never ever take a voucher again unless it’s for the purpose of extending an expiring 241 voucher.
Keith says:

5 Aug5 August 14:38

Not sure if it’s been mentioned anywhere else, but nice offer here: http://www.calm.com/americanexpressglobal
EDA says:

5 Aug5 August 14:47

Anyone is with Igloo Energy? Do they refund credit balance to bank account?
Mark M says:

5 Aug5 August 15:36

Can anyone suggest the best / quickest way of finding out when a previous Amex card expired – to ensure I meet the “over two years” rule for a new card.
I can’t log in to the cancelled card account, and I don’t expect Amex will have the info either.
And my email trail has nothing relevant either, after a change of computer.
- EDA says:
  
  5 Aug5 August 15:44
  
  Check on your credit report when the account was closed?
  - Secret Squirrel says:
    
    5 Aug5 August 16:43
    
    I find credit file information not accurate, best to leave a few weeks atleast after.
- Ali M says:
  
  5 Aug5 August 15:50
  
  I logged in,chatted,found out and then set myself a reminder email (scheduled email) to remind me in due course 😉 that way cant go wrong.
- Genghis says:
  
  5 Aug5 August 15:52
  
  Of course you filed the letter you received when you cancelled the card? 🙂
  Amex do have this information. I cancelled a Gold card yesterday and asked them when cancelling if they have the date my last BAPP was closed down. It’s a bit different to the date on the letter but I’ll reapply a week or so after that for a Brucie.
  - Secret Squirrel says:
    
    5 Aug5 August 16:40
    
    I called up recently, everything was fine & they told me all the information I needed.
- Mark M says:
  
  5 Aug5 August 16:17
  
  Thanks, all. My filing “systems” are rather lacking, but I will know better next time!
  - AJA says:
    
    5 Aug5 August 21:44
    
    How do you pay your Amex bills? If you use internet banking you should be able to check the last time you paid by searching there and that will give you an estimate of the time that’s since lapsed.
- Carol says:
  
  6 Aug6 August 08:50
  
  I looked on my credit report Karma and it tells me the dates that I cancelled credit cards on.
Heather says:

5 Aug5 August 16:35

Cancelled some reward bookings today and received my voucher codes straight away.
However how long does it normally take for the Avios to be refunded?
- Anna says:
  
  5 Aug5 August 20:25
  
  The avios are part of your voucher!
The Urbanite says:

5 Aug5 August 16:38

Can I just say thanks to those on this site who help others out with tips to navigate issues.

I booked a return trip to BGI and the outward got cancelled. I was expecting horrors sorting it after so many people seem to be struggling with refunds and getting unwanted vouchers.

But no – I called You First and within 5 minutes of dialling them it was sorted and refund hit within 2 days. That was thanks to a tip I read on here – sorry I don’t know who originally shared it, but thanks all the same!
- Secret Squirrel says:
  
  5 Aug5 August 16:41
  
  You first are IMO brilliant. I had exactly the same issue as you UT, all resolved in mins and refunds received 5 days later.
  - Anna says:
    
    5 Aug5 August 20:26
    
    +1 – so much so that I’ve vowed to travel in F wherever possible in future (at least on one leg) in case of any future problems!
  - AJA says:
    
    5 Aug5 August 21:49
    
    Another +1 for You First from me and their stellar service and refunding extremely promptly. I wish however I had actually flown and experienced the CCR and the on board service though as it would have been my first time. I hope I will get to fly First next year.
Boi says:

5 Aug5 August 16:40

quick question….can I transit through frankfurt right now? Looking at travelling sunday 9th august : MAN-FRA-YVR
- Secret Squirrel says:
  
  5 Aug5 August 16:42
  
  Believe so!
  - Boi says:
    
    5 Aug5 August 16:52
    
    Thanks