The new HFP chat thread – Thursday 20th 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.

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/2020/08/20/the-new-hfp-chat-thread-thursday-20th-august/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.

Doc says:

20 Aug20 August 06:59

Rob/Rhys
On my iPad if I want to make a comment, each time I have to put my name and email despite clicking the “save my name, email” link at the bottom. Is this an ongoing issue since this did not happen with the old sire
- Rhys says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 07:46
  
  We’re already looking into it, hoping to have a fix ASAP.
  - Yuff says:
    
    20 Aug20 August 08:17
    
    Not just me then.
    Pretty much use an iPad all the time for the internet.
BJ says:

20 Aug20 August 07:50

I’ve had my Lloyds avios credit card with a reasonably large limit on it stuck in a drawer unused for many months already. I would value some thoughts on whether I should just leave it there or cancel it now that amex obviously has a new long term BA deal?
- Andrew says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 08:48
  
  If it’s your oldest Credit Card and appears on your credit report, keep it.
  If it doesn’t appear on your credit report, keep it.
  If you can access Lloyds offers, keep it.
  
  Which is a good opportuity to point out that for people in the LBG community, the offers are ramping up again, I’m back up to 21 including:-
  
  25% – Telegraph
  10% – Ideal World
  10% – Spar
  £40 – New Tesco Mobile DD contracts
  15% – Lands End
  10% – LNER
  10% – Harvey Nics
  15% Abel & Cole
  - BJ says:
    
    20 Aug20 August 10:26
    
    Thanks, good thinking, my second oldest card so probably best holding. I’ll start pushing a few transactions through it regularly.
KBuffett says:

20 Aug20 August 08:04

I’ve probably missed this previously, but what’s the significance of the two buildings in the background of the new logo?
- Rob says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 08:18
  
  Nothing. It is not actually part of the logo. Just makes the image prettier!
Magarathea says:

20 Aug20 August 08:31

I think it is the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. Stunning building. Well worth a visit.
- Rhys says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 08:31
  
  It is.
KS says:

20 Aug20 August 08:48

I hold a HSBC Premier card and I’m looking to upgrade it to world elite card. Would I be eligible for sign-up bonus if I do that?
- DJ says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 09:02
  
  As long as you have not had the WE card in the last 6 months.
  
  I just done the upgrade myself 🙂
  - KS says:
    
    20 Aug20 August 09:19
    
    Thanks, DJ!
Doug M says:

20 Aug20 August 08:59

The new site is growing on me, I still wish it was a little less white, but I think the screen on my iPad makes that worse, it seems less glaring on computer. Given all the hi-res screens and devices around now I still wish the text was just wider. Having said that I looked on S20 phone yesterday and it was very good, I’m not a big web browser on phone as I just prefer a larger screen. One obvious improvement there was the replies didn’t get narrower to the point where each word becomes a line as they did on the old site.
I shall embrace the change, hope the white fades a little over time and that the name and email get remembered.
- Rob says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 10:13
  
  The ‘white’ thing is on the list, but we are prioritising stuff like remembering names and emails.
Pid says:

20 Aug20 August 09:20

I noticed several people are planning trips to Barbados. Thinking of doing the same. Any recommendations on hotels? I do not think there are any IHG properties but there is a Hilton and Marriott.
- Peter K says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 10:09
  
  The Hilton Barbados was nice, basically had it’s own beach (though no-one can actually own the beach on Barbados it is secluded by the Hilton), had great views from the higher rooms and had very friendly staff. Zero chance of an upgrade in normal times however.
  
  It was not a very Bajan experience though and they have got rid of the executive lounge which was a highlight of the hotel for me.
- Rob says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 10:11
  
  Are the Marriott acquisitions in the system yet?
  
  The Hilton is really in Bridgetown, note. My impression – having not been – is that it’s a bit like a ‘beach’ hotel in Abu Dhabi or Doha business districts, eg yes it is on the sea and yes it has some beach and a pool, but isn’t really a resort per se.
  - Peter K says:
    
    20 Aug20 August 10:31
    
    It’s not in Bridgetown, it’s on its own little peninsula and you’d certainly want to get a taxi or similar to go into town.
    
    However, it is not a true resort, you are correct. It has a series of pools and 2 restaurants, a couple of bars, a coffee shop plus a couple of little shops, but it did not feel like a resort in the same way the Elegant Hotel’s Turtle Beach did. It does not really feel like a corporate hotel like a city centre Hilton does either though.
  - Pid says:
    
    20 Aug20 August 14:47
    
    It looks like only the courtyard is currently in the system which is a shame. Looks like there is also a Radisson and Accor properties. Shame about the Hilton closing its executive lounge, although I suspect it would not be open for the next few months anyway.
S Khan says:

20 Aug20 August 09:26

Any update on Greece and Turkey going on quarantine list. Some news outlets saying only Croatia will go on it.
- Anna says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 12:51
  
  Someone posted something about Greek doctors speaking out yesterday, but it doesn’t seem to have made the English-language media. Turkey is reported to be in a bad way though, and I would have thought figures are under-reported in any case, especially in the rural areas of such a large country.
- Peggers says:
  
  20 Aug20 August 12:58
  
  Greece today 25.3 per 100k, Croatia 41.7 per 100k. UK 20.9 per 100k.
  - S KHAN says:
    
    20 Aug20 August 15:08
    
    Thanks. Some reports say Turkey and Greece won’t get on the list at today’s quarantine meeting but Croatia will. Portugal quite close to having a travel corridor as cases have reduced. Let’s see.