The HfP chat thread – Thursday 27th August

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KBuffett says:

27 Aug27 August 04:03

I have a 25000 point stay Marriott voucher. Is there anywhere good I can use it in UK?
Would using it credit a nights stay on my account if I did a mattress rub?
- Rob says:
  
  27 Aug27 August 05:33
  
  There are 30-40 25k hotels IIRC – we did a list once. Rewards count for elite night credit, yes.
  - Wollhouse says:
    
    27 Aug27 August 08:35
    
    Hi, where is this HFP list? I tried using the search function and either got nothing or over 8000 articles! On IHG, unless I’m missing it (in which case! Please advise how to do), I don’t think you can search by reward points. As in, I’m flexible about location, show me where I can go for X points. Does this exist? TIA.
    - Rhys says:
      
      27 Aug27 August 09:22
      
      I can’t find it either so either Rob imagined it or it no longer exists!
      - Bob says:
        
        27 Aug27 August 09:31
        
        I read it somewhere in the past.
        
        It must be inside a post which is not only about that.
      - Dominic says:
        
        27 Aug27 August 11:30
        
        https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2020/05/25/free-night-marriott-bonvoy-new-members/
        
        Here we go!
      - Rob says:
        
        27 Aug27 August 10:51
        
        See https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2018/07/03/starwood-spg-american-express-card-free-night-voucher/
      - Dominic says:
        
        27 Aug27 August 11:31
        
        https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2020/05/25/free-night-marriott-bonvoy-new-members/
        
        This appears to have a newer list
- Anna says:
  
  27 Aug27 August 05:43
  
  The Durham Marriott is perfectly pleasant – I got a night for 22k points earlier this year and was upgraded to a suite and not charged for parking.
- Ikaz says:
  
  27 Aug27 August 06:51
  
  Have a look at the University Arms in Cambridge, seems to be a good value for 25k points (it does go up to 30k on peak nights)
  - Tweedy says:
    
    27 Aug27 August 07:53
    
    Is very pleasant.
- Harry T says:
  
  27 Aug27 August 08:38
  
  The University Arms in Cambridge should be 25k for some nights (it was when I checked). It’s an absolute steal for that amount, especially if you have status and could get free breakfast. Cash rates are decent there at the moment but regularly exceed £200-250 a night. It’s an Autograph Collection, so a boutique feel, but the hard product quality almost matches some Luxury Collection properties.
  - Munch says:
    
    27 Aug27 August 10:56
    
    +1 great stay last weekend. Loved the bar, free bikes to use round Cambridge. Overall relaxing stay.
  - Lady London says:
    
    27 Aug27 August 14:57
    
    what was the food like at the University Arms @Harry T?
    - Harry T says:
      
      27 Aug27 August 16:50
      
      The breakfast included in my rate was good quality. I also ate in the restaurant for an evening meal and enjoyed that too. The poor staff in the restaurant were rushed off their feet with external customers (apparently it has a good rep locally). The cocktails were also very good in the bar. Pleasantly, the restaurant turned out to be participating in Shop Small, so we used several Amex cards to take advantage of this.
Keith says:

27 Aug27 August 06:44

Has anybody used gettransfer before as have a 15% on my Amex card. Deciding whether to use theM or Uber to get to airport on Saturday?
- Boon says:
  
  27 Aug27 August 09:24
  
  I think Gett is all black cabs, so it’s much more expensive than Uber.
  
  If you’re looking for a minicab discount, check out Kapten, Ola, Bolt. All do offers and referrals for new customers.
  
  Alternatively for luxury transfers (Mercedes e or c class) I use Wheely. Excellent drivers and cars.
- Also says:
  
  27 Aug27 August 09:49
  
  It’s not cheap but they do have screens between you and the driver, in case that makes you feel more comfortable about using it?
- ankomonkey says:
  
  27 Aug27 August 10:48
  
  I have used gettransfer (not Gett) 3 times recently. First time was Seville (city-airport). They contacted me 5 minutes after we were due to be picked up to inform me of a change of car. When it arrived, the service was absolutely fine (clean car, pleasant and safe driver). The other 2 times were in Santorini. Both were very good – picked up on time in clean, comfortable cars.
  
  I think it’s just a marketplace for taxi drivers to pick up bookings, so it’s far more to do with the individual taxi drivers than the company itself. I would be happy to use again based on service and price experience so far.
  - Keith says:
    
    27 Aug27 August 11:23
    
    Thanks all helpful replies the price seems to be cheaper than Uber than some reason and will have a look at other recommendations.
    - ankomonkey says:
      
      27 Aug27 August 13:59
      
      I started using gettransfer for two reasons – 1. they often had the lowest price I could find; 2. they allow trips that don’t involve airports (unlike Hoppa, booking.com taxi, etc.). Uber is obviously not restricted to an airport being origin or destination.
Graeme says:

27 Aug27 August 07:32

BA Sale has started, until 30/09. Booked INV-SFO plus SUV for 2 weeks in May, £1215pp Club World. Cheapest is travel out/in by Thursdays. But will the US be open and safe(ish) by then????
- Rahaney says:
  
  27 Aug27 August 08:10
  
  +1
  Was alerted to this last night, around 1/3 off I think. Re-booked my postponed honeymoon to S.Africa – only 300 more for WTP post-covid isn’t too bad.
ee says:

27 Aug27 August 07:41

Amex offers – 5% off each time (capped at £30) available to add to all my cards this morning.
- ee says:
  
  27 Aug27 August 07:42
  
  At LNER I should say!
  - Pablo says:
    
    27 Aug27 August 07:59
    
    On my free BA amex one extra Avios for each £2 spend until 25 October. Bonus capped at 1000 avios.
    - PJJ says:
      
      27 Aug27 August 09:47
      
      +1 however I have a negative balance of approx 1500 pints so no benefit
David says:

27 Aug27 August 08:19

Is anyone having problems with combine my Avios. I keep getting a time out error message.
- Tony says:
  
  27 Aug27 August 09:23
  
  I was last night, ended up using different browser which got past the time out error but then refused to recognise Iberia password. Gave up on BA and went via Iberia which gives the option to choose which way you want to move Avios. Worked perfectly and instantly.
Michael C says:

27 Aug27 August 08:25

Saw work being done in London on the Peninsula and the new MO – any approx. opening dates?!
- Rob says:
  
  27 Aug27 August 10:55
  
  Peninsula has topped out so 2021 is not impossible. Exterior nearly done.
Anna says:

27 Aug27 August 08:30

At least one of my 2 bookings to GCM (all on avios and 241’s) in 2021 looks uncertain now. Will BA let me change destination if necessary? The outbound flights at Easter are in F via JFK so I’m hoping I can throw myself on the mercy of You First if necessary!
- Michael C says:
  
  27 Aug27 August 08:41
  
  You might sneak in through the new LHR-JFK channel being rumoured!
  - Anna says:
    
    27 Aug27 August 08:56
    
    Not onwards to GCM though, which is where we are holidaying! Realistically there won’t be any tourism to GCM until there’s a vaccine and I doubt that will happen in the next 6 months.
  - Ed says:
    
    27 Aug27 August 09:50
    
    What are the rumours please?
    - Anna says:
      
      27 Aug27 August 10:02
      
      Rumours about GCM? If you look on the Cayman News Service website, it’s all well documented. From October one fortnightly flight (BA from London) bringing in residents or 2nd home owners who will then have to quarantine for between 5 and 14 days (unclear as yet). Quarantine requirement unlikely to change until there’s a vaccine, which rules out a 2 week holiday.
      - Anna says:
        
        27 Aug27 August 10:02
        
        And could someone answer the original question please!
      - Ed says:
        
        27 Aug27 August 10:40
        
        Sorry meant rumours about a lhr-jfk channel.
      - Anna says:
        
        27 Aug27 August 11:29
        
        I give up!
      - Pete says:
        
        27 Aug27 August 13:31
        
        The (in my mind very very small possibility) of there being a quarantine-free “air-bridge” between NYC airports and the UK.
      - Lady London says:
        
        27 Aug27 August 15:00
        
        with NYC infection rate? is Boris sucking up to Trump again? How will they spin this as scientifically validated advice?
      - Rhys says:
        
        27 Aug27 August 15:19
        
        Not sucking up to Trump – Trump hates NYC governor!
      - Anna says:
        
        27 Aug27 August 17:09
        
        NYC infection rate is lower than ours now. Though I still don’t undersatnd how they think they can keep people from other states out?
      - Rob says:
        
        27 Aug27 August 17:20
        
        NYC infection rate is 7 per 100k, so well below the 11 per 100k for the UK (admittedly it is higher than London).
- AJA says:
  
  27 Aug27 August 14:20
  
  HI Anna I think BA will allow you to change to another destination in the same spending zone, subject to you paying the change fees of £35 (per pax?) and any other BA ticket fees/charges and subject to Avios reward seat availability. I am not sure if You First would be able to help but I’d certainly give them a call. They will put you through to the right department if they can’t handle the query.
  - Anna says:
    
    27 Aug27 August 17:13
    
    That’s going to be the issue – avios seat availability. I suspect the world and its dog will be trying to get to destinations we are allowed into next Easter and availability will reflect that!
- xcalx says:
  
  27 Aug27 August 15:48
  
  Did you mention that you are returning to the UK in Economy, if so it may be more prudent to check what can be done with that booking first. Good luck
  - Anna says:
    
    27 Aug27 August 17:12
    
    We’re not – on that trip we’re returning in CW. You First were extremely helpful back in March in cancelling a return leg in CW when there was no F cabin on the aircraft.
Martin says:

27 Aug27 August 09:01

Can the Hilton 3rd Night Free promotion (at luxury brands) be stacked with double nights and double points?
- Algor says:
  
  27 Aug27 August 09:13
  
  Yes, it is a qualifying stay and Impresario stay credit on top ($100)
  - Algor says:
    
    27 Aug27 August 09:17
    
    And forgot to mention double points and comp breakfast(does anyone pays for breakfast in Hilton’s).
    
    For diamonds it is quadruple base points.