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The HfP chat thread – Friday 28th August

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We have decided to run this daily chat thread on Head for Points during the coronavirus outbreak.

Historically, the daily ‘Bits’ articles were the de facto repository for random comments and questions.  With the news flow being lighter, we are running fewer ‘Bits’ articles.

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 at home, we want the HfP community to have a place to chat.

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Comments (128)

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

  • Aston100 says:
    28 Aug28 August 10:11

    Curve question:
    Used up almost all of my initial £5k allowance within 5 days of opening the account.
    Does the limit automatically increase at some point in the next 30 days, or do I have to manually request?
    Thanks.

    • Rob says:
      28 Aug28 August 10:30

      The £5k would need to have been on ‘real stuff’ to get an increase. If it was all proper shopping then submit a request. You’re probably wasting your time if it wasn’t all proper shopping.

    • Jonathan says:
      28 Aug28 August 12:16

      Assuming you’ve used it all on various manufactured spend then no chance. Need to play the long game and use it as your default card for a month or two then try & get limit up to £50k before you start to play the games.

      • Aston100 says:
        28 Aug28 August 13:55

        It was mostly sandy bondies, but some mcdonalds and other fast food purchases thrown in too.
        Maybe my definition of MS is misguided, as I’m keeping those bonds and not recycling or whatever it is that people do when they MS.

        • Gavin says:
          28 Aug28 August 15:28

          I use Curve to put money into a financial institution. I’m not taking it out again, but I’d still consider that to be MS.

          • TGLoyalty says:
            28 Aug28 August 16:46

            It is MS if you can’t find it with a credit card normally

            Doing it each most with the same money is cash recycling.

    • TGLoyalty says:
      28 Aug28 August 13:46

      You need to use it t properly as a card and the limit would have increased naturally. If that’s your £5k annual limit gone I think it’s in the draw for a year.

      Or you can upgrade to metal (which reset the limit for everyone) and try again by first using it day to day and not just drilling MS.

      • James says:
        28 Aug28 August 14:44

        I am intrigued what limits people have. I have £300K on my Metal which was increased from £100k after Wirecard. I have heard people up to £500k. anyone got higher?

        My wife’s Blue card is £10k but she is new and only had her card for a few months. Though she has got only £2k limit left so a request to increase will be going in the next month.

  • Alan S says:
    28 Aug28 August 10:55

    I see BA have updated the Vegas flights next june to a 777 rather than the 747 (given it’s been withdrawn from service), but I’m unable to view the seat layout etc in ‘manage my booking’. I’m assuming that’s because they haven’t allocated an actual plane yet and so don’t know which varient of the 777.

    We’re in CW but there are now Avios seats in F. It’s a 9.30pm flight leaving LAS, which is factor, but we also have a 4 hour or so layover at Heathrow before the connecting flight back to Edinburgh.

    I doubt LAS will be treated to a refurbed 777, so I’m guessing it’ll be the old CW.

    Does anyone have any views on whether they’d ‘upgrade’ from CW to F in the above circumstances/lacking info on the plane?

    It’s a 241 booking, so you’re talking 22,500 Avios and the change fee for two passengers.

    • Colin MacKinnon says:
      28 Aug28 August 11:10

      We fly EDI-LHR-Denver a couple of times a year.

      We have no status, and always take First if it is available. For £225 of avios for two, that is about £150 each with the change fee.

      Reason?
      As no status we can’t select CW seats for free. Decent ones are £100 each! Using the CCR for the long layover in London is a benefit – space mainly.
      More space and a faster meal in F – although the food on BA out of Denver is so bad, and the service so slow that I now eat before the flight and just go to sleep. Skip brekkie too and get it in the CCR.

      Now, post-crisis: you may get Club Suite – quite fancy trying that. But: No upper deck on 747 available, F cabin less private than the 747 F since the cockpit is forward of it rather than above, lounge services all changed at LHR. No comment on the meals!
      With no guarantee on the CW seats, I’d still go for F.

      • Chris Heyes says:
        28 Aug28 August 15:14

        COLIN@ Just booked LHR–Denver next Aug 2021 looks like it’s (up to now) 787-10 booked using Avios & 241, free seat selection for 3 booked (disabled so claimed free seats)
        Thought I’d let you know layout is Club Suite (could change i know)
        Anyone any idea’s best seats ?
        We picked 6K Plus the two middle seats, but as no-one else has booked seats in CLUB we have our pick if we want to change ?

        • Colin MacKinnon says:
          28 Aug28 August 21:04

          Hi Chris,

          Yes, for Denver – every cloud has a silver lining! Looking forward even more to our Spring visit!

    • AJA says:
      28 Aug28 August 13:38

      If you’re Avios rich then I’d go for it. The F cabin is more exclusive and a better seat than the ying-yang CW seat. Plus if you’re arriving in First you get access to the Concorde Room at LHR for your 4 hour layover. You just need to show the F boarding pass from the LAX-LHR flight.

  • Bobby says:
    28 Aug28 August 10:57

    Regarding the Creation IHG Platinum Card. I’ve hit £10k spend so will receive a free night voucher at the end of the year. Does anyone know how long the free night voucher is valid for?

    I’m thinking of keeping the card a second year and getting a second voucher then using them both for a stay at IC maldives.

    • Genghis says:
      28 Aug28 August 11:16

      Voucher needs to be used within a year (i.e. your booking made). Your stay can be made after voucher expiry, but if you cancel the booking, you’d then lose the voucher.

      • Chrisasaurus says:
        28 Aug28 August 12:15

        (To clarify though, if you cancel while the voucher still valid you do get it back)

    • Matt says:
      28 Aug28 August 12:01

      My voucher triggered in June has 18 month (book before) validity… not sure if this is still being offered…anyone with more recent info?
      I currently have 2 vouchers- the earlier one had its (book before) validity extended to 18 months from issue when I cancelled the booking at Easter- so the IT works for having 2 vouchers on your account. Whether your plan works depends on the extension still being credited when you get voucher 1.
      Also remember each free night is a separate (standard room) reservation, also separate from any paid reservation. It is at least possible if you paid for a higher cat room that you could be moved for the free night(s). Just at the moment I would guess this is much less of a risk with the desire to keep housekeeping to a minimum and a ‘deep clean’ promised before a new guest checks in.

      • Bobby says:
        28 Aug28 August 12:07

        Thank you both Matt and Genghis, that helps with my planning.

        • Matt says:
          28 Aug28 August 14:25

          And if I may add a personal opinion… even if you think you might only get to the IC Paris rather than the Maldives, I would think very carefully before cancelling this (now unavailable) card. Putting 10k a year through it must be more rewarding than 10k through one of the CB cards Rob compares today.

    • Adam says:
      28 Aug28 August 18:27

      18 months (received mine 3 days ago)

  • RussellH says:
    28 Aug28 August 11:16

    Yesterday got the “Get 1 Extra Avios on every transaction of £2 up to 1000 Avios anywhere until 25 October 2020” on my blue BA Amex which previously ran before Christmas last year.
    Ts+Cs state “1 extra Avios will be rewarded for every £2 spent up to 1000 Avios per UK Card”.
    Am I right in understanding this as getting 50% extra Avios on purchases over £2, which is what happened last time?
    [I have not been using this card over the last few months, preferring to get MR points, but this offer almost makes a free Amex as generous as a BAPP without the expense, provided I understand it correctly!]

    • Vit says:
      28 Aug28 August 11:27

      I am in the same boat as you and that’s what I understand as well. Got -ve 50 avios in blue amex at the moment but would be keen to start using it again with this offer.

  • david says:
    28 Aug28 August 12:21

    You first seem to be very generous even with avios bookings that haven’t even been cancelled – I was allowed to change my booking to a different city for no fee. Has anyone else had this experience ?

    • Rob says:
      28 Aug28 August 12:41

      This is policy within, I think, 500 miles.

    • Anna says:
      28 Aug28 August 13:53

      This is really good to know, David, thanks! I may have to change our flights at Easter but outbound is in F so I am hoping You First will come through for us if we need them.

  • Simon says:
    28 Aug28 August 12:22

    A quick review of our flight to Barbados yesterday- 27/8. LGWs Aspire lounge is the only one in operation- very busy and in my opinion not particularly ‘up-there’ with the COVID regulations. Wetherspoons was operating in a much safer way! A lot of cabin crew on the flight- do they have to keep there flight hours up? 4 CSDS 12 cabin staff! It was like the old days. CW lunch/ landing snack was not very good compared to Do &Cos Heathrow offering. A good flight though in a 1/2 full CW cabin- offered an upgrade at check in to F for £500 but I don’t really see the point at the moment with a very similar food/ drink offering.

    • Optimus Prime says:
      28 Aug28 August 13:46

      £500 for both legs or just outbound?

      • Simon says:
        29 Aug29 August 01:03

        £500 ooutbound. And interesting to read a comment above- other than the seat/ privacy in F – I don’t think it’s worth it at the moment- 1/4 bottles of champagne and not very good food out of Gatwick.

  • GillyDee says:
    28 Aug28 August 14:52

    241 to Denver got cancelled in March. Refunded taxes, Avios and e voucher returned with 6 months added. In April used voucher for F out, CW return to Muscat for March 21.

    Outbound cancelled 3 weeks ago due to aircraft change and accepted downgrade on same flight to CW.

    Yesterday, the outbound was cancelled completely – looks like now only 2 flights per week – should I just give up? Or would BA move the dates even if there’s no reward availability? The companion ticket expires in April.

    Arrrrgh!!

    • GillyDee says:
      28 Aug28 August 16:01

      Update – lovely You First lady moved the dates for us. Yay – so we’re off to Muscat…

  • Paul says:
    28 Aug28 August 15:58

    Well I finally did it and transferred 140,000 miles out of Virgin to Hilton. I cant see that I am every going to fly Virgin, their financial status is precarious to say the least and it took 1hr and 20 minutes for them to answer my call. They never did respond to my text messages earlier in the week, despite their promises to do so.

    I know I can get over a 1200 euro value from the Hilton points but I will at least get some value. I will now dump my Virgin Credit card at the end of the year and switch to something else. Just wish Hilton would bring a card back to the UK

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