The HfP chat thread – Thursday 10th September

Links on Head for Points may pay us an affiliate commission. A list of partners is here.

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.

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 it 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/2020/09/10/the-hfp-chat-thread-thursday-10th-september/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.

Fred S says:

10 Sep10 September 08:33

Re Shop Small & Tesco/M&S/Wairose 2 Bonus Points per £: End on Sun & Sat respectively. Do the transactions have to post by the end of offer date or will transactions on the day of the respective end of offer dates be valid?
- Lev441 says:
  
  10 Sep10 September 08:39
  
  Transactions on the day will work for the offers
  - AJA says:
    
    10 Sep10 September 10:32
    
    Also I noticed that the supplier for my fuel purchase at a Tesco petrol station has shown up as a photography franchise rather than Tesco. I paid inside the kiosk using contactless rather than using pay at pump. I was going to buy some milk but didn’t because they only had green top and I can’t stand it! Do you think I can get Amex to credit the double Avios? I got a receipt which just shows Tesco branding and no mention of the photography business. I think it’s misleading as my purchase wasn’t for anything photography related. My previous purchases for fuel (paid at pump) got the bonus. It’s only 90 Avios but “every little helps” as Tesco itself says.
eligold says:

10 Sep10 September 08:45

any easy way of putting the AMEX The Telegraph offer to good use
- Jonathan says:
  
  10 Sep10 September 09:05
  
  Contingency plan if the loo roll shortages return? Can’t think of any other decent use for it!
  - Worzel says:
    
    10 Sep10 September 09:26
    
    We put the local freebie paper(after reading) into use at the beginning of the crisis.So much better than the IZAL paper found in school loos in the 60″s- which merely smeared; but didn’t wipe……… 🙂 .
    - Genghis says:
      
      10 Sep10 September 10:01
      
      Start a fire? I like broadsheet newspapers to get my fire going since they’re easier to scrunch up.
      - Ian says:
        
        10 Sep10 September 10:51
        
        We use it for that and for wrapping up our food waste before putting it in the kerbside collection caddy.
      - Andrew says:
        
        10 Sep10 September 11:44
        
        Scrunch?
        
        Spent hours as kids in the winter preparing fire starters from newspapers. Roll along the diagonal, flatten take from the middle and platt then twist the end. Burns well but slowly and helps start the wood, then coals.
        
        When I started work, my boss was incredibly tight. You could tell how many days he’d worn his shirt by counting the rings under the arms.
        
        The Sunday papers used to do “innovations” catalogues. They’d sell “save £s!” Paper mache log makers.
        Well he used to take home all the shredding from work and get his girls to make mache logs for the winter every weekend. He’d even “steal” the bags of shedding the bank 2 doors down put out to make more logs!
        
        He worked out it saved them enough money for their annual coach holiday from Perth to South of Italy…
      - Genghis says:
        
        10 Sep10 September 12:35
        
        🙂 I don’t the patience. The firelighter lights the paper, the paper lights the sticks and the sticks light the coal.
      - Worzel says:
        
        10 Sep10 September 13:46
        
        Genghis, I wonder whether you continued with your generous birthday gift(easy avios) to your Dad with further annual subscriptions to Gardeners’ World……?
        
        I’m sure he enjoyed reading the magazine in the comfort of his fourth floor apartment, and, hopefully keeps some copies back for firelighting, Lol 🙂 .
  - eligold says:
    
    10 Sep10 September 17:27
    
    🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
- Lawro says:
  
  10 Sep10 September 18:37
  
  Yes, combine it with the current £25 student sub offer 😀
DJ says:

10 Sep10 September 09:15

Just had a Marriott Platinum status matching rejected, as they said the documents I submitted is not eligible.

What do you really have to submit? Please could someone help with that?

I submitted a screenshot of my IHG Spire Status page on the app, and a screenshot of a hotel stay.
- meta says:
  
  10 Sep10 September 09:18
  
  I submitted a copy of the email for hotel reservation also IHG, but Platinum.
- Lev441 says:
  
  10 Sep10 September 09:24
  
  Same for me – got the email today. I don’t get what else there is for me to send – perhaps an error? I’m currently away at a Bonvoy hotel and can’t be bothered with a call – but would be good to find out why we were rejected.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  10 Sep10 September 09:40
  
  From what Rob said Don’t you need an actual Folio (bill) from the stay not just a screenshot of the stay points posting to your account
  - DJ says:
    
    10 Sep10 September 09:48
    
    That’s what I did as well, but rejected.
    
    I wish there was an example of accepted documents, rather some abstract description about what’s expected.
  - meta says:
    
    10 Sep10 September 10:06
    
    I got approved with just the email reservation which showed the price. I never get folio by email anyway other than at Marriott hotels.
    
    I had the same issue with Hilton previously where screenshot was not accepted, but email was. I guess email looks more official, especially if you use the same email for both accounts.
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    10 Sep10 September 10:25
    
    Are you all Gold already? If so aren’t current elites excluded from both this and Hilton’s status match?
    - meta says:
      
      10 Sep10 September 10:37
      
      With Marriott I am Gold already. Got matched to Plat with just email reservation and screenshot of the card.
      
      I was referring to previous Hilton status match promo when Golds were allowed. At the time Hilton did not accept screenshot of the stay from the account, but were happy with email reservation.
- Alan S says:
  
  10 Sep10 September 09:47
  
  I’ve had the same issue but I don’t retain the printed folios for 6 months. The folio isn’t available online – it says to contact the hotel…
  
  I sent them the online breakdown via PDF, but not sure what else they want…
  - Alan S says:
    
    10 Sep10 September 10:13
    
    I’ve just tried again – this time with my Hilton Gold rather than IHG Spire… See what happens.
    - Tom H says:
      
      10 Sep10 September 10:48
      
      So I got rejected the first time then sent a screen shot of my card from Hilton the app off my phone with my name and stays on it. And for folio pic I sent the screen shot of a bill (again available in the app) from my phone. And all went through fine, so now on my way for my first mattress run!
Crafty says:

10 Sep10 September 09:39

Trying to help a family member make a quarantine related plan. To be clear, I don’t approve of his plan from an ethical standpoint. However, I would like to understand whether it’s “allowed” under current rules.

The plan is to return to the UK (where he lives) from France on day 0, triggering quarantine. Fly to Greece (mainland) on day 1 of quarantine. Fly back to UK on day 8, and exit quarantine on day 15.

Again, no comment required on whether this is ethically acceptable. Is it allowed?
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  10 Sep10 September 09:40
  
  It’s allowed.
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    10 Sep10 September 09:47
    
    I also don’t understand the issue with ethics?
    
    He returns from France. Follows the UK rules on quarantine while he’s here and is free to travel on to anywhere he wants outside the UK as per the rules. As long as he follows Greece’s rules on entry from the UK and any places he’s been in the past 14 days (atleast France).
    
    When he returns he then needs to see out his 14 day quarantine having been in France for the past 14 days as per the UK rules. Btw day 0 is day 1 of the quarantine period.
    - Crafty says:
      
      10 Sep10 September 12:13
      
      To clarify, I don’t think it’s ethical to get on a plane whilst quarantined. It rather defeats the purpose of the quarantine.
      
      Thanks for the help, it sounds like his plans are allowed then!
      - memesweeper says:
        
        10 Sep10 September 13:52
        
        He’s leaving the country. From a UK government perspective that’s a win.
      - TGLoyalty says:
        
        10 Sep10 September 13:54
        
        Depends if you fell the quarantine is actually worthwhile or it’s just silly politics from a party who has no credibility left.
        
        Leaving the country via any method including an airport doesn’t break the quarantine rule.
      - Rob says:
        
        10 Sep10 September 14:33
        
        Everyone coming in the UK for business trips is doing exactly that – coming in, doing what they need to do and then leaving again (ignoring the quarantine bit of course, for the few hours they are here).
      - John says:
        
        10 Sep10 September 14:23
        
        If Greece allows passengers who have recently been in France to enter, then there is no ethical issue. Everyone on the plane with him is going to Greece and while there they could mix with people who have been in France.
        
        The word “quarantine” refers to the fact that he may have been exposed to the virus but is not confirmed to have it. (Yes I know governments are not using the precise definitions of words correctly.)
        
        If he develops symptoms then he should be in “self-isolation”, not quarantine, and he should not leave the place where he is currently staying at all (except to seek medical help or some other emergency).
    - Tariq says:
      
      10 Sep10 September 12:42
      
      Surely he would break quarantine when he attends the airport to fly to Greece?
      - Tariq says:
        
        10 Sep10 September 12:43
        
        Unless he doesn’t go home? Does quarantine only begin when you arrive back to your place of residence?
      - John says:
        
        10 Sep10 September 14:26
        
        Quarantine begins when you arrive in England (or another UK country) and ends when you depart England** or after the 14th calendar day. You are allowed to travel to the place of your quarantine.
        
        **If you leave England to go to e.g. Scotland then technically a new quarantine begins – to end on the same date as the original.
      - Alex M says:
        
        10 Sep10 September 12:56
        
        leaving the country and therefore going to airport is allowed by the quarantine rules.
      - Nick says:
        
        10 Sep10 September 13:47
        
        The other thing to add is the potential of triggering a new 14-day quarantine if the UK puts Greece back on the list.
      - memesweeper says:
        
        10 Sep10 September 13:53
        
        Nope — making your pre-booked flight is essential.
        
        The alternative is the UK holds all quarantining brits/foreigners hostage… no, we’ll be letting anyone who wants to leave go.
- AJA says:
  
  10 Sep10 September 13:22
  
  How does he plan to meet the Greek entry requirements?
  You must complete an online Passenger Locator Form (PLF) at least 24 hours before your arrival in Greece. Failure to do so in advance may result in your carrier not allowing you to travel, a 500 Euro fine on arrival or the Greek authorities not allowing you to enter the country.
  
  https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/greece/entry-requirements
  
  And this from the https://travel.gov.gr website:
  
  Beginning July 1, 2020, the Greek government has determined how the country will welcome travelers, carry out the necessary diagnostic screening and keep everyone safe throughout the season.
  
  The Passenger Locator Form (PLF) is a key element in the planning. All travelers must complete their PLF until the day before entering the country, providing detailed information on their point of departure, the duration of previous stays in other countries, and the address of their stay while in Greece.
  
  He should also be prepared to take a test on arrival (likely since he will be coming from the UK): All visitors from air, land or sea, will be subject to random tests upon arrival. Upon being tested, travelers move to their final destination. In the event of a positive result, they will be contacted and placed on 14-day quarantine, with expenses covered by the Greek state.
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    10 Sep10 September 13:57
    
    The form is filled in online. He can do it from anywhere in the globe surely as long as the data is accurate.
- Luckyjim says:
  
  10 Sep10 September 14:25
  
  The quarantine period start from the time leave the non-exempt country. So it is fourteen days from leaving France in this case.
  
  If your relative 😉 flies to Greece directly from France and stays there for 8 days before returning home he will only need to quarantine for 6 days upon arrival in the UK. Whether he goes via the UK or direct from France to Greece the outcome is the same. So the stop in the UK and the extra two flights are unnecessary and, for that reason alone, unethical.
  - John says:
    
    10 Sep10 September 14:28
    
    Good point. To be precise it is 14 days from midnight after the day he departed France.
JA says:

10 Sep10 September 09:57

Curve query.

Can I change my retailers that I get cash back for. I have the metal card. Thanks
- Genghis says:
  
  10 Sep10 September 10:03
  
  Yes – I messaged them last month. They reset all the retailers and you can add again. I added Lidl (note not down as UK but works) as I do a “big shop” there.
  - John says:
    
    10 Sep10 September 10:53
    
    How do I add retailers. I have metal.
    - Genghis says:
      
      10 Sep10 September 12:37
      
      Wallet->Curve Cash
  - JA says:
    
    10 Sep10 September 14:28
    
    Thanks Genghis
    
    I emailed them and they came back very quickly. They did reset but said only once is allowed and that’s only due to the unusual times we are in with Covid.
Jack says:

10 Sep10 September 09:58

There is a very good deal on travelzoo for the Andaz Liverpool Street for £149 including breakfast. It is fully refundable. Has anyone had any experience using this website.
Spaghetti Town says:

10 Sep10 September 10:09

Can you use shop small twice at the same retailer?
- Lev441 says:
  
  10 Sep10 September 10:10
  
  No – only if using different cards
- Jonathan says:
  
  10 Sep10 September 10:11
  
  Not on the same card, no. Supplementary card on same account is ok though.
- JA says:
  
  10 Sep10 September 10:11
  
  No. I think it states in t&cs that can only be used once. I have used in my local pub more than once and only got the £5 back after the first.
RussellH says:

10 Sep10 September 10:14

Some feedback on Shop Small following a week down south visiting relatives.

1. Partner’s sister runs a pub which operates Shop Small. She does not understand why any Amex customer would not sign up if asked. She confirmed it costs her nothing, and Amex (for her anyway) is charging the same as Visa/MCard. She also prefers the Amex way of taking the fee off the transaction amount cf. the Visa/MCard way of paying you every thing and then charging a lump sum at the end of the month.

2. Found plenty of other places to use Shop Small, including Holiday Inn Aylesbury! I saw this on the map, but was still surprised that it worked. Have received plenty of £5 rebates.

3. Found one restaurant on the map that did not take Amex. No card signs in the window at all. Carefull checking showed that the business name had changed from Persia House to Persia Palace. Website still says house, but menus out of date. Presumably new management. Still excellent value food though 🙂

4. One ‘refurbished’ hotel in Chipping Norton had Amex signs on the door, including “Amex Favourite”, whatever that is. 1970s timewarp inside. Amex not accepted. I told staff that if they did not accept Amex they needed to remove the stickers. Was given waffle about temporary technical problems. Suspect that Amex may have cancelled their contract.

5. Surprised to find Shop Small on the door at a Nisa shop in Reading. Got the e-mail, but no £5 yet. This will trigger a complaint in due course if no rebate is made.

6. Back home, local spa hotel is on the Shop Small map, has always taken Amex, but no e-mail yesterday or today. Anyone having success with a complaint in this situation?
- mark2 says:
  
  10 Sep10 September 13:13
  
  I got fobbed off when I made a valid complaint so I just used card at other merchabts until 10 reached.