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The HfP chat thread – Monday 14th September

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Comments (189)

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

  • Nick says:
    14 Sep14 September 11:03

    Rob/Rhys, fyi, the ‘click for page 1’ link on Monday’s article links to Sunday’s comments. Clearly not well used as it’s 11am and I’m the first to notice, but still…

  • Jody says:
    14 Sep14 September 11:04

    I’m not up on any hotel deals at the moment as not been looking, however I might need a Monday night stay in October in London as I have 2 hospital appointments at Westmoreland Street the following day that would require an early start for travelling. Undecided at the moment whether to just suck that up and do the train, or stay the night before.

    Anyway, I’m happy with cheap and cheerful (stayed in a Premier Inn way out and tubed it in last time) but just wondered if anyone knows of anywhere doing really good deals at the moment before I start trawling through the usual sites.

    Many thanks

    • memesweeper says:
      14 Sep14 September 13:00

      The various Marriott Residence Inns around town have had some great prices lately. Good for an overnight crash as well as a lengthy stay.

    • Lady London says:
      14 Sep14 September 14:23

      @Jody could you please post to let us know which hotel you eventually choose and which others came close?

      • Jody says:
        14 Sep14 September 15:41

        If I decide to book somewhere I will. Am still completely undecided as to whether to stay or just deal with the early start!

        Also need to find something to fill my time as first appointment is at 9.45 and won’t take long, second appointment is 14.00! Normally it wouldn’t be a problem, but as I mentioned before I have mobility problems and so can’t walk very far at all (it’s got so bad I’ve even bought a wheelchair for weekends away), so the usual thing I’d do of just having a mooch around is out of the question unfortunately. Probably just take my kindle and find somewhere to chill out for a few hours.

  • Sukes says:
    14 Sep14 September 11:37

    If you just need a quiet night, clean comfy bed & hot shower nearish I’d stay at the hub by Premier Inn Westminster Abbey. You should get for around £50 on a non-refundable / can change arrival date rate. 2min walk from St james Pk tube. Get rm 709, its one of the spacious ‘Bigger’ Rms on top floor with view onto Westminster Central Hall. Pre-Covid there was free Costa coffee all day in the restaurant & gd hot buffet breakfast was +£6. Go next door to the Conrad for a drink at the very nice Blue Bar.

    • Jody says:
      14 Sep14 September 14:01

      Thank you, just the kind of thing I’m looking for.

      Doesn’t really matter where it is as long as there is a tube station nearby, as my mobility isn’t great at the moment so can’t walk far.

    • Lady London says:
      14 Sep14 September 14:26

      @Sukes would you say the extra cost of the Hub version of Premier Inns is worth it for the odd 1 night stay? The uplift for these often seems quite significant compared to a short journey on the Tube and Ive always wondered what the difference was

      • Sukes says:
        14 Sep14 September 15:39

        Hey LL Purely depends what you value in your trip. Personally if there is not a big price differential I prefer to be able to open the hotel door and be in the center of London than be a couple of tube stops out. I also prefer to walk When possible than take transport but others, as Jody notes, will have their own mobility requirements. I also like the hub brand as the hotels are very new so you’re not likely to run into issues with tired carpets, sagged mattresses etc etc and get v good sound-proofing, aircon. On the other side the normal rooms are very small which is why I suggest paying more for a ‘bigger’ branded rm as it will be more what people expect a hotel room to look like vs a bed in a large cupboard ; )

        I haven’t stayed at it but Zedwell Piccadilly opened in Feb in the Trocodero centre at Piccadilly Circus (I think there is or in future will be a direct entrance into the hotel from the tube station). multiple more hotels are to open under the brand in London. If looking at PI hubs probably also worth having a look at the Zedwell – all Japanese ‘zen’ type rooms which seems to be an excuse for no windows and no TVs! Currently priced £55pn for single, £75pn double.

        IHG’s central Indigo hotel (I think address is 1 Leicester Sq?) also v central with excellent reviews and excellent rates but I haven’t stayed – I think it’s closed til 1 Oct.

  • Anna says:
    14 Sep14 September 11:48

    Has anyone else noticed that rail fares are astronomical at the moment? I’ve got weekends booked in Edinburgh and London and now thinking we’ll drive, which will be cheaper and more socially distanced, even factoring in hotel parking (and potential traffic misery!).
    I imagine the prices are largely due to having to cut capacity but £100 return to London at the weekend isn’t tempting me to start using trains again! It’s a pity the MAN-LCY service isn’t more frequent.

    • Anna says:
      14 Sep14 September 11:49

      And yes, this is even if you book as soon as the fares are released!

    • TGLoyalty says:
      14 Sep14 September 11:55

      Yeah not seeing many advance fares being released.

      I think driving is the way to go. Check Appyparking and Justpark for alternative options to hotel parking.

      • Anna says:
        14 Sep14 September 12:29

        Thanks, will do. It would be a no-brainer apart from the prospect of being stuck on the M6 for several hours in either direction!

    • Andrew says:
      14 Sep14 September 12:35

      How about driving to pre-booked parking at BHX, walking down to the station and taking the train from BHI to EUS for about £25 return each?

      Drive to Thornhill P&R in Oxford, park for £12 for 72 hours and take the Tube into London for £15 return each.

      Looking at weekends in September, you can arrive Friday evening, leave Monday and prebook LHR T5 short stay for £62 for the weekend then just get the underground in.

      • Anna says:
        14 Sep14 September 13:23

        Birmingham might be an option, thanks, but driving to LHR then having to get on the tube sounds extremely stressful!

        • Anna says:
          14 Sep14 September 13:27

          This also made me think of driving to Carlisle then train to Edinburgh – rail fare is only £26 return compared to £65 from Preston (there will be 3 of us so this would be a decent saving).

        • TGLoyalty says:
          14 Sep14 September 13:31

          Birmingham is probably the better suggestion if that’s the way you would go.

          Driving to Oxford to spend 1:30 on tube doesn’t sound much better than the £25 return super off peak 2hr midlands train from BHX and you save yourself all that driving to Oxford.

          Personally I’d just spend the extra 2 hours driving down the M40/M25.

      • Lady London says:
        14 Sep14 September 14:27

        Trainline has also surprised me recently by showing split ticket alternatives (cheaper) with search results

      • Alan H says:
        14 Sep14 September 20:58

        I’ve been looking at Avanti train prices for BHI to EUS on a weekend in October and they are astronomical: much more than usual. I’m planning on driving which is much cheaper taking into account parking in Mayfair, congestion charging and ULEZ with the added benefit of no face coverings!

    • John says:
      14 Sep14 September 13:16

      Trains are empty, they just don’t want to finalise the timetable (especially weekend timetables) until the week before so no cheap tickets are put on sale.

      The government is paying for trains at the moment (as in taxpayers get all the fares revenue and pay the running costs).

      It was recently announced that this is likely to continue for the foreseeable future – effectively trains are being nationalised like TfL

      • Rhys says:
        14 Sep14 September 13:18

        A friend involved told me each train ticket was effectively being subsidised by £100 by the government!

        • memesweeper says:
          14 Sep14 September 13:23

          Given the empty intercity trains I’ve been on I’d think that’s an underestimate.

    • Harry T says:
      14 Sep14 September 13:19

      I’ve found some good cheap advance fares departing Newcastle. Unfortunately they still haven’t released the returning journeys yet so can’t book anything.

      • Anna says:
        14 Sep14 September 13:35

        Weird you should say that, I’ve just found a random Preston-Edinburgh for £10.30 on the day we want to travel, doesn’t show at the top of the screen, you have to go through all the different times to find it.

      • Nick says:
        14 Sep14 September 13:37

        @Anna, advance fares are only being released when the timetable is finalised, which on some routes is a week or two before. There are fewer bargains than there used to be but they’re definitely there.

        • Anna says:
          14 Sep14 September 13:55

          I’ll keep checking, thanks. Just got PRE-EDB for £25 for 3 of us for our December trip so glad I asked and had a play with the booking system! Fingers x’d for the return now.

    • Jody says:
      14 Sep14 September 14:06

      Do you have a Two Together railcard (assuming it’s the two of you!)? Worth having a look if the savings would cover the cost of the card. Think they’re £30, there is quite often a 10% discount code knocking about if you google, and you can also use your clubcard vouchers for one.

      Also seems to massively depend on which trainline you’re on. I’m East Northants, and the prices for trains to London are really high, especially in peak time (talking over £100 return for a journey that takes just over an hour).

      It’s a different train operator from Northampton, and the prices from there to London are much more reasonable, even in peak time, and also more frequent. Similar length of journey.

      I used to get free train travel from Northampton to London or Birmingham when I was in the police, miss those days as I have to travel to hospital in London fairly frequently.

      • Anna says:
        14 Sep14 September 17:23

        Hi Jody, yes I’m going to get a Two Together card as my son is still eligible for a child fare and we’ll probably use it when we go to London without him. I think Preston is also generally a quite expensive station to start/finish – my OH occasionally had to go to London for work in his last role and couldn’t believe how much it used to be for a day return to get him there for 9 am!

        • John says:
          15 Sep15 September 05:01

          Friends and family railcard may be better if child is always travelling but adults aren’t

    • Nick_C says:
      14 Sep14 September 22:49

      Be aware that the Congestion Charge now applies seven days a week!

  • Andrew says:
    14 Sep14 September 12:39

    Haven’t seen it mentioned, but there’s an NH Hotels offer popped on my Amex. £50 back on a £180 spend.

    Rob did an article on earning Avios via Iberia Plus just a couple of weeks ago.

  • fivebobbill says:
    14 Sep14 September 13:27

    Could somebody please remind me whether or not Hilton award extra points/night credits for a second room, ie if I take the family on holiday next month and book 2 separate rooms on my reservation?
    Ergo, would I also get double double nights on the current promo (the t&c’s don’t specify).
    Thanks you

    • TGLoyalty says:
      14 Sep14 September 13:32

      Only stays/nights on 1 room, points on 2.

      SPG were the only one to allow it up to 3 rooms and that ended with Bonvoy

      • fivebobbill says:
        14 Sep14 September 14:04

        Thanks for the clarification TG, looks like it could be a longer trip than originally planned then…

  • garye says:
    14 Sep14 September 13:29

    Is the IAG rights issue a good deal – opinions? From reading the information if you don’t take up the option your existing shares are diluted in value based on trading so far today by about 35%

    • TGLoyalty says:
      14 Sep14 September 13:47

      Someone please correct me if I’m wrong but the way I read the comms is that on Thursday everyone that held 2 shares at close of trading Friday will now hold 3. Then there will be a further issue of 1 share for every 3 at a discounted price (0.92EUR) and if you don’t take up the issue you will receive the proceeds from the sale less some commission.

      I think the maths works like this 1k shares Friday at 194.20p (£1,942) is 1k shares at 138.92 (£1,389) today but you’ll actually 1.5k shares on Thursday (perhaps @ 130 = £1,950). You’ll then be offered the chance to buy 1 share for every 3 you hold @ 0.92EUR or receive cash. What you are betting on is what happens to the price once the extra capital is released does it all drop to 0.92 EUR or something where you can still make money. if it drops to the discounted price 1.5k @ 0.92EUR = c£1,230 (plus you received £410 as you didn’t take up your issue) so you’re £302 down (less any commission taken from the 410) or c16% down on your investment.

      Obviously some people are already many £1k down so they may just want to dilute their shareholding and get out something now in the hope things recover. Some might have got in at 160 a few weeks ago and be happy to go in again for more at 0.92 EUR.

      • TGLoyalty says:
        14 Sep14 September 14:00

        looks like I’ve messed up

        *Thursday you can buy the 500 shares you are entitled to for 460 EUR or receive the cash equivalent less commission

        So if you buy you’ll have 1,500 shares at £1,950 that you paid about £2,350 for or 1k shares worth £1,300 and £400 cash so lost £250 or 13% but if it recovers to 157 you’d breakeven in both scenarios.

    • AJA says:
      14 Sep14 September 16:01

      A rights issue allows you to buy more shares in proportion to your existing shareholding meaning that if you do subscribe you do not dilute your holding. If you do not take up your rights, you will dilute your holding. If you can sell the right then you will receive the value of the right but you dilute your holding as the percentage of your shares held compared to the total number of shares in issue falls compared to prior to the rights issue. In theory the price after the rights issue should equalise meaning you don’t make a profit or a loss if you acquire the shares. BA gets additional capital in return for issuing more shares.
      Share prices usually drop immediately after a rights issue since some investors see rights offers as an unwelcome choice between stumping up more cash or seeing their existing holding diluted. It also is a sign of desperation by the company since a rights issue is a sign of insufficient investor demand.
      To decide as to whether to take up the option or not you have to decide if you’re prepared to give BA extra cash and whether the price is reasonable. The price of the rights issue should be lower than the share price before the issue since, overall, there will now be more shares in issue and as stated above share prices usually drop after a rights issue. You will potentially gain from any increase in value of the shares and will potentially receive increased dividend income since you now hold more shares than you did before.
      I notice that the share price has dropped 30% today compared to the close on Friday and is now trading at 135.25p. What is the rights issue price you will pay? Is it higher or lower than 135p? If higher then unless the price rises above the current share price you are better off just buying additional shares on the open market. If it is lower than 135p then you will make an instant paper profit of the difference between 135p and the price you paid provided the share price doesn’t drop even further.

      • Chris says:
        14 Sep14 September 16:35

        additional share price is 88p

        • AJA says:
          14 Sep14 September 17:22

          Thanks Chris. That probably explains why the share value has dropped so much today, brokers are assuming the rights issue will be subscribed. Theoretically the value of 2 shares after the rights issue would be 195p + 88p = 283p / 2 = 141.5p which is still higher than the actual closing price but not far off it. Even with the drop in the price today if you buy at 88p your paper profit at the closing value of 134.95p is 46.95p per share. That’s a decent 53% profit. But you also have to remember that your overall holding will have dropped in value.

          • TGLoyalty says:
            14 Sep14 September 19:53

            You need 2 shares to get 1 so isn’t it

            195*2+88 = 478 / 3 = 159? At 135 you’re down vs Friday?

          • planeconcorde says:
            14 Sep14 September 22:56

            No you need to have held 2 shares last week, to be entitled to buy 3 new shares this week.

          • John says:
            15 Sep15 September 06:12

            You won’t make any profit from the rights, that’s the entire reason why the price dropped.

            If you held 2 shares at 195p on Friday = 390p, you can pay 255p to buy 3 new shares, total outlay 645p for 5 shares, so each share is now worth 129p (the TERP). Anyone buying at this new price won’t have the rights.

            Alternatively you can sell the rights for the difference between the price you need to pay and the new share price (as the buyer needs to pay the 85p instead of you). 129-85=44p x3 rights per 2 shares = 132p. Your 2 shares formerly worth 390p are now worth 258p + 132p from the sale = 390p

            The share price rose to 135p yesterday due to trading. So you can now sell the rights for 50p each. But without the rights issue the price might have risen to 204p which has the same effect. Obviously it’s impossible to split the effect of the rights issue away from other factors affecting the price.

            You could also sell enough rights to cover the payment needed to subscribe to the remainder so have no outlay – but you’d have to factor in the broker fees and possibly tax.

            So the only people profiting are brokers and the tax man

  • Keith says:
    14 Sep14 September 14:12

    What’s the name of that website that lists all scheduled departures from an airport over the space of about a week?

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