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The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 15th September

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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 (164)

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

  • eligold says:

    RULE OF 6 QUESTION:
    I intend on flying in to the the UK next week, doing 14 day quarantine at the in-laws.
    We’re 7 people plus the 2 old in-laws. Will we be in breach of the rule of 6?
    I would see us as 1 household, since that’s my UK address. and I’d be surprised if people are now banned from moving back in with parents etc.

    • Rhys says:

      Living with someone for 14+ days definitely counts as one household in my book!

    • BJ says:

      You are one household, who can argue otgerwise andbit makes sense.

    • GeorgeJ says:

      I dont think you would be part of the household since you are obviously visitors with a home elsewhere (an address you use for mailing etc isnt the same as living somewhere). The guidance is quite clear in that it relates to persons living together meeting other households. The fact that one household is normally based outside England (or any other UK country) is not relevant. Here is the guidance for England:

      https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-meeting-with-others-safely-social-distancing/coronavirus-covid-19-meeting-with-others-safely-social-distancing
      Your action is similar to using shared accommodation on vacation where you would not be allowed to come together and share with your in laws under these circumstances.
      Of course it may be that no one will care or take the point, in which case the question for you is whether it is sensible to come from a higher incidence location and share with persons who are older and by definition at higher risk of death or serious illness (doubles with every 6-7 years of age according to the eminent Prof Spiegelhalter).

      • TGLoyalty says:

        Or just think what would Cummings do and do what you want.

      • John says:

        Guidance is irrelevant, you need to read the law. The relevant law is The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (England) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2020. I can’t be bothered to trawl through legalese to find if they define what a household is.

    • Bootlace says:

      I’m having a bar b q late afternoon with 7 family members attending, if Robert jenrick, Cummings and our esteemed PM’s father can flout the rules as they see fit so can I.

      • LB says:

        …and there we have the reason for the start of the second wave. The sense of entitlement is perverse.

        • BSI1978 says:

          Whilst I don’t necessarily disagree with you, the point Bootlace has made isn’t necessarily wrong is it?! Therein lies the danger of those 3 individuals (& many others) making up rules etc but then not bothering to even try and adhere to them.

      • Eligold says:

        Why would Cummings being a total whacky idiot make people want to risk themselves, friends and the greater public, is beyond me!

    • Anna says:

      Your in-laws should make enquiries with their local police about whether they are allowed to have you to stay under these circumstances. If yes, they should probably isolate themselves with you or have minimal contact with you for that period. Perhaps you could put them up in a nice hotel for the 14 days!

    • Heathrow Flyer says:

      Just be sure to pack your shotgun to make it a shooting party – allowed by the regs.

  • Rum says:

    Called to cancel BAPP as renewal is due and only got offered a downgrade to the standard card (which you can only do over the phone now). Quite disappointed at the lack of offers on BAPP right now. Platinum has served me much better, so might have to review which card(s) stay open for 2020-21.

    Also, quick question: is there any indication as to when there might be an increased sign up bonus for the Miles & More cards (Diner/MasterCard)?

    • BJ says:

      Amex prefer to push their own cards.

    • Rob says:

      No idea about Miles & More. They consistently refuse to even speak to us. It’s a bit odd because I’ve seen them spending money on Facebook to promote the cards so it’s not as if they are determined to leave all the promotion to Lufty.

  • sloth says:

    anyone having experience putting money into Fidelity ISA via curv recently? I’m sure I used it in the past but am getting declined now. HH card behind it

    thanks

  • Anna says:

    I’ve got a King Deluxe room booked on points at The George in Edinburgh in December (if it’s open by then!). The difference between that room and a Junior Suite with breakfast is £86 per night. Do you think they would put us in the suite if I offered them this amount?!

    • Andrew says:

      One way to find out – ask

    • Lady London says:

      You might get a nice surprise if you don’t feed them the amount upfront and ask what would they surcharge you to upgrade. You might find they quote something less.

  • Anna says:

    Your in-laws should make enquiries with their local police about whether they are allowed to have you to stay under these circumstances. If yes, they should probably isolate themselves with you or have minimal contact with you for that period. Perhaps you could put them up in a nice hotel for the 14 days!

  • Darren says:

    Wheely question,

    Is Wheely available in and around Henley/Marlow for local trips rather than into central London?

  • BLT says:

    A Quick question: I have booked outbound 241 BA tickets for next summer (whether it happens is another matter!). I can now phone to add the return, however, if I want to change the outbound can I just cancel for a FTV and then phone and rebook the new return journeys, avoiding the £35 pp change fee? Also, is the FTV pretty instant?

    • Anna says:

      I have FTVs for a one way booking where we never got round to booking the return so it’s definitely possible and the confirmation email was pretty instant. Don’t forget it has to be used by April 2022, so would be a disadvantage if you have a recently triggered BAPP valid until later than that.

  • Baji Nahid says:

    British Airways to start Lahore from London, before Virgin Atlantic too! Guess its a race to the bottom with them 2 😉 Cheeky of BA

    • Lady London says:

      Could almost make one say even when they’re on their knees and making 1/3rd of staff redundant and reducing the pay and conditions of many of the rest, BA is still up to their old tricks again.

      • Heathrow Flyer says:

        Old tricks being competition?

        • Lady London says:

          why did BA mysteriously run new flights on routes Norwegian had just opened?

          Why did BA match Freddie Laker pricing and basically make moves that drove Laker out of business?

          Why is BA bringing in Lahore ? you may ask

          Some things dont change
          It takes a law and court orders (both) to stop BA doing things.

          Even a crisis has let them do some overdue housekeeping.

          Gotta admire them.

    • Pangolin says:

      It just goes to show that Virgin would’ve been better off serving Pakistan from BHX also (or instead of LHR).

      No route competition there since BA doesn’t operate from BHX.

      • Rob says:

        Not easy – all the crews would need to come across from Manchester.

      • Baji Nahid says:

        Birmingham is not a market for airlines in britain, they have London close to them.

        Manchester and London can serve many markets of pakistan where is birmingham can only serve islamabad as its market.

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