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The HfP chat thread – Thursday 17th 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 (202)

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

  • @mkcol says:
    17 Sep17 September 11:34

    So the BA LGW cancellations are happening!
    12th & 19th November to & from TFS.

    • ChrisC says:
      17 Sep17 September 14:13

      The slot waiver must have been approved!

      Got an email about mine as well. LGW- AMS 9th December. Don’t fancy going all the way to LHR to be honest. LCY would be OK though

      But …

      Click the link and go you your bookings to see what other options s are available

      *clicks*

      Error

      Just sums up BA all over.

      • @mkcol says:
        17 Sep17 September 15:09

        Shame for you – our options were identical but from LHR and the whole process worked perfectly, and was really clear.
        They even kept us in the same seats for each sector.
        For me LHR is as convenient as LGW so it’s fine.

        Now to watch of TFS gets excluded from the general quarantine on return, which will then make the whole trip a moot point.

        • planeconcorde says:
          17 Sep17 September 16:59

          Looks like BA have done a mass update to their booking system.

          Yesterday (as of 16th September 2020) the latest LHR to JERsey flight available was 8th November. The earliest LGW to JERsey flight was 9th November.

          Today (as of 17th September 2020) there has been an update. All 9th November to 27th March 2021 flights from London to JERsey are now listed as operating out of Heathrow. The earliest LGW to JERsey flight is now listed as Sunday 28th March. Which is the start of the summer 2021 slot season.

          I haven’t checked other Gatwick routes.

          I had two other short haul bookings out of Gatwick for September and October 2020. When the flights moved the Heathrow the flight times changed. Then they changed again three weeks prior to departure. So further changes to existing bookings could still happen.

  • Reney says:
    17 Sep17 September 12:06

    Hi I saw a comment yesterday (from Andrew?) that he was getting quite a lot of offers in his BOS current accounts. I also have accounts that suppose to provide offers, but I hardly ever get any, not good ones like what I saw on his post. Could people share some info about how much spending/ transaction they are doing monthly on their debit cards? Also curious whether you are using your debit card purely to attract these offers? I am always surprised readers of this site would choose to use a debit card over a points-earning card. Thx

    p.s for the Halifax reward account, someone posted that you could get the £5 reward by paying off credit card of at least £500 with debit card and therefore no need to keep £5k in the account. I did the payment and reduced my balance to below 5k, I didn’t get the £5 reward. Not sure what option I selected when I set up the account thou.

    • KP says:
      17 Sep17 September 12:08

      I dont think thats an option. There’s a tracker on your account which tells you whether youre on track to get £5 or not. You also need to pay in £1500 at least every month

    • Raj says:
      17 Sep17 September 12:17

      I’ve got the Halifax account too, and from memory you needed to choose between the £500 debit card spend or the £5k balance at the time you opened/upgraded the account. You’ll be able to change the option you chose after 1 year has passed.

      • Reney says:
        17 Sep17 September 14:34

        Thanks, that would be what I had selected, didn’t realise paying CC qualified as a debit card spend or would have chosen that.

    • BJ says:
      17 Sep17 September 12:34

      You cannot chop and change your option. If you opted for £5k you have to maintain £5k. Paying £500 off a credit card does work, I have been doing it that way without problems. The £5 payment credits to accounts around 12th of each month.

      There are now switching bonuses available to qualifying applicants at RBS, HSBC, and Lloyds. Referral bonuses at Nationwide and Metro. CasshieB on TSB somewhere else.

    • Andrew says:
      17 Sep17 September 16:24

      So far this September I’ve made 34 Debit Card transactions.

      Most frequent is for the staff canteen. Today’s lunch (if anyone is interested) was roast gammon, roast potatoes, cauliflower cheese, white cabbage, mixed roast vegetables and a bit of jus followed by a massive plate of apple crumble and custard. All for £5.02.

      Other than that I’ve used it in Tesco, Sazbo’s Petrol Station, Morrison’s, Dobbies, Wilko, WH Smith, Matalan, M&S, Waitrose, The Range, Dunelm, Jannettas Gelateria (Irn-Bru Sorbet) and Fisher & Donaldson (Fly’s Cemeteries and Frog Cakes).

      So a broad range of MCCs across and decent volume of transactions.

      • Reney says:
        17 Sep17 September 17:22

        Thanks Andrew! I’m currently working from home full time so have very few transactions, I can’t replicate that wide spread MCC or volume. I also feel like I would miss out on too many Amex points if I move over my existing spending to gamble for offers that I might not use. Very helpful info thou.

      • BJ says:
        17 Sep17 September 17:37

        @Andrew, I hope that with all those escapades you’ve downloaded the Protect Scotland app 🙂 Over one million downloads already, apparently over 100 have been notified to self isolated so it must be working to some extent. Social distancing at your canteen must be proving difficult though given your menu reports.

        • Genghis says:
          17 Sep17 September 20:20

          We now need to eat al desko. Our chef who was head chef for Will and Kate’s wedding breakfast has been relegated to doing take away.

          • BJ says:
            17 Sep17 September 21:56

            Don’t you get tired of the fine ding though, and just crave a substantial helping of some great traditional British food well made with quality ingredients?

          • Genghis says:
            18 Sep18 September 07:23

            Chef balances it out. Fancy stuff on some days, fish and chips and pies on others. Being a northerner, I prefer the traditional stuff.

          • BJ says:
            18 Sep18 September 08:35

            Smart chef, comfort food is especially good in winter, lighter stuff is fine in summer.

        • Lady London says:
          17 Sep17 September 22:04

          Why cant we have a Protect Scotland app in England.

          I adore Fly Cemetery – does anyone know where to get it in England?

          • BJ says:
            18 Sep18 September 08:34

            @Lady London. The app for England is relaunching next Thursday. Obviously they’re not an answer but everything helps.

          • BJ says:
            18 Sep18 September 09:13

            Just had a thought, you might also enjoy Ecclefechan tart and you can order that online for delivery (well packed with 2 month shelf life) from Alex Dalgety bakers if you google it. Gregg’s used to sell a decent fruit slice but discontinued it a few years ago when the y massacred their range of cakes to focus more on sandwiches etc for lunch.

        • Lady London says:
          17 Sep17 September 22:10

          I am completely jealous of those menu reports and that pricing.

          Time was, loads of us had office canteens like that but all disappeared. Except in the City, it seems. *sigh*

          With that retailer list all bought from we’ll know when @Andrew has caught it because Protect Scotland will tell 10,000 people to self-isolate 🙂

  • James says:
    17 Sep17 September 12:14

    Tier point help please…

    My tier point year ends on Nov 8th.
    I’m currently Blue and have done nothing for a few years.
    Thinking of Mexico business class as part of the sale for work.

    If the outbound is in October, but the inbound falls November 9th onwards, will the 140 TPs count towards status for “next year” or not?

    • Rob says:
      17 Sep17 September 12:41

      Inbound is in your new year, outbound is in the old year.

    • AJA says:
      17 Sep17 September 14:47

      Is there any way you can delay your trip to depart the UK on 9 Nov? If you do then you would get bronze status which would be valid from Nov 2020 to Dec 2022. Plus you would only need another 170TP to get Silver. Or you could do your original itinerary and as Alex M suggests, ask BA to count the return flight towards this current year provided the return flight is before 22 November. But this would only give you Bronze until Dec 2021 and you would have 0 TP towards renewal as they will reset on 9 Nov meaning you would have to get 450TP by 8 Nov 2021 to get Silver.

      • James says:
        17 Sep17 September 22:27

        Cheers all.

        Can’t delay trip. And it’s likely there will be more flights in 2021 (pending relaxation of everything).

        Plus, as it’s Mexico, I need to self isolate on return, so an extra 2 weeks is useless as I can’t fly again – right?

        Also thinking premium economy on the way out, as I never sleep going to America – just on the way home. So it would make sense to take the 140 towards next year – yeah?

        Thanks again.

  • KS says:
    17 Sep17 September 12:21

    Question regarding Marriott points promotion, I got 3000 points extra per night for a 2 night stay. I am not able to figure out the promotion that gave me that. I was only expecting 2500 for the stay as part of the promotion. Anyone has an idea on what it could be?

  • DJ says:
    17 Sep17 September 12:41

    A newbie question, what’s the advantage of check-in via the app with Marriott bookings? Just downloaded the app and was offered that option. It did mention about using the app to unlock the room, but not sure how it works with two guests.

    Also, if I check in via the app, would it still trigger the Amex £50 offer?

    Thanks

  • MinR says:
    17 Sep17 September 13:10

    Have Priority Pass withdrawn No1 Lounges from their programme?

    I tried to rebook a cancelled reservation and was advised that PP and LK do not include No1 Lounge anymore. Their website still allows ‘guaranteed acceptance’ reservations for PP and LK strangely.

    • Rob says:
      17 Sep17 September 14:30

      I will explain tomorrow.

    • TGLoyalty says:
      17 Sep17 September 16:09

      No but I did come across

      PLEASE BE AWARE, PRIORITY PASS ARE NOT CURRENTLY GRANTING ACCESS TO THEIR MEMBERS TO ANY LOUNGES IN THE NO1 LOUNGES PORTFOLIO. PLEASE CONTACT PRIORITY PASS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

      • Rob says:
        17 Sep17 September 16:52

        See tomorrow …

        • John says:
          17 Sep17 September 18:26

          Email sent out. It’s all about £££. Why pay for No1 when you have Aspire and no pax.

          • TGLoyalty says:
            17 Sep17 September 19:26

            Exactly what sprang to mind with the msg from No1!

          • Lady London says:
            17 Sep17 September 22:22

            Oh dear.
            Was expecting this

            I think Covid has accelerated some trends that were building in the lounges business.

            Amex is going to have to pull a rabbit out of the hat soon to sustain their claims that the Priority Pass included in UK Platinum Amex actually is a reliable benefit. Because it hasnt been, so unless Amex cuts some deal or replaces with some other similar lounge provision £600pa for Amex Platinum combined with insurance whose quality has deteriorated… well the package of benefits is making cardholders work quite hard to get value.

  • Neil says:
    17 Sep17 September 13:25

    Anyone know how long to get responses back from SeatSpy? I have being trying to look up seats 355 days out and Seatspy is stuck on 14th Aug yet BA book with Avios is up to the 1st Sep (and showing availability that SS isnt ) Rewardflightfinder is showing availability up to 1st Sep!

  • YC says:
    17 Sep17 September 13:27

    Anyone have Puglia hotel recommendations that are not over the top in price range? Below £350/night

    • Paul says:
      17 Sep17 September 13:45

      Hotel Ostuni Palace was nice when we stopped off there for a few nights on way back to Bari airport a few years ago.

    • Jonathan says:
      17 Sep17 September 17:22

      £300-350/night is pretty high end in the current climate! Think you’d struggle to exceed that in Puglia at present.

      • TGLoyalty says:
        17 Sep17 September 19:27

        Depends what market you are talking about.

        Plenty of hotels still charging 500-600 a night, some are boosting occupancy by offering 3 for 2 and extras but still works out £400+

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

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