The HfP chat thread – Monday 21st September

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• Gareth says:

  21 Sep21 September 10:51

  NS&I dropping rates in direct saver and premium bonds- will affect many on here no doubt

  • Lee says:

    21 Sep21 September 11:33

    Wow, Income Bonds from 1.16% to 0.01%

    • John says:

      21 Sep21 September 11:42

      I don’t feel so bad for ripping the arse out of them now.

      • ankomonkey says:

        21 Sep21 September 15:25

        I doubt that comment will be bettered all week 🙂

    • Rhys says:

      21 Sep21 September 11:43

      Not much income then!

      • Sandgrounder says:

        21 Sep21 September 11:53

        And I was half way to transferring the bulk of my savings via the curved route! Abort! Abort! Abort! 🙂

        • TGLoyalty says:

          21 Sep21 September 12:16

          Or proceed like you never knew then proceed to move it elsewhere when you realise it’s dropped 🙂

        • Lady London says:

          21 Sep21 September 17:40

          Good heavens, who would have thought of that ?

      • Jimbob says:

        21 Sep21 September 21:00

        More points generating, than income generating 😉

    • Nick says:

      21 Sep21 September 12:29

      Wonder what alternative source of cheap cash the government has found then?

      Unless they’re just paying over the odds to borrow from cronies instead. Always possible with these clowns.

      • BJ says:

        21 Sep21 September 12:35

        Putin their faith in Putin perhaps.

        • Dezbez says:

          21 Sep21 September 14:11

          Liking the pun… !

      • Stanley says:

        21 Sep21 September 12:42

        Well they sell 5 year Gilts yielding MINUS 0.12%. Superb news for us taxpayers…..

      • Nick_C says:

        21 Sep21 September 12:55

        1) HMG can almost certainly borrow at less than 1%

        2) This isn’t just about the need for the Government to borrow. They want us to spend and stimulating the economy. With money in the bank losing value, some people will bring forward purchasing decisions, helping companies and saving jobs.

        • Nick says:

          21 Sep21 September 15:18

          I understand the principle here, but the practice is somewhat different… if the economy is tanking then sensible people would save not knowing what the future holds. I certainly do. The only real exception is for civil servants who have major job security and those close to retirement who don’t really care. What am I missing?

        • Lady London says:

          21 Sep21 September 17:43

          Actually @Nick you are right. It seems those who work for the government are very fortunate compared to those who work in the private sector…. has anyone heard of mass redundancies and operations being closed down in the government? Anyone employed in the private sector seems to be subject to much more risk.

        • Nick_C says:

          21 Sep21 September 19:24

          @Nick – your comment at 12:29 suggested you didn’t understand the principle.

          Sensible people who see that their money in the bank is losing value, but had been thinking about buying a new car or a new kitchen will realise they should buy now. Especially if what they are buying involves an imported product or raw materials, and they understand that their is a risk of new import tariffs applying from January.

          You are also missing well off pensioners, particularly risk averse pensioners who use NS&I as a safe haven, and those with more than £85k in cash who can’t be bothered dealing with multiple institutions.

          And people who are unlikely to be affected by the recession. Funeral Directors, Dentists, anyone supplying or retailing food and other essentials, etc etc.

          @LL – I know of plenty of people in the Public Sector who have lost their jobs, had their pay cut in real terms, had their pensions cut, and had new, less favourable, terms and conditions imposed.

          More generally;

          “In 2019, there were 5.4 million people working in the public sector, slightly more than in 2018, which was the lowest level in 70 years. In 2019 there were 2 million fewer public sector workers than a post-war peak in 1979.2

          In comparison, the total number of people in employment in the UK reached a record high in June 2019 (32.7 million people). Total employment has increased by 7.6 million since 1979.

          The number of people employed in the public sector fell by 1 million, or 15.9% between 2010 and 2019, in part owing to organisations being reclassified from the public to the private sector (see box below). Excluding the effect of these reclassifications, public sector employment decreased by 309,000 or 5.5% in this period.”

          http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN05635/SN05635.pdf

          Do you get your news and opinions from the Daily Mail by any chance?

        • Louie says:

          22 Sep22 September 00:35

          @Nick_C – “Sensible people who see that their money in the bank is losing value, but had been thinking about buying a new car or a new kitchen will realise they should buy now.”

          Most people I know will think “I’d like a new car, but I can manage with the old one and if I buy one that will mean I have less money to live on if/when I lose my job”.

      • Lady London says:

        21 Sep21 September 17:41

        Aren’t they just printing it ?

  • Nick_C says:

    21 Sep21 September 12:26

    Yikes. I was lucky to open the Skipton account which was briefly available last week – 1.2% variable, but includes 0.5% bonus fixed for 12 months.

    I can see people still using NS&I though!

    • BJ says:

      21 Sep21 September 12:42

      First time buyer flats and country cottages is the way to go. Whisky, cognac, and wine for those with less capital provided you have, or can get, the right expertise.

  • The Savage Squirrel says:

    21 Sep21 September 13:50

    I always did wonder why they’d borrow off us at 1% or more – and also with the admin costs of running lots of little accounts. All when they can go into the gilt market and borrow huge slugs of money at 0%.

• Phil says:

  21 Sep21 September 11:26

  I’m thinking of flying to Mexico City in December. BA is quoting about £1500 one way. So I looked at the Iberia website and for about £434 you can fly from Madrid but via Heathrow and onto the same flight as BA is quoting!

  Is this normal or is BA doing odd things in these COVID19 times?

  Would it be possible to buy the ticket from Madrid but just get on the 2nd plane from Heathrow (missing out the Madrid to London leg of the flight).

  Although it would still be a lot cheaper to fly to Madrid and get a hotel the night before than the BA priced flight.

  • Rob says:

    21 Sep21 September 11:34

    This is totally normal. A Spanish resident obviously needs a massive incentive to fly via London to go to Mexico.

    You can’t miss the first leg or your flight is automatically cancelled.

  • Rhys says:

    21 Sep21 September 11:35

    If you skip a flight before the flight you want to take, your complete itinerary is likely to get voided. You would get away with it on the return (leaving at Heathrow rather than flying back to Madrid) as this is the final leg of the journey, but it’s not advisable otherwise!

    Is there a reason you are looking at a one way ticket? If you have to have a one-way, the best option is to use Avios as one way cash fares on longhaul are almost always excessively priced.

    • Phil says:

      21 Sep21 September 11:45

      Thanks for the quick replies. I want to travel with my US partner (who lives in London too) to LA but there is a 14 day quarantine from the UK. We thought of a 14 day holiday in Mexico, then fly to LA for a week then fly back to London from LAX. Although we’re still trying to double check the rules re me getting into the US. And we believe we can both travel from Mexico to the US after a 14 day stay.

      • Nick says:

        21 Sep21 September 12:32

        One way is always priced at a disincentive. Is there any particular reason you don’t want to book an open-jaw? BA will happily sell you a LHR-MEX//LAX-LHR itinerary as a proper return fare. If you book through a travel agent you can probably get a connection on AA for the middle bit too as part of the same itinerary.

      • Anna says:

        21 Sep21 September 12:36

        Have you checked the price on a BA holiday with open jaw flights into Mexico and out of LA? You may get a decent deal on this just now, though obviously there are risks involved with quarantine requirements.

        • Phil says:

          21 Sep21 September 12:51

          I’m clearly a novice! Rhys’s suggestion is good. 25,000 Avios + £253.34 Economy or 50,000 Avios + £349.34.

          I’ll look at the other suggestions later today. Thanks all.

      • TGLoyalty says:

        21 Sep21 September 13:23

        Turkey or Croatia is another option.

      • Mikee says:

        21 Sep21 September 16:44

        A couple of HfP readers have done similar things. One recently went to Mexico for 14 days before flying into the US with “no questions asked” and another went to Turkey and did the same. Hopefully they can elaborate if they see this thread.

    • WaynedP says:

      21 Sep21 September 14:56

      Can you still buy reasonable return flight with long, open-ended return, like 12 months ?

      I’m sure that’s what we used to emigrate to UK in 2000, and was nice to have the option of nipping back for, say, family emergency in first year, but I’m not sure we ever used the return leg.

  • Lashious says:

    21 Sep21 September 13:23

    wait, are mexico allowing people in? I checked last week and they were very much shut

    • Phil says:

      21 Sep21 September 13:53

      I was told verbally. I’m now going round in circles online trying to find out. Can you tell me how you found out please?

      • Mikee says:

        21 Sep21 September 16:42

        Mexico is not shut. Checking the UK Foreign Office and Mexico Government websites shows that there are no COVID-19 entry requirements and no need for a negative test on arrival.

  • Lady London says:

    21 Sep21 September 17:47

    It’s pretty normal.
    No you have to fly every flight on your ticket starting with the first one. The rule is that as soon as you don’t every following flight on your ticket gets junked and is not recoverable.

    the exception to this is, so far as I know, ryanair and easyjet and possibly other LCC’s.

• Rhys says:

  21 Sep21 September 11:51

  You can earn Avios: https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2020/07/31/earn-avios-with-airbnb/

  • Vit says:

    21 Sep21 September 12:05

    Still waiting for mine to be credited from the 2-nts stay. It says “Within 60 days of booking”. Anyone experienced quicker avios credited to your BAEC account?

    • BJ says:

      21 Sep21 September 12:46

      OT @Vit, can you remind me which hotel you recommended in Tokyo please?

      • Vit says:

        21 Sep21 September 13:27

        @ BJ, Hotel Okura Tokyo South Wing. Arguably the safest location you can find in Tokyo having located just a stone-throw away from the US embassy — well depending on how you look at it. 😛

      • Genghis says:

        21 Sep21 September 14:00

        I stayed at the Okura a couple of years ago. Not bad. English ability lacking but it gave me a good excuse for me to brush up on my Nihongo. There’s a decent sento in there.

      • BJ says:

        21 Sep21 September 16:46

        Thanks to both.

      • Lady London says:

        21 Sep21 September 17:50

        Okura was the fave of German bankers a long time ago, glad it still seems to be an up to date recommendation.

      • Vit says:

        21 Sep21 September 18:13

        haha. Seemed like it. I wore me (short) shorts and (close-to) Hawaiian summer shirt sipping cocktail in their gentleman lounge while everyone else is in their pinstripe!

  • Axil23 says:

    21 Sep21 September 17:26

    Thank you

• Lady London says:

  21 Sep21 September 11:55

  Cheers Rob.

  • BJ says:

    21 Sep21 September 12:54

    @Lady London, posted a couple of links on chat for you last night, seems you and Genghis have more in common than helpful comnents 🙂

    • Lady London says:

      21 Sep21 September 17:58

      Just had a look. Thank you. I will go over everything they have 🙂

      Yup, sweet tooth, part-Scottish heritage and baking at home was always Scottish.

      Comfort food and baking? Yum

      Tx @BJ

• Maciek says:

  21 Sep21 September 12:49

  Anyone having issues with paying Seagulls with Curve? My payment doesn’t seem to be reaching Curve.

  • BJ says:

    21 Sep21 September 12:58

    Problems were reported last night and/or earlier this morning.

  • Jane says:

    21 Sep21 September 13:03

    I’ve been having issues for weeks. immediate rejection of all payments to them

    • DZOO says:

      21 Sep21 September 13:59

      Yep (incl. with fronting another debit card as a test)

• memesweeper says:

  21 Sep21 September 13:59

  Word of warning: seems the Amex Marriott offer for £50 off £200 excludes the Residence Inn in Tower Bridge (not the London Bridge one which is almost next door). Which, as that’s been my preferred bolt hole recently, is a bit of a blow…

  • Rob says:

    21 Sep21 September 14:36

    That hotel is virtually free anyway at current prices!

    • memesweeper says:

      21 Sep21 September 15:02

      … after pleading it was granted but not worth the effort when the London Bridge one will work fine

• John says:

  21 Sep21 September 14:10

  https://careers.ryanair.com/search/?fbclid=IwAR1ROp8r-eNMHGKE4N62DbQIb7sUlf4-w-8Tl64PBhHswH0bp4_AEOe6Bdo#job/163f1c

  • Travel Strong says:

    21 Sep21 September 14:46

    Excellent 😂

• HM says:

  21 Sep21 September 15:05

  HSBC Premier CASS offer is back – £125 this time rather than £175 but perfectly in time for my application! Happy days!

  • Darren says:

    21 Sep21 September 15:59

    Mine too, saw this earlier.

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