The HfP chat thread – Friday 23rd October

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• RH says:

  23 Oct23 October 09:20

  FYI – I have just checked in a LHR T5 really quickly, security was quick and sat in the lounge. Table service only and no champagne in Galleries lounge. So for anyone travelling at T5 for half term it is all going very smoothly!

  • Andrew says:

    23 Oct23 October 09:35

    Apparently they are hiding away the Champagne in Galleries Club – someone asked to speak to a manager last week who ‘found some’ for them.

    • RH says:

      23 Oct23 October 10:22

      Thanks. Trying now!

    • John W says:

      23 Oct23 October 14:43

      It was me who ask to speak with the Food and beverage Manager = they do have champagne call the BA Manager

  • TomD says:

    23 Oct23 October 11:19

    How are the food options for the morning?

    • meta says:

      23 Oct23 October 12:17

      I’ve been there yesterday morning as flew to Athens. I’ve ordered champagne when they brought other food to the table. Offer is pretty standard – pastries, bacon buns, honey&yoghurt granola, muesli, etc.

      I also have to give credit to BA crew on the flight to Athens which strictly enforced mask wearing and made several announcements throughout the flight. Given my previous experience flying back from Sofia where CSM told me she does not believe in mask wearing and reading reports, I was a bit worried flying with BA. It really does come down to the individual crew.

      • DK says:

        23 Oct23 October 20:49

        @meta Were you tested on arrival to Athens?

        • meta says:

          23 Oct23 October 23:17

          No. Neither did my partner. Both on same PLF. It’s random by the QR code number. Don’t know the system for selection, but before we did passport check one border agent asked to see the number. Didn’t see anyone else get pulled before us. But then again we were in row 10, so they could have pulled someone from further back.

• Nick_G says:

  23 Oct23 October 09:51

  How do I add an avatar here for my comments?

  • Alex J says:

    23 Oct23 October 10:08

    Sign up with Gravatar using the same email your using to leave comments here.

    • Alex J says:

      23 Oct23 October 10:09

      you’re*, obviously

      bloody autocorrect!

      • Pete says:

        23 Oct23 October 10:31

        Thanks for the reminder! 🙂

    • Nick_G says:

      23 Oct23 October 10:31

      Thanks mate

• dezbez says:

  23 Oct23 October 09:52

  I’m currently doing the Hilton status match – I’ve secured Gold which was my primary objective, but I’m in fact only one night off Diamond (got two weeks left of the 90 days). Appreciate it’s a personal preference but would welcome views on whether its worth a £45 mattress run to get it or are the additional benefits not worth the effort? (Am planning on making a few stays next year so would be able to use of the status, Covid permitting.) TIA

  • Tony says:

    23 Oct23 October 10:38

    In my opinion, yes, as one stay somewhere “nice” will “pay” you back the mattress run … Lounge Access and uplift on points.

    Choose location for mattress run well, and enjoy a break before xmas.

    • Jonathan says:

      23 Oct23 October 12:12

      Good afternoon, just wanted your advice please as I’ve heard two different things regarding the future voucher for avios flight cancellations.

      I have a avios 2for1 Mauritius club world booking that’s been moved and have the option of future voucher, move flights or refund. My Amex 2for1 has been extended to June 2021.

      Does the future voucher allow me to substitute my flights for a equivalent zone flight to any destination if there’s a cash ticket still available? I’m thinking peak Easter barbados flights if available which are roughly the avios of off peak Mauritius.

      If I need a avios ticket to be available I gather theyre still potentially hard to get.

  • Harry T says:

    23 Oct23 October 11:04

    Yes.

  • Tocsin says:

    23 Oct23 October 11:44

    Does depend a bit on where you’re intending to go – definitely worth the effort if going Europe & Asia, not so much if just the USA. (Though the Roosevelt in New Orleans was outstanding, they were an exception!)

  • Lady London says:

    23 Oct23 October 11:55

    Yes. That’s 2 breakfasts in a lot of places.

    • TGLoyalty says:

      23 Oct23 October 12:16

      Though Gold gets you breakfast anyway 🙂

      But I’d say £50 is worth going for diamond even if it gets you only 1 suite upgrade.

      • Lady London says:

        23 Oct23 October 14:08

        Yup you got me there on the breakfast @TG!

        There is also the intangible thing that recognition of status seems much better done automatically at Hilton than other chains

  • BJ says:

    23 Oct23 October 15:31

    Absolutely!

  • Doc says:

    23 Oct23 October 21:50

    In short, Yes dezbez, it’s definitely worth getting Diamond.

• Crafty says:

  23 Oct23 October 10:32

  Some people on here were expressing concern 1-2 weeks ago about being charged unexpected fees for certain uses, that they didn’t specify, of their Creation issued cards via Curve.

  So I just wanted to share that my monthly statement has generated today and there are no fees out of the ordinary for NS&I nor HMRC.

  • rk says:

    23 Oct23 October 11:11

    Is that fee-free Curve or paid Curve?

    • Crafty says:

      23 Oct23 October 13:43

      Paid.

    • Doug M says:

      23 Oct23 October 13:44

      Doesn’t matter, the comment is about Creation charging on the credit card, not Curve. Some Curve things work without fronted, others don’t. I have free Curve and NS&I never been an issue. I don’t have the Creation statement yet, in that void day where the transactions have gone but the statement has not yet appeared. But the balance suggests nothing has been added, either fees or interest.

      • BP says:

        23 Oct23 October 16:57

        I’m also in the void day. Will report back tomorrow r.e. interest. I’m hoping no interest as it’ll be a significant amount but that’s the risk you take in this game!

        • BP says:

          23 Oct23 October 23:34

          No interest here with paying Ernie.

  • AlexT says:

    23 Oct23 October 11:56

    Is it fees or interest people were noticing?

    • Crafty says:

      23 Oct23 October 13:42

      Not sure as those reporting it were being cryptic!

      In other news I’m having trouble authenticating a Curve payment to HMRC today…

      • Isherwood says:

        24 Oct24 October 00:07

        I hit the same problem trying to authenticate with the app. Website kept freezing with no payment taken. Switched to SMS option and authentication went through without a glitch. Reported the issue to Curve. Couldn’t be less interested. But SMS works so nil desperandum.

• SJ says:

  23 Oct23 October 12:25

  So I’ve hit the sign up bonus on my Platinum card, what’s the likelihood of an avios transfer bonus in the near future?

  I don’t really see the point in keeping the card due to the lack of travel and able to use the perks associated with it. I’m debating whether I should transfer out and close the account, or drop down to the free card and hold onto the points until a transfer bonus might pop up? What do you guys think?

  • Rhys says:

    23 Oct23 October 12:28

    I don’t think Amex has ever offered a transfer bonus for MR to Avios in the UK. Certainly not in the last few years.

  • tom1 says:

    23 Oct23 October 21:55

    call them and say you are considering downgrading/cancelling. I was given 35k points without a further target, and ‘suggested’ there would be more promos like the £100 John Lewis and the Marriott ones as they realise the travel benefits are almost worthless rn.

• Ivy says:

  23 Oct23 October 12:36

  I have a ticket to Osaka with BA next march. If they don’t fly to Osaka anymore, can I change it to Tokyo or indirect flight to Osaka? What option do I have rather than cancel it?

  • Lady London says:

    23 Oct23 October 14:15

    They will almost certainly want you to transfer it to.Tokyo.

    Someone reported this about 5 weeks ago – you could stick with Osakain which case BA’s preferred option would be to fly you via Tokyo anyway!

    I think that person was thinking of insisting on still flying to Osaka (technically they are entitled) and using it to ask to be transported on JAL instead…ahem a higher quality experience by all reports. I cant remember what happened on that – JAL would be my preference anyday. But I have the feeling on that person’s travel day JAL was going via Tokyo as well…:-(

    Please let us know what you decide to do, and how it turns out.

    • Ivy says:

      23 Oct23 October 14:49

      Thank you Lady London. I think I have to wait for them to cancel my flight first, maybe they will confirm new schedule for march in February, at that time, we should also know if Japan opens for tourist. JAL seems don’t have route from London to Osaka either, big chance for them to agree to take BA to Tokyo then JAL from Tokyo to Osaka.
      I will let you know when I get result from them. Thanks:)

      • Nadeshka says:

        23 Oct23 October 15:11

        We had a flight with BA in early March which got cancelled when they pulled the route from the winter schedule. We accepted change to a Tokyo flight (and a change in holiday plans) because no airline had direct flights to Osaka from London and travelling with kids we didn’t want to have changes. No cost to change given the cancellation on their end and very helpful staff on the phone.

        • meta says:

          23 Oct23 October 17:49

          You can also be rerouted with Finnair via Helsinki who have direct flights from Osaka to Helsinki unless they pulled the route as well. I also believe Qatar has direct flights to Doha.

• Maciek says:

  23 Oct23 October 13:09

  Curve declines when paying seagulls continued. So they’ve responded in the end, with the following nonsense: “When we tried to process the transactions, your bank sent us ‘Do Not Honour’ messages. This usually means that your bank is blocking transactions through Curve, although it can mean that you don’t have money available.”. Considering it’s 3 different cards and issuers, I’m not quite buying into it.

  • mark2 says:

    23 Oct23 October 15:48

    I tried and although I confirmed in the Curve app Amex logged me out.
    I have been having a similar problem with Lloyds which just hangs.

    • BP says:

      23 Oct23 October 16:58

      Amex logs me out paying with my Santander debit card. The first transaction gets logged out. The second attempt always works.

      • Isherwood says:

        24 Oct24 October 00:09

        +1 👆

• Anna says:

  23 Oct23 October 13:22

  My Amex gold account is showing 12000 avios for referring someone – has that just doubled?!

  • Lee says:

    23 Oct23 October 13:40

    Yes Anna, that’s targeted offer.

    • Anna says:

      23 Oct23 October 13:55

      Any idea how long it’s for? OH isn’t eligible for Platinum sign up bonus till March. Though I suppose if we made the most of gold it might actually be a better option than one Platinum sign up.

      • Lee says:

        23 Oct23 October 16:02

        No idea Anna, I was trying to find that through fine print but couldn’t see anything mention date. I got 14000 on my BAPP and has moved my referrals earlier

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