The HfP chat thread – Monday 2nd November

Links on Head for Points may pay us an affiliate commission. A list of partners is here.

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.

Please only comment under the main articles on the site if your comment is directly related to the topic of the article. This has long-term benefits as it keeps the commentary relevant for people who read those articles in the future.

By default, HfP shows the last page of comments under the article. If you want to see the first page of comments and read them all from beginning to end in order, click here: https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2020/11/02/the-hfp-chat-thread-monday-2nd-november/comment-page-1. The page will refresh with this article but the comments will now show the first page and not the last page.

Old chat threads are hidden from the HfP home page. If you want to look for something in an old thread, click here. This brings up all the articles in our ‘General’ category which includes the chat threads.

Category

General

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

Martha says:

2 Nov2 November 15:20

Has anyone had a transaction pending on curve?
first time i have it on my account
- mark2 says:
  
  2 Nov2 November 16:01
  
  Mine usually show as pending on the app like on Amex.
Andrew says:

2 Nov2 November 15:37

Just received email from Amex advertising the Harrods £100 (after no postal mailer) so it seems they are doing some by email and some by post.
- Richster says:
  
  2 Nov2 November 15:51
  
  I just got this eMail too, yay!
  - Sam says:
    
    2 Nov2 November 15:58
    
    No email here.. sad sad day
    - Andrew says:
      
      2 Nov2 November 16:07
      
      I totally feel your pain – the Marriott £400 day was a tough day. If I could have cut up my Platinum card I would have done, but since I don’t have any metal cutters I couldn’t!
  - Tocsin says:
    
    2 Nov2 November 16:09
    
    And me – just a few minutes ago!
    - Sandgrounder says:
      
      2 Nov2 November 16:19
      
      I’ve had the email. Time to stock up on the Lakrids!
- Harry T says:
  
  2 Nov2 November 16:30
  
  No email for me!
  - Sina says:
    
    2 Nov2 November 18:53
    
    I just had a talk to customer service in Brighton and they told me the £100 Harrods credit is automatic and for all platinum primary cardholders and will not show up on offers section. No need to wait for a letter or email!
    - Sam says:
      
      2 Nov2 November 20:04
      
      Unfortunately this isn’t true ):
      - Andrew says:
        
        2 Nov2 November 22:06
        
        But as the call is recorded, whether it’s true or not they will have to pay out for Sina.
happeemonkee says:

2 Nov2 November 16:36

No email or offer for me either. Didn’t receive the Marriott £400 offer either. I’m done with Amex Platinum. Been with them for donkeys years.
happeemonkee says:

2 Nov2 November 16:43

Scripted response from Amex chat

Hope you are doing well. I will be happy to help. I apologies. However, we are unable to make each individual offer available to every customer. Promotional offers are based on the solicitation. Offers is designed to deliver personalized offers that are relevant to card member. Because of the targeted nature of this program, not every person will receive every offer, and we cannot extend offers by request. Our marketing team is reviewing accounts based on where you live, spending habits and the type of Card you have before they make offers available on a card. As a valued Card Member there may be future offers available for you. They’ll send you an email when your card is eligible for this offer. As of now you can have those offers that are found in “my offers” tab or if an email was sent to you about this offer.
- Andrew says:
  
  2 Nov2 November 16:50
  
  I would try calling and speaking to Brighton, chat really is near pointless. At least you will get a decent response, albeit the answer may still be no.
TomD says:

2 Nov2 November 16:48

“Unfortunately your Account is currently not eligible to participate in this programme.”

I can’t refer anyone on my Amex card of late, anyone encountered this before? Called Amex and they said there’s nothing they can do as it is due to my credit rating from Experian etc. Nothing to suggest that my credit rating went down.
Murray says:

2 Nov2 November 16:49

Very frustrated – spoke to Amex via the website who said that customer services that said the offer would be extended to all Plat cardholders was wrong and they were sorry I was misinformed. I asked to speak to the relevant department and told that there wasn’t one, and it would be the same answer even if there was!!
- Andrew says:
  
  2 Nov2 November 16:51
  
  Ring and speak to Brighton – chat is pointless.
Dave R says:

2 Nov2 November 16:57

Hi everyone,

I’m currently staying at a HI and asked for late checkout tomorrow (I have Spire status with IHG). Ideally I need 3-4pm but they said anything later than 2pm would be chargeable. Does anyone know if this is normal?

I don’t mind paying extra if this is standard for spire but dont want to get fleeced otherwise.

Thanks
- Harry T says:
  
  2 Nov2 November 17:02
  
  No guaranteed late check out benefit for Spire. So either way, you don’t have a leg to stand on.
- Andrew says:
  
  2 Nov2 November 17:02
  
  Yes 2pm is the IHG late checkout time (except at IC with AMB when it’s 4pm). I’ve sometimes haggled to 2:30 but rarely they budge, I think once 3pm.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  2 Nov2 November 17:10
  
  Just leave at 3 🙂 “lost track of time”
  - ChrisC says:
    
    2 Nov2 November 17:37
    
    Not if they start phoning at 5 past 2!
    
    And ‘lost track of time’ isn’t going to wash especially if they have already refused to extend after 2.
    
    Hotel has made OP an offer – extend their stay subject to an extra fee.
    
    The extra fee is standard policy not them trying it on.
- Dave R says:
  
  2 Nov2 November 20:37
  
  Thanks for confirming everyone. I usually stay at IC so am used to 4PM checkout. The HI did let me check in at 8am which was really helpful so I think I’ve done ok overall.
  
  Although no room upgrade (there was availability) but I felt cheeky raising that when I arrived so early in the morning.
Denis says:

2 Nov2 November 17:09

Spoke to Amex via chat, they said this offer was not currently activated on my account, but if I have received the letter or email, please proceed with your shopping. If the £100 credit statement doesn’t show up later, please upload the received letter as a proof. Go figure!