The HfP chat thread – Sunday 15th November

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

• Wally1976 says:

  15 Nov15 November 08:41

  Anyone else finding some issues with Amex bonus points posting recently? My wife is missing 20k points from upgrading green card to platinum (and spending £4k) and 18k points for referring me from her platinum (this was a special offer they targeted her with).

  I have got Amex to raise cases with their back end team for both. They didn’t want to do it for the latter issue as it’s only been a week but I was quite persistent as I want wife to cancel her platinum card ASAP!

  • Rahaney says:

    15 Nov15 November 09:04

    Be careful when cancelling Amex, some have reported since covid that they’ve then been declined for cards in the future or got really crappy limits…

    • Crafty says:

      15 Nov15 November 09:55

      Well yes, but on the other hand Platinum is almost £60 a month…

      • Andrew says:

        15 Nov15 November 10:43

        £47.92 – almost £50 not almost £60

• Wally1976 says:

  15 Nov15 November 08:51

  Also, anyone else having fun and games trying to open the Virgin current account for the free wine?

  I tried applying online on Thursday night. I selected the option saying I had other products with Virgin Money (investments and credit card plus formerly a current account with Clydesdale (none of these exclude me from the offer)). Then after entering a few initial details it threw a message saying “Hmm you look familiar” (yes I’ve already told you I have other accounts with you!) and gave me a phone number to call.

  I tried phoning yesterday and after an hour on hold it cut off. Tried again and gave up after 45 minutes. I’ve sent them a message on Facebook but no reply yet.

  • mark2 says:

    15 Nov15 November 10:04

    Yes. I am a new customer (credit cards do not seem to count) and my account opened with no problems until I tried to register for online account. I have been round in circles and gave up. I will try again when the card arrives, I planned to do the same for my wife (we keep a couple of spare accounts each to transfer), but will wait until mine is completed satisfactorily.

    • Blindman says:

      15 Nov15 November 10:12

      I had huge problems opening an account a month or so ago

      Turns out that if you have EVER held a Clydesdale or Yorkshire bank account (mine were closed over 2 years ago) then the system “recognizes” you as customer and will NOT set you up as a new customer online or even with the “Help” of the CS staff.

      I had to open an account over the phone, wait for the debit card, then ring back up, find a CS who knew what they were doing (!) and then wait for them to sort it out behind the scenes.
      Took a few weeks IIRC and that was when there was no offer, so assumingly not busy.

      IMHO it is not worth the hassle

      • mark2 says:

        15 Nov15 November 10:52

        It seems like another company announcing a good offer without thinking about how to deal with the response.

      • The real John says:

        15 Nov15 November 15:33

        Make a complaint and collect £100

• Vit says:

  15 Nov15 November 08:55

  Yes happened to me, not quite exactly.

  1. What your wife online spending tracker shows? Still enroute to £4k. In my case, one of (large) payments didn’t get track as part of the £4k. So after challenged, amex back office posted manually. You’ve to call them though.

  2. Mine wasn’t that much MR Poins. It was only 5k MR points missing when referring my partner to Green. Got sorted out by manually posted in by amex back office rather quickly though.

  • Vit says:

    15 Nov15 November 08:57

    Sorry. Android​ acts up again. That’s for Wally1976 15 Nov 08:41

    • Wally1976 says:

      15 Nov15 November 09:10

      Thanks Vit. The online tracker was there for a while but disappeared a few weeks ago. Amex tell me it’s a known issue.

      Unfortunately phoning isn’t really an option as it’s my wife’s account and she doesn’t like phoning because she doesn’t understand all the ins and outs of it.

      • BLT says:

        15 Nov15 November 09:14

        @Wally1976 Phone Amex, get your wife to pass security and the. Pass the phone on to you. That’s what I do when my wife doesn’t want to get involved!

        • Craig says:

          15 Nov15 November 09:17

          +1

      • Vit says:

        15 Nov15 November 09:50

        Yes, do as BLT suggested. I would screenshot the tracker when it is back just to have it in the back pocket since dealing with amex IT sometime can be a pain.

• BA-flyer says:

  15 Nov15 November 09:01

  Has anyone flown from Heathrow since the current lockdown started? Are you required to provide proof that you are permitted to fly? E.g evidence of business trip.

  • MQ says:

    15 Nov15 November 09:09

    The simple answer is no. More importantly, have you complied with the entry requirements…negative PCR test?

    • Rob says:

      15 Nov15 November 09:40

      No reports of anyone at Heathrow being asked because THERE IS NO BAN. The ban is only on leaving home. Whether you are allowed to leave home or not isn’t an issue for BA.

  • James says:

    15 Nov15 November 09:26

    I flew to ABZ last week and didn’t have to show proof. In fact, I haven’t had to at all since consistently travelling through the whole of COVID.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    15 Nov15 November 09:49

    As long as you can get to the airport you’ll be fine. Having been there to pick someone up last Sunday evening the motorways and departures drop off are still busy.

    • The real John says:

      15 Nov15 November 15:34

      Traffic in London is the same as it was in October.

• tom1 says:

  15 Nov15 November 11:02

  Maybe helpful for anyone chasing Hilton Diamond with current offers.

  day rates at HGI BHX seems to be £29 a day during December, with 2 stay credits. (assume not free parking)

  Hampton Sheffield £33 per night for many nights during December.

  • tom1 says:

    15 Nov15 November 11:04

    Hampton Leeds day rates £28

    • Rob says:

      15 Nov15 November 16:48

      Olympia will do £30 by negotiation if you book a few.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    15 Nov15 November 11:16

    Parking quickly racks not even any decent long stay rates. Hotel charges £20

  • TGLoyalty says:

    15 Nov15 November 11:18

    The Hamptons in Birmingham are £42/44 a night. With far cheaper parking options.

    • tom1 says:

      15 Nov15 November 11:27

      guess it depends on your starting point.
      I was looking at using the day rates, as it looks easier to accrue the required number of stays that way than nights.

      • TGLoyalty says:

        15 Nov15 November 11:45

        You can book a night rate and not stay the night either. Just walk out!

        • Blenz101 says:

          15 Nov15 November 13:57

          Has anybody tried an online check in and digital key for a day room without physically attending the hotel. Not sure how they would know if you physically showed up using this method.

        • Rob says:

          15 Nov15 November 16:45

          It isn’t meant to work. They know if you haven’t been in the room. However it DID work for me once at a Marriott, where I was about to lose a pre-paid booking and I had nothing to lose by doing an online check-in. It credited but this is likely to be down to the hotel.

        • The real John says:

          15 Nov15 November 15:38

          The digital key system records every use (or not) of the key. The question for you is whether the hotel management cares.

    • The real John says:

      15 Nov15 November 15:37

      £42 was the usual price for Birmingham Hamptons in 2018 and 2019 (except on Saturday nights) if they were not approaching full occupancy.

  • The real John says:

    15 Nov15 November 15:42

    If you mean HGI Birmingham (BHX only has a Hilton), there is free parking on Grosvenor St West 2 mins walk away. If you get certain rooms, you can see your car from the hotel. Parked there for free every time I stayed in 2018 and 2019, no problems at all, almost always at least one free space. If you arrive later in the evening and will leave early there are even more parking options.

    • TGLoyalty says:

      15 Nov15 November 18:52

      HGI BHX is the Hilton Garden Inn at Birmingham airport that opened last year. The Hilton Metropole is near the NEC but no better for parking cost really.

      Grosvenor St West Is in the city centre isn’t it? Are you thinking of the one near Brinkley Place?

• Anna says:

  15 Nov15 November 11:54

  IC Ambassador query – I’ve booked a weekend at the IC O2 using the free night certificate in a City Intercontinental suite as a post-Xmas break for OH who is working Xmas and New Year, plus our son and nephew (first time in London for nephew and only 2nd for son!!). I’ve also booked another 2 rooms for 2 more nights on a mixture of points and cash.
  When I first booked I spoke to one of the reception staff who told me we would be upgraded to the next category of suite, which is the 2 bedroom Greenwich suite, and confirmed this in an email. Today I’ve had another email from the reception supervisor saying the City Suite is the highest category for the free night certificate and can’t be upgraded! This just happens to coincide with all the room prices going up over Xmas and NY …
  I’m not at all impressed with this and have emailed him back saying so. Has anyone else experienced this kind of response with an Ambassador BOGOF booking? I’m wondering if as a gesture of goodwill they would allow us to stay in the original suite instead of moving to separate rooms for the 3rd and 4th night if they can’t provide the upgrade. Thanks!

  • Genghis says:

    15 Nov15 November 12:44

    Such suites are specifically excluded:
    “InterContinental London The O2: The Penthouse, 1 bedroom Club InterContinental Suite, 2 bedrooms Club InterContinental Suite”
    https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental/content/gb/en/ambassador/terms-conditions/suites-exclusions
    Even then, they could just bung you USD50 of spa credit or 10k IHGs and tell you to bugger off.
    Best bet is not to take anything offered from IHG status as concrete.

    • Crafty says:

      15 Nov15 November 22:19

      In writing though, I understand why Anna is annoyed.

• Marcin says:

  15 Nov15 November 12:02

  Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card question: if I start with a free card, will I be able to get the bonus if I later decide to switch to the paid Reward+ card? Thanks!

  • Genghis says:

    15 Nov15 November 12:45

    Yes – they’re discrete products. But you may have trouble “upgrading”.

• Ja says:

  15 Nov15 November 12:32

  Are Amex doing the shop small which normally starts anytime soon?. I normally have to contact them to get any offers loaded as they don’t show on my card.

  • Genghis says:

    15 Nov15 November 12:46

    Supposedly, according to one poster who spoke to CS the other day.

  • Andrew says:

    15 Nov15 November 13:16

    Certainly nothing will be announced until into December once further decisions about the lifting of lockdown are made. The vast majority of Shop Small establishments will be closed in England until 2 Dec at least.

  • fivebobbill says:

    15 Nov15 November 14:55

    Until the pubs open again it ain’t much use to me, there’s only so many beef and guinness sausages you can eat…

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