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The HfP chat thread – Friday 20th November

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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 (357)

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

  • Baji Nahid says:

    Im a bit concerned, I used to get offers all the time however its about to be 2 weeks on sunday and i’ve not received any amex offers. I wonder what is going on.

    • Tarmohamed says:

      Have you been using your card? I’ve been getting offers almost daily. Most of them not being of any interest to me.

      • Andrew says:

        +1 loads of offers filtering in at the moment. You can try removing the card from the online account and registering again.

        • meta says:

          Same here. I haven’t had a single offer for 2-3 weeks now on any of my cards and same goes for my partner. We have been using my cards regularly. I also noticed a banner on my account saying that « some of the offers have been removed from the account due to government lockdown » So I wonder whether they inadvertently completely turned off offers for our household. It happened to me before when offers just stopped.

          • Andrew says:

            That banner is on all of my cards too and I’m still getting the offers.

          • Alex M says:

            I am same as meta – had lots of offers, then they stopped when lockdown started.

        • meta says:

          Your account might be set up differently IT wise. I wouldn’t rule it out that this was done inadvertently on my account. It has happened to me before. I’ll wait and see after the lockdown then make a complaint to Amex which will probably result in nothing, close all cards and then get them again.

    • Ian M says:

      Only 2 weeks? Count yourself lucky. I’ve not received a new offer on any of my Amex cards for months. I have 0 offers available on any of them

      • TGLoyalty says:

        Have you logged in on the app and website via desktop computer? I’d remove all the cards then add them back again and day or 2 later

      • BuildTheWall says:

        Someone mentioned that you need to opt in for marketing emails to get the offers.

        • meta says:

          I’m opted in. I used to get all the offers, but 2-3 weeks ago they stopped on all cards in our household both main and supps. I’ll see what re-adding does…

      • Chrisasaurus says:

        Well over a year here…

      • cinereus says:

        Same here. Even after adding and removing cards.

        • meta says:

          You need to wait a 1-2 days before adding the offer again. I’ve just done it today and will re-add on Monday.

    • Manny_D says:

      Same here, haven’t had any new offers for about 2-3 weeks now. Wonder if there is an issue on Amex end?

    • Ja says:

      Last offer I had was the 1 extra avios for every £2 spent (or something like that). I even had to fight to get that one loaded. I did ask and they say I get “handpicked “ offers based on my spending. But the previous offers I’ve had were for things like jewellery which I never buy.

  • Al says:

    I may have missed it being reported elsewhere, but I’ve just noticed a “Spend £500 with Etihad Airways, get £250 back” offer on my Amex Plat. I reckon I can make use of that for the backend of next year.

  • James says:

    Just noticed a spend £100 get £30 off at Selfridges offer on my Amex Platinum.

    • Andrew says:

      I have “spend £70 get £10 back” for the Brighton and Hove Albion shop. I know which I’d prefer…!

      Although if others haven’t been “targeted”‘for this one I’d be intrigued at the targeting criteria!

      • James says:

        I also got that one. Not sure the targeting quite worked on this one seeing as though I’m a Leeds fan!

      • Anna says:

        I’ve got that, never even been to Brighton and/or Hove! Perhaps Amex have noted all the references to seagulls and got the worong end of the stick …

        • Andrew says:

          I would imagine that Amex are a club sponsor as they are fellow Brightoners and they came up with this idea to do an Amex offer for the club store.

        • Rantallion says:

          Brilliant – the next offer will be for King of Shaves.

        • Mikeact says:

          @Anna. It’s a great suburb of London….we call it ‘Little London ‘. Do visit..half hour or so on the Gatwick Express.

      • Jill (Kinkell) says:

        Got it too. Fat lot of use. Can’t imagine there are too many ‘saving to card’. Far rather have for Inverness Caledonian Thistle….500 miles+ further north!

    • BS says:

      Same here. My previous £30 credit for £150 spend posted today, despite the transaction posting after the end of the offer period.

      • Crafty says:

        Did the transaction post all as one? Mine has all posted now (split into 3), but after the period ended, and no sign yet of a credit…

    • Andrew says:

      A shame the Selfridges one is online only, even though it runs until 13/12 (when hopefully their physical stores will be open) and gift cards bought online doesn’t work. More limited selection online, but like Harrods, have up to 20% off selected lines.

      • TGLoyalty says:

        Suspect it’ll work Instore after the 2nd (if they reopen)

      • Harry T says:

        12 Avios per pound through BAEC! I reckon they will extend it to the physical stores if the lockdown is lifted before the end of the offer period.

        • Andrew says:

          And actually from reading the online returns policy – you can return online purchases to store (once they open) for an “exchange” or a gift card, so you could always buy something online, get the Amex offer, get the Avios and then cash it in for a gift card instore. Also to note, that all stores are currently doing click and collect, so if you’re near one you can do that rather than pay for delivery.

    • Crafty says:

      Careful trying to use the Selfridges one, they split my £150 order into 3 transactions which meant the offer wasn’t triggered…

  • James says:

    My BAEC yearly tier point collection ends December 8th. If I fly the 7th and BA take their usual 48hrs to credit tier points, will these tier points be credited to my previous year or the following year?

  • MT says:

    Does anyone know at what time the Cathay Pacific “Green Friday” deals kick off?
    They’ve only said 20th November, maybe mid day?

  • Sina says:

    Amex Platinum upgrades not possible online anymore! Says uou have to call to upgrade! 😬

    • The Original Nick says:

      Correct. I applied early this week online.

      • TGLoyalty says:

        So incorrect?

        • NvT1115 says:

          Just checked as will be doing the same next month and the text has changed to get you to phone an 0800 number if you wish to upgrade to Plat. There is no upgrade button any more but still advertising 20k MRs for £4k in 3 months

  • Kumar says:

    Is the Covid test free of charge on arrival at the Dubai airport .I am prepared to wait in Q for few hours to save the test fee. I do agree it costs 93GBP for BA passengers while locally I can get it done for 70 Pounds. Are hotels asking for Covid test result for check in(Dubai Hotels) and do they stop from letting you out of the hotel while you wait for the result? I did read somewhere that few hotels are asking Covid test result to check in.

    • Kumar says:

      Just watched a video on youtube ,Covid test is free of charge at any UAE airport(Dubai,Sharjah,ABu Dhabi).

      • Anna says:

        If you get a test at AUH do you still have to do 14 days quarantine? (Though I don’t think I’d risk going all the way there before getting tested TBH).

        • Sandgrounder says:

          Right now you can’t enter the UAE through AUH unless you are a national or a resident. You can’t get on an Etihad flight without a negative PCR test result, regardless of your final destination. 🙁

    • Blenz101 says:

      Queue is about 10-15 mins max now at Dubai. You are asked to quarantine until result is through (24 hours-ish) but can do this at your hotel.

      This applies to flights from the EU on a tourist visa. Flights from the subcontinent are regularly subject to a stricter quarantine regime.

    • Tazzy says:

      Are the tests in Dubai self administered or does someone do them?

  • Tom1 says:

    New offer … spend £70 get £10 back at Brighton
    (Now this is going to put the cat amongst the seagulls)

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