The HfP chat thread – Saturday 28th 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/2020/11/28/the-hfp-chat-thread-saturday-28th-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.

DJ says:

28 Nov28 November 15:54

How do you sign up for the mailinglist? I do have a Premier account, but I don’t think I have received any offers …
- Rob says:
  
  28 Nov28 November 17:27
  
  Snap
- Maciek says:
  
  28 Nov28 November 19:37
  
  +1
  
  How to subscribe to these emails?
- Nigel W says:
  
  28 Nov28 November 22:09
  
  +1 here as well. Been HSBC Premier for 10 years and never have got these kind of newsletters.
Niall says:

28 Nov28 November 16:56

What is the current best way to spend the £400 Marriott platinum credit? Many non stay (/restaurant) Options? I know lots of places still closed and would prefer to spend sooner in December.
- KBuffett says:
  
  28 Nov28 November 17:11
  
  I think Grosvenor is the only open option
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  28 Nov28 November 17:31
  
  Berners tavern @ the Edition and perhaps even the other bars are reopening as the hotel opens next week.
  - Niall says:
    
    28 Nov28 November 19:20
    
    Thanks! Does Berners Tavern generate the credit or do you need to bill to a fake room as described in another article?
    - TGLoyalty says:
      
      28 Nov28 November 20:19
      
      No need for a fake bill at JW GH either all the restaurants and bars bill as the hotel.
      - Alex M says:
        
        28 Nov28 November 21:13
        
        Are you 100% sure? If you could confirm that I would be very grateful!
KBuffett says:

28 Nov28 November 17:06

Does anyone have any good suggestions for LockDown takeaway and eat in the car? Central London/Surrey/West London

Bored bored bored
- memesweeper says:
  
  28 Nov28 November 17:12
  
  One of the veggie Indians on Bath Road near Heathrow? Very cheap and good.
  - KBuffett says:
    
    28 Nov28 November 17:29
    
    Will check it out! Thanks!
    Any particular recommendation?
    - memesweeper says:
      
      28 Nov28 November 18:33
      
      Chini Chor and Sangeetha
- Travel Strong says:
  
  28 Nov28 November 17:46
  
  TGI Fridays have served me well this year. Great click and collect system. Whilst on the road with work I have no desire to wait around and be seated in a restaurant anyway – so click and collect and eating in the car has been great! Sesame chicken strips, jack daniels glaze… may not be the food of kings. But its the food that a king would buy if he had to eat in the back seat of a VW Tiguan.
  - KBuffett says:
    
    28 Nov28 November 17:59
    
    Contemplating a takeaway and movie on the iPad in the car with my wife!
    - Lady London says:
      
      28 Nov28 November 18:42
      
      Do you think cinemas will go drive-in after Covid ?
      - Sloth says:
        
        28 Nov28 November 19:33
        
        Assuming you could get your car through the foyer… :p
      - KBuffett says:
        
        28 Nov28 November 19:38
        
        There were a few drive in (open air) movie screenings in Surrey during the summer. I think they were sold out most nights.
      - BJ says:
        
        28 Nov28 November 19:52
        
        Drive in movies showing at Prestwick Airport for anybody nearby in SW Scotland or Glasgow area. They have one of the largest screens in the world.
      - TGLoyalty says:
        
        28 Nov28 November 20:20
        
        There have been quite a few pop up drive in movies. Might be fewer during winter though.
      - Rob says:
        
        28 Nov28 November 22:28
        
        You can redeem Virgin Points for the new London one via the Virgin Red app!
david says:

28 Nov28 November 17:42

What happens if you don’t complete the return flight on a ticket – return flights are much cheaper than one way flights?
- Lumma says:
  
  28 Nov28 November 17:58
  
  Nothing usually, as it’s perfectly possible to miss a flight due to traffic or other reasons, but they could have something in their terms and conditions that they could hit you with if you do it often. If the ticket allows it you could book the return way into the future as use it as a basis for a future holiday
  - Lady London says:
    
    28 Nov28 November 18:46
    
    depending on fare conditions (read the very small print on fare class when booking) a return positioned in this way may turn out to have more options than you thought of at first
  - david says:
    
    28 Nov28 November 18:46
    
    Thanks for your help !
- Rob says:
  
  28 Nov28 November 22:35
  
  In theory the airline can sue you for the difference. In reality it won’t do this unless you abuse it hugely.
Dave Winchester says:

28 Nov28 November 19:38

Surprised HFP hasn’t covered the Swiss 2-4-1 First and Business Sale.

In particular you can book LHR-SIN Swiss First outbound, Singapore Airlines A380 New Suites inbound for a mere 1800
- BJ says:
  
  28 Nov28 November 19:55
  
  Thanks Dave, will have a look.
- BuildTheWall says:
  
  28 Nov28 November 19:59
  
  Which month is this for? Singapore airlines have cancelled all first class until Oct 2021?
  - Dave Winchester says:
    
    28 Nov28 November 20:28
    
    July – just did a dummy booking on singaporeairlines.com – you can book First, although currently its showing as a 777 from them.
- Harry T says:
  
  28 Nov28 November 20:02
  
  Yeah, me too, some very good companion fares ex London.
- Rob says:
  
  28 Nov28 November 22:30
  
  Firstly, no-one is booking at the moment. Secondly, any date change will lead to a massive additional payment.
- The Original Nick says:
  
  28 Nov28 November 22:36
  
  Which month is this for Dave?
Simon Schus says:

28 Nov28 November 21:25

Hi all,

Has anybody use the Virgin Atlantic Whatsapp service at the moment? Trying to handle a rebooking, and haven’t gotten a response for a few days (other than that I am in the queue).

Its a complex change after a VS route cancellation, and the Twitter team advised me to call or text (texting, as was waiting for long time on phone).
- Simon Schus says:
  
  28 Nov28 November 21:26
  
  The question I meant to ask is: has anybody use the service recently and if so how long was the reply?
  - MKB says:
    
    28 Nov28 November 21:27
    
    I had about a dozen Whatsapp messages back and forth that took around 18 hours, only to establish I needed to call.
    - Simon Schus says:
      
      28 Nov28 November 22:54
      
      Thank you!
- RichW says:
  
  28 Nov28 November 22:27
  
  Mine was sorted quite well over some hours checking in breaks with patients, so for me was a great option to be fair. Second time I have used the service and both very helpful and friendly
  - Simon Schus says:
    
    28 Nov28 November 22:53
    
    Thank you 🙂 🙂 Nothing back yet. First messaged on Thursday. Flight about 10 days away and need to get rebooked after a cancellation so we’ll see how it goes 🙂
Martha says:

28 Nov28 November 22:19

can you pay hmrc with curve metal backed by COT?
Any fees?
Thanks
- Peter K says:
  
  28 Nov28 November 22:29
  
  Why not try a small amount and see? That’s the best way to find out about these things 🙂
  - Martha says:
    
    28 Nov28 November 22:32
    
    I’m worried about interest
    - TGLoyalty says:
      
      28 Nov28 November 23:02
      
      If you’re worried about interest do it a few days before your statement. Interest would be a few pence.
- John says:
  
  29 Nov29 November 00:40
  
  Put £40000 a month through last 2 months – fine – no fees
JM says:

28 Nov28 November 22:48

Not sure if a broader Marriott Bonvoy offer I’ve missed, but had booked Al Maha in Dubai for 2 nights in January at 100k points per night a few weeks ago… just looked again and rates have reduced to 70k so cancelled/rebooked and saved 60k points!
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  28 Nov28 November 23:03
  
  100k is peak and 65k is probably points saver. Also worth looking again with points or refundable cash bookings.
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    28 Nov28 November 23:03
    
    Sorry misread. 70k is off peak.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  28 Nov28 November 23:33
  
  Thanks for the heads up looks like this is a wider off peak promo for the next couple months.
  
  Just rebooked a couple stays