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The HfP chat thread – Monday 30th 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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General

Comments (233)

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

  • Super Secret Stuff says:
    30 Nov30 November 07:21

    No new interesting amex offers today, shame

  • Asim says:
    30 Nov30 November 07:50

    A few weeks ago on one of the Daily Chat threads someone mentioned they’d come across £55 PCR home test kits. Can’t find the post (or link to the company) anywhere. Can anyone help?!

    • TGLoyalty says:
      30 Nov30 November 09:58

      Be careful anyone can send out a kit with a cheap tube and swab. Make sure they are legit as you’ll be the one at the wrong end of a fraudster if caught abroad.

      • Asim says:
        30 Nov30 November 14:06

        True. But equally you don’t know which of the ones offering kits for £120/£150 may be scamming but just at a higher price.

        Boots seems to be the only reputable one but they have a long wait for a test atm.

  • Michael C says:
    30 Nov30 November 07:51

    Morning all/London Bonvoy experts!
    If all is ok, want to do a quick pre-Xmas visit, and was wondering why Grosvenor Square doesn’t have quite so much love in general?!
    Love the location, lounge (in theory), but in addition, as there are 3 for us, in theory both G House and Sheraton PL want GBP65 for a (probably slightly grim) rollaway!

    • Lottie says:
      30 Nov30 November 08:07

      We stayed at g House recently with our 7 years old and they waived the extra bed fee at check out. (Gold with Amex). Lounge wasn’t too bad, considering, there were plenty of chilled snacks, beer and wine. We had a great stay.

    • TGLoyalty says:
      30 Nov30 November 10:03

      GS is pleasant enough I was upgraded from entry to terrace junior suite with a 10am check in and 8pm checkout with a very good bar and a couple good restaurants.

      Location is very good if you fabcy doing some shopping.

      • Michael C says:
        30 Nov30 November 11:26

        Thanks TG, think we’ll go for it as have also seen the check in/out times.
        Hope Luggage Room is open midweek by then!

  • Tim says:
    30 Nov30 November 07:58

    I saw a couple of weeks ago someone mentioned getting HSBC Kinetic allowed the normal HSBC Premier requirements to be waived. Did anyone apply for Kinetic recently? How long did it take for them to get back? My application has been stuck in the mill for over a week and a half now and no news other than the normal mandatory ‘Know Your Customer’ questionnaire.

    • Sina says:
      30 Nov30 November 13:01

      Hi Tim, that was me. My account was opened within a day, although it was two months ago, you can call their customer service or chat with them?!

  • Tony says:
    30 Nov30 November 08:03

    Does anyone have any recommendations for the best located upmarket hotels in Cape Town and Johannesburg using loyalty points (Marriott, Hilton, IHG…)?

    • RB says:
      30 Nov30 November 08:24

      There are a wide variety of Marriotts through the Protea brand available across Cape Town.. but depending on how upscale you want, definitely consider cash… sterling goes a long way in SA.

    • Rob says:
      30 Nov30 November 09:00

      Radisson Waterfront using 110k points for the ‘family redemption’ which is a 2-bed suite.

    • Genghis says:
      30 Nov30 November 13:25

      In Joburg on Marriott you’ve got Melrose Arch (I liked the location, one of the smaller “enclaves”; decent “cool style” room but no specific benefits) and on IHG the IC in Sandton (a bit of an older style hotel, but free lounge access as SE AMB for me anyway). In Cape Town, we liked the Autograph in the Gardens area, 15 on Orange. For our next trip, I’ll be looking at this and some of the IHG Mr and Mrs Smith hotels in the winelands. I’ve stayed at the Protea North Wharf and whilst huge rooms, I didn’t like the location. I’d recommend getting a car anyway so location not hugely important during the day but I like to be able to walk to restaurants in the evening.

  • Nate says:
    30 Nov30 November 08:07

    Hi regarding amex offers e.g. Harvey Nichols (spend £150 get £30 off). If you were to place qualifying order and then later return some of products (bringing spend to less than £150) or even the whole order, would the £30 credit be pulled back by AMEX? I suspect a full refund would trigger a cancellation of the credit but not sure if the same applies with part refund.

    • KBuffett says:
      30 Nov30 November 09:01

      It will be clawed back. Unless it’s many months down the line.

    • DT says:
      30 Nov30 November 09:07

      Amex tend to be pretty good at clawing back the credit if you drop below the offer threshold. Either try to get the refund onto a different Amex or ask for store credit

    • TGLoyalty says:
      30 Nov30 November 10:06

      A game Amex will probably win.

      If you bought online and returned Instore perhaps that might work.

  • PK says:
    30 Nov30 November 08:08

    We can fly to Abu dhabi airport if you are eligible for visa on arrival . Etihad website updated but not FCO.

    • Anna says:
      30 Nov30 November 10:20

      Have they suspended the 14 day quarantine? I’ve booked for Easter but clearly it wasn’t happening if we’d have to spend the whole time shut in our rooms!

      • Anna says:
        30 Nov30 November 10:22

        Looks like quarantine still required so still not a holiday option 😕

      • meta says:
        30 Nov30 November 10:23

        Quarantine requirement still on, but I think you can now travel straight to Dubai without quaratine. Obviously the rules will change ten times over by Easter and that goes for any country.

        • Anna says:
          30 Nov30 November 11:51

          Fingers x”d meta! I’m wondering if I need a Plan C. I think if I leave it until just before Easter prices will be astronomical. Easyjet is already charging £700 pp return to Tenerife on our travel dates!!

          • Anna says:
            30 Nov30 November 12:47

            I’ve just cancelled and rebooked my IC Abu Dhabi stay as prices have dropped even further. King Deluxe suite with club lounge access now just over £100 pn.

  • Lee G says:
    30 Nov30 November 08:13

    Cheaper Melia 55,000 point vouchers are back at amazon.de – €179 each with €4-6 postage. Decent stock levels right now.

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

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