The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 2nd December

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• Simon says:

  2 Dec2 December 02:49

  BA Amex offer: 1,500 avios for a £100 spend anywhere before Dec 31st (first 75,000 people)

  • Rhys says:

    2 Dec2 December 09:25

    We’re one step ahead of you 🙂

  • JP-MCO says:

    2 Dec2 December 13:20

    We got this on my wife’s BA card and saved it. I spent over £100 at John Lewis today on my card which is a supplementary on the account. Would that spend count or not?

    • Polly says:

      2 Dec2 December 23:56

      No, unless you saved it to the supplemental card. Have you registered your supp to your account to get your own offers? Need to.

• Michael says:

  2 Dec2 December 05:14

  Is anyone aware when Trump will drop EU & UK ban to USA, there was a lot of talk last week that they would drop but nothing seems to be happening?

  • Harry T says:

    2 Dec2 December 05:24

    Even Donald doesn’t know, IMO.

    • Anna says:

      2 Dec2 December 06:25

      US infection rate still rising, especially after the Thanksgiving travel!

      • Lady London says:

        2 Dec2 December 16:18

        … as sounds like could happen here in January

  • Chris Heyes says:

    2 Dec2 December 06:29

    Michael Not Trumps call anymore soon after he hands over 2021

    • ChrisC says:

      2 Dec2 December 11:31

      Trump is still president with full powers until midday 20th January. He can rescind his proclamation whenever he likes.

  • Andrew says:

    2 Dec2 December 07:52

    Summer 2021 is a reasonable timescale for this change.

    • Anna says:

      2 Dec2 December 09:30

      There was an American doctor on the news saying they will never get herd immunity there because not enough people will agree to be vaccinated. I don’t think I’d be comfortable visiting until I’ve had the jab.

      • TGLoyalty says:

        2 Dec2 December 10:04

        at some point you obviously will reach ‘herd’ immunity though even if they don’t get vaccinated those that catch it are known to have immunity after recovery

        • Rob says:

          2 Dec2 December 10:25

          Clearly you WILL reach it irrespective. If 1% of the UK population is currently infected, and it seems clear now that some level of antibody response does last even if it only means a 2nd infection is very mild, it is clear we would reach it sooner than later here.

          Given that the number of dead people under 40 with no underlying health issues is currently just 42, I think the debate in future years will be over whether we should have locked down the elderly and done more to encourage herd immunity amongst the young.

        • Lady London says:

          2 Dec2 December 16:20

          immunity doesnt last for that long though, apparently

        • Rob says:

          2 Dec2 December 18:39

          It lasts in some form. You may not be immune but all the signs are that any reinfection would be mild.

          As you’ve seen with the Pfizer vaccine, the real key number is that not a single person got seriously ill in the trial. Even those that caught covid threw it off quickly.

      • BuildTheWall says:

        2 Dec2 December 10:21

        Herd immunity is not through vaccination. It implies a large part of population get antibodies after surviving infection.

        • Phil says:

          2 Dec2 December 10:33

          Incorrect. Herd immunity is frequently achieved through vaccination.

          https://www.jhsph.edu/covid-19/articles/achieving-herd-immunity-with-covid19.html

    • Mouse says:

      2 Dec2 December 10:45

      On what basis Summer 21?

  • Lady London says:

    2 Dec2 December 16:17

    Won’t that be left to Biden ?

• John says:

  2 Dec2 December 06:27

  Commercial curve works with ernie but personal doesn’t

  • Holam says:

    2 Dec2 December 09:07

    interesting. I currently hold both commercial & personal linked to same account. When I upgraded to metal, they changed my card to a personal, however I haven’t activated the physical metal card yet. So I have my old physical commercial card working along with the ‘virtual’ version of the personal in the app. Hearing these comments, I probably won’t activate the physical metal card as that will stop my old commercial from working

  • memesweeper says:

    2 Dec2 December 11:35

    my personal works fine

    • Jimmy says:

      2 Dec2 December 18:04

      Fairly sure I’ve got a personal and old ern and bendy are very friendly indeed.

• James says:

  2 Dec2 December 07:24

  15% off a £1500 spend at M Restaurants. Is that one of the most ridiculous offers ever? Surely there will be hardly any take up on this.

  • Crafty says:

    2 Dec2 December 07:30

    There will be a chunk of Christmas corporate meals out in place of parties.

    • James says:

      2 Dec2 December 07:37

      Despite restrictions? I know £1500 could be easily achievable in London but it still seems a very unattractive offer.

    • Eugene says:

      2 Dec2 December 07:39

      Only in Penzance or Ventnor

    • Super Secret Stuff says:

      2 Dec2 December 08:52

      There aren’t going to be any significant corporate doo’s this year. They’re all cancelled because who wants half your team / department / office down with Covid after one party?

      • Anna says:

        2 Dec2 December 09:31

        MEPs in Brussels? 🤣

        • BuildTheWall says:

          2 Dec2 December 10:50

          Brexit party on 31st Dec?

        • Anna says:

          2 Dec2 December 10:58

          BuildTheWall, that’s not the kind of party I meant …

  • Andrew says:

    2 Dec2 December 07:51

    I think you’re misreading the offer – it’s 15% back up to a maximum of £1500 back. So if you spend £100 you will get £15 back etc. Doesn’t require a £1500 minimum spend. It’s the same wording as the Etihad 20% back offer.

    • Harry T says:

      2 Dec2 December 07:59

      £1500 back would be a hell of a Christmas party, can’t help but admire the panache of the offer terms.

      • Andrew says:

        2 Dec2 December 08:17

        Yes a £10k party would be quite some hangover!

        • Super Secret Stuff says:

          2 Dec2 December 08:53

          It’s not unheard of tho…

      • Crafty says:

        2 Dec2 December 08:52

        10 people at £150 a head? This is normally the target per person spend, for tax reasons.

        • Rhys says:

          2 Dec2 December 09:46

          A totally legal gathering…..although if it’s for work, is it exempt from the rules?!

  • Harry T says:

    2 Dec2 December 07:52

    It’s 15% back, up to a £1500 rebate.

    • James says:

      2 Dec2 December 10:00

      Clearly I was half asleep this morning! Haha

• cinereus says:

  2 Dec2 December 07:35

  Anyone having issues with Spanish Abi and Ernie via the usual route? The MCC is still the same and it’s working fine with the other usual suspects just keeps getting declined at Abi (or is it just me)?

  • Ashish says:

    2 Dec2 December 08:17

    What is this new one? Thanks

    • Stu N says:

      2 Dec2 December 08:20

      Santander/ Premium Bonds.

      These “code words” wouldn’t be out of place in a primary school playground. I don’t know why people persist with them.

      • Number9 says:

        2 Dec2 December 08:40

        It’s childish … I try to avoid reading them.

        • Sandgrounder says:

          2 Dec2 December 08:52

          It’s become a joke, but you shouldn’t list real names because the page gets picked up by Google. Then, the world and his dog (dog has their own supplementaries obviously) starts doing it, and the route gets shut down. It’s a bit late for that with bendy/beardie/ernie though tbh, although it just keeps going….

      • Twister says:

        2 Dec2 December 09:03

        If you don’t have the wit or resourcefulness to work it out on your own, then it’s a good predictor that manufactured spending isn’t for you. It isn’t a risk free game.

      • Andrew says:

        2 Dec2 December 09:37

        For me they will forever be the “Sprogett & Sylvester”.

        “Ernie” is definitely not playground stuff though. Goodness, my gin soaked maiden aunt was grinning from ear to ear last month when she was telling me that she “got a little something from Ernie towards your inheritance”.

        I just smiled and patted her hand. Hopefully it’ll be a long time until I benefit as her favourite nephew, but whilst the Morrison’s offer was on, every 10 bottles of Plymouth Gin she bought was a £25 Airtime “Ernie” for me.

      • JW says:

        2 Dec2 December 10:25

        +1

        It’s so childish and a bit pathetic tbh. There are millions been put through Curve/Premium Bonds/Paying off Amex etc… They know exactly what is going on (Rob has said as much) and the plug will be pulled when they find it suitable.

        • Super Secret Stuff says:

          2 Dec2 December 10:35

          That time will be when this ends up on the front page of the daily mail. It limits the pool of people that know so the risks for the companies is lower. Meaning they have other, better, things to focus on like actual fraud etc.

        • Ming The Merciless says:

          2 Dec2 December 19:51

          I’ve done about £4m myself with c and others

  • cinereus says:

    2 Dec2 December 10:46

    So nobody has an answer to the question then?

    • James says:

      2 Dec2 December 11:56

      Sums up this site lately 🙂

• Christopher Ingold says:

  2 Dec2 December 09:14

  Spend £500 anywhere and get 500 Avios up to 2x.
  First amex offer I have received since April!

  • Mike P says:

    2 Dec2 December 09:43

    Are these offers cumulative?

    • Kevin C says:

      2 Dec2 December 10:08

      I just triggered the spend £100 get 1500 avios offer spending under £100 on the Harrods sale so seems to be cumulative.

      • JP-MCO says:

        2 Dec2 December 13:27

        @Kevin C – did you get an email notification that you had triggered the bonus?

        • Kevin C says:

          2 Dec2 December 14:14

          Yes.

• Reney says:

  2 Dec2 December 09:37

  I am getting declines from curve repeatedly for paying off my VS card. The error is you have reached your card limit, my underlying card says nothing has been attempted and we all know curve limit has been increased from everyone. This is a heads up to others, I no longer think it is just about the IHG limit as I am not necessary using that as the underlying card. I’ve asked curve about it but any views welcomed.

  • LST says:

    2 Dec2 December 09:49

    I can’t use mine for anything at the moment, get the same message as you. Have spoken to underlying card provider to check they are not blocking it from their end, but they cannot see any requests from bendy.
    Have sent ID and a selfie as requested, about a week ago, but not heard anything back yet.

  • Genghis says:

    2 Dec2 December 11:40

    MCC passthrough. Been discussed at length for almost a couple of weeks now on the chat.

    • Reney says:

      2 Dec2 December 13:42

      Genghis, I read this thread every evening. My understanding was the MCC passthrough means it has to hit the underlying card and get rejected. My underlying card issuer is saying they don’t see anything at all. Is that the same thing?

      • the_real_a says:

        2 Dec2 December 15:32

        Only the fraud team will see a rejected transaction via MCC block (as opposed to declined) and under no circumstances should you be discussing this with your CC provider in any event… ffs.

      • Rahaney says:

        2 Dec2 December 15:51

        If it’s underlying Creation, I have confirmed that since last week when the MCCs from Curve got fixed for 6012 it’s 300 day, 500 3 days, 700 7 days.

    • xcalx says:

      2 Dec2 December 16:35

      I was waiting for my curve limit to reset. So today paid 5K into ernie no problems I have the free Beta card

      • xcalx says:

        2 Dec2 December 16:36

        Using IHG

• Ian says:

  2 Dec2 December 09:41

  I’m wondering whether any of you kind souls can help me with a query that has arisen?

  I booked a flight with BA using a Future Travel Voucher from a previously cancelled award flight. The agent used the same booking reference and used the miles bound up in that voucher accordingly. She also told me there were extra taxes of £602 to pay, we confirmed the BA Amex card details and she said it would be processed in due course.

  Now, some 4 weeks later I still haven’t been charged the £602 although my booking is showing up in my account, the miles have been deducted,and I’m able to make amendments to it, etc.

  What should I do? Wait to see if processes, call again to check, or simply leave it and turn up at the airport and hope for the best?

  Any advice is greatly appreciated.

  • Dave says:

    2 Dec2 December 10:05

    I think the payments need to be manually processed so it takes a while to be taken from your card

  • TGLoyalty says:

    2 Dec2 December 10:06

    It’s not uncommon for the charge to take a while as its taken when its ticketed.

    Does your booking actually show a ticket number? IF the flight is far in the future it might take a while to ticket if its in the very near future I’d phone to get it ticketed asap

  • Nadeshka says:

    2 Dec2 December 10:10

    Has it been ticketed – as in if you go to view the e-ticket online (not the itinerary) then do you see a long number beginning 125- next to each passengers name?
    Can you select seats (this is often a sign it hasn’t been if you can’t).

    If not then you need to get this sorted out before you get to the airport – check in agents won’t be able to help you and you won’t be able to check in or board the flight until fixed. When is the flight? They often go through the queue of tickets on a soonest first basis, so it may yet happen. If in the next week or so I would call and chase.

    • Pete says:

      2 Dec2 December 10:43

      Excellent advice – I had to force BA to ticket 48hrs before departure back in October. Not sure they’d done it themselves if left unprompted!

    • Lady London says:

      2 Dec2 December 16:30

      Keep an eye on it because when they ticket so late, your credit card authorisation quite likely expired and you may not be informed ticket is not issued.

      I would phone up 14 days before if it still seems not issued and insist on it being issued if I planned to reserve seats 7 days ahead.

      Unlikely the flight will be cancelled after the 14 days ahead as well.

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