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The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 8th December

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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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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.

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.

Comments (296)

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

  • Neil Spellings says:

    Has anyone managed to get EasyJet to switch from a voucher refund to cash refund? I took a voucher for my original booking, however the replacement flight that I booked using the voucher was also cancelled. I requested a cash refund, but they are claiming because I opted for the voucher originally on my first flight, I can now only get another voucher refund.

    • Lady London says:

      It’s a bit unfair but I’m pretty sure they can get away with that.

      I have an idea there may be something on their website that says they will refund the voucher after a year if not used? could be worth a squizz at the t’s and c’s. Noting that Easyjet seems to keep changing the rules even on existing bookings.

  • Jill ( Kinkell) says:

    Not my day. BA have changed our Denver flights next Sept from F on 787 ( only 8 seats in F and bagged 1a) to CW on A350. Flight No. the same and departs 5 mins later.. Now trawling back through comments to find answers and advice given to others in the same situation.
    IHG moan posted earlier still not resolved. It’s bizarre. Sign in icon doesn’t do anything, but join icon right next to it seems to be working and opens up page for details etc.

    • Anna says:

      Have you tried clearing cookies or trying to log in from the booking page? (You don’t have to complete the booking). Also if you are IC Ambassador you can try logging in there and then go to the usual IHG page from there.
      Also – if you try a search, when you get to the results page you can find you’re logged in even though it looks as though log in has failed initially. The IT is so odd with IHG, I do wonder how secure the site is!

      • Chrisasaurus says:

        It uses a 4 digit password with only numerals allowed, so I don’t think secure really even comes into it!

      • Charlieface says:

        Help to Buy ISA portal at gov.uk will keep you logged in no matter how many times you click log out. So if you want to log in to a second account you have to clear cookies.
        I mean this is run by NS&I, for crying out loud!

      • Jill ( Kinkell) says:

        Thanks Anna….Done all that to no avail. It really is odd. I could book a room and pay cash, but I can’t sign in no matter which way I try.. The icon flatly refuses to do anything! Makes no odds if it’s iPad, my desktop or hubby’s iMac or mobile…doesn’t work if my OH tries either!

        • Lady London says:

          have you tried to right click open in new tab?
          have you checked no Settings changes have crept in to block popups, subscripts,Java etc ?
          have you tried app as well as at least 2 browsers
          has your antivirus recently updated itself?
          are all your devices connecting to same router? if so try rebooting it+device. assume you had been deleting cookies between attempts

          • Jill ( Kinkell) says:

            Thanks @LL. Had done most of your suggestions, but not the router reboot..what we did do was log in via mobile3G ( it’s the Highlands, after all!) not through the home Wi-Fi and it worked! So clearly something amiss with our router feeding to all our gadgets! Great when it works, disaster when it goes t*ts up especially for the folk like me whose techno knowledge is minuscule.

    • Hazel says:

      I also got email to say i have been downgraded from F to Business for next August flight from Heathrow to Las Vegas. Seems no first on the flight now. Guy yesterday said they can only put us in F if there is avios flights as we booked on 241. I throught they would have to accommodate you to a cash fare if need be to another airport eg LA

  • SL says:

    Question for anyone with an international dollar/euro Amex.

    Krisflyer are running a 15% bonus from Amex/Standard Chartered transfers. If I were to convert my MR from my Plat business card onto my ICC card and gain the dollar exchange rate difference in MR and then transfer onto Krisflyer…will I effectively be getting a ~50% bonus? How long do the transfers take approx?

    And is there anyway of getting around the hard expiry of 3 years on Krisflyer? Want to eventually use them for IST-SIN/DPS but I’m wary of the expiry considering Bali is not yet still open for tourism

    • BuildTheWall says:

      Amex UK transfers are pretty quick. ICC should be using the same systems, I wouldn’t expect a big delay.
      On the hard expiry, you can extend by one year, but have to pay an expensive fee. You can also book up to one year in advance, so effectively 4 years expiry.
      You also have access to Star alliance airlines, so don’t need to restrict yourself to trips to SE Asia.

      • SL says:

        Many thanks. Yes I have enough MR to do IST-DPS in J return and if I get the bonus and currency bump can use the extra to go to Dubai in J with Turkish or Swiss. Thanks.

        • meta says:

          ICC transfer for me about a year and a half ago took a few hours. Overnight from there to Krisflyer.

    • Rob says:

      UK to ICC transfers used to take around 7-10 days but I haven’t done one for 2-3 years.

  • The Original Nick says:

    Q on Amex Platinum. When applying for a supplementary card for someone is there a credit check on them?

    • SL says:

      I don’t believe so as the balance is with the main cardholder

    • KS says:

      There is an identity + address verification, not a credit check.

    • Chris Heyes says:

      The Original Nick, Noticed that when applying for any supplementary cards more often than not the cards go to the Address of the holder of the original card, but never noticed a credit check on supl holder

  • PaulC says:

    I know its not the done thing on here but will anyone or Rob please send me a referral link/code for Capitol On Tap?
    I shouldn’t be eligible for the 10,000 points when spending £5,000 in the first 3 months but I did close my account over 6 months ago so will be a test to see if it works or not. I was closing my Ltd company as I’ve had no work for 12months but have just started a new contract and my Corp Tax is due 1st Jan so would like to get it paid on this card.

    • SL says:

      Do you have curve metal? CoT is now a credit card and can only be used to pay HMRC with curve metal if you don’t want to be charged a fee.

      • PaulC says:

        Out of “The game” for 2 minutes and all the rules change. haha
        Whats my best options for paying Corp Tax and VAT bills for my Limited Company?

        • SL says:

          If your corp tax is large enough its probably worth the curve metal fee and using any visa/mastercard credit card with it.

          Miles and More is the only prepaid card that you can use to pay HMRC directly but this is against their terms so they may restrict your limits. They are also changing to a Visa so may change the ability to pay HMRC using this.

          There is billhop but it’s a pretty expensive way of going about it with a 2.95% charge.

          Last one is Amex rewards system. They charge 1-1.25% fee based on the amounts that you pay. Here is Rob’s article on it:

          https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2020/08/03/american-express-premium-rewards-programme-review/

          • PaulC says:

            Thank you SL. Lazy on my behalf as I should of searched but you can always rely on the trusty HfP followers to be up to speed.

            Hoping for a brighter future having had 12 months of misery.

            Not to worry on the extra miles I could earn through my Ltd Company. Having had 3 Avios flights refunded along with vouchers we are Avios rich for the time being.

    • Rob says:

      The bonus code is in this article – https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2020/11/09/capital-on-tap-business-rewards-visa/ – and is ‘headforpoints’. Thanks.

  • Graeme says:

    Data point, seems Virgin has blocked paying AJ Bell via bendy. It used to work 6 montha ago when I last tried.

    • SL says:

      That’s a shame I have my LISA with them. Can bendy beardy be used to pay those who trade 200 and 12?

    • TGLoyalty says:

      It’s probably that bendy have started passing through the correct MCC

  • Mike says:

    Tomorrow I’ll make my first trip to the UK since CV19 began, I’m a Swiss resident but UK national. I’m coming from CDG, can I expect calls, texts for 14 days to check up on me? I intend to go back to CH on the 10th day (need to sort out UK home for renting out) and I understand this is legal. Will it be an issue they’re calling me and I’m now abroad?

    • Charlieface says:

      Why would it be an issue if it’s legal?
      By the way, there is no requirement to actually answer the phone.

      • Mike says:

        Because I would rather just answer the calls and play along with it until the 14th day, it seems simpler than saying I’ve left the UK and please leave me alone. If it was a text that would be a doddle but I’ll be on the international dialling by then. This is police state stuff as it is.

        Are the filth allowed to turn up any time to check on you? 3AM or sensible times? I understood they visit if you can’t be contacted by PHE rather than as a rule?

        • Aston100 says:

          I think the police have got better things to do.

        • John says:

          The police state is Switzerland where they actually check you are at home if you are supposed to be (and part of the reason why they rationalised their quarantine list).

          About 20% of quarantinees in the UK get called and only ever on the first day. I went to Switzerland last week and am back in the UK now (and staying in). I haven’t been called at all.

    • Lady London says:

      no obligation to stay the full 14 days. can leave earlier.

  • meta says:

    Further to my Amex offers not showing saga. I have today seen various banners for offers (incl. some that have mentioned here weeks ago), but the moment I click to save them it directs me back to account home. Both on the app and on the desktop site. Have reported now to Amex and send them screenshots. Hopefully someone will have a look.

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