The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 9th December

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

• DodgyDCF says:

  9 Dec9 December 09:02

  Morning all,

  This offer from amex, “more value from centurion” get 100% back up to £350 at Waitrose, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges etc, I believe the same for platinum but £100. Did anyone get a notification email when using the offer in store?

  • Andrew says:

    9 Dec9 December 09:33

    No confirmation email, probably because you could keep using it little bit by little bit up to the maximum, but got all the credits through no problem.

    • DodgyDCF says:

      9 Dec9 December 10:16

      Thanks Andrew and Phil. I just did a one-off shop at local Waitrose – £500 odd to be safe, some giftcard purchases in there too

• Phil W says:

  9 Dec9 December 09:16

  I had the £100 Platinum offer and used it at JL. Didn’t get a confirmation email but the credit landed.

  • Phil W says:

    9 Dec9 December 09:17

    Intended as a reply to DodgyDCF

• Andy says:

  9 Dec9 December 09:39

  Anyone flown up to Scotland recently? A potential client wants me to fly up on Monday for a socially distanced meeting and a site visit. I think the border is closed though aside from for work purposes which this clearly is. Before I press buy on the flight I want to check what sort of evidence might be asked for before i fly or as I arrive. the last thing i want to do is pay for a flight and get stuck at the airport. I also really really need this client to give me the contract!

  • Anna says:

    9 Dec9 December 10:26

    If you’ve got an email from the client confirming the meeting with venue, time, etc I’m sure that would be enough. Surprised there are flights going at the moment though, there can’t be that much demand.
    Or say you’re a member of the royal family 😜

    • andy says:

      9 Dec9 December 10:30

      ha good point! thanks that is good advice. I’ll make sure i have the email to hand

  • Peggerz says:

    9 Dec9 December 10:31

    Hi @Andy.
    As such the border isn’t ‘closed’ but there is advice on the gov.Scot website re travelling. If you fit that criteria you are ok. I haven’t flown recently but have used LNER over the border and there were no checks by Police or anyone else.
    Remember that Scotland has been in regional levels since October, with generally Glasgow and West of Scotland in tightest restrictions for another few days. Whilst in the Highlands, Northern & Western Isles most activity is ‘normal’.

  • James says:

    9 Dec9 December 13:26

    Hi Andy, I regularly fly to Aberdeen for work. I flew up on Monday and never got asked for any kind of proof. Nor have I since Covid reared its ugly head.

• Ale88 says:

  9 Dec9 December 09:44

  Anybody not getting the usual email after a £10 spend at a shop to say you have spent £10 at a small shop?

  • Jonathan says:

    9 Dec9 December 09:50

    E-mails are always flakey with Shop Small & other offers. Definitely wouldn’t start chasing up till after the end of the promotion.

  • mef13 says:

    9 Dec9 December 15:44

    The baker and chippy in my village popped up an email straight away last time. This time, nothing, and they’re not on the map, though they take Amex no problem. So a bit worried that not everywhere is running the offer this time…

  • Liz says:

    9 Dec9 December 17:11

    We have done several transactions now. The offer wasn’t on my 2 cards (suppl on my husband’s cards) but his mum’s supp and his 2 cards had the offer. I got them added manually by Amex. The emails coming through are on his and his mum’s cards but not on my 2 supp cards but today 2 of my £5 credits appeared so it is working ok.

• Pete says:

  9 Dec9 December 09:48

  So Alex M mentioned a heavy law enforcement presence at Gatwick on 2/Dec and coming back on 7/Dec, with “immigration officers checking passports of many passengers at boarding” on the way out, “LOTS of immigration officers in the corridors, checking passports and asking questions”, “locator form was checked at passport control AND prior to it by a policeman” and “every other passenger’s suitcases were opened and manually checked at the exit”.

  He suggested “they are toughening up prior to the Brexit”, Lady London that it may be because LGW is “a training airport for Border Force” and I wondered if they are just bored as there’s so few flights.

  Interestingly, I am told Luton was the same yesterday – with everyone getting quizzed as to why they are leaving the country and what they’ll be doing abroad. My spy said “it basically felt like you are not allowed to travel or leave the country”.

  Anyone experienced this at other airports? Is this the future? Although not sure it’ll be realistic when more people start travelling again!

  • BuildTheWall says:

    9 Dec9 December 10:11

    Should’ve started the checks and questions in March too late.
    Lol at the suggestion this is related to brexit! Is there no end to conspiracies? Why would it be related to brexit? At the worst they’ll be checking visas from 1st Jan for flights from Europe. Even then there are exemptions.

    • Anuj says:

      9 Dec9 December 10:30

      Makes total sense to suggest it’s related to Brexit as British people travelling to the EU will be asked the same. Currently EU border agents aren’t allowed to ask any questions as long as you have a EU passport but once we exit they’ll be allowed to probe about where you’re travelling, reason for visit etc

      • Bazza says:

        9 Dec9 December 10:50

        Of course this is a good thing if this is true “EU border agents aren’t allowed to ask any questions as long as you have a EU passport” Surely this will help with law enforcement.

      • Anna says:

        9 Dec9 December 12:31

        ? They can ask you anything they want. Whether you’re obliged to provide any information is another matter. I would be inclined to co-operate politely, however as I’m sure they can detain you and delay you if they see fit!

  • TGLoyalty says:

    9 Dec9 December 10:36

    I’ve had this before at Birmingham a couple times well before brexit / Covid.

    It’s just random probably when they have other people of interest on flights that day.

    • Pete says:

      9 Dec9 December 11:02

      So I am not sure about the randomness – it’s over at least two airports over three different days? I do struggle with why a UK Border Force officer should be asking me where I am going, why and what I’ll be doing there.

      • TGLoyalty says:

        9 Dec9 December 12:14

        Holiday 5 days drinking eating etc or business 3 days etc is the most they’ve ever asked. I got asked where I work and how I got the job of which xyz and applied via the website was enough.

        3 days and two accounts doesn’t mean anything just like those two times going through BHX within 3 months didn’t mean it was a reoccurring theme either.

      • Lady London says:

        9 Dec9 December 16:05

        Gatwick used to be a p in the a for this, particularly departing, many years ago with excessive questioning for no particular reason and I came close to missing flights I’d allowed good time for.

        On another trip through I commented to someone official and they said Gatwick was a training airport.

        My profile and appearance is boring so I am certain it was just that they were doing this with a very high percentage of passengers.

        I switched away from choosing Gatwick for many years due to this timewasting and feeling I was being aggressiely questioned without cause.

        If that’s returned to Gatwick then I won’t hurry to choose flights from there because it got too much and wasnt happening at other airports.

    • MKB says:

      9 Dec9 December 16:58

      +1

      We also got it at BHX about 3 years ago. Very intrusive, probing and unnecessary questions, with threats to keep asking the questions until the flight had left if we didn’t provide satisfactory answers. They thought us suspicious because we were two men who didn’t fit their preconceived notion of what business-class travellers should look like, and wanted to know how we had found the funds for the flights. A very unpleasant experience.

• happeemonkee says:

  9 Dec9 December 09:50

  Just received this offer from BA

  We hope you know that among millions of Executive Club Members, you’re rather exceptional. To show you how much we treasure your continued loyalty and support, we’re offering you the chance to unlock a Gold Upgrade Voucher, usually awarded at 2,500 Tier Points and beyond.

  Simply earn 250 Tier Points by 31 March 2021, and we’ll add a Gold Upgrade for One Voucher to your account – so you can enjoy the cabin upgrade you deserve.

  Even better, earn 500 Tier Points and we’ll reward you with a Gold Upgrade Voucher for Two – so you can treat yourself and a loved one to an unforgettable trip.

  All you need to do is register, book and fly by 31 March 2021.

  • Jonathan says:

    9 Dec9 December 09:53

    Can you provide more context? Are you a longstanding GGL or just vanilla Gold. How many TP’s are you on now vs a usual year etc. TIA

    • GeorgeJ says:

      9 Dec9 December 13:09

      Jonathan,
      I got it as well and I only have two short haul flights in my current year (Aug start) so clearly not focussed on current high users. Unlikely to get the award either since I am already booked using points.

    • Chris says:

      9 Dec9 December 15:08

      For a data point I got it too; been ggl for 5 years (generally 3-4K TP a year). Had about 600 tp this year date (for travel Jan-Mar) My renewal was Dec so its 0 again.

      Have no cash tickets booked right now; been speculating with my Avios reserve for next year. After the pain of getting tickets refunded for this year not going to rush out book for 21 right now.

      The 250 tp voucher is definitely worth a couple of trips in domestic CE to get in the new year.

      • TGLoyalty says:

        10 Dec10 December 00:18

        40 EW is more than a couple domestic CE trips 🙂

• Tom1 says:

  9 Dec9 December 10:44

  Does anyone know if you can see what date you added an offer to your Amex card?

  I’ve just realised a round of golf I played was a Doubletree and has been billed as such – so would count toward the target. But don’t know if it was before/after the Hilton offer started.

• Ed says:

  9 Dec9 December 10:47

  Anyone got a FREE NOW referral? Thanks.

  • Craig says:

    9 Dec9 December 11:00

    craig.str

    • Craig says:

      9 Dec9 December 11:02

      £4 each

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