The HfP chat thread – Monday 14th December

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General

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Nigel W says:

14 Dec14 December 11:52

Does anyone know if upgrading to metal Curve card means your existing card stops working immediately?
- johnny_c-l says:
  
  14 Dec14 December 11:53
  
  No it keeps working until the new one arrives, and the limit reset comes after you activate the new card.
  - Peter K says:
    
    14 Dec14 December 19:13
    
    I found the opposite a couple of months ago when I upgraded to metal. My non metal card immediately stopped working.
Andrew says:

14 Dec14 December 12:08

Looking like London will move to T3 as early as today apparently.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55301192
- Alex M says:
  
  14 Dec14 December 12:27
  
  As I understand shops will remain open in tier 3 – I need to buy something in Harrods tomorrow – I assume I will be able to do that?
  - Andrew says:
    
    14 Dec14 December 12:32
    
    Indeed, Harrods will still be open, except for the instore restaurants, bars and cafes.
  - Navara says:
    
    14 Dec14 December 15:16
    
    This will be from 00:01 on Wednesday. Unless one of the MP’s as a lunch booked
- Anna says:
  
  14 Dec14 December 12:28
  
  I’d prefer Matt Hancock to announce that all schools have to close from today!
  - Cat says:
    
    14 Dec14 December 21:30
    
    You and me both, Anna!
- KBuffett says:
  
  14 Dec14 December 12:36
  
  Reading the T3 rules on .gov.uk :
  hotels must close
  restaurants too (unless take away)
  - Andrew says:
    
    14 Dec14 December 12:46
    
    Correct. Although hotels can continue to operate for business travellers. Not sure what the restrictions are for travelling on holiday outside the UK.
    - Anna says:
      
      14 Dec14 December 13:25
      
      None.
    - TGLoyalty says:
      
      14 Dec14 December 13:28
      
      None n travelling abroad and you advised against travelling to T1/2 areas.
- andy says:
  
  14 Dec14 December 12:42
  
  Noooo! I’m supposed to be flying up to Scotland on Thursday to spend two weeks with my sister. I can’t really in good conscience do that if we’re in tier 3
  - meta says:
    
    14 Dec14 December 13:08
    
    Reading elsewhere it will just be announced today with Saturday start. I also don’t think they can change it until 2 weeks are up which is Thursday at the earliest.
    - Optimus Prime says:
      
      14 Dec14 December 14:54
      
      It will start this Wednesday at 0:01.
  - Anna says:
    
    14 Dec14 December 13:20
    
    I thought we were still banned from Scotland anyway? And if you were going as early as this week you’d be breaching all the indoor mixing rules anyway.
    - TGLoyalty says:
      
      14 Dec14 December 13:33
      
      Not if you’re in the same social bubble (no idea if either live alone)
      
      There is no advice against avoiding travel to someone in your social bubble either regardless of what Tier you are both in.
      - AndyGWP says:
        
        14 Dec14 December 17:27
        
        Not true TGLoyalty – you’re not allowed to cross the border between England and Scotland (either way) according to gov.scot, the BBC and various other websites unless it is classed as “Essential” (which they then define)
      - AndyGWP says:
        
        14 Dec14 December 17:34
        
        Relevant rules:
        https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-travel-and-transport/
      - TGLoyalty says:
        
        14 Dec14 December 19:28
        
        There’s so many exemptions I’ve given up reading.
        
        I don’t know OPs sister’s medical status but giving care is a valid excuse for example.
- Navara says:
  
  14 Dec14 December 14:10
  
  Not surprising looking at the photo
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    14 Dec14 December 15:37
    
    The photo of regent street? catching it outdoors is extremely rare.
- Ali M says:
  
  14 Dec14 December 14:24
  
  called my Heathrow hotel – they said they aren’t cancelling any bookings – yay
  - Rhys says:
    
    14 Dec14 December 14:51
    
    A lot of new bookings have had flexible cancellation policies – I would check what you booked.
- Andy says:
  
  14 Dec14 December 18:42
  
  Glad I was proactive this time and did my 50th night yesterday since it was looking unlikely my Heathrow reservation for this weekend would work out. Hopefully will manage to get good value out of platinum status next year!
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    14 Dec14 December 19:29
    
    You should have just tweeted Marriott and whinged you couldn’t do night 50 so they should give you it anyway 😉
    - Chrisasaurus says:
      
      14 Dec14 December 19:59
      
      🙂
    - Andy says:
      
      14 Dec14 December 23:06
      
      Having done my 48th and 49th night on Friday and Saturday, I probably wouldn’t have been far off begging Marriott if my Heathrow stay couldn’t go ahead. I just decided to save myself the risk and head straight to LHR the day of my flight instead. Shame I couldn’t get a visit to Oxford out of my mattress run as some had suggested in the chat thread a few days ago
Aston100 says:

14 Dec14 December 12:48

I recently went from IHG Platinum to IHG Spire and picked up the 25k points for that achievement.
Is the 25k points a one-off thing from going Plat > Spire? or would I be eligible if I spend & stay enough next year to hit the Spire requirement again (as an existing Spire)?

Thanks.
- Andrew says:
  
  14 Dec14 December 12:55
  
  Each year that you requalify you get the 25k
  - Aston100 says:
    
    14 Dec14 December 15:46
    
    Thanks Andrew.
Alan says:

14 Dec14 December 12:51

A few days ago I did a bit of browsing on the BA portal without actually buying anything and this morning received a string of emails telling me I have over 4,000 Avios on the way. Has anyone else had a similar experience.

I assume they have had an IT glitch and the Avios won’t arrive.
- Aston100 says:
  
  14 Dec14 December 12:53
  
  Rest assured that the Avios (whether genuinely earnt or not) will likely be clawed back anyway.
  Business as usual.
  - Charlieface says:
    
    14 Dec14 December 16:07
    
    I suppose this is an excellent way of getting some free points on an otherwise unused account…
- Jill ( Kinkell) says:
  
  14 Dec14 December 14:21
  
  I was awarded Avios for brewdog. I browsed but didn’t buy. Keeping a note as it will be clawed back sometime
  - Alan says:
    
    14 Dec14 December 14:32
    
    Brewdog was one of mine.
    
    A good deal on the 48 can purchases but we already have more than enough alcohol for a Covid Christmas so didn’t buy.
Fm says:

14 Dec14 December 13:03

Tesco to Virgin query – if I opt in to automatic conversion but have a large statement balance for this quarter (£40ish) – is there any way to restrict only a small portion of them being converted to Virgin miles? There seems to be an option to immediately convert your clubcard points to Tesco vouchers, not sure if this would work
- Rob says:
  
  14 Dec14 December 13:42
  
  I would imagine if you use the app to order vouchers now, leaving just £1.50 behind, just the £1,50 converts.
  - Fm says:
    
    14 Dec14 December 17:28
    
    Thanks, that’s useful
Lady London says:

14 Dec14 December 13:53

OT I dont go go TaCoBell but just spotted their refer a friend is currently £25 or £20
- Michael C says:
  
  14 Dec14 December 14:20
  
  Opening in Jakarta this month!
Toppcat says:

14 Dec14 December 14:15

Thanks again to those who helped with my rights when BA cancelled my flight back from SEZ in November.

I have now submitted my CEDR claim, including statutory interest, and CEDR have accepted it, so the clock starts on 60 working days for BA to provide a defence.
- AJA says:
  
  14 Dec14 December 14:17
  
  Good luck – hope you win! BA’s treatment of you was appalling.
- Sean says:
  
  14 Dec14 December 14:28
  
  Good luck a nd please keep us informed of outcome
  
  Would make a good forum topic
  - meta says:
    
    14 Dec14 December 14:37
    
    CEDR is 60 working days? That’s what like 12 weeks. Far too long. Much better to go to MCOL. Max waiting time is 56 days (not working days like at CEDR) and BA also has to pay your court fee if they want to settle. You don’t need to do CEDR before going to MCOL.
    - Aston100 says:
      
      14 Dec14 December 15:48
      
      Is there an article that explains the difference between CEDR and MCOL, and under which circumstance you’d go with one rather than the other?
      
      I’ve got a bunch of flights booked this year, and I suspect many of them will be getting cancelled or downgraded, so would be good to start my preparations now.
      
      Thanks.
      - Rob says:
        
        14 Dec14 December 17:06
        
        You should start with CEDR and move to MCOL – you are unlikely to get a good hearing at MCOL if they know you have not been to arbitration with BA first.
    - Nic says:
      
      14 Dec14 December 16:34
      
      I had a CEDR dispute with Virgin. Took a year.
- Anna says:
  
  14 Dec14 December 14:56
  
  I know they are busier just now but when I used CEDR last year for a delay claim BA caved immediately and I had the money within a couple of weeks.
  - Lady London says:
    
    14 Dec14 December 19:05
    
    There’s a lot more to this topic.
James says:

14 Dec14 December 14:48

Has anyone stayed at The Habtoor Grand Beach Resort & Spa lately? Looking to maybe book for January. Thanks!
- Matthew says:
  
  14 Dec14 December 18:26
  
  Check out the current deal on Luxuryescapes.com when comparing prices…
  - James says:
    
    14 Dec14 December 18:51
    
    Thank you so much for this heads up!
    - Matthew says:
      
      14 Dec14 December 20:33
      
      No probs. You won’t get elite night credits/points but often the savings on that site far outweigh the other benefits. LE were great with COVID re-bookings too for me earlier in the year.
      - James says:
        
        14 Dec14 December 20:59
        
        Happy to forfeit the nights/points for what I was able to get from LE!
        
        Also used ESCAPE50 for £50 off, result!