The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 29th 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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General

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YC says:

29 Dec29 December 17:32

Anyone able to book their 31 Dec IHG free night for 2021? Struggling to get anything booking for 2021.
- Pid says:
  
  29 Dec29 December 18:10
  
  Booked mine fine at the London Kimpton.
- Jimbob says:
  
  29 Dec29 December 18:11
  
  There should be plenty of availability, just make sure you’re only looking for a 2 person room, as availability drops if you search for 3 people in a room
  - YC says:
    
    29 Dec29 December 19:09
    
    It seems to be stay by. Looking at 30-31 Dec it shows ‘Free’ whereas other 2021 dates (doesn’t say free but the 55k points required). A real pain trying to get this to work
    - TGLoyalty says:
      
      29 Dec29 December 19:56
      
      Nope it’s 100% book by.
      
      I’ve booked mine for next June.
- Pid says:
  
  29 Dec29 December 22:49
  
  Definitely book by as mine at the Kimpton are for next Dec.
Sam says:

29 Dec29 December 18:12

Hi all, a qestion related to tax as opposed to travel. If you are a higher rate tax payer and want to claim the tax on donations you have made and selected Gift Aid, can you claim for donations you have made to overseas charities? I’m talking about charities based in the US and Canada as opposed to Europe. Thanks!
- Genghis says:
  
  29 Dec29 December 19:10
  
  In short: no.
  Not sure how you can select “Gift Aid” on a world ex-EU charity which wouldn’t be registered for Gift Aid.
  - Sam says:
    
    29 Dec29 December 19:52
    
    Thanks Genghis.
- Sharka says:
  
  29 Dec29 December 23:48
  
  You cannot select Gift Aid but I seem to recall you can claim full relief on your self-assessment return for non-UK charities.
  - Genghis says:
    
    30 Dec30 December 07:02
    
    Within EU + Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein so as long as charity registers with HMRC, yes. Otherwise, no.
    
    After 1 Jan, who knows…
Pangolin says:

29 Dec29 December 20:37

Has Inside Flyer UK ceased to be? They haven’t had a single update since Dec 15, and updates were pretty sparse before then.
- Rhys says:
  
  29 Dec29 December 22:19
  
  From the “UK’s most widely-read site for British Airways Executive Club, Virgin Flying Club and other major airlines and hotel loyalty schemes”? Say it ain’t so!
  - Rob says:
    
    30 Dec30 December 05:35
    
    Which is an interesting claim given that the media kit shows the UK site getting 125,000 page views per month compared to our 1.5 million 🙂
S says:

29 Dec29 December 21:24

Last chance to get 0.9p per AMEX MR point (ends 31st December)
747_Brat says:

29 Dec29 December 22:51

Shoutout to @AndyGWP for recommending Surfshark sometime last week. I just bought a 2 year plan and I am mightily impressed! 🙂