The HfP chat thread – Sunday 31st January

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• 747_Brat says:

  31 Jan31 January 14:42

  Someone mentioned here that you can now withdraw the funds to a Prepaid Card, but you need a minimum of £10 for it.

  • The real John says:

    31 Jan31 January 17:18

    The website says you can withdraw to your registered cards, but there is no option to do this in the app. Maybe someone can email them to ask (I have nowhere near £10 yet)

• HarryB. says:

  31 Jan31 January 14:51

  Happy Sunday HfPointers!
  I have my Maldives honeymoon booked for February. Do you reckon I would be stopped before boarding the plane? Has any of you travelled abroad over the last few days and did you have to prove that it was an essential trip?

  • Hotelier says:

    31 Jan31 January 14:59

    Can’t find Honeymoons on the list of Government approved reasons for leaving home/travel so I would hope so. Anyways, Congratulations!
    Stay Home -> Protect the NHS -> Save Lives

  • Harry T says:

    31 Jan31 January 14:59

    It’s looking like they are bringing in a requirement to prove your travel is essential, although it’s all quite nebulous right now – there is a risk you could be denied boarding, especially as a couple (clearly not on business). Given the dynamic situation where UK travellers have been banned from many places overnight, and the fact that many in government still desire mandatory 10 day hotel quarantine for all returning travellers, you would perhaps be wise to consider postponing the honeymoon. Personally, I wouldn’t want to run the risk of getting stranded somewhere or paying for 10 days in a dismal airport hotel upon my return, especially when trying to celebrate an important occasion.

    Of course, there are various ethical and legal factors you should reflect on as well, but I assume these are not important to you if you are planning to travel during the lockdown.

    • Charlieface says:

      31 Jan31 January 16:02

      Why can’t a couple be on business? Perhaps they run a business together…?

      • Rich says:

        31 Jan31 January 16:31

        In the Maldives?

        • TGLoyalty says:

          31 Jan31 January 16:49

          There are lots of businesses in the maldives just like everywhere else

          Hotels are businesses as are all their suppliers, airlines and I’m sure there are all the other commercial enterprises that support a nation supermarkets, energy, clothing etc

          Obviously this is a honeymoon but I love how people decide something can’t be business because of the destination.

        • Mr(s) Entitled says:

          31 Jan31 January 17:19

          Set up and Instagram account and boom, instant business. Apparently.

        • babyg_wc says:

          31 Jan31 January 19:50

          Get remarried, think weddings is on the list?

      • Harry T says:

        31 Jan31 January 17:14

        Well, of course they could be a couple who run a business together, but we all know that’s not what I meant. It’s about appearances. A lone traveller who looks a certain way will give the impression of being a business traveller far more than a loved up couple lol.

  • kitten says:

    31 Jan31 January 16:31

    HarryB Congratulations and I know this will not be the answer you are looking for.

    Plenty of actual weddings have been cancelled. You are lucky if you will even be able to be married.

    In the face of sacrifices being made by others I think it’s offensive you are even thinking of going. Are you worried you won’t be married long enough to have a delayed honeymoon? Many couples in normal times get married, but do the honeymoon later.

    Sorry again but if you go then you’ll just be an example of what’s wrong with this country and why we are out of control with this thing.

    Very sorry to say this and I am grateful that you asked the question openly.

    • Crafty says:

      1 Feb1 February 07:36

      The virus is also boring and repetitive; I don’t want any more of it.

  • Tracey says:

    31 Jan31 January 17:19

    The Maldives will be delighted to receive you, as a country reliant on tourism. They are moving quickly on vaccinating their whole population and the set up there with individual resort islands and outdoor eating is relatively covid safe.
    That said it would be obviously illegal to travel for leisure now and if you did become bloggers/ book an estate agent appointment in Malé/ some other excuse, you do risk being turned away at this end. You would also face quarantine when you come home, quite possibly in an airport hotel and/ or potentially a fine.

    • Mart says:

      31 Jan31 January 17:54

      We have got a trip to the Maldives in march can’t see it happening ,we will have had a second dose of Pfizer vaccine by then so ready to go ,at some point we are all going to have to run at risk not sure when tho.

  • Yuff says:

    31 Jan31 January 18:29

    I travelled 3 weeks ago, to Mallorca, and documentation was checked and approved at check in.
    It was more Ryanair checking on behalf of the Spanish authorities but it looks to me like things have tightened up considerably on the border side of the UK so unless they relax the current restrictions you won’t be travelling imo.
    Is the flight direct?

  • Ali M says:

    31 Jan31 January 19:49

    Hey HarryB…
    All the best and be nice and polite and smile at the airport…😘😘😘& hope for the best.Likely your going to Maldives isn’t going to cost NHS more lives lost as you’ll come back and self isolate and be careful.You would have tested negative before you go too.Keep your hotel informed and be prepared to be returned back.It’s a special time and you’ll have fun even if locked up here.Try not to feel too bad as likely that the airline and hotel things can be delayed to a lot later at no extra charge.

  • ChrisBCN says:

    31 Jan31 January 20:48

    It’s frankly ridiculous/selfish that you are considering going. Take a refund, and have a lovely time at some future date.

  • Anna says:

    31 Jan31 January 20:49

    I’m not sure that this is a serious post given that February begins tomorrow and I can’t quite believe there are still flights going to the Maldives from the UK just now!
    Though if it’s a honeymoon, presumably they won’t have any problems with finding ways to pass the time in a quarantine hotel on their return 😂

    • Anna says:

      31 Jan31 January 20:58

      Though BA is still selling this flight according to the app! Lots of influencers doing Valentine’s Day features, maybe? Is influencer an actual job for the purpose of business travel?!

      • kitten says:

        31 Jan31 January 23:35

        Erm….Rob’s an influencer, actually 🙂

        • Anna says:

          1 Feb1 February 06:05

          Ah … I class Rob as a financial adviser and travel writer!

    • Callum says:

      31 Jan31 January 21:36

      With the selfish attitude shown by millions of people every day in this country (and yes, most others), I can very easily believe this is a serious post!

      Oh no sorry, I forgot. It’s not selfishness, they’re just “concerned about the economy”…

      • ChrisBCN says:

        31 Jan31 January 22:21

        Ah yes those who want to protect the economy but don’t realise they are extending the time we are all stuck in this situation…

        • callum says:

          31 Jan31 January 22:41

          I think you can make a reasonable argument that the economy would be better off with a protracted but minor set of restrictions in comparison to regular lockdowns with minor restrictions between them.

          It relies on valuing human life and health at nothing though – which I know several people on here do. The number of times I’ve read “sick and old people were going to die in a few years anyway – who cares if it happens now, in agony and alone, instead?” (my paraphrasing obviously!).

        • Charlieface says:

          31 Jan31 January 23:11

          Is it really extending the situation, or would the situation have carried on regardless?

  • James says:

    1 Feb1 February 06:32

    Personally I would find a business for sale there, ask some questions beforehand by email and then book a viewing….the longer the email trail the better, make sure you include your wife as your business partner in the emails…….just cancel any viewings when you get to your destination.
    I don’t understand why it is a Problem when a country is willing to let you in our government is trying to stop you going, surely it is your personal choice to decide to leave? On return back to the UK should be our governments concern, NOT the fact you want to leave.
    I have traveled back to the UK 4 times since restrictions began and been required to quarantine for 14 days on 3 occasions not once has anyone checked I completed my arrival passenger locator on arrival at LHR (I had but the 80 year old in front of me didn’t have a smart phone or any idea how to do it) and no one has called, text or knocked at my door…..why not….The problem is with arrivals in the UK not departures from the UK.

    • Yuff says:

      1 Feb1 February 07:41

      Therein lies the problem though, enforcement, even now the hotel quarantine isn’t up and running.
      The border force should do the job properly on arrival, people should be checked they are isolating and there should be no loopholes.
      I have been travelling to and from Spain since august, although I have ticked the exempt box on the locator form, but no one has checked on me once. You can’t get into Spain without having their form scanned by a separate check point to passport control.
      I do think the negative PCR tests are a great idea, even tough a rip off price wise, and even lateral flow tests at the border irrespective of accuracy, anything that keeps 1 keeps one case from entering from another country is one less chance of it spreading.

  • HarryB. says:

    1 Feb1 February 10:38

    Thank you all for your wishes and open but considerate from all sides replies, I hear and take in all your good feedback. Trip has been cancelled (for the 3rd time) as even with a handful tests and flying directly to a remote part of the world it’s still a lot of trouble to travel this month for many reasons. Alternative dates considered with the 6/3 working but still being 2 days before the 8/3 that has been penciled in by the government as a prospective date for a relaxation of restrictive measures.
    Therefore I’ll need to play hardball with BA that are difficult to move it beyond late March. Or just a trip to the local asylum after 12 months of cancelled planned and trips.
    Stay safe fellow HfPointers!

• Ollie says:

  31 Jan31 January 14:58

  There are a few articles in The Sunday Times regarding Eurostar’s precarious financial position and whether it’ll get bailed out or not. I don’t have a strong opinion either way, as I believe another operator would take over the infrastructure and run the international route similarly in all but name.
  HOWEVER, what of the thousands of points and vouchers many have acquired over the past few years with Club Eurostar? I, for one, have got quite a few which came from cancelled trips last year, and I do hope I will eventually be able to use them. What are the chances of them retaining value even if Eurostar is allowed to fail? Is it worth booking tickets with these now, as I believe a new operator is much more likely to honour existing tickets than I spent points and vouchers?

  • Ollie says:

    31 Jan31 January 14:59

    Unspent*

  • Tom1 says:

    31 Jan31 January 15:07

    Can you do points & cash redemptions?

    There were some suggestions when virgin’s future was looking uncertain (maybe again now!) that booking a points plus cash booking and paying the cash element on a card would get some protection under S75. I think it’s a little extreme but if you have some travel dates in mind I don’t think it’s the worst idea. Especially if the booking is amendable/refundable.

    • Tom1 says:

      31 Jan31 January 15:09

      ** the idea that the card company would be responsible to put you in the same position you would have been if the supplier had not defaulted – so that could mean putting you on a ferry/plane. There were some doubters whether or not this would be the case, though.

    • Ollie says:

      31 Jan31 January 15:41

      I think you can do cash & points, but the value is much worse (something like 500 points for £20 off, or 2500 points for a free return journey in Standard Premier to anywhere, which can be worth nearly £600 to the Alps!)
      However Rob did report a while ago that they’re still planning to bring in a £16 redemption fee for points only bookings, which may be a saving grace in this case if it triggers S75.

    • kitten says:

      31 Jan31 January 16:35

      just £1 towards something on a credit card gets protection for the whole lot. Remember has to be total spend over £100 but £1 is sufficient to get whole lot covered by s75.

      MSE is best source on this

  • BuildBackBetter says:

    31 Jan31 January 15:29

    Hope Rob can do an article on this.
    Its all a bit complicated as the company seems to be registered in UK, but is majority owned by SNCF, which is fully owned by the French govt. So it depends on who blinks first.

• FFoxSake says:

  31 Jan31 January 15:08

  Qatar just cancelled our Sep 28th first leg of LGW-DOH-SIN and moved us to a LHR departure. We still want to go, but the new flight will only leave us with a 35 minute connection time in Doha. Is that standard practise for a Qatar connection there, it seems rather tight?! (We’ve never flown with them before).
  I can see there is another Qatar LHR-DOH flight 45 mins earlier than the one they’ve moved us on to, which would give us a 1h 15min connection. It seems that would be a safer departure time. Can we request a change without any charges?
  Thanks all.

  • Tom1 says:

    31 Jan31 January 15:12

    If the whole flight end to end is on the same ticket, they would be responsible should you not make the connection, however agree it’s best to try avoid these situations in the first place!

    If you haven’t already, I would ask the question. It’s also possible/likely that the flights change again between now and then, so I wouldn’t get too worried this far out.

    I hope to be in SIN at the same time, might see you there !

    • FFoxSake says:

      31 Jan31 January 15:21

      Thanks Tom. I agree plenty of time yet (and lots of Covid news to pass under the bridge still) before our trip can happen!
      Yes, all have end-to-end on same ticket, but slightly complicated by having 4 people spread across 3 bookings so it might take 3 phone calls to get everyone moved.

      We have a friend in Singapore, plus the F1 there. Then all hoping to go onto Japan for Suzuka the week after. Hard to predict where the world will be by then so not getting the hopes up too high…

      • Tom1 says:

        31 Jan31 January 17:17

        Yes I have family in Singapore – makes for a good base for holidays! I’m keeping my virgin points for an ANA redemption to Japan another time.

        I was going to say I was at the F1 in SIN last year.. but of course it was 2019.

        I have VS redemption flights to HKG in June and September – will be following on to Singapore on both of these if travelling is possible by then. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for September.

  • Charlieface says:

    31 Jan31 January 16:04

    Don’t know about DOH, but BRU allows 35 minutes and AMS allows 45. Both are eminently doable.

    I would say check when the next connection flight is that you might be delayed to. If it’s too long for you to stomach then move your flights. Otherwise take the risk, because a short connection is much more pleasant when it actually works out.

    • FFoxSake says:

      31 Jan31 January 16:20

      Thanks Charlieface – good input.
      I just tried a dummy booking for LHR-DOH-SIN on that day and the 35 min connection isn’t being offered as a routing.
      Also the next flight to SIN if connection is missed is 12.5 hours later…
      Probably safer to move the first leg (unless people know that Qatar usually hold flights for connections in DOH?)

      • AJA says:

        31 Jan31 January 16:37

        I’d want a longer connection especially on the way out and even more so with luggage. I wouldn’t want the worry of missing the DOH-SIN flight. You might make it to the plane on such a short connection but your luggage might not and that would be a problem going on holiday. Coming home again I wouldn’t miss my luggage in quite the same way.

  • Russ says:

    31 Jan31 January 17:12

    ‘Qatar just cancelled our Sep 28th first leg of LGW-DOH-SIN and moved us to a LHR departure.’

    Hmnn….interesting given the flight’s eight months away. Are QR having second thoughts on LGW’s ability to bring in business?

    • Aston100 says:

      31 Jan31 January 17:36

      Seem to have dropped BHX too.

  • Lumma says:

    31 Jan31 January 18:41

    In Doha you have to go through a security checkpoint when in transit, I’ve only flew through there twice but in one direction the queue was pretty substantial – arriving around midnight in this instance. I’d try and get it changed.

  • Jay says:

    31 Jan31 January 19:04

    You’ll be fine, if needed they will collect you from the gate and buggy you to the next gate. SIN normally goes from E22 which is a little out of the way but won’t be an issue. Done many times and never had a problem on short transfer times.

  • Ali M says:

    31 Jan31 January 19:51

    you’ll be fine but try n change.If u let staff know 2 hrs before ur arrival – they’ll have a buggy or something ready to whizz you through.Airlines don’t want us to be stranded and ask for vouchers / stays / compensation and we as customers don’t want to be delayed in the first place.Just let them know – specially if children

    • FFoxSake says:

      31 Jan31 January 20:22

      Thanks for all the replies. We’re going to call and ask about the short connection and request a switch to the earlier flight. The potential downsides of a late arrival would probably outweigh any benefits for us, especially in these “not normal” times!

• Matt B says:

  31 Jan31 January 17:00

  Question from my wife….if she book a flight for her and her mum, could they upgrade themselves with their own avios if the flights are on one booking? Or would they need to have separate bookings?

  • Anna says:

    31 Jan31 January 21:13

    If they’re in a HHA or one is added to friends & family it shouldn’t be an issue, they just need availability in the cabin they want to upgrade to.

• Amar says:

  31 Jan31 January 17:08

  Called BA today to check my options for a cancelled flight in June this year.

  Outbound London to Santiago in First (not cancelled) and returning Lima to London (Cancelled). Was booked using a 241 & 50% sale. YouFirst told me I can’t change dates unless there is avios availability. I told the CC agent that I know you can . . . but was told I was wrong. Guessing I should HUACA? Any thoughts/tips would be much appreciated

  • Harry T says:

    31 Jan31 January 17:19

    You have a right to be rerouted, regardless of award availability. BA have rebooked people into revenue cabins before, as they should. HUACA, I reckon.

• 747_Brat says:

  31 Jan31 January 17:26

  One for the AvGeeks:

  Interesting article on USSR era Bartini Beriev VVA-14 Amphibious Aircraft with 14 engines!

  https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/vva-14-soviet-anti-submarine-aircraft/index.html

  • Russ says:

    31 Jan31 January 17:41

    Interesting article, thanks 747_Brat.

    You can say what you like about the Russians but they’ve always been way ahead of everyone else when it comes to aviation and cutting edge design. They’ve just got it.

    • Super Secret Stuff says:

      31 Jan31 January 18:08

      I’m not quite sure Tupolev 144 or the tragedy at the 1973 Paris Air Show would agree with you there…

      • 747_Brat says:

        31 Jan31 January 18:31

        The rivalry between Tu-144 and Concorde was a legendary one! Unfortunately, I never got to fly in any of these supersonic beauties, but I have had the privilege to view them at Technik Museum Sinsheim in Germany. It is the only place in the world where you will find both Tu-144 and Concorde parked side by side. It sure is an Av Geek’s delight! 🙂

        • kitten says:

          31 Jan31 January 18:42

          but the Tupolev kept crashing.

          Aeroflot domestic flights had a very bad safety rep too. Ok on the longhaul internationals like London and New York but not what they were using for domestics. Same has been said of CA but I may be out of date on both… I hope so.

        • Super Secret Stuff says:

          31 Jan31 January 18:45

          They are bueaties, work had a conference in front of the concorde in Bristol one year. I was in heaven!

          More interested in the plan then my work. Unfortunately I too never got to fly on Concorde. Only ever got to fly on a 747 once, not even in the bubble 😒

        • 747_Brat says:

          31 Jan31 January 18:53

          Seat 1A on a 747 is also an AvGeek’s heaven. It is in the nose of the aircraft on the lower deck. Its location means you are sitting in front of the pilots who are sat on the Upper Deck. But the best thing is that due to the curvature of the windows in seat 1A, you can view the runway and basically everything in the front.

          Have had the privilege to be sat in Seat 1A on a 747 flown by 3 different carriers. 🙂 The last one was on KLM between AMS-MEX in Dec 2019.

        • The cyclist says:

          31 Jan31 January 19:42

          Sounds smashing, I’ve got my anorak packed.

        • Gruntfuttock says:

          31 Jan31 January 19:47

          Was fortunate enough to have flown Concorde in ’92 LHR – JFK return as a familiarisation flight. Brilliant crew too. As an ATC person at the time it was invaluable to see the operation from the pointy end. Took off from Heathrow at 1015 landed Kennedy 0930 local. It handled like a fighter and the pilots loved hand-flying it. Ahh, must have a lie down now 😁

      • DeB20 says:

        31 Jan31 January 18:42

        +1
        Not to forget the recent Sukhoi crash on landing at Moscow about three years ago due to design flaws.

• ianM says:

  31 Jan31 January 17:28

  Does anyone use the Revolut account for stock trading? Is it any good? I suspect it has quite a restricted set of shares. Any opinions welcome, also thinking of trading212 or etoro

  • Ste Cox says:

    31 Jan31 January 17:54

    I have been with trading 212 for about a year now and have an ISA with them. they have a decent selection of shares and never had any issues with them. Always been quick to respond to any questions I have over the online chat as well.

    if you use my referral code once you have added £100 to your account we will both get a free share:

    http://www.trading212.com/invite/4KCL7AN

  • 747_Brat says:

    31 Jan31 January 18:38

    Not sure about Revolut but eToro doesn’t have a good reputation. Their reviews on Trustpilot and elsewhere are notoriously bad.

    I have been using Trading212 personally, which is a commission free trading platform. Apart from shares trading, it offers ISA and CFD trading accounts. Trading212 is particularly handy for investing in US stocks vs traditional trading houses like HL, where they charge £11.95 dealing fee and 1% FX fee.

    P.S.: If you are a novice, avoid CFDs like a plague!

    • 747_Brat says:

      31 Jan31 January 19:10

      If you are looking to sign-up, I would be grateful if you could use my code. To receive the free share in your account, apply the code HXtQf6j3 in your “Invest Account”. You will find the “Apply a Code” option under the account section.
      Thanks.

  • Grant says:

    31 Jan31 January 19:24

    I’ve read good things about Revolut and enough to think its worth the £1 / trade fee. 212 has been bad recently, especially with the length of time it takes to fill an order. I understand they bulk buy to reduce their charges from the intermediary, so your order could end up sitting for a while they wait to gather some more. I will only place limit orders now for that reason, especially on the more volatile stocks.

  • Crispr says:

    31 Jan31 January 20:00

    Avoid Revolut if you can, no reason to trade with them with the other options available.

    Freetrade and 212 are good, 212 can have issues executing trades echoing Grant’s comment, I moved to Freetrade and it is much more reliable and the interface is much more user friendly.

    https://magic.freetrade.io/join/henry/f7b5d12f
    Join me and invest commission-free with Freetrade. Get started with a free share worth £3-£200.

    • ianM says:

      31 Jan31 January 20:44

      Thanks for advice, it seems they all have some sort of downside, I have the 212 app but it doesn’t seem particularly intuitive, etoro looks good but hidden fx fees

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