The HfP chat thread – Monday 8th February

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

• 747_Brat says:

  8 Feb8 February 11:22

  @Peter C
  Did you have any joy activating and getting your Curve card to work?

  I got an email from them early last week asking for an utility bill to confirm my address but nothing after that.

  • Nick Burch says:

    8 Feb8 February 11:48

    Don’t you need the day’s password to order, along with your table number? IIRC the table number is included in the QR code, but the password isn’t, you need to get that from the screens

    • RB says:

      8 Feb8 February 11:54

      Yes but the password was a city on the BA route – so its a level of protection but wouldn’t stop an attack on the system if you had the qr codes?
      I am guessing there must be a level of good faith then some sort of cap in the system for abuse?

  • Pete M says:

    8 Feb8 February 15:36

    I eventually got them to reply after hounding them on Twitter (two weeks after I opened the account). They re-activated my card, which seems to have done the trick!

    • 747_Brat says:

      8 Feb8 February 16:45

      Thanks Pete for sharing your experience. I will also contact them through Twitter.
      And apologies for getting your handle wrong! 😐

      • Pete says:

        8 Feb8 February 19:46

        No worries! A poor experience from start to finish, to be honest!

• RB says:

  8 Feb8 February 11:28

  Having used the BA lounge’s contactless ordering platform- scanning the QR code and ordering – I was wondering how are BA authenticating the passenger is in the lounge – what is stopping me someone from attacking the system with orders remotely?

  I am not saying I want to do that – just want to understand how they authenticate as I dont remember having to get on a local wifi network, or input a booking reference number or anything else – is it just good faith?

  • TGLoyalty says:

    8 Feb8 February 13:36

    They have a new password every day.

• HughM says:

  8 Feb8 February 11:43

  I too am due a basic plastic card from them (a renewal). Thank you for the warning. I will keep the card locked when not in use. I have experienced fraud with the Santander and Nationwide Visa debit cards; not (yet) on Curve.

• Doogie says:

  8 Feb8 February 11:57

  I’ve previously used bendy with the black orange hotel to top up SIPP payments at ii. Just tried to update my card there as it expired last year and the 1p verification transaction failed.

  Has anyone had any success there recently or has that ship sailed?

  • Matt says:

    8 Feb8 February 20:59

    I would try again. Many error messages recently but enough successes in between.

• Definitas says:

  8 Feb8 February 12:09

  I have had worldwide multi-trip travel insurance through a packaged bank account for quite a few years and it has proved to be excellent in times of need. However, renewal terms going forward have far too many restrictions making it almost useless so it is time to move on. I’m looking at several options through well known providers (Trailfinders, Aviva etc) but would be interested if HfP contributors have any recommendations that I could investigate further

  • Ghosty says:

    8 Feb8 February 12:59

    You should also look at moving your bank account for a bonus or better package

    • Youllnever says:

      8 Feb8 February 13:23

      +1. If you can, get the HSBC Premier, which has free worldwide travel insurance included + £125 bank switch offer at the moment.

      • Harry T says:

        8 Feb8 February 15:17

        Beware that you can’t have opened a First Direct account since Jan 2018, if you want a switching bonus. I’m ineligible due to this.

      • definitas says:

        8 Feb8 February 15:18

        I’m pretty sure I won’t meet the criteria but I’ll check

  • BJ says:

    8 Feb8 February 13:40

    LV and Direct Travel insurance have consistently topped MSE recommendations and feedback for many years.

    • Harry T says:

      8 Feb8 February 15:17

      LV pay out.

      • James says:

        8 Feb8 February 16:19

        For now. Let’s see what happens when Bain Capital hollow out the business.

  • BuildBackBetter says:

    8 Feb8 February 14:09

    Battleface has been recommended by a few here

  • Definitas says:

    8 Feb8 February 15:47

    I have car insurance with LV so I will definitely try them

• RogerC says:

  8 Feb8 February 12:11

  Thanks to all those who responded to my query about cancelled ‘teacher’ flights with Qatar – it’s given me hope that I might get away in October. Someone was kind enough to give me a phone number for their operation in the UK, but try as I might, I can’t track down the original comment. Does anyone have that number again, please?

  • Reeferman says:

    8 Feb8 February 13:09

    I made a note of it:
    +44 330 024 0125
    Good luck!

  • Aston100 says:

    8 Feb8 February 13:28

    It was me. The number is in Reeferman’s reply below.

    Let me know how you get on, as I have ‘teacher’ flights for May half term, out of BHX which probably won’t be going ahead. Would love to move them to next year, but current Qatar policy won’t allow a change of dates beyond 1 year after the booking date (September in my case).

    • Aston100 says:

      8 Feb8 February 13:29

      *Above even

• Alex M says:

  8 Feb8 February 14:03

  There were rumors of passengers needing to provide a reason for a trip now. I am travelling soon, but can’t find anywhere that this requirement is in force now. Does anyone know anything about it? TIA!

  • Anna says:

    8 Feb8 February 14:07

    It’s not a requirement per se, you may be asked for proof of your reason for travelling (e.g. work), and if you can’t show that you’ve left home for one of the permitted reasons you can be directed to return home and/or fined by the police. So if you can’t provide the requisite proof you risk missing your flight; I can’t imagine many travel policies would cover this eventuality!

  • TGLoyalty says:

    8 Feb8 February 14:33

    There was meant to be a declaration form but never heard anything more about it.

    There’s actually no requirement/standard for any of the lockdown regulations to provide proof of any funeral, bubble visit, work trip etc

    So what exactly you might need to provide is probably nothing to who knows what.

    • idrive says:

      8 Feb8 February 15:08

      What if the bubble is abroad? Technically still possible?

      • Tracey says:

        8 Feb8 February 21:46

        Theoretically that is fine as UK bubbles have no geographic restriction, you also have to comply with the rules overseas ie if you claim to bubble up with someone residing in a country that doesn’t have a bubble system and is at a lockdown stage where non household members are banned, I don’t see how you can claim to be visiting your bubble.

  • RB says:

    8 Feb8 February 14:46

    Flew from LHR this past Saturday. No one asked any questions why I was travelling nor did it look like there were any random checks taking place. The guy in-front of me was checking in skis – maybe he was sealing a deal on the slopes!

    There was an article in the FT this weekend about it as well – some airline industry body saying it is not their job of airlines to police the law nor should the check-in staff be expected to determine what is and is not valid so looks like the airlines will not do anything other than check you have the required paperwork to enter your destination country to avoid them having to fly you back.

    • Anna says:

      8 Feb8 February 15:06

      Which clearly, BA is doing:
      https://caymannewsservice.com/2021/01/traveller-turned-away-over-expired-covid-test/

      To paraphrase Harry Callahan, I guess you’ve got to ask yourself, “Do I feel lucky?”!

• Javier says:

  8 Feb8 February 15:23

  Iberia is selling gift cards with 25% discount until this Sunday. For flights until 31 December 2021: https://www.iberia.com/es/gift-card/

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