The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 10th February

Links on Head for Points may pay us an affiliate commission. A list of partners is here.

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.

Please only comment under the main articles on the site if your comment is directly related to the topic of the article. This has long-term benefits as it keeps the commentary relevant for people who read those articles in the future.

Old chat threads are hidden from the HfP home page. If you want to look for something in an old thread, click here. This brings up all the articles in our ‘General’ category which includes the chat threads.

Category

General

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

J says:

10 Feb10 February 15:22

Email from Miles & More just now re the closure of the credit card:

“Good news – extra mileage protection
If you are not a status member, any award miles older than 36 months would start expiring as from 1 July 2021.1 But Miles & More is happy to extend your mileage protection until 31 December 2021. After this date, however, your award miles will start to expire in accordance with the Miles & More Terms & Conditions.”

Meh.

I think they need to do better than that…

Out of interest, if someone, who had accumulated miles over >3 years and had been relying on (and paying for) the card to keep them live, suddenly lost a big stack of them because the oldest ones expired come January 1st, would there not be some sort of breach of contract situation arising from the card being pulled? Just curious.
- QFFlyer says:
  
  11 Feb11 February 03:29
  
  I wouldn’t think so, since you were paying the fee to keep the miles alive while you continued to be a cardholder, which has happened. It’s poor but unfortunately I think that’s it.
jason says:

10 Feb10 February 16:06

anyone got any experience of increasing virgin credit card limit ? I am already at 20k but trying to maximise points each month
- Travel Strong says:
  
  10 Feb10 February 17:00
  
  You have to call up and ask. You have to wait until 6 full calendar months have elapsed, so that usually is more like 7 months to be on the safe side – and can do that every 6 full calendar months. They will see what the computer says and often up it a little bit, but nothing life changing in my experience. Jealous of the 20k, well done!
- John says:
  
  10 Feb10 February 18:00
  
  Been on £25000 since card first announced.
  Spend in full and pay off every month.
  Have refused every time to increase limit.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  10 Feb10 February 18:08
  
  and I thought i was doing well with 7.5k when everyone was complaining of tiny limits
  - Benilyn says:
    
    10 Feb10 February 18:36
    
    I’m on 7 or so, how much do you suggest when asking for increase, to 10?
    - Youllnever says:
      
      10 Feb10 February 19:01
      
      You don’t suggest. When you call them up asking for an increase, they tell you a new credit limit which you can then accept or reject.
- ChrisA says:
  
  10 Feb10 February 19:13
  
  You are able to request this online – I did so in November and it asks you to request an amount. I raised my limit by 25%.
  - Alex D says:
    
    10 Feb10 February 20:07
    
    I’ve been on £7.5K since having it when it first came out. Less than 1/4 of what I have on Amex. Always pay in full etc, just given up asking now
Wally1976 says:

10 Feb10 February 16:09

We have cancelled BA flights GIB-LHR for 17/2/21 for which I requested a refund using the web form on 18/1/21. We haven’t received the refund yet – how long do these things normally take? Wondering whether to phone but would rather not really!
- chris says:
  
  10 Feb10 February 16:18
  
  Chase it, i havent cancelled online but via ggl line, and money is usually back on amex in under 48 hours.
- Anna says:
  
  10 Feb10 February 18:11
  
  I cancelled flights online, the cash took just over 2 weeks to appear but there’s no sign of the Avios so it looks like i’m going to have to call anyway.
- Jody says:
  
  10 Feb10 February 18:24
  
  My refund was back in 2 days on my card, I would definitely chase up.
- Wally1976 says:
  
  10 Feb10 February 20:44
  
  Thanks for the replies folks. I should clarify that this is a cash ticket – wasn’t worth using avios as only 20 quid each cash! The outbound was booked with Lloyds upgrade voucher and this has already been refunded by Avios very easily.
BJ says:

10 Feb10 February 16:11

Too soon to book a holiday said Grant…
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-56008363
- PaulC says:
  
  10 Feb10 February 16:38
  
  Further crippling the travel industry without any warning or support, fantastic for those that have survived this far who work in the industry..
- Blair says:
  
  10 Feb10 February 17:23
  
  Psh, it’s never been up to a minister to dictate personal spend choices so why pay attention now. I’m happy enough to still book with hope on AF/KLM , Emirates and others offering refunds (albeit after a period has elapsed). If others prefer to wait till a thoroughly qualified…err, minister says they can, that’s their business.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  10 Feb10 February 18:27
  
  People can’t even hope and dream any more
  - ChrisC says:
    
    10 Feb10 February 19:34
    
    He can go and jump in a lake for all I care.
    
    Booking trips is one of the few things keeping me – and others – sane at the moment and I’ll keep booking them.
    - Andrew says:
      
      10 Feb10 February 20:02
      
      Well of course the government would love you to speculatively book travel and pump money into the economy and the treasury, but they are just trying to manage expectations of the general public that summer holidays are a bit 50/50 at the moment and don’t start complaining when they have to cancel.
      - TGLoyalty says:
        
        10 Feb10 February 20:04
        
        Then I believe the comment could have been worded better by Shapps.
James says:

10 Feb10 February 16:23

I’ve accumulated a nice pot of points on my last (January) Capital On Tap Visa statement. They show on the statement as ‘premium points accrued’. However when I go to the page of the app to redeem them (move to Avios) they do not show as redeemable. Is there a delay between statement and when they can be redeemed?
- PaulC says:
  
  10 Feb10 February 16:33
  
  I think from memory they are only available once you have paid off your statement, I could be wrong as its been a year since I last held the card.
  - James says:
    
    10 Feb10 February 16:44
    
    many thanks 🙂
  - kevbar says:
    
    10 Feb10 February 17:37
    
    Yes that’s right, and even if you pay your statement off early via debit card, you still have to wait until the statement date….
Anna says:

10 Feb10 February 17:21

Michael O’Leary was on Sky News earlier saying that once al the over 50s have been vaccinated the government must allow people to book holidays to Europe, but no further (which coincidentally corresponds more or less to Ryanair’s route network)!
- Blair says:
  
  10 Feb10 February 17:24
  
  Is anyone really being stopped booking a holiday right now? Package operators aside, any airline or hotel will take a booking now.
  - Anna says:
    
    10 Feb10 February 18:09
    
    Of course not, I was just laughing at O’Leary’s shameless self-promotion!
    I’ve got Plan A and Plan B booked and wondering whether to get a Plan C sorted before prices go up any more.
    - BLG says:
      
      10 Feb10 February 18:54
      
      Gosh. I assumed you were at least on plan K. You must have a great filing system and plenty of time on your hands
      - Anna says:
        
        10 Feb10 February 21:24
        
        Well obviously there’s Easter Plans A – C, summer Plans A – C and so on. Plenty of time as not commuting, shopping or socialising, like lots of other people.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  10 Feb10 February 18:09
  
  “Europe, but no further”
  
  haha I’m sure he would love that
  - Anna says:
    
    10 Feb10 February 18:12
    
    Don’t they say God loves a trier 😂
    - Blair says:
      
      10 Feb10 February 18:51
      
      Good grief, life’s too short for Ryanair. I thoroughly agree with the Plans A-C approach. Best place some bets prior to price hikes if/when normality returns.
      - BLG says:
        
        10 Feb10 February 18:56
        
        But with reward flights and hotels booked on points there is no price hike involved
      - Harrier25 says:
        
        10 Feb10 February 19:01
        
        When normality returns I certainly won’t be booking a flight with Ryanair. I’d drive 100 miles further to another airport and pay £100 more if need be, rather than give O’Leary any of my hard earned income. The man is a complete disgrace!
      - TGLoyalty says:
        
        10 Feb10 February 20:06
        
        That implies you would have booked before his comments?
        
        Tbh it’s last on my list of preferred airlines but needs must sometimes.
        
        He just wants people back on his planes and probably thinks screw any other carrier not operating within Europe.
      - Harrier25 says:
        
        10 Feb10 February 20:22
        
        No, I haven’t flown with Ryanair for years.
      - Anna says:
        
        10 Feb10 February 21:21
        
        There are refundable cash rates, you know!
      - Lady London says:
        
        10 Feb10 February 23:29
        
        price hikes are already here. It’s brutal if you’ve got to travel at short notice.
      - Polly says:
        
        10 Feb10 February 23:55
        
        Have to say Michael has been there for us many a time, used them like a bus back and forth to Dublin often only 12.99 a flight.. FR ow, and BA the other, mix and match…when it works, it works. But last minute prices a nightmare as LL says…
        One time had to,get back for a funeral from Bergerac, 250 ow to STN. Just returned our hire car to Toulouse, and got RFS from there to lhr. Long story, but those prices to be expected, as most folks wouldn’t have a choice like we at hfp do…
KBuffett says:

10 Feb10 February 18:36

Does anyone know is HSBC premier credit card allows you accumulate more points than your monthly credit limit? Preload or pay off early
- Benilyn says:
  
  10 Feb10 February 18:37
  
  Yes
  - 747_Brat says:
    
    10 Feb10 February 20:04
    
    On a similar note, does HSBC allow you to pay in advance and build up a credit, in order to purchase something above your credit limit?
    - Oli says:
      
      10 Feb10 February 20:23
      
      I would not think so, given it can only be paid via direct debit
      - 747_Brat says:
        
        10 Feb10 February 21:40
        
        I don’t have a direct debit setup and pay them manually
    - memesweeper says:
      
      10 Feb10 February 22:50
      
      No
      
      Even a BACD transfer to put an account in credit will fail
      - 747_Brat says:
        
        10 Feb10 February 23:06
        
        Thanks memesweeper
Mco says:

10 Feb10 February 18:57

I need to go to Mumbai for work but it has a 7 day hotel quarantine requirement from the UK. Does anyone see a issue if I stop enroute to do my 7 day quarantine before I get there. Problem is will border force stop me going through a holiday destination to Mumbai. I have all the necessary documents ready to prove my visit.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  10 Feb10 February 19:50
  
  No
- KS says:
  
  10 Feb10 February 20:20
  
  Make that 14 days at a holiday destination. They are asking for 14 day travel history.
  https://csmia.aero/pdf/covid-19/20210101-MOHFW-SOPfor-the-new-variant-of-SARS-CoV2.pdf
  - Mco says:
    
    10 Feb10 February 20:29
    
    Its 7 days at hotel and 7 days at home. Just trying to avoid the hotel part.
    - KS says:
      
      10 Feb10 February 20:39
      
      I’m not sure that’s how they will see it. If you have been in UK within the past 14 days, you will have to follow the protocol for arrivals from UK.
      
      “DGCA will also strictly monitor that the airlines do not allow any passengers to travel from UK to India through a transit airport of third country, to ensure there are no omissions in monitoring of those passengers.”
      
      “All international travellers as described in the scope above will be required to declare as per existing procedure, their travel history (of past 14 days) and fill up the Self Declaration Form to be screened for COVID-19.”