The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 24th February

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747_Brat says:

24 Feb24 February 16:48

Those of you who did not jump the ship on to Sainsbury’s and decided to stick around with Tesco, have you had any special vouchers recently?

They seemed to upped their game shortly after Avios partnership broke down with ‘double points’ vouchers, but I haven’t had any new vouchers in a long time. Are they still rolling out new vouchers?
- BuildBackBetter says:
  
  24 Feb24 February 17:15
  
  Nothing since the divorce.
  Funny I got double points vouchers before the break up.
  Looks like they are focussed on Aldi price match.
- Scott says:
  
  24 Feb24 February 17:22
  
  I got some online, but nothing has arrived in the post. Perhaps due to me not earning enough for a voucher after converting most to Avios?
  I got 2 × double points; 25 points on nuts, root veg, flowers, yoghurt and something else.
- Liz says:
  
  24 Feb24 February 17:47
  
  I had double pts vouchers in Dec and early Jan but nothing since. I am sticking with Tesco.
  - Rob says:
    
    24 Feb24 February 19:18
    
    We had a Lidl open recently (about 2 years ago!)
    
    It couldn’t be your only supermarket as the range is not extensive enough, but I am very impressed by the quality and price of own brand Fruit and veg, bakery, cheese, and meat. Their “specials” can also be fantastic – Alpine, Greek, Spanish and French weeks have some fantastic stuff – Comte cheese for less than 2 quid? a leg of Iberico ham for 8 quid etc…
    
    Their recently launched Lidl Plus app gives you a 2 quid voucher on 100 quid spend, 10 quid on 200.
    
    (apologies for “quid” I am typing on a non UK keyboard so no pound sign)
    - Rob says:
      
      24 Feb24 February 19:19
      
      Forgot to mention they take Amex, so I still get points on Gold or BA.
    - RussellH says:
      
      24 Feb24 February 20:47
      
      ALT-0163 is the code for ‘£’ when it is not on the keyboard.
    - Aston100 says:
      
      24 Feb24 February 23:29
      
      Agree with all of that.
      Shame they cannot be a one shop solution; always need to go elsewhere to complete the shopping.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  24 Feb24 February 21:35
  
  I had some land a couple weeks before the sainsburys deal was announced £8 of £40
Secret Squirrel says:

24 Feb24 February 16:54

Has anyone been successful with Virgin money upgrading the VA fee free card to the premium version on the phone with CS? About 6x months ago I got an email inviting me to upgrade, I submitted the application but to date never been upgraded?
- Martyn Ford says:
  
  24 Feb24 February 20:59
  
  Yes, I did this. I had to apply for the premium version in the knowledge that I would be declined and then call them. It all happened very quickly.
DJ says:

24 Feb24 February 19:14

IC AMB 2 for 1 Cert:

1st night: £150
2nd night: £250

The certificate says that the second night £250 will be free. Is that true? Or I will be paying (£150+£250) / 2 = £200?

Thanks
- Anna says:
  
  24 Feb24 February 19:29
  
  The second night should be free, so you can win or lose in this scenario, depending on which nights you book. If you check your account it makes this clear:
  “The complimentary weekend night is valid on the second night of a paid weekend stay on the Ambassador Weekend Rate. Weekends may vary by region.”
  Though it’s not just weekends any more as you can use the certificate any night at a Kimpton or Regent for the time being.
- Rob says:
  
  24 Feb24 February 20:42
  
  2nd night is free – that’s the rule. Sometimes you get lucky like you, sometimes not.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  24 Feb24 February 21:37
  
  Great isn’t it. I like booking those types of scenarios with my voucher. I’ll even splash out on lounge access as the 2nd sat is “free”
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    24 Feb24 February 21:37
    
    Obviously I mean booking a club room.
    
    If you book a standard room and you ask about lounge access cost on top you’ll have to pay for both nights.
bafan says:

24 Feb24 February 19:15

Just had my first vaccine today! NHS and Army working very well together. Efficient as anything. Great work by all :).
- Harry T says:
  
  24 Feb24 February 19:35
  
  It’s really inspiring isn’t it? I had my second dose today and I was once again overcome by the spirit and efficiency of the vaccination effort. Glad to hear you’ve got your first dose 😊
  - Cabal of rabid baboons says:
    
    24 Feb24 February 19:49
    
    It’s a great effort by all concerned, it makes you proud to be British .
    - Bill says:
      
      24 Feb24 February 20:20
      
      He might have had Pfizer Biotech
      - Cabal of rabid baboons says:
        
        24 Feb24 February 20:35
        
        He also may have gone to Brussels on the euro tunnel to receive it? If that’s the case congratulations to our European cousins.
  - bafan says:
    
    25 Feb25 February 09:06
    
    It really was. People working so hard, really great stuff. And @Cabal, yes I had the AZ ;).
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  24 Feb24 February 21:39
  
  Hopefully it doesn’t make you feel pants tomorrow.
  
  AZ gave me a terrible headache and couple others I know have had the same plus fever.
  - Harry T says:
    
    24 Feb24 February 21:56
    
    I’ve still not had any side effects from Pfizer/Biontech!
    - Dubious says:
      
      25 Feb25 February 00:40
      
      About 6 hours after my second dose I had bad-cold like symptoms for 24 hours (chills followed by fever as well as aches and pains, but obviously no sinus problems) as well as a general loss of energy and tiredness.
      Had a headache for about 3 days but it got gradually less constant over the three days.
  - stevenhp1987 says:
    
    24 Feb24 February 22:00
    
    I had mild fever and chills about 24 hours after first AZ jab.
    
    Went to bed early and it was gone by the morning.
    
    Just a sore arm for about a week after that.
    
    All good, natural, immune responses!
    - TGLoyalty says:
      
      24 Feb24 February 23:36
      
      Yup sore arm lasted 3-4 days but tbh that wasn’t too bad at all.
  - Jill (Kinkell) says:
    
    24 Feb24 February 22:18
    
    I had the headache, husband out of sorts for several days, muscle aches, and generally fatigued. (OxAZ)
  - JDB says:
    
    24 Feb24 February 23:08
    
    People who have had second jab say AZ can make you feel a bit ill after the first one, but second is fine whereas Pfizer can make you feel a bit ill for the second one, although first is fine.
    - Cabal of rabid baboons says:
      
      24 Feb24 February 23:21
      
      Pal of mine had flu like symptoms overnight after his AZ jab.
      Middle aged but a carer.
      - Travel Strong says:
        
        25 Feb25 February 00:20
        
        The real gems are in the lower numbers in the full Pfizer after effect data. 9 people reported crying; 1 sunburn; 2 genital herpes; and 2 pregnancies. Risky business this vaccine!
Mrs H says:

24 Feb24 February 21:14

Gave up on doing anything productive with Accor points. Cashed out for a “power bank” . Better than losing points. Annoying because I had 2 nights booked in July 2020 on non refundable rate which would have reset till this July . Unlikely to be passing down the A1 before the hotel voucher expires .
- Phil says:
  
  24 Feb24 February 21:47
  
  A club opinion survey would’ve generated 25 points, enough to extend the expiry on the points for another year.
  - Mrs H says:
    
    24 Feb24 February 22:34
    
    I’ve done them before , but couldn’t get in from Accor at the moment.
AnotherUser says:

24 Feb24 February 21:23

Village Hotels have acted impeccably when I’ve not been able to use my very cheap hotel booking due to Covid – letting me cancel online or move the stay at the same discounted rate. This has happened twice to the same booking now – which sucks, but isn’t their fault!
MilesOnPoint says:

24 Feb24 February 23:26

FYI my Amex (personal) Platinum referral bonus has gone up to 18k on my card (from normal 12k) this evening

More importantly though, there is now an exclusive offer for anyone I refer for the Personal Amex Platinum with sign up bonus of *50,000 MR points for £4k spend* in 3 months (ordinarily personal Plat only yields 35k MR points when referred).

Not sure if this is targeted to me or on ALL personal Amex Platinum card accounts. YMMV
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  24 Feb24 February 23:37
  
  My gold charge has 12k bonus and 32k for anyone I refer to the gold credit!
  
  My platinum doesn’t have a boost as yet
  - Harry T says:
    
    25 Feb25 February 00:18
    
    I’ve got the same enhanced referral offer as TG on my gold credit and my gold charge cards.
- Travel Strong says:
  
  25 Feb25 February 00:22
  
  I’ve got the same on platinum …. 2 days after completing 2 referrals. Doh!
- Rob says:
  
  25 Feb25 February 08:20
  
  Amex is doing a lot of trials at the moment on referral bonuses and referral incentives.