The HfP chat thread – Sunday 28th February

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General

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Reney says:

28 Feb28 February 12:18

I saw on yesterday’s chat about the Barclays and Avios partnership. The post seems to suggest there would be a high fee and a voucher similar to the Lloyds one. I don’t think I missed an article on it, google came up with nothing. Can someone provide more details pls? Or is it pure speculation? Thanks
- Rob says:
  
  28 Feb28 February 12:49
  
  We have an agreement with Barclays not to discuss it until the official launch, which is literally hours away you will be pleased to hear. As details have been leaking out this agreement has left us a bit high and dry, but a deal is a deal.
  
  The upside is that the info we have to share is comprehensive and ‘official’.
  - Ali M says:
    
    28 Feb28 February 13:17
    
    I am sure they value your being tight lipped and I can see you have responsibly moderated the site as well.I can imagine thought that must be a bit frustrating that leaks happening elsewhere and that ‘wow’ factor might be dulled for the savvy few
    - Doug M says:
      
      28 Feb28 February 14:56
      
      The leaks are happening because it’s on the Barclays website. They don’t have to look far for the problem.
    - The Savage Squirrel says:
      
      28 Feb28 February 16:01
      
      HfP “wins” because it has better comprehensive analysis of new offers and products, usually backed up by further analysis and information in an active comments section; not because it’s a fraction earlier timewise than competitors. I wouldn’t worry. 🙂 .
      - Tony says:
        
        28 Feb28 February 22:42
        
        +1
  - Andy says:
    
    28 Feb28 February 14:29
    
    Looking forward to hearing more about this, my Barclays Premier account is frankly useless beyond Blue Rewards, which is not Premier specific. Any additional Avios earnings now that my BA Amex is closed is more than welcome!
    - Nadeshka says:
      
      28 Feb28 February 16:35
      
      There’s more if you have other products, we used to get £12/month. Plus the other offers, used to get free daily coffee at patesserie valerie and often cakes too. Plus gourmet club, national trust membership etc.
      We definitely got value from it but ultimately it wasn’t what swayed us to them, that was the headline interest rates, so it was a bonus. I’ll probably see this avios similarly.
    - Youllnever says:
      
      28 Feb28 February 16:41
      
      Like Nadeshka has said, it’s a lot better if you hold other Barclays product as well. For example, having a mortgage with them gives an additional £5 per month.
  - Reney says:
    
    28 Feb28 February 17:44
    
    Thanks. I look forward to it!
  - Matt says:
    
    28 Feb28 February 22:35
    
    It’s not details leaking, they’ve put it on their website! Makes you and them look a bit ridiculous, meticulously deleting comments reposting links to official Barclays pages.
LST says:

28 Feb28 February 12:41

Re the Amex business offer,
If I get an Amex business card in my wife’s name (I don’t qualify for the bonus at this time) and am struggling to get to £10k in three months, can I use her card to pay some of my HMRC self assessment early via bill hop? Never used bill hop before it would make sense in this scenario to get to the spend target.
Thanks in advance.
LST
- Rob says:
  
  28 Feb28 February 12:47
  
  Yes, should work fine.
  - LST says:
    
    28 Feb28 February 13:07
    
    Thanks Rob
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  28 Feb28 February 13:23
  
  Remember than amex don’t do name verification.
Roger says:

28 Feb28 February 12:58

Did Amex Apple offer worked for anyone who might have tried buying Apple store gift card (not iTunes) online?
- Andrew says:
  
  28 Feb28 February 13:07
  
  Not tried on this year’s one, but previously worked fine. Bottom line is that Apple sell them to you directly, not via a third party, like Selfridges does and that’s the reason that it wouldn’t work.
- Sarah says:
  
  28 Feb28 February 14:13
  
  I have just purchased a £500 Apple store e-card and the £50 credit by Amex has been activated, as Andrew said.
  - Doc says:
    
    28 Feb28 February 16:42
    
    Sorry to sound a little but stupid but the offer was for iphone 12 Pro. So buying an apple store e-card is still ok? This is the first time I have bought apple e-cards.
    - Sarah says:
      
      28 Feb28 February 17:13
      
      It only mentions iPhone 12 on the initial offer but when you click through to the T & Cs it mentions nothing about this – just lists a few exclusions. I thought it was worth as go as I want to buy something from them anyway so have lost nothing as the gift card has no expiry date.
    - TGLoyalty says:
      
      28 Feb28 February 17:14
      
      Usually Amex have no idea what you’re actually buying (except for airline tickets where they know the route) so while it says iPhone 12 it should work on anything purchased from Apple
Andrew (@andrewseftel) says:

28 Feb28 February 13:12

20% back on UK Hotel bookings through Expedia today through one of the websites I can’t name. Max £40 rebate.
Aston100 says:

28 Feb28 February 13:27

Hi there, I’m wanting to book two rooms at a Holiday Inn.
From a points earning perspective, could someone please remind me if it’s better to do two separate bookings – one per room, or if you get the same points and welcome amenities regardless.

Thanks.
- Anna says:
  
  28 Feb28 February 15:53
  
  I’ve a feeling that only one booking will count towards status and they may well only give any welcome amenities to you, the account holder (though I don’t think you get much at HIs!). If wanted to maximise all that stuff I would make the bookings on separate accounts (mine and OH’s) and check in separately. Hotel stays are starting to become a dim and distant memory but I think a second room tracks as “non-qualifying” or something similar, although I did get points for the whole spend.
  - Aston100 says:
    
    28 Feb28 February 16:00
    
    Thanks Anna.
    Just making a (belated) plan B for May half term.
    Domestic hotel prices have gone bonkers and availability is fast reducing!
    - Anna says:
      
      28 Feb28 February 16:46
      
      They certainly have – this is the time to make some redemption bookings before points rates go the same way. I don’t know if there are races on or whatnot, but the HI in York is charging £300 pn on some summer weekends at the moment!!
- Rob says:
  
  28 Feb28 February 16:20
  
  https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2019/09/23/ihg-rewards-club-multiple-rooms-credit/
Chris H says:

28 Feb28 February 13:42

I want to buy 5 x Universal Studios 4 day passes soon, and this might be a great opportunity to get the £150 rebate for a £1000 plus spend. Otherwise, I can’t see an opportunity any time soon for a £1000 spend.
Has anyone spent the £1000 necessary to trigger the £150 refund and got it for spend at hotels or any other establishment abroad with the spend being charged in GBP?
- Andrew says:
  
  28 Feb28 February 21:09
  
  That’s not going to work though is it?
  
  2-Park – 4-Day One Park Per Day Promo Ticket is $239.62 including Tax. That’s £175.00 at the moment, or £875 total.
  - Chris H says:
    
    1 Mar1 March 10:46
    
    Hi Andrew, I should have said I am intending to buy 2 sets to cover the 12 days we will be there. However, my question is still – will it be included as a UK GBP purchase of over £1000 if I pay in pounds? Rob already said it is unclear, so my question went out to anyone who has successfully done this, or something similar.
david says:

28 Feb28 February 15:09

Hi can I book a flight with a Qantas flight number if its operated by someone else with avios ?
- Charlieface says:
  
  28 Feb28 February 15:34
  
  You need to call up BA
- AJA says:
  
  28 Feb28 February 15:38
  
  The answer is no if you mean using Avios to book a QF ticket on a flight operated by Jetstar.
- Rob says:
  
  28 Feb28 February 16:14
  
  No, unless it is a Qantas-owned subsidiary. You can’t, for example, book the QF-coded Emirates flights on Avios.
Boi says:

28 Feb28 February 15:45

Just posting this again in case it is buried in previous comments:
Our IHG free night certs:
1. Book 1 between 08/25/2020 – 03/13/2022
2. Book 1 between 01/23/2020 – 12/31/2021
3. Book 1 between 01/25/2021 – 01/25/2022

Looks like one has been extended…Do you think it is still book by or I might be caught out?

I am expecting a 4th one this year and hoping to book a longish break with all 4.

Thanks to ernie we have 900K points on top. Constant stream of earning with virgin, IHG, HH from Ernie.
(and for the first time in my life I have over a million HH too, plus marriott points).
Our move to Canada has also boosted our point balances with new Amex cards, 100K sign up bonus on HSBC WE.
Like everyone else here I cant wait for travel to resume, currently have zero bookings as I am taking no chances.
- Anna says:
  
  28 Feb28 February 15:57
  
  I don’t want to hazard a guess, but in my account each free night has Ts and Cs attached so I would have at look at those if you haven’t already. Have you also tried a couple of dummy bookings to see if you can book beyond the expiry dates?
  - Boi says:
    
    28 Feb28 February 16:21
    
    Anna, The 2 free nights in one account has only one set of T&Cs, and it is standard use 12 months from date of issue. But individually say “book by” but I am getting confused as other people have mentioned the extended ones say “stay by…” which isnt the case with mine.
    - Anna says:
      
      28 Feb28 February 16:49
      
      I would argue that “book by” means exactly that but I have had a couple of discussions with IHG recently and they have been digging in their heels on further extensions of free nights and related benefits!
- Richster says:
  
  28 Feb28 February 16:01
  
  @Boi Hoping to do that same move soon, what did you get re new Amex cards in CAN and how?
  - Boi says:
    
    28 Feb28 February 16:15
    
    Hi Richster,
    great move. When are you moving? I started with Amex bonvoy via Amex global transfer. Started with it coz its referral is terrible (the referred get a raw deal). Then after establishing amex relationship get referrals for others. Prince of travel has an Amex flow chart to show a 2 player mode which is good.
    - Richster says:
      
      28 Feb28 February 17:07
      
      @Boi After we’ve been vaccinated! Hopefully. Good plan you outline, thanks! Great flowchart – thanks!
      - Boi says:
        
        28 Feb28 February 21:41
        
        Let me know if I can be of any help closer to the time. We moved last year in August. I am getting my vaccine today-was offered in in January but held off. Now I am thinking there is no way out without it.
    - Richster says:
      
      1 Mar1 March 17:09
      
      @Boi Thank you! not sure how to contact you via this, still looking for a mysterious Direct message link… 🙂 Good Luck with the vaccine, it’s the only way!