The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 2nd March

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Alan says:

2 Mar2 March 19:38

Has any one used and can recommend the mobile phone insurance from:

AMEX
Curve Metal
Nat West

I have a dead phone (sat in water for 8hr) and insurance policies with all of the above.

NB It would be a great improvement if companies let you pick the benefits you actually want from a menu rather than all providing pretty much the same so that you end up with the same benefit multiple times over.
- GaryC says:
  
  2 Mar2 March 19:44
  
  I have good experience with NatWest insurance (with Black account) – got a replacement phone with no quibble on a nearly new £900 handset lost on a train.
- Harrier25 says:
  
  2 Mar2 March 20:09
  
  I can highly recommend the Nationwide FlexPlus current account. Travel, mobile phone and breakdown insurance, plus no FX fees all for just £13 per month.
- Super Secret Stuff says:
  
  2 Mar2 March 21:34
  
  Depends what Amex cards you have. They’re usually pretty good at this stuff
  
  Curve, as a bystander, seem like they try and wriggle out of anything they can.
- kitten says:
  
  2 Mar2 March 21:45
  
  try Curve first. best not to risk a future further claim with a provider so pick Curve. Check small print before approaching any.
  - Alan says:
    
    2 Mar2 March 22:50
    
    Thanks all
    I think I will try Curve, they have the lowest excess, don’t seem to have any difficult small print and, given the amount of HMRC and Ernie spend I am putting through them, I may not have the account for all that much longer.
Jody says:

2 Mar2 March 19:43

Thanks to Matthew (think that’s the right person anyway!) my easyJet gamble paid off. Super cheap flights to Alicante cancelled (well technically they seem to have been condensed and we’ve been put on a different flight 12 hours earlier) so that means I can move them to anywhere in Spain at any time.

Anyone have any knowledge of when easyJet are releasing their summer 2022 flights?
- Anuj says:
  
  2 Mar2 March 21:13
  
  Anyone have any suggestions for any flights in Spain to do this now?
  - Jody says:
    
    2 Mar2 March 21:33
    
    They’re disappearing fast! I booked last week, just picked the cheapest ones I could find, which happened to be Alicante. Made sure they were as early in may as possible (was cheaper than April) so that it was way before travel is likely to start again. I did spend quite some time looking at various destinations and the cheapest fares.
    
    It is a gamble, but easyJet are allowing free changes (you still have to pay the difference if the flights cost more) so if not cancelled, I would have moved the flights to a cheap weekend next year.
- Bill says:
  
  2 Mar2 March 21:57
  
  Think it’s 9 March
- kitten says:
  
  2 Mar2 March 21:58
  
  @Jody have you had any communication from Easyjet about this? Back in the autumn they went through a stage of moving passengers off any cancelled flight onto a different flight on that same day and saying it was a time change not a cancellation.
  
  Back then (Oct or so) it seemed they only sent out a canvellation email when all other flights on that day had been cancelled.
  
  What did they say in their email to you on this one?
- Matthew says:
  
  3 Mar3 March 00:32
  
  Good effort! Glad it worked out for you…
  - Matthew says:
    
    3 Mar3 March 00:37
    
    My Oct half terms flight for 4 are now pricing up at £3200. But I paid just over £200 total inc 2x23kg bags. Can’t grumble at that….!
kevbar says:

2 Mar2 March 19:54

Datapoint – my Avios to nectar reqd 22nd Feb have come through to Nectar this evening…
- Colin MacKinnon says:
  
  2 Mar2 March 20:46
  
  Mine too. But does this mean I miss out on the March transfer?
  - Super Secret Stuff says:
    
    2 Mar2 March 21:36
    
    In practice, no one knows yet.
    
    Theoretically you should be fine as you started the transfer in Feb
David says:

2 Mar2 March 20:33

I called Avios yesterday about the possibility of any further extension to my final Lloyds Avios upgrade voucher (due to expire 31st March), however that remains the furthest they could extend it. I was advised that no further extensions will likely be offered (although should ring back later in the month to be certain). I wouldn’t want to lose the voucher but this doesn’t seem well aligned to BA’s position with the ‘2 for 1’ Amex vouchers, which I understand have recently had their validity further extended – and indeed Virgin Atlantic’s position where vouchers are being extended for another three months, if I recall correctly. Given that international travel remains illegal for leisure purposes it feels like a gamble as to where and when may be a suitable bet to book (even though you can book around a year hence). I find this very frustrating as travel options are currently far from clear and the government are not due to publish the findings of their travel review until mid April, based on the current advised programme. In any case I’d better start doing some research as to possible destinations!
- Peggerz says:
  
  2 Mar2 March 22:24
  
  Hi @David.
  I had two Lloyds vouchers with a book by expiry of 31/1/2021, so bit the bullet and booked 2 x CE flights to Crete in October – with add on connections from EDI. Just couldn’t decide when things would open up elsewhere and these vouchers have moved dates several times so just wanted to get them used up. (Unlike Rob, I’ve never had a problem with the weather in Crete in October.) I know there are no guarantees that countries will be open even in October due to Covid flare-ups and variants, but Greece is as good a bet as any.
Super Secret Stuff says:

2 Mar2 March 21:43

Norwegian air has just told the Irish court that they have come an agreement with 36 aircraft lessors. Court due to rule on repubating more aircraft on Friday (not a lawyer, think I’ve understood it right)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/norwegian-air-reaches-agreement-end-171426122.html
Lady London says:

3 Mar3 March 09:36

Lines not direct to Angel but could try Staybridge near Victoria or if Stratford is open. IHG has 30% off and 3for2 offers right now.

Personally I’d do those as I also prefer to have selfcatering option. Staybridge also has washing machine and some form of free breakfast daily if you dont wanr to cook breakfast. Not sure if they’re still doing the free cocktail hour on weekdays during covid.

What you get is much more like a mini-suite and current rates even before the promo are fine.
- Lady London says:
  
  3 Mar3 March 09:42
  
  *above for Ammar
  (wordpress auto-refresh allowing to lose name linjk back to post a reply is being typed to after only about 30 seconds again…..sigh!!)