The HfP chat thread – Friday 12th March

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r* says:

12 Mar12 March 12:22

Does anyone have any advice on planning a trip to bora bora using avios? Im guessing using some form of multicarrier redemption would be the best option?
- meta says:
  
  12 Mar12 March 12:44
  
  Can’t be done purely on Avios. You can do it with American Airlines do as they partner with Air Tahiti Nui.
- Heathrow Flyer says:
  
  12 Mar12 March 13:40
  
  I looked at planning this for 2020. If you can get your hands on some United Miles there was often availability on SFO – PPT down the back.
  
  Another option used to be through Santiago on LATAM via Easter Island, but it looks like they’ve stopped that route. Also Avios redemptions are no longer available on LATAM.
- Secret Squirrel says:
  
  12 Mar12 March 17:35
  
  You can do BA to LAX, then you need AA miles to PPT. Then cash fare into last stop.
  - Secret Squirrel says:
    
    12 Mar12 March 17:37
    
    Or another route Far East but inc a 50 min taxi to another airport to pick up your connection.
- david says:
  
  12 Mar12 March 20:51
  
  The killer is the short hop from PPT to Bora-Bora its £300 in economy and no miles will buy it and the the rip off transfer across the lagoon. Having said that it is stunning – hotels are expensive but that can be sorted with Bonvoy.
H says:

12 Mar12 March 12:58

Apologies if this has been discussed already but can you no longer refer for an Amex Nectar card? The list of cards that come up using my referral link do not Nectar or Harrods
- Anna says:
  
  12 Mar12 March 13:10
  
  Someone mentioned the other day that this and other cards have been removed from the referral process – it seems to be the ones with no annual fee, conveniently!
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    12 Mar12 March 13:45
    
    Really annoying because I now have a boosted 18k on my platinum and 2 people that want a nectar card!
    - Andrew says:
      
      12 Mar12 March 14:14
      
      Does that work, referring from a MR card to a card which earns in another currency (nectar in this case)?
      - BJ says:
        
        12 Mar12 March 14:46
        
        Generally yes, but from time to time cross card-family referrals were suspended for short periods.
- Rob says:
  
  12 Mar12 March 13:38
  
  Agree, I don’t see it either. We’ve not had any advance notification of anything happening to the card though.
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    12 Mar12 March 15:10
    
    What’s even more odd is I can’t refer from my nectar card either.
    
    So somethings changed in Amex’s strategy these past few days
    - Genghis says:
      
      12 Mar12 March 18:38
      
      I was planning on getting a nectar card as next Amex. Now to rethink my play.
Rob says:

12 Mar12 March 12:59

Just tried to apply for the business gold amex for my father, relating to a company we are both directors of.

Application has been denied and really not sure why. Is this one of those situations where you can appeal/it’s worth appealing in some way?

Bit of a kick in the teeth and not sure if it’d because of something stupid I put in the application.
- Rob says:
  
  12 Mar12 March 13:36
  
  The card has personal liability so Amex is only concerned with his financial status. If his personal income is low or erratic then it will impact the application.
  - Rob says:
    
    12 Mar12 March 14:06
    
    I contacted them and they said hat for some reason they couldn’t find his financial history on Experian and that is why they couldn’t approve it. He is high income bracket with 20+ years at the same address and several bank accounts etc.
    
    The agent said there wasn’t anything he could do as a result, but that seems bonkers to me..
    - BuildBackBetter says:
      
      12 Mar12 March 14:44
      
      Run credit reports for him on experian or totally money or any such similar services. They’ll usually tell you if public records are available.
- Jayne says:
  
  12 Mar12 March 13:37
  
  You shouldn’t be applying for cards for your father, surely? Get him to apply himself.
  - Mike says:
    
    12 Mar12 March 14:15
    
    I say the same every time my wife asks me to make her a coffee.
    - ankomonkey says:
      
      12 Mar12 March 14:58
      
      🙂
  - BJ says:
    
    12 Mar12 March 14:51
    
    Presumably they mean with their father’s full knowledge and consent. Not everybody is computer savvy and some people,e even have power of attorney.
- Char Char says:
  
  12 Mar12 March 13:50
  
  It is worth appealing as mine originally got declined but they contacted me and said I could have it as it was an internal check that didn’t pass.
Nori says:

12 Mar12 March 13:32

FYI re Lloyds avios vouchers. They’re being extended again if you call Avios.
- Nigel W says:
  
  12 Mar12 March 14:07
  
  Thanks, do you know how long they are extending them by?
  - Ian_H says:
    
    12 Mar12 March 14:19
    
    Yes, til 31/10 (Book by)
    - whiskerxx says:
      
      12 Mar12 March 14:51
      
      to add to that – mine expired in November and December 2020. Web chat said they couldn’t do anything, but customer services reinstated them until October 2021
- Kevin says:
  
  12 Mar12 March 20:21
  
  Thanks for the info
Josh says:

12 Mar12 March 13:51

Hey all

Just got my 100k bonus for plat biz amex.

Am I able to downgrade to the gold biz amex and if so, what happens with regards to the fee? It’s currently free in year 1. Does this apply to me if I were to downgrade?

Hoping to get pro rata refund of plat biz, move to gold biz, free for 1 year, keep MR points until we know which airline we want to use them for.

Thanks!
- KBuffett says:
  
  12 Mar12 March 14:05
  
  You will get a prorata refund for Plat, but you will be charged for Gold. It’s only fee free for new customers, and you’re not a new customer.
  
  Does anyone know if the 100k Business Plat bonus can be stacked with a referral from someone?
  - Josh says:
    
    12 Mar12 March 14:36
    
    Thanks. What do you mean by stacked with a referral?
    
    I referred my wife from my personal amex and I got the bonus and she got an extra 5k MR points. My wife referred my sister for plat biz and she got the 18k points
- xcalx says:
  
  12 Mar12 March 17:54
  
  If you have not already done so apply for 6 supp cards for 5k each then cancel
Lee says:

12 Mar12 March 13:55

Booked 3 CW reward tickets for Oct half term, MAN-LHR-MLE then DOH-LGW-MAN. But all were showing Seat choices are only available at check-in. I thought you could pay for choosing seats?
- David B says:
  
  12 Mar12 March 14:07
  
  I had the same thing. I could book the seats for the outward leg which is in first, but not for the CW return leg. I seem to recall when I phoned to change my tickets over that the agent said that I wouldn’t be able to do this until the E-ticket was issued, which could take up to 3 weeks. Odd that this is only the case for CW though…
  - Lee says:
    
    12 Mar12 March 14:19
    
    Thanks David
Mike says:

12 Mar12 March 14:14

Still no way to avoid the 2&8 day test on a 24h trip to London?
- Garry says:
  
  12 Mar12 March 14:18
  
  Dont do it?
  - Greg says:
    
    12 Mar12 March 14:38
    
    GOAL: Garry 1 Mike 0
  - John says:
    
    12 Mar12 March 14:40
    
    I thought you needed proof when you arrive at the border that it’s booked and paid for, even though it won’t be used in such a scenario posted by Mike.
    - Garry says:
      
      12 Mar12 March 15:19
      
      havent seen that they ask for proof at the border, can they refuse entry to british citizens?
      - Mike says:
        
        12 Mar12 March 15:29
        
        I thought its supposed to be on the PLF.
      - The real John says:
        
        12 Mar12 March 16:58
        
        They can’t refuse entry but they can give you a fixed penalty. They can also instruct airlines in a foreign country to deny boarding.
- Garry says:
  
  12 Mar12 March 15:49
  
  didnt know that thanks, a point back to you
Sina says:

12 Mar12 March 14:48

Anyone else had a Financial review frim Curve?? I was asked about my payments to Amex(which is done on a debit card as underlying card!) and payments to Ernie!

Card was blocked yesterday and unblocked today after sending bank statements, payslips, etc!
- Anna says:
  
  12 Mar12 March 15:01
  
  How much have you been putting through?
  - Sina says:
    
    12 Mar12 March 15:09
    
    £15-20k a month! And mostly genuine spend!
    - Anna says:
      
      12 Mar12 March 15:14
      
      They possibly thought it was on the high side when compared to whatever their average is. I wonder if they have a “trigger” amount which sets off a review.
      - xcalx says:
        
        12 Mar12 March 17:56
        
        Not on those low figures.
      - xcalx says:
        
        12 Mar12 March 18:01
        
        More so if a sudden £15-20K per month but unlikely if built up over a period
    - Garry says:
      
      12 Mar12 March 15:50
      
      why so greedy over points, gosh. no wonder they are reviewing MS senders like you
      - Anna says:
        
        12 Mar12 March 17:30
        
        Err – post says it was mostly genuine spend ? Or should there be a cap on people spending (or even sending) their own money?
- Steve says:
  
  12 Mar12 March 21:06
  
  Why are you using Curve with an underlying debit card?
  - Sina says:
    
    12 Mar12 March 22:53
    
    @Steve Literally its one of the first uses of Curve! 😂 to just carry & use one card, no matter what the underlying card is! 😀 I only carry my Curve and Amex Plat as backup!