The HfP chat thread – Friday 19th March

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Blindman says:

19 Mar19 March 11:24

FYI re VS flight cancellations: Following are cancelled up to the date shown

LHR-MBJ-LHR 16 May

MAN-BGI-MAN 16 May

LHR-GND-LHR 16 May

LHR-ANU-LHR 16 May

LHR-HKG only 07 April

LHR-PVG-LHR 07 April

LHR-CPT-LHR 16 May

LHR-JNB-LHR 16 May

Other routes (USA etc) operating on a limited schedule.
AJA says:

19 Mar19 March 11:24

I just got back from my local pharmacy where I pick up my prescriptions, had my first dose of the AZ Covid vaccine. 🙂 Painless and great service from the pharmacy. Jab administered by the pharmacist. It was useful too as the pharmacist knows what medication I am on. Will see if I get any symptoms later. Feeling fine right now though. Second jab is booked for 8 June at the same place.
- BJ says:
  
  19 Mar19 March 11:40
  
  Hopefully no more than a chilly night you can put down to tbe weather.
  - AJA says:
    
    19 Mar19 March 11:52
    
    Fingers crossed I have no ill effects at all
    - George1976 says:
      
      19 Mar19 March 12:13
      
      Even if you do (based on 20+ I know who’ve had the Oxford jab) you’ll feel fine after a couple of days.
      - AJA says:
        
        19 Mar19 March 12:33
        
        Yes I agree. Not at all worried about having the AZ jab. My mum’s neighbour (71 yo) had a reaction to the AZ one though – she had this big rash on the shoulder around the injection site which spread down her arm to just above her elbow and had to have a course of antibiotics but is all fine now.
  - Jill (Kinkell) says:
    
    19 Mar19 March 13:48
    
    …and a thick head due to the celebratory 🍷!
    - Jill (Kinkell) says:
      
      19 Mar19 March 13:49
      
      ..for BJ
      - BJ says:
        
        19 Mar19 March 16:59
        
        I drink very little, embarrassed myself way too much one time in my student days. But I do like whisky with a bar of chocolate, or a light beer once in a while.
- BuildBackBetter says:
  
  19 Mar19 March 12:03
  
  Was it thru an appointment? Or by chance they had some surplus?
  - AJA says:
    
    19 Mar19 March 12:28
    
    Appointment. I booked on Tuesday afternoon when Anna posted that she had managed to get an appointment. I logged on to the nhs.uk/covid-vaccination website with my NHS number, name and DoB, entered my postcode and about 10 places came up available for booking with my pharmacy the closest and at the top. Had loads of choice of date and time. Very well organised, 2 booths doing jabs, and was done in less than 5 minutes from arrival. No queue when I arrived 10 mins before time but small queue (4 people) had formed when I was leaving.
    
    My GP Surgery is a bit behind the curve though as I got a text today telling me to book and that was after I got a text from NHSvacccine yesterday afternoon saying I was eligible!
    - Anna says:
      
      19 Mar19 March 15:23
      
      I had the jab yesterday morning and now have a sore arm and a moderately hungover feeling! Keeping topped up every 4 hours with ibuprofen or paracetamol seems to help. It doesn’t seem to be getting worse though, so hopefully I’ve got off more lightly than a lot of people I know.
      - AJA says:
        
        19 Mar19 March 15:35
        
        Glad that is all you seem to be suffering Anna, sounds relatively minor to me. Hopefully I will not get even those symptoms. Over 4 hours now since the jab and I feel fine with no side effects at all, not even pain in my arm.
      - Jody says:
        
        19 Mar19 March 15:38
        
        Glad you’re not too bad.
        
        A big thank you to you and others who gave me advice yesterday. I couldn’t get through to the vaccination centre on the phone, so I popped down there half an hour ago to ask if there was a standby list. They vaccinated me then and there. I honestly could have cried I feel so grateful.
      - WaynedP says:
        
        19 Mar19 March 17:59
        
        I had trouble nodding off to sleep the night I had it (not ever a problem usually), and mild muscle discomfort when I lifted my arm above my head next morning in the shower. Nothing else and right as rain by 24 hours after jab.
        
        Mrs dP slept like a log that night (deeper than usual) but felt mild all-over muscle achiness next day, with flushed cheeks warm to the touch for a couple of hours.
        
        She took a couple of ibuprofen and a take-it-easy afternoon on the bed with work laptop perched unconvincingly on her lap.
        
        I brought her hot tea and cold water, worked at my desk as usual, and earned a season ticket entitling me to indulge in man-flu behaviour without any repercussions for at least the next 12 months 😉
      - Anna says:
        
        19 Mar19 March 18:51
        
        Jody that’s great news, you must be so pleased. A word of caution though for AJA and others, the worst of the side affects seem to start appearing about 24 hours after the jab so don’t bank on feeling ok by tomorrow!
      - Lyn says:
        
        19 Mar19 March 21:00
        
        Jody, well done, that’s good news.
      - AJA says:
        
        19 Mar19 March 22:17
        
        @Jody, that’s brilliant news. Very pleased for you after reading your messages yesterday.
        @Anna and @ Wayne thanks for the warnings, so far still feeling good, feeling a bit tired tonight, don’t think I will have trouble sleeping tonight.:-)
    - High Grade says:
      
      20 Mar20 March 03:24
      
      Just a note for anyone who does experience side effects after the AZ jab. Mine passed 24 hours after on-set, having started about 12 hours after the jab. I am relatively young and healthy, but it absolutely floored me for that 24 hours. I had fever, chills, lethargy, and the worst headache (head going to explode type). I couldn’t get out of bed. Good news is it passed pretty quickly and the next day I felt right as rain as if nothing had ever happened to me. Definitely worth it IMO. If you do get adverse reaction don’t panic, ride it out, plenty of fluids.
Secret Squirrel says:

19 Mar19 March 11:26

Has anyone on here managed to make a safari trip in the past just using miles & points?
- BJ says:
  
  19 Mar19 March 11:43
  
  You can do so indirectly by combining appropriate destinations with one day or multi-day ecotours.
- Rob says:
  
  19 Mar19 March 12:12
  
  I think you can use Virgin Points for Branson’s reserve.
  - Secret Squirrel says:
    
    19 Mar19 March 12:59
    
    850k points for 5 x nights 😩
    - WaynedP says:
      
      19 Mar19 March 18:08
      
      Possibly a bucket-list ambition for some and probably for reasons that are justifiable to them.
      
      But I would choose a far more authentic, unsanitised experience at a fraction of the cost every day of the week.
- Genghis says:
  
  19 Mar19 March 12:27
  
  Intrepid using Tesco club card vouchers.
  - Secret Squirrel says:
    
    19 Mar19 March 13:00
    
    Thanks Genghis but sadly no Tesco vouchers anymore.
  - BJ says:
    
    19 Mar19 March 13:09
    
    But no longer any sweet deals in the cabbage patch.
    - Genghis says:
      
      19 Mar19 March 13:31
      
      True. The debit card is still around for legacy holders, though.
      - BJ says:
        
        19 Mar19 March 17:02
        
        I cancelled that, thought it a smart strategic play at the time but obviously dumb now.
Blair says:

19 Mar19 March 11:27

Are the VS ex-Air Berlin A330-200s still based out of MAN? I have lost track. There’s defo some sad looking VS fleet wrapped in covers there.
- ChrisC says:
  
  19 Mar19 March 12:05
  
  Check the VS Source website.
  
  It has details of where all current VS aircraft are.
- Rob says:
  
  19 Mar19 March 12:11
  
  They were handed back to the lessor I believe. Bit of a shame given the £10m VS spent redoing the interiors. It was only a four year contract initially although the Virgin plan pre covid was always to extend it (hence spending the £10m) and use them for leisure routes due to the ‘cosy’ middle seat pairs in Upper.
  - ChrisC says:
    
    19 Mar19 March 12:53
    
    VS source still has them as active planes.
    
    As recenelt as this week one returned from LHR for maintenance
    
    Others have had ‘test flights’
    
    http://thevssource.com/?s=a330-200
Alan says:

19 Mar19 March 12:04

I have just got a new (to me) error message trying to buy some more PBs via creation and bendy metal. Error was:

The record status does not allow this action.
Please try later

Is this a new or known issue.
Ikaz says:

19 Mar19 March 12:09

I have moved twice in 6 months, and Amex was happy to accept my application for the ARCC days after updating my address with them the 2nd time on my other cards
HeadingForNoPoints says:

19 Mar19 March 12:10

Airtime is back with bonus for signing up, £1 for signing up + £4 if you spend within a certain time frame.

I have made a new account and it is showing Morrisons offer of 10% so will be stacking that with natwest rewards 7% 🙂

Code is NWM87QEG
- 747_Brat says:
  
  19 Mar19 March 12:41
  
  Just be careful because apparently the Natwest offer is for ‘Click & Collect’ only! Not sure if it will track for in-store purchases of gift cards. But YMMV.
  - HeadingForNoPoints says:
    
    19 Mar19 March 12:49
    
    My natwest offer is for spend over £30 at Morrisons, not the click and collect variant. All amazon giftcard purchases have tracked 🙂
    - 747_Brat says:
      
      19 Mar19 March 13:09
      
      That’s good. I am stuck with the stupid ‘Click & Collect’ offer. 🙁
    - Ron says:
      
      19 Mar19 March 15:30
      
      I have NatWest 10% reward at Morrison’s as well. It does say gift cards do earn reward, but I did wonder how would they know if you mix it with other items?
- Toby says:
  
  19 Mar19 March 16:15
  
  Thanks. I was just about to ask for a code. I’ve used yours!
BuildBackBetter says:

19 Mar19 March 12:27

Economist Avios offer – anyone know how long it usually takes to receive the avios?
- James says:
  
  19 Mar19 March 15:40
  
  I’ve taken it up a few times. Normally about two months. The last one I am still waiting after six months… several emails sent but no sign!