The HfP chat thread – Thursday 1st April

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We are running this daily chat thread on Head for Points during the coronavirus outbreak.

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General

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KBuffett says:

1 Apr1 April 03:00

I’ve got some new (boring) offers from AmEx today.
- Andrew says:
  
  1 Apr1 April 05:33
  
  15% off Gett taxis might be useful, but yes, otherwise boring. Hoping for the department stores to make a welcome return.
  - KBuffett says:
    
    1 Apr1 April 07:38
    
    I’ve always found this more expensive than using other services, even with the kick back. Fantastic if you are claiming as an expensive.
    - GaryC says:
      
      1 Apr1 April 09:35
      
      It must be fantastic having you as an employee or consultant, knowing you are so motivated to do the right thing for firm and client.
      - Rob says:
        
        1 Apr1 April 13:06
        
        Would you seriously employ a consultant who was too stupid not to do this?
        
        I mean … imagine you are meeting someone to discuss paying them £1000 per day to generate some money saving ideas for your company, and they pull out a zero-rewards credit card to pay for the coffee. Would you serously take the person on? If you came for a job with HfP and did that you wouldn’t be getting far.
      - GaryC says:
        
        1 Apr1 April 13:27
        
        The issue is not a comparison of a zero rewards credit card vs one paying rewards. The issue is one of deliberately causing the firm to incur greater expense than it needs to by choosing a more expensive service provider, soley for personal gain. Another word for that practice is corruption. Maybe you think this behaviour is ok because it’s “on message” for your site. Would it also be fine if you were being over-charged for office supplies, IT work, construction work because the contractor was getting a kickback?
      - Rob says:
        
        1 Apr1 April 13:31
        
        People do this all the time, except the gain is not monetary. If I book a more expensive hotel and recharge it to you purely because it more luxurious than a cheaper one next door, that is also ‘personal gain’. You are making a distinction between monetary gain and other gain, which doesn’t make sense.
        
        You also ignore the systematic corruption which BA and other airlines encouage. Corporates rarely get flight discounts, they get end-of-year ‘rebates’. What does this mean? I fly BA for £2000 and charge you £2000. Except, at the year end, BA bungs me £200 as my year-end rebate and you don’t see a penny of it. EVERY bank and consultancy does this to its clients.
        
        The one and only reason that travel loyalty is a far bigger business than all other sorts of consumer loyalty is that, normally, the person who pays is the person who gets the reward. The reward therefore becomes part of the equation of price in the first place.
        
        With business travel rewards, the person who pays is NOT the person who gets the reward. This entire industry is underpinned by staff squirreling benefits that their employers fund, and employers squirreling benefits that their clients fund. I mean …. at one point Virgin Atlantic used to hand over £200 John Lewis vouchers to anyone who booked Upper Class. It was that blatant.
      - A says:
        
        1 Apr1 April 14:54
        
        Company loyalty is never a good idea no matter how much they tell you you’re valued.
      - GaryC says:
        
        1 Apr1 April 20:01
        
        This is not about company loyalty, it’s about personal integrity and doing the right thing. The example here is about direct monetary gain or ‘kickback’ linked to choosing a particular – more expensive – supplier to the detriment of your organisation. It’s no different in principle from choosing a building contractor for your office refurb, because they will build you a free home extension. The argument that it’s “ok, because similar things happen elsewhere with business travel” is a fallacious argument that can be used to justify corruption anywhere.
- Si says:
  
  1 Apr1 April 06:07
  
  Speak for yourself… I got 15% rebate at Ann Summers!
  
  Until the restaurants reopen, sitting on my own chomping my way through an edible bra covered in chocolate body paint down by the river might be the nearest thing to a night out for ages
  - NvT1115 says:
    
    1 Apr1 April 07:39
    
    Lol – so did I. Had to read it twice
  - Rob says:
    
    1 Apr1 April 09:29
    
    Amazon emailed me this week asking if we’d like to promote their sex toys sale this week (seriously, no joke) …..
    - Harry T says:
      
      1 Apr1 April 10:32
      
      So when are we getting the article, Rob?
    - ankomonkey says:
      
      1 Apr1 April 11:33
      
      You can’t blame them when your site is called ‘head’ for points! I understand if this comment is deemed a little too saucy to survive in the comments.
      - Cat says:
        
        1 Apr1 April 14:24
        
        They’re probably mixing this site up with the lesser known “Points for Head”.
- The Hunter says:
  
  1 Apr1 April 07:09
  
  I’ve had a new platinum for a few weeks now – not a single offer
  - KBuffett says:
    
    1 Apr1 April 07:35
    
    Someone somewhere mentioned that deregistering for online access and then registering again may kick start things. Perhaps you could give it a go and report back. If it was me, I would give it a few days before registering again.
    - KBuffett says:
      
      1 Apr1 April 07:39
      
      Not an April Fools ‘trick’, by the way!
      - Pete M says:
        
        1 Apr1 April 11:38
        
        I tried that, several times, when my offers disappeared. Sadly made no difference and just had to wait… But always worth trying I suppose!
  - kitten says:
    
    1 Apr1 April 12:21
    
    need to put a few transactions on the card maybe, there’s been no hint they have to be big
Stu says:

1 Apr1 April 05:48

I got 200 Avios in my BAEC account this morning marked “Avios – sStore April bonus 2021 UK” … wonder if it’s an April fools and they’ll take it away at lunchtime? Only 200 Avios but better than nothing.
- Scott says:
  
  1 Apr1 April 06:10
  
  The T&Cs seem to not quite match that though.
- Chrisasaurus says:
  
  1 Apr1 April 06:10
  
  Well the taking away is a given it’s only ever the times scales that vary…
- lumma says:
  
  1 Apr1 April 08:20
  
  They’re currently offering a bonus 200 avios if you spend over £120. Perhaps you’ve triggered that somehow
  - Stu says:
    
    2 Apr2 April 01:58
    
    Oh yes, I well triggered that with a £1400 spend at Screwfix, but I didn’t actually see that offer!
- Alekun says:
  
  1 Apr1 April 10:11
  
  I saw the banner for 200 bonus points but when i signed in that banner disappeared.
Yuff says:

1 Apr1 April 05:57

Border controls being enforced strictly yesterday at Luton airport.
Passport control slow because of it and all the documentation that needs to be checked.
I was on a flight from Spain.
- John says:
  
  1 Apr1 April 06:43
  
  Inbound documentation checks have been enforced strictly since January
Ian M says:

1 Apr1 April 06:58

Great to see Amex support returning to Curve. Lets hope it lasts longer than the previous time!
- Jason says:
  
  1 Apr1 April 07:01
  
  Haha
- Roger says:
  
  1 Apr1 April 07:04
  
  Where are you seeing that?
  - Sandgrounder says:
    
    1 Apr1 April 07:05
    
    Check the date Roger
- BJ says:
  
  1 Apr1 April 07:18
  
  Oi, April Fools jokes on HfP is traditionally my department 🙁 Didn’t even realise it was 1 April till I saw comment from Crafty.
  - Froggee says:
    
    1 Apr1 April 08:50
    
    I’m being vaccinated later today. How will I know if they are serious or just messing with me?
    - Anna says:
      
      1 Apr1 April 08:58
      
      If you feel really rubbish from about 24 – 48 hours afterwards you’ll know it’s the real thing!
- Craig says:
  
  1 Apr1 April 07:30
  
  Bravo.
- Michael says:
  
  1 Apr1 April 08:45
  
  Were do you see this? is it offical?
  - Ian M says:
    
    1 Apr1 April 10:59
    
    It’s 100% officially April 1st
Crafty says:

1 Apr1 April 07:07

Data point. Just had a visit from HM Revenue and Customs. Apparently they have been watching all my MS activity, and there is a little known law that they are now starting to enforce… taxing everything IN and OUT! Off to file for bankruptcy now. YMMV
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  1 Apr1 April 07:41
  
  Best MS another few million this year!
  - Anna says:
    
    1 Apr1 April 08:10
    
    Good one – though I don’t need MS this month after having paid for my teenager to have braces fitted privately 😢, NHS waiting list is 2 years in our area!
    - Chris Heyes says:
      
      1 Apr1 April 10:04
      
      Anna you can afford to have braces fitted privately
      When my Daughter got married in Ibiza all the men just bought theirs in a shop
      The beige Shorts was expensive, matching, but the braces was only a few pounds.lol
      - Anna says:
        
        1 Apr1 April 11:16
        
        I know but it grates that it’s a total postcode lottery re who can get them free! I wish we could have gone to Ibiza to get them 😂
      - kitten says:
        
        1 Apr1 April 12:25
        
        Will you get Spain citizenship for your son Anna? wondering if this could make all sorts of things easier later if you have that opportunity.
- The real John says:
  
  1 Apr1 April 08:12
  
  In some (maybe all) states of Australia there was indeed a tax on every transaction in and out of bank accounts until the early 1990s.
  
  I discovered this a few years ago when looking through my late mother’s bank statements to execute her will.
  - QFFlyer says:
    
    2 Apr2 April 10:42
    
    It was federal, and everywhere except Norfolk Island levied it, it applied to withdrawals from all accounts with a cheque facility. Was repealed when the GST was introduced (although there was some overlap).
BJ says:

1 Apr1 April 07:13

Apparently Rob & Rhys are keeping secrets from us all! A friend who works in IT texted me late last night and said he saw something that suggested HfP might be rebranding. A further text this morning to say he dug a little deeper and it seems to be true 🙂 Bit surprised myself seeing as HfP is now so well established, but just wait till you folks hear the new name! I suspect it’s Rhys behind it all, Rob seems to be a creature of habit but quite a few of the changes we have seen at HfP lately have been driven by Rhys I think.
- Alex says:
  
  1 Apr1 April 10:16
  
  Good try.
  - BJ says:
    
    1 Apr1 April 10:50
    
    I typed it out, figured it was too early to submit so went off to dispose some rubbish. Came back in, hit submit and only then discovered the very feeble attempts by those assorted mere amateurs above … wasted my day 😀
- Lady London says:
  
  1 Apr1 April 12:30
  
  British Airways has agreed to refund all FTV’s and e-vouchers in cash.
  - Cat says:
    
    1 Apr1 April 14:21
    
    😂🤣 Best one yet LL!
Cat says:

1 Apr1 April 07:59

CV3V cards in Morrisons – I’ve just bought up the stock in my local, get them while you can.
- Brighton Belle says:
  
  1 Apr1 April 08:02
  
  Could be true. Our local Boots had a dozen at least a year after they died.
Cat says:

1 Apr1 April 08:00

Today I was supposed to be flying in Cathay Pacific first class to Singapore, and then on to Indonesia for a slimmed-down version of the island hopping joy that I had planned for last summer. I had a couple of nights booked in Singapore on the way home, and a long list of things to do, compiled from a HfP thread from a year or two ago.

I know that this is so very far from the worst problem caused by this blasted pandemic, that I’m cringing writing it, but I needed to whinge and could think of no better place to do it than here.

Boo to not being able to travel.
- Anna says:
  
  1 Apr1 April 08:13
  
  Ah Cat, we should have been in F to NYC for a few days then on to GCM for a fortnight on the beach! If you can’t whinge here, then where can you?!
  Our week in a self catering cottage in Northumberland won’t be quite the same, especially as snow is forecast 😂
  - Cat says:
    
    1 Apr1 April 08:25
    
    Yes, nor will a long weekend camping in the New Forest over half term!
    
    I’m sorry about your lovely holiday plans going down the toilet too Anna!
    - Anna says:
      
      1 Apr1 April 09:03
      
      I know, I can’t believe we’re now into the 2nd year of cancellations! I’ve booked mini breaks through the year at many of the UK hotels I really want to try in case summer doesn’t happen but I’d rather have 2 weeks in the sun at Eurocamps – I miss swimming so much!
      - Mr(s) Entitled says:
        
        1 Apr1 April 09:11
        
        Is admitting to be a fan of Eurocamp a guilty secret? We have been to ones in France for the past 7 yrs and the kids (now 12 and 10) love it and the freedom. Happy kids = happy holiday.
      - ken says:
        
        1 Apr1 April 09:58
        
        Eurocamp (well similar but cheaper brands) were the best holidays of my youth by far (late 70’s early 80’s) – particularly Brittany & Vendee.
        
        Did 3 or 4 with our kids but partner not a fan of camping (or masses of people for that matter).
      - BP says:
        
        1 Apr1 April 11:05
        
        I really like the Yelloh Village brand which I think is slightly more upmarket than Eurocamp. Fingers crossed we can go to France in September!!
      - Anna says:
        
        1 Apr1 April 11:19
        
        It’s not my first choice of accommodation but I’d rather be in a caravan somewhere warm than a posh hotel here right now, it was ZERO degrees here this morning, so much for the heatwave!
      - Cat says:
        
        1 Apr1 April 14:27
        
        Me too! And snorkeling, and hiking, and kayaking, and surfing…
        
        If my summer plans go the same way, I’ll carry on hiking the SW Coast Path probably, but I’m *really* hoping there’s a chance, as its the Seychelles…
    - Secret Squirrel says:
      
      1 Apr1 April 11:31
      
      Can I ask how ppl are staying away over the Easter hold when you are only permitted to visit & not stay overnight anywhere?
      - Cat says:
        
        1 Apr1 April 14:30
        
        I don’t think anyone’s said they’re going away anywhere over Easter @SecretSquirrel…
    - Zoe says:
      
      1 Apr1 April 16:59
      
      Hey Cat I live near your half term destination, where are you camping?
      - Cat says:
        
        1 Apr1 April 20:41
        
        If lockdown easing goes as planned – Holland’s Wood.
        
        The dawn chorus there is one of the very few reasons I’m happy to be woken up at dawn. It’s like nothing I’ve ever heard anywhere else. Waking up to that and just listening with my eyes closed and a big, stupid grin across my face truly rivals the morning I woke just before dawn in a bamboo hut on a remote beach in the Philippines, and I went for a lovely dawn swim with the most spectacular sunrise turning the sky a constantly shifting array of pastels.
        
        To say I’m looking forward to escaping London to see some greenery, see some tiny horses and hear the dawn chorus to end all dawn choruses, is somewhat of an understatement (plus, I’m missing Hille @LadyLondon, if you see this!).
        
        Where do you live Zoe (you lucky thing!)?
- Andrew says:
  
  1 Apr1 April 08:29
  
  I too was due to fly to Singapore with CX in First at the end of this month. Flights were cancelled, Avios back in my account and being spent at Sainsbury’s – the glamour!
  - Cat says:
    
    1 Apr1 April 14:31
    
    Avios back in my account, still keeping the airmiles though, in the desperate hope I’ll be able to use them flying at the front of the plane still!
    - Polly says:
      
      1 Apr1 April 23:39
      
      So sorry about your trip too Cat. We should have flown in from SEA tomorrow morning in F. But obvs sitting here I. Surrey trying to spot the very odd plane that flies over. Bliss! Enjoy the new forest, it’s fantastic….
      - Cat says:
        
        2 Apr2 April 00:19
        
        It’s so very sad, watching your planned holidays completely fail to fly by.
        
        Are you still booking (fully refundable obvs) future International travels, or are you leaving it for now Polly? XXX
- Jody says:
  
  1 Apr1 April 08:56
  
  Nothing so exotic, but we were due to fly to Tenerife today for a week.
  - Anna says:
    
    1 Apr1 April 09:06
    
    I would love to be in Tenerife right now, Jody, it’s one of those places with something for everyone, stunning scenery, sun n sand, history, food, diving for the OH. Lying in the sun with a snow-capped volcano looming above you is pretty mind-blowing!
    - Jody says:
      
      1 Apr1 April 11:03
      
      I’d love to be anywhere right now to be honest! Tenerife has been re-booked for New Year, so hopefully we’ll get to go then.
      - Cat says:
        
        1 Apr1 April 14:33
        
        +1 for anywhere right now – Tenerife would be perfection, as far as I’m concerned.
  - Paula says:
    
    1 Apr1 April 19:42
    
    We should be there now too!
- BuildBackBetter says:
  
  1 Apr1 April 09:23
  
  Imagine if someone had withdrawn all equity investments this time last year.
- Princess says:
  
  1 Apr1 April 10:13
  
  Oh Cat! I’m with you. I was supposed to be in a first class flight to Beijin for 20 days trip around China, coming back business from Hong Kong 🙁
  Still don’t know when I will be able to go!!!
  - Cat says:
    
    1 Apr1 April 15:04
    
    It’s just so rubbish, I’m so fed up!
    
    I get it, I’m still on board with flattening the curve and keeping everyone safe, but that doesn’t make it any less sucky!
    
    I’m sorry about your trip to China, @Princess.
    
    Bring on the day when we can all travel safely again.
    - Polly says:
      
      1 Apr1 April 23:41
      
      Hope you have fun meeting up with your sis and nieces v soon…
      - Cat says:
        
        2 Apr2 April 00:21
        
        On Sunday!
        I’m so very excited! My walls are now covered with their artworks that they’ve sent to me, and my phone is full of video messages. I can’t wait to see them again!
- BJ says:
  
  1 Apr1 April 10:56
  
  It’s going to feel all the more precious and enjoyable when we are able to do all those things we really want. Until then we just have to keep trying to do the best we can with what we’ve got. My guess, is a lot of readers are going to find their holidays in our own back yard much more enjoyable than they expected, particularly if they take the opportunity to visit someplace new for them.
  - Cat says:
    
    1 Apr1 April 15:08
    
    I did enjoy the section of the SW Coast Path I did last summer (although not as much as I would have enjoyed island hopping around Indonesia!).
    
    One day…
- Lady London says:
  
  1 Apr1 April 12:32
  
  Ah… poor you, @Cat !! at least you wouldn’t have missed out on the multi-lounge Cathay Pacific experience as Hong Kong doesn’t have much open
  - Cat says:
    
    1 Apr1 April 15:10
    
    Yes, it would have been a sad experience, flying through Hong Kong in First without the lounges. I am quite partial to them!
    - Polly says:
      
      1 Apr1 April 23:44
      
      Yes, we were just talking about the Pier and Wing today.. withdrawal symptoms abound here! Hopefully from late 21 we can hit Bali again! Flts in F rebooked now via SIN. All the more to be appreciated the longer we have to wait to board that lovely plane…
      - Cat says:
        
        2 Apr2 April 00:27
        
        I really hope that by then we can explore the world again, Polly! Or, as my niece puts it, “go on adventures”, (ideally at the front of a lovely plane, with some lovely lounges en route)!
- Lyn says:
  
  1 Apr1 April 22:06
  
  Agreed Cat! So many people’s travel plans and families still in limbo after a whole year. Fingers crossed for things to improve fairly soon. I must admit at the moment I’d very happily settle for just being able to get home.