The HfP chat thread – Thursday 1st April

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• Patrick Cold says:

  1 Apr1 April 14:31

  Has anyone received avios into their BA accounts from Barclays yet? I have 26,500 listed in my app as if they are pending. Thanks.

  • 747_Brat says:

    1 Apr1 April 14:50

    Negative!

    Don’t think you will receive the sign-up bonus Avios until the 4th month of joining the Barclays Avios Rewards membership, which means you have to at least pay £12 x 3/4 in fees before you get to see your sign-up bonus!

    • Patrick Cold says:

      1 Apr1 April 15:05

      Ah! Thanks for this Brat.

• Bazza says:

  1 Apr1 April 14:39

  This has been the same for the last 2 weeks

  East & North Herts NHS Trust

  confirmed COVID-19 patients in the trust – 8
  number of patients with COVID-19 in critical care – 0 in CCU and 0 in RSU

  Maybe Boris & Chums did something good with this Vaciine..

  • Bazza says:

    1 Apr1 April 16:55

    Maybe for you but we have been really pleased with the numbers

    confirmed COVID-19 patients in the trust – 8
    number of patients with COVID-19 in critical care – 0 in CCU and 0 in RSU

    Maybe we will Yawn at you when you or someone you care about arrive in the hospital……..be the first to cry wouldn’t you

  • Anuj says:

    14 Apr14 April 21:33

    Nothing to do with him really, it’s all the dedicated scientists and civil servants working behind the scenes. What he did do is cause tens of thousands of needless deaths by delaying and dithering every important decision and seemingly loosing all foresight.

• Chris Heyes says:

  1 Apr1 April 14:54

  Now for something completely differant ?
  I was checking yesterday some of my old Marathon races & hols
  I Wonder if anyone remembers when there was a limit of £50 that you could take on Holiday (yes £50 only)
  I remember a holiday to Turkey for 1 week then over to Greece for another 2 weeks (yes even that long ago was doing 3 week holidays)
  The reason I remember is the “TOTAL” Holiday cost £46 that was including flights and full board Hotels.
  But had to fly Turkey Greece because Turkey wouldn’t let you into the country if you had a visa stamp that you had been to Greece
  Wow did I look young then lol

  • Harry T says:

    1 Apr1 April 15:12

    Was I alive then, Chris? Lol 🤪

    • Chris Heyes says:

      1 Apr1 April 17:23

      Harry T Are you alive now Harry
      Seriously no I don’t think you were alive back then certainly didn’t see any of your posts back then lol
      Might have been Harold Wilson’s Government (or even before him)
      Was i long time ago
      It was because Blindman stated New York Marathon was in November yesterday, and i was almost sure when I run in it in 1980 it was October
      So started a check ? Couldn’t find a record of my 1st, but Piccadilly Manchester
      was the earliest i could find.
      Went back 1960s when i came upon some holiday records Hmmm my first house was £1450 yes that’s correct as well

      • Harry T says:

        1 Apr1 April 17:34

        @Chris can I buy your first house off you for £1450? I was born in 1991.

        I saw your marathon time, looked pretty impressive. Hopefully we get a HFP Christmas party and you can tell us all some stories. First drink is on me.

        • Chris Heyes says:

          1 Apr1 April 18:25

          Harry T Yes i was very pleased with my Marathon times them days
          Was the days of the Amateur, you couldn’t take part in the Olympics if you had accepted any prizes or money for winning or taking part.
          Then along came corruption.(the Russians are doing it so we have to)

        • Chris Heyes says:

          1 Apr1 April 18:42

          Harry T My second house was £2,650, third was £6,000 still got that but not living in it (niece living there) she asked for a rent agreement due to covid (needed one)
          I told her ok write one out, just put in whatever you wish, never seen it
          Hmmm HFP Christmas Party will be a miss 25 or more Grand & Great Children lost count Christmas busy time of year.
          We start off January sorting Christmas pressys usually all finished by August/September
          Born in 1991 Harry you have all this to come then, hope your organized lol

  • mark2 says:

    1 Apr1 April 15:41

    Yes, I worked for a Barclays in those days and used to stamp people’s Form V and their passport. The £50 included the foreign currency element of the holiday and had to be sent to the holiday company. The remainder could be converted into foreign currency.
    It was Mrs Thatcher’s government which finally abolished Exchange Control.
    I did not leave the country myself for at least six years.

    • Colin MacKinnon says:

      1 Apr1 April 18:54

      We used to go to Gibraltar and Tangier – and get a fantastic rate for those limited pounds on the black market in Tangier!

      Loved the Air France Caravelle with the stairs under the tail

      Parents drove with me another time from Glasgow to Barcelona in a Morris Minor and flew with the car over the Channel with Silver City airways.

      And the huge windows on Vanguards from Glasgow to Heathrow, but if it was foggy at Heathrow BEA used to charter a train to take you to London!

      Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be.

      • Gruntfuttock says:

        1 Apr1 April 19:13

        Ah, the Guardsvan! It could give a jet a run for its money, matched the KLM Electra too – sigh, gotta have a lie down.

• Bee says:

  1 Apr1 April 15:12

  I am looking to make a USD payment for a substantial amount in a month or so. And I was looking see what card would be the best to use to get both a good rate and points benefit.

  Any suggestions?

  • Josh says:

    1 Apr1 April 15:14

    Cheapest probably == curve with a credit card attached (if this works)
    Easiest might just be billhop @ 3% surcharge if you want to use amex?

    • Bee says:

      1 Apr1 April 15:18

      Thanks – but which credit card will not charge additional fees when when linked to curve?

      • Mr. AC says:

        1 Apr1 April 15:23

        Depends on what the payment is. If it’s cash-like, you’ll likely have a charge of some sort, or at least the balance will immediately start accruing interest.
        If it’s a purchase of goods or services, it’s unlikely there will be a charge.

  • BuildBackBetter says:

    1 Apr1 April 15:19

    Rob has previously suggested midpoint. Compare it to Wise and others.

  • Lady London says:

    1 Apr1 April 15:44

    Midpoint gives avios but think they might want it ex- a bank account

  • Yorkie Aid says:

    1 Apr1 April 16:33

    Definitely Curve with your best points earning card underlying so long as you don’t do it at the weekend and get hit with the Curve surcharge. If you do it with IHG you might even be lucky and get double points. I have had this where even though the charge has been in GBP that they still classify the spend as overseas and give the double points.

  • Anuj says:

    14 Apr14 April 21:34

    How substantial is it? Would the Amex ICC dollar card be useful? It would be a useful way to transfer points to singapore air with the uplift if useful and you could get the signup bonus too.

• Mike1 says:

  1 Apr1 April 16:15

  My Curve (basic) ATM limit is £1k. I draw £200 x 2 within a week and the limit is still £1k. Was under the impression that is a monthly limit?

  • Genghis says:

    1 Apr1 April 16:37

    The £1k limit on the app is a daily limit. Monthly limits have now been abolished. There is then an annual limit, perhaps £100k? These are hard limits. This is overlaid by the Fair Usage Policy, which notes a £200 a (calendar?) month limit IIRC, though in practice this is not really applied. The only real rule is not to take the mick. I got a short ban back in the day for too many ATM withdrawals. Don’t do it now as not worth it.

    • Mike1 says:

      1 Apr1 April 19:36

      Thank you!

• BuildBackBetter says:

  1 Apr1 April 16:31

  Tesco follows Sainsbury’s in removing plastic bags for home delivery.

• Ian M says:

  1 Apr1 April 16:32

  The woke war on frequent flyer programs..

  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/science-environment-56582094

  How long until they’re campaigning to have headforpoints banned?

  • meta says:

    1 Apr1 April 16:59

    It’s not a war on programs, but on flyers. Big difference.

    • Ian M says:

      1 Apr1 April 17:07

      Greenpeace have called for air miles to be banned. How’s that not a war on the programs?

      • meta says:

        1 Apr1 April 17:22

        They haven’t called for ban (yet!). They said they don’t like the fact that the frequent flyer programs reward those who fly frequently. However, this shows they have no clue how these programs function. Frequent flyer programs ceased to be about flying frequently
        long time ago. You can collect miles without even setting foot on a plane.

        I totally agree that it’s all rubbish and they should focus more on other far more environmentally dangerous things.

  • Lady London says:

    1 Apr1 April 17:09

    And the BBC still gets the licence fee for that kind of rubbish ?

    Not even a slow news day excuses this.

    • Rupert says:

      1 Apr1 April 19:03

      Generally; is it me, or has anyone else noticed the the dumbing down of the news content from the BBC, whether broadcast or on the web. Breakfast TV news and subject matter, now seem to be at a lower standard than John Cravens newsround in the 70’s. This was for children.

      • Blair says:

        1 Apr1 April 20:29

        This was uncalled for baiting: “70% of flights are made by a wealthy 15% of the population”. Says who BBC? Many people fly regularly for work or family reasons and are far from wealthy. This woke nonsense is going to give me an ulcer.

        • The real John says:

          2 Apr2 April 06:00

          The reasons people fly are irrelevant to whether that statistic is true or not.

  • bafan says:

    1 Apr1 April 20:44

    I’m pretty woke (lol) but I’m in the UK, my husband lives in another country currently and my immediately family live in third country. I traveled a lot pre COVID. Greenpeace are barking up the wrong tree…

    • The real John says:

      2 Apr2 April 06:01

      I suspect Greenpeace would tell you to live with your husband. Not that you should care what they think

  • Anthony Edwards says:

    1 Apr1 April 20:48

    Is “woke” meant to be an insult? Because I kind of hope I am “woke”

    • ChrisC says:

      1 Apr1 April 20:54

      Precisely

      Some people (especially the right wing) try and use it as an insult but it’s not

      Saying you aren’t work basically means you aren’t aware or don’t care about social justice issues.

• James. says:

  1 Apr1 April 17:02

  What’s everyone’s take on masks and planes?

  I am a bit hesitant to book an international holiday this year or next as I do not want to spend all the time in the airport and on a plane wearing a mask.

  Am I being shallow?

  • kitten says:

    1 Apr1 April 17:07

    you are being shallow 🙂
    Do you want to go on holiday, or what ?!

  • Rhys says:

    1 Apr1 April 17:09

    If you’re happy not taking any international holidays because you’d have to wear a mask on the flight that’s your prerogative!

    Personally, whilst I don’t enjoy wearing masks (does anyone?) I’ll do it to get out of blighty….

    • Chris Heyes says:

      1 Apr1 April 17:34

      Rhys Batman & Robin think its fun & and someone called Keota or similar
      Been a few robbers down the years as well
      A few wanted to get out of blighty as well

  • Ian M says:

    1 Apr1 April 17:16

    You don’t have to spend the whole flight with the mask on. Have plenty of drinks and snacks, covid doesn’t spread when people are eating and drinking thankfully.

    • Rob says:

      1 Apr1 April 17:21

      Yes, honestly, it’s not noticeable. In Business, with the constant stream of food and drink (and of course you can order as many drinks as you want) the amount of time you need to wear a mask is minimal outside take off and landing. I really didn’t find it an issue when we went to the Middle East at Christmas.

  • Andrew says:

    1 Apr1 April 17:21

    QR doesn’t require masks after boarding for business class – economy need to wear a mask and a visor (provided) throughout the flight.

    • Aston100 says:

      1 Apr1 April 18:11

      ***QR doesn’t require masks after boarding for business class – economy need to wear a mask and a visor (provided) throughout the flight.***

      Literally the unwashed masses?
      Oh dear.

      • Rob says:

        1 Apr1 April 19:36

        It’s a function of Qsuite, given that you are in enclosed suite with a door higher than your mouth and nose, and so anything you exhale is forced to the floor via the downward air flow.

        • Anuj says:

          14 Apr14 April 21:39

          Yes one of the reasons for wearing a mask is that they trap covid particles from entering the air.

  • James Vickers says:

    1 Apr1 April 17:23

    Agree with what others said hear, it didn’t bother me ultimately! I just prolonged the time it takes for you to eat/drink..

  • Harry T says:

    1 Apr1 April 17:36

    It’s okay on short haul but I wouldn’t enjoy a medium to long haul flight with a mask on… and I wear them a lot at work. Tbh though, at this point I’d wear a turd strapped to my chin just to go on holiday.

    • HBommie says:

      1 Apr1 April 18:48

      I’ve seen them, it’s called a soul patch I think 🙂

    • Chas says:

      1 Apr1 April 18:55

      that literally made me lol! 😂

  • The Savage Squirrel says:

    1 Apr1 April 23:10

    I wore masks for 9 hours today. Same as every other working day for the last 20 years.
    It was fine.
    Get a box of ordinary fluid-resistant surgical masks, they’re designed to fit fairly loosely with a suitable nose pinch of the metal strip at the top. If you’re wearing anything made of a cloth or other clothing material, probably sitting 0.1mm from your mouth, then that’s where you’re going wrong.

  • Anuj says:

    14 Apr14 April 21:38

    I would recommend the masks from uniqlo. It makes a huge difference when you wear a mask that’s actually comfortable. I often forget I even have it on tbh.

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