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The HfP chat thread – Thursday 15th April

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

Historically, the daily ‘Bits’ articles were the de facto repository for random comments and questions.  With the news flow being lighter, we are running fewer ‘Bits’ articles.

The comments under this article are where you should post questions about travel and, indeed, anything else on your mind.  At this tricky time, and given that many of you are at home, we want the HfP community to have a place to chat.

Please only comment under the main articles on the site if your comment is directly related to the topic of the article.  This has long-term benefits as it keeps the commentary relevant for people who read those articles in the future.

Old chat threads are hidden from the HfP home page.  If you want to look for something in an old thread, click here.  This brings up all the articles in our ‘General’ category which includes the chat threads.

Comments (221)

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

  • Rob says:

    It’s good to have one long-term card (with any issuer) because you look a lot more stable when you apply for another card, in the same way that someone who hasn’t moved house in 20 years looks stable.

    I doubt it makes any difference to Amex, and won’t impact future applications either unless you also cut back on other cards to reset a 24 month clock.

    • Jonny says:

      Thanks Rob, yeah at the moment it just seems to be a bit of a blocker, as Amex seem to be tightening up a bit on the informal “4 cards” rule (for me at least)

  • Ammar says:

    Quick Qs:

    1) I have the BAPP and i am around £300 away from the spend target for the 241 voucher, my year finishes on 1.5.21 so I want to get the voucher before then. When is the latest I can try and trigger the voucher – is it instant as soon as transaction triggers or does it take a few days? Also, will the vouchers be extended beyond the 2yr validity we get?

    2) Is the 3k supp bonus on the AMex Gold Business Card for 5 ppl the best we are likely to see or shall i hold out for more? 15k is nice but more is better

    3) Also for the Gold Business Amex card to use the dell credit – do you have to follow a special link or just on their dell dot uk website? and does it matter if its the business or non-business website – any differeence i should be aware of ?
    Cheers

    • AJA says:

      Can’t answer your second or third questions but the 2-4-1 on the BAPP shows up in your BAEC account a couple of days after the confirmation in your Amex account. I have never triggered a voucher at the very last minute but I think if you have cleared transactions that take you over the 10K spend before 1 May you should be ok. BA was giving an extra 6 months validity for all vouchers earned up to 31 March. Not sure whether that date was extended but I triggered my voucher on 23 March 2021. It posted to my BAEC on 25 March 2021 and it shows as 30 months validity

      • Ammar says:

        Cheers thats helpful……I should have paid more attention and triggered earlier, but you live and learn!

    • Rob says:

      1. Voucher will show at ba.com within 4-5 days. Don’t try to be too clever in case the merchant delays taking payment. Voucher comes with 2.5 years at present.
      2. This IS a special offer – you usually only get the bonus on the first card
      3. Any Dell site seems OK, either trade or personal – personal site is better as prices shown inc VAT and you have the usual ‘return in 14 days with no excuses needed’ cover which the trade site doesn’t offer

    • Benilyn says:

      What are you ordering on Dell?
      I just did 2x 64GB USB sticks and 1x 32GB stick (USB C and A, 3.0) for £73 on the Plat Biz.

  • Benilyn says:

    HSBC to Etihad – any idea how long it takes for points to post?

  • Robert says:

    BA just cancelled my flight to Dubai for next week. Am I right in thinking I can be rerouted on Emirates? They are saying I need go via Frankfurt with Lufthansa.

    • Rob says:

      You need to do what BA says unless there is a specific reason why you can’t.

  • Anna says:

    When are they going to announce the red/amber/green list? OH has now been 2 years without an MR card so I’m tempted by the enhanced referral and sign up bonuses on gold/platinum. A couple of chunky bills plus the balance on a BA holiday in August would hit the £4k spend within a few weeks. Don’t want to pay for the rest of the BA holiday though, if we end up not being able to go (e.g. if the holiday isn’t cancelled but there was a hotel quarantine requirement and we only had the option of a FTV).

    • E says:

      I think they said the list would be announced in early May.

      • Anna says:

        Hmm, isn’t the Amex offer on until May 12th?! Is that just for the referral and application or for acceptance as well? (It’s usually instantaneous, but you never know these days…)

        • TGLoyalty says:

          It’s usually the application but I wouldn’t leave it too late

          • Anna says:

            I’ll make a decision by the end of the month, hopefully we might know a bit more by then.

  • Secret Squirrel says:

    Can I just check, I have the Marriott Amex & BA Free card. I have not had gold or Plat for over two years now.
    If I apply for Platinum, I will get the bonus offer for new applicants?

  • David says:

    Puzzled – went to renew my Ambassador membership and it now doesn’t expire till March 2022 – has this happened to anyone else or have I missed this ?

    • Anna says:

      A lot of them were extended earlier this year, looks to be those which would have expired from the start of this year. I joined last October but haven’t had an extension whereas OH was due to renew but now has the same expiry date as me of Oct 1st.

      • ChrisC says:

        There was another extension other than the 2 * 3 months given last spring??

        • David says:

          Mine was due to expire JULY 2021 and has been extended to MARCH 2022 – I wonder if it has anything to do with asking to extend my free weekend night voucher – which they also did by 6 months.

  • The Original Nick. says:

    Amex Referral Question again sorry, my friend holds the Amex Platinum personal card and the Gold Business card. If I was to refer him from my Amex Plat is there a card that he could apply for and get a sign up bonus? Thanks.

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.