The HfP chat thread – Monday 19th April

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• Secret Squirrel says:

  19 Apr19 April 07:40

  I read yesterday an interesting comment over on FT that hotel managers have acces to, and use information on customers history with them to decide if to give out upgrades etc.
  Does anyone have any more insight into this practice by hotel management?

  • Harry T says:

    19 Apr19 April 07:56

    Nothing specific, but I’ve heard it said a lot that returning customers will always be treated best.

    • Ian M says:

      19 Apr19 April 08:33

      That’s been my experience over the last few years. Generally the hotels I visit a few times a year look after me the best with upgrades etc.

      • Super Secret Stuff says:

        19 Apr19 April 10:25

        +1

        Particularly when you get to know the people on reception and they remember your name (although you are probably traveling too much if that happens)

  • mark2 says:

    19 Apr19 April 08:44

    It may happen, but surely it would vary between brands?

  • HBommie says:

    19 Apr19 April 09:48

    I’d be disappointed if they didn’t and I’ve had good experience in Asia when returning to a hotel, upgrades etc.

    • HBommie says:

      19 Apr19 April 09:50

      Although in the states when returning to an MO on a number of occasions I didn’t receive anything special, suppose it was my own fault for going back.

    • Lady London says:

      19 Apr19 April 11:14

      If they dont do this then you are not staying in the right hotels 🙂

  • Hotelier says:

    19 Apr19 April 10:09

    Of course is looked at, number of stays, revenue generated…

  • Gavin says:

    19 Apr19 April 10:37

    Not sure regular stats make a difference really. After a 17 night staying at the Reading Hilton, moving up to Diamond in the process, their response to my next stay (booking the cheapest category) was no upgrade to exec room and a room with a view of the flat roof.

    On my first visit as a silver the year before I was guest of the day and got comped breakfast and 2 free drinks. If anything my experience each time is going down hill

    • The real John says:

      19 Apr19 April 11:38

      So stop staying there and be sure to let them know why

      • Gavin says:

        19 Apr19 April 12:08

        I probably don’t have cause to stay there again anyway, but it tends to be cheaper than anywhere else in that area and ideal for my purposes.

  • Blair says:

    19 Apr19 April 10:51

    If you have future stays they can see in their reservations book that usually gets noted and some sort of gesture made. Be it meal credit or a room gift or upgrade.

  • The Savage Squirrel says:

    19 Apr19 April 21:04

    It never even occurred to me that this WOULDN’T happen. Doesn’t every business throw the odd bone to their best customers?

    • Magic Mike says:

      19 Apr19 April 21:14

      Telcos, insurers, utility companies, all like to screw their most loyal customers….

  • Chris Heyes says:

    19 Apr19 April 22:56

    Secret Squirrel, The Hotel chain We use (plus my son with my Hilton Card)
    Has always without fail upgraded us to a Suite, mostly a Junior Suite
    I’ve never been able to fig out as I’m only Gold, if it’s because there is a note on my account ?
    Or if it’s because of off peak bookings, more availability ?
    Or if it’s because of my sons booking, when he does lectures abroad ?
    I Did once ask the manager of a Hilton, he was evasive just said we like to look after our favourite customers

• Andrew says:

  19 Apr19 April 07:54

  I have often had check-in staff welcome me back and comment on this being my third visit to that hotel etc, so I think it’s right there on your profile.

  • Secret Squirrel says:

    19 Apr19 April 08:13

    @Andrew: but use that info to decide if you get an upgrade or not?

    • Ken says:

      19 Apr19 April 08:17

      Why wouldn’t they do this?

      Seems perfect business sense to treat repeat paying customers well.

      Surely no one can be surprised.

      • Andrew says:

        19 Apr19 April 08:25

        Yes I always assumed that they used this information to reward loyalty to a particular hotel. I have a few hotels I [used to] stay at for business every few weeks and would without exception get an upgrade whereas when on holiday at a first time stay hotel it was hit and miss (as Spire).

      • Secret Squirrel says:

        19 Apr19 April 09:00

        I can see the business sense Ken, just wasn’t sure if this happens in practice. Management also deciding between points & cash paid stays I read, the latter getting president for upgrades which goes against some loyalty programme conditions.

        • meta says:

          19 Apr19 April 09:05

          I got upgrades to presidential/top suites on first stays at hotels and on points bookings. I wouldn’t read too much into it. It will really depend on how good the check-in staff with knowing loyalty benefits. Sometimes you just need to nudge them with something like (are you going to acknowledge my Platinum/Spire Elite/ Diamond loyalty?).

• Anna says:

  19 Apr19 April 08:02

  Is anyone else’s HH statement late this month?

  • Harrier25 says:

    19 Apr19 April 08:49

    Mine arrived a day later than usual.

  • DarrenS says:

    19 Apr19 April 09:03

    4 days later than usual, including a weekend.

    • Anna says:

      19 Apr19 April 11:57

      Hopefully just delayed due to the weekend then and not because they are slashing my limit to £500 or something?!

    • Tom1 says:

      19 Apr19 April 13:00

      +1

• Anna says:

  19 Apr19 April 08:05

  Has anyone stayed at the Baker’s Cay Curio on Key Largo? If we’re allowed to travel to the US this summer I’m leaning towards beachy rather than sight-seeing to minimise indoor/mixing situations. Rates are 60k points or around $600 so it looks a decent redemption on 5 for 4.

  • Tony1 says:

    19 Apr19 April 08:23

    Got my IHG today if that helps ….. or not

• Tony1 says:

  19 Apr19 April 08:22

  Just to confirm that a Pay Pal payment of £1000 or over will trigger the £150 statement credit on the Bus Plat.

  • Rob says:

    19 Apr19 April 10:07

    So … do I go to Peter Jones and buy a £1k Waitrose / JL gift card or shall I Paypal £1k to my wife and risk account freezing? I suppose I could say it was a business payment, and so pay Paypal a fee, in which case I’m sure it would sail through.

    • Steve says:

      19 Apr19 April 11:06

      Buy a voucher, much less risk

    • Guernsey Globetrotter says:

      19 Apr19 April 11:13

      Along similar lines to Rob’s comment, a £1k payment credit onto your Amazon account balance will also trigger the £150 credit.

      • Rob says:

        19 Apr19 April 11:26

        I can spent £1k in Waitrose more quickly though …

        • Alex says:

          19 Apr19 April 14:14

          I send £1000 via PayPal to my significant other around once a quarter and have yet to have any issues…

    • Chris Heyes says:

      19 Apr19 April 23:12

      Rob That’s what I do Paypal £1k or less (once a year only, have done £1.4k once wouldn’t try again)
      ordinary card though, used daughters name address as if i was buying from her £1k around £40 charge can live with that
      I Don’t think Paypals bot picks it up if its a purchase

• xcalx says:

  19 Apr19 April 09:03

  Can anyone with the Business Plat tell me if the dell offer is listed in the offers section as I only have dropbox and a kitchen one showing. I did use the £150 off £1000 transaction. I have done the £10k spend over 14 merchants and thought I would have more offers.

  • Benilyn says:

    19 Apr19 April 09:11

    It is here, you need to enroll for it:

    https://benefitsglobal.americanexpress.com/benefits/status?Face=en_GB

    • xcalx says:

      20 Apr20 April 08:14

      Thanks

  • Ali M says:

    19 Apr19 April 09:18

    out of interest,which merchants did you do big spends on 🤨

• MattB says:

  19 Apr19 April 09:41

  Looks like I’ll be needing to spend a chunk on 4 new tyres, anyone aware of any avios earning opportunities other than the black circles @ 1% via BA?

  • C says:

    19 Apr19 April 10:01

    Kwik fit 2.76% cb on tyres via the site that cannot be named, then 5% bonus on transfer to avios? They also accept Amex on line via PayPal

  • Anna says:

    19 Apr19 April 12:01

    mytyres.co.uk also accept Amex, my OH uses them.

  • the_real_a says:

    19 Apr19 April 12:45

    Black Circles was substantially cheaper for my Goodyear premium tyres than anywhere else – couldn’t justify shopping elsewhere for a few additional points.

    • Alan H says:

      19 Apr19 April 20:07

      I’ve used Asda tyres and they have been consistently the cheapest even for premium tyres and they accept Amex

• Lee says:

  19 Apr19 April 09:49

  So you want AMEX to pay you 400 by only spend 200?

  • Cat says:

    19 Apr19 April 10:35

    I imagine PinPerl is asking whether they can split a bill of over £400 between two cards.
    I’d be curious to know whether anyone has made this work or not too.

    • PinPerl says:

      19 Apr19 April 11:03

      Thanks Cat,
      That was my question if for the $200 for the Platinum that card has to be used or you get it automatically?

      Please advise

      • Jonathan says:

        19 Apr19 April 13:45

        Someone mentioned splitting payments in the early days of the offer by calling one fine stay CS. There’s no way to do it online & they may well say no now if they are more aware of the Amex offers.

        Essentially you need to call up & confirm if they will allow & if so book there & then making the 2/3/4 payments otherwise you run the risk of being told no by a different agent.

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