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The HfP chat thread – Friday 23rd 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 (223)

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

  • Michael C says:

    Post-Brexit UK holiday dilemma!
    I have some friends wishing to visit: the wife has just been granted an Italian passport, so fine (it will only be for a fortnight). But the husband is Albanian, with a work permit for Italy (not Schengen).Under EU rules, he would simply have had a tag-along right, but would he now need a standard visitor visa? (The vast amount of info online is aimed at people living in/relocating to the UK, not occasional tourists!).
    Thanks, and Happy Sant Jordi!

  • ChrisC says:

    Is this the shortest period between booking a BA flight and it being cancelled and rebooked?

    11.30 am yesterday booked BA holiday to Berlin

    11.30pm last night email to say return flight had been cancelled.

    • Relay says:

      Close. In January I was trying to get back from Fuerteventura. Ryanair cancelled my booked flight. Checked Jet2 who still appeared to operate. Booked at circa 10am. Got the cancellation email by lunchtime. Then booked TUI who were a bit tardy and took at least… 36 hours to cancel.

      In the end, took a flight a week earlier with Ryanair, who to be fair, were the only outfit still operating some flights in Jan/Feb on the routes despite the empty planes. O’Leary and team earned a fair bit of kudos in my book.

      • Yorkieflyer says:

        Agreed Ryanair a lifesaver when I needed to travel in January, operated flight with 17 pax

    • Chris Heyes says:

      ChrisC Congratulation’s yes I’ll have to give you that
      Unless someone knows different ?

  • Pete M says:

    So I’m being told 43 and 44 year olds should be able to book Covid jabs on the main NHS website now.

    • MadeUpName says:

      Thanks, just booked mine (44 y/o)

    • Dr Tom says:

      43 year old here and the website reports I’m not currently eligible.

      • TGLoyalty says:

        Worth checkin every few days as it drops sooner than it’s announced.

        • Andrew says:

          Although this decade has been much slower than the previous ones – it’s taken 10 days to drop below 45 since it opened for bookings at the start of last week.

          • Tracey says:

            Shortage of vaccines in April, combined with prioritising vaccines for second doses, has meant lower numbers of first doses.
            Situation will improve in the next couple of weeks.
            Bodes well for mid June onwards, when there will be less people needing their second doses.

          • Rob says:

            You think? Chances of any supply coming out of India going forward are looking slim for obvious reasons and Boris has agreed that the EU can have the Astra vaccine from the Dutch plant, even though it was earmarked for the UK.

          • TGLoyalty says:

            Supply will be considerably lower for the next couple of months I think

          • David says:

            Novavax approval is on the horizon and that is made in the UK and we have 60m doses of that.

      • Louise K says:

        Could try dialing 119 and asking them

        • QwertyKnowsBest says:

          Worth keep trying the website, it changes more frequently than announced and does sometimes reflect local extra capacity. I am advised that 119 only has same portal and access as website users.

    • Louise says:

      thanks booked the husband in

    • Tracy says:

      Anyone from Scotland age 45+ got their blue letter yet? No letter yet but phoned this morning and my appt is on the system for 3rd May, really wish we could have booked online….

  • PK says:

    Would I be getting 24k referral bonus if I recommend others for American Express Rewards Credit Card even when they holding Amex gold/platinum (membership reward points )card?

    • Andrew says:

      If you hold the Platinum card yes. As long as Amex approve their applications then it doesn’t matter if they are eligible for signup bonuses, you get the referral bonus anyway.

    • Rob says:

      If you hold a Platinum, yes.

  • Adam says:

    Stayed in a Hilton Resort last year and they definately didn’t recognise status for a room upgrade. Hotel was not full either.

  • Anna says:

    My OH’s new Platinum on his Amex account is showing 30k MR points as the sign up bonus – have other people had this and still got the 50k?
    BTW, @Andrew, Harry T etc, I handed the lovely shiny thing to my OH to pay for petrol yesterday and he now won’t give it back! He never normally cares which cards he has in his wallet. There’s definitely a touch of Lord of the Rings about it 🤣

    • TGLoyalty says:

      The extra points for being referred never show in the tracker so would worry about it.

    • Andrew says:

      Oh yes, once you’ve touched metal, you can’t go back to plastic! It’s honestly one of the reasons (although certainly not the only one) I’ve kept the Platinum membership through this period – and what’s £575 between friends?

      • Anna says:

        Ha – I did tell him about the clinking on silver trays as we were eating out last night. Unfortunately the restaurant had plastic trays and also didn’t accept Amex (most places are booked solid for weeks now so I had to grit my teeth and present my IHG MC).

    • Secret Squirrel says:

      Anna: I have only 30k as my bonus next to my spend tracker, I screenshot the referral showing 50k but not worried as Amex statements are rarely correct.

    • Harry T says:

      Yeah, but has he seen my Rose Gold Curve Metal card? 😂

      • Anna says:

        He robustly scorns my rose gold Apple devices, Harry, so I imagine he would feel the same about a card, metal or not!

        • Harry T says:

          I genuinely got the rose gold one because I thought it would be amusing 😂 it’s actually not as bad as I thought it would be!

          • Anna says:

            What do they think of it in Newcastle?!

          • Babyg says:

            Hmm my wife would love this, how do you get the rose gold one?

          • Tariq says:

            LOL so did I but my other half usually uses it so that she has access to my HSBC WE without paying the additional card fee.

    • YC says:

      Don’t forget to get the sup card for yourself. Yes same on the 30k tracker, I did raise with Amex and chat agent thought I was not referred. I’m not worried as I’m sure it will be right in the end

  • xcalx says:

    Can anyone provide a link to enrol for the Dell benefit on amex business plat please.

  • Vin says:

    Data point – had a call from IC Frankfurt apologising that they were cancelling my May-end booking due to increasing lockdown in Germany. Could be end of June before they open again.
    It’s service that I’ve come to expect from IC around the world – perhaps AMB helps?
    Only bad experience at an IC was Park Lane several years ago (my first ever IC stay) booked as a reward night … very snobby front desk staff who spoke in a way that left me feeling belittled (will not stay there again, no matter what bonus comes my way!)

    • roberto says:

      I had a night in Frankfurt this week at the Hilton by the airport. At check in they asked the reason for my stay, I was transiting and that was allowed.

      The airport and surrounding area was very quiet with resturants and bars closed everywhere. Food available via room service (excellent) and wine/beer for sale in the supermarket just outside.

      Entry into Germany via our Spanish resident card.

    • Anna says:

      Oh no Vin! We have 3 nights booked at Christmas – 2 are on credit card free nights, AND we’re from Lancashire so there’s not much hope for us 🤣

      • Yuff says:

        On,HB have good experiences at the IC park lane as ambassador.
        Stonking upgrade last time, all,booked on pints and CC voucher.
        Have a booking for mid July and will re-join AMB in June,

      • Vin says:

        @Anna – as a fellow Northerner I share your concerns 🙂 but I’m sure you’ll have a great stay !

    • TGLoyalty says:

      I’ve found the service at IC PL is crap

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