The HfP chat thread – Friday 23rd April

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peter says:

23 Apr23 April 11:56

Rob, any chance for “edit”/”like” buttons on comments? 🙂
Sina says:

23 Apr23 April 12:14

I have a flight to Tenerife in May, was wondering if spanish have any restrictions for entry? Tried to find details but info is very conflicting?!
- Anna says:
  
  23 Apr23 April 13:36
  
  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/advice/spain-travel-uk-covid-coronavirus-restrictions-quarantine/
  This has details of the current situation. It will also depend whether you hold a Spanish or EU passport, I think. The Spanish travel industry is certainly keen to accept travellers from the UK, so May could be a distinct possibility, if the UK government allows foreign travel from the 17th.
- TJ says:
  
  23 Apr23 April 14:09
  
  Agreed, difficult to find the single source of truth, but the Spanish Consulate in London states that UK Citizens are allowed entry on an exceptions basis (exceptions are listed) whereas if you have an EU passport you are free to enter. In both cases, entry is subject to completing a Health Control Form and having a negative PCR test 72 before arrival.
- Mouse says:
  
  23 Apr23 April 15:02
  
  This is always a good starting point, updated every few days https://www.wanderlust.co.uk/content/coronavirus-travel-updates/
- Anna says:
  
  23 Apr23 April 15:04
  
  Of course some or all of Spain might end up on the amber list so that might help you decide if you’re going!
BuildBackBetter says:

23 Apr23 April 12:32

Read the news on ‘c@sh back without purchase’ and took me a while to figure out what they were talking about.
Does it mean we can use an Amex to get some c@sh back at the local grocery store with the payment treated as purchase?
Ant says:

23 Apr23 April 12:33

HI my partner and I just thought this morning that maybe we should rent a place for a week in Cornwall next week or week after & work from there. Don’t usually do staycations so any suggestions on recommendations or websites to use would be appreciated. It be just he 2 of us & looking for self contained
- Navara says:
  
  23 Apr23 April 15:44
  
  Cornish Gems Holiday Cottages… probably left it late to book though.
  https://www.cornishgems.com/holiday-cottages/little_polkerris.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3t27iM2U8AIVoujtCh07gQkGEAAYASAAEgKOkvD_BwE
David D says:

23 Apr23 April 12:50

If anyone still has the Harrods offer on their Amex, it is members rewards weekend for 10% off the current prices. For Kevin C from your question yesterday if you are reading today, I received the notification of using my offer via email as soon as I completed the payment online.
- Kevin C says:
  
  23 Apr23 April 13:54
  
  Thanks. I will get in touch with Amex. I expect they’ll ask to wait the 180 days. 🙁
- Rob says:
  
  23 Apr23 April 16:16
  
  Just been in! Maths genius here got to £199.08 of wine (mainly already reduced, then 10% off).
  
  The woman on the till told me not to worry, dashed out, ran upstairs and got a half price pack of biscuits (down to £2) and added it on. Total star. Got email from Amex immediately.
  - KBuffett says:
    
    23 Apr23 April 16:42
    
    The genius would have ordered a £200 Harrods gift card via BA shopping portal online to get the Avios and then executed said move
    - Jonathan says:
      
      23 Apr23 April 16:55
      
      Has this definitely worked for you? Contemplating 4x GC across my Amex’s as want to buy replacement iPhone but won’t be in London for a few weeks.
      - KBuffett says:
        
        23 Apr23 April 17:36
        
        It’s worked like a charm when I last purchased gift cards online using AmEx in Dec 2019
    - Rob says:
      
      23 Apr23 April 18:54
      
      Too risky ordering gift cards online for credit – much of the time they are processed by 3rd parties and don’t count. Not sure of the specifics here.
Michael C says:

23 Apr23 April 13:00

AA “peculiarity”: So I upgraded our BA hols LHR-BOS from PE to Club (thanks for the comments earlier) BUT…was unable to do so on our original AA flight. They don’t allow cash purchase+Avios upgrade, only straight-out Avios redemptions!
Still, amazing BA lady from Newcastle (worth the 95-minute wait *ahem*) changed flights for free then nabbed last 3 Club seats.
Now just need a) non-hassle travel to be in place, and b) tickets for US Open!
- ChrisC says:
  
  23 Apr23 April 13:33
  
  Ah if you’d said AA was involved earlier I’d have given you a different answer!
  
  As because as you found out to UUA all flights in the booking – even ones you don’t want to upgrade – need to be on BA metal not just BA coded.
  - Michael C says:
    
    23 Apr23 April 15:54
    
    @ChrisC, thanks again – all a new world for me!
    Still pleased at only shelling out GBP150 at this stage!
    - ChrisC says:
      
      23 Apr23 April 16:20
      
      yes and easy enough to turn it into a voucher and rebook the package at the moment.
      
      glad you got it all sorted though.
- Anna says:
  
  23 Apr23 April 13:45
  
  Did you book the IC in the end Michael C? I ended up booking a club room for 3 nights, though I will keep an eye on prices over the coming months. Not cheap but we’ll make good use of the lounge!
  - Michael C says:
    
    23 Apr23 April 15:53
    
    Would have loved to, bu didn’t offer club rooms for my BAH dates, though would have been tempted! So went for the cheap’n’cheerful: Marriott Copley Place. Reviews not great, but pool, massive sports bar, and by a mall, so all 3 of us happy!
    - Anna says:
      
      23 Apr23 April 17:55
      
      Ah – yes I think I read they are refurbishing the lounge so it must extend into the autumn.
      It’s ages since I went to a mall in the US, it’s an essential part of a holiday! If Florida does go ahead in August I’ll be taking my nephew to Sawgrass Mills for his first ever American mall experience (my son hates shopping and they are completely wasted on him).
      - Njb says:
        
        24 Apr24 April 09:11
        
        Going to an outlet mall is always part of an US trip for us too!
        We went to Sawgrass Mills a few years ago whilst staying in Ritz Carlton Fort Lauderdale (which I recommend).
        It was an education – never been anywhere so huge. And people had large suitcases which they wheeled around for their purchases.
r* says:

23 Apr23 April 13:01

Is compensation due under eu261 in the following situation –

Original BA flight was due to land at 7am.
Flight is cancelled 3 days before flying and moved to a different flight which lands 6 hours later than the original flight at 1pm?
- David D says:
  
  23 Apr23 April 13:10
  
  Not at present due to Covid, if the flight was pre-Covid then potentially.
- Rui N. says:
  
  23 Apr23 April 16:21
  
  Yes, compensation is due.
- Matt says:
  
  23 Apr23 April 17:14
  
  Depends why it was cancelled. BA will undoubtedly claim that it is Covid related, though that doesn’t get them off the hook if they’ve cancelled it because of operational reasons/too few passengers/etc. You will have to fight for the cash through CEDR/MCOL
- Lady London says:
  
  23 Apr23 April 19:31
  
  length of flight matters for how much later is acceptable if you’re still on the same flight.
  However you’re not.
  
  It’s a different flight number so this counts as a cancellation for EU261. So you have all duty of care rights, rerouting on (even much, much) later date that suits you not them, full refund if you choose, or you can ask to be rerouted onto nearest reasonable flight to original flight time and date. Can be on another airline if your booked airline has nothing reasonably close. You choose.
  
  No compo currently for reasons other posters stated.
  
  No extra cost to you no matter what discount you bought at.
  
  If you had a BA 241 voucher in your booking, all the above applies to both seats. Additionally this is the case where you could consider taking an FTV as this would allow you to keep the 241 valid flyable till Apr2023 if it would otherwise expire.
Tom1 says:

23 Apr23 April 13:02

Treating myself to some new golf clubs from American Golf. Anyone know of any ways to buy vouchers or get c@shback and collect points/miles?
- Andrew says:
  
  23 Apr23 April 13:48
  
  American Golf was a regular on so many different schemes.
  
  Currently showing at 10% (max £30 reward) on my BoS, Halifax & MBNA accounts.
  
  PAW sells American Golf Gift Cards at a 9% discount.
  
  Airtime Rewards offers a 4% return on linked cards. My referral code is U4CVLG3V if you’d care to give me 50p and a chance to win £100.
  - Tom1 says:
    
    23 Apr23 April 15:33
    
    Thanks – I checked but couldn’t see any on my cards right now. I have airtime rewards already but it doesn’t work for me. I’ll check some other cards – maybe able to buy love to shop/one for all from another retailer.