The HfP chat thread – Friday 23rd April

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Stu N says:

23 Apr23 April 17:33

Anyone successfully fed Ernie with an RBS Rewards Credit card via Bendy? Never seen it discussed and I genuinely want to procure some of Ernie’s wares – if I can score 0.5% return in the process even better.
- 747_Brat says:
  
  23 Apr23 April 17:41
  
  I was charged the cash advance fee last time I tried in Jan. The amount wasn’t much because I only tested a small amount. So I wrote off the fee as a learning cost, and have since stayed away from using my RBS credit card to feed Ernie.
  - Stu N says:
    
    23 Apr23 April 21:14
    
    Thanks – will stick to debit card then.
FatherOfFour says:

23 Apr23 April 18:35

Amex travel insurance question. Flights and BAH deposit paid on free BA Amex- assume only the basic coverage- fair enough. What if balance of the BAH is paid for on a premium card later in the year? Is the insurance linked to the travel ticket? or the holiday itself? I think I still need the usual cancellation and medical cover over and above either of these. Insurance is so dull I don’t pay enough attention!
- FatherOfFour says:
  
  23 Apr23 April 18:50
  
  should have made clear- Flights booked as a companion. BAH is for 2 hotel reservations only.
  
  I had a quote earlier that covered cancellation if I get covid before travel, but not if FCDO / gov advice says “no travel”. BAH has the 3 week book with confidence on the hotel booking, but I’m exposed in that 3 week period for “no travel” advice.
John says:

23 Apr23 April 18:45

Trying to apply for a Hilton status match challenge: complete page and add docs- then submit – internal error.
Anyone had this and found a solution?
Thanks
- Aston100 says:
  
  23 Apr23 April 19:03
  
  Oh bugger, that reminds me I just messed up.
  Got Hilton gold via Amex Plat recently.
  Could have gone for the 9 nights diamond status match as I’m doing 15 nights in Hilton properties at the end of the year.
  Damn it.
  - Guernsey Globetrotter says:
    
    24 Apr24 April 00:40
    
    Aston – just open a new Hilton account & status match via that – you can ask Hilton to merge them after
    - Aston100 says:
      
      24 Apr24 April 02:06
      
      Thanks for that.
      You sure there won’t be a problem opening a second Hilton account with identical name and address etc?
      - Guernsey Globetrotter says:
        
        24 Apr24 April 09:02
        
        You just need a different email – I believe the combine option is easy to find under the account settings when you log in online (rather than via the app)
Aston100 says:

23 Apr23 April 18:54

Anyone got any experience of the Capital Hilton Washington DC?
I noticed the prices are remarkably cheap around Christmas this year.
It says ‘Deal’ on the Hilton site, but even so, seems suspiciously cheap to me with a base room at £76pn, junior suite at £116pn.
Looks to be very close to the White House and a metro station.
Tripadvisor reviews seem very positive, so I wonder what is the catch here?
Other Hilton properties in the locality are way more expensive, including ‘inferior’ brands.
- Aston100 says:
  
  23 Apr23 April 18:59
  
  Well, I’ve booked it anyway. It’s refundable up to the day before so no harm.
  
  Question: I’ve used Curve, but I understand the payment won’t be taken until nearer the time, or possibly even during the stay. If that happens, I guess this will negatively impact the fee free £500 pm allowance for blue curve at the time, as it will then prevent me from using Curve for other transactions in that 30 day period once I’m in the US?
  - Chrisasaurus says:
    
    23 Apr23 April 19:42
    
    If it’s refundable it likely won’t even be charged until you are there- but if there is meant to be a deposit then calling them to ask them to charge it should work
- r* says:
  
  23 Apr23 April 19:18
  
  Cant comment on it recently, but I stayed there a couple of years ago and it was $120pn+ tax for a standard room. No lounge and breakfast was continental only iirc but I didnt have any issues with the hotel.
- Reney says:
  
  23 Apr23 April 21:02
  
  I used to live near there, I like the location. Never stayed at the hotel
  thou.
- Andy D says:
  
  23 Apr23 April 21:18
  
  I stayed there in Feb 2019 overnight. I thought the location was fabulous, the hotel was ok, but the breakfast (I am Diamond) was runty in the extreme and they required me to take it in the lounge. Enough to make me not want to stay at the property again.
  - AnotherUser says:
    
    24 Apr24 April 00:31
    
    I wonder if it’s often cheap off season – I remember almost booking it a few years ago. Ended up staying elsewhere for some reason, but nothing to do with the Hilton
Patrick Cold says:

23 Apr23 April 19:06

TLFL reporting that BA Elemis spas will not reopen.
- Anna says:
  
  23 Apr23 April 19:41
  
  That’s a shame, I imagine that means the staff will be made redundant as well. It will especially negatively impact on the F experience where you could book treatments in advance.
Pete M says:

23 Apr23 April 19:20

I gave the AUS/NZ travel bubble a week. It lasted five days. I genuinely have no idea how these countries will ever reopen with this level of overreaction every time…
- Lady London says:
  
  23 Apr23 April 20:26
  
  The only way out is vaccination it appears. That plus maintaining social distancing and hygiene precautions for the foreseeable. I can’t ser how cinemas, theatres, sports venues can maintain their previous model of high attendee density.
  
  I’ve come round to believing vaccination is the only way only after seeing the UK’s success in braking hospitalisations. Although as usual many clever posters on HfP got there way before me.
  
  The world is going to have to reopen business soon and we are all going to have to adapt to the new rules. I for one can:t wait as too many people cant earn a living till we sort this out. I’m thinking of small business owners everywhere including Australia, New Zealand, the US etc as well as here.
  - Lady London says:
    
    23 Apr23 April 20:28
    
    PS thank you to whoever recommended Dr John Campbell for evidence-based analysis and clear explanations.
    - Pete M says:
      
      23 Apr23 April 21:10
      
      I’d love to agree. But I worry that even once we’ve vaccinated everyone (a big ask), new variants will keep appearing. And places like AUS and NZ have made zero Covid such a huge thing they just won’t be able to sell opening up to the public…
      - CH says:
        
        23 Apr23 April 21:32
        
        Perhaps an opportunity to sell opening up to their masses might be after they done a good deal of (/”completed”) vaccinating? Depending on how it all eventually pans out in countries ahead of them with that. We’ll just have to see the effect of “variants of concern” on a well vaccinated population once more data becomes available.
thefuzzbox says:

23 Apr23 April 19:36

Can’t remember seeing this having been confirmed prior (sorry if it has) but Chewton Glen now bookable for points on ihg app. Availability looks better in new year e.g. mar 6th-8th at 87.5k per night. Not my style, more a HI Express at some random motorway junction with kids in tow sort of bloke, but seen the place mentioned before on here.
- Anna says:
  
  23 Apr23 April 19:50
  
  It’s not the greatest value for points (£350 pn cash), even with the half bottle of champagne and chocolates in the room. I’d rather have 3/4 nights in an Indigo or more in a HI for that number of points. I can totally see @meta here though!
  - meta says:
    
    23 Apr23 April 22:09
    
    Haha. It’s nice, but I have my eyes set on the new IC Rome for 40k a night.
    - Peggerz says:
      
      24 Apr24 April 01:12
      
      Booked two weeks ago speculatively for the 6 Nations.
Amo says:

23 Apr23 April 20:33

What is the best number to call at 1am to secure Avios tickets? The US number listed on the BA contact page states they close at 8pm eastern (1:00 BST)
- Alex says:
  
  23 Apr23 April 21:10
  
  That’s correct – you either get them just before they close and they stay on. Other option is Japan which opens at bang on 1am our time which can cause issues. Better to call US slightly early and wait, by the time you get through to Japan and they sort it out, it’s 5-10 past and you’ve missed it.
  - Amo says:
    
    23 Apr23 April 21:11
    
    Thank you Alex! Wish me luck