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The HfP chat thread – Friday 30th 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 (259)

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

  • Harry T says:

    Any recent successes or setbacks topping up Vanguard with Bendy and Beardy/Solihull?

    • Brighton Belle says:

      Doesn’t work.

      Bendy with anything, Beardy, Solihull, Bus Pass… just your regular bank debit card is required

    • Dr Tom says:

      Solihull to Che, via Bendy.
      Che to Van.
      Solihull limit is £700 per week, so it takes some time to use up your ISA allowance!

  • Craig says:

    I think it was someone here who mentioned it so thank you. I have won a four night cruise from Southampton with Royal Caribbean. It was a promo they ran for key workers who hold Blue Light Cards. No ports of call but only 999 of the 2200 state rooms will be occupied so it should be fairly quiet.

  • Anna says:

    So we’re at the Kimpton Charlotte Square, we’ve got 2 superior rooms with balconies and views of the castle and a table full of drinks & treats plus a book for me on Mary Queen of Scots! I’m literally tearing up, what an amazing welcome.

    • Craig says:

      Great to hear, have a lovely time.

    • The uncivil servant says:

      You are having a weekend away. Enjoy it, but please no running commentary, its quite tedious.

      • Super Secret Stuff says:

        You are literally reading a travel and points blog…

      • Alan Todd says:

        do bore off.

        sounds fantastic, more stories please anna, hearing of our contrasting experiences may prove cathartic 😅

    • swifty says:

      that is lovely to hear, we all love a special feeling, relax, spoil yourselves and also always tastes sweeter when one has done some kind of finessing, so I guess the rooms/drinks etc are an upgrade. Yum!

    • Aston100 says:

      Well done. I think you’ve been planning this for some time right?

      • The cyclist says:

        I like what you did there you master of understatement! 🙂

    • Super Secret Stuff says:

      Everyone, quickly that means the area is going into another lockdown! I joke of course…

      Enjoy

    • Hugo says:

      I am also up in Edinburgh though I am using the bargain of 15k points at the holiday inn express

  • John says:

    Applied for a status match with Hilton from Marriott Platinum
    New Hilton account is now showing gold – thus appears to have granted match but suggests I need to do 20 nights to get to Diamond – I thought it was only 9 on a match.
    They have not sent me any communication about match being granted.
    Anyone done a match? Did they communicate with you?

    • Peggerz says:

      Hi @John.
      I was looking to do this soon as I have a 5 night booking at a Hilton and don’t have status, so will be interested in the answer. How long did the status match take to come through after application?

      • John says:

        Now spoke to Hilton on online chat. They went on screen and said match had been granted but they don’t notify by email ( seems stupid).
        Confirmed I will receive Diamond on completing 9 nights in 90 days ( just booked a 10 night stay at £29 a night to get Diamond as I have a 14 night Hilton stay booked at a hotel that gives suites/lounge access to Diamond later in year). Will visit hotel to check in and check out.
        I dont actually know how long it took – applied last Saturday and logged on for first time today and saw I was gold

        • Harry T says:

          Where did you book the stay for £29 a night? I’m diamond already but wouldn’t mind racking up some extra nights to hit the milestone bonuses.

        • John says:

          All hiltons give lounge access to diamond.

  • Marco says:

    Silly question but I thought good to confirm. Usually pay off my cards in full every month with direct debit.

    If I were to pay manually instead and only pay the minimum balance that they ask for, that will not incur any late payment fees right?

    • Travel Strong says:

      Pay in full before you due date, whether manually or by direct debit – but pay in full. Don’t even consider entering the ridiculously expensive world of being charged interest on a credit card – there is always a cheaper option.
      (Unless this is 0% interest card, which i’m assuming it’s not).

    • BS says:

      As mentioned, avoid card borrowing if you possibly can. If you do have to borrow on cards remember cards give you interest free period if paid off in full. If you are spending £10,000 and can only pay off £2,500, remember you will be better off putting £2,000 on one card and paying in full, and the £500 as the minimum payment for the other.

      To answer your question, no – no late fees. But they might still take your full DD if not cancelled, so worth checking.

    • Peter K says:

      As long as they are paid in full by the required date there will be no interest charged. The method of payment is irrelevant.

    • Steve says:

      To answer your question, a manual payment of the minimum amount in time will mean you incur no late payment fees. But echo what others say, pay in full, credit card debt is the worst kind of debt (unless 0%)

  • Clive says:

    https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/14542109/boris-johnson-traffic-light-system-green-light-holidays/

    BORIS Johnson is set to give a green light to holidays abroad from May 17 – after deaths tumbled with five million Brits fully vaccinated.

  • Louise K says:

    I recently bought Hilton honors points under the promo and paid with my HH BC visa. Am I to expect bonus HH points? Doesn’t appear so on my statement.

    • Rob says:

      No. The charge went through as points.com which is the company that processes purchases for Hilton.

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