The HfP chat thread – Sunday 9th May

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• Cat says:

  9 May9 May 11:22

  Random, completely off-topic comment here – there was a recent article relating to Disney +, and in the chat thread I noticed that Ted Lasso was (rightly) the most popular recommendation. I’m rewatching (as series 2 is starting in a couple of months), and just spotted that the hotel they film at for their away game in “Liverpool” is none other than the Hilton Syon Park (probably because it’s a stone’s throw away from most of their filming locations in Richmond).

  Bring on being able to stay there again, with the pool and Kalima spa fully open…

  • Memesweeper says:

    9 May9 May 12:18

    Good anoraky spot there @Cat….

    • Cat says:

      9 May9 May 12:57

      I thought so!
      I always need to tell someone when I’ve spotted something obscure like this, and this was definitely the place to share this random spot!

      • TGLoyalty says:

        9 May9 May 15:28

        Yeah noticed this when I watch S1 after the recommendations

  • Lady London says:

    9 May9 May 12:48

    Knew you’d hunt out a spa Cat :-). Do you look at TLFL? Michele there seems to find these too

    • Cat says:

      9 May9 May 13:08

      😂 I am quite the spa bunny!

      I’ve read TLFL in the past, but I find Michelle’s lack of attention to detail somewhat distressing – I can live with the spelling mistakes, but she often uses photos of Rai Leh beach when writing articles about Phuket, labelling the photo as a beach in Phuket (Rai Leh is in Krabi province). When I’ve pointed this out, the photo isn’t changed.

    • Cat says:

      9 May9 May 13:18

      See this picture here https://www.turningleftforless.com/offer-uk-new-york-ba-first-from-2273-phuket-from-1500-on-qatar-free-night-at-rosewood-hotels/ . I pointed out 2 or 3 times that the stock photo they always use for Phuket is a sweaty 3 hour journey from Phuket, before I gave up on TLFL as an unreliable travel blog.

      • Chas says:

        9 May9 May 19:10

        Yup – I recognise that shot quite clearly as being Rai Leh, despite it being (ahem….) 25 years since I was last there.

        • Tony1 says:

          9 May9 May 22:23

          Have done a very civilized hotel transfer from Phuket to Kribi Sofitel, would recommend over the bumpy speed boat option. Shame it was the best part of the weeks stay at the Sofitel. Blowtorched eggs benedict ffs.

  • Hotelier says:

    9 May9 May 12:52

    Ted Lasso = Apple TV
    Season 2 premiere 23rd July
    Was at the pub last weekend 😂

    • Cat says:

      9 May9 May 13:08

      The pub with the men who like to be alone with their thoughts?

• Brian says:

  9 May9 May 11:22

  HfP reported about the Crowne Plaza in South Ken being reflagged as a Doubletree. Not sure whether this has already been noted here, but it’s accepting bookings from June 10 – executive lounge remains, it seems.

  • Rob says:

    9 May9 May 14:50

    Ooh. That is a great result for Hilton Diamond. The CP signs have now come down I noticed yesterday (our local supermarket is the Waitrose opposite).

    • DeB20 says:

      9 May9 May 15:57

      Hi Rob,

      Yes I noticed that the signs have been removed. Meanwhile, as previously discussed in the comments to your original article on the hotel leaving Crowne Plaza, the Holiday Inn Forum has withdrawn the application for redevelopment of the property. The developers probably did not want to be subjected to a full government review.

      Might bump into you at Waitrose one of these days!

  • Benilyn says:

    9 May9 May 15:03

    60k in a few days in August
    🕵🏽‍♂️

    • Benilyn says:

      9 May9 May 15:05

      Feels expensive to me

  • Brian W says:

    9 May9 May 19:26

    I can’t see the exec lounge being referenced on the Hilton App sadly.

    • Rob says:

      9 May9 May 19:41

      KING EXECUTIVE ROOM
      26 sq. m./279 sq. ft., executive lounge access, free WiFi

      This stylish executive room features one king size bed and a range of amenities, including complimentary WiFi, an iron/ironing board, HDTV, and a laptop safe. Executive guests will enjoy the perks of the executive lounge, featuring free hot breakfast, plus evening snacks and drinks. Additional amenities include a rollaway bed, minibar, and coffee/tea making facilities.

• BuildBackBetter says:

  9 May9 May 11:23

  Not sure if mentioned before. Two more hotel offers on Gold card. Edwardian Manchester and Radisson Mayfair.

  • Harry T says:

    9 May9 May 13:10

    Yes, I’ve got these two. The Mayfair seems aggressively priced but there are some good rates at the Edwardian and the offer is better.

  • Super Secret Stuff says:

    9 May9 May 13:23

    I’ve got the edwardian, genuinely interested as I now have a family member living up there. Already bought a travel zoo voucher for the indigo

    • The Savage Squirrel says:

      9 May9 May 14:47

      I stayed in just about every hotel in Central Manchester during a project a few years ago from Ibis and Premier Inns to the upper end properties. The Edwardian was pretty much the best, at least until the Gotham opened (Haven’t stayed in the newish Dakota.).

      • TGLoyalty says:

        9 May9 May 15:30

        All the reviews of the Gotham seem to suggest it’s flashy hell hole with tiny rooms.

        • The Savage Squirrel says:

          9 May9 May 20:57

          Room size fine. I think with pricing on busier dates people have been thinking that they’re booking a suite, not a standard room. I will admit that the zig-zag zebra carpets are, erm, “not to everybody’s taste” (which of course means yes I agree they’re f*ing hideous).

      • Super Secret Stuff says:

        9 May9 May 16:39

        I’ve stayed in a few but hoping to find some good deals in the next few months. Already got the indigo locked in!

• Ben says:

  9 May9 May 11:31

  Hi! Bit of advice please
  I currently have the HSBC WE and fees have been waived for a year.
  My wife’s 24month AMEX anniversary is coming up so I was thinking of applying today for a Nectar one using my friends referral.
  I don’t know what the uplift is on Nectar Amex as it isn’t covered in Robs article, however I was wondering what to do eg whether it’s worth:
  A – just sticking with the HSBC and moving once I need to pay a fee (though I’m not a huge spender so do benefit a lot from signup bonuses)
  B – waiting for an improved signup bonus on the Amex nectar, as this may be higher than the referral bonus?

  • Genghis says:

    9 May9 May 11:40

    There is no uplift on Nectar Amex.
    I’d keep hsbc at least until you need to pay again. The sign up bonuses and anniversary bonus easily cover the two lots of fees but then give you access to a high earning non Amex.

    • Ben says:

      9 May9 May 11:50

      Thanks
      I wouldn’t cancel HSBC; just stop using it for a while while I got a bonus Amex. I’d like to follow Robs strategy so I think I’ll wait and see if there is a nectar welcome bonus in the future. Cheers!

      Talking of HSBC has anyone heard whether they will be doing a avios transfer bonus (I think 30%?) soon? It used to be annual.

      • Polly says:

        9 May9 May 16:02

        It’s been a while, waiting for an uplift transfer also… just upgrading my premier to WE again now that am starting the 24 month Amex wait. Origin downgraded to premier. Interesting they waive the fee. Am going to use bonvoy as an Amex in the meantime. OH has the referrals going atm, so will see how it pens out.
        As Genghis says, the WE has the higher earning and the bonus is good.

        Genghis, how have the offers been for the Bonvoy card, know you are on a similar Amex path atm? Tnx.

        • Genghis says:

          9 May9 May 16:58

          I’m on Nectar. Nothing of much interest (to me) at the moment but from reports similar offers to other cards.

• M says:

  9 May9 May 11:38

  Virgin Australia question. If I understand what happened last year correctly, first the company went into administration and late last year a new owner bought the company. It looks like the company is operational right now. Please correct me if any of the above is inaccurate.

  Now comes the question – what happened to customers’ miles through all this? Especially, if someone has decided to sit through the rough times, are their miles still usable right now? If yes, was there a significant devaluation?

  I am not personally a Virgin Australia customer, but I am just interested in knowing how this particular scenario ended for its customers.

  Thanks.

  • Pete M says:

    9 May9 May 11:54

    I believe the miles were held by a completely separate company and remained intact?

    • Genghis says:

      9 May9 May 12:02

      But what can the miles now buy? Segregation of legal entities in the miles game doesn’t mean safety (I’ve no knowledge of the specific case).

    • Rob says:

      9 May9 May 14:47

      Did they retain value though?

      If Virgin Atlantic goes bust, Virgin Red still technically has your miles BUT I am sure Red does not have the money in the bank to fulfil redemptions, so there would be a monster devaluation (say 1 to 10) making a Greggs sausage roll 2,000 miles instead of 200. It would be the only way for Red to remain solvent.

  • Louie says:

    9 May9 May 12:08

    Yes, miles are still in existence and have not been devalued in theory…. in practice, VA now has no bookable international partners so transferring miles to or booking on (former part owner) Singapore Airlines or booking on their other partners, such as Delta and Etihad is no longer possible. And of course VA are no longer flying internationally. So in reality a huge devaluation – but better than losing them altogether of course.

    • M says:

      9 May9 May 12:32

      Thanks, that does not sound so bad (considering the circumstances of course).

      • Dani says:

        9 May9 May 14:09

        I had a VA domestic cancelled last Spring 2020… Refused to refund…as not our fault!!

        Approached Curve for a chargeback, and got kicked back by TS and C’s… Threatened ombudsman referral and Curve made a goodwill payment to cover the cost…

        Not impressed at all by VA.

        • Louie says:

          10 May10 May 00:18

          Consumer protection laws in Australia are woeful compared with the UK, sadly.

• Pete M says:

  9 May9 May 11:46

  Rather impressed by T5 today. All J and F passengers checking in via the First Wing, virtually all counters open there, wait under 10mins. You submit Covid documentation online now (system won’t let you check in before it’s uploaded and approved), so actual bag drop took all of 2mins with no paperwork faffing. Security under 5mins. Lounge busy, but loads of staff and the order-at-table system really works well, enjoying my lunch now!

  • Fred says:

    9 May9 May 21:15

    Do you have to wear a mask the whole time (other than when eating) and onboard the flight also?

    • TGLoyalty says:

      9 May9 May 22:24

      Yes

• MCO says:

  9 May9 May 12:01

  Anyone else glad Sweaty Betty offer is finally ending in 10 days. Sick of seeing it as the top offer on every card of mine.

  • Andrew says:

    9 May9 May 12:27

    Hahaha yes! Although wait, it will be back for another 4 month-long offer tomorrow probably! Really wish you could delete or mark as read when you’re not interested in an offer or at least the latest offer to be always at the top – with so many offers these days it’s like a game of spot the difference every morning.

    • Doug M says:

      9 May9 May 13:36

      I think that’s why some people save offers they don’t want, which Rob said was a problem for the retailers who then potentially miss a customer that would use the offer. I think this would be a real benefit to the customer, to allow you to hide/dismiss offers, and then more easily see new offers that may be lost in the clutter.

      • TGLoyalty says:

        9 May9 May 15:33

        But then you miss out on the marketing opportunity

        To try and entice you on to their website or in to store to buy something. I for one had never heard of sweaty Betty and while they don’t sell garments I need I’m now aware of their existence.

      • Crafty says:

        9 May9 May 23:13

        +1

    • Tony1 says:

      9 May9 May 22:26

      +1

• Oli says:

  9 May9 May 12:21

  Can I include both my Amex cards and my Amex supplementary cards (for which my wife has the main card) on the same Amex account?

  • Sukes says:

    9 May9 May 12:25

    Yes. My father can see his cancelled PRG (of which he was main cardholder) & his active supp PRG (for which his wife is main cardholder) in the app under the same login.

  • Genghis says:

    9 May9 May 12:29

    Yes

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