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The HfP chat thread – Monday 17th May

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Comments (459)

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

  • DT says:
    17 May17 May 03:30

    Shop small offer has appeared, dates Jun 5 – Jun 26

  • ChrisC says:
    17 May17 May 04:49

    Covid vaccination history now appearing in the NHS app. Even if you don’t have access to your full record.

    Option on the home page to “check your Covid 19 vaccine record”

    It shows date, maker and batch number of the vaccination.

    If you don’t have or want to have the app if you call 119 at least 5 days after your second jab they will send an letter to you with the same details.

    Do not contact your GP.

    I registered for the app last week. Very easy to do. My approval came through in 5 days.

    • Stuart Evans says:
      17 May17 May 06:02

      Excellent News 😊

      • Ed says:
        17 May17 May 08:57

        Do you know if it’s possible to print off a hard copy should any zealous Border official insist on seeing a paper copy?

        • Andrew says:
          17 May17 May 09:16

          Yes.

          Multiple different ways depending on your device. The crudest way is to take a screenshot then email it to yourself for printing.

          Might be worthwhile screenshotting it anyway for those times when you are in an arrivals bunker without a signal – at least it will be in your album.

          • Ed says:
            17 May17 May 09:25

            Thanks Andrew, any info on the more sophisticated methods?
            Cheers,

          • Andrew says:
            17 May17 May 09:30

            Uhm, depends on your device and your home tech.

            For my android device, I touch the screen with 3 fingers, it takes a snapshot. I touch the down arrow on the postage stamp sized preview, and it extends the snapshot to the full page length. Then I tap that and send it wirelessly to my printer.

          • Ed says:
            17 May17 May 09:42

            Hi Andrew, a bit of youtubing got me there! I now have a couple of copies. Cheers.

    • Andrew says:
      17 May17 May 06:08

      The government actually delivered early on this promise – was showing on Friday in the app.

      • John says:
        17 May17 May 06:56

        It’s been available (in a different section and requiring your GP to approve access) since March at least

        • Andrew says:
          17 May17 May 07:00

          Yes, was showing in my Acute Medicines section from a few days after I had the jab.

          • JohnT says:
            17 May17 May 07:52

            But no need to contact your GP now for the vaccination part.

        • James Pleasant says:
          17 May17 May 07:30

          January 6th for me. But this new Covid-19 immunisation page (1) doesn’t require your GP practice to authorise access and (2) has been drawn from the NIVS direct so is a better solution.

          Plus I guess the QR code will be added on soonish which will be useful in all sorts of ways. Eg pubs & restaurants – or (say) university lecture theatres at a later date – are completely at liberty to ask to see your vaccine status before granting entry and a QR code would simplify that process.

          • kitten says:
            17 May17 May 11:35

            Yes and QR codes can be read in, in their own language by border control officials

          • FatherOfFour says:
            17 May17 May 12:13

            QR code – nice to have. However, at the moment, the app doesn’t display name and D.O.B on the same screen as the vaccination record, so if a country asks for a digital copy of your record, a screenshot wont contain the information needed.
            It needs either an “export to pdf” function or name/DOB/NHS number to be displayed on that page so a screenshot will work!

          • ChrisC says:
            17 May17 May 15:14

            Please see my update on this as it answers these questions.

    • Nick G says:
      17 May17 May 07:06

      Great news I was only moaning the other week the nhs app seemed meh and my gp told me it’s nothing to do with them!

      • Jay says:
        17 May17 May 11:35

        The GP just collects a whole load of cash to have you as a patient on their books and they deliver a “not us guv” attitude. NHS app is coming along in leaps and bounds.

    • Craig says:
      17 May17 May 08:21

      Out of curiosity, is this working in NI, Wales and Scotland?

      • Louise K says:
        17 May17 May 08:26

        My brother based in Scotland has never heard of the NHS app

        • Jill ( Kinkell) says:
          17 May17 May 08:36

          My surgery didn’t even give out the little wallet sized ‘Covid’ card that is given in England with details of date, vaccine and batch no. If I hadn’t written my dates and vaccine type down, I would have no record at all. Forget the batch no! No idea what is happening in Scotland as regards App or travel certs. or whatever the Scottish Gov. is planning.

          • James Pleasant says:
            17 May17 May 08:50

            That’s a shame as Greece is letting UK people in PCR test-free on sight of that bit of card showing the 2 vaccs. Maybe other countries will follow suit.

          • Louise K says:
            17 May17 May 08:53

            Certainly my bro did get a card when he had his. He is approaching his 12 weeks for 2nd dose but not been contacted about when that will be. Which is a bit worrying!

          • Peggerz says:
            17 May17 May 14:29

            Hi Jill.

            Not exactly the same, but put your details in here to get info of your jag(s) etc.

            https://vacs.nhs.scot/csp

          • Jill ( Kinkell) says:
            17 May17 May 18:47

            Reply to Peggerz below: didn’t know this existed! However, as we got a phone call from surgery for both jab appointments, we didn’t get a letter that apparently has a username on it. Therefore we cannot register on the site. Left hanging on for ages on the Covid phone line given if anyone has queries! Typical ScotGov faff.

      • Sukes says:
        17 May17 May 09:09

        No for NI & no indication from our esteemed executive as to how we’re goin to prove vaccination. The app you’re all referring to is for English residents.

        • meta says:
          17 May17 May 09:21

          @Louise K didn’t you have to book both appointments at the same time? I know I did. If not he can book himself at any centre for the second one.

          • Louise K says:
            17 May17 May 09:26

            @meta

            His was done via the GP has he has a health condition. Said they would be in touch for the 2nd. I don’t think Scotland has the same system as England it seems to be done via GP or by letter.

            He’s going to call them today as I told him we are getting our 2nds this wee after 8 weeks.

      • Andrew says:
        17 May17 May 09:18

        NHS Scotland data is held on a completely different system. Even NHS Numbers in Scotland operate on a different algorithm.

        Ms Sturgeon is concerened about the ethics of allowing Scottish Residents the ability to quickly evidence vaccination status.

      • James Pleasant says:
        17 May17 May 09:19

        Drakeford said that in Wales the NHS app should be available in 4 weeks’ time – in the meantime Wales residents can get a paper version (from May 24th).

    • WaynedP says:
      17 May17 May 08:39

      +1 for me and Mrs dP, with no faff. Very impressed.

      And managed to easily book our second jab for tonight (local pharmacy), 9 weeks after our first instead of 12.

    • ChrisC says:
      17 May17 May 15:11

      *** UPDATE ***

      Some friends who have had their 2nd jab have shown me that there is an option to generate a QR code where your nama and DoB appear on the same screen as the code or to generate a PDF you can download.

      *** UPDATE ***

      • James Pleasant says:
        17 May17 May 15:27

        Not for me – PC and (Android) mobile. A couple of days ago my name & DOB weren’t on the same page as the vaccine passport page either, though they are now.

        • Tom1 says:
          17 May17 May 19:54

          For me, iOS just shows the vaccine batch numbers and dates, doesn’t have my name or DOB yet

  • Andrew says:
    17 May17 May 06:06

    The much trailed IHG flash sale has started – 25% off best flexible rate when booking the book now, pay later rate. Prices seem unchanged from what I was looking at over the last few days though so I think it’s the predicted damp squib.

    • Rich says:
      17 May17 May 12:53

      Same here, no difference for any of the hotels I’ve been looking at over the last week or so.

      • Hannah says:
        17 May17 May 13:13

        Exactly the same for me, no change in the prices for the Manchester hotels I’ve been looking at.

        • ankomonkey says:
          17 May17 May 14:36

          I have a booking for early June booked about a week ago. Today the price is higher than what I booked for last week!

  • Andrew says:
    17 May17 May 06:33

    STILL no Marriott or IHG Amex offers – guess it’s just Hilton and Hyatt then this year.

    • Anna says:
      17 May17 May 06:48

      Andrew, I fully expect an IHG offer to appear as soon as I check out of the Kimpton Fitzroy at the end of the month!

      Somewhat related – I have a reservation at Ella Canta at the IC Park Lane but the website is now suggesting that it won”t have reopened by then – has anyone else tried to book recently?

    • John says:
      17 May17 May 06:57

      I don’t recall any IHG amex offers ever

      • Andrew says:
        17 May17 May 06:58

        Last year there were.

      • Harry T says:
        17 May17 May 07:46

        Yes, although I think the IHG offers might have been for certain specific hotels?

        • Memesweeper says:
          17 May17 May 08:57

          Definitely nothing brand wide.

          I have fingers and toes crossed for a Marriott deal, it’s the one I’ll definitely use.

    • Matthew says:
      17 May17 May 08:59

      Marriott Amex offer has historically been around in Q3 IIRC

    • Rich says:
      17 May17 May 12:55

      I have the Hilton offer, but the hotel I’m staying at (Porto) isn’t participating 🙁

      Any sense in paying with the Amex anyway, or is that just a waste of paying the forex surcharge?

  • Damian says:
    17 May17 May 07:29

    IHG flash sale – prices seem unchanged from yesterday for me (looking to stay in central London in November)

    • Andrew says:
      17 May17 May 07:43

      I think what they’ve done is kept the book now, pay later rate the same and then upped the flexible rate so that the book now, pay later rate is as per the flash sale, 25% off. Classic IHG marketing.

    • IanM says:
      17 May17 May 08:15

      On a quick look they do seems to be well reduced in most cases, eg CP Ealing down to £70, probably decent deals.

    • SV travels says:
      17 May17 May 09:57

      Do you know if they stack with other promotions, e.g. the 3 x points?

  • Super Secret Stuff says:
    17 May17 May 07:34

    Offer on my amex for Firmdale hotels today. 20% back. No minimum

  • Martin Short says:
    17 May17 May 07:51

    Just got Amex Platinum.
    Have not signed up for Hilton Gold etc. Should I delay signing up to get longer status as not using it yet?

    • Andrew says:
      17 May17 May 08:04

      Depends if you’re planning to cancel Platinum – Hilton Gold doesn’t expire if you keep Platinum.

    • BuildBackBetter says:
      17 May17 May 09:38

      Doesn’t matter. You get status until the end of the year you have the plat card. But covid extensions mean you might have it for another year even if you cancel the card.

      • Anna says:
        17 May17 May 11:51

        My OH has recently got another Plat after the 24 month break. He was still Hilton gold from first time despite having no paid stays in all that time!

  • Colin says:
    17 May17 May 07:57

    Re yesterday`s article on ba.com charging 24% more for experiences than avios.com, there are several similar anomalies on pricing for hotels, car hire, wine purchases etc. Surely the greatest however has to be the well known `fewer taxes/charges` payable on Aer Lingus flights but only if booked by phoning ba.com and booking through ba executive club. Yesterday I booked 4x (economy) seats DUB/JFK return during February half-term. Cost on avios.com, bookable online through Aer Club, was 104000 avios + £804.40 taxes/charges – cost via ba executive club was same 104000 avios + £354.18 taxes/charges. Crazy.

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