The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 18th May

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Tarmohamed says:

18 May18 May 03:05

Good night!
J says:

18 May18 May 04:36

In case this might be of use to anyone – re the NHS app (I know, not strictly travel or points but it has been mentioned on here a few times).

I downloaded the app and went through the process of registering to access my health record, using my driving licence. Got an email back saying “We could not match you to a record, contact your GP.” Instead, I tried again with my passport, and this time it all went through fine.

So just to say – if you encounter the same issue, try a different form of ID before putting more load on no-doubt already-busy GP surgeries 😉

A good example of the importance of accurate error messaging 😉
- John says:
  
  18 May18 May 04:38
  
  My GP sent. some codes so no ID was needed
  - James Pleasant says:
    
    18 May18 May 06:07
    
    NHS app updated overnight and full QR code and data needed for travel now present & correct.
    
    Good tip there, J.
    - meta says:
      
      18 May18 May 09:14
      
      Why does it say expiry date 20 June 2021? What happens after that?
      - James Pleasant says:
        
        18 May18 May 09:21
        
        Unexplained – we could guess lots of reasons – potential lockdowns, effectiveness of vaccs over time etc – no doubt that date will just get forever extended. Esp if you get your boosters.
      - Louie says:
        
        18 May18 May 13:09
        
        It’s supposed to be valid for a month. Or a month or so – it seems!
John says:

18 May18 May 04:36

Good morning!
- J says:
  
  18 May18 May 04:37
  
  Gah! I spoiled the flow with my post just now! 😉
  
  Morning all!
bafan says:

18 May18 May 05:01

My mom is turning 50 soon, and I know she’s always wanted a Chanel brooch. Is the Chanel store in LHR any more cost effective than stand alone stores? One brooch is about 25% of my monthly take home lol.
- Andrew says:
  
  18 May18 May 06:16
  
  If you have the Harrods Amex offer you can buy from there.
  - Lady London says:
    
    18 May18 May 10:33
    
    Good idea. Phone them. Give a little time assistants in the high level designer brands can be quite good at getting things in from other of their outlets.
    
    Not sure LHR would have much choice on hand (if yoi can be sure you’ll end up flying) and very unsure you’d get much off at all.
    - bafan says:
      
      18 May18 May 18:00
      
      Great advice from both, I’ll give them a call tomorrow and see what they can do. The website has the one I want but just says “contact your store” blah blah. Thanks 🙂
- Number9 says:
  
  18 May18 May 14:13
  
  If you go through the LHR app you can contact Chanel direct and ask them to get what you want and then pick it up when you get airside. You would also collect reward points on the order.
  Chanel is expensive but holds in value.
gareth says:

18 May18 May 05:06

Some comments yesterday re Amex IHG offers and if by magic this morning there is one! £100 back from £350 at Regent Kington and Intercontinental
- Anna says:
  
  18 May18 May 05:55
  
  Just seen it! Andrew will be pleased. Now hope it doesn’t portend the cancellation of my upcoming stays 😂.
- Andrew says:
  
  18 May18 May 06:22
  
  Ha! But of course not on any of my cards!
  - Anna says:
    
    18 May18 May 06:26
    
    That can’t be right! We have it on both platinums and one gold – maybe they are still in the processing of adding it, Andrew. Otherwise I would definitely speak to Amex if I were you.
    - Andrew says:
      
      18 May18 May 06:36
      
      Very strange. And connected – still no sign of the infamous ShopSmall on my other cards, just one, so it’s looking like that’s targeted too.
      - DT says:
        
        18 May18 May 07:54
        
        Shop Small is not targeted, Amex CS will add it for you if it’s not on your cards. Between my wife and I we had it on 4/6 Amex cards, CS added it to the last two
  - Gareth says:
    
    18 May18 May 06:40
    
    I even have it on Nectar main plus supp
- YC says:
  
  18 May18 May 06:39
  
  No Portuguese hotels on the list
  - Anna says:
    
    18 May18 May 07:18
    
    It is rather a short list!
  - Jason says:
    
    18 May18 May 07:28
    
    *1
- Harry T says:
  
  18 May18 May 07:56
  
  I never seem to get the IHG offers but always get Hilton and Marriott. It’s grange because I rarely stay at IHG, but stay at hotels a lot – you think they would target me!
- Patrick Cold says:
  
  18 May18 May 09:02
  
  Hardly any hotels are participating though as far as I can see.
  - meta says:
    
    18 May18 May 09:17
    
    There are not many IC, Kimptons or Regents in Western Europe either…
    - Anna says:
      
      18 May18 May 09:33
      
      I wonder if you can use it if you’re quarantining at the O2!
- Alan S says:
  
  18 May18 May 10:42
  
  Annoyingly the IC in Malta is missing. Due a stay there in July.
  - Tracy says:
    
    18 May18 May 19:02
    
    Me too in August, shame. Am hoping to get the Malta cash back too
Amy says:

18 May18 May 05:48

Anyone found a good way of using the £50 off Amex travel offer? I’ve done loads of package and FO searches and Amex travel are always way more expensive than going direct.
- bafan says:
  
  18 May18 May 05:59
  
  IME they price the same as BA.com. That’s the only value I’ve gotten out of it in the past 😂.
  - Amy says:
    
    18 May18 May 06:14
    
    IME?
    - Dani says:
      
      18 May18 May 06:19
      
      In my experience
      - Amy says:
        
        18 May18 May 06:36
        
        Thanks. Yes I’ve been comparing it with BA and always come out dearer unfortunately 😔
  - John says:
    
    18 May18 May 06:37
    
    Not since BA added their £8 GDS fee – but still cheaper than the Amex forex fee paying BA direct if starting outside the UK
    
    For short-haul I haven’t seen any HBO fares on Amex Travel (though not looked in a long time)
    - Amy says:
      
      18 May18 May 06:49
      
      I seriously need a reference glossary on this site for all abbreviations used 😣
      - Lady London says:
        
        18 May18 May 10:35
        
        that one’s a general internet one.
    - Mouse says:
      
      18 May18 May 07:04
      
      You can choose HBO at the point of selecting the return leg
    - Amy Carpenter says:
      
      18 May18 May 14:08
      
      What’s HBO? (sorry)
      - Mouse says:
        
        18 May18 May 15:02
        
        Hand baggage only
- Flyoff says:
  
  18 May18 May 06:09
  
  Amex used to sell experiences and leisure activities. They appear not to sell them anymore. That was my old method of getting value.
Swiss Jim says:

18 May18 May 06:01

Is anyone else having problems with Che this morning. Looks like I have a source of funds check. They only did this 3 months ago. Argh….
- Nick says:
  
  18 May18 May 07:43
  
  What is “Che”?
  - DT says:
    
    18 May18 May 07:56
    
    Revolut (Che Guevara)
- Secret Squirrel says:
  
  18 May18 May 07:46
  
  @SwissJim:
  How much were you attempting to put through Che this time?
  - Swiss Jim says:
    
    18 May18 May 08:05
    
    £15,000….. but genuine!
- Bobri says:
  
  18 May18 May 07:54
  
  Had this 2 weeks ago, in 1h received a confirmation that the check is over. Overall Che is awful, but unfortunately the cheapest way to swap GBP into EUR
- Swiss Jim says:
  
  18 May18 May 13:55
  
  Sorted.! But took them until after lunch to clear it. Hopefully restarts the clock for me. And they couldn’t have looked at the transactions that carefully if they’re happy with them.! 🤣
James Pleasant says:

18 May18 May 06:12

Front page of DT: Holidays to Europe with a vaccine passport
BRITISH holidaymakers are tomorrow expected to be given the green light by the EU to use “vaccine passports” to travel to the Continent.
EU ambassadors are expected to sign off on a plan to allow fully vaccinated Britons to fly to Europe without having to undergo a Covid test or quarantine.

Time to sign up for the NHS app if you haven’t already done so (not the same as the NHS Test & Trace app).
- Andrew says:
  
  18 May18 May 07:45
  
  Remember the NHS App doesn’t cover all Brits. Scotland have their own separate NHS system and they are currently tied up in knots over the ethics of vaccine passports.
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    18 May18 May 08:30
    
    The E&W version clearly says share for travel but only valid until 20-6-21.
    - meta says:
      
      18 May18 May 09:34
      
      Yes, who knows what happens after that date? Are we going to be allowed to travel?
- bafan says:
  
  18 May18 May 08:06
  
  Exciting news to start the day off :).
- Anna says:
  
  18 May18 May 09:36
  
  What about children though, assume they will still need a test? This issue is consistently ignored in the media, despite the colossal value of the family holiday market!
  - James Pleasant says:
    
    18 May18 May 09:42
    
    UK is clearly going to open up Pfizer vaccines to 12YO+ quite soon – too late to get 2 vaccs in for this summer, I guess.
    
    Didn’t some countries already say that no PCR test required for younger children?
    - meta says:
      
      18 May18 May 09:59
      
      Too complicated rules to mention as every country is different. Some ask for over 5s, some ask for over 11s, some don’t require PCR test at all if parent(s) have been fully vaccinated…
    - kitten says:
      
      18 May18 May 10:38
      
      I hope someone has tested on kids first….
      - meta says:
        
        18 May18 May 11:46
        
        Yes in US they successfully trialed on over 12s, but more trials are needed before it can be approved.
      - meta says:
        
        18 May18 May 15:46
        
        @Anna @kitten Singapore just approved Pfizer vaccine for over 12s!
      - Lyn says:
        
        18 May18 May 17:21
        
        They have just started vaccinating children 12 years and older with Pfizer in the US.
  - ankomonkey says:
    
    18 May18 May 12:00
    
    Agree, Anna. I find it very frustrating and feel the UK government website should make this info far clearer on their website.
    
    My other beef right now is that Schapps said the government would work with test providers to drive down costs. Did this happen? Some airlines have struck deals. But VAT still being charged. His mention of possibly using NHS lateral flow tests for pre-departure tests abroad before returning to the UK also seems to have been conveniently forgotten.
    - meta says:
      
      18 May18 May 14:38
      
      Eurofins now offer amber countries package for £99.98, but according to the reviews, they are horrible. Single PCR costs 44.98. So for green country you could now do it for less than £80 (Qured and Eurofins). In some countries you can get antigen one for free… I mean it’s going down in cost for sure, but I would have hoped that PCR tests are in £15-20 range like in other EU countries.
      - Rob says:
        
        18 May18 May 15:20
        
        If you buy a Day 2, does anyone check that you actually take it? Or is it enough to pay for it and put the reference on the PLF form?
      - ankomonkey says:
        
        18 May18 May 15:21
        
        ” …I would have hoped that PCR tests are in £15-20 range like in other EU countries.”
        
        Yes, I was hoping they would be available in the UK for about £25 each. I think somebody mentioned yesterday that antigen tests could be obtained for free in at least some places in the Algarve – which is where we’re now headed for half-term after Canary Islands didn’t make it green and I can’t justify keeping the kids out of school for an amber country.