The HfP chat thread – Friday 21st May

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Michael C says:

21 May21 May 09:01

Off to HIlton Hyde Park tomorrow for OH’s b-day.
They’ve told us there’s no buffet, but we’ll have a “hot menu breakfast” included! (I’m guessing they don’t mean a burning piece of cardboard…)
- Andrew says:
  
  21 May21 May 09:04
  
  Is that for Gold/Diamond or is your rate inclusive of breakfast. For Gold last August it was just an apple and a granola bar in a bag delivered to your room – I went for the 1000 points instead.
  - Michael C says:
    
    21 May21 May 12:50
    
    Rate included, Andrew: think they were confirming that they’re upping the level from the grab-bags.
- PMG says:
  
  21 May21 May 09:30
  
  Thanks for the heads up – going there tonight for two nights over the weekend 🙂
  - Michael C says:
    
    21 May21 May 12:55
    
    Excellent – see you by the bar, or by the pirate ship in the park opposite, depending on who pulls their weight in the family!
    - The uncivil servant says:
      
      21 May21 May 16:18
      
      The bar is a better option, and playing on the pirate ship is well, just a little weird, even for the average Hfper.
Michael C says:

21 May21 May 09:03

@Rob & co: we know we can book Loganair LHR-IOM via BA…but not BHX-IOM.
Is that tie-in only for Heathrow?
John says:

21 May21 May 09:23

Uh oh. (Checks travel insurance).

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/21/eu-decision-to-add-uk-to-travel-white-list-to-be-delayed-due-to-covid-variant-fears
- Pete M says:
  
  21 May21 May 09:28
  
  Not entirely surprised, frankly. There’s still a big debate in Portugal on whether letting Brits in is a good idea at this time…
- Anna says:
  
  21 May21 May 09:30
  
  More political posturing. The UK is in a better position than most of the European countries which are popular holiday destinations, especially now vaccinations are open to all adults in the worst affected areas. I really hope we’re allowed back into the US this summer as I’d honestly rather spend my money there.
  - Pete M says:
    
    21 May21 May 09:33
    
    If you were the EU, why would you risk this at this time, Anna? It’ll be a while before more European countries are on the UK’s green list anyway, so you might as well keep Brits out for a bit longer and look like you’re doing something to protect your people.
  - Andy says:
    
    21 May21 May 10:02
    
    Most under 35s in the UK have not had even a single vaccination yet?
    
    And it is a two week delay on the decision to allow people in in the summer, granting a bit more time to see how things develop and make an informed decision. Considering in many EU countries a lot of 50+ are yet to be fully vaccinated, it makes sense to focus on protecting the local population. Holidaying in Spain/France/Italy/Greece in July instead of June is not the end of the world.
    
    And of course nobody is forcing you to travel to the EU if your preferred destination is not available….can always go to Cornwall for some glorious sunshine and spend your money there!
    - TGLoyalty says:
      
      21 May21 May 10:24
      
      Nearly 5m first doses had been given to under 40’s before it even dropped to 39/38
      
      The vast majority of my family and friends over 18 will have had 2 doses by next month…
      - Andy says:
        
        21 May21 May 11:09
        
        Good for you, the vast majority of people I know, myself included, aren’t even able to book their first appointment yet
      - TGLoyaly says:
        
        21 May21 May 11:59
        
        all depends on where you live. Big cities seem to have worked their way down the ages groups very quickly.
        
        Wales has given lots of their over 18’s a first dose too.
      - Andy says:
        
        21 May21 May 15:45
        
        I’m in London, most of my social circle is spread throughout Zone 1 councils and no under 35 I know has been offered a slot yet (except for those who claimed to be a carer, or had a condition which bumped them up the queue)
      - Rob says:
        
        21 May21 May 16:00
        
        Turn up and ask, worked for Rhys.
      - Chris Heyes says:
        
        21 May21 May 22:33
        
        TGLoyalty Are people dense or lazy Just go down to your nearest vac centre an hour before closing queue up for an hour and get your 1st dose
        If they can’t due to shortage they will direct you to nearest that will !
        ok some will say tell me you have an elderly relative your caring for or tell you something else to say, but you will be very unlucky not to get your jab if you are willing !
    - George1976 says:
      
      21 May21 May 12:32
      
      “ Holidaying in Spain/France/Italy/Greece in July instead of June is not the end of the world.”
      
      Yes but some people make out like anything is the end of the world these days
  - Alex says:
    
    21 May21 May 10:02
    
    You’d rather spend your money in the US because of politics?
    - Anna says:
      
      21 May21 May 12:54
      
      No – because it’s far more reasonably priced than the Med in August!
      - Andy says:
        
        21 May21 May 15:55
        
        That’s an interesting take actually. Considering the cost of the flights, flight time vs European short haul, being surrounded by Americans and the quality of food, there’d have to be a pretty significant difference in the cost of accommodation to pick the US
      - James says:
        
        21 May21 May 18:22
        
        Not when you add on the ridiculous tipping requirements in the States IME.
  - Callum says:
    
    21 May21 May 11:05
    
    I’m sick of hearing this line ad-nausium. It doesn’t matter if the UK only has a single Covid case – if that single case travels to another country it can cause big problems.
    
    Yes, the lower the rate the less likely that is to happen, but this is precisely why no country with rational restrictions just immediately opens up to any other country that has a lower rate than they do. It’s certainly a very persuasive consideration, but it’s not the be-all and end-all.
    - Brian says:
      
      21 May21 May 11:37
      
      I like the juxtaposition of ‘feeling sick’ and ‘ad-nausium‘, even if it should be ‘ad nauseum’.
      - AJA says:
        
        21 May21 May 11:55
        
        🙂
Anna says:

21 May21 May 09:34

Madrid has announced that Brits will be allowed to enter Spain for holidays from May 24th, so definitely posturing.
- Pete M says:
  
  21 May21 May 09:42
  
  Or pragmatism in the face of financial ruin, which other EU countries don’t face?
  - marcw says:
    
    21 May21 May 09:45
    
    Spain is already bankrupt,,, many years ago.
- Optimus Prime says:
  
  21 May21 May 10:08
  
  I also think it’s posturing though the spanish government could show some backbone for once and give some quid pro quo for this: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/may/21/uk-like-an-enemy-state-to-eu-nationals-detained-by-border-force
  - Lord Doncaster says:
    
    21 May21 May 16:41
    
    Why exactly? Totally different circumstances
- Andy says:
  
  21 May21 May 10:08
  
  Competence over borders remains with the national governments, so it’s up to the Spanish government to make its own decisions. And considering how many Brits travel to Spain (twice as many as to France, 4x as many as to Italy, 6x as many as to Greece), is there any surprise they’re keen to get them back quickly?
  - James says:
    
    21 May21 May 18:25
    
    Imagine, an EU country that can control its own borders… remind me why we had Brexit?
    (Please don’t, that was rhetorical)
Mj says:

21 May21 May 09:38

Anyone else noticed that Shop Small hasn’t appeared on their BA cards? Neither on my Platinum Plus or partner’s blue BA card (or either supplementary).
- Ali M says:
  
  21 May21 May 09:47
  
  its there on my BA x
- DT says:
  
  21 May21 May 09:52
  
  You can contact Amex via chat or call them to get the offer loaded onto your cards
- Andrew says:
  
  21 May21 May 10:35
  
  It’s been hit and miss applied this year – was on my BAPP, not Platinum, then appeared a few days later.
  - Jamie says:
    
    21 May21 May 18:27
    
    So it’s not now targeted? You said it was a few days ago??
Sam G says:

21 May21 May 10:06

Spain is going to let Brits in from Monday without a PCR test. The way I read the article is we are NOT on the wider EU list though
- Rich says:
  
  21 May21 May 10:17
  
  Sounds like you’re right. Definitely not on the whitelist today. Review in two weeks.
- Dan says:
  
  21 May21 May 13:55
  
  Genuine question… why is there a wider EU list? If the EU says no but Spain says yes, what is the answer – yes or no?! Either way, one of the lists should be ignored surely?
  - Lord Doncaster says:
    
    21 May21 May 16:42
    
    Depends if you’re going to Spain or not.
Venturelog says:

21 May21 May 10:11

For those looking to move their loyalty away from Hilton to Hyatt, a very reasonably priced Hyatt Place is opening on Whitechapel from July. Not Hayes prices but for Central London seems decent. Using it as an office for the day from £75
- Andy says:
  
  21 May21 May 10:21
  
  Why would anybody want to stay in Whitechapel? Sure, Spitalfields market is great but having worked above the market for the past few years, the surrounding area is pretty run down. Not the first place I would think of moving my business to if I was so offended by Hilton’s decision, considering it doesn’t apply to loyalty benefits in Europe for now
  - kitten says:
    
    21 May21 May 10:28
    
    Spitalfields is not Whitechapel?
    - Andy says:
      
      21 May21 May 11:12
      
      Have a look at where the hotel is, it’s a 10 minute walk to Spitalfields market at most and right next to Brick Lane
  - Rob says:
    
    21 May21 May 10:52
    
    It’s Aldgate East, not Whitechapel. It is a bit of an odd location – its an office conversion – but on the other hand there are quite a few hotels in that area (Qbic, ibis, Premier Inn, a big indy on Brick Lane at the bottom). I think there is demand from people who need to be in the City for job interviews or perhaps contracting and don’t have a Goldman Sachs style budget behind them. It’s not far from the Travelodge Plus we reviewed a couple of years ago.
    
    Whitechapel will also be on Crossrail from 2022.
    - Andy says:
      
      21 May21 May 11:21
      
      It just doesn’t seem like a logical spot for a disgruntled Hilton loyalist HfP reader to move their leisure stays to given the location (not to mention Hyatt’s limited European footprint to accumulate significant points)
Alan says:

21 May21 May 10:18

Does anyone know if the lateral flow tests needed to travel back to the UK are easily arranged in Lisbon.

Thanks
- Pete M says:
  
  21 May21 May 10:19
  
  I used Qured, but definitely saw a place at the airport. Didn’t look for details, though.
- Rhys says:
  
  21 May21 May 10:21
  
  Not sure if you’re flying TAP but this company seems to do cheap airport tests: https://www.flytap.com/en-PT/promo/tap-partners-lx
  - Alan says:
    
    21 May21 May 12:38
    
    Thanks Pete, Rhys,
    
    The antigen test is 25E for non TAP customers, seems like a good deal and less risky than trying to get a Qured video slot booked for next week.
  - Blair says:
    
    21 May21 May 13:00
    
    Are all antigen tests the same standard as lateral flow? Just don’t want to get tripped up on insufficient sensitivity ir such like
    - Pete M says:
      
      21 May21 May 13:13
      
      You’d have to be really unlucky for anyone to look into this / care.
    - Alan says:
      
      21 May21 May 19:42
      
      Yes, I have now checked and they all meet the UK requirements, it’s the same test as offered in the UK.
      
      Red Cross tests are 20 Euro (private rate) and are available at several locations in Lisbon. Although we might still pay the extra 5 Euro to get it done on arrival at the airport, just to get it out of the way and have peace of mind that there is no chance of a positive test preventing us getting the plane home.
      
      Why am I not surprised that the same imported test can be done at half the price in Portugal as the UK.
- Rui N. says:
  
  21 May21 May 11:05
  
  Check for “cruz vermelha” tests (it’s the Red Cross). They do lateral flow tests (with certificate for travel if needed) for €20 all over Portugal, so they should have plenty of options in Lisbon.
- Rui N. says:
  
  21 May21 May 11:09
  
  The website for the “cruz vermelha” tests is testescovidcvp [dot] pt; don’t seem to have an English translation though