The HfP chat thread – Friday 21st May

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• r* says:

  21 May21 May 13:17

  Last day to hit an amex spend target is today, I have a transaction sat in pending for 4 days that would trigger the spend target when it goes to processed but its just not moving, do I have any options? 🙂

  Presumably if it doesnt go to processed by the end of today, the target wont be triggered even if the date of the transaction was before the target date?

  • Andrew says:

    21 May21 May 13:20

    Should still be fine – with Amex offers it’s the transaction date that counts, ie you can shop on the last day of the offer.

    • r* says:

      21 May21 May 14:30

      Its a 2for1 voucher, not sure if thats different to the sign up bonuses?

• dragonfly says:

  21 May21 May 13:28

  Rob did an article in December 2020 on covid PCR tests with The Regenerative Clinic near Marylebone which he and his wife did before flying to Dubai.
  We are leaving for Australia (!!!) next month with QR and need PCR tests 72 hours before flight time – Saturday morning. This means we would like to do our tests on Wednesday afternoon, to make sure we get results back in time and no panic at the last minutes. Hubby said he does not want to do the cheap ones which we have to do the swabs ourselves and wait … He will pay to get them to do the swabs and receive the results the next day. I said, maybe we will try The Regenerative Clinic which Rob has reviewed. But, hubby also found a private GP clinic in Canary Wharf near where we are staying and can walk there – their prices around £200 each, next day results, same price as the Regenerative Clinic. I also tried to call the Biogroup and it seemed they never answer their phone!
  What do you think? Which one should we go for?

  • Rhys says:

    21 May21 May 13:29

    The Collinson airport drive through ones are also next-day results and they do it for you – if you can get to an airport easily. I paid £60 at Gatwick yesterday and actually received the results same day, although they only guarantee 10pm next day.

    • dragonfly says:

      21 May21 May 13:53

      Thanks, Rhys. We don’t have a car and hubby prefers to go to the private GP clinic as it is within walking distance – but I am not sure about having it done at GP clinic. I prefer to take trains to the Regenerative Clinic. Hubby just want to pay £ and get tests done properly and results back as they promised without any hiccups. We cannot miss our flights – as they are like hens teeth to AU.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    21 May21 May 14:02

    Paying more doesn’t mean you get a better service

    As you mention Canary Wharf. Thought expresstext offered tests at LCY/O2? Got a result back in 22hrs when I used them.

    • dragonfly says:

      21 May21 May 14:14

      I have contacted both the private GP clinic in Canary Wharf and the Regenerative clinic (also do covid pcr test in Canary Wharf). We can walk to both of them – one 5 mins and the other 10 mins away. They both charge exactly the same £195 for PCR test + fit to fly certificate. If tests done before 3pm, then results back via email by 10pm. If not then 9am the next day.
      Feeling a bit disappointed with the AU government, as we are fully vaccinated, but still required tests and mandatory hotel quarantine! Not to mention AU borders to remain closed for an unknown period.

    • dragonfly says:

      21 May21 May 14:32

      Just checked out expresstest, and they don’t have PCR for fit to fly near Canary Wharf (O2 or LCY).

      • TGLoyalty says:

        21 May21 May 17:37

        Your right it collinson @ LCY it’s walk in not drive through.

        • TGLoyalty says:

          21 May21 May 17:38

          You’re *

  • Laura says:

    21 May21 May 15:45

    What about Boots?

    I had one there in December, staff member took the sample. They said it might take 72 hours for results but I got them in less than 24 hours.

• Tony1 says:

  21 May21 May 13:29

  Well Amex must “love” me. Rang Brighton, and after a very long conversation was offered 1000 MR Points as a retention incentive. Fee due tomorrow. Umm spend £600 and get £5 back.

  Was told that there were some really good offers coming. But was told that last call, and nothing so assume its just scripted.

  1000 Points = £4.50

  Agent was not sure about any insurances / PP not working due to Covid, then suggested if I spent more I could earn more points ….

  HUACA gave same.

  Plat Bus

  I have almost 90 offers, and not one useful.

  • Andrew says:

    21 May21 May 13:59

    Which card?

    • Tony1 says:

      21 May21 May 14:43

      Business Plat

  • Char Char says:

    21 May21 May 14:32

    Ask to be put through to retentions team, sounds like you just spoke to regular CS, I got a years fee credit on the Gold card.

    • Tony1 says:

      21 May21 May 14:47

      Regular CS, then “supervisor” who said we don’t do offers !

      Will try again next week. Then MR point offer or quit. Defo not getting any “value” from card. Got more “value” last year and never rang.

      • bill says:

        21 May21 May 15:33

        still waiting for my points to land after yesterday’s promised bung. they said 24 hours. i think im on exactly 24 now

  • Peter K says:

    21 May21 May 20:34

    All the offers I’ve read on here have been on personal cards, not business ones.

• WaynedP says:

  21 May21 May 13:45

  Am waiting for news of Marriott Bonvoy promotion, as need to make July booking.

  Followed some sensible advice on HfP two weeks ago and made a booking anyway, with flexibility to cancel and re-book when/if promotion comes along (if promotion doesn’t apply to existing bookings).

  I do a weekly check on my booking just in case prices drop.

  Checking today, I’ve noticed a new, lower rate available on some room categories labelled “Member Rate Winter Sale, includes breakfast daily, 25 percent off Flexible Rate” available 7 days a week on limited rooms for stays until 11 September 2021.

  This is for a booking in South Africa, hence their Winter. It’s a good discount on what I’ve seen previously, but is only available on the basic rooms, not the junior suite I’ve booked, so I can’t capitalise on it just yet.

  Not sure exactly when it appeared, other than to say it wasn’t there last week when I checked.

  But I can’t find any mention of this Winter Sale on MB website or internet generally, so it doesn’t seem to be widely publicised, which puzzles me.

  Are Southern Hemisphere Winter Sales normally notified to Northern Hemisphere channels like HfP ?

  Is this an odd year because Australasia is out of the picture ? I’m unsure how big MB’s Southern Hemisphere footprint is outside of South Africa.

• marcw says:

  21 May21 May 13:55

  Hilton not-FREE Gold & Diamond saga:
  “The credit amounts are as follows: Luxury $25, Full Service $12 (or $15 in high-cost markets), Lifestyle $12 (or $15 in high-cost markets) and Hilton Garden Inn $10.” …. per room.

  • Harry T says:

    21 May21 May 14:24

    Lol I’m glad I’m Marriott Titanium as well as Hilton Diamond 😊

    • Russ says:

      21 May21 May 15:02

      I wouldn’t bank on Marriott resisting the temptation and not following suit.

      Doesn’t seem to be affecting outside the US at the moment although I’m a bit concerned over the ‘Housekeeping is now available by request….’ statement :/

  • BuildBackBetter says:

    21 May21 May 14:29

    Per room? Great!

  • Jane says:

    21 May21 May 14:34

    that is not going to go very far !

  • Rob says:

    21 May21 May 14:37

    Not per room. Per person.

    • Tony1 says:

      21 May21 May 14:48

      Still not good though…..

      • Rob says:

        21 May21 May 14:57

        Plus a pile of bonus points if you are a Diamond.

    • marcw says:

      21 May21 May 14:51

      “””Credits will be provided daily to Gold and -Diamond members and up to one guest registered to the room.”””

      • Andrew says:

        21 May21 May 14:55

        So even if travelling alone, always book 2 adults per room now and tell them at checkin that your companion is en route.

    • Anna says:

      21 May21 May 15:45

      Come on then Rob, we need an article with the full facts so we don’t have to look at other travel sites!

      • Rob says:

        21 May21 May 16:01

        It’s on Reddit

  • Josh says:

    21 May21 May 17:30

    Sigh. What a joke. So meanwhile Amex continues to up their plat fees to ridiculous figures, whilst all the benefits slowly get chiseled away?

• Margaret says:

  21 May21 May 13:57

  Quick question Re: Gibraltar travel.

  They ¬require an offical antigen test on day 1 there which is free for passengers from the UK. If we go 2-3 days will this day 1 test be adequate for our return test stipulations (ie no need to pay for another test there)?

  • Rob says:

    21 May21 May 14:37

    I believe it is, yes, so no need to take a Qured with you. Very handy, saving you £33. I am down there next month to try it out.

  • Travel Strong says:

    21 May21 May 14:39

    I’m in the same boat and it is yet to be confirmed whether they give you the ‘certificate’ required for departure testing when you have the free test. Suspicion is they will want £30. There is no good reason for this, just money grabbing……. So it’s still TBC whether we’ll have to pay £30 for 1 extra bit of paper or not!

    • Rob says:

      21 May21 May 14:57

      But at least its done and dusted …. no messing about with Qured during your trip.

  • Travel Strong says:

    21 May21 May 14:40

    P.S. either way no need for Qured, as worst case GIB airport will do it there and then for £30.

• Aston100 says:

  21 May21 May 14:24

  Don’t know if this was mentioned already but I’m seeing a lot of dates (including Feb half term and Easter school holidays) for 60k per night at the six senses in Bali.
  Cash price seems to be upwards of £400 per night (Easter) which also seems OK I suppose.
  But oddly, only through the app.

• Aston100 says:

  21 May21 May 14:28

  CBA scrolling through this chat today (Will we ever get a proper forum one day?) but my conclusion is that the Amex overseas call centres are far more likely to give retention bonuses and won’t be asking any questions.
  As evidenced by 2 * 10k per PRG and 2 * 35k per Platinum, all received within the last couple of weeks, on the phone, in the evenings with the Manilla crew (assuming Brighton are asleep).
  Both of those Platinum cards have been held for a few weeks only. Assume the bonus would have been 50k had they been held longer with meaningful spend put through.

  • Char Char says:

    21 May21 May 14:41

    Soon I believe.

    It is impossible currently to go back to your previous comments without messing around usually for along time.

  • Tony1 says:

    21 May21 May 14:50

    You did much better than my measly 1000 points. Well done.

  • Simon says:

    21 May21 May 14:57

    My impression from the furious sound of typing in the background when i called, was that some algo throws up an offer specific to your card.
    I dont think the guy in the call centre has the discretion to decide what you can be offered. They check the system, and read out the offer….

  • meta says:

    21 May21 May 18:34

    Nope I was transferred from overseas call centre to Brighton on my 50k MR points call. I don’t put much spend on my Plat. Maybe £200 a month, £300 tops and usually only when there is some kind of offer or I need Add Lee transfer.

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