The HfP chat thread – Friday 21st May

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• James Pleasant says:

  21 May21 May 17:57

  Spain’s on! No need to show vacc passport or anything, from Monday, for UK tourists. Any flight from UK = hassle-free entry, no PCR tests etc needed.

  • James Pleasant says:

    21 May21 May 18:07

    Have a look at this one https://ourworldindata.org/covid-hospitalizations

    Spain is very safe indeed, hardly worse than the UK.

    UK govt is making itself look pretty stupid by saying people should not go on holiday to amber countries – indeed, they need to add on a few European countries to Green status ASAP, first & foremost Spain.

    • James Pleasant says:

      21 May21 May 18:24

      Oh, look: [The Indian coronavirus variant may already be the dominant Covid strain in the UK after growing ‘exponentially’ since March, the Government’s top scientific advisers have warned.
      Documents published by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies today said the highly infectious B.1.617.2 strain likely made up the ‘majority’ of the UK’s infections by mid-May.]

      Strangely, our hospitalizations number keeps on going down. So this variant – like all other variants so far – isn’t more deadly, responds well to the current vaccines and isn’t more worrying than a case of the flu if you have been vaccinated (or are under 40, I guess).

      Govt using fear tactics. I’ll tell you what Boris’s lot are fearing: seeing the polls go bad. They can’t believe their luck and won’t chance doing anything to change that.

      • Tariq says:

        21 May21 May 19:07

        Fear is control.

        Just Another Bedwetting Incident.

      • Olly says:

        21 May21 May 19:17

        @James Pleasant, might I be so bold to suggest that is was the media outlet report that alerted you to this report that has done the fear tactics by what and how it was reported? The medical advisors all appear to take the same standpoint, and have done so from the start of it, that the UK should be put on full lockdown indefinately. The Government usually get lambasted for ignoring the Scientific Advisory Group for socio-economic over health reasons, so you are bucking the trend implying they are responsible for the report’s findings.

        • James Pleasant says:

          21 May21 May 19:26

          Scientists on a committee that encouraged the use of fear to control people’s behaviour during the Covid pandemic have admitted its work was “unethical” and “totalitarian”. Members of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Behaviour (SPI-B) expressed regret about the tactics in a new book about the role of psychology in the Government’s Covid-19 response.

          SPI-B warned in March last year that ministers needed to increase “the perceived level of personal threat” from Covid-19 because “a substantial number of people still do not feel sufficiently personally threatened”.

          Gavin Morgan, a psychologist on the team, said: “Clearly, using fear as a means of control is not ethical. Using fear smacks of totalitarianism. It’s not an ethical stance for any modern government.”

        • James Pleasant says:

          21 May21 May 20:03

          [Meanwhile, Nicola Sturgeon banned Scots from going to Indian variant hotspots in England. The Scottish First minister voiced alarm at the threat posed by the strain ]

          So whilst Scots are free to travel to anywhere else in the UK, they will be fined 2 sacks of porridge oats if they go to Bolton.

        • Anna says:

          21 May21 May 20:36

          Seriously?! How is she going to know where they’ve been in England?

        • Anna says:

          21 May21 May 20:51

          Though Scots love that other “B” initialled North West town, namely Blackpool, which is likely to be full of people from Blackburn and Bolton over the next few weeks!

        • James Pleasant says:

          21 May21 May 20:59

          Yep it always amazes. When I lived in that [$”1!] place Birmingham when I was 25, it always made me wonder why they they thought North Wales and also esp Dolgellau were so special, even in a shoot caravan.

      • bafan says:

        21 May21 May 21:55

        I’m not a conspiracy theorist at all, but I agree, they love the poll bounce they get when we’re under “increased threat”. When we all think we’re going to die from hypothetical strain we’re not looking at the staggering levels of corruption in other areas of the government.

        The scientists are probably right from an epidemiological perspective. But at the end of the day they are asked for input on that and give it. It’s on the government to do the balancing act. So yes, it’s frustrating when The Guardian (my paper of choice) accuses Boris and Priti of being murderers for daring to let us eat in a restaurant and such.

        In conclusion, lots of blame to go around 😳😉.

        • James Pleasant says:

          21 May21 May 22:00

          read the Guardian by all means – but do yourself a favour and read the Telegraph, Times, Independent & FT as well occasionally

      • Mike says:

        21 May21 May 22:09

        Don’t take advice from James (it’s ok to pop out of quarantine for a walk if you are finding it all too boring )Pleasant – “ we are all in this together – except James” – not a team player – unacceptable behaviour from James (# quarantine – not optional)

• 747_Brat says:

  21 May21 May 17:59

  Akbar Al Baker named oneworld chairman! Bodes well, eh? We shall see in few years’ time.

• CG says:

  21 May21 May 18:12

  Sorry for basic question but if I want to book a reward flight for 12 May 2022 using an Amex companion voucher do I need to phone up at 1am Saturday 22 May or 1am on Sunday 23 May?
  I would have though it 1am Saturday as the 12 May 2022 is 355 days after 22 May however looking at the BA website flights are not yet available for booking on 11 May 2022 which they should be if my calculations are right? Don’t want to stay up till 1am twice if I can avoid it!

  Thanks in advance

  • Anna says:

    21 May21 May 19:02

    You can work this out by looking how far ahead you can currently book. So when the day before your preferred date becomes available, you know you need to stay up that night.

    • CG says:

      21 May21 May 19:14

      Thanks so looks like it’s Sunday morning

      • AJA says:

        21 May21 May 19:39

        I think it is 1am on Sunday. But please don’t blame me if it turns out to be 5 hours from now 🙂

        • CG says:

          21 May21 May 20:46

          Thanks. It looks that way! Obviously no blame to those trying to help! Thanks

• Ian M says:

  21 May21 May 18:23

  Booking IHG hotel for a friend with points..

  I’m not having much luck with using points to book rooms for other people!

  I had a 3 night redemption booking in Panama at an IHG hotel for a friend. Booked on my account with him as the additional guest..

  I emailed the hotel on the day of check-in to inform them he would be checking in and gave them his arrival time. He checked in and all was well.

  I then booked 1 more night yesterday for tonight, in the same way. Then this morning I received a cancellation email from IHG. I tried to login to my account and it said my account is disabled.

  I called IHG and they took me through a lot of security. They would only say my account has been disabled due to suspected fraud. I asked them what the suspected fraud was but they would not say. I explained I have a booking today that has been cancelled and asked if it could be reinstated, he said no.

  Have I broken IHG terms? Will I get my account and it’s 800,000+ points back?

  • Alex Sm says:

    21 May21 May 18:27

    50/50
    This situation needs to be treated by customers as an exceptional favour rather than a norm
    No wonder they put a red flag

    • meta says:

      21 May21 May 18:38

      You should really be booking rooms for other people over the phone if you do it often. They can see that you are not in Panama. You’ll also need to prove now that you haven’t received anything in return for the reward booking.

      • Genghis says:

        21 May21 May 20:53

        You were advised last week to book over the phone and book in the actual person’s name (I made the comment).

        • Ian M says:

          22 May22 May 07:03

          Everything I read about IHG suggested that is not needed.

          Anyway, pleased to say I called them again last night and my account has been unlocked, all is well

• MKB says:

  21 May21 May 19:17

  We are trying to work out contingencies for our upcoming BA trip to Cancun, from which we are due to return on 7 June, in light of the potential upping of its Covid alert status within Mexico.

  The UK government has stated that the next review of green/amber/red list countries is also 7 June (I think), but you can’t trust them to stick to that. We need to plan for finding ourselves in a country that gets re-categorised as red while we are there.

  What has surprised me is to learn that the UK government explicitly disallow transiting through the Common Travel Area from a red-list country to a third country. The 10-day quarantine in a government-mandated hotel applies to transits apparently: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-air-travel-guidance-for-passengers#transiting-through-the-uk

  So it seems our best bet, should the need arise, will be to find a last-minute flight (not via the UK) from Cancun to a green-list country that will let in Mexican arrivals. Any suggestions on where to consider?

  • Anna says:

    21 May21 May 20:31

    I’m not sure how this is going to work to be honest, but I would think that your passport will show you’ve been in Mexico if nothing else! Or are you planning to stay in a green country for 10 days on the way back?

    • James Pleasant says:

      21 May21 May 20:37

      Presumably like many others, I didn’t want to go there. But. If Mexico goes Red for UK, then you would travel to a green/ amber country in EU etc for 10+ days to avoid the costly hotel quarantine back in UK.

      Trying to cheat ie claiming you came in from Spain gets you a £10K fine each.

    • MKB says:

      21 May21 May 20:48

      That’s right Anna. Divert to a green-list country for 10 days before coming back to UK. Or even am amber one. Struggling to find one that will allow arrivals from Mexico.

      • Anna says:

        21 May21 May 21:01

        You might be struggling to be honest, unless you can fly Cancun to Lisbon at the moment, if Portugal is allowing entry from Mexico?
        Is it not possible to change your holiday plans?

        • Anna says:

          21 May21 May 21:03

          Also, if you can stay in a green country for 10 days, can’t you just come home via an amber country and isolate at home?

      • Sukes says:

        21 May21 May 21:03

        On assumption US entry rules do not change, after 14days in Mexico you could enter US & return to UK from there. Would need ESTA. US currently on Amber list & conceivable it could go green around same time you’re worried Mexico turns red.

        • James Pleasant says:

          21 May21 May 21:10

          He says 7th June. So nobody knows the EU Green countries (seen by UK), which is what this poster wants to know.

        • Anna says:

          21 May21 May 21:13

          I was thinking that, but is anyone allowed into the US from Mexico or just US nationals atm? I know a lot of them have been going to Mexico on holiday due to the lack of restrictions.

      • Anna says:

        21 May21 May 21:11

        I think there are several Caribbean islands on the amber list but no idea if they are allowing entry from Mexico, or if they have direct flights. Belize is also amber if you can get there, it depends how much inconvenience you’re prepared to tolerate! I think you might need a visitors’ visa and a negative covid test.

        • Rory says:

          21 May21 May 21:29

          Im in the same boat as you. I’m doing 2 weeks in Mexico, then headed to the USA for 10 days. You can also do Costa Rica & Dominican Republic from Mexico City. Anyone is allowed into the USA as long as you have a Visa or ESTA, and have spent more than 14 full days outside the UK (or any banned country). Cancun isn’t looking great, but last night they announced that it’ll stay Orange until atleast the 30th. Hoping it’s more of a threat… But Mexico isn’t doing tooo badly, so can’t see it going on the UK red list.

• Saiz says:

  21 May21 May 19:31

  Urgent, please help. I am traveling to an amber list country. I know I need to fill in a travel declaration form but I have looked and looked and I can’t find the exact form to print/download. Every website just takes me to the .gov page which has advice. I can see the passenger locator form I need to fill in before returning but just can’t find the exit form.

  • mr_jetlag says:

    21 May21 May 19:40

    Google “gov.uk declaration form for international travel” and the DOCX and PDF forms should be the first result.

    • Saiz says:

      21 May21 May 19:48

      Thanks, it’s taking me to the same general page each time and not to the document or pdf. Tried two browsers. If someone has it downloaded could the please email me on sab_c137 at yahoo dot co dot uk and confirm here. Thank you so much as maybe its an error on the website. It seems to be showing the correct search results but on clicking taking me to the same page. Unless there is a place I need to click on the page that I am not seeing.

    • meta says:

      21 May21 May 19:54

      Exit form is no longer needed from 17 May.

  • James Pleasant says:

    21 May21 May 19:44

    You don’t need to fill in any UK govt form when you are travelling TO an amber country.

    • James Pleasant says:

      21 May21 May 19:46

      There’s no exit form required. It used to be your house viewing appointment prior to the 17th May. No longer needed.

      • Saiz says:

        21 May21 May 19:50

        Oh that’s good to know. I don’t know why the airline said it. Relief.

        • James Pleasant says:

          21 May21 May 19:53

          Check that you didn’t mix it up – the country of your arrival could easily have some strict rules you need to observe.

          But rest assured – UK govt has no documents you need to fill in when leaving the UK.

• Imran says:

  21 May21 May 20:22

  My Bendy transactions with Hong Kong underneath are getting declined. I am not doing any MS, just some regular online transactions, but even they are not getting approved. Any idea how can I resolve this issue? Thanks.

  • Genghis says:

    21 May21 May 20:54

    Is your HK working at all?

    • Genghis says:

      21 May21 May 20:55

      Direct transactions?

      • Imran says:

        21 May21 May 20:58

        Yes, direct transactions are going through all right!

        • Genghis says:

          21 May21 May 21:04

          Perhaps HK blocking it. Give it a couple of days, try again and then maybe give them a call.

• James Pleasant says:

  21 May21 May 21:19

  The docile Brits.

  We used to be a proud, sea-faring nation.

  Now most Brits cower at home, afraid of something. What? They don’t know, something bad.

  It is over the horizon, coming. Soon. It’ll be bad.

  The name is Covid. 19.

  Yep, I’ve been vacc’d – but I’m not stupid, the beast is coming.

  • kitten says:

    21 May21 May 21:34

    Eh?
    what beast?
    Is it a pussycat?

    • James Pleasant says:

      21 May21 May 21:41

      beware! the pussycat is coming to purr you

    • Peter K says:

      21 May21 May 21:43

      😂

      • Peter K says:

        21 May21 May 21:44

        Laughter for Kitten’s wonderful comment 🙂

        • James Pleasant says:

          21 May21 May 21:49

          she nailed it 🙂

    • Travel Strong says:

      21 May21 May 21:46

      😂

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