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The HfP chat thread – Saturday 22nd May

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We are running this daily chat thread on Head for Points during the coronavirus outbreak.

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General

Comments (289)

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

  • Ben says:
    22 May22 May 15:15

    Quick question – if looking to buy apple watch with Amex points, is best bet to convert to nectar and then use at Argos? Any other routes?

    Cheers

    • SteveJ says:
      22 May22 May 15:16

      Could buy from a reputable seller on eBay?

    • Paasan69 says:
      22 May22 May 15:24

      I believe AmEx MR -> Avios -> Nectar will give you more Nectar points to shop for.

    • Andrew says:
      22 May22 May 21:23

      Buy and apply your Amex MR points as a statement credit. But you’ll get a better rate buying at Argos with nectar (and transferring via BA)

  • TomG says:
    22 May22 May 16:02

    Have LAX-EWR United flight that I booked in Dec 2019 for August 2020 then cancelled and rebooked for this August with the credit note. It’s looking very unlikely that I will be going in August, have already switched by BA flights to 2022 and won’t have any time off work now August 2022. If I cancel they will give a credit note but it has to be used for travel completed by Mar 31 2022. No good. I can change for free but only up to 330 days in advance. Any advice for what I should do. I’m thinking hang on until I’m 330 days before my 2022 dates and change? Is there any risk? These were business seats so don’t fancy messing up and losing 1400. I was hoping they’d make a change that would entitle me to a refund but they’ve only moved it by 1 hour so no joy.

    • Harry T says:
      22 May22 May 16:12

      August is a long way away from now, in covid times. I’d wait for a cancellation. Who did you book with?

      • TomG says:
        22 May22 May 16:14

        United. Don’t think it will be cancelled as the flight number has never stopped going during covid.

    • ChrisC says:
      22 May22 May 19:47

      I’d have a look at the UA board on flyer talk to see what the latest is on US change / cancellation / voucher / refund policies.

      Might even be worth (joining if you aren;t aready a member) posting your query there for their expert dvice.

      Miss out the BA bit as it’s not relevant to what UA does.

  • MCO says:
    22 May22 May 16:15

    Anyone know if you can transit FRA to get to UK? Looking at a trip on Lufthansa in the winter so things might change but as of now what is the policy?

    • Rob says:
      22 May22 May 16:31

      In what sense? We did this last December with no issues and as Germany should be open to UK citizens in a couple of weeks you should be fine. If the UK wants quarantine for anyone who has been in Germany – again, very unlikely in December – it would trigger this though.

      • Harry T says:
        22 May22 May 16:33

        Aren’t the Germans stopping UK citizens entering at present?

        • Pete M says:
          22 May22 May 16:39

          They are, but you would be able to transit even under the new rules. Transit through Germany never really stopped. So a fairly safe bet I’d say.

      • MCO says:
        22 May22 May 18:01

        Through the airport. Say xxx-FRA-MAN.

        • Rob says:
          22 May22 May 18:19

          Unlikely to be an issue from July-ish onwards. I’m not even sure if they’d stop you today, even though they blocked UK citizens from entering.

    • Sam G says:
      22 May22 May 17:58

      Frankfurt has always allowed airside transit non-Schengen to non-Schengen transit on one ticket, so this is a safe bet

  • Robert says:
    22 May22 May 17:21

    Offer on the Marriott Amex: “Get 500 Marriott Bonvoy Points when you spend £500+ anywhere, up to 1500 points”. So “spend £1500, get £7.50 extra back” (at HfP valuation).

    • Secret Squirrel says:
      22 May22 May 17:59

      @Robert: these spend amounts with Amex offers, I see a lot of chat saying it’s accumulative spend on previous offers. Do you think this offer is definitely £500 + in one transaction?

      • Robert says:
        22 May22 May 18:05

        From the T&C it looks cumulative… so spend 0-499 get nothing, 500-999 = +500, 1000-1499 = +1000, 1500+ = 1500.

  • 747_Brat says:
    22 May22 May 17:38

    I have roughly $2k in cash which I would like to deposit in an account and keep as USD only and would not like to convert to any other currency.

    Just wondering if Che or Wise offer a cash deposit service for this purpose? Any other ideas are also welcome and gratefully received.
    Thanks.

    • Travel Strong says:
      22 May22 May 17:55

      Rather then just who will accept and hold the deposit, another consideration is who will offer ease of spending it again, fee free, in the USA. I use to maintain a Bank of America account for this reason (then spend on debit card in USA, or withdraw cash fee free). However in the end I found it was easier and more convenient to just keep hold of the cash, and spend it in person when next in the USA!
      So that would be my recommendation… keep it 🙂

      • SteveJ says:
        22 May22 May 18:06

        Agreed, in an envelope in the drawer is what I’d be doing.

    • Aston100 says:
      22 May22 May 20:06

      After my recent issue with Revolut blocking and holding onto some money for no reason, I’d personally avoid leaving any money with them.

    • Memesweeper says:
      22 May22 May 20:10

      HSBC dollar account, or cash, would be better than Che medium/long term IMO

      • 747_Brat says:
        22 May22 May 20:16

        Thanks Memesweeper. Can you open the HSBC Dollar account online or does it require a visit to the branch?

        • David says:
          22 May22 May 21:49

          Look on the website?

        • Sina says:
          22 May22 May 22:03

          I opened an account with HSBC US last year and got a debit & credit card as well. It took them 3 days to open it! Cards etc took a week and online banking setup was done in 3 days.

          • 747_Brat says:
            22 May22 May 23:13

            Thanks Sina.
            Do I need a US passport or Green Card for opening this account because I have none! If this is not a requirement, please could you guide me how to apply for this account.
            Thanks.

        • Memesweeper says:
          22 May22 May 23:09

          I did mine over the phone

          • Sina says:
            23 May23 May 05:59

            No need for residence or US passport, you can apply online on HSBC USA website.

    • BuildBackBetter says:
      22 May22 May 20:34

      Wise comes with a debit card. You can even point it to another currency balance later. Great service and competitive fees.

    • John says:
      23 May23 May 05:27

      Only Barclays offers foreign cash deposits into an account and Barclays charged 2%, currently suspended because”covid”. Find a friend who will take it and bank transfer to you is the only way if you really want to get rid of the cash

  • MCO says:
    22 May22 May 18:08

    What is the second jab policy for 40-45yr olds? Can they cancel 12 week date and get at around 8 weeks or is that only for 50+?

    • Rich says:
      22 May22 May 18:21

      That’s currently only for over-50s.

      I think they would only extend it to under-50s if the modelling suggested it was more effective than first-jabbing the youngsters.

    • Oli says:
      22 May22 May 18:39

      I am 40, cancelled my 2nd appointment due early July and rebooked it mid-June

      • Luke says:
        22 May22 May 18:48

        30 here. Changed mine from 11 weeks to 8 weeks, no issues. I can’t imagine they’ll turn me away at the vaccine site…

    • Jonathan says:
      22 May22 May 19:46

      Just be aware that the AZ jab is more effective with a 12 week interval than 4 or 8 weeks. If I was in the younger cohorts & therefore at the back of the queue/won’t get a winter booster I would take the 12 week interval now while prevalence is low in return for better (& probably) longer lasting protection.

      If you live in an area with high virus transmission currently & are older/more vulnerable I would take an earlier 2nd dose with the knowledge that I’d be highly likely to get a winter booster.

      Don’t let an obsession with a potentially easier overseas holiday in July cloud your thinking on this.

      • SteveJ says:
        22 May22 May 20:01

        Thanks Jonathan, is that documented somewhere? Seems the politicians keep changing their view on this so would be good to see what the medical research says rather than the politicians.

        • Jonathan says:
          22 May22 May 20:14

          It’s in the trial results. If you remember there was a lot of noise about the half dose/full dose cohort having 90% efficacy vs 62% for the full/full cohort when the early results were published.

          Further data has shown that the difference was due to dose intervals rather than dose strength. The half/full cohort were the first participants (when the trial was originally going to be only 1 shot) so by the time the trial had changed protocol to 2 shots they had a 12 week interval.

          The later groups who had a 4 week interval only showed an efficacy of 62%. Real world data from the U.K. mass vaccination program looking at millions of patients with 12 week full/full protocol has shown efficacy of 90+%.

          • The Savage Squirrel says:
            22 May22 May 20:21

            +1. Jonathan’s initial advice and this explanation are both excellent.

          • A says:
            22 May22 May 20:38

            Are you JVT? Your posts are excellent.

          • AJA says:
            22 May22 May 21:38

            Thanks Jonathan I am booked for 2nd AZ dose on 8 June and had already decided not to bother cancelling to try getting another one sooner. Turns out I made the right decision based on your post.

          • Lady London says:
            23 May23 May 20:50

            Is this the same for Pfizer? Countries seem to be doing 5-12 weeks for second dose

      • Anna says:
        22 May22 May 20:22

        Thanks Jonathan- I’ve not been able to change my 2nd jab appointment from 12 weeks to 8 so that’s extremely reassuring, especially as I live in one of the “hotspots” and was starting to get a bit twitchy! (Though it’s largely confined to a handful of wards and vaccine uptake has been very similar to the national picture, despite what the media would have people believe!)

      • Rich says:
        22 May22 May 20:29

        Very good point. I heard it described by one of the JCVI (I think) scientists as trading long term protection for short term.

        In any case, I’d be very reluctant to take advantage of what may be a glitch if it’s not officially sanctioned. It seems very much ‘not on’ even if we ignore the downsides.

        As a single jabbed 44yo, I’m better-protected than a single-jabbed 50yo or an unvaccinated thirtysomething.

      • MCO says:
        22 May22 May 23:58

        Thank you Jonathan.

      • Cat says:
        23 May23 May 00:37

        👏 Jonathan, well said.

  • YC says:
    22 May22 May 18:56

    Data point – Cancelled my IHG free night certificate and it immediately shows the extension to Dec21. So looks like no double voucher for me

    • Anna says:
      22 May22 May 20:27

      Not for me 😩. Better re-book!

      • YC says:
        22 May22 May 21:03

        I am undecided now if I should use it in July. Free Kimpton Paris vs Hyatt Unbound for £150 (after amex offer)…

        • Harry T says:
          22 May22 May 21:53

          Depends what you value an IHG point at, I should think. If you do stay at the new Kimpton in Paris, please let us know how your stay is. I have made some bookings for August and September.

  • Eugene says:
    22 May22 May 20:40

    Anybody else getting the comments page crashing half way thru? Had this for last 3-4 days. Have to reopen from browser history constantly as half of scroll down page goes blank. Reading on Up to date IPad

    • Harry T says:
      22 May22 May 22:49

      I haven’t had this issue. Have you tried clearing your cookies?

    • Peter K says:
      22 May22 May 23:10

      It’s been very slow for me the past few days but not crashing.

    • ChrisC says:
      23 May23 May 00:05

      Yes happens to me on a regular basis on any and all websites

      You need to do the old turn it off and on again routine to reset your ipad.

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