The HfP chat thread – Sunday 30th May

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

• Anna says:

  30 May30 May 11:32

  Test & Trace weirdness. Someone I know (but haven’t been in contact with) had a positive PCR test yesterday and was told they had to give details of everyone they’d been in contact with for the past week. These people all then got an NHS notification to isolate for 10 days from the last contact. All the NHS and government info states you only have to self-isolate if you’ve had contact from 48 hours before symptoms/positive PCR. A couple of them called 119 to challenge this and have now been told that they don’t, in fact, need to self-isolate. So I’m wondering now, was it incompetence from the original call handler (who apparently kept insisting it was a week), or a stealth move to get more people isolating?

  • TGLoyalty says:

    30 May30 May 15:16

    Perhaps they are treating contacts of people with a variant of concern differently?

    My understanding was it was anyone within past 48hrs not a week.

• The Savage Squirrel says:

  30 May30 May 13:19

  Embarrassing noob question but I’ve never got to the position of having two unused 2-for-1 vouchers before….

  The BAPP 2-for-1 vouchers. Using two for a booking for a family of 4. Can’t find a way to do this online. Am I being thick or do I need to phone?

  • Tom H says:

    30 May30 May 13:20

    Have to phone

    • Tom H says:

      30 May30 May 13:20

      Or I should say, when I’ve done it a couple of times, I always have to phone

      • Babyg says:

        30 May30 May 16:32

        you dont have to phone, you can select two vouchers when you book on the BA website…

        • The Savage Squirrel says:

          30 May30 May 18:26

          Well I had a 2nd go at doing this to check; and fairly sure you can’t – it toggles either/or!

  • Red Flyer says:

    30 May30 May 13:48

    Is it same for open jaw or is 2 one ways the way to redeem Avios for this? For example LHR-EZE and then back GIG-LHR.

    • Tariq says:

      30 May30 May 14:23

      Yes, you need to book by phone for an open jaw with a companion voucher.

  • Cat says:

    30 May30 May 15:16

    Are you going anywhere exciting @TheSavageSquirrel?

    • The Savage Squirrel says:

      30 May30 May 18:22

      Actually yes! Mid-California road trip (flying into but then instantly driving north along the coast out of LA, as I hate it). The same or very similar one that we did 13 years ago on honeymoon; just, as time has moved on, now with a couple of kids in tow 😀 :D.

      • Chrisasaurus says:

        30 May30 May 20:20

        LA is dreadful fo sho – but santa Monica is a great way to end a road trip – we spent a lovely few days doing little but swimming and hiring bikes to ride up and down the sea front…

        • Dan says:

          30 May30 May 20:51

          Not sure why people don’t like LA. I accept that the traffic is a nightmare but thought the food was great (especially some of the Mexican food), it’s got the beach, Disney, shopping, plenty of sights etc. if you give it enough time so you aren’t battling rush hour traffic I think it can be a nice break.

        • The Savage Squirrel says:

          30 May30 May 22:20

          Because It’s surrounded by other bits of California, all of which are much nicer, and if you ever approach from the Eastern hills on a clear day and see then drop into the smog cloud, you get a real sense of just how polluted it is 😜.

      • Cat says:

        31 May31 May 09:20

        Ooh lovely! Will you get as far as Big Sur?

  • Jas Gill says:

    30 May30 May 15:36

    In relation to this; If I have two 2 for 1 vouchers on my account, am I able to use these for one booking for a family of four or must I use the vouchers for two separate trips and travel on both trips.

    • TGLoyalty says:

      30 May30 May 15:54

      You can use it for 4 as long as you are travelling.

      Don’t think there’s any requirement to be a family

    • Cat says:

      30 May30 May 15:55

      Yes, you can use for 4 people, as long as you’re one of them.

• H says:

  30 May30 May 16:02

  Think this was discussed a few days ago but has anyone booked a BA flight using the Amex travel offer and then cancelled it for a FTV voucher?

  • Ed says:

    30 May30 May 20:49

    Yeah, I have done this. The FTV is kept with amex though so you have to ring Amex Travel to book and use your FTV.

• Venturelog says:

  30 May30 May 16:19

  Anyone stayed at St Ermins, an Autograph Marriott hotel? If so would like to hear feedback as a Gold status member. If you get upgrade or anything complimentary?

  • Jamie says:

    30 May30 May 18:37

    3-4 years ago now, twice as Platinum. Mixed picture: First stay I was upgraded to a suite, second stay one level upgrade (and I couldn’t really tell the difference). Front desk staff didn’t seem knowledgeable about elite benefits and I recall having to push, but it wasn’t severe enough for me to invoke any of the guarantees.

    Was happy with both stays and have subsequently recommended to colleagues who have had positive feedback.

    • Venturelog says:

      30 May30 May 19:35

      Thanks Jamie

• Kevin D says:

  30 May30 May 16:33

  As I’m new to the Amex/points game I was very excited today to be staying in the AC Marriot as a Marriot Bonvoy Gold member for the first time. Came at 3pm to check in and was told the room wasn’t ready, it would be 20-30 minutes and I would be “guaranteed a room” as I was a Gold member. I’ve been sitting in the bar ever since and no one has came near me to even as much as apologise. It’s now 4.30pm and only for the good Guiness I would be very angry right now!

  • N says:

    30 May30 May 16:41

    Raise with management – this isn’t OK.

  • Harry T says:

    30 May30 May 16:51

    ACs are slightly snazzier holiday inns – you won’t find much to shout about there as an elite. The worst service I’ve encountered in the Bonvoy family has been at an AC. Sounds like the hotel has treated you badly though – it’s worth complaining.

    • Tariq says:

      30 May30 May 18:31

      Just checked into the AC Birmingham and it’s absolutely heaving – such a strange feeling as the whole place was deserted last time I was here in February! Almost managed to claim the ‘no welcome gift offered bounty’ except the phone was ringing when I got to the room to ask what I wanted…!

    • Chrisasaurus says:

      30 May30 May 20:22

      Snazzier?

      I’ll wager you haven’t had the pleasure of the AC Salford Quays! Staff it had to say were wonderful throughout and they made it a pleasant enough stay I have booked all my future stays there but snazzy it was not…

      • TGLoyalty says:

        30 May30 May 21:26

        Made the mistake of booking it for a night. Will never go back!

        IHG have the better properties in Manchester.

  • Venturelog says:

    30 May30 May 19:40

    Always raise these things with reception managers whilst you are there, and not on checkout. If they can’t assist or compensate then you can raise complaint on checkout.

    • Blair says:

      30 May30 May 19:51

      Check closely for your Bonvoy credits. My AC experience is that I had to chase to be credited at all, and then again to get my bonus entitlement.

• David says:

  30 May30 May 18:16

  For arrivals in Scotland, do you have to use the provider linked on the Scottish Government website:

  https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-international-travel-quarantine/pages/red-amber-and-green-list-countries/

  “Green list countries and areas:
  Before travelling to Scotland from a green list country or area, you must:
  -complete a passenger locator form
  -take a COVID-19 test
  – book and pay £88 for a COVID-19 test – you should take this test within 2 days of arriving in Scotland”

  That £88 links to here:
  https://quarantinehotelbookings.ctmportal.co.uk/

  But they only offer postal kits, etc. Was hoping for a walk in test in Edinburgh.

  (Green country arrival).

• Louise says:

  30 May30 May 18:58

  I’m thinking of booking a 2 week holiday in Spain starting next week – I know it’s Amber but I think it’ll be green by the time I come back round about 18th June.

  Any thoughts on my chances of success? I’ll happily take the quarantine 10 days if it doesn’t go green.

  Thanks – Louise

  • Rob says:

    30 May30 May 19:32

    The changes are 3-weekly. The 7th June changes will be announced in 3-4 days.

    If Spain isn’t Green on the 7th, it can’t switch until the next list on 28th June. You’d have a better chance of avoiding quarantine by coming back on 28th June and delaying the trip by 10 days.

    • The Lord says:

      30 May30 May 19:45

      Calder reporting announcement on Thursday 3rd which will become effective on Thursday 10th

  • TGLoyalty says:

    30 May30 May 20:00

    Spain is highly unlikely to go green on June 7th. As Rob says more change on June 28th.

    • HBommie says:

      30 May30 May 20:11

      Is Cyprus more likely to go green?

      A colleague has a house sale to finalise (really).

      • TGLoyalty says:

        30 May30 May 21:27

        Spain is at 80/100k in last 7 days. Cyprus at 184 so highly unlikely.

        Though both have c40% first doses so I think June 28th is a real possibility

        • HBommie says:

          30 May30 May 22:07

          Thanks

    • Louise says:

      30 May30 May 20:18

      Thanks all for your comments.

      I hope not going green won’t be because Border Force can’t do the numbers coming back!

      Thanks – Louise

• mart says:

  30 May30 May 19:27

  I know in the past people have reported a bonus 6k points when upgrading the blue amex to BAPP. How long does this take to post?

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