The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 2nd June

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Anna says:

2 Jun2 June 10:34

Just had 2 very pleasant nights at The Langley at a bargain 36k points per night. I’m not 100% sure the service is up to the cash rate – our room wasn’t ready until after 5pm and the toiletries we used weren’t replaced on the 2nd day (even though they came in and made the bed!). It was lovely to be able to use the outdoor pool though, and wander round the grounds – there were several red kites swooping around and even a flock of green parakeets which I never knew now inhabit the south east! OH (whose surname is Langley) was very taken with it all (I think it made him feel a bit like the Lord of the Manor 😂) so I might book us a stay in the main house as a treat next year!
- Genghis says:
  
  2 Jun2 June 11:05
  
  The parakeets (‘000s of them) fly over our back garden every day. Quite a sight.
  - Anna says:
    
    2 Jun2 June 11:16
    
    I can imagine – they were squawking away and I thought I was hearing things till we got up close and saw them!
  - Michael C says:
    
    2 Jun2 June 14:24
    
    Saw some in Kensington Gardens, too.
    They started “arriving” in Spain quite a few years ago, to the extent that, a few days ago, Madrid started implementing a plan to exterminate 10,000 of its 12,000!
  - Dave says:
    
    2 Jun2 June 23:14
    
    We have small flocks of them up here in Glasgow. They’ve been here for many years now.
- Ammar says:
  
  2 Jun2 June 11:19
  
  Hi Anna
  Glad to hear you had a nice stay. I am due to stay this weekend, all being well. Just a quick q – how did you get the Langley for 36k, i thought they had a rise in category – i had bookings made in 2020 before the changes but with cv19 they re-booked me and advised of higher rates? Should I do anything in advance apart of dinner/spa reservations?
  - Harry T says:
    
    2 Jun2 June 11:27
    
    Anna will have booked during the off peak sale, when off peak rates were reduced by 10%, prior to the category change. There were some good opportunities for people with the flexibility to stay during the week. I couldn’t make a mid week booking but I did book a weekend in July for 50k a night prior to the category change.
    - Anna says:
      
      2 Jun2 June 12:03
      
      Yes we did well with the points rate, don’t think we’ll see that again!
      I think they’d had a busy bank holiday weekend prior to our arrival but you don’t have to pre-book the Churchill Bar which was very quiet. The outside eating area is very comfortable and we had a pricey but very good dinner – the Hereford beef fillet was excellent.
      We had breakfast in the park cafe both mornings which is a lovely spot. We took the wrong turning on Monday and ended up in the park itself where there were a lot of unhappy people who’d parked on the lane and then found they’d all been ticketed by zealous parking wardens 🤦🏻‍♀️.
      You do need to reserve the spa – we cancelled ours though as we had the rare opportunity to swim outside instead!
      We were upgraded as gold to a Brew House Deluxe room – these are very nice, situated round a pretty little inner courtyard. Also got 500 bonus points as welcome gift.
      - Diydegsy says:
        
        2 Jun2 June 12:58
        
        Hi Anna, do you think it’s better to stay in the main house or Brew House with regard the facilities etc we are going in august ?
      - YC says:
        
        2 Jun2 June 13:32
        
        Everything is in the main house
      - Anna says:
        
        2 Jun2 June 15:49
        
        The Brew House is about 10 seconds walk from the main house, it was no problem at all. Maybe a tiny bit more inconvenient if you’re having breakfast there or it’s raining.
        The walk through the arboretum to the Langley park cafe is lovely! Just be aware they don’t start serving until 9.30 so not an option for if you need to be away early.
- Matt says:
  
  2 Jun2 June 11:31
  
  We stayed for a weekend a couple of weeks ago. I was impressed with the hotel and grounds, less so with the service. It was all a bit slow, required multiple requests for simple things (tea at breakfast for example). It was never proactive, and not really in keeping with the surroundings or the cost.
  - YC says:
    
    2 Jun2 June 13:39
    
    Agree service is generally ‘do as required’ rather than ‘here to serve’ as one would expect from cash rates of £600+. Staying on points is the way to go here
Pete M says:

2 Jun2 June 10:40

So apparently the number of cases to be announced today for over the BH weekend is not going to look good at all. Let’s hope the number of people in hospital stays low… And maybe a few more realistic destinations on the green list tomorrow too?
- Laura says:
  
  2 Jun2 June 11:08
  
  Yeah, I was super suspicious of the Zero deaths announced yesterday. It was a bank holiday Monday, were any deaths recorded for any reason?
Super Secret Stuff says:

2 Jun2 June 10:42

Fairly sure this is *** BREAKING ****

Nectar Connect has just launched to the public, check the nectar App. I got invited to it as a trial a year ago but they didn’t let you link an Amex at the time so never took it up. Earn points on your card spend, up to 30 per pound. Looked good when i got invited to trial it. Now it has launched properly with Amex it looks amazing
- Toby says:
  
  2 Jun2 June 10:58
  
  Wow. Looks great. Onboarding is nice and easy.
  
  The main caution I have is that it automatically shares all your transaction data from those cards with nectar. Who can then do all sorts with it.
  
  And it looks like you have to activate all the offers manually which is just another thing to check. That said, I’ll give it a go!
  - Super Secret Stuff says:
    
    2 Jun2 June 11:08
    
    I did read that, yes. But at the end of the day, it is probably going to benefit me more because they’ll see that whilst I shop a fair amount at Salisbury’s, I also shop an awful lot at Tesco and Waitrose for lunch at work. It is no different to the data that Amex collect on you
  - Rob says:
    
    2 Jun2 June 11:30
    
    You are already sharing that data via the BA and Virgin instore portals. Nectar just makes it more explicit.
    - Callum says:
      
      2 Jun2 June 11:44
      
      BA and Virgin see your statement date, statement balance, payment date and transactions across all merchants and all cards?
      - Callum says:
        
        2 Jun2 June 16:40
        
        Rob – I don’t understand how they could possibly view that data by tracking your credit card purchases? Someone else mentioned Airtime Rewards do but I just checked and, according to their FAQ, they absolutely don’t.
        
        There clearly are multiple ways to track transactions. Those schemes track whether your card is used or not, this seems to monitor your actual bank account – you don’t even need to give them your card details.
    - Toby says:
      
      2 Jun2 June 11:53
      
      That’s true! I’ve thought a bit more about this and feel relaxed — nectar don’t seem very good at doing anything with all the data they already have from my shopping (my offers are very odd) so I don’t mind if they have a whole world of more data to confuse them!
      - Lady London says:
        
        2 Jun2 June 13:37
        
        If you look at the Airtime Rewards t’s and c’s that’s a good starter point (horrifying) for what gets given away when you use these things.
        
        It’s not at all just what’s given away but it’s really really easy now for entities that buy data to crosslink with other data they have access to and know more about you than you do yourself (and sell it). Smart meters and Home internet of things linked stuff will reveal you get the munchies at 7pm o a weekday and have a chocolate addiction and that’s only the beginning.
- Paul Pogba says:
  
  2 Jun2 June 11:01
  
  Thanks for the heads up. I’ve linked my Amex and have offers for Harvey Nichols, Coach, Lakeland, Just Eat, Pets at Home, Interflora, Papa Johns, Costa, Kate Spade and Quiz. I think they’re misunderstanding the type of person I am 😂
  - Super Secret Stuff says:
    
    2 Jun2 June 11:10
    
    Hahahaha, they’re not targeted just generic I think. Just Eat, pets at home and Costa are the interesting ones for me. Need to do a big pet shop sometime soon. Can stack with BA online
    - mark2 says:
      
      2 Jun2 June 11:32
      
      For pet stuff I suggest you look at ZooPlus.
    - Paul Pogba says:
      
      2 Jun2 June 11:34
      
      If you’re buying pet food Zooplus are good value and take Amex.
      - Super Secret Stuff says:
        
        2 Jun2 June 11:39
        
        Ironically I don’t need any food! I need fish water prep, tank cleaning, dog toys, dog bed and a few other bits. As far as I know Pets At Home or Pets Corner are best for these? Given the offer I am sway towards Pets at Home
  - Rhys says:
    
    2 Jun2 June 12:38
    
    I had exactly the same offers. Interestingly, the promotional image suggest H&M will be a partner too.
    - Super Secret Stuff says:
      
      2 Jun2 June 12:49
      
      Yes I noted that, when I was invited to the trial a while ago H&M where on there so not sure what’s happening to that
- Andrew says:
  
  2 Jun2 June 11:05
  
  Looks interesting.
  
  Well, it’s an alternative to Airtime for Amex users, and BA Instore was pretty rubbish post Waitrose.
  - Andrew says:
    
    2 Jun2 June 11:11
    
    Ok, so I’ve got *zero* offers.
    
    Not even the ubiquitous”Sweaty Betty”!
    - Super Secret Stuff says:
      
      2 Jun2 June 11:12
      
      You’ve got Zero? Have you definitely set it up correctly? What have you done to annoy Nectar? Lol
      - Andrew says:
        
        2 Jun2 June 11:16
        
        Yup, my Amex account is linked, and I have
        
        “Check back soon… For personalised offers”
        
        Thanks to BA refunds, I’ve got a credit balance at the moment. Perhaps that’s upset it?
      - Super Secret Stuff says:
        
        2 Jun2 June 11:19
        
        You selected the cards you were happy to share? Maybe it is the credit but who knows. Hopefully you get something soon
  - Super Secret Stuff says:
    
    2 Jun2 June 11:11
    
    It does look interesting, personally Airtime is useless for me as I am on an incredible deal at VOXI which doesn’t participate. BA instore was always rubbbish as far as I am concerned
    - bafan says:
      
      2 Jun2 June 11:41
      
      I love Voxi! £12 for 12GB of 5G, calls and texts, and TikTok is now exempt from the data cap! They will prise that plan out of my cold hands :).
      - Super Secret Stuff says:
        
        2 Jun2 June 11:50
        
        It is a cracking deal, although technically the price increases after 24 months although you just select a new plan and you are sorted. I love it, even if it was at full price they can take it away over my dead body
      - Andrew says:
        
        2 Jun2 June 13:06
        
        I’ll stick with EE, renewal is coming up and they’re offering £16 for 160Gb of 5G, or £20 for 200Gb of 5G with Worldwide use.
      - Paul Pogba says:
        
        2 Jun2 June 13:51
        
        Andrew, is this a retention offer you’ve been offered on the phone? Theres nothing that good sim only on the website even on a 24 month contract and I’m scared of commitment.
      - Andrew says:
        
        2 Jun2 June 14:20
        
        @Paul
        
        It’s a “Friends and Family” deal with EE. Straight 20% off all contracts. Check your employer’s staff benefits portal and you’ll probably find one. Even if you don’t have access, as a “friend or family”, you’ll probably know someone who does.
        
        (Vodafone do the same).
- Harry T says:
  
  2 Jun2 June 11:32
  
  Interesting idea but it’s not linking my accounts successfully – loading screen of death. Will try again later.
  - Super Secret Stuff says:
    
    2 Jun2 June 11:40
    
    Do you get to the Amex login page?
    - Billy Jean says:
      
      2 Jun2 June 12:06
      
      It should be working now, I suggest you try again its such an amazing proposition. Been waiting for something like this for ages,
  - PMG says:
    
    2 Jun2 June 12:21
    
    After I signed up I got a loading screen of death but had an e-mail come through that the cards had been linked – just closed the loading screen and opened the link in the e-mail and it worked 🙂
Michael says:

2 Jun2 June 10:54

I need some advise please:

– Is there currently travel insurance available that covers amber list countries, for Covid?
– Would any travel insurance still cover all other medical costs, if not Covid related

– Might be to difficult to answer. I (Uk) am looking to meet someone from a red list country (Colombia ).
Looking forward to the green list update tomorrow, but would anyone here know countries where we potentially could meet without the need to quarantine, if tests are negative?

– Also, which of the Caribbean countries would be good for adventure holiday /roadtrips /have mountains and accessible lush green nature?

Nant questions, feedback is much appreciated!
- Sandgrounder says:
  
  2 Jun2 June 11:20
  
  Off the top of my head, Iceland will let anybody in as long as they can prove they are fully vaccinated.
  - Anna says:
    
    2 Jun2 June 12:07
    
    Lol!
    - meta says:
      
      2 Jun2 June 12:20
      
      From 1 July, most EU countries should be open to fully vaccinated or with a test without the need to quarantine.
  - Grant says:
    
    2 Jun2 June 13:30
    
    Farmfoods the same
- lgflyer says:
  
  2 Jun2 June 17:25
  
  Perhaps Mexico?
Phil says:

2 Jun2 June 10:56

I’m sitting in the Aspire lounge at Heathrow Terminal 5. I wanted a glass of Champagne and the guy said they are only taking cash not card “as we only opened last week”. So if you want some booze in here then go to the cash machine first.

Also the man on reception said the Lounge Club card was no longer valid, although when I scanned it, it worked. Odd!
- Andrew says:
  
  2 Jun2 June 11:00
  
  “Cash Only” is never a good sign in any business. The first thing that anyone in finance wonders is if they’ve breached their banking covenants and had their Merchant system shut down.
  - Anna says:
    
    2 Jun2 June 11:22
    
    Especially as most places actually prefer contactless payment at the moment!
  - Chrism20 says:
    
    2 Jun2 June 11:58
    
    Cash only sounds more like a fiddle to me
Michael says:

2 Jun2 June 10:58

Many questions. . . that should have said.
Rich says:

2 Jun2 June 10:59

I promised a review of my Prenetics lateral flow test for returning from Portugal.

Good news is that there’s no video call or appointment required, you just upload a photo of the LFD. Bad news is that I neglected to bring the packaging with me (packing light) and that has a barcode I need! Flatmate going to look through the bins this evening!

Confirms my previous thoughts, that their complete lack of information on the process is unhelpful.
Scottydogg says:

2 Jun2 June 11:04

I just took out Amex Platinum , i have a family trip ‘booked’ to canada in October (all being well)
Would we be covered by the Amex insurance ? im sure i read that the holiday needs to be booked on the Amex to cover us . Our flights were booked through a different card non amex.
We still need to book hotels and Air Bnb , car hire etc , that will all go on the Plat card . So would we be covered then ?
- egold says:
  
  2 Jun2 June 12:00
  
  flights will not be covered unless entirely purchased on the Platinum card
  - Ste Cox says:
    
    2 Jun2 June 12:07
    
    *Unless the company you booked with does not accept Amex.
    
    Would have thought though if you booked them before you took out the card you might not be covered.
  - ianM says:
    
    2 Jun2 June 13:16
    
    What about the cash element of reward flights?
    I was under the impression that if you showed significant spend on the trip you would be covered, you don’t need to spend every penny on the plat card.
- Alan says:
  
  2 Jun2 June 12:21
  
  I rang Amex to ask whether Plat insurance provided Covid cover for a recent trip to a Green country. Amex CS didn’t know but transferred me to their insurance company.
  
  I was asked if I had paid for the flights on Amex, I hadn’t and then was asked why not. After explaining the flights were booked prior to taking out the Plat card I was told that I would be covered.
  
  In the end the trip passed off smoothly so I didn’t get to see if the advice I received was correct. With hindsight I probably should have got some form of written confirmation.