The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 2nd June

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• ianM says:

  2 Jun2 June 13:14

  Has anyone used the TURO car sharing service in the US? Looking at Houston in September because when I check prices at usual airport rental sixt/Avis the prices are ridiculous, £100 sort of thing for a Ford Focus. Or any other suggestions?

  • Benilyn says:

    2 Jun2 June 14:03

    Not used, but be careful of mileage limitations on Turo.

  • Paul says:

    2 Jun2 June 18:49

    Most airport pick ups are up to twice the price of in town pick ups (you can usually drop off at the airport no charge) so if you’re actually staying in town, or at least stopping there on the way through, consider using some other method of transport in on arrival maybe? Cost versus convenience….

    • Paul says:

      2 Jun2 June 18:53

      Just checked, last time we did Houston, stayed first night in town, got a taxi to hotel, was USD50, then picked up car that evening from depot 2 minutes away, saved a day’s rental (evening to evening rather than lunchtime to evening) and was over USD400 cheaper for 10 day hire.

      • IanM says:

        2 Jun2 June 21:04

        I checked Houston Medical Centre pickup and it was little different to the airport. I think fleets are small right now so maybe supply and demand?

• Shub says:

  2 Jun2 June 13:32

  Regarding paying council tax using AMEX, I’ve got a barcode from my council which can be used at Post Office and Payzone. I’ve tried to use it at couple of local post offices but AMEX didn’t work at either, 1 of them was in a Co-op. They asked to use a Visa or Mastercard to pay council tax. I tried at one of the Payzone and they asked to pay by cash otherwise it’ll charge some additional amount. Not sure what else I can try, Council doesn’t accept Paypal.

  • Pete M says:

    2 Jun2 June 13:36

    You need a “proper” blue standalone Co-Op which does PayPoint. They can then do it in £200 increments, but can do several transactions in one go.

    • Shub says:

      2 Jun2 June 13:40

      But the card that council provided only mentions Post Office and Payzone, not PayPoint. Does it still work at PayPoint?

      • Pete M says:

        2 Jun2 June 13:52

        Then I suspect you are stuck I am afraid 🙁 I think Payzone is a PayPoint competitor. And if your Council don’t work with PayPoint then there’s probably not much you can do.

        • Shub says:

          2 Jun2 June 14:17

          Yes, not the news I wanted to hear. Will try few more Payzone Stores to check if any is willing to accept AMEX.

        • mark2 says:

          2 Jun2 June 14:27

          Please tell me that you are not asking if you can use Amex!
          Just put it in the slot; it may be rejected of course but you will have tried.

        • Shub says:

          2 Jun2 June 14:55

          Yes, of course. I’m just putting it in and there system shows some issues and then they say we can’t accept that.

  • Sina says:

    2 Jun2 June 13:58

    It doesn’t work at Post Office, you need to go to a Co-op, not sure why they insisted on Visa/Mastercard? try another store perhaps?

  • James says:

    2 Jun2 June 14:02

    Payzone far more restrictive than PayPoint.

• Lady London says:

  2 Jun2 June 13:47

  Trailfinders would be my expectation. You want a longstanding travel agent with properly trained ticketing staff.
  Expect to pay a booking fee.

  In answer to other posters, yes of course cheap fares have to be ticketed immediately or very quickly and have onerous non-refund or heavy change charges (if change is even possible for the particular fare class): that’s why they’re a fraction of the cost.

  • Lady London says:

    2 Jun2 June 14:08

    *above for Kyle Page 2

• Rhys says:

  2 Jun2 June 13:58

  Not showing when I click through!

  • Leigh says:

    2 Jun2 June 14:04

    https://subscription.economist.com/offerpage/316119/OA/partners/BritishAirwaysBN/Bonus#
    Then Continue to Check Out, the T&Cs will show.

    • Rhys says:

      2 Jun2 June 14:12

      Excellent, thanks!

• Youllnever says:

  2 Jun2 June 14:13

  Does anyone know what the definition of new subscriber is? If I had a subscription a year ago that’s now been canceled, would I still be eligible?

  • mark2 says:

    2 Jun2 June 14:28

    My wife and I subscribe on alternate years to get points.

  • Alex B says:

    2 Jun2 June 16:52

    Every year I take out an annual subscription and every year I get the bonus.

    • Youllnever says:

      2 Jun2 June 17:21

      Did you enter anything different like a different email address each time?

      • TGLoyalty says:

        2 Jun2 June 21:26

        Nope same exact details.

• Gen says:

  2 Jun2 June 14:24

  Question for those in the know please.
  I currently have 3 BA 241 companion vouchers. 2 of these are due to expire May 2022. We are hoping to go to Singapore (3 of us) in June 2022. If I make 2 separate domestic bookings Lon-Man and use the 241s which will expire in May22 and cancel and ask for future travel Vouchers, can I then use them to put towards our June 2022 flights? (as i believe they are frozen until April 2023 in a ftv?)
  I just don’t want to lose the use of the 241’s and can’t see any other way around it. All 3 of us are named on BA household account.

  • Anna says:

    2 Jun2 June 14:35

    This would extend the validity of the 241s but you could only use 1 of them if 3 of you are travelling, of course.

    • Anna says:

      2 Jun2 June 14:37

      And you’d need to call BA, plus avios availability to Singapore, so you might need to be a bit more flexible on destination.

      • Gen says:

        2 Jun2 June 14:57

        Thanks for replies. I know it depends on availability. have checked for May 2022 and availability for then is currently not bad atm. Fingers crossed June 2022 will be similar. We are unfortunately tied to June due to work restrictions, and want to visit Singapore as have had 2 previous planned trips there cancelled in last 18mnths!
        I’ll keep looking, and hoping.

  • Rob says:

    2 Jun2 June 14:44

    Yes, you can do this. Remember that you cannot change passenger names on a FTV.

    • Gen says:

      2 Jun2 June 14:54

      Yes. Thanks for the heads up. Have already exchanged one of the may 241s and put partners name as companion. If i am unable to use 2 vouchers (and include adult son) then i will just book him a flight separately and try to get seats together with both bookings.
      Just trying to utilize all 241’s and 160k of avios for a trip for 3 adults for next June.

      • Anna says:

        2 Jun2 June 20:25

        I’m a bit confused – if 3 of you are travelling, you can only use 1 voucher. You seem to be saying you, your partner plus your adult son will be travelling. Is this not the case?

• Dominic says:

  2 Jun2 June 14:44

  FYI, £116ish if you subscribe for a Digital Canadian subscription (alternatively, use the current Amex offer for Economist to get a similar UK price). Both include 15k Avios.

  • Harry T says:

    2 Jun2 June 14:56

    Yeah, even with Amex offer for the UK version, the Canadian prices are £18-20 cheaper. Not a massive saving though and obviously not an option if you want the print version.

    Has anyone managed to trigger the UK Amex offer when being billed in CAD?

    • Eugene says:

      2 Jun2 June 16:53

      That worked for me

      • Harry T says:

        2 Jun2 June 18:09

        @Eugene you paid for a Canadian subscription and it triggered the Amex offer on the UK card?

• Andrew says:

  2 Jun2 June 15:04

  Regarding the new Nectar connect thing with Amex – do we think there would be a clash with Amex offers? Just thinking that there is the Amex offer for Harvey Nics (200/50) and the 10 points per £ on Nectar – would both pay out like it does on the shopping portal or is this different as it’s linked to the card rather than a cookie?

  • Rhys says:

    2 Jun2 June 15:17

    No, wouldn’t clash

    • Super Secret Stuff says:

      2 Jun2 June 15:35

      I used the banned word, c@sh b@ck explaining why but basically I agree with Rhys. Highly unlikely and at worst will mean you recieve less points

  • HeadingForNoPoints says:

    2 Jun2 June 15:29

    Any idea how to remove this TrueLayer link? Decided I wasn’t comfortable with nectar accessing my statement data so I’ve removed on nectar side but can’t see any option on amex website to checked authorised partners via open banking?

    • Super Secret Stuff says:

      2 Jun2 June 15:37

      No clue sorry. But you do realise this is the exact same data that Amex, TaCo Bell Instore, BA Instore and Virgin Instore had access too? They are just saying it in a very direct way so you are fully aware.

      If anything, I’d applaud Nectar for being honest with you

      • HeadingForNoPoints says:

        2 Jun2 June 17:01

        The disclaimer said they had access to past statement data which I wasn’t comfortable with, the instore cash back schemes I just assumed they had access to your card transactions moving forward

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