The HfP chat thread – Sunday 6th June

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Anna says:

6 Jun6 June 18:24

Anyone who can get to Preston can get a walk up Covid vaccine at St John’s shopping centre. Just had my second one, no queues. They are jabbing anyone over the age of 18.
- Anna says:
  
  6 Jun6 June 18:59
  
  Lol, it’s not as bad as that London!
- Jody says:
  
  6 Jun6 June 19:10
  
  Nowhere near Preston sadly. My daughter is desperate to get jabbed.
  - Tracey says:
    
    6 Jun6 June 19:30
    
    Find somewhere doing Pfizer/ Moderna and go half an hour before the end and ask for spares.
  - Shaun says:
    
    6 Jun6 June 22:18
    
    Who on earth is actually “desperate” to get jabbed? Anyone in actual danger will have vaccination already…
    - Rob says:
      
      6 Jun6 June 22:21
      
      Anyone who wants to meet with people who may themselves be vulnerable, or anyone who wants to take a no-lose gamble that certain things will soon only be possible, or will be easier, if you are vaccinated.
      - Shaun says:
        
        6 Jun6 June 22:33
        
        Still, anyone who is vulnerable will have one already? If the later, then you would not be desperate…
        Only other reason you’d be desperate is if you have been wrapped up in bubble wrap all year and hidden behind the sofa
- Chris Heyes says:
  
  6 Jun6 June 22:51
  
  Anna Been able to get a vac in Blackburn, Burnley, Bognor for last 3 weeks just by queueing for around an hour, for left over vacs, any age my twin Granddaughters just turned up 3 weeks ago an asked, age 20 (i thought they was 19 lost a year lol)
Will A says:

6 Jun6 June 18:39

I have the Economist offer on my Platinum Business card (not yet saved to card) – does anyone know if Amex would let me change it to my BA Amex card if I ask them? Want to get as much spend on the BA card as possible.
- Rob says:
  
  6 Jun6 June 19:02
  
  No
Ian M says:

6 Jun6 June 18:43

Heathrow Vs Luton for arrivals.

I’ve never been a fan of Luton airport at the best of times. Has anyone flown into Luton recently? I’m wondering how long the wait times are at Luton vs Heathrow at the current time. Looks h at flying with either Aeroflot into Heathrow on a morning flight or with Wizz into Luton in the afternoon
- The motorist says:
  
  6 Jun6 June 18:49
  
  Had enough of Belarus?
  - Ian M says:
    
    6 Jun6 June 19:09
    
    Haha no. Just planning a short trip to England
- kitten says:
  
  6 Jun6 June 20:46
  
  Weirdly I would take Luton right now
  - Ian M says:
    
    6 Jun6 June 21:39
    
    Hey Kitten, thanks. Have you passed through Luton airport recently?
    - kitten says:
      
      6 Jun6 June 22:28
      
      no but there are enough stories of people cooped up for hours in all those no-air-circulation overhot cramped low-ceilinged immigration areas at LHR, esp at peak times, reported on here.
      
      I hate Luton but at worst it’s got to be an even bet.
- John says:
  
  6 Jun6 June 21:58
  
  Are the Wizz flights from Moscow reliable? Heard through someone else that the flights from Pieter were hit and miss…
  Unfortunately no experience going through either recently myself.
  - Ian M says:
    
    6 Jun6 June 22:35
    
    No idea actually. I’m not a fan of Wizz, but the flight is dirt cheap and I prefer the departure time.
tony says:

6 Jun6 June 18:48

Does anyone know, can I take a couple of spent shotgun cartridges on a plane on a UK domestic flight? I thought not but the clay pigeon instructor said it was permitted.

FWIW, they are (were) 21g shells used in a 20 bore shotgun.

Thanks
- Sukes says:
  
  6 Jun6 June 20:20
  
  Don’t know but this might help frame the Q if you are going to speak to your airline: https://www.gov.uk/hand-luggage-restrictions/ammunition
- Craig says:
  
  6 Jun6 June 20:27
  
  Gut feeling would be no, replica cartridges aren’t permitted so I assume the same for discharged. You’d need to contact the particular airline though to be sure. I don’t have access to the full IATA dangerous goods regs to be certain.
- Travel Strong says:
  
  6 Jun6 June 20:43
  
  Hold luggage and clean (free from explosive hazard). Hand luggage is just asking for hold ups regardless.
  - tony says:
    
    6 Jun6 June 20:54
    
    Thanks all – must admit that was my suspicion. Will just dump them, unless I can find a post office in the morning. Feels like this is one for the CAA, rather than the airline.
    
    Cheers
  - Super Secret Stuff says:
    
    6 Jun6 June 21:30
    
    Bet you’d make friends with the sniffer dogs though…
Simon says:

6 Jun6 June 19:12

Hi can anyone recommend a couple of marriot hotels in Florida? Have platinum and points to burn. 2 adults + 10 and 4 yo. Will have a car for the duration, out for 10days for oct half term. Thinking 5 nights south and 5 nights nr Disney. Any advice much appreciated.
- Clive says:
  
  6 Jun6 June 19:39
  
  Lots of people rate the JW in Marco Island. Stayed once and for me too busy, prefer the Hilton but Marco is great for the beach.
- John says:
  
  6 Jun6 June 21:44
  
  if you fancy venturing off the beaten track (for brits), the SpringHill suites at Navarre beach is fantastic (for ‘budget’ accommodation). It sits on an incredible beach, nice pool complex. Not a huge amount around but nice for a relaxing break.
Mark says:

6 Jun6 June 19:14

Trying to sign up for an account on the Avis / Mastercard promo page… https://www.avisworld.com/avisonline/gb/avis_ams_partners3.nsf/c/worldelite+homepage

Getting this message every time I try to complete the account registration. Anyone encountered this before?

“Please enter a valid FTP partner code.”
- stevenhp1987 says:
  
  6 Jun6 June 19:52
  
  It’s case sensitive.
  
  “Mastercard World Elite” – if using a mobile ensure there are zero spaces after Elite.
  
  Personally I just emailed them to add it to my existing account.
  - Mark says:
    
    6 Jun6 June 20:29
    
    So apparently FTP is Frequent Travellers Program…I removed my BA # and it worked…it recognized the Mastercard World Elite but after completing registration it only appears as Avis Preferred instead of President Club…
    
    Gah…is there a particular email that you use or just the generic one since this is a targeted promo?
    - stevenhp1987 says:
      
      6 Jun6 June 20:47
      
      Database.Northern@abg.com
      - Mark says:
        
        6 Jun6 June 21:31
        
        Cheers!
      - egold says:
        
        7 Jun7 June 17:27
        
        struggling with my Avis preferred Platinum upgrade. no response from that email address
KS says:

6 Jun6 June 19:39

BA question: I need to make an open jaw booking with BA companion voucher. I understand I can book outgoing leg online but need to book return leg over call. Is that right?

TIA!
- pauldb says:
  
  6 Jun6 June 19:51
  
  You can call, or have option of booking the inbound for fill 2x avios then calling to have half the avios refunded. The second option is useful if booking at 1am T-355 but really your choice should depend where you are going. If it’s a lower fuel surcharge destination (Asia) book at 2x; if it higher (America) call: the taxes are not repriced when you calll for the 50% refund.
  - KS says:
    
    6 Jun6 June 20:07
    
    Thanks!
- Anna says:
  
  6 Jun6 June 20:05
  
  If you’re not going to get stung on higher surcharges you can also book the inbound online and call to get BA to refund half the avios. They won’t adjust the taxes if you do this, so you need to make sure you don’t get caught out by this (depends on destination).
Sam says:

6 Jun6 June 20:24

Staying at Kimpton fitzroy 3 nights as spire on credit card reward nights. Friendly reception but no room upgrade from superior double. Secret password granted 1000 bonus points. 4 x postcard promotion gained 2 small sets of sweets for the kids ( not really what was implied on the Kimpton website in terms of the postcard promotion possible granting room upgrades of freebies at the restaurant). All in all my first Kimpton stay and so far, nothing out of the ordinary.
- EwanG says:
  
  6 Jun6 June 20:29
  
  You did better than me for last night at Kington Charlotte Sq, also using a free credit card night and Spire Ambassador. Spire recognition with drink voucher (at my request endorsed to confirm 2x drinks) but no recognition for Ambassador or social password. Didn’t try the postcard, expect that would have been a waste of time.
- Anna says:
  
  6 Jun6 June 21:06
  
  We must have fallen lucky, we got a cocktail and a bar snack from our scratch cards last weekend! We’d taken our raid the bar credit voucher into the bar as well so the final bill was £0.
  - Sam says:
    
    6 Jun6 June 21:22
    
    Scratch cards?- London or Edinburgh?
- Rob says:
  
  6 Jun6 June 22:10
  
  What about the nightly free wine reception?
  - Tim Rogers says:
    
    6 Jun6 June 22:46
    
    Wasn’t running at the Glasgow outpost when I was there 2 weekends ago!
  - Clubx says:
    
    6 Jun6 June 23:49
    
    Stayed in Clocktower and Fritzroy. No drinks. Will report tomorrow for Glasgow.
    - TGLoyalty says:
      
      7 Jun7 June 00:50
      
      Anna mentioned she got them in her room in Edinburgh
      
      Did you ask about it and told it wasn’t happening?
      - Anna says:
        
        7 Jun7 June 03:01
        
        Yes, delivered to the room in Edinburgh and served at Burr & Co in London last weekend. We were given scratch cards in Fitz’s bar, I assumed they were the same sort of thing as the OP got.