The HfP chat thread – Monday 7th June

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Luke says:

7 Jun7 June 17:50

I closed the AMEX Gold card last year, although with travel reopening in the next few months (hopefully), I want to get the card again to earn points, especially now that they’ve ‘upgraded’ to Priority Pass.

Does anyone know if I’ll get the first year free still, or is that the same as the bonus requirement where I’ll have to wait 2 years?
- Sloth says:
  
  7 Jun7 June 17:54
  
  You will get the first year free again
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  7 Jun7 June 17:58
  
  You’d get it even if you apply (and get accepted) a few mins after you close your old one.
  
  Obviously I’d wait a little longer than a few mins 🙂
- Super Secret Stuff says:
  
  7 Jun7 June 18:03
  
  Definitely get the first night free, you can always get referred by a friend to help them out
  - Harrier25 says:
    
    7 Jun7 June 20:11
    
    I’ve just been referred for Gold yesterday by my wife, which would’ve been nice of her, if she knew anything about it! 😂
    - Super Secret Stuff says:
      
      7 Jun7 June 20:22
      
      Hahaha how very kind of her!
      - The cyclist says:
        
        7 Jun7 June 20:46
        
        Brilliant stuff Harriet 🙂
Andy says:

7 Jun7 June 18:03

Still waiting for the 1000 Nectar points from Esso “Collect 1000 points on your first fill” offer at end of April. Anyone else get it? Don’t think I’ve filled up at Esso before (not for several years anyway). Don’t have a copy of the T&C’s, maybe it wasn’t a participating service station?
- Super Secret Stuff says:
  
  7 Jun7 June 21:51
  
  Most offers are normally within 28 to 35 days of the offer expiration date
  - Andy says:
    
    7 Jun7 June 23:53
    
    Yeap, just outside that time window now. Annoying as it was slightly more expensive than local BP but worth it for the points.
Anna says:

7 Jun7 June 18:07

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/when-will-foreign-office-advice-change/

I’ve signed up for a free trial as I cant find the story anywhere else but it seems to be saying any and all arrivals may have to quarantine shortly, and also that FCDO advice is unlikely to change. It seems beyond doubt that the government is doing everything it can to stop people leaving the country.
- Anna says:
  
  7 Jun7 June 18:08
  
  Doh! Ignore, it’s from last year. Showed as more recent when I was searching!
  - BJ says:
    
    7 Jun7 June 18:24
    
    😀
- Callum says:
  
  7 Jun7 June 19:46
  
  I know their general incompetence sets a pretty low bar, but I think it’s mind-numbingly obvious that they’re not doing “everything that they can to stop people travelling”.
  
  What with, you know, them changing the rules to specifically allow people to travel…
  - Anna says:
    
    7 Jun7 June 19:52
    
    Yeah .. if you read the actual post I had mistakenly posted an article from 12 months ago, hence “ignore”. But waste your time if you want.
    - Callum says:
      
      7 Jun7 June 19:57
      
      Have you not posted this exact claim several times over the past week?
      
      But yes, I completely agree attempting to correct the constant stream of misinformation and hyperbole posted on here is a waste of time!
      - Char Char says:
        
        7 Jun7 June 23:32
        
        Or the people who think they know everything and are unwilling to listen to anything else, oh wait….
      - Char Char says:
        
        7 Jun7 June 23:33
        
        Really go bother some other people, people don’t need this abuse from you
    - BJ says:
      
      7 Jun7 June 20:16
      
      Just so you know Anna, I laughed because I made a similar mistake before. I now usually check dates on search articles on anything important before reading them.
Chris says:

7 Jun7 June 19:51

Whilst hotel statuses have been extended I was thinking of diversifying my status.

Currently I have Hilton Diamond and from a past match offer IHG Spire Elite (which I don’t think I should have as I never stayed following the status challenge they offered 🤷‍♂️).

I’ve recently contact Marriott and they have offered challenge of “18 elite night credits within 3 months”. Based on the wording I’m assuming Amex Marriott Bonvoy 15 night credits that qualify (applied within 8 weeks of applying). That would leave just 3 nights to credit at a Marriott Bonvoy hotel. The card is £75 /year but assume American Express Offers alone could make up for the cost. (I will not qualify for the sign-up bonus as already holding an AMEX card).

1. £75 + 3 nights to get Platinum seems quite reasonable to me … but is there a better way to do this?
2. Has anyone had any experience of using the amex card elite nights? Is there anything to keep in mind?
3. I’m assuming the American Express Offers will be more or less the same or will I expect to not see other hotel chains to appear and/or they be totally different offers ?
- John says:
  
  7 Jun7 June 19:59
  
  My friend did this – told amex card night credits did not apply – had to be paid nights.
  
  I would specifically ask the question and get answer in writing or you will end up wasting the three nights booked.
- Lee says:
  
  7 Jun7 June 20:00
  
  Credit card bonus night won’t count fir challenge
- Harry T says:
  
  7 Jun7 June 20:08
  
  Credit card nights won’t work for a status match.
  - Anuj says:
    
    7 Jun7 June 20:48
    
    But has anyone actually tried as IT often doesn’t match what is supposed to happen
    - TGLoyalty says:
      
      7 Jun7 June 21:49
      
      The free nights are posted in separate “pool” it doesn’t work.
- BJ says:
  
  7 Jun7 June 20:26
  
  And given it doesn’t work the status is absolutely not worth 18 nights anyway. You could argue it was if your plan was to focus almost exclusively on Bonvoy going forward, however, you stated that your goal was diversification therefore it seems likely you will spread stays around.
- Chris says:
  
  7 Jun7 June 20:27
  
  Thanks for the comments re amex card elite nights not counting, that’s a shame as the email they sent only said “18 elite night credits” and the amex site says “Receive 15 Elite Night Credits toward the next Marriott Bonvoy Elite status upon card approval”. They therefore look one and the same, I will query by email
  - BJ says:
    
    7 Jun7 June 20:47
    
    A waste of time, the two are independent. You obtain status under the challenge by staying the required nights, not by applying for credit cards. Tbh, thinking otherwise is a bit ludicrous.
    - Chris says:
      
      7 Jun7 June 21:26
      
      The email they sent me clearly said “Elite Night Credits” which is identical to the wording on the AMEX page. It’s not ludicrous to believe they would count. User @John reports his friend also belied the same thing.
      
      Now if the email had said “Elite Night Credits from staying at our properties” then of course thinking they would have counted would have been ludicrous.
      - kitten says:
        
        8 Jun8 June 09:54
        
        they’re not fools, Chris
      - Rob says:
        
        8 Jun8 June 10:27
        
        IIRC (and I am willing to be corrected on this) Marriott no longer counts reward nights either. You can do a reward, it will earn an elite night but it won’t get you nearer the status match target.
  - Lee says:
    
    7 Jun7 June 20:56
    
    Even reward stay won’t count, only paid night
    - meta says:
      
      7 Jun7 June 21:22
      
      If you really wanted to diversify, I’d actually wait for Amex offer for Marriott to appear, usually in the last quarter, then if you have it on several cards it might make sense, especially if you tie it to a longer holiday which you intended to take anyway.
  - Harry T says:
    
    7 Jun7 June 21:49
    
    The elite nights from the credit card post into an entirely different category from other elite nights, labelled “Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card”.
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    7 Jun7 June 21:50
    
    Is there a link to the full T&Cs which clarify what they actually mean
    - Chris says:
      
      7 Jun7 June 23:47
      
      Unfortunately no, the email response just asked if you would like to taken them up on the challenge then to reply to the email address.
Ryan says:

7 Jun7 June 19:58

Random thought:
SumUp fees are 1.69% which are the same if you use a Visa Debit or a Amex Business card. If a store takes a lot of Business cards, surely SumUp will lose money on processing the payments..?
- Track says:
  
  7 Jun7 June 20:13
  
  Yes but not as much Business cards are in circulation, AMEX is easily accessible (because they are still in your personal name). Other banks will take your soul and a newborn before issuing a non-rewards business credit card.
  
  I am sure they have data and stats — most of the public are still paying with bank debit cards, so 1.69% fee is a profit.
  - Harrier25 says:
    
    7 Jun7 June 20:36
    
    So does that mean it doesn’t matter whether you pay a SumUp retailer by debit, credit or Amex because the fee to the retailer is always 1.69%?
  - Ryan says:
    
    7 Jun7 June 20:46
    
    I’m sure they have, but just from a hypothetical POV, would be interesting if they questioned the merchant eventually…
    - Ryan says:
      
      7 Jun7 June 20:47
      
      Yes Harrier, I take payments for a cricket club through SumUp and have had Plats and Golds come through…
Amy says:

7 Jun7 June 20:10

Are Butlin’s resorts still good as they used to be?
- Super Secret Stuff says:
  
  7 Jun7 June 20:27
  
  I’ve gone past buttons in Skegness many times, have they ever been good? They’ve never looked it to me
  - Super Secret Stuff says:
    
    7 Jun7 June 20:28
    
    Damn auto correct, meant Butlins!
- Sandgrounder says:
  
  7 Jun7 June 21:10
  
  They have invested heavily over the last few years, they have some decent quality accomodation on site now, but it’s not cheap. The cheaper stuff is a bit dated. It’s pretty good for young kids. It’s not the same vibe as Penha Longa though…
R says:

7 Jun7 June 20:20

Is Marriott planning to run any promo/cash back offers anytime soon?

I cannot believe that they haven’t done anything yet (other than the useless promo that ended in April)… Personally, I prefer Marriott hotels but I’m only booking Hilton hotels at the moment.
- Andrew says:
  
  7 Jun7 June 21:14
  
  Not looking good for an Amex promotion now, maybe in the autumn they’ll do one.
- Harry T says:
  
  7 Jun7 June 21:50
  
  I reckon some offers will appear on Amex soon…
QwertyKnowsBest says:

7 Jun7 June 20:46

Gett taxi app new to me, usually use Uber. But have an Amex offer. Anyone any experience on using Gett in London?
- Rob says:
  
  7 Jun7 June 21:18
  
  It gets you a black cab, nothing more or less. Beware the £10 minimum fare and any ‘technology surcharge’ which is added at busy times (and which Gett keeps – the driver doesn’t get it).
- Andrew says:
  
  7 Jun7 June 22:12
  
  The Free Now offer is probably better and gives you the choice of an Uber type ride or a black cab.