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The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 8th June

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Comments (484)

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

  • mark says:
    8 Jun8 June 10:19

    Probably hard question to answer but does anyone have any experience with landing at Luton / Gatwick at night? Luton at 10.15pm and Gatwick at 10.50pm, trying to see which one can get me back to central London quicker. Obviously with Luton I have to take the bus to the station etc. Does the queue at custom differ a lot between both? I will be flying in from Edinburgh end month.

    • Will_ says:
      8 Jun8 June 10:30

      You won’t go through customs if you’re coming from Edinburgh

      • bill says:
        8 Jun8 June 10:55

        At LGW you will probably be bussed to domestic arrivals North Terminal from where you can take the monorail thing to South Terminal. There will be still be lots of trains from GTW. I haven’t landed on a domestic in LTN at that time of night but I have done so at LGW and had no complaints.

    • James says:
      8 Jun8 June 10:32

      Gatwick definitely the best option. Often horrendous queues at Luton and the shuttle to the station will easily add on an extra 20 minutes to your journey. Frequency of trains at the time of night will most likely be every 30 minutes, if not, longer, whereas Gatwick will definitely have a more frequent choice on offer. Somebody mentioned here the other day also that there was no queue to contend with at immigration for Gatwick either. And besides all of that, Luton is a complete toilet, full of brain-dead, J.D Sports wearing tracksuits types. It should be wiped off the face of the earth, quite frankly.

      Gatwick all the way.

    • Laura says:
      8 Jun8 June 10:40

      I had a terrible experience flying back to Luton late, but this was a few years ago.

      The plane was delayed and then we got stuck at passport control. I went straight through the passport gates but my American friend took well over an hour to go through. Unfortunately, a couple of non-European flights landed just before ours and the queue was ridiculous.
      We missed the last train back into London and an Uber would have been ridiculously expensive. Ended up waiting a long time but had to get a coach to Baker Street instead.

      We were very, very unlucky but it put me off Luton.

      • Lady London says:
        8 Jun8 June 11:28

        Coach is the way to get out of LTN. Obvs more choice if you’re going to London. Check timetables so you know your options if plane is late. If that happens and you’re ready for transport after, say, 00:25am, if you need public transport you can be royally st*ffed at LGW. Trains basically dry up or go to extremely long intervals from then. Avoid weekends esp late Sat/Sun landings at LGW for this reason.

        (Done both a fair amount late at night although not much since Covid).

        PS minicab was quoted to me to LTN from Finchley Rd/Baker St around £65 a few times, funnily enough same can be had for STN. Unsure if you could work that pricing in the other direction.

        • Super Secret Stuff says:
          8 Jun8 June 11:53

          Trains to London now run 24/7 between Three Bridges and parts of London, stopping at Gatwick

      • John says:
        8 Jun8 June 12:09

        Trains run to Luton and Gatwick all night every half hour, except on Sunday mornings southbound from Luton

    • Andrew says:
      8 Jun8 June 11:51

      I was going to suggest taking the train instead, but my word the service is still in “Covid” mode isn’t it?

      18:52 Edinburgh to London Euston taking 6h21m
      19:36 Edinburgh to Kings Cross taking 5h39m.

      Although the earlier services do drop down to the more normal 4h25m, 4h39m times.

      Are you sure those flight times are accurate? There doesn’t seem to be a date in June when there are arrivals at those times on the same day.

      • mark says:
        8 Jun8 June 11:54

        Sorry, not exactly end June but 2nd July specifically.

      • lumma says:
        8 Jun8 June 12:03

        Unless you want to get smashed on alcohol, LNER in COVID mode is arguably better than normal times. No one sitting next to you in standard. West Coast to Euston is pretty grim (although they do allow you to take your own beers)

        I’d only fly to City or maybe Heathrow from Edinburgh personally, when you take into account getting to and from the airports.

      • John says:
        8 Jun8 June 12:22

        Not sure why you think this is “covid mode”.

        Edinburgh to Euston has always taken 6 hours on the direct train because it goes via Birmingham. If you change at Crewe for a train via the Trent valley it will be the more usual 5 hours. Also since it’s the west coast you have to go all the way to Carlisle on this route.

        The east coast route is more direct. The last trains are slow because they stop at all stations. So slightly covid related as the last trains are earlier than they used to be

        • Andrew says:
          8 Jun8 June 13:42

          It’s usually 5h40m on the Edinburgh to Euston route. I’ve done it many times back in the Virgin days when you could occasionally pick an Advance single for a fiver.

          It’s not even that much further to go down the West Coast to London from Edinburgh. It takes 4 minutes longer for an Avanti service to travel from Carlisle to Edinburgh compared with Carlisle to Glasgow.

          So with the fastest Glasgow to London service taking 4h33m with 7 stops, there’s no reason why a Edinburgh to London service couldn’t take 4h37m – or less than the “standard” time via York.

    • lumma says:
      8 Jun8 June 12:06

      Have you considered getting the sleeper down? If you can sleep in premium economy seats it’ll get you into London early the next day for about £60. Obviously the sleeping cabins are available but that gets expensive

      • Super Secret Stuff says:
        8 Jun8 June 12:22

        Sleeper cabins are so worth it though! Good fun and a nice experience (pre covid at least)

        • John says:
          8 Jun8 June 12:25

          Lounge car is closed so personally I don’t think there is any point taking the sleeper unless your itinerary means it is your only option

      • John says:
        8 Jun8 June 12:29

        More like £100 if booking late and because half the seats aren’t in use. Plus the new trains are very uncomfortable if you sit at the ends of the carriage (the middle is slightly better – which goes for the rooms as well)

        And it’s nothing like premium economy… More like economy from 20 years ago

        • Super Secret Stuff says:
          8 Jun8 June 13:32

          I went on a new train and found the end room fairly comfortable, obviously it’s a moving train so not as good as a hotel!

    • SteveW says:
      8 Jun8 June 18:36

      I’ve landed at LGW at night and the blooming runway lights are always too bright so that when when you get close to touchdown you can’t quite see the ground texture from a Jumbo cockpit and smooth out the touchdown. Ah, sorry that’s not your enquiry.

  • James says:
    8 Jun8 June 10:20

    Can anyone advise what is the best way to go about canceling an AMEX Business Gold card please? Is there a number to call or is it done via web chat?

    Many thanks.

    • Rhys says:
      8 Jun8 June 10:34

      You should be able to do it via chat.

    • Lady London says:
      8 Jun8 June 10:43

      If you want a bribe to stay, call not chat.

      Recent suggestion on here is that this is the one time you ‘do’ want to at strange late/weekend times as apparently the rote no-discretion aspect of offshore call centre might mean you’ll get offered what the computer shows as your bonus offer to stay, with less pfaff.

      • James says:
        8 Jun8 June 11:00

        Okay, thank you for the tip. Just to confirm what you said there, best to call at a strange late time during a weekday or a weekend then? Is it a 24 hr service? My apologies, I can’t remember.

        • KBuffett says:
          8 Jun8 June 11:22

          The people who can discuss retention deals are only available from (approx 8am to 8pm). Out of ours doesn’t work. Get a retention deal and then cancel in a few weeks.

          • Lady London says:
            8 Jun8 June 11:32

            feedback on this is the only time you’d actually want the overseas call centre to pick up was yesterday KBuffett.

            More data points would be nice so let us know how you get on. You can always say you’re not quite ready and call again at another time if you’re not getting anything worth considering

          • James says:
            8 Jun8 June 11:42

            Many thanks indeed.

          • Super Secret Stuff says:
            8 Jun8 June 11:55

            @LL completely disagree with you on this, I interpret te trends differently: overseas are easier push overs but often have no clue what they are doing . Brighton are a bit tougher so you need to be convincing but once you have got through the script they read off of they’ll give you one

          • Super Secret Stuff says:
            8 Jun8 June 12:02

            For clarity, all the call centers I have spoken too read off of the same script. The knowledge of how and willingness to load retention offers is the bit that varies

          • Aston100 says:
            8 Jun8 June 17:18

            I too would suggest calling at odd hours to get a better chance of an overseas agent.
            I find they don’t waste time trying to argue with you and just give you what is available.
            I have had to nudge them towards a retention offer on our PRG cards, otherwise they would have simply cancelled them!
            The Platinum cards were easier and retention offers were proactively provided.
            Far less hassle than when I had to go through all sorts of debate with Brighton when trying to get retentions on our BAPP cards.

  • AndyF says:
    8 Jun8 June 10:21

    Any thoughts on the UK USA travel corridor? I’m considering booking flights for August…. I would have thought a corridor would be open by the start of July (for doubled jabbed) however, this Indian variant may through a spanner in the works…

    • Harry T says:
      8 Jun8 June 10:25

      I’m booked for August to the USA too. The situation seems very dynamic and government decisions are difficult to understand. I’m just going to wait until the last minute to see what happens. Good luck with your plans!

    • Tracy says:
      8 Jun8 June 10:36

      I’ve booked refundable rate for hotel in NYC for start of September but holding off on booking flights….

      • Harry T says:
        8 Jun8 June 10:50

        If covid has taught us one thing, it’s always book refundable hotels! I have flights booked but they’ve been thoroughly multilayer by BA so I can get a refund or rerouting when I need it.

    • Andrew says:
      8 Jun8 June 10:45

      New York booked for September but I’m now giving it only about a 10% chance of going ahead.

      • Andyf says:
        8 Jun8 June 10:48

        Wow that low, really….I read yesterday airlines were pushing for a travel corridor announcement at the end of the week at the G7 with Biden.

        • Anna says:
          8 Jun8 June 11:00

          I’ve pulled the plug on our August trip. Even if they get a travel corridor sorted the FCDO seems to not want to change its advice just now so it would be extremely difficult to get travel insurance.

        • Andrew says:
          8 Jun8 June 11:57

          Airlines pushing/begging for, is quite different from both governments actually agreeing to it.

    • stevenhp1987 says:
      8 Jun8 June 11:01

      Vegas for Sep and Chicago for Oct.

      Hoping it will open! Flights refundable (Avios) as well as hotels.

  • BearingUp says:
    8 Jun8 June 10:22

    Morning all.
    We are due to visit family over weekend 9-11 July, for first time in many months, and need accommodation in Chiswick. I’ve had a look and it appears very limited from what I can see. Anyone know of suitable hotels/places? Not too concerned regarding facilities but parking would be a bonus. Thanks.

    • G says:
      8 Jun8 June 10:24

      Best Western Chiswick has a car park

    • AJA says:
      8 Jun8 June 10:48

      Another option is the Clayton Hotel Chiswick which also has parking.

    • Lady London says:
      8 Jun8 June 10:52

      Heathrow isn’t a million miles from Chiswick and there are many hotels that area of business standard but currently not doing the business so rates worth a look and quality higher than actual Chiswick.

      I’d be doing the Staybridge Suites on the A4 as parking charges are moderate or if I need to be cheaper the Ibis Styles closeish to that (parking reasonable but can get full), many choices. Some like the
      HGI very near Hatton Cross Underground.

      Syon Park Hilton? is on the doorstep but not easy for transport

      Ealing not impossible either as a location for Chiswick,new Hampton there in the Centre if it has reopened and there’s even a decent new Accor hotel right in the Centre.

    • Mrs_Fussy says:
      8 Jun8 June 11:22

      Check high road house hotel, they probably do non member rates. I know Fauberts ( the folks who actually sold the build soho house built high road house on are letting out rooms very cheap, or at least I saw that this morning )

      • Lady London says:
        8 Jun8 June 11:35

        Is Foubert’s still going? Amazing

        • Lady London says:
          8 Jun8 June 11:40

          PS I forgot practically on the doorstep there is the quite new Adagio Suites at Brentford. Very highly rated consistently since recent-ish opening ( not guaranteed sort of rating for an Adagio) but prices may be a bit high still as they seem to have become popular quickly. If I could afford it would be my choice though.

          • BearingUp says:
            8 Jun8 June 14:15

            Many thanks to all for your suggestions.
            I’d noticed the High Road House hotel during my search but it is only open to members. We’ve now booked as reasonably close to their home as we can without further travelling.
            Looking forward to seeing them and, who knows, we might all be in a “green light” world by then!
            Sorry, just ducking to avoid the flying pigs!! 😂😂

  • Tracy says:
    8 Jun8 June 10:34

    Got 2 Belfast stays coming up. Tomorrow night at AC Hotel Belfast then staying at Hilton Belfast for 3 nights from Thursday.
    Should I just use the hotels parking – AC hotel £22pn, Hilton £18pn or is there a better/cheaper alternative? Don’t mind parking and walking a bit to the hotel….

    • bill says:
      8 Jun8 June 10:56

      have a look at the justpark app

    • Simon says:
      8 Jun8 June 14:10

      There’s an NCP car park right beside the AC Hotel (NCP Belfast City Quays) which is a shade cheaper I think for 24 hours. Google Maps is saying it’s closed at the moment but the website doesn’t say it is. The Apcoa Lanyon Place car park is close to the Hilton but looking at the prices on their website it doesn’t look any cheaper than what you’ve been quoted.

      • Tracy says:
        8 Jun8 June 15:26

        Yes, I’m figuring it’s probably not worth the faff if I’m only saving a couple £ a night…..

    • joe Jordan says:
      8 Jun8 June 22:55

      I’m in the hilton on friday myself. As i recall you get the lanyon car park a little cheaper if you get a discount thingy from the hotel reception first. I’ll need to give them a call and remind myself of the details. Good news is the exec lounge is operating 🙂

  • TimM says:
    8 Jun8 June 10:40

    Does anyone have experience of using the empty middle seat in Club Europe for a musical instrument? The BA site says to book an extra seat for a guitar if I want to take it in the cabin rather than the hold. As we are two and have an empty seat between us, this appears unnecessary. I am awaiting BA’s response via Twitter messaging – one hour so far. Any insights much appreciated.

    • Anna says:
      8 Jun8 June 11:04

      I don’t think it’s actually possible to book the middle seat as it’s guaranteed to be unoccupied in CE. I don’t know what they’d say if you just turned up with the guitar, removed the tray and put the guitar there ? I always use the middle seat to put my stuff on so it’s theoretically possible.

      • TimM says:
        8 Jun8 June 11:09

        Those were my thoughts but it is the era of jobsworth caution and rule-following. I will see if I can get a response from BA. Thanks.

      • TimM says:
        8 Jun8 June 11:16

        BA reply, “The seat will be covered with a table for use by both passengers sat next to it. If you want to take your guitar into the cabin, you’ll need to pay for an extra seat for it. “

        • Lady London says:
          8 Jun8 June 11:41

          table easily removable

        • ankomonkey says:
          8 Jun8 June 14:13

          Worth bearing in mind for anyone considering stealing the clown horn from the Lisbon Moxy – put it in checked luggage or buy a seat for it. This assumes the clown shoes are filling the carry-on luggage as wearing them would be considered a danger/risk/distraction during an emergency.

        • Mouse says:
          8 Jun8 June 15:27

          To be fair, it would be a bit rude to the person in the other seat to do this, given that they would be expecting to have half of that space to use as they wish.

          • Anna says:
            8 Jun8 June 15:57

            I assumed there would be a travelling companion in the other seat, otherwise yes this would be inconsiderate!

    • JDB says:
      8 Jun8 June 11:54

      Pre Covid my son used to travel regularly in Club to Nice with a guitar, but they latterly started getting very awkward about it, not allowing it in the cupboard or overhead locker and certainly not in the middle seat, although that could also have been for being in Row 1. Eventually, he gave up and bought a second guitar in France! It seems like BA just wants to monetise transporting the guitar nowadays, so I suspect using the empty middle seat (even if there isn’t a stranger next to you) will be a problem.

      • TimM says:
        8 Jun8 June 14:17

        Thank you JDB. When pressed about using the middle seat, the response was, “That is not an option”. We will also be in row 1.

        BA’s policy appears to be that a guitar must have its own seat and it cannot be the middle seat in CE. I can’t see the point in paying for it to travel in CE when it doesn’t drink or eat, or indeed, have need of the table in the middle seat. Does it therefore travel as an unaccompanied minor in economy? Buying another guitar looks like a sensible way forward. I may, however, take an inflatable, farting Mr. Blobby to occupy the middle seat in protest – that is allowed.

  • M says:
    8 Jun8 June 10:46

    Question regarding Amex.
    When buying an item on ebay and paying with Amex business card, are you protected if something goes wrong?

    • Rob says:
      8 Jun8 June 10:59

      Legally, no, I reckon – it is not a credit card and, even if it was, it is a business product and so not covered under Section 75. The 14 day ‘cooling off’ period for online purchases doesn’t apply to business purchases either.

      You would be reliant on eBay and Amex having suitable voluntary schemes.

      • M says:
        8 Jun8 June 11:31

        Thank you, Rob!

      • Andrew (@andrewseftel) says:
        8 Jun8 June 12:14

        S75 is more complicated than that. The business credit cards (BA, Amazon) are issued under CCA. Depending on your corporate structure and the nature of the transaction there may be S75 liability. There’s a reasonable explanation in the terms.

  • Harrier25 says:
    8 Jun8 June 10:54

    If you have multiple Amex cards on one account does this weaken your position when asking for a retention bonus for the Preferred Rewards Gold card, as they can see your going to use the ARCC card on the same account instead, so won’t be losing your business?

    • TicknBash says:
      8 Jun8 June 11:04

      Or you could be viewed as a ‘valued customer’ having multiple cards.

      Judging from other comments and IME, it does feel like fee paying cards warrants better retention bonuses (excl BAPP).

    • KBuffett says:
      8 Jun8 June 11:26

      It’s doesn’t weaken your position in my experience. They don’t even look at what other cards you have. The retention offer is already on their computer screen, they just read it off, but you need to push a little as to why you can’t use the cards benefits.

    • KK says:
      8 Jun8 June 12:17

      Have 3 Amex including arc. Bapp and gold and just got 10000 MR for playing along with them and asking to cancel the gold credit card. How long is safe to wait and then cancel it? Fee is due next Monday.

    • Aston100 says:
      8 Jun8 June 17:24

      Not a problem Harriette.
      Player 2 got 10k for retaining her PRG whilst also holding an ARCC -on the same account.

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