The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 9th June

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Aston100 says:

9 Jun9 June 02:40

Oh no I think I messed up.
I asked in yesterday’s chat thread about Hong Kong vs Tokyo for may half term next year.
Went to book HKG and somehow booked CPT instead.
Might have been the excitement of finding Avios availablity to Cape Town in J during school holidays that took over control of my mouse.
Anyway so is Cape Town going to be a bad experience at this time of the year?
Should I try and get BA to change it to HKG, or do you reckon it’ll be alright going to CPT, given how difficult it is (in my opinion) to find reward seats normally?
- Amy carpenter says:
  
  9 Jun9 June 06:56
  
  Personally I’d go CPT. It’s a fantastic city, weather likely to be fine. But will souther Africa be open by then? Hope so as I’m due to do a Namibia/Botswana road trip starting that month.
  - meta says:
    
    9 Jun9 June 07:17
    
    Yes, go to CPT. Hong Kong in May is also terrible.
- SwissJim says:
  
  9 Jun9 June 07:45
  
  Cape Town is fab – go every year. So much to do. Remember to venture well beyond the city limits. Lots of options depending on what you’re in to.
- Mike says:
  
  9 Jun9 June 07:48
  
  Go to Cape Town (if it is open by then) and dependent on how long you have got hire a car and head out for a few days. South Africa is the best place I have ever been on holiday
- WaynedP says:
  
  9 Jun9 June 07:53
  
  Am biased but I would jump at CPT, @Aston100
  
  Weather will still be great for the beach, mountain hikes or vineyards at that time of year, and you won’t have competition from SA school hols, which only start 24 June.
  
  Full disclosure: lived in CPT for many years and never been to HKG, but can guarantee no humidity in CPT.
  - BJ says:
    
    9 Jun9 June 08:17
    
    Well, I’ll dissent and not just for the sake of it. I’ve been to all three and rate both HK and Tokyo above Cape Town as a travel experience. Personally, I’d opt for 3 nights each in HK and Tokyo as I responded to last night question this morning. Not that I have anything against Caoe Town, it just doesn’t draw me back like the other two but I’d be happy to visit again too.
    - AJA says:
      
      9 Jun9 June 08:44
      
      I’m with BJ on this. Much as I like Cape Town I wouldn’t go in May. I’d choose HKG instead. Never been to TYO. I will defer to WaynedP on the weather as I never lived there but did live in JNB so used to visit CPT often and want to point out that May is autumn / beginning of winter in SA and CPT starts to cool considerably. It has wet winters and can be foggy, rainy and windy although you may be lucky. Best time to go to CPT is between Dec and Mar.
      - WaynedP says:
        
        9 Jun9 June 13:26
        
        Sorry, can’t seem to respond to you directly under your post @AJA, not sure why.
        
        Perhaps I’m inadvertently using a banned word 😐
      - WaynedP says:
        
        9 Jun9 June 13:27
        
        But spoken like a true Vaalie who’s swallowed the hype that Capetonians peddle to the rest of SA to keep the place to ourselves, ha ha 🙂
      - WaynedP says:
        
        9 Jun9 June 13:30
        
        The worst of the days on end rain generally come in July & August and can be worked around without problem if you know where to go and what to do. Getaway magazine provides good, current, detailed info. Google Getaway magazine south africa, HfP doesn’t like the URL
      - WaynedP says:
        
        9 Jun9 June 13:31
        
        July & August are excellent months of the year to enjoy whale calving in Walker Bay BTW. Once a Southern Right mother and calf came so close to the edge of the cliff I was sitting on, that I could have effortlessly kicked my flip flop onto her back. Felt the sea spray from her blowhole exhalation – magic moment.
        
        The wisest Capetonians who can, flee CPT over December in their droves to avoid high seasonal prices and overcrowding. It is the worst month of the year to hang around. Save it until the schools are back around the end of the first week in January and visit from mid-Jan to enjoy weather that’s just as hot and sunny as Dec but with relieved locals and without crowds and high prices.
    - Yuff says:
      
      9 Jun9 June 08:46
      
      I’d go to Dubai…….no only kidding
      Personally prefer Hong Kong out of all 3, but then again I’m not very cultured as I prefer Dubai, mind you that’s since we had kids….
    - Jay says:
      
      9 Jun9 June 19:48
      
      +1 HK anytime and in May the weather is great.
- Aston100 says:
  
  9 Jun9 June 08:54
  
  Thanks for the replies.
  I’m surprised by the number of positive comments regarding Cape Town during May half term holidays.
  Just wanted to point out that next year, this would be from 28th May through 4th June, and the accuweather site advises a historical average of 19 degrees.
  I’ve also read previously that June can be rainy.
  
  Would you still prefer CPT over HKG? (I’ve not been to either).
  Thanks.
  - AJA says:
    
    9 Jun9 June 09:20
    
    If you’ve never been I’d stick with CPT. It’s already booked. You’ll still have a great time. Assuming of course that SA opens to tourists….
    - Aston100 says:
      
      9 Jun9 June 09:37
      
      Thanks AJA, but do we still have doubts about SA re-opening one year hence?
      - OB says:
        
        9 Jun9 June 15:04
        
        Yes but you can say the same for HK and Japan.
  - WaynedP says:
    
    9 Jun9 June 09:51
    
    @Aston100
    
    Look at current CPT weather in weather apps and you’re likely to not be a million miles away from what to expect.
    
    Storm fronts come and go and can differ in timing from year to year, but as is shown on my current weather app there’s two days (out of today + 8 day forecast) of rain (chances 70% & 40% resp) and four days of sunshine (11 to 21 deg C temp range, remembering min is v early morning and sunshine heats everything up by breakfast) and two days partly cloudy and one day cloudy.
    
    Typically the days on end of cloud and rain stereotype that Capetonians sell to the rest of SA only comes in July & August, and is not as bad as the hype, but keeps CPT to Capetonians. Plenty of places to spend days like that in a cosy cottage café with a log fire, like Rhodes Mem above UCT, The Gardener’s Cottage in Rondebosch or plenty of choices along Boyes Drive near Muizenberg if you want a sea view.
    
    Or escape the worst of it with a day trip to Hermanus/Walker Bay or inland to Paarl or Franschoek.
    
    In short if you spend a week to ten days there in late May early June you are highly likely to get enough days for sunbathing on the beach, for mountain hikes, for scuba diving /snorkelling, for wine estate visits and for coastal town day trips. You will certainly get more sunshine hours than we saw in London in May this year.
  - Trish says:
    
    9 Jun9 June 21:56
    
    May to June is Autumn moving into Winter in Cape Town it could be cold wet and windy. You might get some warm weather, something similar to our spring weather. Saying that if you don’t expect sun Cape Town is a vibrant and an interesting city to visit, you also have the wine lands and numerous vineyards to visit.
- Lyn says:
  
  9 Jun9 June 20:47
  
  Since you will only be away for a few days, the relative lack of jet lag to CPT could be a positive factor.
  - Rob says:
    
    9 Jun9 June 21:41
    
    Yup. I’ve done it for a weekend break (overnight on Thu, overnight on Sun back and then straight into work) and you don’t even notice it.
1ATL says:

9 Jun9 June 03:31

It’s going to be autumn so it’s not going to be baking hot but in reality this isn’t such a bad thing. Makes touring about town, Simon’s town for penguin watching, vineyard tours and Twelve Apostles coast road and the Cape of good hope all the more impressive. We’ve usually gone in early September when spring is just beginning. A few short sharp rainfalls but they really need that. Table Mountain can be more hit and miss as the clouds can literally roll in from nowhere so seize any opportunity of clear weather to give that a whirl. If you’re still uncertain just call up within 24hrs and get a full refund without paying the cancellation fee and start over with HKG/TYO
- Sam G says:
  
  9 Jun9 June 07:58
  
  Yes agree on trying to keep plans flexible and go up table Mountain as soon as opportunity presents itself, we left it until the last day in Sept and of course the weather was rubbish!
- Richie says:
  
  9 Jun9 June 11:52
  
  Isn’t 12 apostles somewhere else? I don’t remember doing that in Cape Town, but Victoria, Australia.
  - LST says:
    
    9 Jun9 June 14:21
    
    CPT has Chapman’s Peak Drive, absolutely stunning!
    - LST says:
      
      9 Jun9 June 14:22
      
      I would also take the chance to try some cage diving with Great Whites, one of the highlights of my life.
    - WaynedP says:
      
      9 Jun9 June 14:41
      
      Chapman’s Peak drive is twisting, winding coastal road on the edge of high cliffs straight down to rocky shoreline (picture high Italian coastal roads).
      
      Mercedes Benz’s big claim to fame was the survival of Christopher White who inadvertently drove over the edge in 1988 (see 1990 Chapman’s Peak Ad on youtube).
      
      Comparative advertising was (maybe still is ?) banned in SA.
      
      BMW (biggest SA rival of Mercedes Benz) was the only company ever to get away with it (briefly) with a clever TV ad released soon afterwards showing the BMW safely negotiating the curve in the road where Christopher White lost control in his Mercedes.
      
      The BMW ad’s punny punchline was “The car that beats the Bends (Benz)” which sailed close enough to the wind at the time to get it pulled shortly after its appearance. (See Beat the Bends on youtube)
      
      But such clever marketing that people who saw it at the time still remember it 30 years later 🙂
      - Mighty Hunter says:
        
        9 Jun9 June 15:03
        
        I wouldn’t chance late May in the Western Cape.
        Before covid, i went twice a year, pre- and post- Christmas. Weather could be dodgy until early November, and again from mid-March. It can get very wet and windy.
        I think one way to look at it is to add 6 months and compare it with the Algarve. So end May is similar to November, you may be lucky but very risky.
        I really miss the place, my very faint hope of early December this year dwindles by the day, even my booking Jan/Feb next year not looking great.
  - 1ATL says:
    
    10 Jun10 June 01:14
    
    https://12apostleshotel.com/
Sideshow Bob says:

9 Jun9 June 06:04

BA have just destroyed the companion voucher – new terms for the Amex card state:

“6. The Companion Voucher can be used to book a seat for a companion in economy only on the same flight as the main British Airways American Express Card Account holder.”
- Rob says:
  
  9 Jun9 June 08:56
  
  We did 5 articles on this last week!
- Mike says:
  
  9 Jun9 June 20:20
  
  Sideshow Bob – glad you mentioned it, Rob should probably do an article on it – oh wait he did ( 5 times)
Chris Heyes says:

9 Jun9 June 06:36

Aston100 No need worry you can always cancel/change for free within 24 hours of booking online or obver phone
Steve says:

9 Jun9 June 06:54

I’ve read up on the BAPP changes and would appreciate the insight of others here.

trip to NYC next April is planned, booking WTP and UUA for 2, cost is £2k + 96,000 Avios. We will get a chunk of Avios and some TPs.

Using a 241 appears to be 100,000 Avios + £1300, unless I’ve missed something.

So my sums are basically is ~24,000 Avios worth ~£700 (No).

I can generate my 241 on /after Sept 1st and am Avios rich, but have read lots of people say the 241 is poor value, especially for NA.

Help!
- MattB says:
  
  9 Jun9 June 08:20
  
  Like anything or depends on where and when. We like the West Coast but can only go in school holidays when cash prices are a bit higher so a 241 is worth it, especially as we have managed F a couple of times.
  
  With the volume of flights normally between the UK and NYC prices are more competitive, and I would never consider using a 241 there.
- AJA says:
  
  9 Jun9 June 08:55
  
  Is NYC return 100k or 120k in Club? Thought it was the latter. I think you mean the latter as the difference in Avios you mention is 24k.
  On pure maths £700 for 24k Avios seems poor but you mention you are Avios rich so does that matter?
  It really comes down to the TP you’d earn on the WT+ if you UUA. Do you need them to earn or retain status? Also do you have another trip to use the 2-4-1?
  If yes to either question I’d pay £2k and UUA. If no I’d use the 2-4-1.
- Rob says:
  
  9 Jun9 June 08:56
  
  In your case the upgrade route makes sense, In the normal world, however, two things will be different:
  
  *your tickets are not flexible but an Avios ticket would be
  *from Sep your 241 will have better availability than standard Avios redemptions, so it will be easier to get 4 seats via a 241 than 4 upgradeable seats
  - Steve says:
    
    9 Jun9 June 14:14
    
    Thanks all, this one is border line for me so not an easy decision. I’ll earn the 241 and then assess 241 availability vs cash price with IUA
Super Secret Stuff says:

9 Jun9 June 06:57

Volunteers to do extra work? Who do they think they are…

https://www.secretflying.com/posts/delta-and-american-seek-unpaid-volunteers-to-keep-airport-lounges-open/
- Doc says:
  
  9 Jun9 June 07:22
  
  This made me laugh. Sack a lot of your staff and then ask for unpaid volunteers to take their place. Let’s see how that works!
- John says:
  
  9 Jun9 June 07:29
  
  Haha this is bonkers. Unless the tipping culture in the US makes it worthwhile? (Don’t think I’ve ever tipped in a lounge in the US, mind you…)
  - MattB says:
    
    9 Jun9 June 08:09
    
    I tipped $5 or $10 in the LAS platinum lounge on our honeymoon. It was rammed at the time but the barman was on the lookout and always had another round poured for us so was worth it IMO. His tip jar was practically empty so I guess it isn’t as common?
- Andrew says:
  
  9 Jun9 June 08:56
  
  This does make a bit of a difference though:- “Beyond the support it provides our frontline team member, it’s also an opportunity for our *corporate support team* to gain an appreciation for and a better understanding of the work our airport teams do.”
  
  They definitely should be paid, but I’m a firm believer in a bit of “back to the floor”.
  - Super Secret Stuff says:
    
    9 Jun9 June 09:55
    
    I too am a strong believer in “back to the shop floor” attitude, however unpaid after they have just fired a load of people is taking it too far
    - Rob says:
      
      9 Jun9 June 10:02
      
      Worth noting that AA and other airlines also abused US Goverment payroll support – eg taking huge non-repayable loans on the grounds that they agreed not to fire people, but then slashing employee hours instead.
      - Super Secret Stuff says:
        
        9 Jun9 June 10:40
        
        I know, it is absurdly cheeky. However in a way that is the US governments fault for not properly thinking through the agreements. More generally it is just a symptom of the awful culture when working in the US.
        
        There is a very short list of companies that could convince me to work over there despite how much I love visiting…
PK says:

9 Jun9 June 07:29

Trying to book a holiday to Dubai for school holidays of April 2022. Just checked the Ramadan calendar for 2022 and it overlaps with the school holidays .I also read articles that in 2021 Restaurants don’t have to screen themselves from public viewing. Does that mean all indoor dining is permitted during Ramadan.
- MQ says:
  
  9 Jun9 June 07:40
  
  In hotels/malls indoor dining will be open. I would just be mindful….travelling during ramadan can be fine, but drinking and eating during fasting hours really is frowned upon when you venture outdoors.
- chris1922 says:
  
  9 Jun9 June 09:01
  
  I was in exactly the same boat, wondered why the prices were so reasonable. Decided not to go, and will try for the October week 2022 (Scottish school holiday) or Easter 2023. I think travel will still be disrupted next year in any case, I doubt the trip was guaranteed to happen.
Anna says:

9 Jun9 June 07:31

Spurred on by The Doomster I’ve booked 4 CE seats and 10 nights at the HIE in Gibraltar. On some nights its 40k points so I used an expiring free night certificate for one of these which must make it one of the most boring redemptions ever.
So, if I’m right – there’s no test requirement on entry, no self-isolation required on return, 1 or 2 PCR tests on return, and our insurance should cover us unless this all changes at the next review?!
- Andrew says:
  
  9 Jun9 June 07:35
  
  And no need to worry about FX fees or changing cash before you go!
  - Anna says:
    
    9 Jun9 June 07:44
    
    Indeed, and we can shop in Morrison’s 🤣 (is there still one there, we haven’t been for about 7 years?!)
    - Travel Strong says:
      
      9 Jun9 June 08:00
      
      Still a morrisions… also still many stores long gone from the mainland – Early learning center, mothercare, c&a !
      - Aston100 says:
        
        9 Jun9 June 08:59
        
        I saw a C&A in Paris!
- Travel Strong says:
  
  9 Jun9 June 07:54
  
  No test to fly out, but on landing they are giving everyone a (free) lateral flow. And on return = 1 lateral flow again at the same GIB airport testing centre (£30). Besides this, the only thing you need to have from a 3rd party provider is the ‘day 2’ test for your return to the UK.
  - Anna says:
    
    9 Jun9 June 08:02
    
    Thanks, that all sounds very easy compared the the amber list requirements!
    Any recommendations for outdoor pools/lido-type places we can take the teenagers? Obviously there’s no pool at the HIE so will need to have alternative options for swimming.
    - Tracey says:
      
      9 Jun9 June 08:17
      
      The sea! Follow the road out of your hotel around to Catalan beach.
      Not sure but you may be able to buy day passes to the SunBorn “yacht” hotel.
      10 days is a long time in GIB, particularly with teenagers. Presumably you won’t want to venture into Spain, unless Spain turns green.
      - Anna says:
        
        9 Jun9 June 09:10
        
        Of course the sea, but as you say, 10 days is a long time so we’d like to mix it up a bit!
        Any good snorkelling spots? As we now have the huge CE luggage allowance we can bring all our equipment.
    - Travel Strong says:
      
      9 Jun9 June 08:39
      
      There is a outdoor lido at camp bay – should usually open for the season around now. The sunborn pool is pretty tiny, but The Rock is another hotel that allows non-guests to pay for pool access, not cheap though and may well be full due to hotel guests. (sunborn <10m length, rock ~20m max, europa pool at camp bay 50m).
- Navara says:
  
  9 Jun9 June 08:59
  
  Hope it goes ahead Anna…can’t face another set of posts about the cancellation 🤣🤣
  - David says:
    
    9 Jun9 June 09:56
    
    It’s the posts about the 75 back up trips you need to worry about 🤣
    Hope this one goes ahead for you, Anna.
    - Anna says:
      
      9 Jun9 June 10:20
      
      Ha ha – look at it this way, if anyone has any questions about cancellations after this summer I will very probably know the answer!