The HfP chat thread – Monday 21st June

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• Michael says:

  21 Jun21 June 10:25

  Hi,
  I am looking for flight from London (any airport) to the Domenican Republic for mid July. Never been there before. I have a numnber of things I am not clear about and would appreciate some feedback please:
  a) Is assume flights currently showing as bookable on e.g. BA or SkyScanner are planned to be operating as shown.
  b) Are there possible flight bookable that are not showing on SkyScanner, or is SkyScanner 100% accurate by showing every flights scheduled?
  c) Will there be likely any issues on UK soil, with me wanting flying into an amber list country (I am fully vaccinated and would have the test). I plan to meet my partner there, who would fly there herself.
  d) Any other things I need to consider other then booking all the PCR test I require?

  • Memesweeper says:

    21 Jun21 June 10:48

    A) bookable is no guarantee but it’s the best you get at the moment
    B) it tends to be very accurate in Europe, but a double check on live arrivals at the destination — if they are available online — can’t hurt; also check flightconnections.com, sometimes throws up some obscure stuff others miss

  • Anna says:

    21 Jun21 June 12:08

    My gut feeling is that there are still going to be a lot of cancellations for departures in mid-July so I would pick an airline which has a decent track record of issuing refunds without too much trouble.

  • Anna says:

    21 Jun21 June 12:11

    Also apologies if you are already aware but there are a few tourist airports in the Dominican Republic – Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata and Punta Cana plus possibly a couple of others so make sure you are going to the right one!

  • Mike says:

    21 Jun21 June 13:11

    Micheal – I would check I think that is an Amber country Gov Web Site says – “You should not travel to amber list countries or territories.” I would wait until it is listed as Green

    • John says:

      21 Jun21 June 13:13

      That won’t happen for years. Should means it is advice and doesn’t have any legal backing

    • Aaron C says:

      21 Jun21 June 15:50

      Why? Absolutely no reason to do this as long as you can do the quarantine.

• Josh says:

  21 Jun21 June 10:31

  Our stay in the Sheraton Grand Park Lane using that amazing offer is coming up. Can anyone confirm exactly what amenities/features and included during our stay?

  It says afternoon tea – is that in-room or downstairs? Is it something we can easily add a guest to?

  What about the other offerings that are meant to come with the grand suite? Still don’t want to call and ask in case they try the downgrade trick.

  Thanks!

  • Memesweeper says:

    21 Jun21 June 10:50

    Id assume no special amenities — I was offered nothing except a free breakfast and lounge snacks.

  • BSI1978 says:

    21 Jun21 June 11:00

    Don’t think you should encounter any issues re their honouring this, I didn’t when I checked in and many others have commented similarly.

    Re amenities, the afternoon tea was being served in the Palm Court, not sure how realistic it would be to add someone to this if they aren’t a guest (assuming that is what you mean?).

    Otherwise breakfast was fine, albeit they were given 2 opportunities to cook sausages properly and failed both times! Snacks/drinks in the club lounge were available without any issue also, although unsure how this compares to the offering pre-Covid 19 as I had never stayed there previously.

    • Josh says:

      21 Jun21 June 14:15

      Thanks! So it’s in the Palm Court. I’m hoping to invite my mother to join us so I assume I can and will just have to pay her fee? Do you know how booking works? I.e. should I call in advance for a reservation or is it sorted at time of check-in?

      With regards to breakfast, was it at a restaurant or still being sent something to room?

      Thanks!

      • BSI1978 says:

        21 Jun21 June 17:24

        Unable to offer any insight on the afternoon tea for a non-resident guest; re breakfast – this was being served downstairs – again in Palm Court. One assumes you could get it sent to the room but presume they would add on room service surcharge.

• Olivia says:

  21 Jun21 June 10:31

  Got my first Pfizer vaccine at Heathrow this morning – what a brilliant and efficient service and the fact the car park was right next to T5 was a lovely cherry on the cake!

  Seemed to be a little more movement around the place, still sad to see so many planes grounded.

• PMG says:

  21 Jun21 June 10:40

  I have a question regarding BA Holidays – not sure if anyone would be able to answer…

  Booked a holiday to Croatia back in January for 5 days/4 nights with BA Holidays (Flights + Hotel) at the end of July. Now we are thinking, with all the hassle of coming back from an “Amber” country it would be better to extend a few more days so that it is worthwhile going.

  Is it relatively easy to extend the date of the return flight (providing hotel still has availability etc.)?

  Tried calling the number they suggested as I cannot do it online but was kicked off saying they were too busy 🙂

  • AJA says:

    21 Jun21 June 10:48

    You are going to have to call BA Holidays and it will be re-priced. What you will pay is based on current demand and whether BA can access any availability and also whether there is space on the return flight you now want.

    It might be easier and cheaper just to cancel the existing holiday for a FTV and buy a completely new holiday.

    • Jonathan says:

      21 Jun21 June 11:02

      Agree with this. The price to extend will be whatever a brand new booking for the dates you want costs – what you’ve paid already. You can’t keep the rate you currently have for existing dates & then tag a few extra nights on at today’s rates.

    • ChrisC says:

      21 Jun21 June 11:27

      except you’d have to call up and use it.

      But yes price up the cost as thought this was a completly new holiday and then make plans accordingly depending on what that price is and what your budget is,

      • PMG says:

        21 Jun21 June 12:22

        Thanks all – will book as a new holiday 🙂

  • Anna says:

    21 Jun21 June 11:52

    There is supposed to be an announcement by the 28th as to whether vaccinated travellers can be exempt from quarantine on return from amber countries, if this would affect you you might want to hang on a few day?

    • PMG says:

      21 Jun21 June 12:23

      Thanks for heads up Anna!
      My girlfriend has had both of hers but I still have to wait to 9th August for my second so will need to decide if we want to wait or not…

      • TGLoyalty says:

        21 Jun21 June 13:16

        You may be able to pull forward as the time has been reduced to 8 weeks for everyone not just the over 40’s

        • PMG says:

          21 Jun21 June 13:41

          I had already pulled it forward from 1st September so already down to 8 weeks (had my first one last Monday).

          Thanks for the tip though.

• Gary says:

  21 Jun21 June 10:52

  Question re avios/Amex Economist offer: planning to utilise offers using OH’s details. Could one subscribe, pause, and then reactivate the subscription in Sep? We currently have a 3 year subscription only ending In Sep.

• Ros says:

  21 Jun21 June 10:58

  Hi! Trying to pay off my self assessment and I am being charged the surcharge for a “corporate card” when trying to input my personal metal curve card, is this usual for others too? £2.33 not the end of the world in return for points but don’t remember paying this last time round with my curve!

  • Gary says:

    21 Jun21 June 11:21

    Did 3 payments via Curve metal in last 7 days including today and nil issues

  • Reney says:

    21 Jun21 June 12:08

    Did you recently get a new Curve card, does it say commercial at the back?

    • Ros says:

      21 Jun21 June 14:45

      Ah how annoying, it says “Business”

• YC says:

  21 Jun21 June 11:09

  Amazon (prime only?) – Top up £50, get £7 extra

  • Craig says:

    21 Jun21 June 11:31

    Awesome thanks. Had to Google the offer but all done with the extra £7 already showing.

• Amy says:

  21 Jun21 June 11:13

  Is there a way to get Made . com gift cards at a discount? Also, does anyone know if Morrison’s stock Made . com gift cards. Thanks.

  • KBuffett says:

    21 Jun21 June 11:20

    No, they don’t. Difficult to get discounts. Some money back sites occasionally have up to 10% back for a 24 hours etc

  • Andrew says:

    21 Jun21 June 11:32

    If you are beloved NHS Staff, there’s a straight 10% discount available.

    If your employer does PAW, there’s a potential 10% fund return.

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