Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

The HfP chat thread – Friday 25th June

Links on Head for Points may pay us an affiliate commission. A list of partners is here.

We are running this daily chat thread on Head for Points during the coronavirus outbreak.

Historically, the daily ‘Bits’ articles were the de facto repository for random comments and questions.  With the news flow being lighter, we are running fewer ‘Bits’ articles.

The comments under this article are where you should post questions about travel and, indeed, anything else on your mind.  At this tricky time, and given that many of you are at home, we want the HfP community to have a place to chat.

Please only comment under the main articles on the site if your comment is directly related to the topic of the article.  This has long-term benefits as it keeps the commentary relevant for people who read those articles in the future.

Old chat threads are hidden from the HfP home page.  If you want to look for something in an old thread, click here.  This brings up all the articles in our ‘General’ category which includes the chat threads.

Comments (363)

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

  • Muhammad Abdullah says:

    Is GC closed for today already, directed to GF?

    • meta says:

      It’s very often used instead of GC, so you get to use First Wing when flying Club Europe/ Club World.

  • Lula says:

    Hi All. I’m afraid I have a few questions, so sorry for the long post!

    My brother and his wife and their 3 kids are trying to book a trip to Mallorca in the next few weeks. My SiL is recovering from cancer and has recently had surgery, and would prefer a private villa to a hotel, so she doesn’t have to feel shy about scars, etc.

    So first, does anyone have any recommendations for villas in Mallorca?

    There’s no test on arrival needed, thankfully, but I said I’d try and get some thoughts from people who had used the testing services, to find out if there are ones that have worked well, or that should be avoided.

    So my second request is recommendations for (or tips on avoiding) COVID testing services for the purposes of travel.

    And finally, does anyone have insurance recommendations for travel insurance that are willing to cover for people who are recovering from cancer, or is it just that they’d exclude that and could get cover for everything else (including COVID related issues)?

    Thanks all!

    • Lady London says:

      Staysure is generally good with preexisting

      • Sandra says:

        +1 for Staysure but disclose everything and if possible get written confirmation that she is covered to be on the safe side.

  • meta says:

    Iceland lifts all local restrictions – no masks, no social distancing, etc. As noted before here, from 1st July no restrictions for fully-vaccinated, no test on arrival either for vaccinated.

  • Tony1 says:

    Cant find any info on this on the Marriott website. Have been told that they do a 4 for the price of 3 booking if you have status and on points. I thought that was for Hilton ? Would like to take advantage of it if true.
    ( Gold through Amex if that is relevant )

    • Lee says:

      4 for points of 5

      • joseph jordan says:

        Its 5 nights for the points of 4

        • Tony1 says:

          Many thanks guys.

          Follow up question.

          Rooms are £105 a night, and cash rate said inc breakfast. The points rate is 25000 per night and does not mention breakfast.

          My feeling is to pay cash. Am I correct ? ( hoping for an Amex offer later in year ) or should I buy points ? ( have none )

          Thanks in advance. New question to Marriot, as never stayed in this chain, but normally stay in Accor / Hilton

  • Vit says:

    Shop small as well!??? I was torn between B&W and Emma… I need 3 of them though! And partner keeps refusing to get super king!

  • LessCleverAndrew says:

    Does anyone know how long it takes to be credited Avios for the recent Economist offer? I signed up via the special Avios link two weeks ago and kept screenshots just in case but I have not been credited Avios.

    • Russ says:

      I must have dozed off that day, but is the offer for avios plus 45 quid returned via the amex link? If so may take a punt as always a good read.

      • LessCleverAndrew says:

        Yes, the two stacked but the deal closes soon if it has not already closed.
        I used the link in the BA rewards app, and kept taking screenshots as I applied.
        HFP wrote about it a few weeks back.

    • Sam says:

      Signed up the day the article went live. Got both the cash and Avios already, when I asked AmEx on chat they said there was some kind of human error but they’re working through getting people the stuff. Never did receive an email confirming the offer from Amex but everything went through ok in the end.

      • LessCleverAndrew says:

        OK the Ts and Cs say 4 to 8 weeks.

        “The Economist shall provide your subscription in accordance with the terms and conditions. You accepted these terms when you submitted your order.
        Your 15000 Avios will be credited to your account in 4-8 weeks.
        In order to qualify for the Avios points in this offer, you must maintain your subscription for at least one year. This subscription is non-refundable, except if you are a resident in the EU, in which case you may cancel your subscription in the first 14 days and get a refund for any part of your subscription that has not already been delivered (for the print element) or published (for any digital element) before you cancelled.”

  • Gary says:

    Paid small sum to secure the price of a BA flight. Need to pay the remainder to complete booking with 72 hours. Can this be turned into FTV if not going ahead? Cannot see option to cancel on MMB which usually gives voucher option.

    • Memesweeper says:

      The deposit? No, you need to complete the booking, then apply for FTV

      • Ikaz says:

        I think that you can get a FTV with just the deposit actually, not tried it myself though. Worth calling them to ask and be certain

  • Luke F says:

    I have an Avios booking for 4 people, no companion voucher used.
    Can I cancel for a FTV, then combine FTV with companion voucher in a new booking?

    • LessCleverAndrew says:

      Presumably you are doing this to avoid the cancellation fee? I assume you cant do this as companion voucher must be fully booked with Avios. Others may disagree.

      • Luke F says:

        Yes exactly, cancellation fee x4 (plus the hassle of calling up), would wipe out a lot of the voucher benefit. It’s only saving 22,500 Avios, by using the voucher, but have limited opportunities to use it.

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