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The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 29th June

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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 (371)

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

  • Marie says:

    One more question please

    What are balearics accepting as evidence of vaccination ?
    Just dotting my “i” s and crossing “t”s prior to booking

    Thanks

    Marie

    • Anna says:

      You can download a certificate from your NHS app, most places seem to be accepting this.

    • Patrycja says:

      Foreign office pages were updated today

      Testing and vaccination requirements for arrivals from the UK
      From 12am 2 July 2021, the Spanish government requires all arrivals to Spain from the UK (excluding children under the age of 12 years old) to present on entry one of the following:

      a negative COVID-19 test taken within 48 hours prior to arrival (e.g. PCR, TMA, LAMP, NEAR)
      proof of being fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to arrival in Spain (date(s) of vaccination must be specified), with a vaccine authorised by the European Medicines Agency or by the World Health Organisation
      Documents can be in either English, Spanish, French or German and in paper or electronic format. All documents must specify the name and surname of the passenger. See Spain Travel Health page for specific details regarding the documentation you must present to accredit your COVID-19 test results and proof of vaccination.

      If you live in England, Spain will accept the NHS app or your NHS letter to demonstrate your COVID-19 vaccination status. If you live in Scotland or Wales, Spain will accept your respective NHS letter to demonstrate your COVID-19 vaccination status. Your NHS appointment card from vaccination centres is not designed to be used as proof of vaccination and should not be used to demonstrate your vaccine status. For more details see the Spain travel Health page.

      Further rules may apply if you have travelled to a country on Spain’s list of ‘risk’ countries in the 14 days prior to travel to Spain. See Testing requirements if travelling from a ‘risk country’.

  • QwertyKnowsBest says:

    About to call BA to push back LHR/MIA flights from next week to October, hopefully third attempt at travel lucky. Any advice on best number to call now, cannot change online as used a voucher. Thanks.

  • N says:

    Is there anyone who has done the AUH/F1/W Hotel stay in the past?

    Tickets available for the stands, etc, but trying to work out some details and would love to pick someone experienced’s brains!

    Also, anyone who is going this year – there’s a (small) group of us bouncing a few emails back and forth about the trip – can Rob connect us?

    • Billy P says:

      We went a couple of years ago, I had booked a track view room with points. We did not buy any track tickets, the race was watched from our balcony.

      • N says:

        Helpful, thank you!

      • Cormac says:

        We did the same in 2019. For quali we watched from a pop up manager’s reception lounge for Marriott status members at the hotel. We watched the races from the same location – but no free flowing food and drinks.

    • r* says:

      I think the F1 fee that is charged includes a ticket to the unseated area (ie the cheapest ticketed section thats stood on a hill), it seemed to have been like that in previous years.

      I have a booking for this year but I dont really have any confidence that uae wont still be on the red list in dec.

  • Metty says:

    Postman’s Park is worth a visit, opposite Bart’s Hospital. A memorial to heroic self sacrifice. Until recently, had never been there but would thoroughly recommend.

    • Metty says:

      oh rats that was is response to SSSquirrel asking where to go in London today, sorry!

      • TGLoyalty says:

        Yup notice the jumping replies issue is back

        • Rob says:

          An odd iPad formatting issue has appeared as well …. will get our man to have a look.

        • Rob says:

          Literally nothing has changed though, unless the ads or sponsor box, which have changed, are somehow impacting it.

          • ChasP says:

            any chance of the ad box opening n a new tab rather than leaving HFP ?

          • Rob says:

            ?

          • Lady London says:

            The migrating replies problem seemed to come back yesterday or soafter being fixed 1-2 weeks. It was feeling quite strange actually having replies post in the right place.

          • Phil says:

            @Rob – I think what ChasP is referring to the fact that when you click a link on the HfP site (be they Ads or embedded in articles or comments), the page of the existing tab navigates to that linked location. However, some people might prefer that selecting a link pops out a new tab. It means you don’t need to navigate back to where you were on HfP when you are finished with the linked content.

          • Rob says:

            Ah OK. My preferred choice is to open a new tab and most of the article links will do that. It doesn’t always happen, because we need to activate it link by link, but that is the plan.

            With ads, we don’t necessarily control how they react.

          • Rich says:

            Absolutely not!

            Most browsers and OS allow you to open any link in a new tab if you wish (in Safari, it’s Command+Click). When websites force-open a new tab, that takes away the option.

            I understand why it’s done – to keep your site open and visible – but it’s very annoying (as is hiding your affiliate link behind a photo).

          • Chas says:

            You just need to right click and select “open in new tab” if it doesn’t happen by default.

          • ChasP says:

            I am aware that I can right click but when the same ad comes up on other sites it does automatically open in a new tab So it must be site dependent

            Just a minor pain

  • Yuff says:

    Since Saturday, the National Police at Palma’s Son Sant Joan Airport have intercepted 21 Spanish students who were attempting to leave Mallorca. They were at the Hotel Palma Bellver ‘Covid hotel’ but had broken their isolation and gone to the airport. The National Police are now maintaining a 24-hour guard on the hotel.

    Three students have managed to fly back to the mainland. Police and health authorities in their regions have issued search warrants. The Balearic government reported this situation to the national Centre for the Coordination of Health Alerts and Emergencies, and regional authorities will take appropriate action, which will include fining them.

    The bulk of the students at the Covid hotel are from Andalusia – 214. The others are from Madrid (21), the Basque Country (18) and Galicia (twelve). Twelve students are at present in Son Espases Hospital. None of them have serious symptoms.

    The Balearic health service has been screening employees at six hotels in Arenal where the students have been staying. Only one out of 175 has tested positive.

    • BJ says:

      The point being… ? Plenty to choose from I suppose but just wondering 🙂

      • Anna says:

        Well it’s reassuring to know that it’s not just Brits who behave badly in Spain!

      • Lady London says:

        The point being how selfish some people can be

        • TGLoyalty says:

          Stick them in a crap Hotel with shocking food and wonder why they want to escape.

          They aren’t prisoners but reading about these hotel quarantine facilities you feel that’s just how they are being treated.

          The rules are not fit for purpose if people won’t stick to them. For example telling kids to stay home 10 days might have been appropriate when the 30m at risk weren’t fully vaccinated. Now it’s just ruining their education.

          • Anna says:

            The hotel Palma Bellver looks a lot nicer than some of the UK quarantine hotels, apparently it has views of the Mediterranean sea and Palma Cathedral. Sounds slightly better than the Penta hotel in Reading 🤣

          • Yuff says:

            If it’s good enough for Gove why isn’t it good enough for everyone else, the trial to avoid isolation that is!!!!!!

          • Lady London says:

            They’re in quarantine – due to their own rulebreaking behaviour. Yes it’s sad if the food and accommodation aren’t up to snuff but too bad.

            They were supposed to obey the rules for the sake of others Whether the govt is wrong or right about the risk it’s not for them to decide as others may suffer. And now a second time they still haven’t got the point about responsibility towards other people.

            Perhaps if they got 20 lashes as well coulf be fair enough

          • TGLoyalty says:

            @Anna. They’ll be in the room not by the pool.

            @LL rule breaking behaviour. Not idea what the rules are in Mallorca but nightclubs reopened on the mainland. What rule did they break?

          • Anna says:

            I didn’t say anything about the pool. just the views!

          • Anna says:

            TG – the rules are that you quarantine if you’ve been in contact with an infected person – and also that you don’t then leave the quarantine location and get on a plane with other people!

          • TGLoyalty says:

            @anna. The suggestion from LL is that they were rule breaking in the first place then stuck in quarantine hotel.

            To quote “ They’re in quarantine – due to their own rulebreaking behaviour. ”

            So I’m asking what rules they broke.

            I’m sure half the views are of a street and even a sea view gets boring if that’s all you can see for 10 days.

          • Anna says:

            https://www.majorcadailybulletin.com/news/local/2021/06/26/85959/mallorca-coronavirus-student-covid-outbreak.html

            Ignoring social distancing rules at a concert among other things. Obviously it was really stupid to take hundreds of teenagers to a holiday island after a year of restrictions and not expect them to go a bit mad, I don’t know what the organisers were thinking, frankly.

          • TGLoyalty says:

            Let’s be frank. Be real There’s never ever going to be social distancing at a concert.

            It was an organised trip and there’s 0 proof any rules were actually broken. Millions of people have caught Covid without breaking any “rules” because it’s an airborne virus.

          • Chris Heyes says:

            Lady London 20 lashes is a bit harsh also wouldn’t work !
            A More reasonable punishment not just for those but for everybody who breaks the rules
            Would be “Double Quarantine” if at home cart them off to a hotel at their expense ?

      • Michael C says:

        The point being Hotel Palma Bellver is now the only place in the Balearics with availability in Aug.! ;o)

        • Anna says:

          Lol, they must be the only young people desperate to get out of Mallorca.

          I’m wondering now if Hancock was so keen to keep the restrictions in place because it made it easier to continue his clandestine affair – “yes dear, still have to put in these 20 hours days at the office …”

        • BJ says:

          Michael C takes the prize 😀

  • MattB says:

    Just looking at the £10 off £30 BP Amex offer, my local has an M&S food inside, would just buying food likely trigger the offer?

    • Richie says:

      Perhaps pop in and buy some milk and see what the receipt details.

  • Peter says:

    Morning, can someone please share the Amex Platinuim 70k MR points referal link? Tried to reply the message yesterday but my message was suspended. Thanks.

    • Mart says:

      I’m sure rob can help

    • Triath5 says:

      If Rob has no issues with it, I’m happy to. Reach out to tri87hfp AT protonmail DOT com and I’ll reply with a link.

    • Rui N. says:

      I only have the Gold with 35k, if anyone is interested 🙂

      • Gtellez says:

        I have the gold one (35k) and very happy to help of someone is interested too!

    • TGLoyalty says:

      I have one if you want to contact me on Twitter. Same name as here or Rob can put us in touch.

  • Mrs_Fussy says:

    Can someone assist please. Trying to call BA holidays as the hotel does not recognize my booking and cant get through, and BA chatbot is running me around in circles, wont transfer to an agent. Tried twitter last night and no response still. going crazy

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