Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 30th 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 (436)

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

  • KS says:

    Two new Amex offers:
    1) BAPP got 5000 Avios on £200+ spend at Marriott.
    2) On Plat £30 on £200+ at AirFrance/KLM.

    • Tariq says:

      Thanks! The long awaited Marriott offer!

      • Andrew says:

        Finally! Albeit quite weak compared to the other hotel groups.

        • meta says:

          Yes and no offer on Marriott Amex, but maybe that’s coming soon.

    • Michael C says:

      Thanks, would never have found it hidden away!
      I’m guessing this wouldn’t trigger at a Marriott that’s part of a BA Holiday? As it’s all just pai upfront to BA, right? Not that US trip will go ahead anyway ;o)

      • Andrew says:

        Correct – payment is to BA, not Marriott, so won’t trigger. But like you say, immaterial as transatlantic travel is off the table for the rest of the year.

        • IanM says:

          Where are you getting that BS from. Please reference such misleading anecdotes

        • Chris Heyes says:

          Andrew is that definite ? I have a flight booked for Aug not been cancelled yet ?
          plus one of my Daughters has one booked for Dec
          Can you please post link where the info is
          Daughters currently booking Hotels, but I need to tell her not to if what you are saying is no transatlantic travel until 2021

          • Andrew says:

            Well of course no one knows for sure one way or the other but looking increasingly unlikely in my opinion. I have flights booked for late September and am already expecting not to go. But who knows, a few months and a lot can change, but the months roll on and nothing changes – everyone on here was shouting that it would definitely be open by July 4th a few months ago….

    • BJ says:

      Thanks but I’ll pass. Cannot be many need more avios right now, and conversion via Nectar dilutes value of offer.

    • Mikeact says:

      Both offers also on the cheap and cheerful Amex card…also Easyjet holidays, spend £1000, receive £200.

    • Sina says:

      I have 60 off 200 EUR on my German plat card for both KLM & Air France separately!! I guess germans get the better offers!?

  • Patrycja says:

    Can anyone recommend a reliable PCR test provider in Edinburgh? I need results back in 24/36hrs.

    • Colin MacKinnon says:

      Express Test at Edinburgh Airport worked well for us several times – always within 24 hours

      • Patrycja says:

        Great. I booked Express Test and also Newington farmacy in case one of the results gets delayed

  • Gary says:

    BA avios booking one year ticket validity question. Considering changing 4 CW LHR-BKK cancelled by BA to depart one year to the day of original ticketing (will be Nov) hoping BA will cancel again (not impossible way things are going). What is BA policy then? Only refund? Or would BA allow re-route beyond one year ticket validity without MCOL?

    • DZOO says:

      Also interested in this – same fact pattern albeit just the 2 pax in CW and 241 expires in Dec 21. Had just assumed would need to take an FTV to roll the 241 and no automatic rebooking rights arising from cancellation past 1yr of original ticketing.

      • mr_jetlag says:

        No such restriction in the EU261 legislation, others have had their tickets rebooked beyond 1 year. Worth letting us know results.

        • Lady London says:

          Important to be reasonable if asking for this. Plenty of good reasons for your situation especially for longhaul travel as most people have various constraints on them. Also best if you’re not obviously gaming it e.g. the booking you made was for mid-monsoon season and you’re trying to rebook 18 months later on peak travel day…

    • Sam G says:

      I’m not sure they’ll cancel – Thailand is putting in place “bubble” flights for international arrivals to transit out to the tourist areas & they’ve been running the flights for cargo anyway so won’t need much of a passenger load to make them worthwhile running

      BA policy will be to refund, some have had luck rebooking online/via the app and even fewer by the call centre but generally you are stuck going to MCOL / CEDR. I’ve read some success stories on here though so it’s doable

  • SteveJ says:

    For those who may have been to Wimbledon in last few days : noticed some of the courts were quite empty late in the day, how were the staff on letting general ground pass holders into the main courts (been in prior years and they’re quite good at letting you in if there is space, unsure if that’s changed this year).

    • Rob says:

      The usual rule is to stand by an exit to Centre Court around 6pm and ask a departing guest for their ticket,

      • FFoxSake says:

        All tickets are electronic this year, so they’ll need to hand you their phone too!

    • Paul says:

      They aren’t checking tickets. I had court 2 tickets yesterday and spend most of day on center and number 1. So much space. At one point court 12 shut and everyone was told they could just fill empty seats on ct 1. Oh and second day in a row where no covid check. Just straight in.

  • Anna says:

    I mentioned last night but in case anyone is travelling to Malta in the next few days, you will require a printed letter from the NHS which takes up to 5 days to arrive, it’s reported that they won’t accept the NHS app info as proof of vaccination.

  • The cyclist says:

    I had a very strange dream last night , three Hfpers were running a shop ( a bit like Miranda Hart’s) and a lady came in about 50 times a day commented on the stock/ shop but didn’t ever buy anything, what could it mean?

    • Number9 says:

      It means you need to get a bf or a gf or both and go get some. If old Matty Hancock can manage it no reason you can’t, bet he doesn’t dream of tea shops.

      • Paul Pogba says:

        Some of us refuse to accept Nash equilibrium.

      • Lady London says:

        @Number9 your comment gave me such a big laugh this morning!

      • The cyclist says:

        Its a Joke shop on Miranda, this one was selling adult toys, though.

    • Sandgrounder says:

      Was she followed by a line of sock puppets by any chance?

    • David says:

      I seem to experience a waking nightmare similar to this most days.

  • Anna says:

    https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/15439226/family-holidays-portugal-back-country-reverses-quarantine/

    Family trips to Portugal reported to be back on – Rob you may be going after all!

    • Andrew says:

      Until they reverse the decision again!

    • Yuff says:

      I know someone who won’t be happy with this decision and after last night can’t imagine she is in the best of moods this morning 🤣

  • Ben W says:

    My pleasure; have a great holiday.

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