The HfP chat thread – Thursday 1st July

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• Karl says:

  1 Jul1 July 07:28

  Got an upcoming stay at a Marriott with 4 adults booked for one room. With Plat status what is the chance of receiving 4 breakfasts?

  • Roberto says:

    1 Jul1 July 07:43

    Always get 4 breakfasts for Hilton Diamond in comparison.

  • Harry T says:

    1 Jul1 July 08:15

    Depends on the hotel! Four adults in a room sounds like a hostel I stayed at in Vienna once 😊

  • The Streets says:

    1 Jul1 July 08:31

    Did it recently with two adults and two kids in the same room all receiving free breakfasts (we have Titanium Status)

  • Rob says:

    1 Jul1 July 09:18

    What’s the chance of getting any breakfast at the moment?!

    I would say decent but, of course, if they decide to charge then you can’t complain.

    • Karl says:

      1 Jul1 July 10:20

      Thanks for the replies. There’s two couples going and we’ve booked two rooms so won’t be staying in the same room. I have Plat and the other room has no status. Was kind of hoping that booking a room for 4 on the reservation may get 4 brekkies. May just email the hotel and ask directly (obviously not mentioning the reasoning of trying to exploit a loophole). Otherwise it probably won’t be worth it as I wouldn’t imagine an upgrade would be forthcoming due to the limited number of rooms able to sleep 4.

      • Crafty says:

        2 Jul2 July 14:01

        You’re pushing your luck with this.

• Michael says:

  1 Jul1 July 07:40

  Two new Nectar to Avios competions. Valid from today till end of July.
  1) Nectar > Avios transfer competition incentive. Each transfer of 400 nectar points gets one competition entry. Prize pot is 2 million Avios, total of 181 prizes, maximum of 20 entries per account
  2) Account linking competition. Link your accounts for entry into draw for a prize pot of 3 million Avios, total of 351 prizes. Maximum of one entry per linked account.

  • BJ says:

    1 Jul1 July 08:24

    What does each transfer of 400 mean, wonder if they meant one entry for each 400 transferred or if we really have to do multiple 400 point transfers to get multiple entries?

    • Tim says:

      1 Jul1 July 08:31

      I can’t copy and paste it from the app but item 4 of the terms and conditions indicates it is per 400 so you can do it in one go, up to a limit of 20 entries.

      • BJ says:

        1 Jul1 July 08:51

        Thanks Tim.

  • Andrew says:

    1 Jul1 July 08:40

    BUT – if you transfer any Avios to Nectar during the offer period it invalidates your entries. So you can shift some over to Avios and then wait until August and shift them back. Also note that it’s until 28 July, not the end of July.

    • Andy in Cheshire says:

      1 Jul1 July 16:12

      I can’t find any reference to this completion anywhere. I am also unable to link my BA and Nectar accounts due to an IT glitch on the BA side (surprise surprise). I have successfully moved Nectar to Avios before though.

      Anyone else having trouble!

      • Rob says:

        1 Jul1 July 16:14

        I can’t find it either. Where did people see it? It’s not on the BA app, not on the Exec Club website, not on the Nectar website (unless it blocks me as I’m already linked) and not on the BA Nectar page.

        • Roundtheworld says:

          1 Jul1 July 16:19

          It is on my Nectar app, ‘Your offers’ page.

        • Rob says:

          1 Jul1 July 16:29

          Thanks. Explains why I don’t see it. Will need to log in via a family member.

• Iain says:

  1 Jul1 July 07:42

  Booked Heathrow Express one way using Avios/HE microsite. Advance express ticket cheaper than on main HE site. Problem is that link in email to add ticket to apple wallet doesn’t work. Anyone else had this issue?

  • Pete M says:

    1 Jul1 July 13:02

    I’ve had it before on tickets directly from HEx, nothing that can be done about it, to be honest. Just scan the email barcode on the ticket gates, works fine.

    • Iain says:

      1 Jul1 July 20:00

      Thanks – I couldn’t help email HE and apparently it’s a known IT issue

• Njb says:

  1 Jul1 July 08:20

  Just about to book the Conrad St James – using Emyr.
  Any suggestions on room choice. Or other comments?!
  Thanks

  • BJ says:

    1 Jul1 July 08:44

    Earlier this year DT Bangkok Ploenchit reduced redemptions to 10k/night so I booked January 22 and got 10 nights for 80k. Last night an email arrived almost seven months in advance stating hotel was temporarily suspending operations and that they would cancel and refund my points. However … they looked forward to welcoming me back to said hotel ‘soon’! How do others read this? Likely that hotel is closed and not reopening, a reflag, or just a plot to offload all the cheap cash bookings and redemptions they likely took but no longer want to honour? I checked and every Hilton hotel except DT Ploenchit is taking bookings for January 22. For those who may be interested this includes Conrad Residence at 30k/night which is rarely ever available on points even at nonstandard rates. No offer from Hilton to move my reservation to an alternate hotel. Any thoughts on whether it might be worth the hassle of pushing them to do so or best just accept the liss and rebook elsewhere?

    • TGLoyalty says:

      1 Jul1 July 09:06

      I’m sure the OP meant other comments about Conrad St James

      • Njb says:

        1 Jul1 July 09:10

        Yep 😂

      • BJ says:

        1 Jul1 July 09:14

        I added comment in box at the end but it ended up here, apologies to OP. Wondered where it we t.

        • njb says:

          1 Jul1 July 09:28

          Confused me a bit BJ !

  • Neil Spellings says:

    1 Jul1 July 14:04

    I’m about to do the same. Does anyone know if the Conrad lounge is open for Diamonds?

    • Cabal of rabid baboons says:

      1 Jul1 July 16:44

      It is indeed Neil

    • Njb says:

      1 Jul1 July 18:59

      Im only Gold – any tips for getting in there. Upgrade showing as £56 a night atm – not sure its worth it.

• Andrew says:

  1 Jul1 July 08:21

  For the LBG community on here. 10% back has appeared at Spar.

  There’s also a £40 offer when setting up a DD at “People’s Energy”. Did the usual drill down and their DD rates are approximately 20% higher than my pay in full monthly by Amex rate at Octopus.

• Anna says:

  1 Jul1 July 08:42

  Anyone needing a pre departure PCR test up north, Manchester airport now offering 12 hour result at £70 or 3 hour at £95.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    1 Jul1 July 08:47

    Now that’s a good deal

    • TGLoyalty says:

      1 Jul1 July 08:56

      Btw for anyone looking it’s Randox and 24hrs is £60. I’d pay the £10 extra for 12 hr return even if I didn’t need them that quick tbh

  • Dominic says:

    1 Jul1 July 09:01

    Better than some others, but still outrageous. The Government should include these as a part of their prevention strategy and charge a nominal fee to cover costs (even include a small profit!).

    • Anna says:

      1 Jul1 July 09:14

      I can see why testing for holidays isn’t a priority though, I am fully aware it will be a privilege if we do get away and I’m fully prepared for disappointment! But the trip is costing less than half of what we normally spend on a summer holiday so I don’t mind paying for tests.

  • BJ says:

    1 Jul1 July 09:03

    Finally getting to the point that the hassles no longer sufficient to stop me booking anymore 🙂 Starting to look like airline and hotel cancellations are a bigger issue going forward than politics, testing and vaccines. Really need the airlines to settle down a bit now, if they would stop all the cancellations that in itself would give more people confidence to book and travel.

  • Anna says:

    1 Jul1 July 09:09

    And they take Amex!

    • Marie says:

      1 Jul1 July 09:51

      How about same day test to release but not in London? At this rate flights are costing £100 total and tests nearly £700 !

      • Anna says:

        1 Jul1 July 11:35

        I’ve not thought that far yet, hoping we won’t have to quarantine by August!

        • Yorkieflyer says:

          1 Jul1 July 12:28

          I think the proposal is no quarantine if double jabbed but still a testing regime on return

        • Anna says:

          1 Jul1 July 12:36

          But that would mean test to release won’t enter the equation any more.

• TOBIAS L says:

  1 Jul1 July 09:09

  Do I need a negative PCR to get into Menorca if I’m already double jabbed for a while?

  I’m flying on Saturday and I just received an automated e-mail from BA “about your upcoming trip” which includes:

  ‘We need to verify proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of departure before you can travel.’

  It then lists the steps to upload this in Manage My Booking or else I won’t be able to check in online.

  1) What’s going on here? Can BA demand a test though the destination doesn’t?
  2) Can I not just upload the PDF of vaccination from the NHS app?
  3) If they demand a test, does it need to be a PCR? If so, can anyone recommend a good priced one which would arrive before Saturday afternoon?

  This really is a bit agitating. The Spanish govt (I believe) doesn’t require this for entry for adults so why is BA hassling me?

  • Rhys says:

    1 Jul1 July 09:11

    You shouldn’t need a test if you’ve been jabbed for 14+ days. BA website probably wrong (to be fair, the rules have changed very recently so everyone is a bit confused…)

  • Anna says:

    1 Jul1 July 09:15

    As of today you don’t need a test if fully vaccinated (if not vaccinated it’s now within 48 hours, not 72!)
    But of course this could change at any time …

    • Anna says:

      1 Jul1 July 09:18

      Spain is continually revising it entry requirements and not being 100% clear about them (or at least there’s a good deal of ambiguity in the media reports) so it’s vital to keep checking the official government sources, both for the central government in Madrid and the regional governments, which can set their own rules!

      • meta says:

        1 Jul1 July 09:52

        Same with every EU country. I couldn’t sleep well last night as seeing my family next week was in jeopardy due to every changing rules. I am glad I didn’t book for this week, I could have easily been caught out. Now it’s ok. Apparently EU rules are changing again on 15 July so watch out.

    • Will says:

      1 Jul1 July 09:36

      Yes the 48 hour bit is a nightmare. I’ve got a test booked with express test but they say it could be up to 48 hours for the result worst case!

  • TOBIAS L says:

    1 Jul1 July 10:14

    Thanks all for your responses. Appreciate things are changing.

    Any recommendations for a PCR which at reasonable prices?

    • Will says:

      1 Jul1 July 10:25

      Issues I’ve bumped into to Balearics are:
      – it’s not clear if the actual test needs to be done within 48 hours or just the result.
      – is it 48 hours of arrival or departure?

      Randox do a green list mail order test kit for £86 for the outbound PCR and 2 day return PCR but as it’s mail order you have a big risk on the outbound not being processed in time or receiving country telling you it’s been done too early.

      So I went with express test outbound at my nearest location, within 48 hours of departure, they say they aim to have results by 10pm next day, that was £76 (it’s cheaper at LHR if you live near there)

      For return day 2 I’ve ordered the mail order randox kit.

      Imho it’s all a joke. If you take the mail order tests there’s very little way of checking the person who claims to have sent the sample actually did the sample.

      By all means impose testing but unless you physically have the person swabbed with their passport it’s an expensive waste of time.

      • Anna says:

        1 Jul1 July 11:39

        It must be test surely as results can vary? And it’s within 48 hours of arrival which makes it even tighter! If your flight was delayed by, say 5 hours, it could really mess things up.
        I spoke to a pharmacist who said “Oh, they’ll probably give you a few hours leniency”. Definitely not going to risk it!

        • Anna says:

          1 Jul1 July 11:52

          A lot of media sources are still reporting the test had to be within 72 hours, I imagine this might catch a few people out.

        • will says:

          1 Jul1 July 12:11

          I definitely came across more than one reference to the result needing to be within 48 hours and not the test.
          Mine is now super tight due to the local centre not doing tests after 4pm on Friday and a 2pm Sunday departure.

          Insult to injury is I’ll be 10 days post second jab on arrival 🙂

        • Anna says:

          1 Jul1 July 12:23

          https://socialnewsroom.spain.info/spain-updates-entry-requirements-for-uk-residents/
          Looking at this again it does suggest that it’s the result that has to be received within 48 hours of arrival but that doesn’t make a lot of sense scientifically! I wouldn’t like to risk it being wrong or badly translated though and fall foul of an officious Spanish border officer. They love bureaucracy in Spain 😁

        • Anna says:

          1 Jul1 July 12:30

          However, the Spanish version, below, actually translates as “a PCR test, with a negative result, carried out no more than 48 hours before your arrival in Spain”. So it looks to me as though the English versions have been badly translated. I’m going to stick with our PCR tests the day before we fly, anyway!

          ***1. Una prueba PDIA con resultado negativo realizada un máximo de 48 horas antes de su llegada a España (teniendo en cuenta la hora local).***

        • andyT says:

          1 Jul1 July 12:53

          @Anna For most countries it is within 48 or 72 hours of SCHEDULED arrival time, not actual arrival time.

        • Anna says:

          1 Jul1 July 14:57

          Yes but the confusion was about whether the 48 hours related to the test or the result.

  • TOBIAS L says:

    1 Jul1 July 11:13

    Just as a follow up here in case it helps anyone.

    BA’s link takes you to MMB where it asks you for: PCR, Spain Travel form, Other Docs.

    You can click “I’m exempt” where applicable (in my case for the PCR) and as a reason state “Fully Vaccinated”. There’s also a menu you can expand with further details re travel to Balearics and (surprisingly for BA) up to date requirements.

• BJ says:

  1 Jul1 July 09:09

  Datapoint: SB(L&G) posted my 20k Nectar bonus for life insurance 21 days after my 5th monthly direct debit.

  • Beardless Hipster says:

    1 Jul1 July 09:15

    Thanks for that. Just checked my nectar and 10000 points have posted.

  • fivebobbill says:

    1 Jul1 July 13:29

    Good shout BJ, forgot about this, my fifth payment was made today and the 20,000 points are showing as loaded yesterday!

    • BJ says:

      1 Jul1 July 17:49

      Interesting feedback from both of you. I think I got bonus one time before qualifying payment too. Suggests they credit the bonuses at a certain time(s) of the month and we get them on closest date to our qualifying payment.

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