The HfP chat thread – Friday 2nd July

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Phil W says:

2 Jul2 July 14:49

Just off to the Glasgow Kimpton for the weekend. Does anybody have any recent experience in the property, e.g. Wine Hour, Raid the Mini bar, etc?

We’ve already booked the Spa for this evening and tomorrow.
- Optimus Prime says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 15:00
  
  Maybe worth mentioning Kimpton social password? I don’t know if Glasgow Kimpton honours it. Kimpton De Witt did in 2020 and got free breakfast.
- BP says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 15:05
  
  Nope but currently sitting in the Crowne Plaza Glasgow. It’s one of the better Crowne Plazas that I’ve stayed in.
- Vin says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 15:19
  
  The current social password that you’re meant to whisper at check-in is ‘no more sweatpants’ and see what gift/bonus it results in 🙂
  If you decline the IHG welcome amenity points you get a £10 voucher redeemable against your bar bill.
  - Phil W says:
    
    2 Jul2 July 15:23
    
    Thanks all.
- Peggerz says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 16:09
  
  Hi @Phil W.
  I stayed for 1 night at the end of April. At that point there was no wine hour, but wine of our choice sent to room. We did however receive free breakfast.
  I hope Wine Hour has come back for you though.
- Phil W says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 17:25
  
  Well we got no room upgrade, even though a room in a higher class was available five minutes before we arrived.
  
  No wine hour and nothing else offered in its place.
  
  No More Sweatpants got us a bath bomb!
  
  And as a bonus, there was an irate customer in the lobby shouting at the manager because there was no availability at the spa, and the manager comp’d him £100 per night of his rate.
  
  Not a great start.
  - BP says:
    
    2 Jul2 July 17:41
    
    What Status do you have with IHG? I’d have politely asked about the possibility of an upgrade.
  - Chrism20 says:
    
    2 Jul2 July 19:36
    
    Is the restaurant open? They apparently shut it at some point last week after a member of staff tested positive.
  - Phil W says:
    
    3 Jul3 July 10:43
    
    I did ask for the upgrade and got told there were no rooms available.
    
    Restaurant still shut last night but open for breakfast!
Andrew says:

2 Jul2 July 15:42

Merkel has said that double jabbed arrivals from the U.K. will be allowed in without quarantine in the “foreseeable future” for anyone hoping to go to Germany this summer.
- Anna says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 15:48
  
  Crikey, what has Boris done to her? 🤣
  - Super Secret Stuff says:
    
    2 Jul2 July 15:58
    
    I dont know but there’s probably CCTV of it 🤣
    - Anna says:
      
      2 Jul2 July 16:21
      
      The Tracey Ullman sketches of her yearning after the likes of Macron and Justin Trudeau are very funny.
- Richie says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 16:25
  
  What about December for a Christmas market weekender?
  - Anna says:
    
    2 Jul2 July 17:55
    
    That just reminded me I have a weekend booked at the Regent in Berlin in December!
- Rob says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 16:55
  
  Bugger, looks like I’ll have to go and visit my in-laws 🙂
  - Andy says:
    
    2 Jul2 July 18:42
    
    “Foreseeable future” could be next year depending on your definition!
M R says:

2 Jul2 July 15:49

NHS vaccination proof (app and letters)…

Middle names do not necessarily show up, which may cause issues at borders if they do not exactly match your passport.

My GP receptionist was easily able to update my record such that the middle name was moved into the first name field.

I was able to request a new immediately, and the change pulled through to the app within about an hour.
- Anna says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 17:57
  
  It doesn’t cause any issues with tickets or boarding cards so as long as first name and surname match I think it’ll be fine.
- Colin MacKinnon says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 17:59
  
  Not so in Scotland. Wife came here from Spain around 39 years ago and systems could only cope with one surname. Never thought to give NHS her two surnames until looked at Covid certificate, and it – like her drivers licence – only has her first surname.
  OK for Channel Islands and Isle if Man – but elsewhere it won’t match her passport exactly! No one knows how to change name on Covid Certs in Scotland!
  - Anna says:
    
    2 Jul2 July 18:26
    
    It confuses the Spanish no end that I was only given my dad’s surname, and not my mum’s!
- Muhammad Abdullah says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 21:43
  
  Weird the NHS doc is shown as invalid by the EU system, I wonder how they’re scanning it? The certificate fails.
Paul says:

2 Jul2 July 16:23

Need to purchase a new iPhone, anybody any better suggestions for add on Avios bonus than John Lewis…
- Paul says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 16:25
  
  Oops, should say other than Apple, as just noticed Apple products specifically excluded from 5Av/£, only 1Av/£, so 3 at Apple looks best…
  - Andrew says:
    
    2 Jul2 July 16:29
    
    Argos with nectar points
- Tracey says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 17:19
  
  Compare Apple prices with JL. iPhone 12 mini is £699 from Apple but only £549 from JL.
  - Sukes says:
    
    2 Jul2 July 19:31
    
    Also price off Amazon & Amazon Warehouse
- Jonathan says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 17:41
  
  John Lewis is generally better since they offer 24 months warranty, and Apple only offer 12 months
- Memesweeper says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 18:23
  
  https://www.krcs.co.uk/
  
  often discount the official price by a few percent.
  
  They have a physical store in Nottingham if you want to try a price match.
- IanM says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 18:26
  
  Get a Moto 5G and save £600
  - Andrew says:
    
    2 Jul2 July 22:17
    
    And 2 day battery life.
    - KBuffett says:
      
      3 Jul3 July 07:34
      
      And a world of pain trying to get any potential warranty service.
Clive says:

2 Jul2 July 16:44

Seems like Australia have a plan starting to re-open

https://www.internationalairportreview.com/news/161163/plan-reopen-australia-airport-sector/
- Sam G says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 17:05
  
  Not much of a plan for visitors ! https://www.godsavethepoints.com/australia-travel-roadmap-2022-earliest/
- Anna says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 17:59
  
  I thought they’d just gone back into lockdown, halved the number of incoming travellers and have only got 5% of the population vaccinated?!
  - Sam G says:
    
    2 Jul2 July 18:52
    
    Yes. That’s what they’re now calling “Phase 1” 🙂
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 23:25
  
  Australia and NZ is well a truly f*cked
Clive says:

2 Jul2 July 16:46

Bali goes into lockdown

https://www.ttgasia.com/2021/07/02/indonesia-places-bali-and-java-under-two-week-lockdown/
Super Secret Stuff says:

2 Jul2 July 17:01

I’ve forgotten how much I love delay repay when I’m doing long distance leisure journeys! £40 for half an hour of my time sat drinking tea? Go for it

Also glad I don’t pay for first class upgrade because the service is still dire 😅
- mutley says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 17:29
  
  Are meals on trains back in first class? going to Plymouth from London next week.
  - Super Secret Stuff says:
    
    2 Jul2 July 18:37
    
    No they’re not, only a few snacks and drinks, no alcohol or actual food. GWR still striving to be the worst…
  - Chrism20 says:
    
    2 Jul2 July 19:34
    
    Pullman dining is back but only on two services a day at the moment. The full service is due to resume around the 19th.
- Harry T says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 17:46
  
  Just done First from NCL to EDI and was given sandwich, crisps and biscuits as meal. Drinks were available too, including alcohol.
  - Harry T says:
    
    2 Jul2 July 17:46
    
    Should say this was LNER.
    - Super Secret Stuff says:
      
      2 Jul2 July 18:36
      
      I had a few cups of tea, flapjack and a packet of crisps. Absolutely no proper food on GWR, even pre covid it was only a couple of trains
  - BJ says:
    
    2 Jul2 July 20:20
    
    Thanks, we’re off to London next month, was wondering what we could expect.
    - Harry T says:
      
      2 Jul2 July 21:13
      
      You’re welcome – enjoy!
      - Cabal Of Rabid Baboons says:
        
        2 Jul2 July 22:13
        
        Sandwich, crisps and cake, hot drinks and limited alcohol on Arriva Picadilly to Euston.
Steve says:

2 Jul2 July 17:23

I’d like to get an answer in writing about whether I’m covered by Amex Platinum travel insurance on an “essential” trip to an Amber country. I had an encouraging phone call about this but I’d rather have something in writing – have seen some previous references in comments to emailing axa, is this just via http://www.axainsurance.com/contact/email-general/ ?
- JDB says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 17:59
  
  Surely your T&Cs must state what is and what isn’t covered. Also, most policies work on the basis of the FCDO advice rather than the traffic light system and the two are not entirely aligned.
  - Anna says:
    
    2 Jul2 July 18:02
    
    Just about to say that!
    If FCDO advice is against all but essential travel (whatever colour the destination in), the most important thing will be that the insurer agrees that your reason is essential, so I’d probably want that clarifying.
- Sukes says:
  
  2 Jul2 July 19:23
  
  Email is help at axa-assistance dot co dot uk. State query is regarding Amex Platinum insurance and include your policy number (this is your long Amex card number). Your query will then be passed to a customer service agent who will reply from their own work email.
  
  I’ve contacted them on 3 occasions with regard to cover during Covid and normally get response in 24-48hrs.
  - Steve says:
    
    2 Jul2 July 20:03
    
    Brilliant, thank you!