The HfP chat thread – Monday 5th July

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.

Category

General

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

Marie says:

5 Jul5 July 14:01

Currently enjoying balearic sun. Does anyone remember how much notice the UK Gov gave to travellers when it changed green to amber. I have some reserve flights home for later if its stays green. Thanks
- Anna says:
  
  5 Jul5 July 14:46
  
  I think it was about 3/4 days when Portugal went from green to amber, however you would hope the ensuing outcry would make them think twice about doing this again.
  
  Also, the whole system might be undergoing a rethink anyway now that a court has held that people can’t be forced to pay for quarantine hotels on arriving from red countries if they can’t afford it!
  - Harry T says:
    
    5 Jul5 July 14:47
    
    Don’t really think it’s going to be taken seriously if people say they can afford to go abroad for their summer holidays but can’t afford the hotel quarantine…
    - BJ says:
      
      5 Jul5 July 14:58
      
      Don’t most Brits usually return from holiday skint…?
    - Anna says:
      
      5 Jul5 July 15:00
      
      It was more about people who have been living or working abroad and are now travelling home or reuniting with family. But there is a point to be made that we’ve been in a global pandemic now for over year and plenty of other countries have been doing this, so no one can really claim the hotel quarantine has come as a shock.
      Clearly the relevant court has taken it seriously!
    - bafan says:
      
      5 Jul5 July 15:23
      
      I can take a Friday off and do a weekend away for under 250 quid. Doesn’t mean I can take off 10 days from work and pay £1750. In the real world it’s not the same thing.
- Harry T says:
  
  5 Jul5 July 14:57
  
  There’s no guarantees about how long a period you would have to get back before the country turned Amber, as far as I’m aware. As the destination is on the green watchlist, I imagine there’s even less reason to believe a reasonable period of time would be granted.
Marie says:

5 Jul5 July 14:08

When Portugal changed, is what I meant sorry
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  5 Jul5 July 15:03
  
  It changed after the 3 week review.
  
  Obviously if things change dramatically anything can happen but the next review isn’t until 15th July and will come in force 4am 21st July.
AndyK says:

5 Jul5 July 14:13

I booked a trip from Edinburgh to London to visit some family members in late August (booked back in May). We used the BA Holidays meaning we only had to pay a deposit. We had opted to stay in the Renaissance at the airport for ease of logistics with others. Going by the hotel website – the hotel is no longer taking bookings until November – guess being used for quarantines. BA have not yet cancelled the trip – so i have asked them what happens. Will they just cancel the booking meaning i will lose the cheaper flight prices that were available when i made the booking or will i be able to change it do you think to another hotel?
- chabuddy geezy says:
  
  5 Jul5 July 20:26
  
  Call BA holidays, they can probably move you to another hotel.
fivebobbill says:

5 Jul5 July 14:19

Guys, someone posted the other day (may have been BJ) but I cant find the post. It was regards the Sainsburys/Nectar Life Ins offer, and when the points posted to their Nectar account. I’m wondering can anyone tell me how long after their 5th payment? I ask because I took out two policies, one for me and one for the wife, but both linked to MY Nectar account number. My 20,000 points posted the same day my 5th payment came out (1st July), but the wife’s 5th payment came out same day and no points have posted to my account for hers.
I know the T&C’s say up to 60 days after the 5th payment, but just wondering how long I should leave it before chasing them up, Nectar says I need to ring Sainsburys.
- FFoxSake says:
  
  5 Jul5 July 14:45
  
  7 days after 5th payment.
  Also wasn’t there some clause about only one bonus per household in any 12 months, or something like that? Maybe someone else here remembers…
  - fivebobbill says:
    
    5 Jul5 July 15:04
    
    I was pretty sure it said max 2 per account, which was why I would have done it, however the screenshot of the T&C’s I saved doesn’t mention this bit unfortunately…
  - BJ says:
    
    5 Jul5 July 15:07
    
    2 per household per year and I’ve been doing that.
- BJ says:
  
  5 Jul5 July 15:05
  
  It was me, 21 days in my case. However, another reported getting them just before their 5th payment. That happened to me once before too. Therefore, I am now thinking they sweep the points once a month and we might get them on the closest sweep to our 5th payment. Probably wrong but cannot think why else people might get points a bit earlier unless it’s manual and random according to the person processing it.
  - janolabs says:
    
    5 Jul5 July 15:58
    
    Did you get the double points for Sainsbury’s shopping? I’ve got my 10k bonus, but not the double points; even though I’ve taken out the insurance back in February.
    - BJ says:
      
      5 Jul5 July 16:47
      
      Call Sainsbury, not Nectar. Time that happened to me I got a nice little sweetener to make sure I hadn’t lost out.
  - BJ says:
    
    5 Jul5 July 16:43
    
    No, I was on the over 50, not sure if that was on there but if ut was I missed it. However, I did that last week for PO for £85 plus £100 voucher for 5 X £7 payments. Deal ended 27/6 but double dip may come back.
  - fivebobbill says:
    
    5 Jul5 July 18:40
    
    Thanks for the confirmation BJ, I’ll give it until just before the next payment then chase it up 👍
Benilyn says:

5 Jul5 July 14:34

Have Shangri-La Shard booked for 1 night via Emyr. Any tips please let me know to make the most of it!
- David says:
  
  5 Jul5 July 15:13
  
  Hope it’s better than mine –
  The previous occupant of the room had left something very unpleasant on the in room ipad in their search for ‘company for the night’.
  The check in wasn’t till 4.
  I could see everything and I mean everything going on in the room below in the reflections in the glass – the only way to make it stop was the draw the curtains.
  The fire alarm went off and couldn’t get in or out for 2 hours.
  Hope things have improved.
  - Michael C says:
    
    5 Jul5 July 16:59
    
    Weird, David – I also had a fire alarm! This was during soft opening, but at 4. a.m.!
    @Benilyn – stock up with food and wine at Borough market next door, then have them in the bath.
    or is that just me?!!
    - David says:
      
      5 Jul5 July 17:49
      
      So it was you in the bath in the room below !
- The cyclist says:
  
  5 Jul5 July 16:58
  
  Check in early as you can and log into punternet.com you will be guaranteed to make the most of you time😀
  - David says:
    
    5 Jul5 July 17:52
    
    It popped up as soon as I touched the iPad -confirming that they had paid in full with a picture of ‘the purchase’.
- Andrew (@andrewseftel) says:
  
  5 Jul5 July 18:52
  
  Depending on when you’re going (and your attitude towards the morning), the pool can be a cool place to watch the sunrise.
- Neil says:
  
  5 Jul5 July 19:15
  
  Got a stay in August so can report back then! If you have any SQ points, transfer them over to GC and get yourself a nice meal and cocktails
The Savage Squirrel says:

5 Jul5 July 14:55

Adding a Radisson Rewards account to Amex. You had to leave some digits out of the membership number as I recall to get the Amex site to recognise the Radisson account … but which digits?
Thanks in advance!
- Peter K says:
  
  5 Jul5 July 20:00
  
  You leave out first 4 or 5 digits. I can never remember which.
Chris says:

5 Jul5 July 14:57

BP Amex offer: do BP sell any gift cards, even for fuel?
Rh says:

5 Jul5 July 15:00

Anna/ AJA – thanks for you comments about BA numbers yesterday – I got through much quicker and they sorted the refund for me.

On a different topic, what is the best hotel at Gatwick North so I can walk over to a mid-morning flight next week please? I did try searching the reviews but didn’t have much luck.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  5 Jul5 July 15:05
  
  Hilton Gatwick if it’s open…covered walk to the airport.
- Sam G says:
  
  5 Jul5 July 15:20
  
  Premier Inn has one on site as well
  - Yorkieflyer says:
    
    5 Jul5 July 17:11
    
    There are two premier inns walking distance of North and the Hampton all fine
- ChrisBCN says:
  
  5 Jul5 July 15:31
  
  I’m a big fan of the Bloc hotel if you are turning up late and just need a bed for the night. It’s inside the south Terminal right next to departures. Not that suitable if you are staying longer, unless you want to spend time wondering around the airport!
  - Sam G says:
    
    5 Jul5 July 16:18
    
    Think it’s closed at the minute as south terminal is closed
- AJA says:
  
  5 Jul5 July 16:11
  
  You’re welcome. Glad you got it sorted. No ideas on today’s topic sorry, I’ve never stayed in a hotel at LGW.
  - Rh says:
    
    5 Jul5 July 18:43
    
    Thanks all, will look shortly