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The HfP chat thread – Friday 9th July

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We are running this daily chat thread on Head for Points during the coronavirus outbreak.

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Comments (415)

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

  • RM84 says:

    Does anyone have an Away Travel refer a friend link/code at all? It looks like they have a UK programme but my searched have failed to turn up a code.

  • Rob says:

    1.Yes
    2.If Emyr can’t access an offer then no-one else can either
    3.If you want them to get your status perks then they need to check in under your name or perks are likely to be withdrawn

  • Memesweeper says:

    My hotel for Sunday night ISN’T SCREENING THE GAME. Likely to delay arrival by one day and watch from the local boozer. It’s an IHG redemption so if I call up in the morning and explain we’ll be 12 hours late checking in they’ll hold the room, right?

    • TGLoyalty says:

      Unlikely..you’ll be a no show.

      There’s no pub nearby showing it?

    • Harry T says:

      Can’t you watch it on your laptop or TV in the hotel room!

      • Memesweeper says:

        Somewhat lacking in atmosphere! I’d miss it and my family have come to expect a bit of that for England games

        • Harry T says:

          I had a great time watching the quarter final in my room at the Langley with my girlfriend and a massive Dominos.

          • Mike says:

            Well I suppose that is better than playing dominoes with a massive girlfriend!

    • David says:

      So there’s no TV in the room?!

    • Sam G says:

      Should be fine. Lots of people book the night before when they’ve got an early arrival off a flight/before a big meeting etc, not uncommon in the hotel world

      • Memesweeper says:

        I’ve done it before, but never on a redemption.

        • Memesweeper says:

          … and once come to think of it got a no-show from the night manager despite calling ahead on a cash booking.

          • John says:

            Rob wrote an article about this… he spent 3 hours in an IC or something

    • Andrew says:

      It’s on ITV – it’ll be on the TV in your room!

      • John says:

        BBC thankfully – ITV need better commentators.

        • TGLoyalty says:

          Both 🙂

        • Harrier25 says:

          ITV need better commentators, pundits, sack Mark Pougatch and half the amount of adverts!

          • Rimmingtown says:

            Why do they need better commentators, and Pundits and why sack Pougs Harriet?

          • Harrier25 says:

            That’s certainly a much more suitable name for you than cyclist 😀

  • Keely says:

    Morning all ..someone posted a link last to a statement from TUI advising that the Maltese govt had said that the AZ Indian batch numbers weren’t being accepted. However I can find no corresponding info on the Maltese official website or any uk gov website . I know it states unapproved vaccines etc but I take this to be Covishield etc which this isn’t . Has anybody seen ANY reports of people being turned away with these jabs or is it the media trying to stir things up?

    • JDB says:

      I think TUI has just elaborated/clarified the Malta rules which state they will only accept EMA approved vaccines and, to date, those batches are not approved. The NHS has chosen to put Vaxzevria on all certs as the MHRA approved those batches, but others see the Indian batches as Covishield.

      • Keely says:

        Mmm I suspect they are being ultra cautious – probably rightly so for their business . I’m still trying to see if anyone has been turned away. I can’t be the only one with this vaccine who wants to get away!

        • Lottie says:

          We were supposed to be going to Malta tomorrow and have these batch numbers. Easyjet, who we are flying with, have now just added those specific batch numbers to their website saying they are not accepted, so i’m going to give up and cancel. I think im right in saying we can still get in to the Balearics!

          • Keely says:

            Oh lottie I thought you were going to say you were giving it a go!
            Yeah I’m currently googling and looking for somewhere else…I’m annoyed about it …didn’t particularly want the jab in the first place (no health conditions, age, low risk etc)!
            I hope you find somewhere lovely ..!

          • Lottie says:

            @Keely we were going to give it a go, as we had only seen it in one place, but now its on Easyjet with specific batch numbers im giving up. Im so annoyed that we didn’t get told when we had the jab that it wasn’t approved! I probably would just give up going anywhere but my son is so excited to be going im going to try and find somewhere, fingers crossed. Hope you get somewhere too..

          • MattB says:

            Yes Spain are accepting WHO authorised vaccines as well as EMA, so if you have those batch numbers you will be fine (as it stands)

    • Paul Pogba says:

      You’re probably supposed to call them delta batches or some such to avoid stigmatising others quality assurance.

      • bafan says:

        Yes it was fine to stigmatize the UK with the Kent variant but once it was Indian it became unacceptable. Not sure how that worked but 😌.

    • Ben says:

      that was me who posted that yesterday. ive had a response from the Maltese health authorities and they say it’s fine. others have had similar.

      Posted info over here: https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g190311-i348-k13357786-o730-Malta_Covid_The_Latest_Position-Malta.html

      • Keely says:

        Thanks for updating Ben , that’s really useful . I had cancelled the Maltese flights and took a voucher …now trying to determine if Malta or Majorca!

      • Keely says:

        @Ben Are you going on Tuesday? Or will you cancel ?
        I’m throwing the towel in and will cancel and book somewhere (anywhere) else.
        I’m so annoyed we have been put in this position .

        • Chris says:

          If the batches arrived in the UK and never used there would have been criticism (and lives probably lost). My take is use of these batches demonstrated the “can do” attitude of the UK Vaccine program … and again paints the EU and Member states handling as overlay bureaucratic. It after all has been described as a purely “administrative hurdle”.

          • Keely says:

            Of course it is only an admin hurdle, one I’m sure will be sorted eventually. But it’s just flipping annoying when you’re the one caught up in it, there’s enough hurdles without an additional one …

        • Ben says:

          I will try. I am flying with Jet2, so have not yet been told I will be denied boarding (which is what some holidaying with TUI seem to have been told).

          One person posted earlier tonight on the TA forum:

          https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g190311-i348-k13357786-o750-Malta_Covid_The_Latest_Position-Malta.html

          But who knows where we will be in a few days. I’m sticking to my plan for now…

  • Michael says:

    Where can I get a quick lateral flow test near Heathrow? I need it for leaving the country by Eurotunnel.
    I got the NHS PCR test with date of yesterday, however it doesn’t state it was a PCR test, so I believe I need to pay for one. Leaving the country tomorrow.

    • MattB says:

      You can get tested in the terminal itself, also I think t4 parking lot is a drive through test centre?

      • Michael says:

        Do I need a flight booking to get tested, as I want to travel by car. I jsut need a test with result in 30 minutes.

        • Lottie says:

          My son tested yesterday at the Gatwick drive through without a flight booking.

        • GeorgeJ says:

          I have bused both Collinson and Express test when I wasn’t flying.

  • Chris says:

    there was a reference in yesterday’s comments to Emyr having access to some 3f2 offers, anybody have any hints as to where and why?

    I know there was the Hyatt Price deal but I believe that’s finished so trying to figure out where the deals may be and whether I can take advantage of them

  • Luke says:

    I recently got HK with the intention I would mostly be using it to pay Solihull, so I’m concerned that I keep seeing comments about people being pulled up for use of their card in this way.
    Most of the comments seem to relate to Seagulls or Che, has anyone got in trouble for paying Solihull?
    What sort of volumes has caused it to be flagged?
    I’m hoping that c.£6k per month will fly below the radar.

    • FFoxSake says:

      Flagged on the HK or the Solihull side?
      I can’t speak for HK at all but Solihull has been OK monthly for receiving quite a bit more than that. So far at least…

    • S says:

      depends on your threshold for risk. I’ve certainly known people to get into trouble over smaller amounts than that, but it seems some get away with more.

    • Imran says:

      Regardless of whom you pay, bendy passes on the MCC to the card issuer. So it doesn’t matter if it is Seagulls, Che or Solihull, they are all categorised under the MCC for financial institutions. So I don’t think HK will treat Solihull any differently than Seagulls, and Che.

      • Luke says:

        Not using Bendy. I’ve been paying Solihull with other CCs for years without Bendy and not had an issue, but based on some comments it seems HK don’t like it

        • FFoxSake says:

          …and potentially Beardy won’t like it either from Aug (according to new T&Cs)

    • Memesweeper says:

      Might be ok 😉

    • Jonathan says:

      £6k/month to a financial institution MCC on a HK credit card… 😂

      You’re relationship with them will be short & sweet!

  • Eligold says:

    What test do I need to arrive in France on Thursday?
    And what are the rules for the different age groups of children?
    All adults are double vaccinated

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