Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

The HfP chat thread – Saturday 10th 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.

Comments (244)

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

  • xcalx says:

    Anyone found a BP in the Leeds area that sell gift cards or M&S food. Thanks.

  • Duncan Stevenson-Price says:

    Can Emry book an InterContinental stay using the free weekend night stay rate, or does that have to be booked direct with IHG only?

    • Harry T says:

      The latter, if you’re referring to the ambassador free weekend night offer.

  • Gary says:

    Anyone has child friendly (3-4 year olds) hotel recommendations for Menorca?

  • Margaret says:

    I just read that the NHS can’t vaccinate within 8 weeks now – see Guardian article today. My OH had been vaccinating on Saturdays, and last Saturday his manager was turning people away at the door for this reason. My older daughter is supposed to have her second next week at Tottenham stadium after 4 weeks, where she was told it would be ok. Any idea if it’s all across London? This government are truly brain dead. They say one Pfizer is only 35% and to have two. They make it take a month longer (despite it being licensed from 3 weeks) now whilst opening thr floodgates to the next wave. Fewer people are dying (though no consolation if it’s your family and friends) but what about thr 30% who get long covid?

    • Dave says:

      Isn’t there a supply problem at the moment?

      • Yuff says:

        I don’t think there is a supply problem.
        I was under the impression the longer between doses the greater the protection, so I suppose it comes down to people’s personal circumstances.
        I got mine 3 weeks after I was eligible as I was abroad and my 2nd jab at bang on 8 weeks as I was flying abroad. Personally I wanted as long as possible between the 2 jabs but they reduced it to 8 weeks, from 12
        Weeks, the week before I left.
        I think the Pfizer is better with a reduced period though more so than Astra Zeneca.

        • Super Secret Stuff says:

          There is a supply problem because of NHS rules (caused by international politics about blood clots) they can only use Phizer or Morderna to vacinate under 40s. Given that is the vast majority of people left to do, its obvious they don’t have enough of the right vaccines

          • Super Secret Stuff says:

            Before anyone says it’s not politics… all the vaccines cause near enough the same immune response in your blood. Therefore near enough the same chances of blood clots. The only difference being how many people have had the vaccine in order for it to be picked up as a common trend

    • JDB says:

      It isn’t the government making these decisions, it is experts and scientists who know a lot more than we do. The calls made re intervals between jabs have been controversial at the time but proved to be spot on.

      I think one of the issues currently is the tightness of supply of Pfizer/Moderna generally for young people, but it is tighter for some centres than others. They still want to have enough for as many first jabs as possible to get more people on the way to being double vaccinated. It’s a bit annoying if you are waiting anxiously for the 2nd dose, but there is real sense in these decisions.

    • JRC says:

      There was an article that said you really need the 8 week gap for better efficacy. Sorry can’t find it, but I assume you are rushing it to be double jabbed and avoid quarantine. Pfizer have now come out and said antibodies is significantly down after 6 months so unless you have to get it down in 4 weeks suggest you stick to the 8 week advice.

      • TGLoyalty says:

        That’s true for AZ there was nothing re Pfizer.

        They just want simple messaging for all vaccines so are making everyone wait 8 weeks when there is no difference in response from a 3/4 week or a 8 week interval on the mRNA vaccines.

    • Harry T says:

      The eight week interval will almost certainly be supply related. Otherwise it would make far more sense to get all the young people fully vaxxed within 21 days, as they are the main spreaders at the moment (not that I’m blaming them!) and potentially slightly better long term immunity would be fairly pointless in an age group that are largely not at serious risk from covid.

      • Yuff says:

        I stand corrected on my earlier post about supply issues, although I read today that take up has halved in the past 2 weeks and the drop off is not down to supply issues

        • Margaret says:

          Probably explained by all the people being turned away at centres since they changed the rules!

      • Nick says:

        If the website lets you book an appointment less than 8 weeks after your first dose will you still be turned away, or will you be allowed to get it? Mine is allowing me to book immediately if I want to…

        • Tracey says:

          If it’s allowing you to book immediately I would query whether it has registered your first dose.

    • Andy says:

      This is from the press release on Spurs website: “The clinic is for first or second dose Pfizer jabs only. For second doses, please only attend if you received your first Pfizer jab on or before Sunday 23 May.”

      So yes, if she’s had it 4 weeks ago presumably she will be turned away

      • TGLoyalty says:

        23rd May was 6 weeks ago so they aren’t sticking to the 8 weeks anyway ..

        • Margaret says:

          The clinic is next weekend, so it will be 8 weeks. Damn!

          • TGLoyalty says:

            Maybe I don’t understand numbers or the length of a week but next week/weekend would be 7?

    • TGLoyalty says:

      30% DO NOT get long Covid which is life changing or altering.

      See Tim Spector’s Twitter he’s the head of the Zoe Covid survey. It’s around 2-3% that truly have “long Covid”

      People are still getting them early …

      • Margaret says:

        I’ve been doing that survey (and recently the antibody test they requested). The percentages vary a lot, for example The Independent suggests its 40%. I have tinnitus, headaches and joint pain. Daughter (18) has fatigue, headaches, stomach and chest pain and messed up periods, at work in a school of the people I know there are five people worth long covid out of the dozen or so who had it. Almost all my difficulty surgery had it in the first wave with a receptionist dying. Several hange long covid including my doctor, 34 and cycles. He and his partner (a paramedic) were so l they could barely walk to the door and let the dog out for weeks, but he’s a lot better now after intermittent fasting and low histamine diet.

        • Margaret says:

          Wish I could correct autocorrect lol.

        • TGLoyalty says:

          Correlation doesn’t imply causation.

          Lots of “long Covid” is/was due to lockdown fatigue and high stress situations for people who were still going to work and involved in the medical field for example.

          • TGLoyalty says:

            I feel like you’re one of those that banged on about deaths then when they dropped massively it was hospitalisations then when they dropped off massively it was long Covid.

            As per my original post go read some info from real experts like Tim Spector as it’s his numbers and his thoughts not just mine.

          • TGLoyalty says:

            Btw there are lots of very experienced and bright doctors that don’t believe “long Covid” is actually an issue vs post viral syndrome from lots of other viruses we have lived with for years.

      • Margaret says:

        Any hints where? Getting a Pfizer one at 4 weeks isn’t early though:)

      • xcalx says:

        I would like to know the % of people claiming to have long covid that are also getting paid for time off.

        • Margaret says:

          Well I work full time as do the others, and my daughter struggled through her A levels despite needing bedridden for most of the Easter holidays. I felt better on chemo than this. I hope you or any family member never suffer it! I have a constant loud ringing and ticking in my head that stops sleep and has affected my mental health to the point I’m not taking hormone blockers as they make it worse and I’d rather die than live with the constant headaches and noise. Please don’t joke as it’s ruined the lives of millions worldwide and the next wave will see it affect countless young people, potentially until they die.

    • Tracey says:

      You need to follow the mammoth thread on Reddit with people finding vaccine at short notice, very London centric.

      https://www.reddit.com/r/GetJabbed/comments/oh7v21/daily_rgetjabbed_megathread_july_10_2021/

  • Nick says:

    Somewhat counterintuitively, my Nectar card has far more (and better) offers than my Plat. But it’s mainly down to targeting, which is determined by how you use each card, so YMMV.

  • Alex D says:

    Hi

    Bit new to this, any ideas as to why the amount of points required for 2 people (using a companion voucher) from Gatwick to Barbados in March would have changed overnight from 32500 points + £648 to 120,000 points + £300?

    Possibly all the prices shot up as a result of the British government relaxing quarantine rules is my best guess?

    • Rob says:

      No, you’ve done something wrong is my guess 🙂

      • Alex D says:

        Thanks. Does that mean the new price is more likely to be correct or the old one?

        • Alex D says:

          Think I’ve cracked it. No idea what went wrong, but thanks for your reply.

    • Jody says:

      Have you tried selecting the flights and clicking through. Sometimes they show an odd avios/£ amount on the first page.

  • Gavin says:

    Planning to fly London to GVA in a couple of weeks and travel overland into France the same day. Anyone know if my entry to France would count as entry from Switzerland (French green list) or the UK (amber list)? I understand I currently only need proof of vaccination to enter Switzerland from the UK, but to enter France from the UK requires a PCR test. However, entering France from Switzerland doesn’t need PCR test.

    • tom1 says:

      uk > gva = correct, proof of double vaccination and Swiss PLF (no test, no quarantine if double vaccinated).
      not sure about the gva >france, but most PLFs seem to ask where you have been in the last 10-14 days.

  • Ant says:

    Not travel related. But I have a few expensive watches different makes & they need service & change of battery. Should I take them to the individual companies or can someone recommend a good place where I can do them all together?

    • Sarah says:

      I took my watch to a branch of Chanel in selfridges. I needed a new pin for the strap and a service. I was quoted £95 but they also did a repair which I had previously been quoted £795 for and had decided to leave. They did this for no extra charge and the watch is 14 years old now. I am so impressed with their after care and customer service.

      • Sarah says:

        It was a new pin and a battery I was quoted for but they serviced it too

        • xcalx says:

          Did they repair the watch by mistake and not charge as a goodwill gesture.

          I know someone who whilst working abroard the council re-roofed his property which he had bought from them 18 months earlier. They asked for payment even though admitting the mistake. He refused and got a free roof. Apparently the council owned houses in the street were approved for new roofs 30 month earlier and nobody bothered to check for new sales.

          • xcalx says:

            service

          • Sarah says:

            I didn’t ask them to replace the link as I was quoted for the replacement a few years ago and thought I would live will the chip rather than pay that price! They just mended it without being asked and didn’t charge for it. They have done a couple of other repairs without charge over the years.

    • YC says:

      Harrods service was good and prices strangely reasonable. Tag battery change was cheaper than actual store

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