The HfP chat thread – Monday 12th July

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• PMG says:

  12 Jul12 July 09:38

  I have a trip coming up to Croatia from LHR on Saturday and got an e-mail today from BA to use Verifly – what are people’s experience with not using the app if travelling? Does it make life easier or not?

  Reason I ask is that per Croatia’s entry requirements if you are an EU Citizen (which I am) arriving from a non-EU country you can enter without a test if you have “received the first dose of the Moderna vaccine, on the basis of which they can enter the Republic of Croatia in the period of 22 to 42 days from receiving the vaccine”.

  As I only have had my first (Moderna) jab 4 weeks ago this applies to me – however, the app does not have this an option so telling me to get a test…

  • Rhys says:

    12 Jul12 July 09:45

    I tried to use it on return from Portugal a month ago. User interface isn’t super intuitive and BA don’t have dedicated lanes at outstations, so didn’t really help much.

    Much more helpful at Heathrow I imagine, where (at least last time I was there) there are dedicated lanes for Verifly users.

    • PMG says:

      12 Jul12 July 10:17

      Thanks Rhys, will try and do it for the way out there – have contracted them to see if they can get the requirements fixed 🙂

      (All just adds to the peace of mind I think)

      • meta says:

        12 Jul12 July 15:07

        I used it this weekend at LHR. Check in took 1 minute. They just looked at the app, looked at the system and I was in the lounge within 10 minutes of arriving at the airport. They were processing other people much long.

        It was an easy process as well. Just uploaded my vaccination certificate in the evening and by 9am they verified and approved me. I suspect if you do it early in the morning then it’s only 1-2 hours wait.

        • meta says:

          12 Jul12 July 15:13

          On the point of EU citizenship. The app also notes different requirements based on EU citizenship. For example, it didn’t require me to fill in passenger locator form and there was a banner to that effect the moment I uploaded a certificate.

  • iSub says:

    12 Jul12 July 16:16

    I tried to use it for an Aer Lingus flight to Ireland last month. I did not have access to a printer so after completing all the previous steps (uploading PCR results etc) I could not truthfully tick the the last two boxes about having printouts of my PLF and PCR results (assuming that printouts means hard copies – I may have been wrong about that) In the end Aer Lingus did not seem to be checking the app, and passport control were ok with looking at my phone screen, but I was suddenly nervous in the queue as I seemed to be the only one without paper copies. No one was using the app – I think if I’d tried they would have asked for the proof of the PLF and test results anyway, I’m sure Croatia will be the same

• Mark says:

  12 Jul12 July 09:39

  Flying from Heathrow to Palma and need a PCR OR LAMP test I have a 48 hour window to get the test done and get the negative certification to get on the flight.
  Could anybody with experience of doing this recommend a company and quickly go over the process?
  Thank you

  • Rob says:

    12 Jul12 July 09:40

    Why not just head to Heathrow early and do it there?

    • mark says:

      12 Jul12 July 09:46

      So u can do Te

      I didn’t realise you could do it at the airport before you fly.
      Thanks Rob

      • Rob says:

        12 Jul12 July 09:48

        Remember that this may need to be a day before you fly, depending on which test you want to do, so you may need a hotel too.

  • Rhys says:

    12 Jul12 July 09:44

    I can recommend ExpressTest: https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2021/06/03/review-express-test-pcr-covid-gatwick/

    • mark says:

      12 Jul12 July 10:37

      Hi Ryhs, my flight leaves on the Monday at 3pm, I think a Sunday morning test for a Monday afternoon flight is my best option?
      I could do a Saturday night test at 7pm but if the Monday 3pm flight gets delayed by a few hours it could push me over the 48 hour testing window to be allowed into Majorca.
      Just wondering if your timescales were similar?
      Thank you

      • Rhys says:

        12 Jul12 July 11:01

        You have to look at when test results are guaranteed by. I believe it’s by 10pm Next Day, so this may not work if you have a 3pm flight?

      • Yorkieflyer says:

        12 Jul12 July 14:05

        Please reduce your stress and get an in person lamp test from Collinson 90 min turn around

• Mycity says:

  12 Jul12 July 10:18

  Sorry but yet another ask for a referral code for Octopus Energy think it’s £50 for us both.

  Thanks.

  • PaulR says:

    12 Jul12 July 10:21

    Hi. My code is: share.octopus.energy/pear-gnat-524

    Thanks!

    • FatherOfFour says:

      12 Jul12 July 11:54

      Do Octopus “support” smart meters and usage devices provided by another supplier? I am assuming so….

      • PaulR says:

        12 Jul12 July 12:18

        I believe so. Our existing smart meter was provided and installed by Eon but has transferred over to Octupus without any issues.

      • Toby says:

        12 Jul12 July 14:25

        Indeed they do. They even managed to get ours, one of the tricky first gen, to come online after some tweaking at their end.

        They have offered to upgrade us to the newest generation, for free, which I’m considering.

• Chris Heyes says:

  12 Jul12 July 10:23

  Hi, That time of year again, Retention Bonus collective thoughts
  Ring Brighton or Chat ? or wait whilst Brighton shuts ?
  Had no problem last year but expecting this year to be harder as they will know we have 2 cards each 1 Gold each 1 BA Premium each I’m sure it will show on our accounts ?

  • Alex says:

    12 Jul12 July 10:26

    Phone lol

  • Reney says:

    12 Jul12 July 10:29

    BAPP most people are offered extra points for a couple of months.

    I had a retention bonus for plat which after 2 weeks still haven’t posted. Called and chat 5 times and now they say they need someone to listen to the call because there is no record of it having be agreed…

    I called both weekends and week days, seem to end up with Brighton each time or redirected to them…

  • Super Secret Stuff says:

    12 Jul12 July 10:39

    Ring Brighton, on the automated machines say cancellations. They will read all the standard stuff off the script as per usual, just ignore it say you know it all. When they offer monthly fee payments just point out it is still the same cost. Let me know how it goes 🙂

    • Chris Heyes says:

      12 Jul12 July 11:12

      Super Secret Stuff, Rung Brighton was offered 10k extra points Retention
      told them Flight booked USA likely cancel plus hotels in USA
      I didn’t push for any more, they said I can have refunds put on debit card if I want
      So quite happy outcome

      • Super Secret Stuff says:

        12 Jul12 July 11:28

        Nice, thanks for the update. When was you last retention offer?

        • Chris Heyes says:

          12 Jul12 July 11:42

          12 months ago 20k Platinum all three of us so 60k total only had platinum’s for 1 month (one 6 weeks) I think a record lol
          Plus Partners brother just rung few min ago offered same 10k

      • Anna says:

        12 Jul12 July 14:07

        Was that on your gold? I’ll try & persuade OH to ring up re his Platinum at some point – we may well cancel after August anyway once we’ve taken advantage of the hire car cover as not much travel planned for the rest of the year.

        • Chris Heyes says:

          12 Jul12 July 18:42

          Anna Hi, Yes on Gold took out 6th June 2020 got 10k for 15K spend 11th July (yesterday} rung up today asking for retention bonus given 10k extra it’s been put on acc now “already” will pay £140 bill tomorrow get 11th/12th back
          will transfer all out Wed then cancel (and hope I don’t get the nice young lady who just gave me 10k for a phone call lol
          I just said USA flight cancelled n Hotels as well (almost cancelled not available for bookings any more) ?

        • Chris Heyes says:

          12 Jul12 July 18:54

          Anna regards your OH if he’s uncomfortable ringing up you can ring for him when Brighton answers just pass phone to him to confirm you have his permission to act for him, it’s easy
          My Partner (well and her Brother) never ring Amex it’s always me I pass her the phone and she says she’s slightly deaf then passes me phone back takes a min at most for her to answer security Qs

  • Chris Heyes says:

    12 Jul12 July 10:39

    Add Last year Partner and her brother went from Platinum to Gold with full Bonuses I know shouldn’t happen but it did well pleased
    they just asked and was granted straight off
    Now got Gold with 10k bonus just arrived so candidate for cancel
    they got BA Premium now end May
    I went from Platinum to BA Premium so slightly missed out should have asked for Gold never mind lol

• Mouse says:

  12 Jul12 July 10:33

  Can anyone tell me whether you can earn IHG points on Mr & Mrs Smith hotels when booking direct with the hotel rather than through Mr & Mrs Smith?

  • Rob says:

    12 Jul12 July 11:24

    No

    • Mouse says:

      12 Jul12 July 14:21

      Thanks Rob

• George says:

  12 Jul12 July 10:37

  Following up on my comment yesterday regarding booking a ‘maybe’ flight with BA hoping for it to get cancelled to get cash back for my e voucher:
  @ChrisC – if they don’t cancel it, I’d cancel it myself and get another e voucher. I’d look for a flight around the same value. I don’t see much of a risk. Worst case is I’ll be left with the voucher which I’ll just have to use by April 2023.

  Is it likely any other BA routes would be getting cancelled? Anyone have any tips?

• Luke says:

  12 Jul12 July 10:38

  Do you have to call BA to use two companion vouchers on the same booking? Website only seems to allow you to select 1 voucher

  • Rob says:

    12 Jul12 July 11:23

    This is an IT issue which often happens if one of your vouchers was reissued after a booking was cancelled. Same happened to me recently. You need to call.

• Hennypot says:

  12 Jul12 July 10:46

  Anyone got an inkling/ crystal ball view of Italy quarantine restrictions changing from the current 5 days for UK arrivals?

  Current regs look to expire at the end of July but can obviously be extended/ altered.

  Got outbound flight planned mid August and annoyingly need to cancel accommodation by the 20th July to avoid penalties. Was hoping they might fall in line with other countries, quarantine-free for fully vaccinated.

  • Toby says:

    12 Jul12 July 14:31

    Having read a bunch over the weekend about Italy and a few other countries around it, I fear we’re going to see EU countries increasingly restrict UK arrivals as our covid rates are increasing at a very high rate compared to theirs.

    Sigh 😓

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