The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 14th July

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Oz_Traveller says:

14 Jul14 July 07:21

– The Trafalgar St James, Curio Collection by Hilton-

Morning all, I’m staying at the above hotel this weekend. Any advice/tips before arrival? Particularly, which building side I should request, pre-booking restaurant/bar..?

TIA
- Njb says:
  
  14 Jul14 July 08:21
  
  If you want an outside table with a view in The Rooftop bar I would contact hotel to book before arrival.
- Billy P says:
  
  14 Jul14 July 09:47
  
  Rooftop bar terms…
  
  “Friday to Sunday – £50 minimum spend per person”
  - Andy D says:
    
    14 Jul14 July 09:54
    
    The minimum spend is waived for hotel guests & applies in the evening sitting.
    - Billy P says:
      
      14 Jul14 July 13:00
      
      Minimum Spend During the Mon-Thu period, minimum spend of £35 will apply to all outdoor bookings after 5pm. Over the Fri-Sun period (including bank holidays), all outdoor bookings will have £50 minimum spend per person.
      - Njb says:
        
        14 Jul14 July 15:15
        
        It is waived for hotel guests – but to be honest its not difficult to spend that much there 😢
      - Oz_Traveller says:
        
        14 Jul14 July 17:33
        
        Thanks all!!!
Andrew says:

14 Jul14 July 07:21

For those wanting to go to Portugal, an offer has popped up on Platinum – spend £250, get £40 back.
- George K says:
  
  14 Jul14 July 07:31
  
  Is that an Amex Travel offer? Nothing on mine..
  - George K says:
    
    14 Jul14 July 07:32
    
    Scratch that, it’s a TAP offer – popped up on my Bonvoy one.
  - Andrew says:
    
    14 Jul14 July 07:32
    
    Oh sorry, meant to say it’s a TAP Air Portugal offer.
- Daniel says:
  
  14 Jul14 July 09:20
  
  It’s also on my Gold card.
- MW says:
  
  14 Jul14 July 10:20
  
  Checked and have got this on my Business Platinum.
- babyg_wc says:
  
  14 Jul14 July 14:48
  
  Think I’d still stIck with BA, their travel with confidence policy is worth more than that discount IMHO, not sure what TAP are like?
  - Pete M says:
    
    14 Jul14 July 19:14
    
    TAP customer service is atrocious.
  - Lady London says:
    
    14 Jul14 July 21:02
    
    Very bad reports of them never ever giving any refunds or EU261 duty of care. Ignoring claims. To the extent that Germany has apparently impounded TAP’s bank accounts allegedly because TAP just kept on ignoring court judgments against them and never provided refunds when they should have.
    
    Other than that, wonderful airline.
Ross says:

14 Jul14 July 07:37

Following query last night…
Flying to the Caribbean on Saturday in Business on BA. Gatwick North.

In terms of Lounge and Flight, what should I expect?

LOUNGE
I understand at Gatwick N, its Aspire (Thanks Rob).
Champagne included?
Food any good?

FLIGHT
Is it back to full service, or will I never see a Steward?
Hot food?
Full wine options available?

Just trying to manage expectations

Thanks
- Andrew says:
  
  14 Jul14 July 07:46
  
  Aspire lounge – no Champagne, even Prosecco will be for a extra charge, food will just be a few snacks probably. Inflight service almost back to pre-pandemic, albeit that was never very good, but removal of pre-takeoff drinks.
  - Ross says:
    
    14 Jul14 July 08:08
    
    A champagne-less start to the trip! Oh well.
    
    It’s not what I had hoped, but guess it could be worse.
    
    Thanks for the info
- Travel Strong says:
  
  14 Jul14 July 14:04
  
  Aspire lounge 7am til 10:45am on Saturday.
  Limited hours, and different every day.
  (Check priority pass app for latest).
Tom gold says:

14 Jul14 July 08:11

Has anyone entered France recently? I’d love to hear your experience with French border patrol
- SimonP says:
  
  14 Jul14 July 13:18
  
  I entered France last Friday via Eurotunnel. At Folkestone out of about 10 passport booths only 2 were open (the French giving us a V sign) so we missed our train! They checked every bit of paper and stamped our passports.
  - KellyK says:
    
    14 Jul14 July 14:50
    
    We entered via Eurotunnel 10 days ago, only 2 booths open as traffic is down 80% ( nothing to do with V signs @SimonP) , yes all paperwork checked , passport stamped,what do you expect post Brexit? On return yesterday only 2 uk passport booths open, all paperwork checked. FYI France accepts nhs covid app, uk doesn’t accept French app.
    Those nasty continentals eh …..🙄
- Nick Burch says:
  
  14 Jul14 July 18:03
  
  Took the Eurostar last week, so cleared French immigration in St Pancras. Eurostar staff were very hot on checking all the documents before you got to checkin. French border wanted to see negative covid tests, didn’t want to see vaccination records, only needed us to confirm verbally that we were double jabbed. UK passport stamped
Chrism20 says:

14 Jul14 July 08:25

It has taken six weeks and some serious pushing back but I appear to have finally got IHG to acknowledge that the reservation guarantee should have been triggered for the shenanigans at North Greenwich.
- John Caribbean says:
  
  14 Jul14 July 08:46
  
  What’s the upshot of this? I complained and they gave me 10k points
  - Chrism20 says:
    
    14 Jul14 July 09:00
    
    You’ve been fobbed off. Their initial offer to me was 20k.
    
    The reservation guarantee states that alternative suitable accommodation should have been offered rather than abandon guests with short notice cancellations and leave them to rebook at significantly higher rates.
    - Lady London says:
      
      14 Jul14 July 21:08
      
      Exactly. I don’t even think 20K does it here. Perhaps 20K-30K and only provided the IC O2 “walked” me to suitable alternative accommodation without extra charge, whether IHG or not, ideally with something extra and ideally minimum 30K IHG points as well.
      
      IHG has really shown their colours during Covid as a disorganised non-focused hotel group with no plan that does not step in at all to help guests when IHG hotels behave badly or even illegally. It seems tIHG has no control over their hotels at all. Someone (who?) keeps deleting this, but it really would not surprise me if IHG was up for sale or negotiating to be bought out by private equity. I just can’t think of any other explanation for a hotel group that once was so very good indeed, to be operating at such little added value to customers now.
JohnT says:

14 Jul14 July 08:28

Travelling to USA in a week and a half. Does anyone know whether a Boots Rapid Antigen test is accepted by both US authorities and BA/AA (flight is BA codeshare operated by AA) or is a PCR test needed?
- Steve says:
  
  14 Jul14 July 10:23
  
  Should be absolutely fine, antigen tests are OK, basically any test that would be OK in the UK is OK: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html
  - Steve says:
    
    14 Jul14 July 10:24
    
    More precisely, “What types of SARS-CoV-2 test are acceptable under the Order?
    Passengers must be tested with a viral test that could be either an antigen test or a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT). Examples of available NAATs for SARS-CoV-2 include but are not restricted to reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP), transcription-mediated amplification (TMA), nicking enzyme amplification reaction (NEAR), and helicase-dependent amplification (HDA). The test used must be authorized for use by the relevant national authority for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the country where the test is administered. A viral test conducted for U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) personnel, including DOD contractors, dependents, and other U.S. government employees, and tested by a DOD laboratory located in a foreign country also meets the requirements of the Order.”
    - Pete M says:
      
      14 Jul14 July 10:35
      
      Just to double-check, JohnT, you are aware of the Presidential proclamation in the US and know about the travel restrictions from the UK/Europe, right?
      - JohnT says:
        
        14 Jul14 July 18:14
        
        Yes, I believe so. Wife is US citizen, I’m UK. We’ll take out marriage certificate to LHR and test certificates.
      - Lyn says:
        
        14 Jul14 July 20:34
        
        JohnT – the only other thing might be to allow more time than normal at LHR for the US paperwork and questions.
Mark says:

14 Jul14 July 08:46

Hi, anyone got the American Golf 5% statement credit on their account yet? I bought a new driver on Saturday having saved the deal but still no sign of the rebate. Appreciate it can take some time to trigger but wanted to check other peoples experience, thanks
Mick S says:

14 Jul14 July 09:02

Not sure if this is scare tactics from AMEX but I have just closed by BA card down. I had to experience the sales pitch about all the benefits etc. One comment, which we know is false, is having to use the voucher and paying for taxes on a BA card – we know any AMEX will do.

However, I’ve not heard this before. They could tell I have an unused voucher and told me this will now be forfeited. I cancelled anyway. Anyone had a similar conversation?
- Chris Heyes says:
  
  14 Jul14 July 09:11
  
  Mick S It’s in their t&c so they could do at any time if they wanted to
  But I’m sure it wouldn’t happen until after September changes
  (if at all yet anyhow)
- Yorkieflyer says:
  
  14 Jul14 July 09:11
  
  Often been told the voucher will be lost
  - Mick S says:
    
    14 Jul14 July 09:17
    
    ah ok, i dont recall the voucher forfeit chat before. Perhaps I’ve chose not to hear it 🙂
    - Tariq says:
      
      14 Jul14 July 10:12
      
      Just tell them that you’ve already used it, I doubt they know…
- Ed says:
  
  14 Jul14 July 09:28
  
  They roll this out all the time. I don’t think there has been a single report of an issue of not holding a ba Amex. But I’m sure a number of people will highlight various t&c’s which could apply.