The HfP chat thread – Saturday 17th July

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Sehr says:

17 Jul17 July 08:50

Hi all,
Can I ask some advice please- is it possible for me to visit my brother and his family in the USA with an ESTA, given that people who have been in the U.K. for the last 14 days can’t enter US? Except for some exceptions including ‘most immediate family members of US citizens’. I live in the UK, my brother is a US citizen.
Thanks
- Rob says:
  
  17 Jul17 July 09:19
  
  Easy. You just need to spend 14 days elsewhere eg Barbados and then fly in.
  - Dave1985 says:
    
    17 Jul17 July 09:53
    
    Easy for people who drink champagne all day and throw £50 notes around 🤣
    
    (That was a joke by the way)
  - Sehr says:
    
    17 Jul17 July 10:15
    
    Thanks for replying. With three young children under 10, and limited annual leave this is unfortunately not an option.
    I wonder if I am ‘an immediate family member’ as a sibling or not.
    - TGLoyalty says:
      
      17 Jul17 July 10:55
      
      I believe once you’re over 21 or married you’re not, unless there are special care reasons etc
      
      It’s normally partner and children
- Sukes says:
  
  17 Jul17 July 09:38
  
  You should check the detail of the proclamation just in case your specific family & nationality circumstances provide you as exempt from the ‘entry ban’. As one example, any noncitizen who is the sibling of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident is exempt provided that both are unmarried and under the age of 21.
  - Sehr says:
    
    17 Jul17 July 10:18
    
    Yes, I looked through the proclamation but couldn’t find the definition of ‘most immediate family members’. I am married and above 21 so don’t fit the criteria you described. Thank you
    - Sukes says:
      
      17 Jul17 July 11:35
      
      I know not the answer you are looking for but you may wish to think about preparing alternative plans in order to (finally) meet loved ones again in the absence of the proclamation being repealed soon. Eg, US citizens can travel into UK, Europe, Mexico. As of Trudeau announcement 2days ago Canada plans to open to fully vaxxed US tourists in mid August and fully vaxxed tourists of all countries in early Sept.
      - Sehr says:
        
        17 Jul17 July 16:49
        
        Thanks for your input. Agree probably not the answer I wanted to hear but it is what it is!
Dave1985 says:

17 Jul17 July 08:52

They’ll probably blame “lockdown” for their poor behaviour even though it ended months ago.

Sad.
Egar says:

17 Jul17 July 08:53

Hi, I am a BA gold member, looking to use one of my 2-4-1 vouchers but not availability, however if I look to buy seats using Rewards avios link in the website I can do so. Just wondering what the difference is. Also, would it make any difference calling BA? would they grant the voucher? Thanks
- Jonathan says:
  
  17 Jul17 July 12:35
  
  What flights are you looking at? As a Gold they make additional seats available for economy Avios redemptions. If they are selling seats for cash in V fare bucket you can redeem Avios at the standard rate. I’m not 100% sure but I believe a 241 voucher can be used.
  
  The alternative is Gold Priority Rewards where you can book any seat being sold for cash for double the standard number of Avios (normal taxes & surcharges apply). You have to make the booking a minimum of 30 days in advance & you cannot use a 241 voucher.
  - Egar says:
    
    18 Jul18 July 19:52
    
    Thank you Jonathan
Bill says:

17 Jul17 July 08:53

How long are Avios to Nectar transfers currently taking?
- Peter K says:
  
  17 Jul17 July 09:15
  
  I’m not sure, but remember that you forfeit entry into the Nectar into Avios competition if you transfer any Avios to Nectar this month.
- Andrew says:
  
  17 Jul17 July 09:42
  
  Varies from 5 days to 3 weeks. I think they do them in batches so it’s luck of the draw when you ring up if you’ve just missed a run.
Worzel says:

17 Jul17 July 09:04

Seems to me that the heat is getting to Rhys.
Is the site going down the pan?
- Lord Doncaster says:
  
  17 Jul17 July 09:08
  
  Perhaps he’ll get a different pair of tartan slacks then.
Lord Doncaster says:

17 Jul17 July 09:04

I don’t know. We all know the editorial preferences of this site…Rob is a Guardian reader after all.
- Bojotheclown says:
  
  17 Jul17 July 09:12
  
  And the F.T. , your point being?
  - Lord Doncaster says:
    
    17 Jul17 July 09:13
    
    Onslow reads the Financial Times. Hardly the Paper of the elite. Purleaseeee
    - Kellyk says:
      
      17 Jul17 July 09:30
      
      Ah the elite, would that be metropolitan liberal sort or some other kind?
    - Dave1985 says:
      
      17 Jul17 July 09:44
      
      Anyone who doesn’t stick a flare up their bottom after sticking 20 grams of powder up their nose is considered the “elite” these days
    - Kellyk says:
      
      17 Jul17 July 10:11
      
      @Dave1985. Cool, I’m now part of the elite 👍😎
- Lord Doncaster says:
  
  17 Jul17 July 12:45
  
  I like Onslow. Proper man’s man.
LessCleverAndrew says:

17 Jul17 July 09:18

I was due to enter France via geneva airport. With the intention of staying in french alps. I am of course not advocating breaking the law but at a purely hypothetical level. How would the U.K. authorities know that a traveller entered France at Geneva airport?
- Will says:
  
  17 Jul17 July 09:24
  
  I’ve wondered this too. Big fine if you do get found out though isn’t it?
  
  Was thinking same with Croatia / Montenegro border.
- Mike says:
  
  17 Jul17 July 09:25
  
  The traveler would realise it was their duty to declare it on return to the uk ( others before self is a useful way of remembering how to behave )
- RegularUser says:
  
  17 Jul17 July 09:35
  
  You’d be surprised at the lack of actual legal routes the Govt can/does take with travel rule breaking, in any case.
- JDB says:
  
  17 Jul17 July 09:44
  
  The UK authorities quite likely wouldn’t know, but there is your conscience and, if somehow they did find out, all the traces on your credit card, mobile etc. leave a clear evidence trail. It’s the lying on the form that would make it a fairly serious offence.
- SimonP says:
  
  17 Jul17 July 18:34
  
  The French may well stamp your passport.
MD says:

17 Jul17 July 09:21

Yet more atrocious behaviour from Lastminute.com, massively overbooking a Gibraltar hotel and then providing no help whatsoever. Can’t believe anyone still uses them.

https://amp.theguardian.com/business/2021/jul/17/couple-hotel-overbooked-holiday-accommodation
- Lady London says:
  
  17 Jul17 July 13:35
  
  LastMinute has gone bust once and my personal view is there’s a serious risk of it happening again.
  - Crafty says:
    
    17 Jul17 July 19:53
    
    Dealt with the management before… would never book anything with them.