Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

The HfP chat thread – Saturday 17th 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 (342)

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

  • AndyGWP says:

    [Rash] mentioned yesterday that he had a Hertz manager contact him about using an Amex CDP that was no longer valid, and his booking was not honoured

    I’ve made a few bookings lately, using the CDP that is saved in my account – which displays as just a description.

    Any ideas on how I can check what the actual code I have been using is?

    • AndyGWP says:

      (Apologies – Rash may not be a “he”)

    • Lady London says:

      Sounds like a revenue grab by Hertz or perhaps even just by that Area / Manager. These discounts are arranged at corporate level and branches are supposed to honour them.

      • VerdantBacon says:

        They were meant to stop honouring the old code when the new one came in, they just seem to have let it slide much longer than they should have and it’s catching people out now. No harm done as there is a replacement code.

    • VerdantBacon says:

      633306 is the current code, I believe this replaced the old one some times ago but the continued to take bookings under the old one

      • Jonathan says:

        I think this fits with a recent trend of Hertz clamping down on abuse of CDP’s etc. It’s been a bit of a free for all for the last few years with people using codes they weren’t remotely entitled to.

    • Travel Strong says:

      211762 = “PLATINUM CARD FROM AMEX”
      633306 = “AMEX PLATINUM EMEA”

      Prices appear identical for both to me.

      Only difference in behavior is that 211762 does not seem to ask if reservation is Biz or Leisure, but this might not be a consistent difference. The Hertz site is full of inconsistency! Clicking back and just re-running the identical quote often brings up a different selection of Pay at location vs. pre-online options.

      • AndyGWP says:

        Thank you. This is really useful – much appreciated and looks like I’m good 👍🏻

  • Keely says:

    Now that Malta has agreed that they will accept the Indian AZ batches, it looks like I am going to Malta in a week. Yay!
    Couple of questions if anybody is familiar with Malta please:
    Recommendations on which area to stay please. Not into clubbing (!) but like to try different restaurants /bars each night .I know it’s a small island but don’t want to be messing with cabs every night so need walkable options.
    For anybody that’s travelled there recently , what’s it like there with masks in outdoor areas etc
    Thanks

    • Aston100 says:

      We stayed in St Julians. Found it a bit loud and a tad seedy, but that’s where many of the international chains can be found.

      If I went again, I’d consider somewhere like Sliema.

      • Aston100 says:

        Sorry, this was just before Covid.

      • Peter K says:

        St Julian’s is the party section of Malta.

        Valletta is lovely but as far as traveling goes, taking the bus is actually fine in Malta as everything is so close.

        The roads are awful and a Maltese friend said to avoid hiring cars. They have a specific numberplate (start with a Z??) that the police recognise and treat you harsher.

        • Keely says:

          Thank you. We aren’t planning to hire a car but useful to know.

      • Keely says:

        Thanks Aston . We’d been recommended St Julians but had a feeling it might be like that .
        We are only going to Malta as it’s on the green list. Not sure what to expect .

        • Andy D says:

          I love the Hilton at StJ. It’s a sweet spot for exploring the whole island by bus and you have a few nice options for dinner or drinks a few steps from the hotel. Enjoy it!

      • Crafty says:

        Agreed, Paceville is one of the seediest places I’ve been to.

  • Josh says:

    Can anyone kindly share the 70k plat referral link please?

  • VickyTM says:

    Hi, Looking for some advice on a Virgin Atlantic redemption booking please. I have a return redemption flight booked to LAX that I booked in the half point sale.
    1) Am I able to cancel the outbound but keep the inbound? If I do that, will I have to pay the difference in points?
    2) It’s also highly likely that they will cancel the outbound. If they do that, Can I keep the inbound? Am I able to move the LHR-LAX leg to after the LAX-LHR leg?

    Many Thanks

    • Blair says:

      Sorry to hijack but are the ex-Air Berlin planes now converted to the (inferior) typical Upper Class formation? There’s a few parked up in MAN that I was hoping were still ex-Air Berlin and likely to ply the MAN-LAX route in 2022.

      • Rob says:

        Those aircraft have left the fleet.

        • Blair says:

          Ok a LHR departure for me it is so. Not having that manky old UC setup.

          • babyg_wc says:

            Think im one of the few that actually likes the old upper flip seat… Way better bed (properly flat no humps like the new seat) and buddy dining is always fun..

          • Rob says:

            Manchester is getting 787s isn’t it?

            The ‘leisure’ A350 fleet arrives from December. No loft, but something else.

    • Lord Doncaster says:

      And it’s run by a Labour councillor too…

      • Super Secret Stuff says:

        Ahhh this will be interesting to see how it plays out… who attacks who?

        • Lady London says:

          Did anyone do the calculations on how much money they’re making per day/month ? It’s mindboggling.

          Imagine the scope for kickbacks. Not that I’m implying anyone connected with the government would expect future reward for favours rendered

      • Paul Pogba says:

        His response: “I would be very, very careful about what you’re saying because that’s not what we are doing. This is bang out of order.”

    • David says:

      The Sun. That well known source and truthful, accurate and unbiased reporting 🙄

    • Aaron C says:

      If the government really cared about these tests they’d demand UKAS accreditation for the labs. But they don’t because it’s just a con.

  • Yorkshire Rich says:

    Hilton watford where I am staying for the challenge cup final at Wembley today is far from good. I have never once just left a breakfast but I felt I had no choice today. It was horrendous. The bed was rock hard also.
    Wembley however is extremely calm and a good atmosphere.

    I have booked park and ride tomorrow for silverstone and I am reading some horror stories about the queues and drivers who are heading in the wrong direction.

    Least the sun is out

    • Tracey says:

      Park near Stanmore tube station (use one of the many park-in-my-drive apps) and take the tube a few stops. Far easier.

    • Rui N. says:

      I’ve done park and ride once for Silverstone and it was fine, but the traffic to get out was horrendous. Since them I’ve paid the extra 30 or so extra pounds to park at the circuit. The traffic is of course still horrendous (it’s the same roads the buses use), but at least you are on your own car with your AC.

    • Paul Pogba says:

      I tried to steer someone away from that place a few days ago. I thought the Spiders Webb down the road would survive longer but its been up for residential development for a while now. Only a matter of time before Hertsmere council give the nod for the Hiltons destruction too.

      • Tracey says:

        It’s now the Mercure London Watford Hotel.
        I always thought of it as the poor relation of the Hilton.

    • Aaron C says:

      That hotel is a total dump. Stayed there a few years back for an event in the area and it was falling apart then.

  • Alan says:

    I was just about to finalise a booking to newly Green Sofia. Good flights and a great price on a suite in the Intercontinental.

    Fortunately before confirming I did a final check on Bulgaria’s entry requirements and found all arrivals from the UK are banned from the 19th of July.

    I cannot be bothered to try and book anything else for the summer, it seems likely that we will be banned from most countries in the next week or two and even if we are not could be quarantined on the way back.

  • Russ says:

    Waitrose free coffee restarts 1st September.

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