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The HfP chat thread – Sunday 18th July

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General

Comments (430)

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

  • berneslai says:
    18 Jul18 July 08:12

    I’ve decided to do a mattress run to try and save my status for at least one of the hotel chains. Has anyone got any recommendations for a good run of budget hotels (Hilton or Marriott). I’m stuck in the South East so have a choice of zero Marriotts and 2 shabby, overpriced Hiltons (Brighton/Arundel)

    • Memesweeper says:
      18 Jul18 July 08:15

      Get Amex Plat for Hilton Gold. When the status is through cancel the plat and get most of your fees back. Likely cheaper than a mattress run. Gold will persist for a year or two.

      For Marriott Moxy Stratford, Courtyard Luton and Delta Milton Keynes are consistently cheapest in the SE.

      • Memesweeper says:
        18 Jul18 July 08:30

        Redemption stays count for status in Marriott. Fancy a quick break in Cambridge?

        • John says:
          18 Jul18 July 12:23

          Same for Hilton, but Cambridge isn’t the place for a mattress run

      • Lou says:
        18 Jul18 July 08:57

        Can you do that?! Do you get a year’s gold on Hilton even if you cancel your plat after a month?!

        • Travel Strong says:
          18 Jul18 July 09:03

          Yes, at a minimum.

        • Ikaz says:
          18 Jul18 July 09:12

          You might want to wait until your current status has ended for this, to make sure that Amex actually upgrades you. Giving you more flexibility also! Otherwise a few weekends at the couryard Oxford on points for Marriott

        • Chris Heyes says:
          18 Jul18 July 10:05

          Lou Time it right and you can get 18 Months Gold Hilton if fact most Hotel chains
          Get Plat hit bonus within a Month, cancel Plat not a prob we have done it.
          Works out around £54 worth every penny especially if you can hit Bonus Target and maybe even get a referral in (just careful planning (and family) to time hitting Bonus Target but worth it for status’s alone at £54

      • berneslai says:
        18 Jul18 July 10:01

        Thanks. Already got Amex Plat – I’m looking to save Marriott Plat and Hilton Diamond for 2022 as all my foreign breaks (that would have retained status) have been cancelled. I’ll take a look at the hotels you’ve listed.

      • Lady London says:
        18 Jul18 July 10:23

        new Moxy in MK, apparently

        • Tariq says:
          18 Jul18 July 19:42

          Very nice it is too. Walkable from the train station and free street parking 6pm-8am. Not sure if the Delta is still closed for quarantine.

    • SteveJ says:
      18 Jul18 July 08:18

      You’ll probably need to get yourself up to Croydon at least for a cheap Hilton assuming you’re south coast.

    • Tracey says:
      18 Jul18 July 08:34

      A days shopping at Lakeside and Bluewater and stay overnight at the Hilton Dartford Bridge?

      • Lady London says:
        18 Jul18 July 10:28

        Hi Tracey

        I quite like Lakeside but not been for a while since I had a contract near there. If without car is there any transport that would get to Lakeside from the Hilton Dartford Bridge? If ‘with’ car I’d probably go over the bridge and do Bluewater as well.

    • Ste C says:
      18 Jul18 July 08:48

      one thing I did at the end of last year was check in through the app (Hilton) so I could pick the cheapest place anywhere in the country. Sometimes they let you checkout through the app as well but if not, I just phoned up and said I had to leave in a rush and forgot to checkout. (during one of the stricter lockdown periods I said I booked it for work but the work was cancelled and didn’t use the room, they checked me out over the phone with no issues)

      • John says:
        18 Jul18 July 12:27

        If they cared they could audit your digital key and cancel your stay if you didn’t use it, but I guess you would be unlucky for that to happen

    • Russ says:
      18 Jul18 July 09:35

      Gatwick’s Courtyard/Hampton/Hilton are all close together.

    • Harry T says:
      18 Jul18 July 10:21

      If you had Marriott status last year, you should have received some bonus nights this year. You could take out the Marriott Bonvoy amex to get another 15 nights for £75. If you were platinum last year, you would then be on 40 nights. If you were titanium last year, you would be on 53 nights (this is what happened to me).

  • BJ says:
    18 Jul18 July 08:39

    I was only using Brexit as an example of how, regardless of their views, some people used it as an excuse to ‘attack” others while most people did not. Brexit itself was irrelevant, it could just as easily be any other divisive issie. It’s not about the issues, it’s about how we conduct ourselves.

  • QwertyKnowsBest says:
    18 Jul18 July 08:45

    Morning, anyone have recent experience driving into Portugal from Spain and VV and any restrictions or requirements? The official websites are confusing. I am in Spain (thanks BTW to whoever recommended the Voda 70GB data deal) and have a Portugal hotel booking that’s needs to be cancelled today to avoid cost if cannot travel.

    Thanks

  • Yolo says:
    18 Jul18 July 08:49

    Rules for them, not us.

    “The prime minister and chancellor will not be self-isolating after contact with Health Secretary Sajid Javid, who has tested positive for coronavirus.”

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57877373

    • The Original Nick says:
      18 Jul18 July 08:51

      Yep, encouraging others to do so…

    • Craig says:
      18 Jul18 July 08:55

      Lead by example and all that!

    • TGLoyalty says:
      18 Jul18 July 09:31

      You can do this too if you work for employers part of the trial scheme.

      I can as my employer has been part of it for a couple months. Never had to use it though to date.

    • Lottie says:
      18 Jul18 July 09:33

      It’s the first thing I read after being told to isolate for 10 days!. I have just returned from a trip to Menorca and someone on the plane tested positive apparently.

      • TGLoyalty says:
        18 Jul18 July 09:54

        What happens if you are told to isolate after a positive contact on say Aug 15th but are double vaccinated.

        Do you have to isolate for 10 days or just until the 16th?

      • Birdy says:
        18 Jul18 July 10:37

        This has just happened to us. Our flight back from Mallorca was last Saturday and we were notified yesterday so we only have to isolate for a few days.

    • Dave1985 says:
      18 Jul18 July 10:02

      For some reason I can’t help but think of a 2008 Kaiser Chiefs album 🤔

    • Aston100 says:
      18 Jul18 July 10:17

      And yet despite this and despite numerous other issues pertaining to Covid since last year, Bojo and his circus of clowns seem to remain popular with the electorate.

    • Lady London says:
      18 Jul18 July 10:38

      So they’re too good to folloe their own rules?

      So they insist on exposing anyone who must attend a workplace to people who’ve tested positive and are attending work?

      And it’s “The Gove Solution” we’ll just invent a “pilot programme” for any one of us that should be following a rule, but doesn’t feel like it?

      I’m finally seeing why so many posters on here simply refuse to follow the rules.

      • Dave1985 says:
        18 Jul18 July 10:52

        Turns out they’ll be isolating now 🤔

        Them being part of the Pilot scheme seems to have gone for a burton 🤔

    • Steve S says:
      18 Jul18 July 10:57

      He’s done a U turn and will be staying at his country residence

  • Dave1985 says:
    18 Jul18 July 08:55

    How is everyone celebrating “freedom day” tomorrow? Presumably by arguing with strangers on the internet 🤣🤣🤣

    What a world 🤣🤣🤣

    • Craig says:
      18 Jul18 July 08:56

      Getting up at 0430 to make sure some pilots are ready to fly for flights that may or may not happen!

    • Number9 says:
      18 Jul18 July 09:30

      Not only strangers on internet but real life people as well. I like to think I don’t discriminate.

      I’m hoping plans for my new extension are ready and I’m planning on trying to go out to chose new bathroom. But busted my shoulder and foot, can’t wear shoes so will be out in my slippers and getting in car is a nightmare, but I won’t weaken money must be spent, preferably on Amex card to make my 241 and bonuses.

      • Dave1985 says:
        18 Jul18 July 09:43

        “ I’m planning on trying to go out to chose new bathroom”

        You’ve been able to do that for months!

    • TGLoyalty says:
      18 Jul18 July 09:32

      Getting ready for all the busy bodies telling others to wear masks.

      • Optimus Prime says:
        18 Jul18 July 09:42

        You don’t think we should keep wearing them in some places such as the London Tube?

        • Dave1985 says:
          18 Jul18 July 09:43

          It’s a requirement on the tube. If people don’t like it they can find another method of transport

          • Optimus Prime says:
            18 Jul18 July 09:48

            I know it is yet I still see lots not wearing them. I expect a lot more from tomorrow.

            Also some people on Twitter asking to boycott Uber because they’ll keep requesting passengers to wear a mask…

          • TGLoyalty says:
            18 Jul18 July 09:56

            “It’s a requirement on the tube”

            Unenforceable and therefore it’s inevitable that people won’t or more have “exemptions”

        • TGLoyalty says:
          18 Jul18 July 09:50

          It doesn’t matter what I think. I also don’t use the tube nor public transport enough to care.

          Fact is people have been wearing them badly or not at all in many places for a while and reports it’s exactly the same on public transport.

          • Dave1985 says:
            18 Jul18 July 09:59

            Fair enough. It’s not something I get hot and bothered about either way, as I’ve got better things to do with my time, but each to their own!

          • TGLoyalty says:
            18 Jul18 July 10:02

            Seems you are hot and bothered …

            And the irony of you original post and the replies 😂

            Have a good “freedom day” it’s just a normal day for me.

        • Aston100 says:
          18 Jul18 July 10:21

          Is a mask truly effective on a packed tube train?
          When I was down in London in early June, significant numbers of people weren’t wearing a mask on the London Underground, and nobody saying anything about it (but then again the kind of people who live in London without possibly just stab you for looking at them).

          • Aston100 says:
            18 Jul18 July 10:22

            The ability to edit posts cannot come soon enough.
            Forums existed in the 20th century…

          • Harry T says:
            18 Jul18 July 10:25

            Based on my experience of the tube whilst there is a legal mask mandate, few people wear masks properly – the old nose pointing out jobbie or wearing around their neck, or not at all. I also think that cloth masks or three month old surgical masks worn properly likely won’t be very effective in a poorly ventilated environment, unless the contact is fleeting. As far as I know, the data on masks is patchy and I haven’t seen a good study that reviews them in the context of the far more contagious delta variant. I would have more faith in them working in Hong Kong, where decent quality masks are worn diligently and properly.

          • TGLoyalty says:
            18 Jul18 July 10:26

            If they were correctly fitted FFP3 masks then undoubtedly so. The cheap reusable and even disposable crap the public have been encouraged to wear … you decide.

            It does make people feel warm and fuzzy though.

          • Dave1985 says:
            18 Jul18 July 10:43

            Probably not that effective but they REALLY seem to annoy some people 🤣

          • VerdantBacon says:
            18 Jul18 July 14:03

            @Aston the same 6 people passive aggressively arguing with each other all day on a forum while claiming to have better things to do, seems so much better than doing it in the comments 🙄

      • Dave1985 says:
        18 Jul18 July 09:55

        “ Getting ready for all the busy bodies telling others to wear masks.”

        Sounds like you’ve got a fun day planned! Enjoy!

        • Dave1985 says:
          18 Jul18 July 10:03

          “ Seems you are hot and bothered ”

          Well it is 26 degrees at 10am!

          Enjoy!

      • David says:
        18 Jul18 July 11:54

        Fascinating, TGLoyalty. Wonder whether you consider yourself a busy body for telling everyone on here to effectively ignore public health advice, about “scariants” etc etc ad nausem?

        • Dave1985 says:
          18 Jul18 July 12:46

          🤣

        • TGLoyalty says:
          18 Jul18 July 18:46

          😂 since I’ve never told anyone what to do … no

          People having a different opinion isn’t an issue as long as they don’t push it upon you.

          Everyone is now free to make their own personal choices, as it should be when 95% of the at risk are double vaccinated.

          • David says:
            18 Jul18 July 19:07

            You even have a very selective view of your own posts, as well as whatnthe science says 🤣
            I suppose you are at least consistent in that.

          • TGLoyalty says:
            18 Jul18 July 21:42

            “What the science says” you know there are many many very well educated scientists that have differing opinions on the pandemic and the approach to it.

            Except some people have decided they are crackpots but it’s against the populist view.

          • David says:
            18 Jul18 July 22:55

            No. There are a few, odd (in many different ways) outliers, and you put all your eggs in that basket.
            There be the problem.

          • TGLoyalty says:
            18 Jul18 July 23:54

            Proves my point.

          • David says:
            19 Jul19 July 01:00

            “Many” and “a few” are very different things, but as you don’t seem to understand that I can see why you might think your point is proven.

            Yet again, you demonstrate so well where the problem lies.

  • Memesweeper says:
    18 Jul18 July 09:11

    Is there a way to correct an error/appeal against a isolation instruction from Test and Trace?

    Circumstances are a call received (and letter) requiring a 10 isolation period from date of test, which should have been 5 days from date of test. There appears to be no mechanism to correct this error and the penalties for non-compliance are severe… unless you are Rishi or Boris.

    • Yuff says:
      18 Jul18 July 09:34

      This is going to backfire massively……….
      How many NHS apps will get deleted today because of this.
      Hugely shortsighted but let’s be honest what they are doing is what the whole country should be doing if you are double vaccinated.
      This should be implemented tomorrow……..

      • Memesweeper says:
        18 Jul18 July 09:57

        If you’re pinged in the app it’s not a crime to ignore it.

        If they phone you or write to you it is.

        Deleting the app may well occur as a result but that doesn’t help people the NHS contacts and tells to stay at home (sometimes on the basis of wrong information).

        • Yuff says:
          18 Jul18 July 10:04

          I have read plenty of stories of test and trace being unable to contact people so I think Boris and Rishi are just incentivising people to ignore calls etc.
          Does anyone answer a call to an unrecognised number these days.
          I have a mailbox I don’t check everyday unless I’m expecting something I need.
          Politicians need to realise that if they take the mickey, which this is obviously doing, other people won’t play ball either.

          • Dave1985 says:
            18 Jul18 July 10:06

            Don’t you get a text? (That’s what happened to someone I know anyway)

          • TGLoyalty says:
            18 Jul18 July 10:07

            They are actually part of a trial which other employers are also involved in.

            I would be eligible for example.

      • TGLoyalty says:
        18 Jul18 July 10:05

        There’s really no use for the app from tomorrow.

        • Dave1985 says:
          18 Jul18 July 10:42

          It’s a good way of getting out of tedious face to face meetings that I’d rather do in my pyjamas from my bedroom! Ping ping!

          • Memesweeper says:
            18 Jul18 July 10:57

            The folks in question need to be in work in person.

            They’d also like to be out socialising next weekend provided they have clear test results.

            I realise that lots of people relish an excuse to go out less, but for 90% of us it’s unnatural and burdensome.

          • Dave1985 says:
            18 Jul18 July 11:15

            “ They’d also like to be out socialising next weekend provided they have clear test results.”

            You can still go out. Getting pinged isn’t the same as getting a text from test and trace

          • Memesweeper says:
            18 Jul18 July 11:40

            They were *phoned*. It’s a crime to go out.

    • Anna says:
      18 Jul18 July 09:58

      Yes – I have done this. Someone was given duff information and all their contacts from the past 7 days were notified instead of 48 hours. You need to call 119 and get them to take you off the contact list. I didn’t get a confirmation I’d been removed, but no-one ever checked if I was isolating.

  • Duncan Stevenson-Price says:
    18 Jul18 July 09:18

    Did I read a while back that the BAPP card is getting a re-design? Have there been any sneaky previews of what it’ll look like yet, or when? My current card is looking a bit tired / cracked but due for replacement later this year anyway when it expires.

    • Rob says:
      18 Jul18 July 09:19

      No, not seen any mock-ups.

      We’re just hoping it doesn’t go vertical because the HfP design scheme is based around horizontal card designs ….

      • Duncan Stevenson-Price says:
        18 Jul18 July 09:34

        I imagine they’ll design a horizontal card for use in things like Apple Pay, so perhaps you can use that with your existing layouts?

    • Matthew says:
      18 Jul18 July 15:15

      I reckon it will probably be a similar style to the BA Accelerating Business card unless Amex/BA want to do something more adverterous like the Virgin Atlantic card designs.

  • Sam says:
    18 Jul18 July 09:33

    Curve Blue (free) – Spend up to £500 per month fee free. There’s a 2% fee for any more spend. Withdraw up to £200 per month from foreign ATMs. There’s 2% fee or a £2 charge (whichever is higher) for any further withdrawals.

    Is the £500 inclusive of the £200 ATM withdrawal or excluding?

    • Yorkie Aid says:
      18 Jul18 July 10:00

      I think it’s a separate ATM limit. To be fair though I’ve never experienced getting the FX fee when spending more than £500 abroad in a month. YMMV of course

      • Yorkieflyer says:
        18 Jul18 July 16:03

        I have been surcharged for spending over £500 in fx. ATM £200 is not specifically fx

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

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