The HfP chat thread – Thursday 29th July

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Gothbe says:

29 Jul29 July 08:20

Anyone had issues with curve this morning?
- John says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 09:54
  
  No
David S says:

29 Jul29 July 08:23

What’s the best option for getting car hire cheap in Portugal in Sept / Oct ? Flights were really cheap but £450 and hugely upwards for two weeks car hire
- Sam G says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 08:34
  
  Keep an eye on it, prices are all over the place and I did eventually get a week in Spain for a sensible price
  - HBommie says:
    
    29 Jul29 July 08:40
    
    who with?
- HBommie says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 08:39
  
  £450 isn’t bad for a fortnight, I’m paying that for a week in Italy.
  
  Pay now is the cheapest with the obvious risk involved, which I wouldn’t do personally. BA.com can be cheaper?
  - Wally1976 says:
    
    29 Jul29 July 08:51
    
    Agreed; we were going to be paying £330 for 11 days in Italy next week (until the whole thing cancelled) and that was booked months ago using MSE links with Discover Cars. Incidentally, they attempted to give us the deposit back as credit but I successfully insisted on the cash!
- Rhys says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 08:48
  
  Often local companies are cheaper. I went with Rent Auto when I was there.
- Rich says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 09:09
  
  Keep looking, and keep locking in flexible rates. Be flexible with airport vs downtown etc.
  
  As others say, prices are all over the place. Good chance of finding a low rate between now and then.
  
  In May, I was seeing prices of £250/ week in Faro. They dropped, and I locked in at £150, locked in again at £80, then I saw them back up to £350!
Wally1976 says:

29 Jul29 July 08:47

Has anyone been in the Aspire lounge at BHX recently and can report their experience? We’re due there next week. TIA
- Harrier25 says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 09:44
  
  I’m there tomorrow. Are there any lounges still closed at Birmingham?
  - Grant says:
    
    29 Jul29 July 11:11
    
    No1 and Clubrooms closed until the end of the month, I think
    - Harrier25 says:
      
      29 Jul29 July 11:14
      
      Okay, thanks Grant.
      - Grant says:
        
        29 Jul29 July 11:22
        
        Also worth noting that Aspire is only open tomorrow (Friday 30th) from 05:00 – 10:00 and 14:00 – 17:00
      - Wally1976 says:
        
        29 Jul29 July 15:14
        
        Yes, Priority Pass app is showing Clubrooms, No 1 and Aspire South all closed.
PMG says:

29 Jul29 July 09:00

With the Miles & More Credit Card closed and (as far as I understand) some uncertainty on if it will be back is there any good way of earning M&M in the UK with a credit card?

Not sure how hotel points transfer work with M&M but again seems to be an issue…

Thanks for any help 🙂
- Rob says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 09:39
  
  No. Only decent route would be Marriott to M&M but Lufty transfers from Marriott were scrapped as part of Lufty’s legal problems in Germany.
  - PMG says:
    
    29 Jul29 July 10:02
    
    Thanks Rob – it’s what I thought.
    Sad times as someone who regularly uses Lufty
    - Jonathan says:
      
      29 Jul29 July 11:26
      
      One might think if Lufthansa will change their stance on expiration dates of their Miles and More program points, I don’t think there’s many other companies that have such hard rules like Lufthansa imposes ?
      
      On a flip note, we can hope to hear some news on the replacement Lufthansa UK credit card !
      - Rob says:
        
        29 Jul29 July 12:04
        
        Lufthansa thinks it is being clever by banking tens of million of Euros by expiring miles. They are not going to change the policy now after not changing it for the last 18 months. They even shut down the loophole which let you get around it.
Ant says:

29 Jul29 July 09:12

Not travel related at all but i remember a while back there was a long conversation about whisky. Need to buy a nice bottle as a gift around £50-70, any suggestions? I know he likes to try Japanese ones but i have no clue. Recommendations for good scottish ones welcome as well.
- Craig says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 09:25
  
  Can’t go wrong with Hibiki on the Japanese front.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 09:27
  
  If he’s likes Japanese then probably Hibiki
  
  But I know very little Roku is a good Gin if you like Gin 🙂
- SteveJ says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 09:29
  
  You can get the Yamazaki Single Malt for that price, it’s wonderful.
- Jonny says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 09:40
  
  Japanese whisky has become v expensive and at that price point you can get a better quality scotch. Glenfarclas 15 and Glenallachie 15 are both superb drams for around £50, in my opinion! Both independently owned too.
- Rich says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 09:50
  
  Try to find out some of the whiskies he likes. I’d hate to think of somebody spending £70 on an excellent bottle of whiskey that isn’t to my taste.
  
  For Scottish distilleries, see if he has a preference for the peaty Islays or the smoother Speyside.
  - Chas says:
    
    29 Jul29 July 09:57
    
    +1 it completely depends on what style he likes.
    
    I recall the same discussion 18-24 months ago on whisky, and am fairly certain that it was Anna who was looking for a gift for her hubby, although the price point might have been a tad higher – if it was her, I’m sure she’ll comment shortly.
    - Lady London says:
      
      29 Jul29 July 12:42
      
      It was @Cat looking for smoky.
      
      Google for smoky or smokey whisky on this site from outside the site not inside.
      - Chas says:
        
        29 Jul29 July 13:24
        
        Yup – I stand corrected!
- Phil W says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 15:48
  
  If he likes Islay / Peaty whiskies, then I’d recommend Ardbeg Corryvreckan or Uigeadhal.
Walty says:

29 Jul29 July 09:25

Morning All,

QQ on credit cards. My wife currently holds the free BA Amex and is already on 18K spend for the year. The article earlier in the week left us with action to take before 1st Sept so we are not left with an economy only voucher so she will be upgrading to the BAPP today and triggering the 2-4-1 immediately before closing her account.

I haven’t held ANY Amex card in the last 2 years so I am free to earn a bonus on a card she will refer me for. She currently has a 4000 + 4000 extra referral bonus on her Free BA Amex.
1. Would the referral be bigger if she referred me from her BAPP?

2. We will have 2 x 2-4-1’s which I will try and extend the 1st one using a FTV so no need to earn anymore, anytime soon. Want to keep card fee’s to a minimum so was thinking of getting the gold card for the 20,000K bonus, keeping it for 1 year but then what?? After the year is up, what cards could I (refer myself) or my wife earn a bonus on?

TIA
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 09:29
  
  1 yes it’ll be bigger from a BAPP
  
  If you have had no Amex at all for 2 years then get a bonvoy/nectar first. That will mean you’ll be eligible for both the BAPP welcome and Platinum welcome bonuses.
  
  Whatever you do don’t get the free BA.
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    29 Jul29 July 09:32
    
    Perhaps I should’ve read 2.
    
    She will be eligible for the platinum sub only as she had a free BA/BAPP so excluded from all others.
    
    If you do get the Gold then you will be excluded from all but the BAPP.
    
    Consider that some people on here have a special deal for a 70k Platinum sign up bonus! Worrying about fees is counterintuitive as the frees are pro rata refundable and you can downgrade the cards at any point.
- Peter K says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 09:43
  
  1. Yes. 9k referral bonus from ba premium.
- Zara says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 10:20
  
  Hi there, I have 241 vouchers expiring before we will get to use it. Is there an article or some information I can be directed to regarding FTV which means they would not necessarily go to waste? I have not kept in the loop over the last year as we now have 3 kids under 5 and my time has shifted elsewhere until it became necessary to know about all things travel!
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    29 Jul29 July 11:29
    
    No article really needed
    
    Book a 2-4-1 flight to any Short hop RFS destination like Manchester Edinburgh paris etc. Then immediately cancel it for an FTV which can be used as part payment for a new 2-4-2 booking to any destination (must travel out by until 2023)
    
    Care point. The voucher will only be useable for the 2 passengers named on the original booking.
    - Zara says:
      
      29 Jul29 July 12:43
      
      Thank you. So you get back a 241 irrespective of the initial route chosen or the difference in taxes etc? As I’d be using the 241 for long haul ideally but won’t be able to do that until after it has expired.
      And I suppose the immediate cancellation is so that all taxes and fees are also refunded (as within 24 hours)?
      Many many thanks in advance
- Jonathan says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 12:44
  
  You should ideally wait until the voucher gets posted to your account before shutting it down
  - Walty says:
    
    29 Jul29 July 12:48
    
    Thanks All. Yes will hold off waiting until voucher is posted and avios cleared down before shutting it down.
    
    Just upgraded my wife to the BAPP and the referral fee has increased from 9K to 14K
    
    EXCLUSIVE OFFER
    You’ll earn (9,000) 14,000 Avios for each approved friend.
    
    Will have a think about what card next. Cheers for the advice!
Mark says:

29 Jul29 July 09:26

Any restaurants to recommend in Bilbao, San Sebastian or Barcelona?!
- Genghis says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 09:40
  
  Bilbao = ad hoc cascanueces
- Richie says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 09:50
  
  If you fancy a Michelin starred one, there’s one near San Sebastian. It was featured in a BBC TV programme, which could still be on the iPlayer.
  - cinereus says:
    
    29 Jul29 July 11:21
    
    Er, there’s lots.
- Craig says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 09:56
  
  If you fancy a drive into the country, about 90 minutes? The restaurants and winery at Marquis de Riscal are stunning.
  
  https://www.marquesderiscal.com/en/restaurants
  - Eoc says:
    
    29 Jul29 July 18:12
    
    Hotel is lovely to stay in too.Pillow menu etc.
- cinereus says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 11:22
  
  SS:
  
  bar Zeruko
  Calle Pescaderia 10, San Sebastian – Donostia, Spain
  943423451
  
  Astelena
  Plaza de la Constitucion, 20003 San Sebastian – Donostia, Spain
  +34 943425867
  
  A Fuego Negro
  31 de agosto, San Sebastian – Donostia, Spain
  650135373
  
  La Cepa
  The Street 31 of Agosto, San Seb
  
  La Cuchara de San Telmo
- Heathrow Flyer says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 12:36
  
  You have to try Bar Nestor in San Sebastian! You need to put your name down early to get a reservation for the evening.
Andy says:

29 Jul29 July 09:28

Booked Ibis Basel early June for a mid August stay on a cancellable rate. Cancelled on the 2nd July. No refund as yet. Hotel isn’t responding to my emails. At this stage am I better just raising a dispute with Amex and getting the refund that way?
- Blenz101 says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 09:39
  
  Have you tried speaking with Accor rather than the hotel? Whilst others report poor service I have always found them rather good (could be a function of status?).
  
  Nothing stopping you speaking with Amex but if the hotel puts up resistance it could be a messier route than just getting a refund via customer services.