The HfP chat thread – Thursday 29th July

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M says:

29 Jul29 July 14:25

Got my first Virgin CC voucher today!

Thanks Rob, Rhys and everyone commenting here! Long live HfP! 😁😁😁
- AL says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 15:24
  
  Did yours come physically? My 2020 one shows up only as a line item on my Virgin Points and CC statement.
  - M says:
    
    29 Jul29 July 15:49
    
    Yup, just a line item.
Laura says:

29 Jul29 July 14:27

Not sure there’s much demand for it here, but just FYI, the first class lounge at London Liverpool Street is still closed.

I know it’s a bit rubbish, but wanted to fill my coffee cup up before my train.
Sandgrounder says:

29 Jul29 July 14:38

Does anyone know the definition of a close contact on an aircraft in the UK? Just been contacted by test and trace a week after arriving home. How close do you need to be?
- Ls says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 14:38
  
  Do you know how close you were?
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 14:43
  
  Unless there was no one in the 2/3 rows in front or behind how will you know you weren’t?
  - Sandgrounder says:
    
    29 Jul29 July 15:26
    
    Just wondering, is it two seats, one row, etc. I think in the US it’s 2 seats in any direction. I will isolate regardless, because I follow the rules.
    - Sandgrounder says:
      
      29 Jul29 July 15:31
      
      Ireland seems to be 2 seats, haven’t come across the UK definition yet.
- Chas says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 16:00
  
  Someone on here commented last week that it was the entire plane, which I found a little extreme.
  - Andy D says:
    
    29 Jul29 July 18:41
    
    I think that there was a GIB-LHR which has a whole plane ping because the plane was diverted to AGP and passengers were transferred by bus. There’s no way to tell who sat where on the transfer bus for an hour, so…
- Rich says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 16:06
  
  I suspect it’s not fixed, and is left to the judgement of the contract tracer. Aircraft type, load factor, meal service, origin, variant would all have a bearing. And in particular, evidence from the index case about his/ her mask wearing etc.
  - Richie says:
    
    29 Jul29 July 16:57
    
    Happened to me. Isolation ends today at Midnight. Aircraft was not full in Y. Who knows who it was. No contact from test n trace whatsoevet.
- MD says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 18:42
  
  The UK definition, absurdly, seems to be the entire flight. Has happened to two different friends of mine within the last 3 weeks, two different flights. Both told, when they eventually got through to someone on 119, that they were isolating the entire plane as one partner has tested positive. It’s OK, they’re only doctors, not like they have anything better to be doing at the moment than sitting at home. 🙄
  - MD says:
    
    29 Jul29 July 18:43
    
    *one person, not one partner. Sigh.
Patrick Cold says:

29 Jul29 July 14:52

Mr Guevara sent me the following pop-up when I logged in this morning:

We have identified excessive top-ups and transfers. If similar behaviour continues, we may need to suspend your account.

He might have a point. Does anyone have suggestions as to how I may mix up my dealings with him please?
- Harry T says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 15:18
  
  Don’t screw about with Che. Unless you like having your balance locked in place whilst you try to contact their awful customer service. Just calm down for a bit.
  - Patrick Cold says:
    
    29 Jul29 July 15:20
    
    Thank you Harry – my engagement with them has been pretty minimal but I`ll desist altogether for a while.
- Colin MacKinnon says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 15:21
  
  Just close your account. You are a marked man – and when they do a Know Your Client on you, the lack of staff and the crazy questions will drive you to the brink of insanity.
  - kitten says:
    
    29 Jul29 July 15:30
    
    +1 get out now to avoid potentially months of suspension suddenly out of the blue. And really difficult then onerous to get their attention to sort it.
    
    It’s too late your ‘card is marked’. Get out, close it down now while you’ve still got your b*lls intact
    - Patrick Cold says:
      
      29 Jul29 July 15:42
      
      Thank you both.
      - Harry T says:
        
        29 Jul29 July 15:53
        
        Yeah, tbh I would get out whilst you can and be thankful you got a warning. Your only other alternative is to calm down considerably/stop for a bit and then slowly ramp up. But I’d leg it 😂
    - Crafty says:
      
      29 Jul29 July 20:52
      
      Not sure I agree with get out now. I had back to back warnings a long time ago. Kept it small from then, and nothing more from them. Continues to be a nice modest little earner for me.
- Toppcat says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 15:56
  
  I think the above responses are maybe a bit negative, so will add my tuppence…
  
  I got the same message (albeit a while ago now – probably late 2019), obviously didn’t desist enough, and had to go though the KYC process. Had to provide evidence of income, bank statements etc. It was a bit of a faff, but all over in about 2 weeks.
  
  Appreciate service levels may have changed post covid, but as long as you don’t have cash tied up that you can’t afford to be without for a few weeks then it isn’t the end of the world.
  
  I would also make an effort to push some transactions through Che that actually make them some money. Use your Che debit card occasionally, do some FX etc etc. If you are just funding with a CC and then withdrawing by bank transfer then you are loss-making for them, and they have a business, as well as a KYC, incentive to shut you down…
  - Patrick Cold says:
    
    29 Jul29 July 15:59
    
    Many thanks Toppcat.
  - Anna says:
    
    29 Jul29 July 16:44
    
    My OH got that message after his first couple of (modest) transactions. Just do one creative move per week and have never heard from them again.
    - Patrick Cold says:
      
      29 Jul29 July 16:56
      
      Thank you Anna.
Dace says:

29 Jul29 July 15:03

Can anyone recommend how to search ANA seats to Tokyo? I tried United but they’re showing nothing at all up until the cut off date. Surely there would be one date with that flexibility between Biz/First, no?
- BuildBackBetter says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 15:04
  
  Think they only release one seat in J and F
  - Bob says:
    
    29 Jul29 July 15:36
    
    route depending but not always, you can see more than one seat at times esp for some north american routes on which there are multiple flights compared to the european ones.
- Bob says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 15:35
  
  i find united has a loading lag at times with ANA availability.
  
  create an ana mileage club account and check availability there as you can see the full 365 days or so since their members can book seats earlier than when they’re available to virgin (330-331 days). if its available there then should be bookable. If waitlist then not.
  
  can also check on aeroplan with no account needed.
  - meta says:
    
    29 Jul29 July 17:00
    
    I check on Aeroplan and Krisflyer. Seats are usually released 355 days out to Star Alliance then completely disappear just before they are due to be available on Virgin. If they are still available, they are also snapped up very quickly.
MKB says:

29 Jul29 July 15:05

I’ve been to a number of restaurants and hotels recently where a laminated sheet of A4 with a QR code is brought to the table, with a link to the menu.

How is this safer than just bringing a laminated menu?
- fivebobbill says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 15:16
  
  Any that I’ve been to have had the QR code stuck to the table, but that is hilarious 😂😂
- Simon says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 15:16
  
  what is dangerous about any menu ?
- BuildBackBetter says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 15:39
  
  Because they don’t want to keep printing new menus and get them laminated whenever there’s a change in menu?
- Rich says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 16:09
  
  Nothing is perfect, but at a guess you’re not expected to fondle the QR code like you would a menu for several minutes. Hangover from when fomite transmission was a concern?
  
  Most places I’ve seen have QR codes fixed to the table
AL says:

29 Jul29 July 15:18

Lost my wallet last night; just had AmEx replace my Gold card. Couldn’t get them to send it on an overnight service – out of interest, do they do that for Platinum members? Mine should arrive via DHL on Tuesday. A long time to wait without a card when away from home!
- David says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 15:50
  
  Once had a plat Amex motorcycled to me in Bangkok !
- Harry T says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 15:53
  
  Add your new card to Apple Pay via the app, if you have an iPhone.
  - SteveJ says:
    
    29 Jul29 July 15:59
    
    Are you able to keep using a card on Apple/Google Pay once the physical equivalent is cancelled?
    - Harry T says:
      
      29 Jul29 July 16:29
      
      It should update Apple Pay with the new card! I’ve done this before when I had to have my platinum card replaced
      - Harry T says:
        
        29 Jul29 July 16:29
        
        But not when the card account has been cancelled
    - Andy D says:
      
      29 Jul29 July 18:44
      
      The one time I had to report a lost card, the apple wallet card was updated within the hour and I was back spending and earning MRs!
- AJA says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 16:11
  
  Oh dear. Sorry to read this. This is why I always take a secondary card and leave it in the hotel room safely hidden.
  
  I had my pocket picked in Toledo a couple of years ago and Amex offered to courier a card to me immediately with delivery the next day but as I was only there for two more days I opted to have the card delivered to my home after I got back.
Gareth says:

29 Jul29 July 15:24

@Rob I don’t believe you have access to the personal platinum 70k referral- is this still the case? If so could you provide my email to a person willing to offer? Thank you
- Rob says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 15:29
  
  The only link I had has now hit its 90k limit. Sure someone else can help.
- Ste C says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 15:30
  
  I have it if you want – Rob if i am not beaten to it can you pass on my details
  - Gareth says:
    
    29 Jul29 July 16:33
    
    That would be wonderful thank you!
    @Rob surprised they haven’t given you a larger limit!!
- Bill says:
  
  29 Jul29 July 21:13
  
  I’ve got a referral if anyone needs it