The HfP chat thread – Friday 30th July

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Colin MacKinnon says:

30 Jul30 July 09:54

Cheapest hire care i could find for a fortnight’s time was with Hertz – so signed up for their Gold Rewards Five Star with Amex Platinum. Clicked through the links from Amex.

But Hertz account just shows the basic Hertz Gold. Does this take a few days to update? An upgrade would be handy, but not essential!
- Doug M says:
  
  30 Jul30 July 10:13
  
  Hertz are basket case company. If status doesn’t just work the chances of being able to contact someone and getting it fixed are minimal. In my experience any of the gifted statuses with Hertz and Avis just offer queue jumping, nothing more than that. But that’s a big benefit much if the time.
  - John says:
    
    30 Jul30 July 13:13
    
    Hertz lets you jump the queue just by being a member
  - Lady London says:
    
    30 Jul30 July 14:03
    
    Doug M is right. If you have to complain because, say, you’re at the airport and the manager is saying your booked price is invalid so they’v
    - Lady London says:
      
      30 Jul30 July 14:06
      
      ..so they’re asking you to sign a chit for 720 euros when dropping the car back instead of the 95 euros it should be so you phone Hertz customer services… yes Hertz Gold President helps slightly but your record of hiring with them for years counts for more. Other than that not much difference esp if not USA hire
- Travel Strong says:
  
  30 Jul30 July 10:40
  
  Make sure you are also booking with the Amex Platinum CDP: 633306
Travel Strong says:

30 Jul30 July 10:06

Ebay/Nectar: Email offer received Wednesday for 10x Nectar points on purchases over £15 from midday today (“from midday 30 July to midday 31 July”). Unsure if targetted, but will need to be activated. Easiest way to check offers seems to be to keep refreshing the landing page of the app and see what offers it scrolls through.
Simon says:

30 Jul30 July 10:19

Silly question – Ive just panic booked am emergency flight back from Palma in case it goes red before the end of our holiday…. Had a voucher to use, so wont be any worse off if i hopefully cancel it…… The routing is PMI-MAD-LHR. first flight on iberia, with BA flight number…… Never done this before – will our luggage be checked all the way through ?
- Stu N says:
  
  30 Jul30 July 10:27
  
  If it’s a single booking with one booking reference (the six letter/number reference you use in Manage My Booking) then they will check through no problem and you won’t need to collect – you should be able to stay airside at Madrid.
  - Simon says:
    
    30 Jul30 July 10:30
    
    Thanks Stu. much appreciated. It is just one Reference. Fingers crossed, Spain does not go on the red list, and I will be cancelling these flights !
    - Yuff says:
      
      30 Jul30 July 11:23
      
      Make sure the flight has plenty of time between them as they are different terminals and you have to take a transit.
      Plus you have passport control to negotiate as well.
      - Stu N says:
        
        30 Jul30 July 11:45
        
        I thought all Iberia flights and all BA flights were T4 at Madrid so no change of terminals?
      - Simon says:
        
        30 Jul30 July 11:53
        
        Thankyou, both flights say T4 in Madrid, with a lovely 4 hours between them…….
      - kitten says:
        
        30 Jul30 July 14:09
        
        T4 is not the same Terminal as T4S in Madrid
      - Stu N says:
        
        30 Jul30 July 17:35
        
        T4S is the satellite to T4, it’s like the T5/T5B set-up at Heathrow but on a much bigger scale and they are a lot further apart. There is one “landside” for both then you go through into T4 and stay there, or take the transit out to T4S.
        
        T4 is massive, easily 10 -15mins brisk walk end to end and T4-T4S transit takes 10 mins or so.
        
        But if you think T4-T4S is bad, try doing a proper inter-terminal transfer at MAD, they are bloody miles apart…
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  30 Jul30 July 10:51
  
  Torygraph suggests it will stay amber. Since that’s Boris’ real boss I’m sure it right
  - Nick says:
    
    30 Jul30 July 12:03
    
    If it’s a BA flight it will be T4S. Only adds another 10 mins to move between 4 and 4S though. MAD is a remarkably easy airport to connect at, even though distances are vast. Plus pressing the button to ‘call’ the transit train is always fun.
    - Simon says:
      
      30 Jul30 July 12:50
      
      Intriguing….
Cup says:

30 Jul30 July 10:54

Had a BA redemption flight cancelled and have received a refund for the taxes paid for. How long does it take for the avios to be credited back into my account? TIA.
- Bob says:
  
  30 Jul30 July 11:00
  
  should be instant usually , depends on how long its been can chase up in case agent didn’t do something correctly
  - ChrisC says:
    
    30 Jul30 July 12:01
    
    Check the date of the initial transaction.as sometimes refunds get posted to that date not the date they processed the refund.
- MattyS says:
  
  30 Jul30 July 12:36
  
  I waited a week without getting mine back earlier this month, then called BA. The CS rep apologised and they were back in my account before the call ended.
Paul Pogba says:

30 Jul30 July 10:55

I’ve just had an email from Sainsbury: 1,000 Nectar (625 Avios) for downloading and using their SmartShop app before 12 August (min spend £10).
Dej says:

30 Jul30 July 10:57

Flew from T5 this morning, 7 am flight. We were through check-in and security(fast track) within 20 minutes
Galleries South was pretty busy but table service was good.
Landed in thessaloniki, we were through passport control and plf check with in 20 minutes of landing. They were doing random covid tests, our family didn’t get tested.
- Matthew says:
  
  30 Jul30 July 11:47
  
  Is the regular fast track security for Club / non-First or Gold passengers open? The Heathrow website still says they’re shut
  - Ikaz says:
    
    30 Jul30 July 12:28
    
    It typically has been open
  - Dej says:
    
    31 Jul31 July 05:03
    
    It was open, as that is what we used
Rich says:

30 Jul30 July 11:00

Heads-up – another Prenetics fail.

Friend trying to register and take a PCR test for travel to Spain. Their website is not currently allowing you to register a test. CS rep says the system is down, taking names of people who have called in to try to rush samples through but ‘no chance’ he’ll get his result in time for Sunday afternoon flight if he posts it today. Even if he is able to register it.

He’s gone off to NCL airport for an in-person test, and begin to fight for a refund from Prenetics.
- meta says:
  
  30 Jul30 July 11:16
  
  I always carry two tests – Qured and Prenetics along with couple of NHS ones in case something is missing in the pack. You can always reuse for another trip as they don’t expire for 12 months.
  - stevenhp1987 says:
    
    30 Jul30 July 11:29
    
    This. I ensure we have some spare liquid etc. from the NHS tests as the Prenetics ones tend to not have liquid in them…
  - Rich says:
    
    30 Jul30 July 11:36
    
    That was what they guy on the phone said to my friend – keep it for your next trip. I think my response would be no chance, sunshine. There won’t be a next time! Money back please.
    
    The test kits themselves must only cost a few pounds plus postage, so they haven’t lost much.
    - meta says:
      
      30 Jul30 July 11:48
      
      Of course, that too. Money back. But in case everything goes smoothly you can reuse.
David says:

30 Jul30 July 11:06

Anyone been to Antigua recently? Thinking of moving flights from Mexico to there for next week as news out of Mexico isn’t looking positive re a potential move to red list.

Understand it’s a PCR required for entry to Antigua but further information is quite vague, so keen to hear any recent experiences if possible.

Thanks.
- VickyTM says:
  
  30 Jul30 July 15:12
  
  Where did you hear this from please? Due to be there in a few weeks…
  - Sam G says:
    
    30 Jul30 July 16:07
    
    Spiking cases and their borders remain completely open, plenty of people from places we are worried about either holidaying there or doing transits to be eligible to go elsewhere. Some places like Cancun have started to put in local restrictions e.g. https://www.traveloffpath.com/cancun-hotels-and-restaurants-now-require-proof-of-vaccination/ but I’d definitely be considering a plan B , both for red risk & risk that the situation on the ground might not be so good for a holiday if they start closing venues etc
- Magic Mike says:
  
  30 Jul30 July 21:19
  
  Not recently (last Nov) but at that time Antigua was requiring medic administered PCR processed by a UKAS lab. On arrival your paperwork will be thoroughly checked by someone in full scrubs. (!)
  
  You were only able to stay in “certified” accommodation, check the Antigua tourist board website for the list.