The HfP chat thread – Saturday 31st July

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

• Ryanfozzie says:

  31 Jul31 July 09:58

  Good morning all!

  A IHG Ambassador question. Today is the last day to sign up and get a free stay up to 40,000 points if you make a stay before August 31st. Now I have a question about the ‘qualifying stay’. If I book a weekend in August at a Kimpton in Edinburgh using the Ambassador Weekend Free night, would the paid night trigger the 40,000 point free stay?

• Patrycja says:

  31 Jul31 July 10:14

  Good morning all and happy Saturday!

  After a great Ibiza trip last month I am planning Madeira in August. My husband and I will be fully vaccinated by then so entry should be straightforward.

  Does anyone have an experience with free antigen tests offered by Madeira prior to departure from the island to depart to Uk?
  I believe they are offered in Funchal hospital which will be close to our hotel.

  I am trying to decide whether to take test with me from Uk or use the free ones on the island.

  Many thanks in advance.

  • AFKAE says:

    31 Jul31 July 10:57

    Hi Patrycja- they are available at loads of Farmacia’s in Funchal, but you may need to give them some notice. The MadeiraSafe website suggests 4 days.
    You are right about the hospital just a short taxi ride (8€) from the seafront in Funchal, there is a 24 hour walk in service there. You do the test hang around outside in the sunshine for 20 mins and then they come out announce your name and give you the piece of paper-all very efficient.

    • Patrycja says:

      31 Jul31 July 13:24

      Lovely, sounds like a straightforward process. I might use it this time. Thank you!

    • Richie says:

      31 Jul31 July 16:51

      Apparently, Portugal is making an announcement w/c 1st August.

      • Patrycja says:

        31 Jul31 July 18:53

        To make things better or worse?

        • Rob says:

          31 Jul31 July 20:07

          Can’t get a lot worse than ‘must be vaccinated AND must show a negative test result’ ….

  • TGLoyalty says:

    31 Jul31 July 11:00

    Why not take a couple of £10 chronomatics tests (BA code to bring the price down and order separately)

    If you get the free one happy days if not you have a fall back plan.

    • Keely says:

      31 Jul31 July 11:06

      Can I just check…I’ve just (this morning ) had a test in Malta and paid 40 euros for it …could I have taken a test with me and used this? Doesn’t it need somehow to be certified by a (supposed) health professional ?

      • Keely says:

        31 Jul31 July 11:12

        I’ve just answered my own question .. it doesn’t need to be . Thanks for the tip , I’ll be doing this in future …

      • TGLoyalty says:

        31 Jul31 July 11:13

        Yes you could have taken it with you and the result is verified by picture

        And it works on the same principle of trust as all at home tests … how will anyone know who shoved your day 2 swab up your own nose and not somebody else’s.

        • Keely says:

          31 Jul31 July 11:23

          Thanks TGI I’ll be better prepared next time. By which time they will obviously have changed the rules again….

        • Rob says:

          31 Jul31 July 11:30

          But how would you know the other person wasn’t asymptomatic infected?

        • Keely says:

          31 Jul31 July 11:41

          And just to be clear …I’m not trying to circumvent the (ridiculous) rules ..I’m just trying to comply with them at the lowest possible cost.

        • TGLoyalty says:

          31 Jul31 July 12:09

          Rob you don’t. Just like your don’t know you’re …. Risk

          A grandparent who hasn’t left the house/garden and is fully vaccinated is far less likely to have Covid than an 21 year old that’s just been on a plane, partying in nightclubs etc

          Anyway no is saying to do it the point is it works on trust that you will indeed shove it up your own nose.

    • MW says:

      31 Jul31 July 12:10

      How do you get Chronomics to be £10? Antigen test seems to be £22 with the BA discount.

    • BP says:

      31 Jul31 July 12:12

      BA code has stopped working. 2 days ago the price was £8!!

    • Patrycja says:

      31 Jul31 July 13:26

      They are £22 now not £10. Given I have to pay rediculous £88 per person for Day 2 test to return to Scotland (we are flying direct). It would be nice not having to pay for tests to return to the Uk. We are likely to go for 10 days so if the process is quick, I don’t mind going to the hospital which is nearby.

      • Tracy says:

        31 Jul31 July 18:22

        Someone on here said that the PLF will accept any day 2 test, not just the Scottish one…..

        • Patrycja says:

          31 Jul31 July 18:55

          They clearly haven’t read the small print. We only have one approved provider in Scotland. You can get away with other providers as there aren’t many checks at the border but officially you should only use one.

  • Harrier25 says:

    31 Jul31 July 12:29

    We’re in Madeira at the moment….arrived last night. You need to book the free PCR test via the Madeira Safe app after you arrive and apply at least 4 days before you want it.

    • Harrier25 says:

      31 Jul31 July 12:41

      We booked our free PCR tests on the Madeira Safe app this morning. Just waiting for the appointment email now. They choose where you go and at what time. You just stipulate that you require it within 72 hours of your flight home.

      • Harrier25 says:

        31 Jul31 July 13:08

        One more point. The only way to book a free test is via the Madeira Safe app/website. If you book your own PCR test direct with a pharmacy or just turn up at the hospital you will be charged €25.00.

        • Patrycja says:

          31 Jul31 July 13:28

          Thanks. I only need antigen test to return and we are going for 10 days so sounds like enough time to book and arrange. Good luck with your tests!

        • Harrier25 says:

          31 Jul31 July 13:36

          You can book free antigen or PCR tests via the Madeira Safe website. As they are both free we chose to go for the more accurate PCR test.

• mart says:

  31 Jul31 July 10:30

  do avro energy still allow top up by amex? looking to switch and they seem cheapest.

  • Peter K says:

    31 Jul31 July 11:53

    Yes, but I’ve had no luck reducing my DD afterwards.

• N says:

  31 Jul31 July 10:31

  thinking of booking a flight to the US for November, around Thanksgiving time. i was previously confident that the travel corridor will be fully functional by then but now not so sure with all the talk of autumn/winter chaos with the virus
  this indecision meant i missed out on the british airways sale – any thoughts on if another sale is expected? though i’d like to book before any announcement is made, otherwise the prices will go up

  • N says:

    31 Jul31 July 10:38

    just to clarify, I’d like to book before any government announcement on the travel corridor is made
    is it worth booking now and if a sale comes along, i could just cancel it and rebook through the sale?

    • AJA says:

      31 Jul31 July 10:46

      From what I’ve observed BA seems to be doing promotions every month so I’d wait. I think they have to have a 28 day break between “sales” in order to be able to prove that the sale offers are genuine discounts so on that basis I think there will be another sale in late August or early September (possibly a paralympics sale).

      • Andrew says:

        31 Jul31 July 13:00

        BA is like DFS these days – there’s always a sale on.

• mart says:

  31 Jul31 July 10:34

  Also…been off grid for a few weeks. Any update on the changes re the 50% off avios booking promo last year and BA’s change of policy re moving 12 months from date of original outbound? Have HFP readers had success rebooking?

  • Sam G says:

    31 Jul31 July 10:45

    Yes. you can now rebook up to 12 months from the original outbound as long as your flight was cancelled – BA updated their ticket validity rule and plenty of reports of success here & on FT

    • Mart says:

      31 Jul31 July 11:56

      Thanks. My original flights to aus were rebooked to October with Qatar – currently they aren’t cancelled, but clearly aren’t going to be able to go. If I called up to rebook would I be able to or do I have to wait till the rescheduled flights are cancelled?

      • Sam G says:

        31 Jul31 July 12:48

        you need to wait. Qatar are still operating so they might not actually get cancelled though you might want to try getting Qatar to cancel you off somehow (not sure they’d touch a BA ticket though), but they’d be delighted to have the seat back to sell for $$$ I’m sure

        • Louie says:

          1 Aug1 August 00:15

          Assuming by Aus you mean somewhere in Australia rather than Austin, you are nigh on certain to get bumped even if the flight operates.

• Stephen says:

  31 Jul31 July 10:45

  Sorry another AMEX Platinum insurance question

  1) Car Hire Excess – have read through the documents, but cannot see anything in terms of having to pay using AMEX?

  2) Greece / Croatia – does anyone know whether COVID/non-COVID claims are being accepted on AMEX Platinum travel insurance (from looking at the documents, it looks like the costs must be paid on AMEX/or points bookings)?

  Thanks

  • Stephen says:

    31 Jul31 July 10:48

    Just found a summary documents from AMEX for the second point (hope this helps if anyone else looking for clarity)

    https://icm.aexp-static.com/Internet/insurance/pdf/en-GB/UK_ICC_Covid-19_FAQs_Final_v4_clean_cg.pdf

    • Sam G says:

      31 Jul31 July 11:11

      If I am quarantined in a hotel, do I have to pay for the room?
      If you are confined to your hotel under doctor’s orders for at least 48 hours, the insurer will pay
      for the room, up to the policy limit.

      Thoughts on what the “policy limit” is? Medical limit?

  • KS says:

    31 Jul31 July 13:58

    I have made successful claims on car hire excess while not paying with Amex, last claim as recent as June ‘21.

• Bill says:

  31 Jul31 July 11:04

  I was wondering if this Boots test is sufficient for pre departure to Spain ?

  https://www.boots.com/covid-19-testing/covid-19-rapid-test-service

• Thomas Shelby says:

  31 Jul31 July 11:13

  Airtime rewards £3 Bonus when spending £8 or more this weekend code PAYDAY3, I’ve been getting boots gift cards

  If you haven’t signed up NWM87QEG for extra £1

  • Char Char says:

    31 Jul31 July 11:20

    Has it tracked for you though, tried at wilko nothing showed

    • Thomas Shelby says:

      31 Jul31 July 11:22

      The past few bonuses have tracked fine, takes around 7-10 days. I always stick to boots and use chip and pin for the transaction (starling card)

    • ChrisC says:

      31 Jul31 July 11:28

      when did you make the purchase? I find it takes a day or two for it to filter through. Never seen them be instant in appearing in my account

      Always keep the receipt until they do as you need it to make a claim.

  • Ryan Gill says:

    31 Jul31 July 11:36

    Thanks for this. Although it’s a smallish benefit, I always appreciate seeing these posts. I wish Rob would include them or there was a specific place they could be found.

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