The HfP chat thread – Monday 9th August

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Dayle says:

9 Aug9 August 14:32

Anyone with experience of staying in IC with Spire Elite status? Have stayed in Voco and CP where we were treated extremely well but never in an IC (looking to go to Kyiv btw)

Thanks in advance
- Memesweeper says:
  
  9 Aug9 August 15:37
  
  Very patchy. Expect nothing beyond a free drink or two. I’ve had a few good experiences in Asia but nothing in Europe IIRC.
- John says:
  
  9 Aug9 August 15:40
  
  I had an IC make a big deal about getting free wifi and 600 points
- Mr. AC says:
  
  9 Aug9 August 15:44
  
  Absolutely no recognition, not even a mention, in IC Moscow as a Spire. 600 points did land in a couple of days, but that was it.
  On the other hand, one of the Moscow Holiday Inns (regular, not Express) gave me free breakfast during the same trip…
  - Dayle says:
    
    9 Aug9 August 16:00
    
    Thanks both, disappointing as expected!
    
    Might be worth Ambassador if we’re there for 5 nights then… 5 star hotel as well!
- Genghis says:
  
  9 Aug9 August 17:38
  
  A couple of years ago wife booked room for her parents at Amstel as SE. River room upgrade from base room, 2pm check out and drinks vouchers.
- xcalx says:
  
  9 Aug9 August 19:09
  
  Stayed at the IC San Juan PR (now gone) basic room as gold got upgraded to poolside club access room. On check out they handed me a bill for the night. I handed them a booking confirmation stating I had received the night free under the price guarantee. He was well peed off.
- C says:
  
  9 Aug9 August 20:34
  
  Just stayed in an Indigo in the UK as Spire elite, and received just the drink vouchers. Not even an upgrade to a nicer room in the same class. I appreciate i
  better rooms were sold out the first night of my stay, but i would have thought Spite elite should have at least gotten a better room in that category (though we were away from the lift, so perhaps it did….).
J says:

9 Aug9 August 14:33

Anyone else received an email from bendy asking to verify why so many payments to Ernie?
- Jonathan says:
  
  9 Aug9 August 14:41
  
  Play the game & at least use the card for some day to day transactions. It doesn’t cost you anything & at least maintains some degree of cover.
- Jimmy says:
  
  9 Aug9 August 14:51
  
  No sorry – I dont do much Ernie – what did it actually say?
- John says:
  
  9 Aug9 August 15:39
  
  How many and how often are you doing it
- Patrick Cold says:
  
  9 Aug9 August 15:53
  
  Yes, I`ve had it twice and cleared up in a few days each time when I showed them proof of income and underlying credit card statements.
- Alan says:
  
  9 Aug9 August 18:16
  
  Strange timing, given the recent T&C changes, perhaps this means they are not treating Ernie as a cash advance.
CH says:

9 Aug9 August 14:43

A long shot of a question, as not sure if anyone can be certain as I can’t infer clarity from the FAQs.
With today being the deadline for converting Morrisons More points into £5 vouchers, is it that we have to request them by today (online/app), or have them printed at the till by today?
- Mattb says:
  
  9 Aug9 August 15:40
  
  Thinks its just request them. I couldn’t work out how to print mine off last week, but they just took the money off at the till next time I shopped.
  - CH says:
    
    10 Aug10 August 00:33
    
    Thanks. I’ve requested them, but haven’t had it printed. We’ll see what happens (if anything!) the next time I happen to be by a Morrisons voucher printer…
Matthew says:

9 Aug9 August 14:55

Looking at booking day 2 PCR test for arriving into LHR T5. Anyone recommend one in T5 arrivals with quick turnaround. My employer will not allow me to return to work until I have received negative day 2 PCR test result so I will want it done immediately on arrival. Thanks.
- Pete M says:
  
  9 Aug9 August 14:59
  
  https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2021/07/20/expresstest-review-heathrow-t5/
  - Matthew says:
    
    9 Aug9 August 15:02
    
    Thanks Pete.
Lottie says:

9 Aug9 August 15:17

Has anyone used the prenetics project screen test back from Italy with Ryanair? Just used it with EasyJet no problem but I understand Ryanair have rejected it in places. I haven’t had any luck getting through to Ryanair so far to get a definite answer.
- Pete M says:
  
  9 Aug9 August 16:30
  
  Completely at the whim of the check-in person, sadly…
Yorkshire Rich says:

9 Aug9 August 15:28

Don’t know answer to your question but I’ve booked in at the IVY on a set menu Friday, and then with my card and my wife’s supplementary card, I plan to have a a free cocktail each thanks to the offer.
Fm says:

9 Aug9 August 15:33

Any update on the Beardy charges which were due to start last week? Is paying off Solihull still ok?
- Guernsey Globetrotter says:
  
  9 Aug9 August 19:03
  
  Data points still pending I think – I have a £50 trial transfer from Friday still showing as pending today… An earlier (and larger) transfer on Weds cleared a couple of days later (but showing the 04 Aug value date) and no charges applied … fingers crossed and will post here when I know!
VickyTM says:

9 Aug9 August 15:34

I’ve been looking through the old chat threads, but can’t quite find what I’m looking for despite @Lady London always giving a thoroughly detailed response to people, so I apologise in advance as I suspect this has been covered multiple times…
I’m due to fly to MEX next week on a cash ticket with an Avios upgrade to Club. (if that makes a difference). I strongly suspect the flight will be cancelled, however I still need to get there on the same day. I understand that BA are obligated to put me onto another airline, but if they are difficult about it, do I just book myself onto a different airline and claim it back? Is there a limit to the cost I should bear in mind, as long as the ticket is comparable? Is there anything else I should be aware of? (Yes I know it’s a red country, but I’ll be flying home from USA).
Just trying to get my ducks in a row as much as possible.
Thanks in advance
- Frankie says:
  
  9 Aug9 August 15:42
  
  The BA app shows it as going Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday next week. I know it regularly flew throughout the pandemic as I was keeping an eye on it and constantly moving my dates until I could eventually go on 17th May.
  - VickyTM says:
    
    9 Aug9 August 15:45
    
    Yeah I know it has been flying, I’m just concerned that now as it’s a red list country, the demand will be much less. Also just checked the seat map, and I seem to be the only person on the plane!!
- Memesweeper says:
  
  9 Aug9 August 15:44
  
  BA are still selling tickets so don’t loose hope.
  
  If they cancel, ask for a reroute, and refuse any refund. Record the call, and be prepared to book elsewhere and claim back afterwards. keep copious notes and be reasonable.
- Save East Coast Rewards says:
  
  9 Aug9 August 15:45
  
  Hopefully the flight will still go ahead. Many people are still using Mexico as a way of getting into the US, so like you won’t be heading from Mexico to the UK. If it’s cancelled you’re most likely to have luck being put on an Iberia flight via Madrid so research times and see if that’s an option. An advantage with Iberia is that you will get more tier points compared to the direct flight
  
  Ignore any options that involve transiting the US unless you’re allowed in (I’m guessing you’re not hence going to Mexico first).
  
  BA also has a rerouting agreement with Lufthansa but personally I’d prefer Iberia and of course taking this option means you won’t earn any Avios or tier points – but you could collect in a Star Alliance programme instead.
  
  So before you contact BA have your preferences ready so you can tell them what you want
  - VickyTM says:
    
    9 Aug9 August 15:49
    
    Great -thanks everyone. I’m really hoping it goes ahead.
    - Sam G says:
      
      9 Aug9 August 16:00
      
      MEX operated for cargo reasons throughout so I think between that and the outbound / connecting / some inbound demand you might be OK . Wouldn’t worry about the seatmap, not unusual for BA flights due to the high fees charged
    - Sam G says:
      
      9 Aug9 August 16:08
      
      I had a quick look in expertflyer and the flights aren’t particularly quiet – this Weds is nearly sold out in Econ/Prem Econ for example. So I’d say worst case there would be some consolidation but I’d be very surprised if they cancelled them altogether. If they do then you shouldn’t have any problem getting rerouted via Madrid on IB
      - VickyTM says:
        
        9 Aug9 August 16:25
        
        If I did get re-routed via Madrid, I’d have to fly out a day earlier in order to be there 14 clear days to enter the USA as the Madrid flight lands at 4:30 the following morning… Would duty of care apply in that circumstance, and pay for an additional night hotel?
      - Pete M says:
        
        9 Aug9 August 16:29
        
        Vicky – just make sure you’re in the US for 14 days after Mexico. Border Force are apparently hot on this and you may need to prove this on your return.
      - VickyTM says:
        
        9 Aug9 August 16:50
        
        I thought it was 10 days clear after a red list country…
  - Lyn says:
    
    9 Aug9 August 18:21
    
    If you happen to be re-routed away from OneWorld you can always claim original routing credit, or whatever it is called, for avios and tier points from BA after the fact.