The HfP chat thread – Monday 9th August

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• cinereus says:

  9 Aug9 August 17:40

  Any good way to get to Colombia on points (not just Avios) without having to go IB via MAD?

  • Christina says:

    9 Aug9 August 17:49

    AA via Miami?

    • Yorkie Aid says:

      9 Aug9 August 18:32

      But only if you’re a US citizen under the current US rules.

      • cinereus says:

        9 Aug9 August 21:45

        Yeah and I’d rather connect almost anywhere than via the US.

        Didn’t realise there were any low-tax sweet spots on AA to Miami either…

  • ChrisBCN says:

    9 Aug9 August 19:24

    TAP through Lisbon?

    • cinereus says:

      9 Aug9 August 21:48

      Am I missing something? No direct flights and fees are def not a sweet spot?

  • Gtellez says:

    9 Aug9 August 20:47

    Avianca used to have a direct flight from London, but not sure now. Maybe it has other European destinations to do one stop. It is star alliance but it is an IB partner too, so you could use avios through IB.

  • Sam G says:

    9 Aug9 August 20:51

    Pre covid there was plentiful availability on the direct Avianca flight and you could buy Lifemiles or use other *A miles. Currently not available in business. Lufthansa has had some excellent prices recently via Frankfurt that make miles pretty poor value

• Jill ( Kinkell) says:

  9 Aug9 August 17:51

  Just had an email from BA cancelling our Denver flight on 7th Sept. (241)
  Will be asking for a USA booking for next year as per new conditions . Yippee!

• Alan Todd says:

  9 Aug9 August 18:47

  Has anyone received the additional bonus for adding a supplementary card to Gold Amex and subsequently spending £500 on that card? TIA

• AndyS says:

  9 Aug9 August 18:48

  Does tesco still give 25 clubcard points for surveys? I have 85 points and need to get to 150 for the virgin autoconvert bonus, if I get 25 for a survey I only need to spend 40 quid!

  • Karl says:

    9 Aug9 August 18:57

    Yes Tescoviews still going. They probably post 2/3 of the time but will add them if you chase up with a quick email.

• Scott says:

  9 Aug9 August 19:05

  Any rooms at the Doubletree Newcastle Airport worth selecting above any others?

  • Andrew Mc says:

    9 Aug9 August 21:23

    Request 352 or equivalent. End of wing. Larger + double aspect views of airport + metro. As interesting as you’re going to get view wise 🙂

• Aston100 says:

  9 Aug9 August 19:15

  Can someone help me with the maths here please.
  Regarding the value of Hilton Honors points if my main source is from converting Amex MR.
  I am guessing 0.4p
  Based on:
  1 MR = 1 Avios = 1.6 nectar = 0.8 pence
  Given that 1 MR = 2 HH, therefore 2 HH = 0.8p, thus 1 HH = 0.4p

  Am I right?
  I know the articles and comments on this site often value HH at 0.3p each, but I am basing this on my ability to use my MR for shopping at places that accept Nectar.

  Looking at Hilton redemptions at numerous properties, the cash prices seem cheaper than using points based upon a 0.4p value.
  e.g. The Conrad Bali, basic Deluxe King Room is 34k per night or £82 per night on the dates I randomly selected.

  Am I doing it wrong? I don’t think I’ve factored the 5th night free thing.

  Thanks.

  • Luke says:

    9 Aug9 August 19:23

    The value of something isn’t based on what you paid for it.

    Seems like you are asking if it’s a good deal to buy HH points for 0.4p when they are only worth 0.3p.
    The answer can still be yes if you need to top up to round off a balance or extend expiry.

    • Aston100 says:

      9 Aug9 August 19:32

      Thanks for the reply.
      I’m, not buying points.
      I have a stash of Amex MR. I can use this at Sainsburys, Argos etc and receive 0.4p value per MR.
      I’m trying to get my head round whether HH points are worth 0.4p to me, given that I don’t earn them other than the occasional stay at a Hilton property in the UK.
      I also don’t understand how people value them at 0.3p. Maybe due to getting lucky with a conversion bonus when one appears?

      • Genghis says:

        9 Aug9 August 19:41

        £250 / night / 80,000 points

      • Luke says:

        9 Aug9 August 20:04

        As you’ve said MR have a base value of 0.4p due to nectar, transferring to Hilton is effectively buying HH points at 0.4p. Agree you aren’t parting with cash, but the opportunity cost is effectively the same thing.
        I can’t recall any Amex Hilton transfer, and it’s been many years since the last Avios bonus from Amex (possibly predating the Avios name!)

        • Harrier25 says:

          9 Aug9 August 21:03

          When I stayed at the Hilton in Bournemouth one Friday in June, the cash price was £325 or 50,000 points. That worked out at 0.65p per point and they upgraded us to a junior suite, but these are crazy times that we currently live in.

        • Aston100 says:

          9 Aug9 August 21:11

          Thanks Luke and others.

        • Harrier25 says:

          9 Aug9 August 21:33

          Aston, I swapped MR points for Hilton points towards the end of last year when Amex ran an offer of 1 MR point = 2.5 Hilton Honors points. May be worth holding off for a while to see if they offer the same again later this year.

  • Ken says:

    9 Aug9 August 20:52

    You can regularly buy (practically all the time) HH points for 0.36p – they can’t be worth more than that.

  • BuildBackBetter says:

    9 Aug9 August 21:34

    Cash prices in Asia are most often good value compared to points.
    Use points for expensive cities or resorts like Maldives.

    • Aston100 says:

      9 Aug9 August 23:29

      Duly noted. Thanks

• Swiss Jim says:

  9 Aug9 August 19:29

  If you could convert HH to MR/Nectar then yes, you’d have a clear floor valuation. But you can’t. I second what Luke says.

• Cabal of rabid baboons says:

  9 Aug9 August 19:42

  There are many schemes to transfer your AMEX points into, Hilton isn’t the best choice as it reduces their value by a third using ballpark values.

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