Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 10th August

Links on Head for Points may pay us an affiliate commission. A list of partners is here.

We are running this daily chat thread on Head for Points during the coronavirus outbreak.

Historically, the daily ‘Bits’ articles were the de facto repository for random comments and questions.  With the news flow being lighter, we are running fewer ‘Bits’ articles.

The comments under this article are where you should post questions about travel and, indeed, anything else on your mind.  At this tricky time, and given that many of you are at home, we want the HfP community to have a place to chat.

Please only comment under the main articles on the site if your comment is directly related to the topic of the article.  This has long-term benefits as it keeps the commentary relevant for people who read those articles in the future.

Old chat threads are hidden from the HfP home page.  If you want to look for something in an old thread, click here.  This brings up all the articles in our ‘General’ category which includes the chat threads.

Category

General

Comments (412)

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

  • Tracy says:
    10 Aug10 August 07:48

    I know this is asked regularly but what’s the consensus for the cheapest day 2 tests? Thank you.

    • Harry T says:
      10 Aug10 August 08:08

      Depends if you want cheap or you want a well priced test you actually receive. Expert medicals is one of the cheapest but there have been numerous complaints. Randox day 2 tests are £43 with the FLYRYANAIR discount and they will be promptly delivered by DPD. I’ve ordered them twice for two people and been impressed with the speed of delivery. The first set of tests we ordered were easy to drop off at a local Dropbox (check there is one near you before ordering) and the results were back within 36 hours. We haven’t used the second set yet.

      • Rhys says:
        10 Aug10 August 08:17

        Promptly delivered but perhaps not promptly picked up… https://twitter.com/ppaulcharles/status/1424478083332124677?s=24

        • Andrew says:
          10 Aug10 August 08:57

          Oops. Someone is going to be in trouble.

          Those look like human tissue samples being left unsecured and unattended in a public place.

        • Yvo says:
          10 Aug10 August 08:58

          I dropped at the W5 site yesterday, two boxes, not overflowing but I was one of three dropping within 30secs so easy to see how it’s happening.

      • Aaron C says:
        10 Aug10 August 08:19

        Plenty of complaints in the papers today about Randox. The drop boxes are overflowing and people are having to leave their tests stacked on top in an insecure way.

        What would I do? Use an in person service for any pre-flight tests and use Expert Medicals for the day 2. You don’t need the result for anything so why spend a penny more? If you’re concerned your unwell then get an NHS test and isolate until you have the result.

        • Anna says:
          10 Aug10 August 08:22

          Has anyone successfully ordered an Expert Medicals test since the weekend? Numerous reports of people having issues with the website.

          • Yvo says:
            10 Aug10 August 08:59

            Yea but they made me order three tests and pay for postage three times 😡
            Day2 tests so not worried about when they arrive.

          • Simon says:
            10 Aug10 August 09:16

            It seems totally dead to me. Tried dozens of times. So blew another £7 a pop on Randox. £172 to receive 4 codes to put on a silly PLF. Good times !!

          • Lawro says:
            10 Aug10 August 11:42

            I’m also wondering this – have probably left it a bit too late to order and now the site seems to be having issues. I input all my details but when I press ‘Checkout’ the form simply clears and reloads. Anyone successfully managed?

          • Anna says:
            10 Aug10 August 12:36

            Yvo – I think this is for posting the tests back – I assume they all have to be treated individually.

        • Gavin says:
          10 Aug10 August 08:41

          Agreed, there’s no point paying any more than the cheapest for D2 because all you need is the reference number for your PLF. I ordered Expert Medical D2 about 3 weeks in advance of when I need it and it’s arriving today, 2 weeks in advance of my arrival.

        • QwertyKnowsBest says:
          10 Aug10 August 08:54

          Spot on!

      • Harry T says:
        10 Aug10 August 08:51

        Depends where your Dropbox is! No issues up here.

        • AFKAE says:
          10 Aug10 August 09:05

          I dropped mine off at Warwick Racecourse and it made the hollow clang of hitting the bottom of the box…….was probs the only one in there. That did make me slightly nervous about collection, but had an email the next morning confirming receipt in the lab and email with negative result in the afternoon. I thought that was pretty good.

    • Rich says:
      10 Aug10 August 08:18

      I used CityDoc at home test and with BA discount it was £59.99 so not the cheapest but all was slick and result came within 30hrs. Randox are cheaper but you will have seen the overflowing drop boxes in the media yesterday?

      • TGLoyalty says:
        10 Aug10 August 09:48

        Does it actually matter?

        You ordered, took and dropped off the test. It’s not your job to worry about the result turning up.

        Anyway you can post in priority postboxes (there’s one 5 mins walk away from me and many more within 2 mile radius I can’t imagine London is much different) so why worry about overflowing Randox specific drop boxes?

        Anyway EM wasn’t working Sunday so placed my Randox order Sunday afternoon, I can live with £7.

        Received test this morning via DPD (Day 1) I’ll be tickling my brain shortly and go for a leisurely walk.

        Fingers crossed it doesn’t come back for a week …

  • Peter says:
    10 Aug10 August 08:19

    Electricity question, my fixed tariff is about to finish and everything around is much more expensive. Has anyone tried submitting higher usage numbers than actual to “lock” a good rate for the future? (Also this would help me with CC spend, but it’s a different story 🙂 )

    • Tracey says:
      10 Aug10 August 08:28

      The downside is that your estimated usage and suggested or imposed future direct debits will increase.

    • Chrisasaurus says:
      10 Aug10 August 08:28

      Yes and yes as long as you don’t overdo it as the readings are vetted (I assume by a simple calculation)

    • John says:
      10 Aug10 August 09:03

      The unit rate and standing charge are the same however much you use – your estimated annual usage is purely for them to select which combination of rates they offer is the best for your situation. If you inflate your estimates you may end up paying a higher standing charge (which is better for high users)

      If you aren’t going to pay by DD anyway it doesn’t matter one jot

      • StevieKicks says:
        10 Aug10 August 09:45

        I think Peter is talking about submitting a higher meter reading before his rate changes, so that ‘future usage’ gets charged at his old lower rate

        • StevieKicks says:
          10 Aug10 August 09:45

          Essentially pre paying for electricity not yet used

        • Rob says:
          10 Aug10 August 09:55

          Obviously works although it may screw up future estimated bills as they will think you use more than you do.

    • Rich says:
      10 Aug10 August 09:14

      What do you do when the meter reader comes round?

      • JDB says:
        10 Aug10 August 09:38

        We have never had a meter reader in the 14 years we have lived in our present house. Do they still exist?

        • Genghis says:
          10 Aug10 August 09:47

          They always come to us when we have requested a move to another provider.

      • peter says:
        10 Aug10 August 10:31

        I’d say through the door that I have Covid 😉

    • TGLoyalty says:
      10 Aug10 August 10:06

      Depends how high you go … don’t want it to look like you’re running an illegal hydroponics lab for a month.

      • peter says:
        10 Aug10 August 10:22

        Yeah that’s my point, I have currently 17p during the day, 10p at night, once the fixed is finished it will move to 23p a day, 15p at night (40% raise). I have never head a person coming and checking my meters so I thought I could submit for September instead of 100kWh something like 150-200 (it was a cold August, wasn’t it? :D) then do similar for next 2 months and then when I switch to default tariff gradually come back to the real readings or in one go.. I’ll “go” on 4 weeks holidays in December hence near 0 usage. My DD is set to £1, and will definitely switch providers at the end, so not worried about screwing stats..

        • JDB says:
          10 Aug10 August 13:20

          23p per kWh seems an extraordinarily high price. We moved to a new fixed term with E.On in April that is 16.908p/kWh and 23p/day standing charge which was the lowest on 2 comparison sites. We do use a lot of electricity (and not on mains gas), but I don’t think that reduces the price much if at all.

          • Jody says:
            10 Aug10 August 14:27

            Ours is 14.99p per kwh with a 19.95p per day standing charge. I went for the cheapest per kwh, as we have a hot tub so it can be quite thirsty on the old electric bill! We’re currently with Avro, having moved over to them from Bulb who we were with for quite a while.

        • Magic Mike says:
          10 Aug10 August 16:54

          I accidentally overread my meter once, and rather than fight the useless customer service spent the next 6 months “estimating” my readings to bring it back into line by the end…

  • Graeme says:
    10 Aug10 August 08:21

    Rather than ask lots of questions about EU261 that have been covered a million times, I was wondering whether anyone had bookmarked any of the best threads about it on here? I decided to do this a long time ago and then completely forgot, so I’ve only got a couple of titbits saved – none of the meaty chats – so if anyone has any of the good ones to hand, that’d be really helpful.

    Thank you!

    • Jill ( Kinkell) says:
      10 Aug10 August 08:51

      I have a folder where I store screenshots of stuff ….usually relating to getting BA to apply their own rules! LL ‘s posting seem to feature a lot! Very helpful.

      • Graeme says:
        10 Aug10 August 12:02

        That’s the kind of thing I should have done! Would you mind sending those to me, please? If you don’t mind, could Rob possibly pass on my email address?

  • Josh says:
    10 Aug10 August 08:23

    Anyone struggling to login to virgin credit card App? Getting the following error:

    “Somethings up

    It may be a problem with the app, but check your still connected to the internet and you signals strong.

    Please give it another go later”

    I have a large CC balance due today that I need to pay. Tried redownloading the app, tried on my mobile network and on WiFi and I can’t find any info on app outages on the website.

    This is for the virgin atlantic premium card.

    Thanks

    • WaynedP says:
      10 Aug10 August 08:29

      No problem for me accessing the App also for my VAR+ cc, both earlier this morning and just now again to double check.

    • ChasP says:
      10 Aug10 August 08:31

      have you tred switching your phone off and on again ?

    • Harry T says:
      10 Aug10 August 08:39

      This has happened to me every day for about a week!

    • mark2 says:
      10 Aug10 August 08:55

      Send the money through FastPay in less than two hours, details on statement.

    • Andrew says:
      10 Aug10 August 09:00

      Clydesdale had a planned outage yesterday from 8pm to 11pm, but it lasted way beyond that. It’s due to be down again tonight from 8pm to 11pm.

      Working for me at the moment though.

    • Guernsey Globetrotter says:
      10 Aug10 August 10:15

      I had this last night (presumably because of the scheduled outage Andrew mentions) but all OK for me this morning, other than the App having ‘forgotten’ the Face ID setting so had to use PIN and then reactivate.

      Also prompted me to check a Solihull £50 test top-up done 06 Aug and it has now cleared with NO sign of any cash advance charge. When I tested with Che a while back the 5% hit immediately the transaction processed so fingers crossed that this ‘feature’ remains! 🙂

      • Chas says:
        10 Aug10 August 18:37

        Please let us know once you get your statement though….. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

    • Ming the Merciless says:
      10 Aug10 August 10:58

      Happend to me and I missed a £25k repayment that was due (a multiple hundred interest mistake but you win more than you lose in this game).

      Virgin call centre agreed to waive interest fee due to the app not working. Feeling pretty chuffed to avoid that one.

      They also decided not to re issue my card when it esports last month as I’m not the sort of customer they want.

      My new card arrived yesterday! Hopefully it will work!

    • Jonathan says:
      10 Aug10 August 11:27

      Just tried and got in fine. There is a notice about scheduled maintenance which has now been completed, so that’s probably the root the problem

  • Colin MacKinnon says:
    10 Aug10 August 08:26

    UK Covid travel rules to be abandoned for up to 25,000 people jetting in from overseas to attend the climate change conference in Glasgow in November!

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-58153616

    Meanwhile, on environmental grounds, the Edinburgh International Book Festival is to drop one-off visits by overseas authors.

    https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/edinburgh-international-book-festival-to-drop-one-off-visits-from-overseas-authors-over-environmental-concerns-3339884

    • WaynedP says:
      10 Aug10 August 08:35

      Good that UK Covid rules to be suspended for foreign COP26 delegates.

      Should hasten the demise of the increasingly ridiculous mandatory UK hotel quarantine for double vaccinated travellers from the rest of the world.

      • Blair says:
        10 Aug10 August 08:43

        Agreed. The more constituency MP mailbags fill up with outrage over unequal application of the traffic lights, the better chance of it being abandoned. In fact I’d like to see the UK host plenty of international events over the winter to maximise the reputational risk to the government of reimposing border closures for the great unwashed.

        • Aston100 says:
          10 Aug10 August 09:36

          What reputational risk?
          It has been a while since reputation or credibility counted for anything.
          If it did, this circus of clowns wouldn’t have done so well at the last local elections, or they would have had the decency to resign their posts en masse.

          • JDB says:
            10 Aug10 August 09:40

            The problem is that those waiting in the wings are not credible and possibly even greater clowns.

    • mark2 says:
      10 Aug10 August 08:57

      Surely those are Scottish regional rules?

    • Andrew says:
      10 Aug10 August 09:08

      The big players will jet into the official Scottish State Airport at Prestwick rather than Heathrow.

      Perhaps the US contingent will be booking into Turnberry? Their security staff are all, at least, very familiar with it.

      Are you planning on going to anything in Edinburgh this August Colin? I’ve been fully jabbed since Easter, but the thought of being crammed into humid, musty, unventilated rooms with the kagoul crowd is an absolute no-no for me.

      • Colin MacKinnon says:
        10 Aug10 August 12:32

        Actually off to Spain for a week to see the youngest grandchild for the first time (it’s his second birthday)

        Decided on Spain as neutral territory four weeks ago since US weren’t allowed in here (unless self-isolating) and UK weren’t allowed in US. Then Uk said jabbed US didn’t need to self-isolate!

        Cost us more for the villa than the saving on Club World to the USA!

        And builders still working on our Edinburgh flat.

        Will be a good year to go to fringe etc – lots of space! No damp humid rooms.

    • Andy says:
      10 Aug10 August 09:36

      That’s why Glasgow hotels are fully booked over those dates

    • TGLoyalty says:
      10 Aug10 August 11:37

      Would be even better if they just scraped the ridiculous mandatory hotel quarantine

    • Chas says:
      10 Aug10 August 18:39

      Oh the irony of 25,000 people “jetting in” for a climate change conference…..

  • Mco says:
    10 Aug10 August 08:29

    Slightly confused by this. Can anyone confirm this? My flight is Thursday night at 9. I get to Uk next morning at 1am. My lateral flow tests can be done anytime today?

  • Claire says:
    10 Aug10 August 09:24

    Hi, what is the latest with Avios to Nectar transfers? The website is not working and it doesn’t show a phone number any more? Cheers

  • Pete M says:
    10 Aug10 August 09:24

    Did a little staycation at the Regent in Berlin a couple of weekends back and what a strange place it is. Chatting to Rob about it, he said it was too “heavy” for HfPers for a proper review, so a short one will have to do!

    The front desk manager who checked us in mentioned it was built as an office block, then it became the Four Seasons and after FS left Berlin it became the Regent. Which explains why it looks like modern offices on the outside and, once you walk in, you are Versailles (before they burned all the furniture). It was eerily quiet and check-in was a breeze, with the FD manager making sure we were aware of all the benefits that came with the Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts programme (like Emyr’s rates).

    We got upgraded from a classic room to a premium one – I guess you’d describe it as “classic” with heavy curtains and old-fashioned furniture. It was really rather large, as was the bathroom.

    We used our $100 F&B credit to have lovely afternoon tea on the terrace, which got the staff all stressed because it’s meant to be an indoor affair with jackets and we were wearing vests and shorts. But the general manager came to welcome us and assure us it was fine. We sadly slept through breakfast so can’t report on that, but it does tell you the bed was lovely! The main restaurant was shut “for the summer”.

    Overall, staff were superb and the hotel was pleasant. Location is great, right in the middle of Mitte. But at $350pn, even with the F&B credit, I couldn’t justify paying full price. We got $200 back from Amex which made it great value, but if it wasn’t for that I’d be scratching my head as to why it was so expensive. The IC was about $120 for the same night (without any extras) and, frankly, is probably a better option if you are looking in the IHG portfolio in Berlin.

    • Paul Pogba says:
      10 Aug10 August 10:00

      Vests? I’m picturing Rab C Nesbitt but surely not?

      Glad you had a good break though 🙂

      • Pete M says:
        10 Aug10 August 10:06

        Haha, that made me chuckle! Not quite! 🙂

      • AJA says:
        10 Aug10 August 10:52

        Either that or Onslow from Keeping Up Appearances with very disapproving looks from Mrs Bucket err I mean Bouquet. I hope the vests weren’t the string variety.

    • Blair says:
      10 Aug10 August 11:09

      Was there a dress code for breakfast too? They’re going to bother an awful lot of visiting Yanks with points to burn if they start turning away sportswear at breakfast.

      • Pete M says:
        10 Aug10 August 11:17

        I suspect not! But all the Germans that were indoors for the afternoon tea did look very smart. We used it as an opportunity for my partner to practice not caring about what others think…

    • Anna says:
      10 Aug10 August 12:24

      Thanks for this – we are booked to stay here for a Xmas market weekend in December as it’s ideally situated for the places we want to visit. Booked through Emyr, and we’ll definitely be up for breakfast 😂

      • Pete M says:
        10 Aug10 August 13:53

        Definitely ideally located for the markets, Anna – and from the pictures I’ve seen they seem to do a super job with the Christmas decorations as well!

        • Blair says:
          10 Aug10 August 15:45

          Also booked for winter weekend and was mulling a switch to WA by the zoo. Think I’ll stick with Regent. Breakfast is the most important meal and all that.

        • Anna says:
          10 Aug10 August 20:32

          Great – also want to go to the Neues Museum to tick the bust of Nefertiti of my list!

    • Bagoly says:
      10 Aug10 August 15:02

      I had heard about the Four Seasons stage, but not about the office stage.
      That explains the low ceilings on the ground floor, which necessitates quite small public rooms.
      And perhaps why they felt the need for so much marble to compensate!

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

New to Head for Points?

Welcome!  We’re the UK’s most-read source of business travel, Avios, frequent flyer and hotel loyalty news. Let us improve how you travel. Learn more on our About page.

VAA

Latest comments

Latest Forum Posts

Get 30,000 points bonus with American Express Platinum

Amex Gold

Check reward flight availability instantly for free!

See a whole year of reward seat availability on one page at SeatSpy.com

Booking a luxury hotel?

Our luxury hotel booking service offers you GUARANTEED extra benefits over booking direct. Works with Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, The Ritz Carlton, St Regis and more. We've booked £1.3 million of rooms to date. Click for details.

Get 20,000 bonus points and your first year free with American Express Gold

Amex Gold