Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 10th August

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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.

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Comments (412)

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

  • Red Flyer says:

    I have an Iberia flight to Madrid booked in economy to position me for a redemption flight later that evening to Buenos Aires. If I paid cash for MAN-MAD on a separate booking, can I now use Avios to upgrade the cash ticket to business too?

    • Bobri says:

      If it’s an 18.45 flight than it’s gonna be A350 and the upgrade is well worth it. Am often offered a cash upgrade for £50 when checking-in online as well

  • Steve S says:

    Airtime seems to have a few additional partners in the travel section.

  • ChrisC says:

    Another BA “luxury sale”. Seems to be world wide flights and holidays

    Ends 19th August

    (Won’t post link as it’s very long but available by BA home page)

  • @mkcol says:

    How much would it cost to create a commemorative coin that weighs 68g is 55mm diameter x 3mm thickness?
    I’m assuming cheap metal but outside looks like gold.

    • Richie says:

      How many?

    • Super Secret Stuff says:

      Depends on the quality that you want and quantity. White Eagle Foundry in Hassocks could probably do high quality ones for you but might cost a bit. A friend works there, think it is currently shut down for the summer holidays

  • Super Secret Stuff says:

    Legend!

  • JDB says:

    Is Freetrade good? I know they don’t charge a commission as such, but on their ‘Instant Orders’ do you actually get good executions? They seem somehow to have a ‘get out’ clause for best execution on that type of order (and ? you can’t fix the price??), which is effectively the standard type of order in market hours. I’m very focussed on good execution and seeing the actual price I will get, which has made me wary of them.

  • Andy says:

    Off to Germany next week. Have got my Collinson test booked for 48 hours before my flight home. What happens if I or someone in my party test positive? Do we have to go straight to a quarantine hotel? Would my Amex platinum insurance over that? I’d been so focused on getting everything like tests sorted I hadn’t given much thought as to what would happen if it was a positive!

    • meta says:

      If you test positive from the UK test, you stay in the UK and isolate and don’t go anywhere. If you test positive in Germany, you stay where you are in Germany until you test negative.

      Best check yourself with your insurer. What if someone tells you it does and it later turns out that wasn’t the case?

      • Andy says:

        Good point, just trying to get a general feel of what i should do really.

        • Perkypat says:

          You don’t need a test before you go if fully vaxxed, do you?

          • Andy says:

            No this is for coming back. If I tested positive before I go I’d just stay home. Just wondering what happened if I tested positive before my flight home…

        • Hak says:

          You would have to stay in Germany until you could pass a fit to fly test. As for if Amex insurance cover your hotel etc, you are best ringing them to confirm.

    • Tracey says:

      This is why some people take the UK supplied tests with them and/or some free NHS tests to use as pre-tests. In the unfortunate event of a positive test, you have the freedom to decide the next course of action for yourself (eg rent an apartment and isolate by yourselves rather than subject yourself to an overseas quarantine hotel). Once you have reassured yourself you are negative you can subject yourself to the local testing.

  • Gringo says:

    If booking a Marriott / Hilton through BA Holidays, should I not expect any of the benefits?

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