The HfP chat thread – Thursday 12th August

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• 1sttimetraveller says:

  12 Aug12 August 18:10

  Hi folks, first time travelling in 18 months and anxious about what the requirements are. Travelling to Amsterdam requires a negative antigen test result (taken no more than 24 hours before departure). Does a “Lateral Flow Test at Terminal 5 Departures Walk Through organised through ExpressTest” at the airport qualify as a suitable antigen test. You get your results in 30 minutes.

  Our flight is at 08:20am, but the testing facility doesn’t open until 7am. Does anyone know anywhere else at the airport that opens earlier where we can get an antigen test completed in advance of check in for our flight? Thank you for any advice.

  • ChrisC says:

    12 Aug12 August 19:56

    Please do not do this.

    You have no margin for error. You would need to have been fully checked in for your flight by 07.35.

    Do the test the day before. The requiment for an antigen test is no more than 24 hours before departure. PCR is within 48 hours of departure.

    • TGLoyalty says:

      12 Aug12 August 22:07

      Agree. I’d go somewhere the day before (don’t know if Heathrow is actually your closet airport)

      Chronomics and project screen for do it at home yourself if you have some time or Collinson and expresstext for in person.

• Roger says:

  12 Aug12 August 18:12

  Is any of the preferred IHG preferred rate still working for new booking like MasterCard 30% off and like?

• 1sttimetraveller says:

  12 Aug12 August 18:30

  Hi Rob, why did my message get deleted, it was a genuine question regarding antigen tests at Heathrow? The message said awaiting moderation but then never appeared.

  • Rob says:

    12 Aug12 August 19:25

    Is now approved, but you need to give us more than 20 minutes if it goes to moderation at 6.10pm ….!

    • 1sttimetraveller says:

      12 Aug12 August 19:39

      Fair enough😊

• Bill says:

  12 Aug12 August 18:32

  OT: I applied for two 5-10 year old zip oyster photocards last Saturday. This is for an upcoming 6 day trip to London so that the kids can use National Rail for free – mainly between Waterloo and Wimbledon travelling accompanied by us (parents). One card has been dispatched but the other one is still waiting for approval. Both purchased in the same transaction. We need the un-approved card by the 27th. Should I be concerned or just sit tight ?

  • Bill says:

    12 Aug12 August 18:33

    One card was dispatched 2 days ago – by the way

    • EwanG says:

      12 Aug12 August 20:12

      If I were you I’d try to find a way to give them a call. From what you say above, and info from Oyster site it sounds like they can’t verify the identify of second child.
      “If we can verify your child’s identity online, we’ll post their 5-10 Zip Oyster photocard within one week of applying.

      If we can’t, you’ll need to take proof of identity to collect their 5-10 Zip Oyster photocard from a Visitor Centre.”
      and further down it says:
      “You need to apply four weeks in advance to collect a Zip Oyster from a Visitor Centre”

• Will says:

  12 Aug12 August 18:37

  Hi there, BA cancelled our flights to Porto (like you said would happen, meta!) and have declined to re-route on an alternative airline. I have now since booked new flights on TAP, but these were more expensive. Am I able to claim the difference from BA under EC261? Apologies if this is an obvious one but I’ve never faced this one before. Thanks

  • meta says:

    12 Aug12 August 18:59

    Route cancelled completely. They tried to give me a re-route via Madrid, but I just found out that route is not possible either. Iberia also just yesterday cancelled Madrid-Porto route.

    The way you do it, you need to claim the whole cost of TAP ticket, not just the difference. BA will then reimburse you the TAP ticket and keep the money.

    You’ll probably have to go via MCOL route, BA will probably not agree. You’re also able to claim interest, cost of transport to a different airport (TAP flies from Gatwick!), any extra accommodation you’ll need, F&B costs (except alcohol), MCOL fee and postage of letter before action. You can also claim interest.

    • meta says:

      12 Aug12 August 19:00

      Also make sure you don’t request a refund from BA. Otherwise you can’t claim anything.

    • VerdantBacon says:

      12 Aug12 August 19:32

      Interesting, Porto still bookable on BA, but it’s definitely a cancelled route?

      Have a few eVouchers and FTVs I’d like to turn into cash

      • meta says:

        12 Aug12 August 20:47

        That’s what all BA agents I called said. I guess they haven’t cancelled September onwards as they like to keep people’s cash for longer.

        • VerdantBacon says:

          12 Aug12 August 21:00

          Works in our favour I guess, had been trying to work out what cancelled flight to book with evouchers and FTVs to get them turned back into cash. But most of what I found is cancelled well in advanced. A few early September CE flights to Porto sound like a great plan

      • Rob says:

        12 Aug12 August 20:59

        Not cancelled …. BA just keeps pushing back the restart.

  • Will says:

    12 Aug12 August 19:33

    Thank you! ☺️

• 747_Brat says:

  12 Aug12 August 19:04

  Apologies if it has been discussed before in previous pages. Haven’t had a chance to look at them all. But I just found the following offer on my various Amex:
  Spend £60, get £10 back offer at Dishoom on BAPP and PRG.

  • Youllnever says:

    12 Aug12 August 20:09

    Yup, discussed on page 1.

• VickyTM says:

  12 Aug12 August 19:37

  Booked a cash flight with an avios upgrade via the call centre. The email address had a typo in it, so didn’t receive the e-ticket receipt. I know how many avios I SHOULD have been charged, and I know how many were ACTUALLY taken… Those two numbers are not the same – again I suspect down to a typo and a missing 0…
  I’m unfortunately going to have to cancel the flight, but I can’t see anywhere how many avios BA think they charged me as it doesn’t show on the E-ticket you can view online. Is there a way to get the original e-ticket receipt so I know how many will end up going onto the voucher? Thanks

  • H says:

    12 Aug12 August 21:55

    Do you have a HHA account? If so, the full amount won’t be deducted from your account. If not, just look into your Executive club account and check the recent transactions.

  • Nick says:

    12 Aug12 August 21:55

    You can go into the booking on MMB and change the email address. Then request an e-ticket receipt.

• VerdantBacon says:

  12 Aug12 August 20:01

  Has anyone stayed at either of the Mr&Mrs Smith properties in Seville? Any feedback on them? What’s the AMB/IHG Spire treatment like?

  • Yorkie Aid says:

    12 Aug12 August 21:58

    Since nobody else has replied, we had reward nights at a Mr&Mrs Smith in the UK (which was excellent) but there was no recognition of Spire whatsoever.

    • TGLoyalty says:

      12 Aug12 August 22:02

      You did get the extras Mr&Mrs Smith bookings come with though?

      • Yorkie Aid says:

        12 Aug12 August 22:25

        Oh yes – a bottle of sparkling English wine in the room for that property.

        • Yorkie Aid says:

          12 Aug12 August 22:27

          And all rates were B&B so that included reward night redemptions.

    • VerdantBacon says:

      12 Aug12 August 22:32

      Thanks Yorkie, good info to have. B&B always useful!

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