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The HfP chat thread – Thursday 12th 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.

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 (618)

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

  • Anna says:
    12 Aug12 August 10:10

    Just waiting for our antigen test results in a local Tenerife clinic – it’s just a single swab right up one nostril so quite brutal but mercifully swift!

    • Richie says:
      12 Aug12 August 10:20

      Do they accept Amex?

    • bill says:
      12 Aug12 August 10:37

      Using “brutal” to describe the swabbing, implies they arent doing it correctly !

      • Guernsey Globetrotter says:
        12 Aug12 August 10:49

        That’s what you get for asking if they take Amex 😀

      • SteveJ says:
        12 Aug12 August 10:57

        The single nostril approach requires the swab to go quite deep into the nasal channel. AFAIK that’s how the tests were originally designed, then modified to do the tonsils + one nostril approach

        • Super Secret Stuff says:
          12 Aug12 August 11:39

          General rule is if you are not crying and sneezing by the end you haven’t gone far enough up

        • Andrew says:
          12 Aug12 August 12:28

          I always have both nasal channels done, but I don’t consent to a throat swab.

    • Keely says:
      12 Aug12 August 11:01

      How much was it Anna and were there queues? (There were in Malta a couple of weeks ago ) thank you

      • Anna says:
        12 Aug12 August 14:07

        We booked appointments and were seen very promptly. Results took about 35 mins. There was a steady flow of other people also having tests.
        No I didn’t ask about Amex, I am mostly using Revolut here (creatively)! Spending targets all done for the year and holding off triggering 241 till September 😀.

        • Anna says:
          12 Aug12 August 14:08

          35 euros – you can can get them as cheap as 29 but the clinic is 2 minutes from where we’re staying.

    • Craig says:
      12 Aug12 August 14:02

      As the wife says, if it doesn’t feel uncomfortable it’s not in deep enough. That’s the NHS for you.

    • yorkieflyer says:
      12 Aug12 August 17:21

      I thought IMED in Teulada were trying to give me a lobotomy, Qured since then!

    • Degsy says:
      12 Aug12 August 17:44

      We’ve just done our UK return tests in Madeira on zoom with Breathe Assured. Very slick/easy and £32 pp. – took 30 mins in total with certificates rec’d at the end (all negative thankfully)

      • Tracey says:
        12 Aug12 August 18:35

        I thought return antigen tests were free in Madeira through the Madeira safe app? We have family out there at the moment and that is what they have done.

        • Degsy says:
          12 Aug12 August 23:04

          Yes I’d booked our tests before realising I could do it for free through Madeira Safe. 😞
          I was more really recommending the service from Breathe Assured

    • Doreen says:
      12 Aug12 August 21:05

      Gentle ticklish double nostril swab this afternoon at Palm Mar 🙂

  • Peggerz says:
    12 Aug12 August 10:20

    Good Morning.
    Mrs Peggerz and two adult kids heading with me to Brighton soon. We are staying to the east of the Pier near the beachfront. I’m looking for info on a good curry house and any other reasonably priced Resto/pub/cafe suggestions for our 4 night stay.
    Also, is there a way to discount entry into the Brighton Pavillion? I’ve seen the awayday train scheme but that doesn’t fit our circumstances. Any suggestions from Brighton Belle or others much appreciated.

    • FFoxSake says:
      12 Aug12 August 10:24

      Curry Leaf Cafe – have only been to the Ship Street one but deeee-lish… https://www.curryleafcafe.com/

    • FFoxSake says:
      12 Aug12 August 10:59

      You can still do the train 2-for-1 deal for Pavilion. Just buy a group save offpeak return online to cover e.g. Hove to Brighton (4 people = £8.60 total) for day you want to go to the Pavilion. Request to collect tickets at Brighton station. Collect them but never use them, just show them for entry at the Pavilion. Saves you £23.40.

      • Yorkie Aid says:
        12 Aug12 August 11:05

        We did a similar dodge in Bath to get extra time in the Thermae Spa and 241 somewhere else. No issues.

      • Genghis says:
        12 Aug12 August 11:48

        Can be a single too if not actually gonna use the ticket.

        • Anuj says:
          12 Aug12 August 12:31

          I wonder if JDB is the same person on Twitter arguing against dozens of people about the morality of doing a chargeback for £300 on a stolen card (which the person didn’t report).

    • ChrisC says:
      12 Aug12 August 14:43

      There used to be a combi pass you can buy that includes the Pavilion and either the aquarium or the i360 (or all three). Not sure if that’s still available though.

      They charge more for people who spell it with two ‘l’s … 🙂

    • Peggerz says:
      12 Aug12 August 22:46

      Thanks everyone.

  • Blindman says:
    12 Aug12 August 10:46

    FYI re Virgin staring to fly from EDI

    No more seasonal flights from Glasgow

    ” Commencing international flights from Edinburgh marks an exciting new chapter for Virgin Atlantic, as we move to a new home in Scotland. Although we’re moving our operations from Glasgow, our new base allows us to grow our flight portfolio, offering our Scottish customers more services to more destinations, than ever before. It also means that Virgin Atlantic will not recommence its seasonal flights from Glasgow to Orlando in summer 2022.”

    From the Trade Bulletin

    • Guernsey Globetrotter says:
      12 Aug12 August 11:16

      The poor Weegie weans won’t be able to get their Disney fix!

      • BP says:
        12 Aug12 August 12:05

        Bugger. I only started collecting VS points to do a Florida family holiday from GLA. Just as I get enough points for 3 upper-class returns then the route gets pulled – typical!!

        • Andrew says:
          12 Aug12 August 12:29

          It’s not that much further to the more civilised side of the country. Easier to access by public transport too. Train to EDP and tram to to EDI.

        • Dave says:
          12 Aug12 August 13:10

          I’m exactly the same. I only started collecting for a Glasgow flight. Should soon have enough for upper class. I suspect upper class will be full of us weegies who will still travel over to Edinburgh to make use of our points!

          Going from Edinburgh means adding 1hr extra both ways and either more public transport or an expensive long stay car park, compared to a 15 min taxi to Glasgow airport. It’s not that big a deal but just annoying and less convenient.
          I’d have thought there would be enough demand from both cities to each have direct flights.

          • BP says:
            12 Aug12 August 21:33

            And security at Edinburgh is always far busier. And the walk is longer. And it’s full of people with funny accents!

  • Mikeact says:
    12 Aug12 August 10:51

    Interested to know how much longer Chats will appear, or is it going to be a permanent feature, despite Bits back today ?

  • SJ says:
    12 Aug12 August 10:51

    Similar issue/frustration to Zoe a few pages back.
    I can’t seem to contact british airways at all. Either getting auto-disconnected or a message saying they’re really busy and to try again later.
    I’ve got a future travel voucher for an avios booking and need to book the one remaining reward seat on a particular flight. Does anyone have any tips on how to proceed or is it just a matter of hoping I get lucky when I dial?

  • Pablo says:
    12 Aug12 August 11:19

    Is Solihull capping the monthly points to maximum of the credit limit?

  • Reney says:
    12 Aug12 August 11:21

    Just been caught out by Virgin Cash Back offers, they have start dates!!! So used to amex offers start as soon as you load them on to your account. I made a purchase that I thought qualified and was wondering why it wasn’t posting, turned out the cash back offer starts today, despite it has been showing on my account for weeks!!! A lesson learnt that I thought I would share.

    • Andrew says:
      12 Aug12 August 12:14

      Are you sure you have?

      Looking at the list of offers I have, everything appears with a start date of today.

      • Reney says:
        12 Aug12 August 13:14

        Thanks Andrew. I looked at a selection of my offers and indeed they all start today despite I know they have been around for ages. Weird, will keep an eye on it.

  • Micha says:
    12 Aug12 August 11:25

    Would anyone know where I could meet a not vaccinated person, living in Colombia, who has recently had Covid-19, and without the need to quarantine.
    Myself I am fully vaccinated, living in England.

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

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