The HfP chat thread – Friday 13th August

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• Pid says:

  13 Aug13 August 08:56

  Any further updates on SSDV stays as due to be going at the end of the month. Hotel have confirmed complimentary breakfast for Spire members so as previously reported by Meta this seems more important than Ambassador. Spire benefits are comparable to the Ambassador ones.

  About to start negotiating a F&B package. We have two small children (who eat for free) who will probably need to eat earlier than the evening restaurants open, so do not want to be stuck with the same all day menu to choose from. Anyone with previous experience of options?

  Not planning to hire a car so will be taking the train from Porto as only a couple of hours. It looks like Regua station is close.

  Also looking to stay a night at the Boeira Garden Porto Gaia Curio Collection after the SSDV rather than the IC Porto as stayed there before. Any comments on the property?

  • Heathrow Flyer says:

    13 Aug13 August 11:16

    Was at SSDV last week. We were two couples (both Spire Amb) – both of us were given our booked suites. Breakfast was included, as was a 50-minute massage per person. The F&B was probably the only slight disappointment to the hotel – we ate there 2 nights of the 3. The first night we had to send 2 dishes back as they were cold, the dishes that replaced it was a lot better – like a different meal. On the last night, we just ordered burgers to the room – which were also pretty underwhelming. Overall I’d say the menu is limited. Mains are around €20+ so unless the food package is offered is fairly cheap I’d struggle to see how you’d get value. Regua has a handful of decent restaurants and is only a 10 min taxi away – I’d probably skip on the F&B package, giving yourself the option to dine locally, though appreciate you’ll have the kids in tow.

    • pauline says:

      13 Aug13 August 11:51

      Hi – how did you get there? Can anyone who has been let me know how easy it is to get there by train? Also what is the cost of the F + B package?

      • Heathrow Flyer says:

        13 Aug13 August 12:38

        We hired a car – took just over an hour from Porto Airport. If going by train you’d need to go OPO Airport – Porto Station – Regua – Taxi to SSDV. I’m not certain about the F&B package – I think people have been offered different prices, but I believe it is around €80 pppd to upgrade to full board.

        • meta says:

          13 Aug13 August 13:35

          I got €40upgrade to half board given that breakfast is included for Ambassadors. Regarding massage, the reservations team was adamant no massages! I wonder whether they decided that they’ve given too much away, so have decided to stop massages for those who booked on an intern deal. I’ll see whether it’s any different on check-in.

        • Pid says:

          13 Aug13 August 15:15

          I believe the published rates are €35 breakfast, €80 half board and full board €120 pppn so €40 for upgrade to half board when breakfast include is good. In two minds of booking a package, the advantage is the kids will eat free so might work out better value than going to a local restaurant. I just hope there is a good range at 5pm for adults when the kids will want to eat, or it will be meals in the room, which will not be too bad due to being in the suite.

        • Pid says:

          13 Aug13 August 15:17

          They have confirmed there will be a Signature amenity for Spire but not what it will be yet. Hope they do the massages as we were looking forward to a peaceful 50 mins each without the kids!

  • r* says:

    13 Aug13 August 13:22

    Had two stays at boeira, the service level was quite different between the two stays.

    First stay, status was recognised and given upgraded room. Second stay (which was actually booked into a higher cat balcony room) no status recognition and given a room that was literally facing a cement wall so complained and was moved. Was also only given late checkout til 2pm as even tho the hotel was basically empty, they would only give 4pm if I paid for it (as diamond). Breakfast was nice tho and there is a pool that stays open til 7-8pm. The location is a bit out of the way compared to the ic.

    The refusal to give 4pm late checkout when the place was empty kinda put me off, but I did think it was a nice hotel after the first stay, theres a bit of gardens to walk around around.

    As for getting from porto to regua, either go sao bento-regua or campanha-regua. There are less trains that start/end at sao bento but its easier to get to than campanha (needs an extra metro ride) – I did campanha both times as sao bento trains were too early.

    • pauline says:

      13 Aug13 August 15:21

      great thanks. How much is the taxi from the station at regua to the hotel? We don’t usually drive when abroad so would definitely prefer to get the train.

    • Pid says:

      13 Aug13 August 15:24

      Thanks – they have already confirmed an upgrade as Gold to a premium room so we can fit the two cots in which is nice. The pool does look nice and we have visited the port house next door on a previous trip. Just working out travel arrangements so not sure if a late checkout will be required yet. Thought it would be a change to the IC Porto where we have stayed before and will probably stay before going to the SSDV.

      Thanks for the tips on the train to Regua.

      Thanks for the tips

• gary says:

  13 Aug13 August 09:00

  Anyone got any ideas as to when BA cancel flights?

  Ive got good Avios seats out to SFO on 28 August and whilst BA recede the number of flights to one per day from two, mine is the one still running.

  However the return flight from LAX is showing as not available from now until 21 August when it is on the schedule again. My return is 13 September and I am hoping that BA cancel this before my departure so that I can move the 3 seats forward to a later date.

  So anyone have any clues as to when BA may cancel the incoming LAX flight? it is the BA 280 at 16.55.

  cheers

  • Louise K says:

    13 Aug13 August 09:17

    The BA281 is still showing as scheduled for. 19th Aug so I wouldn’t bank on it being cancelled.

    I’m hoping for a cancellation too for September flights but no looking like it at the moment IMO.

  • LessCleverAndrew says:

    13 Aug13 August 09:41

    BA tend to cancel the same flights. So if your numbered flight, 1 or 2 weeks earlier is not cancelled, then chances are that yours won’t be either.

  • Sam G says:

    13 Aug13 August 09:55

    US ones have been about 3 weeks out recently. So worth waiting until then to see if the inbound is cancelled, you only need to cancel an Avios flight 24hrs before or apply for the FTV 1hr before if you want to do that instead.

    I read an article today that US air travel demand is rapidly dropping as schools go back & Delta starts spreading so they might cancel by then but as Louise says they are back on the schedule later this month, they don’t look at all full though.

• Keely says:

  13 Aug13 August 09:18

  Will be closing my BAPP this week as husband is now at end of his 2 yr wait. Question re strategy ….does any couple NOT do the 2 yr wait but instead just churn between the various Amex cards for the referral bonuses instead?

  • BJ says:

    13 Aug13 August 09:39

    Yes, that is the far more sensible option IMO. A lot can happen in 2y, cards can come and go, rules and offers can change. I’ve argued against the 2y strategy since day 1. However, it all depends on potential for referals, if these are so limited then it might still have merit.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    13 Aug13 August 10:00

    why restrict to couples?

    I don’t see the point. keep the Nectar/Bonvoy card. Churn the Plat and BAPP.

    • BuildBackBetter says:

      13 Aug13 August 10:21

      Plat? Purely for referrals and status benefits?

      • TGLoyalty says:

        13 Aug13 August 11:08

        Because they are the only two cards you can churn if you have any other personal Amex.

        Also you earn 44k (up to 79k MR) and then refer at a higher rate.

    • Keely says:

      13 Aug13 August 10:30

      I do refer other people but seem to have lots of friends who ‘can’t be bothered ‘ 🙄

  • Anna says:

    13 Aug13 August 10:03

    We did this for a while after the rules changed and just did the 2 year wait for OH to get a new Plat (which tied in nicely with the 50k bonus earlier this year). However with all our holidays moved forward to 2022 and therefore much less spend required i’m now having a break from BAPP and hoping it’s still there at the start of 2023!

    • BuildBackBetter says:

      13 Aug13 August 10:24

      As they refreshed it just now, can’t see it disappearing soon.
      I’d like to see Plat benefits refreshed.

  • Keely says:

    13 Aug13 August 10:28

    Thanks all , good to know. I think we’ll just do this. As you say who’s to know what will happen to the cards in 2 years and by then we will have missed out on all those referrals.

• Louise K says:

  13 Aug13 August 09:20

  I am trying to book some Hawaii flights with a hotel to make a BAH booking.

  However, the return HNL to LAX will only offer economy on this leg, connecting to a J flight from LAX to LHR. According to AA the seat map for the HNL to LAX is empty.

  Would calling BAH help book into J or am I wasting my time?

  • ChrisC says:

    13 Aug13 August 10:34

    Few tips as I have had this issue before. Sorry if you’ve tried them before

    1. Add HNL-LAX as a separate leg in the search rather than as HNL-LHR.

    2. Sort the list by ‘departure time’ rather than the default price. Then you can see if there is a different cabin offered based on the BA or AA flight numbers for the same flight. I’ve seen this where the BA flight number is Economy but the AA is in business and vice versa.

    3. How wedded are you to LAX? Other options could be that AA offers flat beds on DFW-HNL and on PHX-OGG

    4. Yes sometimes BA Hols may be able to book you into J.

    • Louise K says:

      13 Aug13 August 11:18

      Thanks ChrisC

      Yes I have tried searching the separate legs and it doesn’t work other than add another £3k to the price.

      Flights are not for me and they want to travel home on the same day so wedded to LAX or SEA which is even more expensive.

      Might try and ring over the weekend if I can face the wait.

• Matt says:

  13 Aug13 August 09:39

  I set my clubcard vouchers to autoconvert to Virgin last quarter, to get the 2000 bonus miles/points on offer then. The clubcard points were converted and arrived in my VS account, but no sign of the bonus. Any ideas when that should show up?

  Thanks

  • BJ says:

    13 Aug13 August 09:42

    I failed to get the last two such bonuses and my partner the last one. I think Virgin may finally be getting a grip on this.

    • Matt says:

      13 Aug13 August 09:46

      I’ve never had a bonus before, so I should get one (if that’s what you’re meaning?). Will have to chase it up.

      • Matt says:

        13 Aug13 August 10:25

        I’ve found my answer – it’s due by the 22nd of August, so another week or so to wait.

      • BJ says:

        13 Aug13 August 11:17

        We are supposed to get the bonus once only but many of us got it multiple times by switching on and off the autoconversion. You should definitely get it given its your first time.

• Tracy says:

  13 Aug13 August 09:54

  Just an FYI on testing to return to Scotland from Malta. I took the £10 discounted BA Chronomics tests with me, they worked a treat, did them in the room, email within a few minutes of uploading the negative photo. Accepted no problem at Malta airport.
  Someone on here said it was not necessary to purchase the Scottish overpriced day 2 tests, thank you to whomever it was. I bought Eurofins drive through tests for their Livingston depot at £20 each. Drove straight there after arriving at Edinburgh airport, tests done in 5 mins so only a 20 min detour then home. Negative results arrived this am, tested at 4pm yesterday.
  In total £30 per person for testing….there were 4 of us so £120 in total.

  • His Holyness says:

    13 Aug13 August 10:51

    Yes there were people claiming it was all terrible fraud, and you’d be locked up, or maybe deported by Priti :D.

    £88 is a scam, pure and simple. Well done for ignoring the naysayers.

    • Tracy says:

      13 Aug13 August 13:18

      Yes £88 is excessive……especially if you are a family of 4….

      • Gtellez says:

        13 Aug13 August 19:02

        The price is crazy, but on Aug 5th I flew from BCN to EDI and the border officers were asking for the tests and checking if they were the CTM ones… hopefully I bought that one (my employer paid for it so I really didn’t care)

        • Tracy says:

          13 Aug13 August 20:22

          Really? We arrived into Edinburgh on 12th Aug, walked straight through…..no stops for anything to be checked

• Chrisasaurus says:

  13 Aug13 August 09:58

  Total conjecture of course but what’s the group’s expectations around US border reopening. NYC Marathon is second weekend in Nov, not looking great at the mo (and 14 days in Cancun not going to fly with wife!)

  What does everyone think?

  • HAK says:

    13 Aug13 August 10:12

    Would be shocked to see it reopen this year given the prevalence of Delta and the low vaccine rates in many states.

    • Alan says:

      13 Aug13 August 11:53

      Surely the fact that Delta is now prevalent across the states removes the justification for continuing the ban on UK citizens.

      • TGLoyalty says:

        13 Aug13 August 12:01

        Was there genuinely any reason for a complete ban at all.

        • HAK says:

          13 Aug13 August 12:06

          The “genuine” reason was it played well to a certain constituency (similar to this country etc).

      • HAK says:

        13 Aug13 August 12:05

        Whether it is justified or not is really irrelevant. Politics determines the opening-reopening.

  • Tariq says:

    13 Aug13 August 15:33

    14 day stay in Canada would probably be more convenient for NYC? Or does it not work the same way as Mexico…

• ChrisC says:

  13 Aug13 August 10:12

  https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/13/firms-selling-uk-travellers-covid-tests-not-charging-vat-investigation

  Tests supervised by registered healthcare professional are VAT free. Self Administered ones are VATable

  Looks like some companies aren’t charging the VAT when they should distorting the market

  • mark2 says:

    13 Aug13 August 10:34

    Surely the merchant is liable for the VAT whether they have shown it separately or not?

    • meta says:

      13 Aug13 August 10:49

      Unless their turnover is more than £85k, they are not obliged to charge VAT. Given that most of these firms have started only started turning significant amounts in the last 2-3 months, they probably haven’t yet reached the threshold. So we should see them start doing it soon.

      • Rob says:

        13 Aug13 August 10:52

        Medical services undertaken by a practitioner are not subject to VAT. The question is whether, say, issuing a Fit To Fly certificate based on a mobile phone screenshot of a lateral flow test counts as ‘overseen’.

        • Michael says:

          13 Aug13 August 20:43

          Providing medical care is not VATable but providing medico-legal services, medical reports for employment / driving / gun licences / insurance / I presume travel is! A fit to fly certificate isn’t medical care for the health of the patient so would be VATable if practitioner over threshold.

          DOI consultant providing private medical services

  • TGLoyalty says:

    13 Aug13 August 11:19

    Great good old Guardian making sure the consumer pays more!

    • Blair says:

      13 Aug13 August 13:25

      Wait till the Guardian hears that the heaviest users of self-administered tests are (gasp) frequent flyers

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