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The HfP chat thread – Monday 16th August

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General

Comments (290)

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

  • Jon says:
    16 Aug16 August 18:34

    Does anyone know if the non-Sterling transaction fee of 2.99% charged by Amex would be included in my progress towards spending £150 at NH Hotels? I have a reservation falling just under the £150 mark, but if the 2.99% is included, it comes to above £150 and would therefore satisfy the conditions of the offer. Does anyone know?

  • Tiger says:
    16 Aug16 August 18:39

    What a great win for India at Lord’s today. An absolute thriller of a test match! Well played India.

    • KP says:
      16 Aug16 August 19:17

      Yes…. Didnt get much work done. What a Test match…. Just how cricket should be !!! Feel for Root though

      • The Savage Squirrel says:
        16 Aug16 August 19:22

        This is exactly why test matches should remain 5 days. Poor Root; with England’s top 3 it’s like 11 vs 8 at the moment.

  • James says:
    16 Aug16 August 18:57

    Who offers the best/cheapest day 2 “at-home” test in the U.K.? This is for my family up north with no test centres nearby. Thanks!

  • Blair says:
    16 Aug16 August 19:05

    Paris Hilton hotels: Sorry, I think this got discussed a few weeks back. Which is considered the better option, Hilton Opera or Maison Astor? Diamond member here, not really bothered about lounge.

    • Peter K says:
      16 Aug16 August 19:25

      Paris Hilton hotels?!? Oh my! Please never let her take control of the company!!

    • Reney says:
      16 Aug16 August 21:35

      🙋‍♀️it was me who asked. No one gave me an answer. I went with Maison Astor based on location and reviews on Tripadvisor.

    • John says:
      16 Aug16 August 22:36

      I’ve stayed at both – preferred Maison Astor, although that was hugely helped by having a room with a terrace. If you can book a room with a terrace, then hands down choose this place. Maison Astor also let us have our inclusive diamond member breakfast via room service – not certain if this is a Curio thing (Chekhoff in Moscow did the same) or a COVID thing – or if it’s still ongoing for that matter. Hotel seemed brand new in summer 2020 when we went… so would hope it’s still in good condition. Not certain about gym or other facilities, sorry.
      Opera has marginally better location – and also has the exec lounge which you’re not fussed about. You’re also more likely to swing an upgrade there as it’s larger – I got a suite of some sort myself but no early check in. I was there pre COVID and it was rammed, so that might be taking some of the gloss off…

      • Blair says:
        16 Aug16 August 23:25

        Thanks Reney, thanks John. And I am highly amused by the Paris Hilton jokes.

  • BJ says:
    16 Aug16 August 19:18

    I suspect this has been mentioned bit if so I’ve missed it. When the missing amex offers reappeared last week did readers get their saved but unused BP offers back? My partner got all saved offers back except BP on his BAPP. Wondering whether to try it regardless.

    • TJ says:
      16 Aug16 August 19:32

      I saved the offers but they no longer appear. Contacted Amex via chat who confirmed that offer is still showing as ‘saved’ on their systems so it should trigger ok.

      • BJ says:
        16 Aug16 August 19:39

        Thanks, I’ll tell my partner to risk it then. We will probably leave it to the last week as reminder emails are common and might prove useful if any issues.

        • EwanG says:
          16 Aug16 August 20:59

          Based on my experience you’ll be fine @BJ. The BP offer did not come back for me in my saved offers but today has come through as a ‘recently redeemed’ offer, following the purchase last Wednesday. No credit yet applied to the account.
          This has happened on both business and personal Gold cards.
          Related, the Windmill station in Edinburgh shows on the list, except this is Esso rather than BP!

          • BJ says:
            16 Aug16 August 21:09

            Cheers Ewan, used to have BP on Orchard but since been developed for townhouses. Closest one now is Leith end of Ferry Road or Canonmills.. One lady who works at Windmill is very clued up on loyalty. She told me where to go once when I tried to top up Monese with amex, never went back since.

          • EwanG says:
            16 Aug16 August 21:25

            Orchard used to be a Shell, don’t recall it being a BP.
            My BP purchases which tracked were Canonmills and Ferry Road!

        • Lee says:
          16 Aug16 August 22:32

          BJ, BP offer came back to my card after 2 days that I plan to use it for Amazon GC

          • BJ says:
            17 Aug17 August 06:12

            Thanks @Lee.

            Oh no @EwanG. My partner and I have argued about that garage. I insisted it was BP but he said it was something else but couldn’t remember what. Guess I’ll just keep quiet now.

  • Paul says:
    16 Aug16 August 20:18

    Has those that have received notice of a settlement via PGMBM received their request for payment information via SheildPay yet?

  • Oz_Traveller says:
    16 Aug16 August 20:59

    Hi

    I am travelling to the US next year and planning to use BA241 companion voucher. My problem is seats on my outbound flight is available, however my inbound isn’t available yet. If I delay my booking too much longer for seats on my inbound flights to become available I’ll lose the outbound seats. How can I get around this – PLEASE help. Thanks

    • Rob says:
      16 Aug16 August 21:05

      Book the outbound now as 2 x one-ways.

      When the return becomes available, ring BA and get them to add it on to your existing booking. This should incur a £35 per person amendment fee but BA doesn’t bother charging it.

      • Oz_Traveller says:
        16 Aug16 August 21:16

        Thanks Rob. So to confirm… book 2x one-way tickets to the US (normal payment without using companion voucher) and then contact BA to book the return tickets on the same booking with the Companion Voucher? Thanks

        • Blenz101 says:
          16 Aug16 August 21:30

          No. Book the outbound with the companion voucher. Then call up and add the return leg once it becomes available.

          • Oz_Traveller says:
            16 Aug16 August 21:35

            So sorry! The day has got the better of me and my brain is mush!

        • Joe says:
          16 Aug16 August 21:32

          I think you book the outbound with the companion voucher. Then ring when return becomes available.

  • Anuj says:
    16 Aug16 August 21:56

    With the recent sad news I thought some people might be interested in this aid organisation. I saw it on Twitter https://miles4migrants.org/ you can donate your miles to people who can’t afford airfare and need to seek asylum etc

    • BJ says:
      17 Aug17 August 06:17

      I’ve always been eary of the loyalty/charity interface. They seem stacked in favour of the loyalty partner. I prefer just to make donations to reputable well established organisations with gift aid.

      • Rob says:
        17 Aug17 August 07:28

        Yes, this is tax inefficient unfortunately – and using miles for long haul economy flights is also inefficient.

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