The HfP chat thread – Monday 16th August

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RTS says:

16 Aug16 August 11:11

Did anyone win any nectar points during that 1million nectar point give away?!
- TheInsiderFly says:
  
  16 Aug16 August 20:50
  
  Everyone had to sign an NDA
Mouse says:

16 Aug16 August 11:27

Just had Lufthansa status due to expire Feb 2022 extended to Feb 2023. Hopefully BA will follow soon…
Philip says:

16 Aug16 August 11:38

I have used my Curve card with an underlying card that doesn’t charge FX fees for overseas transactions. How can I be charged a foreign exchange fee for such a transaction?
- Beardless Hipster says:
  
  16 Aug16 August 11:45
  
  You need to change the underlying card’s currency in the Curve app to the same currency you’re making the payment in. That way the underlying card makes the conversion and not Curve. If you let Curve make the conversion you get charged fx fees for spend over £500 in a rolling 30 day period
- Sam G says:
  
  16 Aug16 August 12:08
  
  TBH I can’t see the benefit of using Curve in this scenario – you’re only risking a headache if it’s the weekend or you’ve gone over the limit or the currency is wrong.
  - Sandgrounder says:
    
    16 Aug16 August 12:27
    
    I sometimes do this abroad for security Sam G. There are some places I dont trust with my real card
    - Sam G says:
      
      16 Aug16 August 12:53
      
      for me it’s the opposite! Various subscriptions using my Curve so quite a hassle to get it replaced + I don’t fancy dealing with them if there were any fraudulent transactions. Whereas my Santander Zero card I never otherwise use so NBD to get another one
      - Harrier25 says:
        
        16 Aug16 August 14:47
        
        If you are legacy black then the FX limits with Curve do not apply and you still benefit from unlimited FX.
H says:

16 Aug16 August 11:43

Hi, has anyone used the £22 Chronomics antigen test to return from Dubai? I’m conscious that the check-in staff may have an issue with this test. Thanks
- Mrs_Fussy says:
  
  16 Aug16 August 12:12
  
  @ H + 1. I would like to know this too
- KP says:
  
  16 Aug16 August 12:26
  
  +1 I want to know this too for Dubai. Chronomics test just arrived this morning
  - Blenz101 says:
    
    16 Aug16 August 13:30
    
    No personal experience of these tests as the only type of test available in the UAE is PCR or DPI. The cost of a PCR is about the same as you are paying to take a test with you (by law) are you are unlikely to be more than 5 mins taxi from a testing location anywhere in the city. Results never more than 24 hours, usually 6.
    
    It would certainly put my mind at ease having a “gold standard” test with me rather than risking the check in agent being unable to verify the meets performance standards of ≥97% specificity, ≥80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies/ml.
- Blair says:
  
  16 Aug16 August 13:30
  
  Get a local PCR for similar price, bring both to the check in desk and offer up the Chronomics first. See what they say. My check in agent (Emirates) asked for passport, PLF and PCR result as I approached the desk. Granted they may use PCR as shorthand for all tests. There’s a lack of DP on this at present.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  16 Aug16 August 13:33
  
  Who are you flying with?
  
  BA should be ok. Emirates etc you’re probably just best off getting a PCR
  - KP says:
    
    16 Aug16 August 13:42
    
    Im flying BA
  - Blenz101 says:
    
    16 Aug16 August 14:37
    
    Not really sure what difference that makes, although with EK you could easily speak with the local DXB office and they could confirm what their system is showing in terms of test requirements and note it on your account. They also have the management infrastructure in place and staff will be used to dealing with different testing requirements across the their network.
    
    BA you are at the mercy of the check in agent on the day.
    - KP says:
      
      16 Aug16 August 14:59
      
      I think the point was BA staff will know specific rules applicable to Uk whereas EK check in staff deal with passengers all across the world and may get confused
FatherOfFour says:

16 Aug16 August 12:03

Per flyer talk, it’s not currently possible to use a companion voucher online for a new booking.
Hopefully temporary, but with BA removing the ability to amend companion bookings, as well as recruiting more Avios staff, I do wonder if (for some reason) they are going to make this a phone only process. Only reason I can imagine would be to enforce the new Amex voucher rules for vouchers issued after 1/9. Maybe the IT solution isn’t ready in time.
- Lewis says:
  
  16 Aug16 August 12:09
  
  That’s going to be a car crash surely (as per the other article today!)
- Memesweeper says:
  
  16 Aug16 August 13:15
  
  Maybe the IT is ready for the new companion vouchers but not the old ones simultaneously?
  
  If this situation persists it’s arguable it’s a breach of the companion voucher T&Cs:
  
  The Companion Voucher allows the main British Airways American Express Card Account holder, when making a Reward Flight booking using Avios, to book another seat in the same cabin (any cabin) on the same flight for a Companion without having to pay the Avios flight price for that Companion.
- Scottnothing82 says:
  
  16 Aug16 August 13:15
  
  Thank you for this. Was puzzled by the same when trying to book flights today. I can no longer see the vouchers I have been issued or the expiry dates on BA or Amex systems. Joy.
  - meta says:
    
    16 Aug16 August 13:30
    
    I can see all my vouchers and I can book online with them as usual. Maybe it was just a temporary glitch.
- Wally1976 says:
  
  16 Aug16 August 17:21
  
  I did notice the other day that it seemed to allow using a companion voucher for an itinerary not starting in the UK (which wasn’t possible previously). This is via the app.
- Anna says:
  
  16 Aug16 August 18:11
  
  Since when? I made one online about 3 weeks ago.
N says:

16 Aug16 August 12:27

I booked the Hawaii BA intern rate a few months ago for travel in March next year. Flights were CDG-LHR-LAX-HNL (and back). Outbound LHR-LAX has been rescheduled so it now takes off before CDG-LHR lands. Still early days so exploring options, but does this mean that I can, if I want;
1. Get a full refund?
2. Get it reticketed to start at LHR?
3. Change dates to dates of my choice?

And can I leave it till February before calling BA to make that change?
- N says:
  
  16 Aug16 August 12:33
  
  (or have I misunderstood the rules and those options apply to cancellations, rather than changes?)
  
  A touch more context, flight number hasn’t changed for the LHR-LAX, but departure time has changed from 1310 to 0915
  - Jonathan says:
    
    16 Aug16 August 13:37
    
    You definitely won’t be allowed to start from LHR as that would put BA on the hook for £180 APD. Very unlikely to get the other 2 options either for a simple reschedule rather than cancellation.
    
    As Roberto says, the timing issue will be sorted in next few days.
- roberto says:
  
  16 Aug16 August 12:47
  
  It will get auto sorted in the next few days. If you don’t like that which you are offered you are able to call in to discuss options at that stage or amend on line possibly…
Gary says:

16 Aug16 August 13:01

BA Inbound Faro to T5, BA offers VeriFLY as only option to upload docs (upload via MMB not offered like they did on outbound). Does VeriFLY makes a difference in terms of workflow through the airport? Considering not faffing w VeriFLY download/registration/upload but just turn up at check in w paper docs
- meta says:
  
  16 Aug16 August 13:11
  
  Verifly – personal experience , no checks by BA agent. Takes a minute or two to issue boarding pass.
- Lawro says:
  
  16 Aug16 August 14:51
  
  I did this route yesterday evening. I hadn’t uploaded anything and had paper docs/on my phone – the checks took just a couple of minutes. The queues were significant though (Sunday evening flight probably contributed to this) so make sure to factor that in.
KBuffett says:

16 Aug16 August 13:03

There’s some astonishing footage on social media of scenes at Kabul airport. People clinging to a US airforce plane.
- KBuffett says:
  
  16 Aug16 August 13:08
  
  I’ve just seen footage of two people falling off the plane after take off. Very sad to see how desperate some people are in certain situations.
  - Super Secret Stuff says:
    
    16 Aug16 August 13:30
    
    So sad to see. I sincerely hope we send the UN in to keep the airport running for both evacuations and commercial flights
- Super Secret Stuff says:
  
  16 Aug16 August 13:28
  
  Very sad to see, however all parties had a long time to plan for this. Just appears that the Taliban where more prepared than everyone else.
  
  Realistically the test for the Taliban this time is if they still allow other terrorist groups to operate and grow. If they don’t and maintain current freedoms (unlikely I admit) we could see Afgan with a stable government in the not too distant future
  
  It does appear that the majority of Afgan is supportive or at least tolerant of the the “new” Taliban, and at the end of the day the people decide…
  - Blair says:
    
    16 Aug16 August 13:32
    
    Yep agreed; Western democracy isn’t for everyone. A bit like how one can extol the points and loyalty game but many others simply aren’t inclined to adopt it.
    - Super Secret Stuff says:
      
      16 Aug16 August 14:24
      
      I’m pretty sure I said the exact opposite of that. The majority decide, hopefully a democracy follows…
      - Tariq says:
        
        16 Aug16 August 16:19
        
        It looks like the majority decided to roll over and let the Taliban back in.
  - BJ says:
    
    16 Aug16 August 14:08
    
    “It does appear that the majority of Afgan is supportive or at least tolerant of the the “new” Taliban”
    
    You mean the population comprises slight more men than women? This is a total disaster for women, and indeed for anybody who cannot or will not conform. And, please, don’t anybody bother rolling out the BS ‘different culture’ excuse for lack of equality in any shape or form, it is not defensible.
    - Anuj says:
      
      16 Aug16 August 14:24
      
      How could anyone even know what the vast majority of afghans think, the swift takeover was because the ANDSF was left totally useless as a defence force when it no longer had US support to fall back on.
      - Super Secret Stuff says:
        
        16 Aug16 August 14:36
        
        The fact that the Afgan army has always struggled to hit its own recruitment figures and stop people from running away from there posts despite being better protected and armed generally says there is less support for them
      - BuildBackBetter says:
        
        16 Aug16 August 14:54
        
        It was useless because they squandered US money on corruption and waste.
        There were reports Afghan president tried to stuff his helicopter with as much cash as he can when escaping.
      - r* says:
        
        16 Aug16 August 15:40
        
        It was cos the taliban has spent the last 12 months making agreements/paying the ppl who run the towns to not oppose them, which combined with ppl leaving the ANDSF as soon as they realised the US wasnt going to support them, allowed them to take over the country in days. They have been able to plan this for quite a while.
    - Super Secret Stuff says:
      
      16 Aug16 August 14:33
      
      Women can fight too, and do. The fact is there is more people willing to fight for the Taliban than there is who will fight for the government.
      
      I do worry about the people that are fearing for there life and equality should be in every society. However you can’t force a particular system on a country after 20 years of strong resistance.
      
      As I alluded too, the Taliban will need to concede some elements of there ideology in order to gain international recognition which they so desperately need and want (as they did last time). From what I have read, they are actively trying to maintain some peace and order whilst showing some restraint (considering they are a group of randomly organised people).
      
      Could this have been done better? Yes, they could have done a deal for an election. However that is now where we are at. SO heart breaking but hope is not lost
      - BJ says:
        
        16 Aug16 August 15:15
        
        For all our faults, we and many other countries are generally governed by consent. Many others are governed by fear, intimidation and brainwashing. No prizes for guessing where this one’s headed, the inevitable conseques, and the latest failure of the UN. Having said that, there are no easy or good answers and that’s probably saddest of all.
      - BuildBackBetter says:
        
        16 Aug16 August 16:23
        
        Election? Taliban? You must be kidding…
      - Super Secret Stuff says:
        
        16 Aug16 August 16:36
        
        @BBB you can hope, some form of democracy is better than another occupation or the last 20 years
      - Anna says:
        
        16 Aug16 August 18:21
        
        I don’t know how old you are SSS but women and girls being educated, employed, free to make decisions about their lives and their bodies hardly counts as resistance to the regime of the past 20 years.
        You clearly don’t remember the Taliban of the 90s – they cared not one jot that they were shunned by the international community for the six years they were in power; they were utterly convinced of their own righteousness and funded by rogue states and terrorist networks. I really doubt they have changed much.
    - Anna says:
      
      16 Aug16 August 18:18
      
      +1 million. Women and girls in Afghanistan have been summarily thrown to the wolves (not to mention anyone associated with the former coalition). This was utterly predictable but the US seems to have conveniently forgotten that this is where 9/11 was planned and launched and the reason they have been in the country for the past 20 years.
      - Super Secret Stuff says:
        
        16 Aug16 August 19:57
        
        @Anna yes I am too young to remember them. I think I’m just clinging to hope that they have evolved into a group that can concede some policies like human rights in order to become a country. However over the course of the day I have seen more and more things that say they haven’t changed.
        
        So sad that so many people will suffer from this
  - John says:
    
    16 Aug16 August 15:41
    
    I’m sure you would also say you support the Taliban if you were likely to be shot for opposing them
    - Super Secret Stuff says:
      
      16 Aug16 August 16:38
      
      Well yes I’m nearly blind, but the point stands that more people are willing to fight for one side than the other
- Blair says:
  
  16 Aug16 August 13:31
  
  I suppose BA will use this as an excuse for no lounge access at Kabul. Typical!
  - BuildBackBetter says:
    
    16 Aug16 August 14:56
    
    Too early Blair.
  - Mouse says:
    
    16 Aug16 August 16:51
    
    It’s really crowded and they’ve stopped serving booze so no great loss