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The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 17th August

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Comments (394)

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

  • BJ says:
    17 Aug17 August 10:36

    The missing amex BP offer I queried last night have now reappeared.

    • WaynedP says:
      17 Aug17 August 17:17

      Proof (if ever there was any doubt) that Amex have a member of staff monitoring HfP daily comments 😆

  • Alex says:
    17 Aug17 August 10:54

    How many personal AMEX cards are allowed by AMEX?

    Currently have BA, Nectar and I’m a supplementary holder for a PRGC; looking to get a Platinum.
    Assuming the supplementary card doesn’t count, right?

    • TGLoyalty says:
      17 Aug17 August 11:37

      2 charge and 3 credit was the old guidance.

      I heard others say 4 cards max.

      Supp doesn’t count.

    • BJ says:
      17 Aug17 August 11:47

      I frequently held 4 but at one time I had 5. Nit convinced there was ever a rule, I think it just depended on circumstances.

    • Nadeshka says:
      17 Aug17 August 12:25

      I have the same as you + the Marriot and just been approved for a Platinum in my own name, so think you’ll be fine from a card number perspective.

  • Andrew says:
    17 Aug17 August 11:14

    Double Avios at Bicester until 12 September

  • DI says:
    17 Aug17 August 11:16

    Random question: is anyone aware of any birthday promos?

    Book 10 nights for a price of 3?
    Get 100000 avios?
    Free Gregg’s roll?

    Thanks 😉

  • Sina says:
    17 Aug17 August 11:22

    IHG – This might be interesting for Mastercard world & world elite cardholders:
    https://www.priceless.com/travel/product/165711/ihg-hotels-and-resorts/0/4007/options/sortBy/popularity/location/9942/

    • meta says:
      17 Aug17 August 11:42

      Thanks, but 10% discount is not really applied. You get a standard advance saver rate whereas as a IHG member you’d get some 10% off anyway. You do get a credit. I’d regard early check-in/late checkout and upgrade as not a benefit as it is subject to availability.

      You’d be probably better making booking via Amex FHR rate or with Emyr than this as it also includes breakfast .

      • Sina says:
        17 Aug17 August 11:56

        You’re right, forgot about the breakfast!

      • JDB says:
        17 Aug17 August 12:10

        You are right @meta but it is an interesting promotion in that hotels are really pushing to disintermediate all forms of travel agent, rather than pay 20%+ comm. Once you know the hotel will offer free breakfast, upgrade, $100 credit etc. AND still pay 20% away to an agent it gives you a large negotiation margin to book directly with the hotel. In countries like Argentina & Uruguay where there is no VAT for foreigners on the room (but 20% on everything else) they are delighted to add in golf, spa, dinner, riding, laundry etc. as well as guaranteed specific upgrades. In Jan (at a Hyatt/Thompson) in addition to all sorts of extras we asked for and got free corkage (usually an extraordinary $35/bottle) as their wine list is quite poor and overpriced. Basically, we find they will bite your hand off and @meta I get the impression you might be a good negotiator!

  • Babyg says:
    17 Aug17 August 11:24

    OT – Anybody have any COS19 discount codes (I’ve tried google but couldn’t find any working ones)

    • Andrew says:
      17 Aug17 August 11:46

      Do you mean Clos19? Maybe that’s why you can’t find any codes if you’re searching for Cos19

      • JDB says:
        17 Aug17 August 12:15

        The right code for Clos19 is essentially any supermarket or Majestic. I looked at it earlier this year when an Amex offer first appeared and needed to buy a large quantity of wine & champagne and couldn’t believe the joke prices which the Amex offer did much too little to change.

        • Andrew says:
          17 Aug17 August 12:33

          Agreed. The prices are only ok for the very top end like Krug which the supermarkets doesn’t usually sell and the department stores do charge more for.

          • JDB says:
            17 Aug17 August 12:46

            @ Andrew Waitrose Cellar (and in some shops) sells Krug (and DP) for £150 vs Clos19 £174 and of course from time to time they have 25% off six. Never used them before but since Brexit can’t get wine from our usual French supplier. They have some quite good stuff; if you like white burgundy, their Chorey-Les-Beaune and Saint-Aubin (Girard) are excellent and good value, especially with 25% off.

          • ATP says:
            17 Aug17 August 14:05

            It depends on product choice I suppose; we only drink R de Ruinart which is approx £50 each everywhere and not in supermarkets. Clos19 offer 10% off for signing up to their newsletter and stacked with the spend 175 get 35 off occasional Amex offer, Clos are considerably cheaper. 200-20-35=145. 145/4= 36.25 which is unbeatable elsewhere, esp with free delivery. Agreed though, that for Veuve/Moet etc its extortionate!

          • Babyg says:
            17 Aug17 August 14:55

            They (clos19 – sorry for the typo) have a product that i cant get anywhere else… I agree they are generally more expensive, but with codes (have had amex offers + 20% off) it can work out OK… unfortunately cant find any working clos19 codes

        • Rob says:
          17 Aug17 August 12:52

          It is owned by LVMH and can’t really discount as its trade customers would get annoyed.

          • Stu N says:
            17 Aug17 August 14:32

            They usually do pretty generous Avios per £ too (10-15 is not unusual via BA) – combine that with an Amex offer and it does all work quite nicely as long as you’re not buying Veuve or Moet. We usually stock up on a couple of bottles of Cheval des Andes and Ruinart Blanc des Blancs when the offers come round.

  • Reney says:
    17 Aug17 August 11:25

    Just got an email for 15 wow points with perks at work for Lululemon. I assume this stacks with Amex offer (spend £100 get back £20) for 35% off if you make a purchase of exactly £100 online?

    Anyone ever brought a gift card online from them and it tracks for amex offer?

    • Andrew says:
      17 Aug17 August 12:27

      The PAW offers should indeed stack with the Amex offer. The PAW probably won’t track if you use any other discount code though.

      The general rule is if the Gift Card is sold and issued by Merchant under their general trading merchant account it should work with Amex, if it’s subcontracted and billed by a different firm it won’t.

  • George K says:
    17 Aug17 August 11:27

    Just to say a massive thank you to the community for the disclosure of the Sheraton Grand ‘intern rate’. We’ve just done a stay for my wife’s birthday and it was extremely gratifying to not have to pray for an upgrade at check-in, having booked the highest category room from the word go instead.

    And before anyone asks, we did not take the MB bottles.

    A big thank you, again.

    • PQTR says:
      17 Aug17 August 11:43

      How was the stay more generally? Intrigued to hear as booked for some point next year

      • George K says:
        17 Aug17 August 14:02

        I don’t want to say too much as clearly things are in a transitionary phase (as with everywhere else) so what I saw now may not be what happens next year, or even next month.

        However, the room was the absolute highlight. It’s basically an entire flat, with everything you’ll ever need. Massive bathroom, dining room, living room, study, hallway, and Green Park views. As it was my wife’s birthday, we got cake and balloons waiting for us, which is a great touch.

        All rooms have their own thermostat so you can control it independently. Had a good night’s sleep – no noise to report from the street down below.

        They’ve opened the club house, so you can go down and get nibbles whenever. There’s an afternoon tea bit where you can get scones, cream and some curd, and breakfast is also available in the lounge. We went in the Mercante restaurant for the breakfast and it was OK (typical full English and continental options – nothing to write home about).

        I’ve been in the hotel pre-covid and the lounge was packed, so it was a bit surreal to see such a big setting empty this time around (the hotel felt very quiet, not sure what sort of occupancy it was running – only saw about 5 people at breakfast, which again, was a bit surreal)

        Had a toddler in tow, so got a crib and asked for some bedding – all promptly delivered. They even had a cuddly toy waiting for him, a Sheraton Henry puppy, which I may be more exhited about than he is (I’m a sucker for hotel branded stuff)

        That’s about it. We’ve done afternoon tea at the Palm Court before (and even been at an Eric Lanlard event there with SPG at the time) so if you’re staying, you might as well throw that in if you haven’t done it. I’m a big fan of art deco architecture so make sure you have a wonder around the ballroom areas if you are that way inclined too.

        By complete coincidence, the nursery had to close down for a week due to a covid case – had I known that, I would have booked the suite for the whole week at £200+pn and worked from there. It was a real joy to have the space.

        We got late checkout (I’m titanium) and 1000 points thrown in.

    • Diydegsy says:
      17 Aug17 August 11:46

      Any other tips or advice as we have a stay later in the year?

      • Tariq says:
        17 Aug17 August 12:18

        If you’re planning on driving, plenty of spaces and quite competitive rate for the area (£50/day).

      • George K says:
        17 Aug17 August 14:08

        See reply above – not many tips. Just enjoy it! My advice is to get there as soon as possible to maximise what will be a very nice stay!

    • Harry T says:
      17 Aug17 August 13:57

      Glad you had a good time, it’s a lovely hotel.

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

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