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The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 18th August

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We are running this daily chat thread on Head for Points during the coronavirus outbreak.

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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.

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Comments (376)

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

  • MD says:

    Does anyone have a referral code for Igloo energy please? They seem to be coming out cheapest for me now.

    Interestingly PFP Energy have plummeted down the savings list for me since I was last asking about them a few weeks back, and I’m obviously using the same figures.

    Many thanks in advance.

  • Leon says:

    Hi,
    Could anyone confirm to me whether Amex does a “hard” or “soft” credit check on existing card holders? As a BAPP card holder, should I still use the application form on Amex website to apply for the Platium charge card? Even that form leads to a “hard” credit check I believe? Many thanks!!

    • Sina says:

      none, they usually use your internal score. they might as well do ID checks.

    • Harry T says:

      I don’t think they hard credit check existing customers, from what I’ve seen personally.

    • Youllnever says:

      I think it’s completely up to your history with them – I’ve previously had hard checks as an existing cardholder, but I’ve also had soft checks happen as well.

  • ACK says:

    Mother in law’s ticket cancelled, original trip was due tomorrow. She was struggling to commit to a new date later this year, but eventually came up with new dates. Flights available on the day but different fare bucket, so had to call BA, which I ended up doing around noon. Quite a nice surprise was that I got everything done in 21 minutes, of which 19 was hold music. Was expecting worse, based on comments seen in the past few days.

    • BJ says:

      I waited 1h 27m on USA via Skype, disconnected just as somebody started answering. Might have been an Internet blip though so I’m back to square one.

  • His Holyness says:

    BP is quite far from me to drop in, what gift cards do they usually stock?

  • LessCleverAndrew says:

    Apologies for the repeat post but BAExec chat is clueless on this.

    241 extension question:

    My 241 (issued May 2019) originally was due to expire May 2021, then was extended to November 2021. If I understand it correctly it is due one more 6-month extension to May 2022? Or would that be two more extensions to November 2022?

    Reason for asking is that I have used it to book a trip this August that I now need to cancel – but I can’t currently see the extension status so cant make an informed decision whether to cancel versus convert to an FTV.

    • LessCleverAndrew says:

      In answer to my own question you can see the expiry date of booked vouchers in the My vouchers section.

      • Yorkieflyer says:

        Annoying that as I have used the only voucher on my account there is now no section marked My Voucher’s so no way of seeing the expiry date if I were to cancel it. Any thoughts as to a workaround?

        • Mouse says:

          Find the email with the date you earned it and calculate from there

          • Yorkieflyer says:

            Well, it was March 2020 at o would be March 2022 but I’m lost with all the extensions!

          • Mouse says:

            From https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/executive-club/tiers-and-benefits

            “All unused vouchers had a 6-month extension applied to their validity in March 2020. Subsequently, all unused vouchers that were due to expire before 31 March 2021 had a 6-month extension applied to their validity in October 2020. We have recently (in February 2021) added a further 6-month extension to all vouchers that were due to expire before the 31 December 2021, giving members more chance to enjoy them.

            We’re also added an additional 6-months validity to all new Companion Voucher or Travel Together tickets earned between June 2020 and the end of December 2021.”

            That would suggest you only got the first six month extension in Martch 2020

          • Yorkieflyer says:

            Or arguably not at all extended if only issued in March 2020, oh well we’ll see if or more likely when we cancel our Christmas BKK flights

          • Mouse says:

            If you look at the comments on the hfp from the time, even vouchers earned up to March 31, well after the announcement, were issued with 30 months instead of 24:

            https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2020/03/23/british-airways-american-express-241-voucher-extended-six-months/

  • Tracy says:

    I did a Hilton Diamond challenge which I completed in May 2021 and have had Diamond since then. I’m not far short of the 30 nights to requalify as diamond this year. Is there any benefit to getting to 30 nights in terms of keeping diamond for longer?

    • BJ says:

      No, via both qualification routes your status will expire 31/3/23. Only benefit of further stays will be rollover nights and milestone bonuses on top of base points and any other offers you subscribe to.

      • Blair says:

        I think the rollover nights in 2021 into 2022 only apply for nights above 60. Even though achieving Diamond is 30. So you may find the ‘extra’ nights beyond 30 aren’t helpful to you.

        • BJ says:

          Agree, with Diamond secured I think Tracy would be best just to take best option on a hotel by hotel basis. However tve next quarterly promotions across chains still to come.

    • Tracy says:

      Thanks for the replies, will not put extra nights to Hilton….

  • BJ says:

    Last week a few readers recommended me Aeropress as a solution to poor hotel coffee. Currently £22.70 at Black Nektar if anybody else is interested.

    • Harry T says:

      Aero press is superb. Much better than the horrible nespresso.

      • KP says:

        come on nespresso is pretty good. I’m trying V60 lately. But both are my back-up

        My go-to is Sage Barista Express. Now if only I could take it to a hotel with me…

        • Chrisasaurus says:

          The one advantage of American style motels – could back up to your room door and then the coffee machine would be almost portable 🤣

      • BJ says:

        Should give it a good run on road trip next month.

  • Algor says:

    Quick question about day 2 PCR test after arriving from Amber listed country. Had both jabs so I just need test to fill PLF and board flight from Helsinki.

    Is the Randox for £43 best option?

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