The HfP chat thread – Saturday 21st August

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General

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Robert says:

21 Aug21 August 08:49

Are there any updates to this article from 16th August regarding BA call centres, has BA made any response? Are HfP readers having better experiences now? https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2021/08/16/british-airways-0844-number/
- Marie says:
  
  21 Aug21 August 09:12
  
  BA bronze line this am. 11 minutes from calling to finishing call ! Called 855 am .Great service
- KBuffett says:
  
  21 Aug21 August 09:36
  
  Based on the comments over the last few days, I’d say no. There are more comments about being unable to get through to BA than anything else.
  
  I haven’t noticed such comments about any other airline!
  - Ivanka says:
    
    21 Aug21 August 09:45
    
    lufthansa is just as bad
Paasan69 says:

21 Aug21 August 08:58

I have “Spend £200 or more with Marriott Bonvoy and get 5000 Avios” offer on my BAPP. The T&C’s states: “Book, pay and stay before 31st August 2021 at check out only.” I need a few hotel stays in September. Wondering how AmEx would know when I’m staying if I make a couple of pre-paid reservations? Anyone with experience?
- Chris says:
  
  21 Aug21 August 09:07
  
  It is going to depend on where the payment is taken. The suggestion for similar requests in the past has been contact the hotel and ask if they can send you a link to pay early rather than on checkout.
- Harry T says:
  
  21 Aug21 August 09:22
  
  Hotels on the offer list who charge you should trigger the offer, regardless of whether it’s at checkout, assuming you book directly via Marriott.
- Paasan69 says:
  
  21 Aug21 August 17:55
  
  Thanks for your replies. Since I’m very sure that the stays will go ahead and give it try, can’t hurt.
Mouse says:

21 Aug21 August 09:24

Thanks to those who highlighted the new Morrisons offers on Thursday. Should have £170 + 6000 Virgin points coming my way if everything tracks.
- Harry T says:
  
  21 Aug21 August 09:25
  
  £170?
  - Andrew says:
    
    21 Aug21 August 10:16
    
    Seems generous. But there’s no limit to the Virgin Atlantic return, so £1000 spend at 10% + 7% Airtime return would be £170.
    
    My LBG cards are all limited to £10 max on one transaction.
    - Andrew M says:
      
      21 Aug21 August 11:42
      
      Is it 10% or 7% at Morrisons though? The app says both on the same page.
      - Andrew says:
        
        21 Aug21 August 12:20
        
        Indeed. That’s Clydesdale’s ropey IT for you. It’s going to be test and see.
    - Mouse says:
      
      21 Aug21 August 12:08
      
      Yes, this is exactly it
Rahaney says:

21 Aug21 August 09:27

What are the groups current thoughts wrt travels to the US in October?? Word of a travel corridor has gone silent recently despite the UK being open reciprocally…
Ta,
- Harry T says:
  
  21 Aug21 August 09:34
  
  Unlikely considering the trajectory of delta in the US. But I’ve been wrong before!
  - WaynedP says:
    
    21 Aug21 August 10:14
    
    Haven’t we all (sigh) 🙄
  - AJA says:
    
    21 Aug21 August 11:31
    
    I think a lot of HfPers would be happy if you were wrong this time.
- Andrew says:
  
  21 Aug21 August 13:07
  
  Also Biden is dealing with a different crisis at the moment so I would imagine this has slipped down the priority order
- Jeff Greene says:
  
  21 Aug21 August 19:09
  
  No idea
Jonny says:

21 Aug21 August 09:39

Hello – question about redeeming a Hotels.com Reward Night and earning RN ‘Stamps’ in the same booking.

If I book a four-night stay at say £200pn and redeem a single Reward Night (value say £150), will I earn RN stamps for the other three nights or does a redemption block earnings for the balance of the booking? I can’t find a clear answer on the website.

i.e. would I earn (a) 3 stamps only valued at £200? (b) 4 stamps at (£200×4)-150/4=£162.50 (c) No stamps (d) Something else?! (ignoring taxes)

I want to avoid making separate bookings as previously hotel front desks have insisted on check-out/re-check-ins which maybe is an avoidable hassle…

Hopefully someone will know… Thanks
- Gin and Tonic Please says:
  
  21 Aug21 August 09:45
  
  You’ll earn stamps on the 3 nights. I did exactly this just before the world closed down, and just double checked my hotels.com account to reconfirm.
  - Jonny says:
    
    21 Aug21 August 10:17
    
    G&TP, thanks for the super quick reply (and for checking too). I just booked and – on the final payment screen – it explicitly says I will earn 3 stamps on this 4 night booking.
    
    (@Rob – I think my earlier reply went into review as contained a hotels dot com url – can delete that one altogether now)
Louise says:

21 Aug21 August 09:53

I’m so sorry if this has been asked a million times before (I have searched on here but couldn’t find the answer). I want to make an overpayment on my Toyota car finance using my Amex but they only take visa/MC online or over the phone. They have also given me the bank acc no., sort code and reference to quote to make the payment by BACS. Can anyone suggest a way I can use the Amex to fund this payment? It’s linked to my PayPal but can’t see a way of doing it with PayPal? Thanks in advance
- Benilyn says:
  
  21 Aug21 August 09:56
  
  Out of luck unfortunately
- SteveJ says:
  
  21 Aug21 August 10:00
  
  Use Billhop into their bank acc, but with a hefty fee
  - Louise says:
    
    21 Aug21 August 10:09
    
    Thanks SteveJ, I’ve not used Billhop before so will have a look…I’m thinking the fee might be the off putting bit!
    - The Savage Squirrel says:
      
      21 Aug21 August 11:20
      
      3% likely to render Billhop pointless unless it’s the difference between getting a bonus and not. Particularly if you’re comparing against Visa/MC opportunities “for free”
      I’d take Visa/MC payments as a win here to be honest…
      - Louise says:
        
        21 Aug21 August 11:41
        
        Yeah, think I agree with you as it’s quite a large fee unfortunately
  - Sam G says:
    
    21 Aug21 August 10:11
    
    not allowed to pay finance institutions with Amex
    - Louise says:
      
      21 Aug21 August 10:33
      
      Oh really? Even using a service like billhop?
      - Anna says:
        
        21 Aug21 August 11:41
        
        It depends on the institution. VW finance does accept Billhop payments (we had a very low lease payment previously and set it up to pay monthly via Billhop) but Santander doesn’t, for example. You will find out when the payment bounces back or not!
      - Sam G says:
        
        21 Aug21 August 12:04
        
        It’s in the billhop t&c and judging by the checks I’ve had on payments recently I think they’ll be pretty strict about it at the moment, I wonder if Amex is doing more checks on them
      - CH says:
        
        21 Aug21 August 13:08
        
        What happens if the recipient refuses a Billhop payment? How would you know, in that is it an email/refund back onto the payment card? Presumably the fee is refunded too?!
Mark says:

21 Aug21 August 10:12

Does Amex Brighton work on a Saturday? Wanting to cancel / ask for retention bonus.
- Andrew says:
  
  21 Aug21 August 10:20
  
  And Sundays.
  - Mark says:
    
    21 Aug21 August 10:41
    
    Thanks. Was offered 10k MR. What have people been getting for the Gold?
    - AndyF says:
      
      21 Aug21 August 11:24
      
      I was offered ten k for my gold back retention in November of last year.
    - Aston100 says:
      
      21 Aug21 August 11:44
      
      Some have had 10k, others 20k.
WaynedP says:

21 Aug21 August 10:18

Addison Lee used first time yesterday as Amex Plat Sup holder.

Have I messed up ?

Does monthly credit only appear if you pay using the primary card ?

Addison Lee experience very slick and impressive BTW, and definitely no more expensive than usual London Black Cab (after application of the Amex statement credit .. which I’m doubting I’ll get now 🙄)
- Andrew says:
  
  21 Aug21 August 10:20
  
  Only on main platinum card once per month – nothing on supp cards.
  - WaynedP says:
    
    21 Aug21 August 10:26
    
    Thanks, lesson learnt. Will have to swap own card details on my App with Mrs dP’s card details.
- KBuffett says:
  
  21 Aug21 August 19:13
  
  100%, it’s primary card holder only.