The HfP chat thread – Saturday 21st August

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

• Jamie says:

  21 Aug21 August 16:18

  Anyone had a problem with upgrading up to Premium Plus BA. I’ve previously downgraded and upgraded a few times depending on when it’s been my main card and now they’re saying they won’t reupgrade it to Premium Plus. Anyone had this and been able to resolve?

  • Anna says:

    21 Aug21 August 16:20

    I think you may have to do it as a new application now? Should work out the same anyway.

    • Jamie says:

      21 Aug21 August 16:25

      Does that roll over existing expenditure of the basic card to the new Premium one?

      • JDB says:

        21 Aug21 August 17:29

        That’s the question I and others have been posing. With the greater disparity between the free and PP vouchers Amex can’t really continue to allow the upgrade/downgrade charade (ie giving the voucher to a few people for £25, but charging most £250). Not carrying over spend would be one simple route, but they could do it in other ways or a combination of ways.

        • Yorkieflyer says:

          21 Aug21 August 19:56

          I really wouldn’t keep making these suggestions!

      • SteveJ says:

        21 Aug21 August 17:29

        You start the online application, during the process Amex will realise you already have a Free BA card and you application will flip to an upgrade application. Start it, you’ll see what I mean. It works.

        • FFoxSake says:

          21 Aug21 August 20:52

          Try to upgrade via this link – https://www.americanexpress.com/uk/benefits/upgrade/ba-premium-plus-credit-card/
          I did it today, all online, and all automatically approved.
          Just logon to Amex first, click the link and follow the steps. You keep the same card number and can use the existing blue card earning at the higher rate immediately.
          Online account and App both showing the black card image and product name within 30 minutes too.

  • Sandra B says:

    21 Aug21 August 17:39

    I upgraded by phone on Thursday. Confirmed on the spot and cards arrived this morning. I have also graded up and down over the years.

  • Manny_D says:

    21 Aug21 August 18:35

    Could be a change of policy. As I haven’t been able to upgrade my Gold Charge to the Platinum (which I’m fairly certain is possible).

    May also be the CS Agents today who aren’t sure on the upgrade procedures (called in twice).

  • Yorkieflyer says:

    21 Aug21 August 19:55

    Mrs Yorkieflyer upgraded to the BAPP at the start of August on the phone

• Anna says:

  21 Aug21 August 16:19

  It’s turning out to be an interesting day. Just checked cash & points prices for our Berlin trip in December and IHG app is saying that breakfast is included on points bookings at the Regent.
  I was considering changing to the Hilton as both hotels are in the area where we want to be and we’d get breakfast as HH gold. Points prices quite similar now so if breakfast is in the mix anyway, which do people prefer?

  • Richie says:

    21 Aug21 August 16:34

    The one with an egg chef.

    • Anna says:

      21 Aug21 August 17:06

      OH does like a breakfast omelette. I have made a provisional points booking in case the rate disappears (intern rate or re-branding as a HIE?!). Breakfast not showing on the confirmation but I have a screenshot of it appearing on both pages of the booking where it shows the number of points required.

      • Richie says:

        21 Aug21 August 17:11

        Good. I do like the Berlin Christmas markets, I hope they will be open when you are there.

  • Blair says:

    21 Aug21 August 19:25

    Regent definitely include breakfast with points stays. I had them confirm by email and send a menu.

    • Blair says:

      21 Aug21 August 19:26

      And Regent’s breakfast is delightfully elegant.

    • Anna says:

      21 Aug21 August 22:19

      Thanks – is this the only time an IHG hotel gives free breakfast then?!

      • Blair says:

        21 Aug21 August 23:50

        It might even be hotel specific and rate soecific at that hotel. We’ve atumbled upon a very small subset.

• Dave says:

  21 Aug21 August 16:33

  I’m looking to book a night or two away and noticed a new hotel on the IHG app in Dorking, Surrey called ‘Wotton House’ that looks rather nice. However, it doesn’t appear to have any of the usual IHG branding and I can’t seem work out what family it belongs to. Does anyone have any experience of this hotel and/or know what status benefits are likely (if any) for a Spire AMB? Many thanks

  • Harry T says:

    21 Aug21 August 17:03

    It’s Mr and Mrs Smith.

    • TGLoyalty says:

      21 Aug21 August 17:26

      It’s not.

      Wotton House is an unbranded IHG hotel. It’ll probably be part of their new collections portfolio.

      • Harry T says:

        21 Aug21 August 17:56

        Whoops 😂

      • Dave says:

        21 Aug21 August 18:08

        Ah, that makes sense, thanks. Any idea if IHG/IC status benefits are any good for unbranded IHG hotels?

        • TGLoyalty says:

          21 Aug21 August 19:24

          They should be but let’s be honest there aren’t many tangible benefits.

  • Mr. AC says:

    21 Aug21 August 18:52

    Great grounds and beautiful historic buildings, otherwise rather mediocre I’d say. Really geared towards weddings. Absolutely zero status recognition (I was Spire). Does have an ok pool, sauna and jacuzzi.

    • TGLoyalty says:

      21 Aug21 August 19:23

      Probably part of the reason it’s unbranded.

    • Dave says:

      21 Aug21 August 19:34

      Thanks everyone

    • Yorkieflyer says:

      21 Aug21 August 19:58

      TA reviews suggest it’s a bit meh, looked before and decided against

  • David says:

    22 Aug22 August 00:37

    I think it came with the Principal Hotels acquisition.

• JM says:

  21 Aug21 August 17:01

  Does the AMEX platinum car hire insurance cover apply for Zipcar / Zipcar flex journeys in London?

  • BuildBackBetter says:

    21 Aug21 August 17:56

    Nope. Think it has to be combined with an accommodation booking to make a car hire eligible.

    • Gavin says:

      21 Aug21 August 20:45

      I’ve checked the T&C’s and I see no mention of needing accomodation booked. I’m currently abroad but staying in my parents property, so I hope I’m covered…!

  • Rob says:

    21 Aug21 August 18:31

    We’ve never got an answer to this officially – question comes up every couple of months – but I have always assumed no. If I ever prang a Zipcar I assume I will find out!

    • KBuffett says:

      21 Aug21 August 19:06

      I seem to recall that it only covers you when you’re on holiday, or something along those lines. I believe you have to have accommodation booked.

      • Aristeides says:

        21 Aug21 August 20:58

        Just to be clear I have used the insurance many times on UK domestic car hires and you do not have to be travelling abroad or have any sort accommodation. It is a stand alone product and you do not have to even pay with Amex. However, no experience with Zipcar.

        • KBuffett says:

          21 Aug21 August 21:09

          When you say ‘I have used the insurance many times’, do you mean that you have made many claims?

• Princess says:

  21 Aug21 August 17:28

  Ba chat report. I thought to share that chat agent, after I pushed him and spoon fed all the info managed to make a booking for me with a FTV.
  He initially said he couldn’t do it because they can’t take payment. I explain my FTV would cover the same amount of money, but he insisted he couldnt recalculate tax. I replied that was a reward flight, then he said it could be different amount of Avios because peak/off peak dates, I again reassured him that I checked, then finally he decided to check and confirm with booking team! 1 hour later he managed to send me the new booking!!!!

  • Anna says:

    21 Aug21 August 18:59

    Good to know, thanks. I’ve also found that if you cajole the Twitter reps (which could well be the same people?!) they can also do things they try and tell you can only be done on the phone!

• J says:

  21 Aug21 August 17:46

  Afternoon All!

  Just a quick Q – Is it possible to use an evoucher for a cash upgrade from WTP to CW? Have £500 and it’s £440 to upgrade but only allows me to put in card info.

  Thanks

  • Sukes says:

    21 Aug21 August 18:18

    According to BA official Twitter in Dec 2020 the answer is no – eVoucher is to be used when making a new booking & cannot be used to upgrade an existing booking. I’m not aware of any changes since then to this policy. https://mobile.twitter.com/British_Airways/status/1337934791245705216

• The Rooster says:

  21 Aug21 August 21:23

  I just miss out on the HSBC Premier earning requirements but have over 50K worth of savings which I’m planning to invest in buy to let.
  How often do HSBC check the savings/investing requirements once the account is opened?

  • Alan S says:

    21 Aug21 August 22:25

    I’m not sure they’ve checked mine since opening. Plenty of spend/money through the accounts, but technically I wouldn’t qualify at the moment (I ended a life insurance product).

  • Memesweeper says:

    21 Aug21 August 22:27

    Mine was checked on application and once subsequently (about 5 years in). YMMV.

  • Harry T says:

    21 Aug21 August 22:49

    If you qualify on salary, you can just open a general investment account after opening the premier account. Having said that, I’ve only had the account for a few months but they haven’t checked my income formally, to my knowledge.

• Ian M says:

  22 Aug22 August 16:00

  Thanks for your help. Grosvenor House looks to be the winner

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