The HfP chat thread – Sunday 22nd August

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• SteveJ says:

  22 Aug22 August 08:54

  Any idea how often Amex run a supplementary card promotion?

  Looking to add a supp to a new BAPP, in no rush though will likely hit SUB within 2 months and then cancel, so wondering if worth waiting for a bonus promotion, or just take the usual 3k Avios on offer.

• Cherry says:

  22 Aug22 August 09:15

  Are there any offers circulating for Gatwick Airport parking? There’s usually 10% off floating around.

  Jumped the gun booking a short break for October without realising that the parking is the most expensive element of my week away…

  • Travel Strong says:

    22 Aug22 August 09:34

    Registering/Signing in to MyGatwick applies a 10% discount all year round.

    • NSL says:

      22 Aug22 August 09:42

      Thanks. MyGatwick not generating a discount for my trip so will keep looking.

  • Rui N. says:

    22 Aug22 August 10:27

    I usual use Skyparksecure to check the parking deals. There are usually discount codes around as well.

• Andrew says:

  22 Aug22 August 09:16

  I’m a bit confused about what type of test I need when returning from Spain – is a managed LFT acceptable?

  • Tracey says:

    22 Aug22 August 09:39

    Same as coming back from any other country. “Supervised” LFT meeting the specific requirements. For travel from Spain a PCR is advised but not mandated. So I don’t know why anyone would want to choose to do one, given they cost more and take longer to receive results.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    22 Aug22 August 09:47

    Chromatics was fine. As will project screen and Qurad.

    • Sam G says:

      22 Aug22 August 10:15

      I’m flying Ryanair and I keep reading reports that they sporadically deny boarding for these so have found a local clinic 5 mins from my accommodation doing them for €40 a pop so have gone for those instead. Plenty of places doing them for around that price or less in major tourist areas

      • Anna says:

        22 Aug22 August 11:41

        Is that Chronomics? I am taking that one with me to Mallorca next week, and flying on Ryanair 😬. Surely it’s not up to Ryanair to decide what the UK government will or won’t accept?

      • TGLoyalty says:

        22 Aug22 August 11:57

        No issue for 9 of us flying ryanair from Malaga 2 weeks ago

        • Anna says:

          22 Aug22 August 12:07

          Thanks TG!

        • Anna says:

          22 Aug22 August 12:08

          Though is Chromatics a separate test or a typo?

  • Andrew says:

    22 Aug22 August 10:02

    Great, thanks.

• SteveJ says:

  22 Aug22 August 09:22

  FTV with a 241 question.

  Can I book online and then call to have the booking amended to use the FTV and 241, or does the whole thing need to be done on the call, thus risking losing the seats whilst I queue?

  • mr_jetlag says:

    22 Aug22 August 09:24

    If you have enough avios to do the initial booking it should be ok to amend via call afterwards.

  • SteveJ says:

    22 Aug22 August 11:23

    For clarity, my 241 is tied up in the FTV, still OK to call after booking online?

    • Anna says:

      22 Aug22 August 11:42

      From what I can tell, you have to call to make the new booking, they won’t apply the FTV retrospectively if that’s what you’re asking.

      • SteveJ says:

        22 Aug22 August 12:07

        Thanks Anna, yes that’s what I was asking, whether FTV could be applied retrospectively.

        • Anna says:

          22 Aug22 August 14:18

          Though I wouldn’t be surprised if someone does try it and gets a CSA who will do it, they are a law unto themselves!

• Blindman says:

  22 Aug22 August 09:49

  Marriott Bonvoy cancellation:-

  Reached spend target want to cancel asap to get pro rata refund.

  Still have 18K Starpoints on the account.

  Do I have to wait until they are transferred before cancelling (18th Sept) or will they go to my account when i cancel?

  Thanks

  • Ikaz says:

    22 Aug22 August 11:06

    Both are possible and have happened, I would recommend waiting until they are on your Marriott account yo be safe

  • Rob says:

    22 Aug22 August 12:15

    Would be a pointless risk cancelling now I think given the £6 monthly fee.

    • Matt says:

      22 Aug22 August 12:32

      Every time I’ve done it any residual points are transferred across after cancellation, and that’s what the T+C imply. That said, I always wait until any significant number have already transferred – there’s no point risking it.

• AnotherUser says:

  22 Aug22 August 09:54

  I’m flying from BCN with Ryanair. Any lounge recommendations with amex plat/PP? Thanks!

  • Blair says:

    22 Aug22 August 10:01

    You should be able to use both Schengen and Non Schengen lounges so long as you’re happy to wait till close to boarding time to walk through passport control to leave Schengen.

    • AnotherUser says:

      22 Aug22 August 11:58

      Thanks! So we go through security and then decide which lounge. Is either likely to be quiter or nicer? I have a zoom meeting to listen in to while there…

      • Blair says:

        22 Aug22 August 13:29

        I will post a report tomorrow. It looks like the T1 nonSchengen lounge is closed today though.

        • AnotherUser says:

          22 Aug22 August 14:27

          Thanks! I’ll be flying later this week

        • AnotherUser says:

          22 Aug22 August 19:25

          Just realized that I think Ryanair flies from T2 BCN (unless things have changed with Covid?) That gives me one Priority Pass lounge to choose from. Any recent experiences there?

      • Tony1 says:

        22 Aug22 August 22:05

        Pre covid – good value for a free pass – otherwise not worth the entrance fee. A little noisy. YMMV –

• Rma says:

  22 Aug22 August 09:54

  The four daily flights (2 BA and 2AA) between LHR and ORD have been cut to three, including over the Christmas period. What do they know about the possibility of Biden not opening up travel to the US that we don’t know?

  • Blair says:

    22 Aug22 August 10:03

    I’ve been watching the United direct route DUB-SFO as a barometer since it’s block booked by big tech in Silicon Valley who are obviously closely allied to this White House. Signs are not good.

    • Sam G says:

      22 Aug22 August 10:16

      That could also be case load in US, Apple are delaying return to office until 2022 for example

  • Jeff Greene says:

    22 Aug22 August 10:04

    No one knows anything. It could be two months, it could easily be more than six

• Alex says:

  22 Aug22 August 10:05

  Ive just hired a car for the 3rd time through BA executive club to get the free additional driver.

  For the 3rd time they do not recognise when I pick up the car even though thieves time I screenshot the details. I always have to pay the extra then reclaim it through customer services.

  Is this just a thing at Cardiff Avis or is this problem universal?

  • Save East Coast Rewards says:

    22 Aug22 August 10:58

    I’ve had mixed experiences. No issues at LHR (T5) but Olbia wanted to charge me extra but they did check in the end and it was ok. I guess it depends how familiar the location is with BA

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