The HfP chat thread – Sunday 22nd August

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

Historically, the daily ‘Bits’ articles were the de facto repository for random comments and questions. With the news flow being lighter, we are running fewer ‘Bits’ articles.

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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Category

General

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

Anuj says:

22 Aug22 August 13:19

I’m finally showing as eligible for the Virgin Atlantic + credit card. For the purposes of hitting the £10,000 spend for the 241 voucher, does any of the bendy etc etc pathsways count ? If so which ones do.
- Reney says:
  
  22 Aug22 August 13:41
  
  T&C recently changed, any pathways that work today may not work tomorrow. Maybe you get lucky and get to 10k maybe they will be gone before you got far enough.
  
  Do you have the ability to generate 10k spend in day to day spending? It would be really sad if you paid the fee thinking you could get to 10k then realise all the pathways have shut down.
  - Anuj says:
    
    22 Aug22 August 16:48
    
    Not really as for the first year the bonus points compensate for the fee.
- Harry T says:
  
  22 Aug22 August 17:06
  
  Your mileage may vary with the Virgin card. There are various reports of being charged cash advances for some routes that others have no difficulties with. The recent change in T&Cs means everything could change at any moment, or perhaps only new cards after August 5th will have constraints.
Yorkshire Rich says:

22 Aug22 August 13:20

Just a random thought. Now things are slowly starting to get to some sort of normality, do we think at some point the LBA to LHR will re-commence, or is this gone forever. Couldn’t beat rocking up at LBA an hour before (if that) and arriving straight into T5.
- Barnaby100 says:
  
  22 Aug22 August 13:40
  
  Jet2.com have the gate and air bridge now. Interesting as klm were step boarding.
  - Hbommie says:
    
    22 Aug22 August 15:15
    
    Shame, enjoyed trudging along the extended bus stop in the pissy weather.
  - Save East Coast Rewards says:
    
    22 Aug22 August 18:17
    
    On Friday I was flying BA CityFlyer LBA-BHD and the flight used the KLM branded airbridge (gate 3?) at Leeds. Ground staff seemed to be fixing the BA branded bridge.
Sandra says:

22 Aug22 August 13:38

For some unknown reason, probably logistical due to work at the time, I’ve never booked Avios/241 from a regional airport. Whenever I have flown via Heathrow from Leeds/Manchester they have been paid flights. Is it simple to book a 241 or Avios flight via LHR online from a regional airport (when they start flying fully again) or would I need to call & book? TIA everyone.
- Anna says:
  
  22 Aug22 August 14:02
  
  It’s totally doable online, just out MAN or whatever in as your starting point (didn’t they cancel the LBA-LHR route?). It can occasionally be glitchy if there are issues with cabin availability or other problems, but it’s usually solved by selecting the stopover option and each sector separately.
  It’s not a great deal for short haul as you pay the whole whack in avios and fees on all legs, long haul is a bit better as you still pay the RFS fee for the domestic leg, but no avios.
  It takes a bit of playing around with!
  - Anna says:
    
    22 Aug22 August 14:06
    
    *Put, not out!
    Also it can be a bit tricky if you’re after popular routes as you have to wait an extra day for your return domestic leg to become available for overnight flights. It’s taken me 3/4 years of trial and error to get the system working for me!
    - Sandra says:
      
      22 Aug22 August 14:51
      
      Thanks Anna, did comment about half an hour ago but for some reason awaiting moderation! I thought you might know.
Andy says:

22 Aug22 August 14:01

Can the evoucher from BA be used to pay for taxes on a companion voucher avios redemption in the future?
- Gilian says:
  
  22 Aug22 August 15:22
  
  No, unfortunately not.
Chris says:

22 Aug22 August 14:20

I know they’re supposed to drop off the main page but all previous chat threads now seem to have disappeared, even when you look back through the older pages
- SteveJ says:
  
  22 Aug22 August 14:53
  
  Read the last paragraph on this chat article. You need to go via the “click here”.
  
  “Old chat threads are hidden from the HfP home page. If you want to look for something in an old thread, click here.”
David says:

22 Aug22 August 14:24

A while ago there was talk of being able to use Avios on all one world for upgrades – does anyone know when ?
Mouse says:

22 Aug22 August 14:35

Just spotted that BA Shopping is offering 85 avios per £1 with Adobe – almost “printer cartridge” level!
- Mike says:
  
  22 Aug22 August 14:39
  
  Mouse – “printer cartridges” gave me flash backs of inky hands / chasing down Tesco recycling envelopes/ eBay purchases of vast numbers of used cartridges/ filling Royal Mail post boxes with filled Tesco recycling envelopes- oh and lots of avios / club card points
  - Mouse says:
    
    22 Aug22 August 15:00
    
    I put quite a few printer cartridges from Tesco on ebay too! The good old days before it was all codenames and sanctimony.
- YB says:
  
  22 Aug22 August 15:07
  
  From the website: “Stated reward is for a Creative Cloud or Acrobat/Document Cloud monthly or yearly subscription. You will receive a lower reward when paying for a subscription with a one-time payment and a different reward for Adobe Stock subscription.. No rewards given on any other products.”
- Hugh says:
  
  22 Aug22 August 17:25
  
  Interesting. I pay a monthly Creative Cloud subscription. Will go away and see if I can pay an annual one instead!
  - KBuffett says:
    
    22 Aug22 August 18:20
    
    Warning about trying to cancel anything with Adobe. They will lie and quote laws that don’t exist. Nasty experience
- Harry T says:
  
  22 Aug22 August 17:38
  
  The BAEC shopping portal is not always to be trusted to pay out or not claw back.
  - Super Secret Stuff says:
    
    22 Aug22 August 18:17
    
    They do give in if you politely argue back…
C says:

22 Aug22 August 14:36

Trying to buy tests via Expert Medicals – whenever I submit the form it just goes back to the blank form page. Is there a trick? I’ve tried 3 different browsers! Or just keep trying later?! Thanks
- His Holyness says:
  
  22 Aug22 August 15:21
  
  Just fill out the * info, forget the stuff they don’t need like flight number.
- H says:
  
  22 Aug22 August 15:42
  
  @C I’m having the same issue ordering on expert Medicals.
- Anna says:
  
  22 Aug22 August 15:53
  
  As mentioned several times recently there are intermittent glitches with this company, especially at weekends. Give it a day or so and try again.
- C says:
  
  22 Aug22 August 16:09
  
  Thank you, I remember seeing that it was a bit temperamental but couldn’t remember if there was an easy fix! I’ll try again in the morning. We have a couple of weeks!
- Backpacker says:
  
  22 Aug22 August 20:25
  
  I can only get it to work with internet explorer, NOT firefox. But be aware the test may never be sent to you…