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The HfP chat thread – Monday 23rd August

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General

Comments (509)

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

  • Amy C says:
    23 Aug23 August 05:22

    Spend £5000 anywhere up until end of Nov and get 10,000 bonus avios. On my BAPP this morning.

    • Lee says:
      23 Aug23 August 05:41

      Spend £1000 for 1500 Avios on my free BA card

    • Swiss Jim says:
      23 Aug23 August 06:21

      Do we think Billhop counts? Changes the maths if anyone is chasing a spend target. Especially if Rob persuades them to reduce their fees temporarily.

      • Number9 says:
        23 Aug23 August 08:14

        I’ve got builders bill to pay and was wondering this, it might make the fee worthwhile for extra points. I don’t see why it wouldn’t points have always posted when I’ve used Billhop.

      • Polly says:
        25 Aug25 August 07:16

        Yes it does.

    • BJ says:
      23 Aug23 August 06:29

      Oh no lol, trouble’s brewing for you this morning Amy 🙂

    • Andrew says:
      23 Aug23 August 06:44

      +1 spend: £5000 get 10k Avios. And 3 months to do so doesn’t seem too unrealistic.

      • xcalx says:
        23 Aug23 August 08:33

        I have it too, not used it since news of the September changes as only £40 off the 2 for 1 voucher.

  • David S says:
    23 Aug23 August 06:16

    Morning all,
    I was received two evouchers as expected, however for the third I got an email with information about my FTV request. I obviously don’t want to end up with an FTV. Should I try to cancel within the 24 hr cool off period?
    Thanks

    • ChrisC says:
      23 Aug23 August 07:55

      what sort of bookings was it?

      some are only issued as an FTV not e-voucher

    • AP says:
      23 Aug23 August 09:42

      I made four bookings yesterday and cancelled them all this morning and received evouchers for each within 5 mins of cancelling. £1600 outlay for vouchers totalling £4800.

      • H says:
        23 Aug23 August 09:55

        @AP, could you please clarify how you get vouchers totalling £4800 for £1.6k spend? Thanks

      • WaynedP says:
        23 Aug23 August 17:34

        Braver than I, especially if people have just used multiple rinse and repeat cancellations of the same stock booking. Without a plausibly genuine and unique booking subsequently cancelled, I would be fearful that this could be identified as abuse of BAEC membership.

        It would be an interesting case to test in court if BA chose to shut down someone’s BAEC account and forfeit all their Avios and just return the (lower) actual cash layouts put up.

  • Alex says:
    23 Aug23 August 06:20

    Hi knowledgeable community. I am wondering what are travel insurance options for red list countries? It sounds a little unusual to me that insurance companies use the FCDO advice against all but essential travel just on the basis of high covid risks and say you won’t be insured in such country at all. Surely those who need to go to a red country need options to be insured and the pandemic is a very minor issue compared to all potential health related problems, particularly for already jabbed people.

    • Anna says:
      23 Aug23 August 06:57

      The traffic light system and FCDO advice are different systems, one doesn’t necessarily dictate the other so double check the situation re your destination.
      People have mentioned Battle Face and Staysure for insurance but there are some restrictions such as only being valid in Europe.

      • Ikaz says:
        23 Aug23 August 07:32

        I am able to get a quote for battleface for the Maldives currently.

      • Alex says:
        23 Aug23 August 08:06

        I checked several providers and all refuse to insure me if I go to Mexico. What should I do if I need to go? Obviously I want to avoid any potential risks of hefly healthcare bills.

        • Tocsin says:
          23 Aug23 August 08:23

          Just an idea – try and find an insurer based in Mexico?

        • JDB says:
          23 Aug23 August 11:34

          Nationwide is one that covers you for travel to ‘all but essential’ countries, but it is part of a packaged bank account.

        • Zanderblue says:
          23 Aug23 August 12:12

          Hi Alex,

          We are currently in Mexico and have bought insurance through a US broker. Not the cheapest but pretty good cover. Google Americanvisitorinsurance dot com

    • Jeff Greene says:
      23 Aug23 August 06:58

      “ and the pandemic is a very minor issue compared to all potential health related problems, particularly for already jabbed people”

      10 days of having to quarantine and then a hospital visit (even if only minor) could be quite expensive in some countries

      • Jeff Greene says:
        23 Aug23 August 07:00

        Although you did say for jabbed people, so a hospital visits unlikely. Quarantine is still possible given the waning effectiveness of jabs

    • Rory says:
      23 Aug23 August 14:29

      I’ve had great experience with Safety Wing. They insure almost everywhere and are very reasonable (compared to Battleface).

  • Andrew says:
    23 Aug23 August 06:42

    For the fashionistas: Net-a-Porter on Plat spend £600 get £100 and Mr Porter on BAPP spend £500 get £100 – so a better deal is you’re shopping for mens items.

  • Anna says:
    23 Aug23 August 07:01

    Monday morning data points which might be helpful.

    I have had an FTV from a BA holiday credited to a new avios booking, even though some people said they have been told it isn’t possible. I just sent the email with the new booking ref and it’s gone through after a week. The credit has gone to the card the original holiday was booked on, not the one used for the new avios booking.

    Regent Berlin – I’ve had an email confirming that breakfast is included on points bookings, which is a pleasant surprise and worth knowing if you’re choosing between properties. I’ve seen something on another site suggesting that this applies to all Regent hotels.

    • Michael C says:
      23 Aug23 August 07:34

      Great news for your Xmas trip, Anna! We’ll be “down south” about the same time, in Munich. Also chose the Hilton as b/fast included: we’ll all be needing the calories to start off those freezy market days!

      • Anna says:
        23 Aug23 August 08:03

        Can’t beat a hotel breakfast to start the day! Fingers crossed there will be some Xmas markets this year.

  • Tim Rogers says:
    23 Aug23 August 07:02

    From today’s news, it sounds like there is going to be a cull of government approved PCR test providers.

    I’m heading off in two weeks’ time for a week holiday. I wonder if I’m safe to buy whatever’s available now or if that’ll be a risky strategy…

    I’m also not sure where exactly ill be going and what flights I’ll take.

    If I buy, for example on Expert Medicals, do I have to give that information?

    • BrotherLehman says:
      23 Aug23 August 07:24

      If it is helpful, I flew in from Switzerland two weeks ago – bought the cheapest combination I could find (Chronomics for entering the UK £22.40) and Expert Medicals for Day 2 (£35.99). You only need the confirmation ID from both (which you receive when you place the order) to put into your UK Passenger Locator Form and I also used the BA Verifly app. Though no one checked anything at all – both from Zurich side when boarding my BA flight or after landing in UK.

    • Tracey says:
      23 Aug23 August 07:53

      The full could only be on day 2/5/8 providers as many people use local testers for their antigen to come home.
      It’s the day 2/8 testers codes you need to put on the PLF.
      Anything is possible, but I would have thought that any tests already bought would have to be accepted as they were bought when on the gov approved list. Worst case I could see would be a date by which time they wouldn’t be allowed eg end September.

    • TGLoyalty says:
      23 Aug23 August 08:20

      Or just buy it the day before you head home. There’s no advantage of buying today.

    • Bobby says:
      23 Aug23 August 08:31

      Data point. Kids day 2 tests – PLF doesn’t even ask for the codes for under 18s !! Why did I pay 86 quid for two pointless day 2 tests ?!?!

      • Anna says:
        23 Aug23 August 09:49

        That was my thought – we did test our teenager when we got home but as far as I know no-one has checked whether we actually did it or not! Glad we went for the cheapest option, anyway.

        • Princess says:
          23 Aug23 August 22:28

          We paid for our 2 boys when we went away in June, but we didn’t now in august…and none checked… and after 13 days we are still waiting for our ( me and my husband) day 2 test… it is all ridiculous

  • Yorkshire Rich says:
    23 Aug23 August 07:07

    Morning all, just looking for some guidance here.

    My free ba card was hitting the 10k spend and I needed to do it before 2nd September to get the companion voucher. I rang them up to upgrade it last week, and I’ve since received the premium card and the supplementary one. I’ve hit the target spend and now have the companion voucher in my BA account.
    I haven’t been charged the fee yet so I don’t know when that will come out. I understand that they won’t take my voucher away now. I also understand if I cancel now and want to get the card again, I will be charged the new fee?

    I’m unsure if it downgrade or stick with what I’ve got as I know it’s 1.5 avios. I’m not so sure if Ill make the most of 3 avios per pound on BA as I’ve got a fair few vouchers to use.

    Thanks

    • Anna says:
      23 Aug23 August 07:32

      The fee usually hits around the time of your first statement on the BAPP card. I think everyone on the current rate will be charged the new rate from Sep 1st so it would just be a case of how you timed getting another card if you did cancel the current one.

      • Yorkieflyer says:
        23 Aug23 August 22:32

        Mmm Mrs Yorkieflyer upgraded at the start of August, next statement date will be circa 5 September. The documents sent through say £195 per annum so…..

    • BJ says:
      23 Aug23 August 10:05

      Don’t you have the 10k avios for £5k spend offer? Worth keeping if you have and can hit the spend quick. Otherwise best to just cancel provided the voucher is safely in your BAEC account and you have access to another amex to make the booking.

  • Beardless Hipster says:
    23 Aug23 August 07:24

    Are there any airbnb new user offers around or a referral bonus? Thanks.

    • VerdantBacon says:
      23 Aug23 August 08:20

      I think the refer bonus for AirBnB is only for referring a new host

    • mzb00 says:
      23 Aug23 August 12:30

      If you book through the ba.com portal, new airbnb users get a 3 Avios/£ earning rate, rather than the usual 1Avios/£.

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

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