The HfP chat thread – Monday 23rd August

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• Jimbob says:

  23 Aug23 August 11:14

  Currently sat in Scarlett Green having brunch, thanks to Harry T for the recommendation

  • Harry T says:

    23 Aug23 August 15:32

    How are you finding it? You’re welcome, hope you’re enjoying it.

• YH says:

  23 Aug23 August 11:15

  Travelling with 2 passports (UK & EU) from London to Madrid and back. Which one should I put in for the API?

  • Pablo says:

    23 Aug23 August 11:28

    Here’s what I did: UK in API both ways. UK on boarding the outbound flight, EU on e-gates in Madrid both in and out and UK on boarding the inbound flight and again at UK border e-gates. Minimal queuing and human interaction and no stamps in passport allowing exit via another Schengen country in case of Spain turning amber+/red.

    • YH says:

      23 Aug23 August 11:35

      That’s super helpful, thanks.

• JohnT says:

  23 Aug23 August 11:25

  Virgin Credit Cards – anyone had experience of downgrading from RewardPlus to ordinary? Also is there any requirement to use one when booking a 241 reward flight (eg where BA say must use for booking, but accept any Amex) – can’t see in T&Cs.

  • Reney says:

    23 Aug23 August 13:26

    on the latter no, i paid using an amex when i used a virgin voucher. the flight got cancelled in the end thou 😢

• Andrew says:

  23 Aug23 August 11:25

  The Virgin site always shows their headline offer twice. At the top, and again in the listings.

  On mine the Headline is showing 7% in the graphic, the repeat version is showing as 10% in the graphic. Clicking through to both continues to shows 7%/10% in the graphic, but just 7% in the text.

  The disparity has been reported on here regularly over the last few days. It’s Clydesdale IT…

• Jamie says:

  23 Aug23 August 11:41

  Hi all, new to the points game but an interested onlooker in here for some months.

  Looking for advice on how to proceed next (and i know there are articles to this effect on here). I am shortly to trigger the 241 on a BAPP. My OH has just recently signed up for the amex gold to start the process of points building.

  What should my next step be? Cancel the BAPP let the OH do the avios earning on gold & BAPP next and move to a virgin mastercard and start accruing points there? Is there a better way to go? Would love to boost my avios balance of 10 months but apart from standard spending i think I’ve made the wrong calls to make the most out of any bonuses. (have just saved the £5k for 10k avios this AM though so will be cancelling after that)

  Cheers.

  • Memesweeper says:

    23 Aug23 August 13:05

    Get a sup on player twos card and spend as much as possible that way would be my advice, while holding no Amexes in your own name.

    If you want an earning non-Amex the virgin card is good, but building a useful stash can take an age. I’d focus on MRs and Avios as that’s what you’ve already started out collecting.

  • Lady London says:

    24 Aug24 August 11:11

    Good strategy but for the short extra time involved I would do no extra card applications with Amex before end September. If they’ve got offers pending they’ll wait till end of holiday season to reach their audience so latish Sept. So bonuses (bonii?) might increase.

    Adding support anytime is fine as those don’t count as a new card

    • Lady London says:

      24 Aug24 August 11:13

      Adding supp not support

• Waddle says:

  23 Aug23 August 11:45

  Hi folks. Any readers have experience at Sheraton La Caleta Tenerife? How is it for status recognition/upgrades/lounge access? Am Bonvoy Plat. Planning on a 4-day hol Jan/Feb.

  • Harry T says:

    23 Aug23 August 15:33

    I was upgraded to a massive suite and given 4pm checkout and breakfast. Lounge wasn’t open when I stayed – this was four nights last November.

    • Harry T says:

      23 Aug23 August 15:33

      I was Platinum at the time.

• Ste C says:

  23 Aug23 August 11:46

  Is there a list anywhere or a specific type of hotel that Emyr can get deals on? I am looking at the Glasshouse in Edinburgh (along with a couple of others) but don’t want to waste his time asking about every hotel that he can’t get anything for if i can check myself first.
  Thanks

  • Anna says:

    23 Aug23 August 12:01

    He can book any hotel but the deals tend to be at the luxury end of each brand, and these also differ between properties. I usually ask something along the lines of which (e.g.) IHG properties are offering the best deals in a particular destination and he’ll send a couple of quotes. Quite often he has 3 for 2 deals which are amazing value.

    • Ste C says:

      23 Aug23 August 12:09

      Thanks. I will send him a message.

  • JDB says:

    23 Aug23 August 12:12

    You can look up for most on Virtuoso hotels – shows rates and the specific Virtuoso benefits for each hotel. He does offer other hotels as well.

  • BP says:

    23 Aug23 August 12:26

    Best deal for the Glasshouse is the HJH code for medical professionals. If you qualify. £89 a night.

    • Ste C says:

      23 Aug23 August 12:58

      Sadly I don’t, If there was an education discount though that would be another story.

      • Dave says:

        23 Aug23 August 13:05

        Hilton offer a Frontline worker rate that includes education, but annoyingly Marriott don’t.

  • Andrew (@andrewseftel) says:

    23 Aug23 August 14:33

    It’s on his website

    https://bonvivant.co.uk/travel/partners/

    • Rob says:

      23 Aug23 August 17:03

      It is. Just so you’re aware, Emyr got into trouble when we listed similar details on his HfP page – you can’t externally advertise these benefits, only put them on your own site – which is why we don’t do it now. We’re not being deliberately unhelpful!

  • Harry T says:

    23 Aug23 August 15:37

    Gladshouse is under Autograph Collection and I can see a Luminous rate when I search using the rate code L72. So Emyr should be able to access preferred partner Luminous rates there (not all AC participate in Luminous). You will get breakfast thrown in for two people plus early checkin and late checkout subject to availability. Luminous is weaker than STARS in terms of benefits generally, but this could work if you don’t get breakfast due to status.

    • Harry T says:

      23 Aug23 August 15:38

      Plus upgrade subject to availability and welcome amenity.

• BMarsh says:

  23 Aug23 August 11:50

  Quick question regarding balancing transfers from Amex Platinum charge card to A.N Other bank 0% balance transfer credit card. I’ve done it before on the BAPP but that’s not a charge card, so was wondering, does anyone know of any banks that won’t accept the balance transfer? Don’t have the Amex yet, so can’t check with banks but Sainsbury’s seemed to suggest they might not be able to accept the transfer and don’t want to open the Amex before knowing I can transfer the future balance. Thanks.

  • BuildBackBetter says:

    23 Aug23 August 12:36

    Which bank / card did you transfer to, from your BAPP, before?
    I doubt there’s a difference between credit and charge cards when it comes to balance transfer.

    • BMarsh says:

      23 Aug23 August 13:26

      I used Natwest previously. I was planning on using them again as I have some products still with them. The Natwest chat agent said it would not be a problem but they didn’t make the distinction between charge and credit card. As you say, maybe there isn’t and I’m making too much of this…

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