Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 25th August

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Comments (433)

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

  • Marie says:

    Someone yesterday was talking about BA holidays offer with double tier points until next March or April .
    Is this confirmed?
    Thanks

      • GaryE says:

        I cannot see anything in the T&Cs that this applies only to new bookings – so if I have an existing Long Haul holiday booking that was rolled over from last year for this Christmas can I assume I will get double tier points?

        • Graham says:

          It’s in the terms, existing bookings count but only if two are travelling. The terms from yesterday indicate single travellers booking can now benefit too.

      • Jimmy Mac says:

        Any reason you’ve pasted the German URL? Most of the readers will be in the UK.

    • Andrew says:

      Seems pretty clear from the landing page:
      “ To qualify, you’ll need to book a holiday (flights + hotel or flights + car) of at least five nights before 22 March 2022. This includes solo travellers and any holidays you’ve already booked with us.”

    • Harry T says:

      Existing bookings count. Everyone pray for my twice moved South Africa holiday to go ahead in January, not least because I’ll receive 800 tier points 😂

    • Sarah says:

      Someone in the comments yesterday said that this was only for ex-UK bookings, I take it that is not the case?

      • Sarah says:

        sorry, should have said non-UK departure bookings

        • Andrew says:

          It’s only for flights originating in the U.K.
          “ The booking must be for a British Airways Holidays Flights + Hotel or Flights + Car or Flights + Hotel + Car package booking originating in the UK only …. “

    • Andrew says:

      Also to note that the outbound flight needs to be by 22 March, but the return can be later.

      • Harry T says:

        Correct.

      • will says:

        Not quite right, book before 22 March 2022, outbound latest on 31st March 2022

        c. The booking must be made before 22 March 2022.
        d. Travel is for outbound departures between 9 June 2021 and 31 March 2022 inclusive (final outbound departure date is 31 March 2022).

  • S says:

    What’s the latest verdict on Hilton Garden Inn Snowdonia? I recall reading some poor reviews here but hopefully they’ve improved as the summer progressed! Also vaguely recall some restaurant recommendations in the vicinity.. would anyone mind repeating those? Thanks

    • S says:

      found it.. 11th august chat thread!

    • SteveJ says:

      Short review echoing others. I like it, nice modern fresh hotel. Don’t bother with dinner there. Views are good and location isn’t as out of the way as some would suggest (only 20 mins drive from Betws Y Coed)

      Dinner recommendations :
      Tal-Y-Cafn
      The Old Ship
      The Manor
      Y Bedol
      Stabelau

      All but Stabelau I’d recommend calling to reserve. Stabelau don’t take reservations, expect a 20/30 minute queue at busy times.

      • Algor says:

        +1

        Hotel itself a bit understaffed and a long as staff in general is friendly is also clueless about what they do. Good place to sleep but that’s about it.

      • Aston100 says:

        20/30 min queue at Y Stablau?
        We queued for almost an hour on both of our visits a couple of weeks ago.
        Perhaps the slight easing of restrictions this month has helped.

        It was frustrating seeing so many empty tables but staff not allowed to exceed some restricted capacity.

    • Memesweeper says:

      Book your activities early, and your evening meals.

      I’ll be back I hope.

  • C says:

    As Expert Medicals appears to be dead (anyone had success since the weekend?), is Randox the next best (cheapest) and generally more reliable? And am I right that the BA code can be used regardless of travel method (we are on Eurotunnel)? Thank you

    • VerdantBacon says:

      Isn’t Chronomics the cheapest at £22?

      • Matty says:

        Chronomics £89 for Day 2 test without a discount code.

        • C says:

          Yes, sorry this is for a day 2 PCR test. Going to do antigen test before return at a local pharmacy (about 25 euro I believe)

          • Sarah says:

            Testing for All is £48. I’ve used them in the past and they’ve worked fine.

          • Beardless Hipster says:

            nationwide pathology postal £40
            atruchecks postal £39

          • Sam G says:

            atruchecks adds on £25 postage when I clickthrough, so nationwide pathology seems to be cheapest available now

    • Graham says:

      Randox doesn’t care so any discount code will be fine. We’ve used them for parents and they were fine. YMMV. As noted though they are not the cheapest if that’s what you’re going for.

      • Raisa says:

        Can you order Randox tests for you + other people (i.e. will you get separate URN for each person) in one order?

        Just wanted to check since EM used to make you put through a separate order for each person, and Randox also asks for your birthdate when you put the order through (so just wanted to make sure I’m not getting just one URN for the entire order!) given one birthdate!

    • Harry T says:

      Randox are decent and well priced.

    • TGLoyalty says:

      Does anyone know the name of the NHS day 2 test provider that charges £20 if you have a @NHS.net email?

      • Ammar says:

        Hey – not sure if it was this company. https://covidtests.everythinggeneticltd.co.uk/index.php?type=n
        I was waiting for ages for the ability to buy a test, it changed on Monday morning so ordered one which arrived tue am – great and got the email with code, but then went to make another booking for my wife it was no avialibility and now it seems only paramedics can apply – requires their registration information i believe.

    • Anna says:

      Just on this – has anyone got an unused Expert Medicals test and would be kind enough to post the return address/ (I can’t remember if it was the same as the office one). I’m thinking if my recent order doesn’t turn up, which is looking highly likely, I will do a LFT, seal it up and send it off and that should cover my own legal obligation!

    • Algor says:

      My EM kit didn’t arrive so far, flew on Sunday and made the online purchase on Thursday 6 days ago.

      It did the job, I’ve enter the code to complete PLF and arrived in back in London …

    • Eoc says:

      Sent Nationwide Pathology results in on Sunday, collected Monday , email result this morning. Get what you pay for..

  • Ikaz says:

    Accor experiences have tickets to the Chelsea Flower show if anyone is interested (including hotel stay and champagne reception), 2 types of room on offer at different price points: https://limitlessexperiences.accor.com/chelsea%20flower%20show-%20%20superior%20package

  • Reney says:

    Amex offer at B&Q, spend 80 get back 10 just turned up this morning on my plat card.

  • Wally1976 says:

    Not sure if already mentioned but £10 off £80 spend at B&Q has appeared on our Amex Gold cards this morning.

  • Mark says:

    Quick question on new club availability with the BAPP companion voucher post 1 September. Is the extra seat availability in the cheap cash bucket only applicable to the companion seat ie you still need 1 avios redemption seat available, or does using the companion ticket mean that both seats can be cheap cash seats but book them with avios?

  • Louie says:

    I’m trying to change a couple of cancelled BA award flights online. One (the return) gives me options across the page at the bottom and if I click on the change flights one it takes to me the page with options as it should. If I try to change the outbound, the page looks different with the options listed on the right hand side of the page. And I get “Error. Invalid get itinerary details request” if I click on the change flights option.

    Has anyone else had this? I’ve tried on a couple of browsers over a couple of days. I think it worked when I tried it in the past before we were sure what we wanted to do. Any alternative to a dreaded phone call to BA?

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