The HfP chat thread – Friday 27th August

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Sina says:

27 Aug27 August 11:55

Just got confirmation for Morrisson’s offer:
10% added on Airtime
10% added on PAW
8% added on Virgin Shop Away

Will try another £500 but this time with Virgin card to see if all stacks to make a 38% discount!?
- Chrisasaurus says:
  
  27 Aug27 August 11:58
  
  You’ll be disappointed when you add those numbers up again….
  - Sina says:
    
    27 Aug27 August 12:02
    
    hm?
    - Chrisasaurus says:
      
      27 Aug27 August 12:07
      
      Sorry, my fault I misread your message – I didn’t spot that your next txn was going to be on Virgin
      
      Virgin and Airtime stack but no idea about PAW sadly as my work doesn’t subscribe.
  - Youllnever says:
    
    27 Aug27 August 12:07
    
    I’m assuming Sina is adding the 10% offer some have got on their Virgin card, which they did not mention in their original comment.
    - RichW says:
      
      27 Aug27 August 19:37
      
      Where do you see / find offers for the virgin card?
- Andrew says:
  
  27 Aug27 August 12:04
  
  No offers on the card you used the first time to get the 28%?
  - Chrisasaurus says:
    
    27 Aug27 August 12:41
    
    How’d you manage that – are they alright with a receipt full of GCs?
    - Sina says:
      
      27 Aug27 August 13:18
      
      Airtime has no wording that excludes buying gift cards AFAIK?!
- Mattb says:
  
  27 Aug27 August 12:12
  
  Is the PAW 10% variable? Just had a look through my works portal and get 1 point which I think is just 1%.
  - EwanG says:
    
    27 Aug27 August 13:01
    
    Yes. I have 1% on one of my PAW accounts (where I did well out of this offer earlier this year). On the other two I have 10% on each.
- Memesweeper says:
  
  27 Aug27 August 12:40
  
  Be prepared for shop away not to pay.
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    27 Aug27 August 13:14
    
    Why not? Paid out perfectly fine last time
    - Memesweeper says:
      
      27 Aug27 August 14:07
      
      They may ask for receipts and look for evidence of banned items (gift cards).
      
      This may only be for excessively heavy users of course (hangs head in shame)
      - Andre says:
        
        27 Aug27 August 14:52
        
        It didn’t track when I only bought a few gift cards and it was a round number £x00, since then I have been adding a pack of biscuits. Tracking every time.
  - Sina says:
    
    27 Aug27 August 13:16
    
    Actually never had issues with Shop away even when not tracked I just open a ticket and they add the points manually!
- Luke says:
  
  27 Aug27 August 13:45
  
  Shopaway says not available for me, so annoying!
Chrisasaurus says:

27 Aug27 August 12:01

5% back (up to £10 rewards) on virgin MasterCard every time you shop at Amazon just appeared by email

Email says it excludes GC and a bunch of other stuff but as long as it’s billed by the same entity I can’t imagine it making any difference? I may try a tiny test and see, with a physical GC in case it matters
Ant says:

27 Aug27 August 12:03

Hi we have 5 tickets in Business for JBG for November. Thinking this is unlikely to happen but not sure if I should move them to March (there is availability) or just hang on and see what happens.
What are people’s thoughts on chance of SA being on Amber by Nov? or BA cancelling the flights and then we can just move them for free to Easter.

Also 4 people are on my husband’s companion vouchers as one booking. But mine is using a Lloyds voucher. Any ideas how i can change that one?
Chrisasaurus says:

27 Aug27 August 12:10

Spain advice: Gov.uk says LFD test OK but PCR is recommended – I’m assuming that recommended can go take a long break in the sun and LFD will be fine, subject to the sensitivity requirements?

https://eurofins-megalab.com/en/product/antigen-test-to-detect-covid-19/ is 93% sensitivity vs 80% requirement but no mention of specificity (try saying that one after a glass of vino)

Does anyone have info on whether it’s compliant and whether the paperwork shows that it is? Otherwise the 100EUR saving may turn out to be not worth it after all…
- AnotherUser says:
  
  27 Aug27 August 13:15
  
  I travelled back fine this week with an antigen test from here for 40 euros laboratorioechevarne.com/en/ The certificate gave the sensitivity and specificity stats. It’d be weird if the test you mention doesn’t meet the specificity requirements, but agree that you’d want the paperwork to confirm this!
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  27 Aug27 August 13:21
  
  Yes advice means f all
  
  Literally no one checks either of those criteria
  
  Get a project screen, Qurad or Chronomics (was perfect for 9 of us) test to take away with you
- Cats are best says:
  
  27 Aug27 August 13:25
  
  I’ve used Qured lateral flow twice for return from Spain (June and August), no problems.
  
  The certificate they issue states sensitivity and specificity that exceed UK requirement – but hardly matters as check-in staff will just be looking for ID, date and result.
  
  Lateral flow is all you need, on return you’ll be getting a day 0-2 PCR anyway.
  - Chrisasaurus says:
    
    27 Aug27 August 14:17
    
    Thanks, all
His Holyness says:

27 Aug27 August 12:20

What’s PAW?
- Chrisasaurus says:
  
  27 Aug27 August 12:22
  
  Perks at Work and is an employee benefit scheme that some employers pay for access to for their employees. Believe it tends to be larger companies; ours doesn’t.
  - EwanG says:
    
    27 Aug27 August 13:08
    
    It’s also possible to set up a PAW account for friends and family members. Some employer versions don’t offer this though.
    Click on account icon (top right) then ‘share PAW’ and if enabled there is an ‘invite friends and family’ button at the bottom allowing their (separate) accounts to be created!
    - Tom says:
      
      27 Aug27 August 15:12
      
      Does anyone want to set me up a friend on their PAW account? No harm in asking!
    - Andrew says:
      
      27 Aug27 August 23:37
      
      Invite yourself to be F&F before you leave a company… 😉
Nick Booker says:

27 Aug27 August 12:24

Just enquired about my Amex BAPP card renewal, from Sept 1st the fee will be £250.00. I mentioned I may cancel, there was no retention offer by way of points
Chas says:

27 Aug27 August 12:25

@TJ – I’m late on catching up on the chat threads, and saw your comment (on Wednesday?) asking for eating recommendations in Copenhagen. Completely agree re the previous recommendation of Sticks n Sushi, but also try to go to “Reffen” for an afternoon or evening, which is a collection of various food and drink stalls. Take the boat (5-10 min journey) from the pier at the end of Nyhavn. Some absolutely fantastic food – https://www.facebook.com/Copenhagenstreetfood/. It’s top of my list for when I next go back there. Seems similar to the “Paper Mill” recommendation you were given, but much bigger and is outside. Also, try “Torvehallerne” (name of place) which is on “Frederiksborggade” (name of road). Think of it like an indoor market – in fact two markets next to each other, with a combination of units selling fresh produce and restaurants / cafes / bars selling food and drink. We had a great lunch there one day, on the recommendation of our Danish friends. Just outside one of the doors is a (permanent) stall called “Blue Taco” for tapas sized portions which are phenomenal, and was set up by a female Danish Michelin chef, who decided she wanted to make her food more accessible, away from a big restaurant set-up.
- Michael C says:
  
  27 Aug27 August 12:47
  
  All noted for….one day – thanks!
  Had a mini-weekend there before lockdown and loved it.
  - chabuddy geezy says:
    
    27 Aug27 August 15:09
    
    For seafood I recommend Oysters and Grill.
- TJ says:
  
  27 Aug27 August 19:17
  
  Thx…much appreciated!
S says:

27 Aug27 August 12:31

A question about Marriott status. I’m currently Marriott Gold from Business Amex. Were I to hit 50 Elite nights before the end of this year how long would I have Platinum status for?

And will Amex be giving another 13 nights next year for Gold status holders or this year only?

May book some stays in next few months but looking to max out the length on any Plat status I might be able to get but can defer to early next year if it makes more sense to do that.
- Chrisasaurus says:
  
  27 Aug27 August 12:36
  
  This year and next and I honestly doubt there’s be a third year of free nights from Marriott – travel is nearly back to normal in the US now (and based on rates at the Bournemouth Marriott this month, they’re looking good elsewhere too!)