The HfP chat thread – Saturday 28th August

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@mkcol says:

28 Aug28 August 02:27

Happy Saturday!
- David says:
  
  28 Aug28 August 02:54
  
  Happy bank holiday weekend – unless you’re in Scotland !!
  - Andrew says:
    
    28 Aug28 August 13:24
    
    Although if you work in financial services or a professional company in Scotland, they tend to align with the English holidays and have done since the 1990s.
    - David says:
      
      28 Aug28 August 16:28
      
      I’ll remember that it I’m ever looking for a job north of the border !
NutJuice69 says:

28 Aug28 August 02:59

Got debit card from Chase UK. Rather unexciting design tbh.

https://1drv.ms/f/s!Ar9GBL2o9A23gP4iBi__uYDm4WGd_Q
- Sandgrounder says:
  
  28 Aug28 August 04:02
  
  So, what is the account like? Overseas transaction fees? Can you use a network of ATMs in the US for free? That’s what I miss most about Citi.
- Jeff Greene says:
  
  28 Aug28 August 06:21
  
  I’ve never found myself excited or unexcited by the design of a credit/debit card to be honest
  - Andrew says:
    
    28 Aug28 August 07:10
    
    The metal platinum card launch was a good day for me – I do get quite excited by design of all kinds and cards are no exception. I eagerly anticipate September 1st for the new BAPP card.
    - Rhys says:
      
      28 Aug28 August 07:47
      
      Don’t get too excited
      - Andrew says:
        
        28 Aug28 August 07:59
        
        I’m easily pleased! That design has been around for so long, will be nice to get the new design in my wallet next week.
      - Rhys says:
        
        28 Aug28 August 08:05
        
        It is smart and modern. Just not particularly exciting!
- Matt says:
  
  28 Aug28 August 08:24
  
  What are the features of the account? And how do you get a code to sign up, or even get on the waiting list?
  - Andy says:
    
    28 Aug28 August 09:56
    
    At the moment it’s a pilot for employees only, will be launching soon
- Paul Pogba says:
  
  28 Aug28 August 09:54
  
  Do you know if they’ll be earning a reward earning credit card?
Patrycja says:

28 Aug28 August 05:32

Reposting from last night in case people missed it.

Scottish government just confirmed that travellers will be able to use private test providers alongside CTM from early September for day 2 & 8 tests

https://www.gov.scot/news/international-travellers-to-scotland-will-be-able-to-use-private-sector-covid-tests/
- Erico1875 says:
  
  28 Aug28 August 06:52
  
  Good. £80 was a bit steep for a day 2 test. Hopefully prices will come down now
  - Patrycja says:
    
    28 Aug28 August 07:01
    
    It was reduced to £68 a few weeks back but that’s still significantly more than what you would pay in England
Ade says:

28 Aug28 August 05:41

Good morning everyone,

I need to fill out some passenger locator forms for returning to the UK. Our day 2 tests are booked all under the same reference. Is it okay to use the same reference on multiple form?

Thanks!
- Anna says:
  
  28 Aug28 August 05:57
  
  Morning!
  I don’t know about using the same reference more than once (though I haven’t seen it mentioned as an issue anywhere), but if you’re including any under 18s on an adult form you’re not asked to add a reference number for them.
- roberto says:
  
  28 Aug28 August 06:50
  
  Double check.. The reference may have a suffix :- abcdef/01, abcdef/02, abcdef/03 etc
- Colin MacKinnon says:
  
  28 Aug28 August 08:14
  
  Yes. Booked two Day Two tests with the Scottish provider, got just one receipt and one reference number.
  Put same number on each locator form and had no issues.
  This was last Sunday.
  - Ade says:
    
    28 Aug28 August 08:24
    
    Excellent. I’m returning to Scotland too so will be the same. Thanks very much.
- Tracey says:
  
  28 Aug28 August 09:12
  
  I’ve just booked with NWP, who say quite clearly on their instructions to order separately for different codes.
  Ordered NWP £40, codes received instantly by email. After wasting time trying to get the expert medical webpage to work.
  - Anna says:
    
    28 Aug28 August 12:20
    
    That’s so you have to pay for individual tests and postage, where applicable. You definitely don’t need more than one code for a PLF you’re adding children to. I bet plenty of people aren’t buying kids’ tests after the first time!
    - Rob says:
      
      28 Aug28 August 14:02
      
      I just realised this two hours ago. Arguably I could save their 2 tests for a future trip.
N says:

28 Aug28 August 07:25

Super super niche question – has anyone had any experience of getting their elite free breakfast when staying on a Fam-tastic rate?
- Phil H says:
  
  28 Aug28 August 20:34
  
  Travel industry Hotel Excellence programme? Yep, got free breakfast and room upgrade (though they wouldn’t do a suite) as Platinum at Marriott Park Lane last December.
  - N says:
    
    29 Aug29 August 10:54
    
    Got the breakfast and an upgrade. Will confirm hotel (and more details) once I’ve checked out!
    - N says:
      
      29 Aug29 August 13:31
      
      Aloft Excel – got late check out, upgrade and breakfast on a rate that was about 35% of next cheapest rate at time of booking. Did v well out of this one!
- Yvo says:
  
  28 Aug28 August 23:18
  
  No breakfasts on famtastic that I could wangle, ended up surrendering TA status because Hilton Diamond works better.
Green Plastic says:

28 Aug28 August 07:45

Pretty certain I know the answer but just checking in case I’m wrong. I’m currently 5 TPs short of Silver with BA. Is there any possibility whatsoever they would give me Silver if I don’t fly again before my membership year ends?
- Rhys says:
  
  28 Aug28 August 07:48
  
  I wouldn’t risk it
- David says:
  
  28 Aug28 August 07:57
  
  Renewal or qualifying?
  
  If qualifying I would I say your chances are zero.
  - Green Plastic says:
    
    28 Aug28 August 08:33
    
    Haha yes I mean qualifying. And that’s what I suspected!
- Michael C says:
  
  28 Aug28 August 07:59
  
  I was told no 4-5 years ago: just treated myself to a lovely daytrip to Paris!
  - Polly says:
    
    29 Aug29 August 06:46
    
    Same here, had to pop over to Dublin for lunch with my family! BA just won’t play ball there.
- BP says:
  
  28 Aug28 August 08:12
  
  There may still be a 2 week grace period if you can earn it in the following 2 week period. I used that previously and helpfully the TPs also counted for my next TP year as well as the previous one!
  - Michael C says:
    
    28 Aug28 August 08:25
    
    Oh, yes: just to confirm BP’s “2-week grace period”. Think I was just nervous to make use of it as didn’t have it in writing!
- Tracey says:
  
  28 Aug28 August 09:13
  
  You need to phone and ask for the 2 week grace period, they won’t apply it automatically
Toby Stanbrook says:

28 Aug28 August 07:50

I have the Virgin + card, currently with a zero balance, and we are off to Greece today. If I withdraw a cash advance of €100 using this card, I am not charged a transaction fee but am charged interest on the cash advance. Can I avoid the interest charge, by making sure that I have a credit balance on the card beforehand, or by paying off the value of the cash advance immediately? Thanks.
- Yorkie Aid says:
  
  28 Aug28 August 08:03
  
  I don’t have any experience with the Virgin card but that’s exactly how you would avoid the interest with the Halifax Clarity card.
- Paul says:
  
  28 Aug28 August 08:25
  
  I have a Sterling Euro account and have been using it here in Greece for almost 2 weeks. Without exception I have been charged €2.5 for each withdrawal. So no benefit if taking just 100€ a time.
  You can avoid the the interest charge by pre loading via a bank transfer. I did this with Halifax cards in the past.
  
  I am in Santorini where I backpacked 40 years ago. The only back packs now are designer. €100 euros doesn’t go far in Athens, Naxos or Santorini. I hear it won’t cover the tip in Mykonos! Enjoy!
- Sandgrounder says:
  
  28 Aug28 August 08:26
  
  You aren’t charged a foreign transaction fee but I’m pretty sure Virgin will hit you with 5% for the cash advance.
  - Joe says:
    
    28 Aug28 August 08:45
    
    They will.
- Toby Stanbrook says:
  
  28 Aug28 August 08:51
  
  Thanks for all the replies. We’ll take Sterling and look to exchange in a pub.
Rash says:

28 Aug28 August 08:04

I recently had a BA flight cancelled & they re-routed me on Austrian airlines, should I be expecting Tier points for this? As they’re on a different alliance but it was Originally a BA ticket
- Chas says:
  
  28 Aug28 August 08:34
  
  I think there’s something called an Original Routing Credit which you can ask BA for, to apply the Avios and TPS you would have earnt to your account.
- AJA says:
  
  28 Aug28 August 09:49
  
  @Rash As Chas says contact BAEC to get Original Routing Credit applied. See here for a guide on how to do it:
  
  https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/1768202-original-routing-credit-beginner-s-guide.html