The HfP chat thread – Saturday 28th August

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• JM says:

  28 Aug28 August 14:15

  Related topic to the above – I’m Travelling to Portugal in next couple of weeks… any recommendations on pre-departure, pre-return and Day 2 tests? Assuming Rapid Antigen best option for first two, and then PCR for Day 2?

  • Cats are best says:

    28 Aug28 August 15:18

    For the outbound, Collinson if location is convenient (or get to the airport early and get tested), otherwise look for a local option with google.

    Pre-return, I’ve found Qured reliable, but there are others cheaper, Co-op C19 for instance. Make sure it’ll deliver in time for your trip. But for PT might be good local options near where you are staying.

    Day 0-2, could do it on arrival with Collinson, otherwise Randox.

    BA has discounts with a few providers (don’t need to be flying BA)
    https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/incident/coronavirus/covid19-tests

  • Pid says:

    28 Aug28 August 15:24

    In Portugal now. We used Quered for pre- departure and have one with us for the pre return test. Also booked randox for the day 2.

  • Tracey says:

    28 Aug28 August 15:51

    nationwide Pathology for day 2 tests £40, email with code for plf comes through instantly. Includes return Royal Mail postage. Especially useful if you don’t have a randox drop off near you and saves you £3.
    Expert medical at £28 if you have hours to waste, pot luck if the website will work.

• S says:

  28 Aug28 August 14:23

  Hi, looking for advice for booking a London hotel for Sunday 5th September for 2, flying into Gatwick. Have IHG free night voucher (spire) + enough points to cover a stay. Also hilton gold but not enough points, would pay cash. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

  • Andrew (@andrewseftel) says:

    28 Aug28 August 19:47

    Assuming that you want something central that’s convenient from Gatwick by train, your best options are Hilton Bankside or Tower Bridge. Crowne Plaza City is also easy from Gatwick but it’s closed for the next couple months. There’s also a Holiday Inn Express round the corner from Hilton Bankside but I’ve never been.

  • Super Secret Stuff says:

    28 Aug28 August 20:03

    Not really worth using a free night’s voucher on but the Holiday Inn is on a shuttle bus that runs every 20 mins 24/7 for £3 (I think)

    • Super Secret Stuff says:

      28 Aug28 August 20:04

      Decent enough hotel with a bit of recognition and upgrades for status holders

  • Lyn says:

    29 Aug29 August 09:04

    This comment may be a bit late for you, but the Thameslink to Kings Cross / St Pancras from Gatwick would give fairly easy access to IHG’s Bloomsbury hotels.

    I haven’t stayed at the Kimpton Fitzroy but there have been occasional comments about it on here.

    I have stayed at the Holiday Inn Bloomsbury a few times because I like the area and it is handy for the British museum. While not brilliant, the HI is OK if they give you a decent room as Spire, although you may need to ask.

• ian says:

  28 Aug28 August 14:44

  Looking to travel to the UK next month from NYC for work, but I’m a bit nervous about getting home from Manchester.

  It looks like Aer Lingus delayed the launch of their new MAN-JFK route from Sept 30 to Dec 1.

  Currently Virgin Atlantic still has their daily MAN-JFK flight resuming Sept 15. If they end up canceling these flights, how would I get home to JFK?

  • ChrisC says:

    28 Aug28 August 15:04

    They would rebook you via another routing.

    • ian says:

      28 Aug28 August 15:12

      what other routings does virgin or its partners have from manchester to the US tho?

      • TGLoyalty says:

        28 Aug28 August 15:30

        None it would be via Heathrow

      • ChrisC says:

        28 Aug28 August 17:55

        Via AMS (KLM) or CDG (AF)

      • kitten says:

        28 Aug28 August 22:09

        Not Delta?

• Sharon says:

  28 Aug28 August 15:01

  Hi, for a one night stay in London using IHG free night certificate would intercontinental or kimpton be better – have spire but not ambassador. Thankyou

  • GoodExperience says:

    28 Aug28 August 18:27

    I had a great stay in the Kimpton Fitzroy. Upgraded as Spire to a Junior Suite. Beautiful room. I’ve also stayed at the IC, the rooms are really modern and comfortable at the Kimpton.

    • Sharon says:

      28 Aug28 August 19:00

      Thankyou for replying GoodExperience, is there a lounge there?

• Cats are best says:

  28 Aug28 August 15:06

  Unless flights stop completely, there’d be better availability from LHR than direct from MAN.

  For instance MAN-LHR-JFK with BA or BA/AA.

  • Cats are best says:

    28 Aug28 August 15:07

    ^^^ this was replying to Ian.

  • ian says:

    28 Aug28 August 15:22

    what would virgin do given their lack of a connection between MAN and LHR? would i have to find a way to LHR at my own cost?

    • TGLoyalty says:

      28 Aug28 August 15:32

      If it’s on business wouldn’t it be the companies cost?

      But no if you are rerouted they should refund any reasonable costs due to changes. if not isn’t that what insurance is for?

    • Nick says:

      28 Aug28 August 15:38

      Virgin would reroute you. Most likely via AMS or CDG on DL/AF/KL, but they also have access to BA MAN-LHR to connect you to their own flights there. Alternatively you could negotiate with them to pay the train fare to London – no right to it, but you never know what they’ll agree to. Personally I’d be very cheeky and offer to pay the £40 train myself if they allowed me into the Clubhouse in return (assuming you’re not in UC anyway). But either way I think you’re worrying a bit too much here, it’ll work out one way or another.

• Sean says:

  28 Aug28 August 15:07

  Just had an email from Emirates about Arsenal tickets – apparently they are now giving points away to anyone who will go and watch them.

  • JDB says:

    28 Aug28 August 15:18

    Interesting. Some similar themes to those re business travel earlier in the chat. I know nothing about football (although wife v knowledgeable), but I had dinner with a lifelong Spurs supporter who has always had a pair of special seats, which he continues to pay for, but for the time being has no intention of using because of Covid. Too many people around him at the seats, in the fancy hospitality etc. He has underground parking at the new stadium, so it isn’t crowding at entry, just general crowding, even in the expensive areas and he has no health issues.

  • Ryan says:

    28 Aug28 August 15:24

    Not sure there is enough points to make anyone go watch them

  • Degsy says:

    29 Aug29 August 00:29

    It might be to watch Championship games next season if they’re not careful

• Sandra says:

  28 Aug28 August 15:21

  Not sure if it was mentioned earlier this week but new rules from yesterday for vaccinated travellers entering or transiting Abu Dhabi https://www.thenationalnews.com/travel/covid-19-travel/2021/08/26/abu-dhabi-air-travel-rules-mandatory-ica-registration-and-use-of-al-hosn-app/

  • Harry T says:

    28 Aug28 August 17:28

    Thanks

• Alejandro says:

  28 Aug28 August 15:58

  Hi. Does anyone know if Virgin card payment to Creators via Bendy will be treated as a cash advance or not? Thanks

  • mark2 says:

    28 Aug28 August 16:01

    No need to use bendy: you can use any Visa/MC card.

    • Alejandro says:

      28 Aug28 August 16:30

      The reason I’m asking is that I received a letter from Virgin a month ago or so, regarding changes to how certain types of transactions will be treated, starting from August. I never used my Virgin card since then and I am concerned that Virgin started to treat payments via Bendy to other credit cards as cash advance transactions. Thanks

      • Yorkie Aid says:

        28 Aug28 August 16:45

        It has been discussed on here quite a bit. So far it seems OK but YMMV.

      • mark2 says:

        28 Aug28 August 17:38

        It’s not via bendy; they go by the MCC? number.

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