The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 31st August

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• Grant says:

  31 Aug31 August 15:36

  Any recommendations for a restaurant lunch within 15-20 min walk of Twickenham stadium? Group of six heading to the three Autumn Internationals in November. Staying at the Richmond Hill Hotel and would like to eat somewhere between there and the stadium. Needs to be the right balance of good quality but relaxed atmosphere. Thanks.

  • Nick says:

    31 Aug31 August 15:43

    Yes x Del Posto at 139 St Margaret’s Road. It’s an excellent Italian run by lovely people. Great pre-match venue and midway between your hotel and the stadium. Definitely ticks your good quality but relaxed atmosphere criteria. http://www.delposto.do.uk

    • Pete M says:

      31 Aug31 August 16:23

      Gosh, just by where my first job in London was! That takes me back!

  • BSI1978 says:

    31 Aug31 August 16:01

    By no means ‘high-end’ dining but always favour St Margarets Tavern myself before the rugby. Their actual dining section is away from the scrum but decent grub and atmosphere (albeit might be the ‘wrong’ of Richmond for you noting the hotel).

    Easy schlep to HQ thereafter.

    https://www.stmargaretstw1.co.uk

  • Jake says:

    31 Aug31 August 16:48

    Luna di Luca does excellent Pizza very close to your hotel…

  • Oliver says:

    31 Aug31 August 17:23

    A Cena, The Crown, and Salon Prive are also well worth a look. Probably more like 25-30 mins from the stadium, but they are all on your way from Richmond.

  • Grant says:

    31 Aug31 August 21:16

    Thanks all, some great looking suggestions.

• Save East Coast Rewards says:

  31 Aug31 August 15:52

  Are the walk through arrivals shops open at T5 now?

  • KP says:

    31 Aug31 August 15:57

    They are yesterday when I landed

    • Save East Coast Rewards says:

      31 Aug31 August 16:18

      I thought they probably would be but last time I came through T5 I was connecting to a domestic so haven’t been through international arrivals for a while.

• Soo says:

  31 Aug31 August 16:11

  Hi, wisdom sought for maintenance amex card:
  OH BAPP going to refer me for Platinum, later I’ll refer OH for Platinum etc. Which card is better after cancelling his BAPP: Nectar (1yr free) or Rewards blue? while waiting for the 2 years.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    31 Aug31 August 16:17

    Personally I’d say either the nectar or the Bonvoy.

    Also rewards blue (I assume you mean the clear one with a blue tinge) is an MR card and would mean your OH is no eligible for a Platinum bonus.

  • Ikaz says:

    31 Aug31 August 16:17

    Waiting 2 years for what bonus? If you want the platinum bonus in 2 years then you can’t get the ARCC (= rewards blue), so a nectar card or Marriott card would be best (they won’t receive a welcome bonus on either card, the marriott has an annual fee, I don’t think Nectar does)

    • TGLoyalty says:

      31 Aug31 August 16:35

      Nectar is free for 1 year then £25.

  • BJ says:

    31 Aug31 August 17:52

    My tuppence worth … (if you must) churn BAPP and Plantinum only, hold Nectar + supp during the interval.

• soundnomad says:

  31 Aug31 August 16:20

  Last day to register for 90 day earn status fast track offer for IHG – in case anyone forgot. Hidden away in the account offers.

  • Rob says:

    31 Aug31 August 16:35

    No, it’s extended to 30/11 – will do another article at some point. See https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/hfp/ihg-status-fast-track-31-august/

    For some reason the UK version of the website hasn’t been changed.

    • JohnT says:

      31 Aug31 August 20:55

      Drat – registered yesterday.

      • soundnomad says:

        1 Sep1 September 00:15

        Damn me too. double drat.

• Chrism20 says:

  31 Aug31 August 16:26

  Update coming to the Costa loyalty scheme for those that have it.

  Free drink after 8 drinks purchased (after 4 if you use a reusable cup until next March)

  Free cake on your birthday

  Exclusive offers.

  Any existing points will be converted at 40 points to one bean (8 beans required for a free drink)

  No mention of the refer a friend offer on the email I’ve received.

  • Super Secret Stuff says:

    31 Aug31 August 16:59

    Oh that is very disappointing

  • John says:

    31 Aug31 August 17:55

    Lol so slightly better than nero

  • John says:

    31 Aug31 August 18:02

    5 beans for referral (not sure what the referred gets).

    Existing points rounded up – so try and get a multiple of 40 + 5

    • TGLoyalty says:

      31 Aug31 August 18:06

      Well lucky for me I have 46 lol

• Stephen says:

  31 Aug31 August 17:05

  AMEX Platinum – just been offered 75,000 by Live Chat. Signed up in September 2020 (offered 50,000 in November). Maybe as the annual fee will shortly be billed? Don’t use the card much at all, but do have a Gold Business card with high spend each month

  • Andrew H says:

    31 Aug31 August 17:26

    I downgraded from BAPP to the standard blue to concentrate for a while on VA+ (and I mentioned the increase in fees). They didn’t try to keep me… 🙁

    Is it possible to talk to them and encourage them to offer me some Avios to upgrade back again?

    • Stephen says:

      31 Aug31 August 17:39

      No harm trying – I usually focus on the benefits of the card, saying that in normal times they would have great value. Then usually give some detail about trips abroad that have been pushed back to 2022, and say how I really do want to keep the card but can’t justify the fee. Then ask directly whether there is any retention offers available to help during these times of limited travel

    • TGLoyalty says:

      31 Aug31 August 18:08

      Looks like it’s just for their MR cards

      Cancelled a nectar 0 offered. Was looking to cancel a Bonvoy was offered nothing but thought I’d wait a few days to see if there’s any decent offers this week.

      • BuildBackBetter says:

        31 Aug31 August 20:55

        Lol nectar card!

        • TGLoyalty says:

          1 Sep1 September 00:11

          Haha yeah I’ll be signing back up with a 15k boosted referral from player 2 or 3 ..

  • Dean says:

    31 Aug31 August 17:48

    I just got offered and accepted 50,000 via chat. On chat you need to ask for retention, not cancellation or they ask you to call in.

    I did have 50,000 for retention about 14 months ago so this is now a second hit.

    • Thomas Shelby says:

      31 Aug31 August 19:23

      When did you last pay the annual fee?

      I took out my card last year October and was offered 50k then another 35k 3 weeks after, I’ve kept the card since

      Might try my luck again as fee is coming up in a few months

• David says:

  31 Aug31 August 17:11

  Is a MR transfer bonus to Bonvoy likely anytime soon – difficult one I know.

• Gary says:

  31 Aug31 August 17:17

  Asking for a friend. Any feasible routes for a fully NHS vaccinated South African national to travel from SA back to London Via 3rd country quarantine free & without needing a visa? EU has
  Opened up to SA but requires Schengen visa

  • TGLoyalty says:

    31 Aug31 August 17:21

    11 days in Dubai? They need a PCR test within 48 hrs

    Anything less than 11 days in 3rd country = hotel quarantine.

  • Sukes says:

    31 Aug31 August 20:35

    Ireland. I think there should be neither visa, quarantine nor testing requirements. Links to follow are https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/travel_to_ireland/travel_to_ireland_during_covid.html and https://www.irishimmigration.ie/

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