The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 1st September

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General

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JohnT says:

1 Sep1 September 07:33

Wentworth details sent through now, etickets by weekend. Any views on best taxi app for Hilton Cobham to Wentworth (for the Thursday)? See Gett have Amex offer again.
- Lou says:
  
  1 Sep1 September 08:20
  
  Is the Hilton Cobham any better? Was there in end of May, not that great…
  - JohnT says:
    
    1 Sep1 September 09:09
    
    Hope so! Wasn’t too impressed with Woking either so at least large grounds.
  - KBuffett says:
    
    1 Sep1 September 09:42
    
    It’s seriously dated, like Hilton Park Lane.
Jamil says:

1 Sep1 September 07:41

Morning, I booked 3 U/C flights on Virgin Atlantic for NYC due to leave in 21 days. I used the Black Friday sale last year as well as two companion vouchers I had. Seems like unless USA miraculously changes their policy that entry will still be restricted. Options are that I can rebook paying full mileage for whenever I want or unless my flight is cancelled or there is a 3 hour change then I can rebook for another date at the same mileage. Will wait till closer to departure date. Would there by any other ways I can ask VA to honour the booking if there is not substantial flight change?
- ChrisC says:
  
  1 Sep1 September 07:58
  
  You’ve listed the options available.
  
  I don’t see VS doing anything else for you outside of those.
- FFoxSake says:
  
  1 Sep1 September 08:07
  
  3 hour change? I thought 4 hours was the magic number?
  - ChrisC says:
    
    1 Sep1 September 08:10
    
    It used to be 12! But 3 is their current policy.
    
    BA is 4 hours (used to be 2)
    - FFoxSake says:
      
      1 Sep1 September 09:19
      
      Thanks for the clarification. Recently had a BA flight moved by 3h 50mins, so got interested for a moment there!
Hugh says:

1 Sep1 September 08:11

I completely forgot to pause spending on my BAPP until beginning of last week when I slammed on the brakes with £43 to spare. Did anyone cut it closer? I presume I am ok to release the brakes now!!
- WaynedP says:
  
  1 Sep1 September 08:18
  
  £15 and some pennies.
  
  Would have been £9.99 more if not for OH putting a purchase through EBay with her BAPP Supp saved as default payment.
  
  School-boy error narrowly averted despite my very clear instructions 😬
- Mattb says:
  
  1 Sep1 September 08:26
  
  £15 here too, again purely by luck.
- Anna says:
  
  1 Sep1 September 08:46
  
  I had a safe £280 buffer. OH now allowed to go to B & Q and use the £10 rebate offer!
  - Tim says:
    
    1 Sep1 September 08:48
    
    I removed the BAPP supp from my wife’s purse last month, it’s now back in there.
- BuildBackBetter says:
  
  1 Sep1 September 09:34
  
  Once I failed to remember the card was on her taxi and food delivery apps!
- trader363 says:
  
  1 Sep1 September 10:25
  
  I actually went over – the transaction was in pending status and the very clever CS agent downgraded me immediately to the free card to stop triggering the voucher.
  
  It worked . . . going to upgrade again today
  - TheInsiderFly says:
    
    1 Sep1 September 16:13
    
    That’s amazing. I accidentally went over and the CS didn’t do anything when I asked if anything could be done. I didn’t think of the temporary downgrade! V annoying. I’m going to see if BA can amend the Ts&Cs to the new voucher as technically although I triggered the voucher on 31st August it became valid on 1st Sep with a expiry of 1st Mar 2024. I’ll see what they say
Joe says:

1 Sep1 September 08:40

After my 2 year break I recently applied for marriott would like to do BAPP and then Plat to gain all 3 enhanced bonuses. My only worry is credit checks. If applications are within a month is their a chnace Amex won’t re check the applicant. Also is there a way to request from Amex to reduce credit limit on existing card in order to take out a new without checks.
- Nick says:
  
  1 Sep1 September 09:41
  
  There is a chance but you can’t influence it, it’s up to Amex. Some find they never get checked after their first application, others (including me) get checked for every single one without fail.
  
  But do you have a particular reason to be concerned, or are you worrying over nothing? Many commenters here place far too much stock on keeping their record small – whereas in reality unless applying for a mortgage very soon it really doesn’t make much difference. Your credit profile is there to be used.
- SteveJ says:
  
  1 Sep1 September 09:48
  
  Regardless of whether they do a check or not, the additional card will be on your credit profile, so if you’re worried about over exposure lenders etc will see that on your credit report anyway.
Anna says:

1 Sep1 September 08:45

Has anything else been said about further 241 extensions since yesterday?! I don’t want to check my BAEC account while abroad as I am rather wary of insecure WiFi …
- Mikeact says:
  
  1 Sep1 September 08:51
  
  You’re not using a VPN ?
- Reeferman says:
  
  1 Sep1 September 08:51
  
  Just checked – my 241 is still showing dates without any further extension.
- Doug M says:
  
  1 Sep1 September 09:28
  
  End to end encryption. Your device to the data host, anything in between doesn’t matter if it’s done properly. If it’s not done properly then insecure WiFi is far from the only issue.
  VPNs only add security if you trust the provider, you’re possible just adding insecurity by using one.
  - JSemity says:
    
    1 Sep1 September 09:37
    
    correct, you don’t need to use a VPN for any HTTPS website (99%+ of websites you probably use), it’s encrypted end-end by default.
  - Anna says:
    
    1 Sep1 September 11:02
    
    I’m only here for a week so plenty of mobile data to use for leisure browsing!
- Mike says:
  
  1 Sep1 September 09:34
  
  Anna – yup I am very interested in this too. I had hoped that an extension announcement was planned for 1 Sep 21. I have three expiring shortly.
  - Mike P says:
    
    1 Sep1 September 09:48
    
    GUF (Gold upgrade) vouchers have just been extended by a further 6 months but I can’t see any extension to 241s yet. I have one that’s due to expire in November so have been keeping an eye on that.
    - Sandra says:
      
      1 Sep1 September 10:43
      
      Just checked mine, oldest two expire 22 October 2021 and 29 March 2022 and no extension as yet. I’m still going to hang on another 5 weeks or so with the first before converting to a FTV with a cancelled booking as I don’t really want to be restricted to a re-booking with the same person named on the voucher if I can avoid it!
Michael says:

1 Sep1 September 08:46

Hi, if I apply for Platinum today, am I guaranteed to also be rligible for the £200 offer for the restaurant?
- VerdantBacon says:
  
  1 Sep1 September 08:49
  
  Not guaranteed at all
- Andrew says:
  
  1 Sep1 September 08:52
  
  Almost guaranteed not to be eligible, if based on similar previous offers – only for existing card members before the date the offer was launched.
FatherOfFour says:

1 Sep1 September 08:47

Sorry for what should be simple, I feel I’ve missed a somewhere. Am I good for a Platinum SUB whilst holding the FREE BA card? (I can see that BAPP is fine and “assume” they are in the same rewards family)
- Rob says:
  
  1 Sep1 September 08:53
  
  Yes
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  1 Sep1 September 12:36
  
  You must not have held any personal card that earns MR in the past 24 months.
stevenhp1987 says:

1 Sep1 September 08:48

Datapoint:

Changed Creation to EUR in curve and went back in time on a few EUR transactions.

Foreign spend via Curve does not earn double points. Presumably because they’re from “London”.
- John says:
  
  1 Sep1 September 08:56
  
  But it would still attract the 3% fee if not for the offer!
- StevieKicks says:
  
  1 Sep1 September 08:57
  
  That’s a shame, I’m already en route and left the actual IHG card at home.
  Thanks for confirming
- Yorkie Aid says:
  
  1 Sep1 September 09:18
  
  Thank you for trying and reporting back. Interestingly I have received the double points in the past for direct Sterling transactions with Ebay and Royal Caribbean so it probably is just based around the charge location rather than the underlying currency. If only there were a Curve equivalent based offshore!
  - C says:
    
    1 Sep1 September 14:27
    
    And I just received double points for a transaction at a UK IHG property that was paid with my Curve linked to Creation Black (trying to pick up the Curve Rewards IHG offer for the amount in excess of what I needed to trigger the Amex IHG offer, though it has yet to post).
    - stevenhp1987 says:
      
      1 Sep1 September 15:32
      
      Always seem to get double points for any hotel spend. Even non-IHG hotels.
      - Yorkie Aid says:
        
        1 Sep1 September 16:39
        
        +1