The HfP chat thread – Thursday 2nd September

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General

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James says:

2 Sep2 September 08:08

BA’s login to transfer Avios to Nectar isn’t working. Again. Seems convenient for BA that it isn’t available so frequently.
- Andrew H says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 08:12
  
  I managed it last night… but it was down the other day as well
  - David says:
    
    2 Sep2 September 09:38
    
    Yes, it’s all a conspiracy and part of the plan.
Andrew H says:

2 Sep2 September 08:14

Platinum Amex card… “The Points Guy” is being a bit naughty suggesting that new sign ups MAY get the £200 restaurant deal.

It’d swing the decision for me, but in the absence of it I am more likely to go for the new Business BA Amex
- BJ says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 08:22
  
  If you sign up and don’t get it within two weeks I am sure they would add it if you expressed your disappointment and thoughts of cancelling. The fee will not hit until your first statement.
  - BJ says:
    
    2 Sep2 September 08:54
    
    I thought this offer was open to all platinum card holders and therefore likely to be added to any card within the offer period.
  - Lawro says:
    
    2 Sep2 September 11:14
    
    “Any new cardholders asking for the £175 offer after it launched in January were refused”.
    
    That’s not strictly true.
- Rob says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 08:25
  
  Unlikely based on the Waitrose offers last year. The FCA would take a very dim view of encouraging people to take out products based on unsubstantiated guesses, especially when the evidence points to it not happening.
  - SteveJ says:
    
    2 Sep2 September 08:39
    
    Yesterday KS said previously they “took out the card after original £100 Waitrose offer went live and still got it when I asked on chat”, so seems mileage may vary.
    - TGLoyalty says:
      
      2 Sep2 September 08:42
      
      That was the offer launched last summer. I also had luck getting that added.
      
      However that changed in January this year and all I recall is people being refused and being given a date they had to be a platinum cardholder on.
  - BJ says:
    
    2 Sep2 September 08:55
    
    OK, noted.
- Grant says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 09:57
  
  Always yesterdays news
- John says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 09:58
  
  Why did you ever bother
- Benilyn says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 10:15
  
  Personally wouldn’t but let us know how it goes😜
- Andrew (@andrewseftel) says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 11:59
  
  It’s even less qualified than you imply:
  
  ‘With an increased welcome bonus of 60,000 Membership Rewards points and this £200 potential credit offsetting the annual fee, now might be the perfect time to consider nabbing a Platinum card if you don’t already have one.’
  
  On the plus side, if you don’t have a Plat card, now might indeed be a great time to get one because you can put in a misselling complaint for the restaurant credit!
  - Andrew H says:
    
    2 Sep2 September 12:34
    
    Yes, I went back and re-read it. There’s a “potential” in there, but it’s not good. Rob here doubts it will happen, and told me “We should know in a week or so whether new applicants are getting the £200 dining credit or not”.
    - Andrew (@andrewseftel) says:
      
      2 Sep2 September 17:28
      
      You could quite reasonably interpret the ‘potential’ as being conditional on your spending patterns!
AL says:

2 Sep2 September 09:13

Got LHR-SEA booked for second week of October. Ticket is pretty flexible so not bothered about any loss of cash. Chances of US opening up by then? Place your bets now…
- Paul says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 09:51
  
  Zero (or close to) I’m afraid
- Lyn says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 13:16
  
  Perhaps ask again after this long weekend in the US?
  
  BA are certainly re-starting up some routes for the first time since the start of Covid. Phoenix re-started earlier this week, and both San Francisco flights seem to be running again, but of course this could all be for cargo.
AnotherUser says:

2 Sep2 September 09:14

Has anyone stayed in the Voco Edinburgh? Didn’t end up making it this summer, but thinking about a stay this month
- Peggerz says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 11:00
  
  Haven’t stayed, but a couple of clients have and they were happy. Staff great and decent breakfast etc. New hotel in decent central position about 10 minutes walk from west end of Princes Street and the (opening this weekend) Johnnie Walker Whisky Experience Bars/Resto/Exhibitions.
  
  Just be careful re conferences at the EICC nearby. There’s a big Ted Talk eco conference coming up in a month and also – in Novenmber – COP26 in Glasgow, though virtually all attendees from 104 countries are staying in Edinburgh. These are likely to fill all decent hotels in the city.
- TheOtherN says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 11:11
  
  Stayed one reward night in the summer. Nice, modern, very welcoming and attentive reception.
  
  Rooms are pleasant, very comfortable bed, bathroom with shower only, but the fancy modern walk-in shower with a rain shower. The in-app photo is a fair represenation of the room we got. It was a high floor with a lovely view over the city and the sunset. Felt sumptuous compared to the somewhat wilting Doubletree down the road. Went out for breakfast and didn’t use the bar but on reflection we might have done another night over the Doubletree. That said, the Doubletree gave us free breakfast and a room with a view of the back of the castle, with a bit more space, although with decor from another era and reduced, kindly but confused staff.
  
  Voco is on a quiet road but a short stroll into the centre.
- Mel T says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 13:10
  
  Unhelpful in regards to your actual question, I know, as not stayed at the Voco, but just back from Ten Hill Place – lovely room. If you’ve got random Best Western points its a good option. Wanted to highly recommend for Makers Mash Bar for a dinner. Yes, its mash and nothing fancy but really great atmosphere and good food. Book in advance.
  - AnotherUser says:
    
    2 Sep2 September 16:15
    
    Thanks for the helpful replies!
- Brian W says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 18:16
  
  Yes, I stayed at the Voco last month. I was very impressed and will return. Good brand in my opinion and the rooms are nicely fitted out. Location is also very handy for the centre and the west end.
  - AnotherUser says:
    
    2 Sep2 September 20:54
    
    Thanks Brian!
Briandt says:

2 Sep2 September 09:16

Is anybody using Hulu on here…I’m using a fast VPN but can’t pay using Curve, even changing to $’s. And PayPal not accepted as it’s not a $ account. Any ideas a) to watch, and b,) to pay. Thanks.
- Richie says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 09:21
  
  Do you want to pay monthly or a one off amount?
- John says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 09:53
  
  Make a $ PayPal by using a us VPN and add curve to that
  - Benilyn says:
    
    2 Sep2 September 10:15
    
    Thanks will try! Hopefully not hard to make a $ PayPal
    - Briandt says:
      
      2 Sep2 September 18:25
      
      Thanks . I’ll forget PayPal change to $ as it really seems hassle doing a Google.
      Just paying for a month to try it……it seems that Hulu recognize the first four digits of Curve as a non US card..hence decline.
      So…back to the drawing board.
- A says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 12:06
  
  Try putting your UK card in with a US address.
  Amex don’t do address verification, at least for ‘trusted’ merchants (Hulu might, but I doubt it).
  - Briandt says:
    
    2 Sep2 September 18:35
    
    You don’t need to put an address in, just the Zip code….not sure they check that against the card,but I think not.
    - John says:
      
      2 Sep2 September 20:05
      
      Zip code is the 2 or 3 numbers of your UK postcode followed by zeros
- Ben W says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 20:13
  
  My UK Amex works fine for Hulu.
Ambient says:

2 Sep2 September 09:24

Can someone please educate me? I’m curious about the process of purchasing gift cards in supermarkets and taking them through a self checkout. Most gift cards these days show a variable value that is presumably set at the checkout, and almost all of them require activation at the checkout.

Is this all actually easily achievable on a self checkout machine, or realistically do you need a manual operator for this? Any variance between supermarket brands etc? Thanks!
- Richie says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 09:34
  
  Some gift cards don’t have values on them eg M&S, Waitrose.
- Sean says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 09:36
  
  perfectly achievable – brings up a screen with values on it – other amount and then type in how much you want – easy peasy.
- Toby says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 09:37
  
  Hey Ambient! I’ve found it’s v doable on modern self checkouts at Sainsbury’s and Moris, they just pop up with a screen asking you how much to add on.
  
  Wilkos is a different story, that needs to be done at the manned tills in my experience.
  
  Where are you thinking of trying?
- JSemity says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 09:37
  
  yes, all doable on self service. I would strongly recommend doing them in batches on self service machine (personally I don’t put more than 3 gift cards at a time through in any one transaction). I wouldn’t involve store staff as they’re likely to question things / get manager.
  
  Just keep head low
- KBuffett says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 09:39
  
  At Morrison’s it’s very straightforward. Can the barcode on the card at self checkout (must be the barcode on the card, not the barcode on the cardboard packaging.
  If it’s variable, the till will prompt you to select or enter a value.
  Then checkout as normal.
  An activation slip is printed with the receipt.
  I believe there are some older self check out tills that aren’t as swift, but try and go to a modern or large branch.
  I’ve found it very easy and very swift.
- Doug M says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 12:03
  
  As others have said, it works. Only thing I’d aad is use chocolate bars at the till to fool the scales as gift cards not heavy enough to register on the scale.
  - Ambient says:
    
    2 Sep2 September 22:38
    
    Thanks all for your comments, most helpful.
Ant says:

2 Sep2 September 09:38

Hi we are going to Mykonos on Saturday and fully vaccinated. Is my understanding correct that we do not need a covid test to get into Greece? Loading up documents on the MMB BA website and it is asking for certificate and Covid Test result.
- Damian says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 10:14
  
  That’s correct, you only need NHS vaccination certificate and PLF completed before midnight (Greek time) before day of travel
  - Richie says:
    
    2 Sep2 September 10:21
    
    We were tested on arrival.
Stephan says:

2 Sep2 September 09:38

How to cancel a avios booking within 24h booking? When going through the website I only see the voucher option rather than full refund. Telephone line keeps on disconnecting
- Richie says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 09:42
  
  You need to call.
  - Stephan says:
    
    2 Sep2 September 09:44
    
    What number do you use? as I keep on being told they are too busy and then it disconnects. Calling the number that directs me to complaints as that only that works..
    - Pete M says:
      
      2 Sep2 September 10:04
      
      Use the US freephone number via Skype – always works for me during US waking hours.
      - Alex M says:
        
        2 Sep2 September 11:14
        
        UK 0800 number worked via skype too.
      - John says:
        
        2 Sep2 September 11:49
        
        No need to call a UK freephone on Skype unless you are outside the UK – UK mobiles stopped charging for freephone 5 or 6 years ago