The HfP chat thread – Thursday 2nd September

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meta says:

2 Sep2 September 14:34

I have an early flight next week. Does overnight bag drop still work for BA at T5?
- Pete M says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 14:47
  
  Yes, and they’re even promoting it by text these days!
  - meta says:
    
    2 Sep2 September 14:49
    
    Thanks. That’s great.
    - roberto says:
      
      2 Sep2 September 15:08
      
      However it’s referred to as a twilight baggage drop service now and only open between 4 and 9pm the day before travel.
  - Lyn says:
    
    2 Sep2 September 16:52
    
    Thanks for the reminder.
Pete M says:

2 Sep2 September 14:55

The BA/PGMBM settlement payout just hit my current account. Off to book some holidays! 🙂
GP says:

2 Sep2 September 14:59

Can anyone suggest which BA contact centre would be best to call just after midnight UK time? I want to change the return leg of a 2-4-1 booking just after they release availability.

Thanks!
- FatherOfFour says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 15:37
  
  Historically, the US number via Skype. However, if this booking is taking place in British Summer Time, you need to call just before 1am.
  Understand there are some hit and miss experiences with this at the moment. Japan seems like an option during the working week.
Pete M says:

2 Sep2 September 14:59

And in further good news, it looks like the T5 Plaza Premium is reopening on 5/Sep (https://www.plazapremiumlounge.com/en-uk/find/americas-europe/united-kingdom/london/london-heathrow-airport/plaza-premium-lounge-departures-terminal-5)
- Nick says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 15:26
  
  I’ve just spotted this too…. I’m flying on the 4th and it is bookable via their website so I have all fingers and toes crossed that it’s open earlier, as keen to give it a go.
Will says:

2 Sep2 September 15:00

Does anyone know whether the IHG CC offer for no oversees fees in September applies to all or whether it’s targeted? I’ve logged on to the Creation website but had pop ups blocked and can’t see it mentioned anywhere else. Might it need a phone call to Creation?
- Harry T says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 15:31
  
  It’s probably targeted. Worth calling them, just in case.
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    2 Sep2 September 15:33
    
    that should be fun!
    - Will says:
      
      2 Sep2 September 15:46
      
      Thanks all. Just managed to get through to them and they confirmed it’s targeted and weren’t able to apply the offer. Shame.
      - Joints&Piles says:
        
        2 Sep2 September 16:12
        
        I had the same experience, but I got the impression the person I spoke to had no knowledge of the offer and was assuming the answer.
        
        The offer page at https://www.creation.co.uk/no_fx_fee says nothing about it being by invitation only.
      - Joints&Piles says:
        
        2 Sep2 September 16:13
        
        PS I had no reply either to secure messages submitted on the app, or by contact form on the website, which is poor. Why offer a messaging system and not respond? Getting through to a human at the call centre took so long I could’t be bothered to HUACA.
      - Harry T says:
        
        2 Sep2 September 16:28
        
        Shame you’re not targeted but it’s better to know, as you may have been hit with heavy FX fees. If it makes you feel better, I haven’t been targeted for some of their offers in the past.
- stevenhp1987 says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 15:35
  
  Disable the pop-up blocker temporarily?
  - Sandra says:
    
    2 Sep2 September 16:31
    
    Not on mine either but since they only called me yesterday to query a Sainsbury transaction that hit my account over a week ago as possibly fraudulent I’m not surprised their staff have no idea about it. It wasn’t fraud it was my monthly ‘big’ online stock up shop but every time I updated the basket Creation sent me a new authorisation code to input at checkout.
Peter K says:

2 Sep2 September 15:09

Just had a look at replies to my comment on the free dining credit on amex platinum article, where I said that the offer made me glad that I had cancelled the card before the offered arrived.

Some people could not believe I was no where near one of the restaurants so couldn’t have used it easily. Others said that surely I would be travelling near one of the restaurants in the next 4 months. Finally, another said that maybe it wasn’t the card for me.

First: I’m over an hours drive from the nearest restaurant on the list (yes I live in England).
Second: I currently have no plans to travel to any of the places with such a restaurant in the next 4 months….and by the end of the 4 months I would only be breaking even anyway.
Thirdly: no, I don’t think the platinum card was the right one for me at this time… That’s why I cancelled it 😂

It did make me smile reading the incredulous comments by people who do not know my situation at all but are caught up in their own bubble of how they view the world, and that assume everyone else also lives in the same bubble.
- Sean says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 15:14
  
  Also you’d only be break even after 4 months if you wanted to spend £200 on overpriced food at these restaurants. Could get same quality for 1/2 of those prices elsewhere so actually breakeven after 2 months!
  - meta says:
    
    2 Sep2 September 15:32
    
    Don’t follow logic. An hours drive is not much and it would be a nearly free meal once you count the transport costs. I’d ask a friend to drive me if I didn’t have a car and treat him/her to a free meal.
    
    You could also spend £200 today, wait two days for the credit to post and then cancel the card. Don’t need to wait 4 months.
  - Rob says:
    
    2 Sep2 September 15:51
    
    I suspect you’re missing the point of an evening at a smart restaurant Sean ….
- Harry T says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 15:34
  
  It’s free money for people who will be dining out at the restaurants included in the offer. FWIW, I downgraded from Platinum in January (I think) and have no regrets. I’ve already saved over £200 in card fees. The 24k referrals would have been useful but the 15k referrals on Gold have been good on a free card. I was refused a second retention offer on the Platinum too.
  
  If you don’t think holding the card presents good value for money, then it’s arguably sensible to just cancel after extracting as many retention offers as possible, rather than hoping that promotions will come along.
  
  I’m sure JDB will be along to tell me that hustling for retention offers is equivalent to holding an embassy hostage or something 😂
  - meta says:
    
    2 Sep2 September 15:43
    
    You closed in January. That’s different…
    - Harry T says:
      
      2 Sep2 September 15:45
      
      I’m saying I don’t feel like I’ve missed out tbh. I think the Platinum card doesn’t offer much value to people who actually travel in premium cabins and have proper hotel status. £200 of dining credit wouldn’t swing the balance for me. But it’s all about how each individual judges value 😊
      - BuildBackBetter says:
        
        2 Sep2 September 15:48
        
        Same here. I would’ve regretted cancelling the card if it was another £200 of Waitrose credit that I would’ve really used. Not a big fan of dining at overpriced restaurants and no occasion to celebrate as well.
        But happy that many people seem to like this offer.
      - HBommie says:
        
        2 Sep2 September 16:40
        
        I tend to agree that Platinum doesn’t add much when flying premium, but FHR can be very good in non chain hotels. Only Virtuoso is comparable.
      - TGLoyalty says:
        
        2 Sep2 September 18:27
        
        £200 of free money for me as was headed to London anyway
        
        And there are plenty of restaurants on the list which are reasonably priced for London. Don’t find any of the D&D restaurants overpriced for example.
  - JDB says:
    
    2 Sep2 September 15:52
    
    @HarryT if you are comfortable with “hustling” for retention bonuses, that’s up to you, although as I had understood you are a professional, I am perhaps a bit surprised.
    
    There is much worse stuff regularly discussed on here, at least one of which will start to cause trouble quite soon. Don’t panic, I have given up trying to warn people except when a new scam is proposed as in today’s WDF one.
    - Harry T says:
      
      2 Sep2 September 15:58
      
      Not sure what my occupation has to do with asking for retention offers, but I assume you’re just getting creative with trolling attempts. If a card doesn’t offer genuine value to me, I ask amex for a retention offer. If they don’t offer me one, I either cancel or take time to consider my options. Blind loyalty is a good way to get suckered. You should only pay money for a product if it offers value. Amex are not your friends; their job is to make money out of you.
      - JDB says:
        
        2 Sep2 September 16:41
        
        The reason I mentioned a profession is that professionals (eg doctors, solicitors, accountants etc) are expected to be people of the highest probity. If someone brings an ID photocopy for you to certify – “I have seen a true copy…” but they haven’t brought the original, would you still sign it? My wife won’t because it would be untrue and people place reliance on professionals upholding standards. I don’t know about your case, but there are some people on here who explicitly say they don’t intend to cancel, but just want retention points and others who say they intend to cancel as soon as they bank the retention offer. Others even openly ask how best to spin the lie. All of this requires lying (to obtain a benefit). It’s not a white lie, and I don’t know quite where it falls on the scale of lies, but it is a lie nonetheless. Most professionals would be unwilling to do this.
      - David says:
        
        2 Sep2 September 17:00
        
        I think that while Harry works within the NHS I don’t think he is a registered professional as in Dr or similar, rather in a management or systems role of some sort. At least if I recall older chats on some topics correctly and am not getting mixed up with someone else (and if so I apologise). This may go some way in explaining why your own thought processes on these matters are not shared by others. Having said that, I think while logically and ethically the nature of things like this shouldn’t make difference, in reality there is quite a difference between forging a document, for example, and seeing whether a retention bonus could be given on a credit card.
      - JDB says:
        
        2 Sep2 September 17:07
        
        @David I think some people are calling Amex in good faith, but others are, by their own admission, not. Obviously, it isn’t on the scale of forging a document (something advised on here recently by more than one person in the context of Billhop!) but it is on the spectrum. I think sometimes people on here get a bit blasé with stuff that their mum, boss, friends or even partner might think a bit dodgy.
      - VerdantBacon says:
        
        2 Sep2 September 17:56
        
        JDB’s posts here are the most hilarious things I have read all day, I tend to skip over his comments as they tend to be long winded rants but I definitely need to start actually reading them!
      - Rachel Robinson says:
        
        2 Sep2 September 18:30
        
        The idea that this might conflict with any professional code of ethics is simply ludicrous. And even if it did on some sort of technicality no regulator would be remotely interested in it.
    - Andrew says:
      
      2 Sep2 September 16:04
      
      I’m glad I’ve stuck with platinum in 2021 – £175 of Selfridges credit, a 50k retention in May (year after the first 30k in 2020), 90k in easy referrals for the free BA card to friends at 24k a time, and now £200 of dining credit. And some of the general offers might have been a bit more enhanced with platinum – Harrods in the spring etc. Seems a good return on £575, plus the travel insurance for the few trips I have taken, and the joy of the metal card in my wallet.
      - Harry T says:
        
        2 Sep2 September 16:05
        
        I’m glad you’ve gotten decent value out of the card, Andrew. I quit when I felt I was ahead.
      - Andrew says:
        
        2 Sep2 September 16:14
        
        I certainly feel I’m ahead at the moment, but it’s under constant review. The BAPP annual fee going up from £0 to £250 will be taken into consideration when the time comes for that fee to hit.
      - Mouse says:
        
        2 Sep2 September 16:22
        
        I’m with Andrew, mine has paid for itself several times over
      - Jimbob says:
        
        2 Sep2 September 17:47
        
        I’m not sure we should be judging someone’s probity based on them asking Amex for a retention offer!
        
        I’m pretty sure the GMC aren’t bothered.
      - VerdantBacon says:
        
        2 Sep2 September 17:53
        
        I agree, the value on the Plat has been great the past 18 months, 135k MR retention, 90k MR referrals, travel insurance, plenty of free credit to spend and enjoy. I fly premium long haul, gold BA, multiple top tier hotel status and I can still find value in the Plat, of course under continual review.
      - TGLoyalty says:
        
        2 Sep2 September 18:29
        
        I’m with you since September 2020 the Plat has been £££ in my pocket and added a shed load of MR in the process.
    - JDB says:
      
      2 Sep2 September 18:25
      
      @VerdantBacon I’m glad I’m able to add to some hilarity into your life. I read your comments, often with some wonderment. I suspect we wouldn’t agree on much, but I genuinely enjoy reading your perspective on things.
      - Mike P says:
        
        2 Sep2 September 19:21
        
        @JDB some absolutely ridiculous woke posts, great trolling.
      - VerdantBacon says:
        
        2 Sep2 September 19:51
        
        I agree that we wouldn’t agree on much but I’m sure we’d have a great time together nonetheless
    - Benilyn says:
      
      2 Sep2 September 19:46
      
      I work in Sainsbury’s stacking shelves, is it ok for me ask for retention offers?
      - swifty says:
        
        2 Sep2 September 23:25
        
        absolutely benilyn, you crack on love 🙂
- BJ says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 16:13
  
  I bet you feel better after that Peter 😀
  - Peter K says:
    
    2 Sep2 September 16:47
    
    Ha ha. I do. I felt like doing a few lols in a Chris Heyes fashion.
    My point that everyone’s situation is different still stands and that you can’t judge someone else’s choice in such a matter based on your own opinion 😁
    
    My personal feeling is that I’m glad I cancelled. Others are delighted they have kept the card. Each to their own!
    - Anna says:
      
      2 Sep2 September 17:54
      
      Totally agree Peter. I was about to cancel but keeping it another 2 weeks means I can treat the family to £200 worth of free food, cooked, served and cleared up by someone other than me! Then I’ll cancel , unless a similarly good offer appears. Even if JDB questions my probity 😂
      - JDB says:
        
        2 Sep2 September 18:19
        
        Sounds fine! I hope you have a great dinner on Amex.
        
        P.S. I suspect you know what I’m on about, but would agree it seems best to stick with the cool crowd/consensus on here to avoid derision.
      - TGLoyalty says:
        
        2 Sep2 September 19:25
        
        @JDB you do you
        
        The issue is you’re throwing around lots of baseless accusations about fraud and people’s probity.
        
        I asked for a retention and would have left if I didn’t get one (as I did in April 2020 when I downgraded to gold charge for £0 fee and as I did with my nectar card and player 3’s BAPP this week just gone)
      - JDB says:
        
        2 Sep2 September 19:36
        
        @TGLoyalty if you do it in the way you described, that is of course fine. Others have foolishly laid out their whole plan of action which shows their action is not OK. I was very precise about what appears to be dodgy. I’m quite sure you can make the distinction.
h1jfg says:

2 Sep2 September 15:58

Booked a BA Flight + Car on Saturday to take advantage of the double tier points offer. Now need to make a change to outbound flight. Called BA every day (0344 4930787) but once I select “change booking” and “flight and car” I get a “sorry, too busy” message and call is dropped immediately. Went through to new holiday bookings (answered in 10 minutes) and they said they can’t do anything as new bookings and change bookings are on two different systems. They transferred me internally and call dropped immediately. Anyone know a different method of getting through to a BA Holiday person who can change a booking?
- Anna says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 16:22
  
  Cancel for a voucher and re-book the holiday? Then get the voucher applied to the new booking.
  - h1jfg says:
    
    2 Sep2 September 16:28
    
    Can’t cancel online. Need to speak to someone on BA Holiday team to cancel, and that’s the same number and option sequence which just hangs up on me.
    - ChrisC says:
      
      2 Sep2 September 16:50
      
      Yes you can cancel it on line it’s just that MMB isn’t the place to do it.
      
      HAve done it several times.
      
      https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/incident/coronavirus/vouchers-refunds#cancel
    - Anna says:
      
      2 Sep2 September 17:56
      
      ? I’ve cancelled 3 or 4 BA holidays online over the past 18 months as it became apparent it wasn’t going to be possible to travel. Got FTVs for each one and have now applied them to 2 new avios bookings for next year. Not a single call made for any of it!
- Dave says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 17:18
  
  I got through yesterday. Called day 8 in the morning on the dot, knew which options I had to press when needed. Spoke to someone straight away
Moktar says:

2 Sep2 September 16:21

Anyone have any experience of doing a pcr test in valencia? Looking for one for next week.
- Andrew says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 16:28
  
  Why not just take a testing kit with you rather than do a PCR?
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  2 Sep2 September 18:30
  
  You don’t need a pcr at all. Antigen is fine.