The HfP chat thread – Friday 3rd September

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Rui N. says:

3 Sep3 September 11:22

What’s the minimum direct debit people here have with Igloo? I added enough to have £1k in my account (useful to get the 3% interest plus finishing the sign up bonus for a new amex) and asked for it to be reduced. They first reduced from £55 to £30. I complained, saying that I have enough credit for more than one year of usage (even after the new increase in prices) and they said the minimun they could go was £15 – this value corresponding to the monthly spending charges. Any luck going lower than that?
- Ikaz says:
  
  3 Sep3 September 11:33
  
  £11 here, automatic value that they gave me based on expected consumption from their questionnaire when I signed-up
- Alan S says:
  
  3 Sep3 September 12:51
  
  £1
  - Rui N. says:
    
    3 Sep3 September 13:53
    
    So, it can be lower than £15 indeed. Thank you both.
    @Alan S, how did you manage that? TIA
    - John says:
      
      3 Sep3 September 15:03
      
      Give them a tiny estimated consumption when you sign up
      - Rui N. says:
        
        3 Sep3 September 15:06
        
        To late for that now, I’m already a customer… (but good idea for the next provider!)
- Gareth says:
  
  3 Sep3 September 14:07
  
  If I were to be in credit due to over paying and then left igloo does anyone know how they pay you the funds back? Is it cheque?
  - John says:
    
    3 Sep3 September 15:02
    
    Bank transfer
Paul says:

3 Sep3 September 11:31

I need to bring double vaccinated (in the UK) family member back from the US promptly? I’m aware all they need is their Day 2 test at this, however I wondered what they need at that end? Is proof of a negative PCR or otherwise required to enter the UK (from the US)?
- Paul says:
  
  3 Sep3 September 11:31
  
  *Day 2 at this end
- A says:
  
  3 Sep3 September 11:35
  
  Yes. Won’t be allowed to board without it (when I flew out of JFK recently they were checking test results & dates in the check in line and giving you a slip of paper to hand to the check in desk person)
  - Pete M says:
    
    3 Sep3 September 11:38
    
    They don’t need a PCR test, a lateral flow is fine.
    - Paul says:
      
      3 Sep3 September 12:58
      
      Is a lateral flow suffice? Likely easier and cheaper to source with short notice in rural Colorado
      - Pete M says:
        
        3 Sep3 September 13:14
        
        Yes, absolutely!
  - Paul says:
    
    3 Sep3 September 12:58
    
    I see! Did wonder how through Airlines were at that end.
- Harry T says:
  
  3 Sep3 September 11:37
  
  They need a predeparture antigen test, surely?
- Tracey says:
  
  3 Sep3 September 13:11
  
  Antigen test before departing the US. Complete the PLF to include the code from the purchase of a day 0-2 test in the UK.
  - Paul says:
    
    3 Sep3 September 15:59
    
    Great, thanks for this Tracey! So simply showing the result of the antigen is enough to board alongside a completed PLF?
    - Harry T says:
      
      3 Sep3 September 16:28
      
      If I were them, I would also carry my proof of vaccination – the silly cereal box CDC card, I’m guessing?
      - Paul says:
        
        3 Sep3 September 19:01
        
        Vaccinated in the UK! So we are sure just a rapid antigen (in hand or verified) is suffice to leave the US on a BA flight?
Mark says:

3 Sep3 September 11:35

Saw a link previously that as a HSBC Premier cardholder I can get fast tracked to Avis President’s Club. How can I do that?
- KS says:
  
  3 Sep3 September 11:38
  
  Here is the link with details: https://secure-one.avisworld.com/en_GB/Avis-Mastercard/AvisPreferred
  - JDB says:
    
    3 Sep3 September 12:16
    
    Thanks for the link. If you use it you need first to put the WE card into your Avis profile if you have a different one there currently.
  - HBommie says:
    
    3 Sep3 September 13:52
    
    Do the benefits advertised make it into real world examples? Quite a few vague terms in the bumph.
    - KS says:
      
      3 Sep3 September 14:18
      
      They do translate but YMMV. For example, I get approximately 30% discount at LCY with Avis. This is not based on availability and easily a big money saver. I have also had a single class upgrade for all my bookings in the past year (didn’t have President’s Club before that). One of the bookings got an upgrade from Group J to Group N.
      
      Another advantage to consider is status match with other options you would normally go for.
      - HBommie says:
        
        3 Sep3 September 18:01
        
        Thanks, I might sign up and see if it translates into benefits.
  - AL says:
    
    3 Sep3 September 14:59
    
    VAA Reward+ cardholder here, which is MC. Anyone know if that’s World, WE etc.? Usually says on the reverse, but doesn’t on mine… (and their call centre is rubbish, so I really don’t want to call to ask!)
    - stevenhp1987 says:
      
      3 Sep3 September 15:33
      
      VS+ is just plain Mastercard.
      
      The Creation IHG card is a World card.
      
      Curve Metal is World Elite.
      - AL says:
        
        3 Sep3 September 15:43
        
        Ta. Have been half-tempted to bin it off for a while, but nothing else MC excites me – IHG Spire already and the HH/Bonvoy are Amex. Will see if Avis will match my Enterprise Exec elite somehow.
      - Andrew H says:
        
        3 Sep3 September 17:17
        
        Ok – what does that mean in reality?
bafan says:

3 Sep3 September 11:49

I’m traveling from Greece to Italy, on an EU passport but vaccinated in the UK (but I’m using the French app to show the pass because it’s less cumbersome than the NHS one). I don’t THINK I need a test but I’m not sure because we don’t have the EU Digital Covid Cert yet. Will Ryanair accept my National QR code with the PLF?
- Richie says:
  
  3 Sep3 September 12:21
  
  Will the french app confuse them?
  - meta says:
    
    3 Sep3 September 12:37
    
    Scan the French one with Italian covid app. It is very likely it won’t be recognised, but some countries have started changing IT systems.
    
    By law as EU citizen, you are guaranteed the same treatment no matter where you’re vaccinated. This enshrined in EU covid regulations. However, the interpretative articles acknowledge that it will take time for it to be implemented within EU covid pass.
    
    You won’t have any problems traveling with EU passport and NHS pass inside Schengen. Have done it a few times this summer (not Greece to Italy though!).
    - meta says:
      
      3 Sep3 September 12:39
      
      With one caveat though. You must not have been in the UK, X amount of days. Some EU countries have 10 days, some 14 days rule. Otherwise you need a test.
    - bafan says:
      
      3 Sep3 September 12:44
      
      Thanks everyone. And @meta that is a good shout, I’ll download the Italian app and see how I get on.
      - Soo says:
        
        3 Sep3 September 13:35
        
        https://infocovid.viaggiaresicuri.it/index_en.html
        
        Above questionnaire should give you all the info needed. Depends if you were in UK/Greece/other in the last 14 days.
        
        My NHS vaccination QR is enough for Italy’s Green Pass, and for checkin with BA. Note despite PLF on board from LHR we had to fill in paper forms anyway, but at Rome airport that day no-one was collecting, but that changes every time we arrive!
        (I’m in Italy now, with Italian passport and UK vacc)
- Harry T says:
  
  3 Sep3 September 16:30
  
  You’ll be fine – as long as you have proof of vaccination with an EU approved vaccine in English, then they won’t care. I’ve been jetting around Europe with a British passport and the NHS app – no one cares about travel within the EU.
  - Andrew H says:
    
    3 Sep3 September 17:19
    
    The issue is that not every EU country has approved the Covishield version of the AZ vaccine.
DAJ says:

3 Sep3 September 12:10

I have 2 e-vouchers to use and was wondering if I would be able to apply them to a current BA Holidays booking which is ex EU (departing CDG – priced in Euros). I appreciate I would need to call the Paris office but would I be able to apply my GBP vouchers to this booking? TIA.
- Anna says:
  
  3 Sep3 September 12:18
  
  Do you even need to call? Email BA Holidays with your new booking ref & ask them to apply the vouchers. The system seems very flexible – i’ve just had nearly £2k worth of FTVs from cancelled BA holidays to new 241 bookings.
  - ChrisC says:
    
    3 Sep3 September 12:23
    
    What Anna says!
    
    It even says on the email hiw to use the vouchers to reduce the balance of the trip cost.
    
    No need to call
    
    (BTW BA Hols Europe office is in Bremen)
    - DAJ says:
      
      3 Sep3 September 12:50
      
      Thanks Anna/Chris – I’ll do that!
  - Anuj says:
    
    3 Sep3 September 14:42
    
    So just to confirm I could make a 241 voucher booking then apply my evouchers from the just gone avios offer to the booking?
    - Anna says:
      
      3 Sep3 September 17:01
      
      Not sure – BA Holidays seem to do everything manually via email, I suspect you’d need to call & ask if it’s possible for flight only.
Graham says:

3 Sep3 September 12:13

I’m hoping someone can tell me if I’m being unreasonable or not.

Booked a flight and car via BA Holidays on Monday evening (30/8). Used a voucher so the agent explained that it had to go to a back office team to be ticketed.

I have since checked my Amex and I have been charged more than £100pp than the quoted price. I appreciate in usual circumstances when an agent is emailing you details etc that prices can’t be confirmed until ticketed.

However, I agreed the price and was given my reference number on Monday. It wasn’t charged until Wednesday 1st September according to my transactions with pricing moving on apparently. I have emailed the agent advising him of the above.

Am I being unreasonable asking for a refund given that they delay is caused by their own back office function?
- Graham says:
  
  3 Sep3 September 12:14
  
  To clarify, a refund of the overpayment and not the full booking.
  - Pete M says:
    
    3 Sep3 September 13:30
    
    I would push hard for the original price – this is not right.
    - Graham says:
      
      4 Sep4 September 08:48
      
      Thanks Pete. I’ve had a response back now and they’ve advised it’s been an error on their part whilst trying to put it through. They’re correcting it thankfully.
Paul says:

3 Sep3 September 12:23

Sorry, I know its been asked before, but looking for timescale if I cancel a cash booking (flight only) how long before I can expect voucher, as looking to rebook as a holiday (adding car) for same trip…
- Rob says:
  
  3 Sep3 September 12:25
  
  10 minutes historically although it got a bit slower over the crazy promo period recently
- Andrew says:
  
  3 Sep3 September 13:02
  
  Current waiting times around 5-10 minutes.
- Harry T says:
  
  3 Sep3 September 16:32
  
  Usually five to ten mins but it took a few hours on one of the days we were all trying to book trips to Heathrow for our indecisive Jersey relatives. It can technically take several days but doesn’t seem to take nearly that long.
MIchael C says:

3 Sep3 September 12:34

I was doing a faux booking on Singapore Airlines for next summer to see some prices, and the Ts+Cs sub-page said “cancellation fee:£250”. Any idea if that’s per pax or per booking?
- Sam G says:
  
  3 Sep3 September 17:04
  
  per passenger for a flight only booking
  - Michael C says:
    
    3 Sep3 September 20:10
    
    Cheers, Sam