The HfP chat thread – Sunday 5th September

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BJ says:

5 Sep5 September 08:18

One of my relatives requested a covud test on Friday. After doing so she discovered testing van was in the village same day so she went and took the test there and got a negative result back yesterday. When the original test kit arrives tomorrow should she just ignore it or call NHS and explain about the other test? With all the data being collected and recorded regarding testing and results I’m not sure if it is a good idea leaving data on the system and then not using the test. For clarity the test request followed suspected symptoms.
- John says:
  
  5 Sep5 September 08:32
  
  I really don’t think it matters what you do, TBH. I’d be inclined to take the second test too, but that’s just me…
  - BJ says:
    
    5 Sep5 September 08:48
    
    My thinking too but I was concerned it might show up somewhere down the line on apps etc as a failure to test.
- Scott says:
  
  5 Sep5 September 09:06
  
  If there was a “testing van” that suggests it was lateral flow tests (results within an hour or two); if they had symptoms they need a formal PCR and should do that, regardless of the lateral flow result.
  - BJ says:
    
    5 Sep5 September 09:18
    
    I am sure it was PCR but I’ll double check, LF available every day in local chemist. My info is second hand. It’s a very rural area my understanding is the van provides for mobile vaccines and PCR testing service but not certain.
Stephan says:

5 Sep5 September 08:24

In terms of the maximising points, does the order matter how I apply e.g. rather than nectar, platinum, ba could I do platinum, ba nectar?
- Genghis says:
  
  5 Sep5 September 08:36
  
  Latter wouldn’t get a SUB on Nectar
- Peter K says:
  
  5 Sep5 September 08:37
  
  It HAS to follow this order:
  
  1. Nectar/marriott/c@shb4ck
  2. BAPP/plat
  3. BAPP/plat (whichever not taken out in step 2).
  
  You are not eligible for any of the bonuses in 1 if you take out any other card!
  - Stephan says:
    
    5 Sep5 September 09:17
    
    Just read the article which you’ve summarised well.Thanks Peter!
- Steven says:
  
  5 Sep5 September 08:37
  
  This article explains it… https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2020/12/28/what-amex-sign-up-bonuses-are-you-still-eligible-for/
  - Stephan says:
    
    5 Sep5 September 08:55
    
    I wasn’t aware of that article I had only been aware of that article on 180k points. Cheers Steven
- BJ says:
  
  5 Sep5 September 08:42
  
  If you mean BA Blue it matters. If you mean BAPP it doesn’t.
  - BJ says:
    
    5 Sep5 September 08:46
    
    Subject to Peter’s reply above, missed the detail about the bonus on 1.,by hung up on BAPP and Plat SUB 🙂
- jek says:
  
  5 Sep5 September 09:25
  
  I remember some time ago that somebody suggested to ignore the SUB maximisation strategy and maximise referrals and minimising cost (e.g. focusing on the Gold card instead). Does anybody have a good strategy for that?
  - BJ says:
    
    5 Sep5 September 13:19
    
    I’ve never been a fan of it because a lot can change in two years. Best to play with the cards you’ve got than the cards you anticipate. If you are a couple though it is worth considering, and also for solo players who struggle to refer.
  - Polly says:
    
    6 Sep6 September 05:49
    
    Yep, especially now if you have the Gold 15k referral offer. We are working through a good few referrals on that one atm, then maybe one of us will stop for the 24 months. Can’t yet decide, tho which is the better route.
Dan says:

5 Sep5 September 08:25

I’m getting an Amex Platinum card so want to cancel my BA Premium Card but it says…

If you have earned a British Airways Companion Voucher, please be aware that Companion Voucher bookings must be made using the British Airways Card they were earned with. This is set in the Terms and Conditions on the Companion Voucher. Cancelling this Account may mean you are unable to redeem your Companion Voucher.

Amex have confirmed I can downgrade to the free card BUT I’m pretty sure I’ve read that I can pay for tickets with any Amex card. Is this still the case even after all these changes to the card rules? I have 2 “legacy” vouchers i want to use in the future but i’d rather get rid of the BA card entirely so I can get a sign-up bonus in the future.
- Graham says:
  
  5 Sep5 September 08:26
  
  Any Amex is fine. They say it every time. Just make sure the BA voucher is in your account then close it.
  - KBuffett says:
    
    5 Sep5 September 08:30
    
    Has any one tried this with a voucher earned since 1st Sept?
  - Dan says:
    
    5 Sep5 September 08:42
    
    Thanks! Most helpful. I assume if they did enforce the rule I could use a friend’s BA Amex to pay?
    - SteveJ says:
      
      5 Sep5 September 08:43
      
      Yes, any Amex, even a friend’s, will do.
    - Tariq says:
      
      5 Sep5 September 08:45
      
      Yes I booked using my BAPP with a voucher in my partner’s account yesterday.
    - BJ says:
      
      5 Sep5 September 08:57
      
      To keep things simple it would be useful for you to get a SUPP if you do not want to hold accounts yourself. Note comment from KBuffet, we are still awaiting datapoints on new vouchers. Probably nothing has changed but less haste at the moment might be a good idea.
      - Dan says:
        
        5 Sep5 September 09:05
        
        Supp card is a very good idea!
George says:

5 Sep5 September 08:35

Thanks for the recommendations for Heathrow parking yesterday. I ended up going with official long term parking for £80, which gives me peace of mind vs the cheaper meet and great companies (saw some reviews mentioning scratches etc) and keeps the clock ticking on my Heathrow Rewards.

Next question – I’m flying from Terminal 5 and have one free Amex Gold lounge access to use. Is there a choice of lounges? If so, which is best?
- Rob says:
  
  5 Sep5 September 09:50
  
  Only Aspire
John22 says:

5 Sep5 September 08:37

I have a flight INV-LHR-ATL next SUnday on BA that I am going to have to cancel for obvious reasons, should it be easy enough to push it out to March 2022 on MMB or will I have to phone BA? It’s an Avios flight and I had some issues last time because of that. Originally a flight cancellation from March 2020
KBuffett says:

5 Sep5 September 08:42

Can anyone recommend the cheapest way to get Starbucks credit onto the Starbucks app?

Also, is anyone expensing their daily coffees through their limited company?
- Tariq says:
  
  5 Sep5 September 08:46
  
  Buying gift cards at cheapest possible price then add them to app and transfer funds around between cards.
- BJ says:
  
  5 Sep5 September 09:02
  
  There might be a 25% bonus on transfers from that place we never mention here. You would need to check though, I fon’t pay derailed attention preferring BACS.
- HBommie says:
  
  5 Sep5 September 09:17
  
  Starbucks!
  
  I feel a DM, Torygraph rant coming on….
  - JDB says:
    
    5 Sep5 September 09:26
    
    Might be better than the Daily Mirror style rant on first page…
    - BJ says:
      
      5 Sep5 September 09:35
      
      What about the JDB-style rants we love so much 😉
      - David says:
        
        5 Sep5 September 11:47
        
        They’re not rants, they are expressing an opinion and they’re entitled to one.
        These type of personalised comments are getting very boring.
- Genghis says:
  
  5 Sep5 September 09:28
  
  Are a director’s coffees “wholly and exclusively” for the purposes of trade?
  - Brighton Belle says:
    
    5 Sep5 September 09:39
    
    Yes, without them my body won’t start. Coffee is a mandatory requirement
    - KBuffett says:
      
      5 Sep5 September 09:57
      
      Meals and other ‘subsistence’ while travelling
      - David says:
        
        5 Sep5 September 11:55
        
        You travel every day with work? As in NOT to and from the office?
      - KBuffett says:
        
        5 Sep5 September 20:16
        
        I have a lot of meetings at coffee shops with potential clients
James says:

5 Sep5 September 08:55

I’ll receive BAEC Gold before my next trip which is a BA code share with QR. As I’ll be oneworld Emerald too, will that give me and my partner (oneworld Ruby) access to QR First Class Lounge in DOH during our transit?
- chris says:
  
  5 Sep5 September 08:57
  
  You can only get into the Al Safwa lounge if you are flying in first or pay to enter.
  - Andrew says:
    
    5 Sep5 September 09:01
    
    Or if you are QR Platinum and travelling in QR J.
  - James says:
    
    5 Sep5 September 09:02
    
    As per the oneworld website, it states Emerald members get access to First Class lounges.
    - Lady London says:
      
      5 Sep5 September 09:12
      
      Qatar Airways breaks this now. You get a so-called lounge according to your status but it’s considerably, considerably inferior.
      
      One of the reasons I don’t automatically look at Qatar Airways anymore first, when looking at trips East.
      - Andrew says:
        
        5 Sep5 September 09:17
        
        QR never followed this rule for the Al Safwa lounge as is not a first class lounge, and therefore this rule doesn’t apply.
- Ikaz says:
  
  5 Sep5 September 09:04
  
  The first class lounge at Doha is different than the Qatar First class loung (Al Safwa). The qatar one has a great reputation, but the standard lounges called “business” and “first” are not really worth a detour for
  - Andrew says:
    
    5 Sep5 September 09:15
    
    Al Safwa is not a first class lounge – it is a “premium lounge“ as is Al Mourjan and QR can decide who gets access, not OneWorld. A separate, lounge in DOH is designated as a “first class” lounge for Emerald members, this lounge is small and substandard to even the Al Mourjan lounge.
- Jonathan says:
  
  5 Sep5 September 09:19
  
  You’ll be able to access the QR First Lounge but that’s a dump created to tick the box on lounge access in the One World rules. It’s far worse than Galleries First which is a similar concept for BA.
  
  If your flights have BA codes then you would also get access to Al Mourjan which is the proper QR Business lounge without the restrictions on cheap fare buckets that QR passengers now have. It’s much better than the “First Lounge” but was still often rammed at peak times. I don’t know how Covid & the R bucket restrictions have altered occupancy levels though.
  - Ls says:
    
    5 Sep5 September 10:27
    
    At the moment OWE can access the Al-mourjan lounge (?Covid related).
    - Jonathan says:
      
      5 Sep5 September 12:25
      
      Think that’s no longer the case. Al mourjan was the only lounge open for a while but they’ve opened the others now including Al Safwa.
  - James says:
    
    5 Sep5 September 11:49
    
    Thanks for that, Jonathan. We have BA flight codes, which lounge would you recommend for us to use? We’re pretty much just looking for a shower and light refreshments.
    - Jonathan says:
      
      5 Sep5 September 12:22
      
      Al mourjan 100%. It’s better than most business class lounges but I just don’t love it at peak times when it’s rammed. Probably as it’s normally the middle of the night & everyone is wandering round like a zombie!
Chris H says:

5 Sep5 September 09:00

Hi I have a credit card related dilemma:

I am looking to book some long-haul flights for 2023/2024.

I am considering getting the Amex Gold for the 2 free lounge visits on my trip + card free the 1st year, but am unsure as this would stop me getting the sign-up bonus if I were to open the Platinum.

I can’t currently afford the Platinum and likely wouldn’t get it for another 3-5 years or so but do want to get it in the future – is it worth opening the Gold regardless or should I wait for the Plat?
- BJ says:
  
  5 Sep5 September 09:05
  
  Any MR card will prevent you getting SUB on Platinum.
  - BJ says:
    
    5 Sep5 September 09:09
    
    But given the timescale you refer to you could get and use Gold, cancel and wait 2y without any MR card to apply for Platinum with SUB. A lot could change in 3y though.
    - Chris H says:
      
      5 Sep5 September 09:24
      
      That’s true – my concern was affecting my credit score so was considering either continuing gold, or downgrading to ARCC in this scenario (which would obviously affect the Plat sub)
      
      Am I overthinking this and it wouldn’t be too bad to close and wait for 2 years? Thanks.
      - BJ says:
        
        5 Sep5 September 09:44
        
        With amex it is more about your relationship with them than external credit files. As you will have noticed from comments on HfP you’re in little danger of upsetting them but you might want to have a word with @Genghis as he is the only one to achieve that extraordinary feat so far as I know 🙂
      - Genghis says:
        
        5 Sep5 September 10:56
        
        @BJ Amex doesn’t seem to have any issue with churning itself.
      - CH says:
        
        5 Sep5 September 11:14
        
        And the 2 years rule AND as virtually any card (except the BAPP/Plat as we know) will block SUBs on other cards, makes it much harder to upset them
      - BJ says:
        
        5 Sep5 September 13:25
        
        @Genghis, I cannot recall any more what your issues were.
      - Doug M says:
        
        5 Sep5 September 16:44
        
        Mullahing Shop Small I think.
      - BJ says:
        
        5 Sep5 September 19:28
        
        Oh yes, that was it. Surprised @Liz did not fall foul of that too seeing as how prolific she was 🙂