The HfP chat thread – Sunday 5th September

Links on Head for Points may pay us an affiliate commission. A list of partners is here.

We are running this daily chat thread on Head for Points during the coronavirus outbreak.

Historically, the daily ‘Bits’ articles were the de facto repository for random comments and questions. With the news flow being lighter, we are running fewer ‘Bits’ articles.

The comments under this article are where you should post questions about travel and, indeed, anything else on your mind. At this tricky time, and given that many of you are at home, we want the HfP community to have a place to chat.

Please only comment under the main articles on the site if your comment is directly related to the topic of the article. This has long-term benefits as it keeps the commentary relevant for people who read those articles in the future.

Old chat threads are hidden from the HfP home page. If you want to look for something in an old thread, click here. This brings up all the articles in our ‘General’ category which includes the chat threads.

Category

General

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

manilabay says:

5 Sep5 September 10:59

Flying on LH in 2 weeks. Noticed on Star Alliance website that the Singapore Airlines lounge is open – any reports from people at LHR T2 if this is the case?
- Lady London says:
  
  5 Sep5 September 11:22
  
  You do know that the SQ and UA lounges are a 15 minute walk further than the LH lounge?
  - Rob says:
    
    5 Sep5 September 14:50
    
    Potentially worth it – definitely worth it if United Club was open.
    - Pangolin says:
      
      5 Sep5 September 17:15
      
      Agreed
      - manilabay says:
        
        5 Sep5 September 17:58
        
        Hmmm thanks…I’m fine doing the walk. Will keep an eye if the United Club or Maple Leaf Lounge opens also.
Jamie says:

5 Sep5 September 11:00

How long do regular BA Amex to BAPP upgrades take to go through? Requested this morning online
- Ja says:
  
  5 Sep5 September 11:22
  
  I upgraded back in about June. I did it online they accepted me straight away.Within a matter of minutes my online Amex account had updated and got my new card 2 days later
- BJ says:
  
  5 Sep5 September 12:37
  
  AFAIK this link just upgrades the card instantly without review. It would be useful if any datapaints were reported to the contrary.
  https://www.americanexpress.com/uk/benefits/upgrade/ba-premium-plus-credit-card/
  - Tony says:
    
    5 Sep5 September 13:24
    
    I upgraded using that link last night. Conveniently, I’ve spent £11,500 so far this year on my regular BA Amex card, and figured I’d get the instant 2 year voucher by upgrading to premium. It’s all gone through, and my account shows a BAPP card image, and states I’ve achieved the spend for my voucher. So I assume all is well and my new card will arrive this week sometime. The question now is what do I do for the remainder of the year. My anniversary is January – presumably in theory I can downgrade again instantly? Not sure how that might trigger Amex if I do that though….
    - Super Secret Stuff says:
      
      5 Sep5 September 13:26
      
      Did you get the BAPP voucher? Or economy only?
    - BJ says:
      
      5 Sep5 September 13:37
      
      My partner is in same boat except with November expiry. Hopefully we will get DP confirming the vouchers remain unaffected by cancellation. He plans to refer me, trigger his 10k bonus avios then cancel. I will then earn a voucher, refer him again just prior to council tax 22 bill and cancel myself.
    - BJ says:
      
      5 Sep5 September 13:42
      
      Should be the BAPP voucher as Tony hadn’t spent £12k. I guess he might need to call though as presumably it will be a one year validity instead of 2 year – Tony?
      - Tony says:
        
        5 Sep5 September 16:03
        
        Hello! Um, I don’t know, but my assumption is I’d be getting the BAPP voucher valid for 2 years. Nothing showing on BA.com as yet.
YC says:

5 Sep5 September 11:15

Any views on whether dormy house > thyme in the cotswold? Amex offer would make a courtyard suite in dormy similar price to a base room in thyme. But thyme feels like there’s more to do on site?
- TJ says:
  
  5 Sep5 September 11:52
  
  I stayed at DH the other week on the Amex offer. Booked via Hyatt so gained some valuable benefits (breakfast, double upgrade to ‘top notch’ room, and 2pm check-out). All very nice, esp the Spa facilities, and walkable to Broadway.
- Chrisasaurus says:
  
  5 Sep5 September 13:35
  
  Personal preference but love the dormy and the best things to do in the cotswolds almost entirely involve walking shoes and being outside the hotel – subjective though that of course is
  - YC says:
    
    5 Sep5 September 17:54
    
    Cheers both!
TJ says:

5 Sep5 September 11:43

OH – who has Bronze status – received email from BA this morning for complimentary lounge access: “To say thank you for being a valued Member we invite you and one guest to enjoy the complimentary facilities of our British Airways Galleries Club Lounge.” Unfortunately, we already have BA lounge access with my status so of little value…wish I could offer it someone but not transferable.
- Nick says:
  
  5 Sep5 September 12:09
  
  How far off Silver are they? This is being offered to tempt those close to push themselves over the line, but I don’t know how close they’ve drawn it.
- Jonathan says:
  
  5 Sep5 September 13:22
  
  They’re doing it as a “surprise & delight” exercise for the next few weeks. They didn’t announce criteria in the press release so don’t know if it’s random or based on TP’s, spend or something else.
  
  Publicising a surprise & delight program is a bit stupid IMHO though as you can guarantee it generates more ill will with the excluded than positive feeling with the lucky few. Just look at the Marriott £400 giveaway!
  - John says:
    
    5 Sep5 September 14:14
    
    Not everyone knows or cares about what other people get
  - Rob says:
    
    5 Sep5 September 14:45
    
    The criteria are ‘people who are close to achieving Silver status’ according to an email I got.
    
    We knew about it but, as you say, didn’t feel there was much value in publicising it – although BA did, because they sent us the press release in the first place.
    - TJ says:
      
      5 Sep5 September 15:43
      
      Ah, that explains it albeit pointless in my wife’s case as she is 125 TPs short of the reduced silver threshold and only 3 days to go before her membership year ends!
s879 says:

5 Sep5 September 12:23

Is there some way I could use Etihad credit for a flight to USA. Between OH and I, we have about £2500 but DD has a key exam year so a holiday is out for sometime. I have permission to travel to USA due to parents’ medical condition and need to travel every few months. I don’t have much Etihad miles so an AA redemption won’t be possible. Can one but Etihad miles with the evoucher/ecredit? Any other way or airline? I would like to start journey in UK as my exemption takes ages to process at the Heathrow so don’t want to risk boarding from say, Abu Dhabi if I am understanding correctly.
- Memesweeper says:
  
  5 Sep5 September 14:34
  
  Etihad are not flying from anywhere in Europe to the US unfortunately.
  - s879 says:
    
    5 Sep5 September 14:39
    
    Yes. Is it possible to buy Etihad miles using Etihad credit and use those miles to book on AA?
s879 says:

5 Sep5 September 12:23

*buy not but, sorry.
Travel Strong says:

5 Sep5 September 12:41

Entered UK via LHR T5 last night with EXMED Day 2 tests on the PLF. As expected – no problems encountered. Tests actually arrived too, the day before we had even arrived back.

Actually had more problems with the GIB official testing provider, 2 out of 5 of us did not receive the certificate for pre-departure test results and had to go back over to the airport to another test. 1 did not receive the barcode after paying for a test (apparently a widespread issue that day). 1 is being chased to do their day 5 test, despite having done it.
- Chrisasaurus says:
  
  5 Sep5 September 19:32
  
  Seconded by the way – arrive late last night with exmed refs and got back to find tests delivered as the emails had promised
  
  How long results take to come back of course who knows..
Alex J says:

5 Sep5 September 13:28

Have I misunderstood something or is there really no lounge open at Gatwick North now past 3pm? MyLounge and Clubrooms are shut altogether, No1 shuts at noon, and Club Aspire shuts at either 9.30am or 3pm. Are passenger numbers from Gatwick still not high enough to justify a single lounge being open in the late afternoon/evening?
- Richie says:
  
  5 Sep5 September 14:17
  
  Perhaps most of the BA long hauls have flown.
- Travel Strong says:
  
  5 Sep5 September 14:42
  
  Oh it’s worse than that…
  
  Aspire 0700 til 1500 is only M/W/F/S/S.
  Tues/Thurs is 0700 til 0930
  
  No1 is 0400 til 1200 is only M/F/S/S
  Closed T/W/T.
  
  Otherwise, wetherspoons is the place to be.
- Travel Strong says:
  
  5 Sep5 September 14:45
  
  P.S. priority pass app is best source of up to date opening info
  - Alex J says:
    
    5 Sep5 September 18:00
    
    Yikes! Bleak. Thanks for the intel and confirmation. I’ll take a look at the app, cheers!