The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 7th September

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Saiz says:

7 Sep7 September 18:50

Does anyone know if I can buy Etihad miles using Etihad credit that I have on my account from a flight refund?
- Rob says:
  
  7 Sep7 September 19:49
  
  They use points.com so probably not.
swifty says:

7 Sep7 September 18:59

HI all, going to Edinburgh 2nights with a friend for her, and my, birthday in early Nov. She has a budget, and looking for value, I have ambassador (she not but we want separate rooms anyway) so what’s my best IHG hotel do you reckon? I’m not wasting my points or free amb night on a UK booking. Have already looked on groupon and wowcher and BA. Expect we will get the train up, sigh.
- Colin MacKinnon says:
  
  7 Sep7 September 19:13
  
  You might find early November an issue – COP26 climate change conference is in Glasgow then.
  
  Police today told me they had been at G7 in Cornwall, but there are 120 world leaders coming to COP26 – so it’s like G120 plus the Pope and the Queen!!!
  
  I’d keep well away from central Scotland in first half of November.
  - John says:
    
    7 Sep7 September 19:22
    
    50% chance of some sort of covid restrictions IMO
  - swifty says:
    
    8 Sep8 September 12:22
    
    ah wondered why it was so expensive! thanks. I’ve found 3 night fully inc in mallorca for 99quid, she’s not vaccinated and I think we wont be birthdaying together now
- Anna says:
  
  7 Sep7 September 19:38
  
  Someone said the voco was decent recently. Kimpton and IC prices (points and money) seem to vary wildly atm, though both can be good deals for the Ambassador free night (Kimpton till the end of the year) – availability seems better at the Kimpton. We got treated extremely well as Spire earlier this year. I’ve got the IC booked for mid October so we’ll see what that’s like.
  CP looks nice but I think it might be closed at the moment.
  - Super Secret Stuff says:
    
    7 Sep7 September 20:09
    
    Book them via Emyr if he still can…
  - swifty says:
    
    8 Sep8 September 12:23
    
    thanks Anna, Supersecretstuff and Peggerz . All noted
- Peggerz says:
  
  7 Sep7 September 23:26
  
  Colin MacKinnon is right about COP26. Just to re-iterate the vast majority of leaders and government flunky’s are staying in Edinburgh so hotels are booked out. There are lots of short term support jobs being filled atm and these are mostly based in the Edinburgh area.
  
  If you’re dates are more flexible for an Edinburgh visit then maybe leave it for later November or December.
Jamie says:

7 Sep7 September 20:53

I am waiting for my BAPP 24-month gap to lapse soon so that I can reapply but did anyone have luck applying for new BAPP earlier and get the new 40k bonus?
- Tom says:
  
  7 Sep7 September 21:26
  
  Don’t risk it. My friend messed up a 2 year gap by 9 days and did not receive the bonus – Amex didn’t offer it as a gesture of good will either.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  7 Sep7 September 21:26
  
  Is it really worth the risk? Platinum has a 65k bonus if referred … no personal MR card in last 24 months.
Aston100 says:

7 Sep7 September 21:08

I know a few people on here get their energy supplied by PfP .
They’ve gone bust tonight.
- MD says:
  
  8 Sep8 September 00:41
  
  They didn’t last long! I appreciate any money is protected, but I’m glad I went with Igloo instead for my very recent change.
Bill says:

7 Sep7 September 21:28

Reports that the traffic light system is going to be scrapped from 1 October

Paul Charles in twitter
Telegraph
- marcw says:
  
  7 Sep7 September 21:34
  
  According to him, there will still be a red list though. So countries are either red or not.
  - Andy says:
    
    7 Sep7 September 21:43
    
    Ridiculous. Unless they are going to cut the red list drastically down. Why are countries where delta is prevalent (like Thailand) with fewer cases than us on the list.?
  - meta says:
    
    7 Sep7 September 21:44
    
    Telegraph has the full story. Apparently it will be based on vaccination status.
- Harry T says:
  
  7 Sep7 September 21:43
  
  Will make no difference to vaccinated travellers, so it’s a non event, really.
  - meta says:
    
    7 Sep7 September 21:47
    
    Of course there will be difference. No testing for vaccinated! However, more risky as country could go on a red list anytime… For unvaccinated more rigourous testing apparently.
    - Harry T says:
      
      7 Sep7 September 22:24
      
      They will carry on testing the vaccinated, that’s for sure. Too valuable a donation system for Tory chums.
      - meta says:
        
        7 Sep7 September 22:32
        
        If we are to think the worst though. They’ll put more countries on red list and perhaps without warning. They haven’t made enough money off hotel quarantine as people have obviously decided to spend money in amber/green. Now it’s time to fill those coffers…
    - r* says:
      
      7 Sep7 September 22:29
      
      Where does it say they would remove testing for vaccinated?
      - meta says:
        
        7 Sep7 September 22:35
        
        It’s very ambigous, but the article does imply rigorous testing for unvaccinated and that there will be separation based on vaccination status. In any case time will tell until then pure speculation.
      - TGLoyalty says:
        
        7 Sep7 September 22:39
        
        All separation can mean is day 2 only like today … unvaccinated take day 8… like today.