The HfP chat thread – Saturday 11th September

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• AndyK says:

  11 Sep11 September 12:31

  Am i missing something about a Marriott points redemption? I have seen a hotel in Arizona for next summer where the cost is $2400 for 5 nights (JW Marriott Desert Ridge). Currently Marriott let you buy 150,000 points for $1250. I have 40k points already. The same room is 160,000 for 5 nights (with the free night). So close to half the price. Am i missing something? Do you earn nights for points stays? It says it can be cancelled with 7 days of your stay.

  • Harry T says:

    11 Sep11 September 12:37

    You do earn elite nights for points stays, yes.

    160,000 points is worth £800 minimum in my book, so that sounds like a great deal if you would pay that for five nights. As you’ve noted the cancellation policy seems to be relatively flexible, I can’t see a reason not to crack on with buying the points and booking if that’s where you want to stay.

• GoodExperience says:

  11 Sep11 September 12:32

  Hi community, any advice for a hotel close to the 02 Brixton? I have Hilton diamond and ihg spire. Not looking to break the bank, just need a comfortable nights stay as we attend a concert there.

  • Richie says:

    11 Sep11 September 14:14

    Consider https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2021/07/25/review-westminster-hotel-london-hilton-curio-collection/

    • Nick says:

      11 Sep11 September 14:34

      That’s not in a great location for getting to Brixton. Stay on the other side of the river, closer to Vauxhall.

      • Richie says:

        11 Sep11 September 15:52

        The time difference in an uber is probably less then 299 seconds.

      • G says:

        11 Sep11 September 22:03

        Best western plus Vauxhall

  • Andrew (@andrewseftel) says:

    11 Sep11 September 14:23

    Slim pickings in Brixton itself. Vauxhall probably your best IHG bets if proximity is important: there’s a Holiday Inn and Staybridge that would be a quick bus or Uber.

    • GoodExperience says:

      11 Sep11 September 15:05

      Thanks all

  • Bill says:

    11 Sep11 September 17:07

    Premier Inn Brixton

• pauline says:

  11 Sep11 September 12:48

  Has anyone used Global Dining Collection with their Amex Platinum
  The website says ‘Enjoy exclusive experiences like kitchen tours, special menus, and complimentary beverages when you book with Concierge at one of our chef partner restaurants’ The Ivy Edinburgh is one of the partner restaurants and is one of the few in Scotland included in the £200 deal

  • YC says:

    11 Sep11 September 14:51

    Few months ago Amex told me this was still on pause due to covid. The only way u can book is by contacting concierge to book for u so worth getting in touch

• Manny_D says:

  11 Sep11 September 12:52

  Anyone know if there is a certain time frame we have to wait before upgrading from a Green Charge to Gold, then a Gold Charge to Platinum?

  I upgraded from Green to Gold back in April and tried to upgrade to Platinum recently but was told by 3 different CS agents there was no offer on my account for this.

  • Harry T says:

    11 Sep11 September 13:13

    It’s now a once in a lifetime upgrade bonus deal, from my understanding. There shouldn’t be a minimum period to upgrade though.

    • BJ says:

      11 Sep11 September 13:35

      Seems odd to me that they are throwing MR points around like confetti to retain Platinum but doing nothing to drive upgrades from Green and Gold.

    • Manny_D says:

      11 Sep11 September 13:36

      Not too fussed about the bonus (although should receive it as I’ve never upgraded to the plat before). Guess I’ll give them a call again and see what can be done.

      • BJ says:

        11 Sep11 September 13:52

        Please report back on your experience, a recent DP would be useful.

        • Manny_D says:

          11 Sep11 September 16:41

          Gave them a call again and they mentioned that there is no offer as of yet and to try at the beginning of November (the offer should be available then). Which seems to be around 6 months after I upgraded last.

      • TGLoyalty says:

        11 Sep11 September 16:03

        If you’re not bothered about the bonus just make a fresh application.

        In fact if you have a player 2 with a gold they might have an enhanced 15k offer for any referrals (play has 24k)

• GaryE says:

  11 Sep11 September 13:01

  Hi – Is anyone aware if there a current Hilton offer of ‘x’ nights within 90 days to move from Gold to Diamond (cannot see anything on website) – have done 5 nights in the last couple of weeks, and have 2 more booked for early November, but could easily fit 2 or 3 more in if needed to get to Diamond. Thanks

  • TJones says:

    11 Sep11 September 15:31

    Even if there is such an offer, it won’t work retrospectively. You’d have to register first, before staying for your “x” nights.

  • Lady London says:

    11 Sep11 September 17:16

    They won’t do it if you’re already Hilton Gold apparently. ISTR Hilton getting some stick for refusing this twice recently on another site.

• Save East Coast Rewards says:

  11 Sep11 September 13:03

  Does anyone know the champagne used on American Airlines first class? Got a brilliant deal to Miami yesterday – it will be interesting to see how the experience compares to BA F.

  On the ground it’ll be less certain. Flight is in March so still a bit of a risk but if I can go it’ll be interesting to see what the lounge situation is like in T3. Currently BA is the only oneworld lounge open in T3 despite BA not actually using that terminal yet. I doubt CX will be open, QF even less likely. Maybe AA lounges open by then, but I think I’ll be better off in the BA lounge

  • Lyn says:

    11 Sep11 September 13:11

    Qantas are mulling restarting flights to London at the end of December and reopening the T3 lounge, but that is probably more than a little optimistic.

  • JDB says:

    11 Sep11 September 13:34

    AA long haul F was usually Krug pre-Covid. Don’t know if that is still the case.

  • Kwisstan says:

    11 Sep11 September 13:48

    I got the same deal. Didn’t even notice it was first class 😂.

  • Nick says:

    11 Sep11 September 14:34

    What was the deal?

    • Save East Coast Rewards says:

      11 Sep11 September 15:27

      Casablanca-Madrid-Heathrow-Miami (sometimes could slip in New York too on some days). I don’t know if the rate exists still, these things vanish quick. DO NOT call the airline about these fares as they will vanish really quick.

      matrix.itasoftware.com select fare as first class will show this rate if it’s still running. I’m on my phone and the site is not very mobile friendly so can’t check for you now.

    • Rob says:

      11 Sep11 September 15:29

      £550 first class to Miami

      • Ukgeorge says:

        11 Sep11 September 18:13

        The fare still seems to be available for some dates according to ITAMatrix but I couldn’t seem to get the route accepted on either Iberia or American Airlines so perhaps it has now gone. Does ITAMatrix sometimes show fares that are no longer available?

        • Save East Coast Rewards says:

          11 Sep11 September 18:24

          What error do you get when booking with AA? Do you use bookwithmatrix.com or try and replicate it manually?

          I’ve heard some people used bookwithmatrix.com with Priceline and that worked

        • Save East Coast Rewards says:

          11 Sep11 September 18:28

          (Hit submit too soon, read my earlier comment, should be directly above this, first)

          I didn’t want to use Priceline but I managed to book with AA directly using bookwithmatrix but it’s important to note the following:
          1. It would only ticket if I booked an itinerary that was only on AA codes. Some had IB and AA codes but they always errored.
          2. Use an Amex card and a US billing address (Amex doesn’t verify that the address matches). I used a genuine address of a relative in the US but you could use an address of a hotel

          I did manage to get the return leg via JFK on a BA flight (under the AA codeshare)

• Roger says:

  11 Sep11 September 13:14

  I need to burn very very old Marriott Travel Package category 1 to 4.
  Single person business travel and in Madrid.
  My selection so far is Aloft Gran Via vs AC Hotel Cuzco both seems to have availability at the moment.

  • Bobri says:

    11 Sep11 September 16:32

    Cuzco is better

• Phil says:

  11 Sep11 September 13:21

  Random question… a friend has an Amex Gold card. If he wants to apply for the standard free Amex card will they do another credit check on him?

  • Youllnever says:

    11 Sep11 September 13:56

    There’s no definitive answer – they might be credit-checked or not depending on their Amex history. I’ve had it done sometimes while not others.

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