The HfP chat thread – Monday 13th September

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Rachid says:

13 Sep13 September 03:24

Good morning,
I am currently in Singapore and wish to travel to Paris or London in December.
I wish to book on Singapore airlines to Istanbul and then book a separate ticket on Turkish Airlines . I will be a transfer passenger ( not getting out of the airport). Will my luggage be carried through final destination ( CDG or LHR) – I am aware of Covid restrictions right now to enter the UK.
Thabks for your help!
- Blenz101 says:
  
  13 Sep13 September 04:45
  
  If you book a separate ticket you are not a transfer passenger. You are starting a new journey in Turkey. As both airlines are Star Alliance there is the possibility you can get your luggage checked through but there is also a good chance something could change (e.g. flight times move) in which case your luggage may be the least of your worries and you may well not be able to make the second flight.
  
  For simplicity you should book a through ticket.
  - Rachid says:
    
    13 Sep13 September 06:01
    
    Thanks
- Sam G says:
  
  13 Sep13 September 08:09
  
  Singapore Airlines will check bags to Turkish Airlines (or BA!) on seperate tickets but note that in the other direction Turkish Airlines refused to check bags to Singapore Airlines at Heathrow so I had to buy a visa and go landside
  - Rachid says:
    
    13 Sep13 September 09:06
    
    Thanks Sam
- Rhys says:
  
  13 Sep13 September 09:06
  
  Why not book to Frankfurt under the Singapore travel thingy? Might make an easier return.
  - Sam G says:
    
    13 Sep13 September 10:29
    
    You need to be in Germany for 21 days before travelling back on one of the “VTL” flights which is a bit restrictive for most people ! You can take any flight to Germany or elsewhere as long as you’ll be travelling to Germany for the final 21 days before your flight back
    
    Hopefully the UK gets added soon too
  - Rachid says:
    
    13 Sep13 September 10:50
    
    Well, I have relatives in both UK and France…who knows, if the Germany trial is a success, Singapore might extend it to other nations.
Mark says:

13 Sep13 September 03:41

Does Curve/Virgin work with Hargreaves Lansdown?
- VerdantBacon says:
  
  13 Sep13 September 04:10
  
  Try it and see
- John says:
  
  13 Sep13 September 07:01
  
  Reported to work in the past
  - Anuj says:
    
    13 Sep13 September 09:25
    
    Does it work with vanguard or AJ bell anyone? (for legit payments inwards that I won’t be taking out.
    - Reney says:
      
      13 Sep13 September 10:50
      
      I cannot get anything but a proper debit card (not even Che) to work with AJBell.
      - Lawro says:
        
        13 Sep13 September 11:25
        
        A proper debit card for Vanguard for the last 6 months or so too
Rahaney says:

13 Sep13 September 05:51

Definitely an issue with Amex/Morrison’s transactions on the 1st, credit from my other visit on the 7th paid today…
- K says:
  
  13 Sep13 September 07:25
  
  My transactions were on the 2nd. No credit as yet. Called Amex and they cannot even see the offer saved on my card, even though it’s definitely there.
  - Tw33ty says:
    
    13 Sep13 September 08:35
    
    Not just Morrison’s from the 1st off September. I bought stuff from a shop in Covent gardens via the offer and it’s not tracked, bought from the same shop two days later on another card and that’s paid out.
    - Thomas Shelby says:
      
      13 Sep13 September 10:06
      
      Got a transaction from 27th Aug and that hasn’t paid out either….
- Rahaney says:
  
  13 Sep13 September 19:23
  
  When does the offer finish? Is it end of Tuesday or Wednesday this week?
John Caribbean says:

13 Sep13 September 06:27

Having trouble booking a flight on BA app which crashes at the “will someone in the party pay for this flight”stage, and the website which isn’t even getting that far.
Is there a known problem or do I just need a new app?
- John says:
  
  13 Sep13 September 06:58
  
  Just keep trying perhaps with different devices or browsers
- ChrisC says:
  
  13 Sep13 September 07:50
  
  Try logging off and on again.
  
  Close all other open apps down.
  
  Do a hard switch off of your phone
  
  Does the app need updating?
  
  On web version clear the cookies etc.
  - roberto says:
    
    13 Sep13 September 07:59
    
    It’s a know issue currently. Had problem yesterday booking, not just on the app but on my PC. Eventually did it an hour later on my chromebook.
Andrew says:

13 Sep13 September 07:08

Another barren wasteland of Amex offers this Monday morning – used to be a good day for picking up a few. Hopefully this will get better as we approach the festive season – M&S are already advertising their Christmas food on social media.
- Harry T says:
  
  13 Sep13 September 07:34
  
  Haven’t seen an Amex offer I have a use for in a long time…
  - Tracey says:
    
    13 Sep13 September 07:38
    
    I think I had £5 of BP petrol last month
- Andrew says:
  
  13 Sep13 September 08:33
  
  M&S have stacks of Christmas food on the shelves too. Was nomming on a bit of stollen in the Garden on Sunday.
  - mvcvz says:
    
    13 Sep13 September 08:40
    
    What’s “nomming”? I only speak English.
    - Harry T says:
      
      13 Sep13 September 08:48
      
      It’s the sound you make when you try to speak with stollen in your mouth…
    - Andrew says:
      
      13 Sep13 September 10:23
      
      It’s not like French Canadian or Gaelic “Hurdy gurdy mobile phone, hurdy gurdy microwave”, the English langauge evolves.
      
      nom /nɒm/ informal exclamation
      exclamation: nom nom; exclamation: nom nom nom; exclamation: nom
      
      used to express pleasure at eating, or at the prospect of eating.
      “chili and cornbread for dinner, nom nom!”
      
      noun
      noun: nom nom; plural noun: nom noms; noun: nom; plural noun: noms
      
      food.
      “there were all kinds of nom noms—onion rings, hot dogs, burgers, and fries”
      
      verb
      verb: nom; 3rd person present: noms; past tense: nommed; past participle: nommed; gerund or present participle: nomming; verb: nom-nom; 3rd person present: nom-noms; past tense: nom-nommed; past participle: nom-nommed; gerund or present participle: nom-nomming
      
      eat (something), typically with great enjoyment.
      “I nommed all my pizza before I remembered to take a picture”
      - Magic Mike says:
        
        13 Sep13 September 17:41
        
        You missed “om nom nom”!
  - Will says:
    
    13 Sep13 September 09:19
    
    Why was Nigel Farage annoyed after dinner?
    
    His dessert was stollen!
    
    Nom nom nom
    🙂
Anna says:

13 Sep13 September 07:32

For anyone planning a trip to Porto next summer – an intern rate seems to have appeared at the CP – a 2 room family suite is currently priced at 101 euros for the end of August!
- Carol says:
  
  13 Sep13 September 08:12
  
  That sounds like a great deal – where did you see that? I couldn’t spot it.
- Carol says:
  
  13 Sep13 September 08:17
  
  Ignore my last comment – found it! Thanks for the tip off.
- VerdantBacon says:
  
  13 Sep13 September 08:19
  
  Can’t seem to replicate this deal on IHG or 3rd party, even for a one night stay. Probably need more details.
  - Super Secret Stuff says:
    
    13 Sep13 September 09:28
    
    I only found it at the end of August, shame as I don’t want to go in school holidays!
    - Anna says:
      
      13 Sep13 September 10:41
      
      Keep checking as availability opens up into September, it’s been appearing for a couple of days.
- Guernsey Globetrotter says:
  
  13 Sep13 September 10:35
  
  Looks like this is not the only ‘intern rate’ on this hotel but unfortunately the one I found is a mistake in the wrong direction – Euro 8, 535 for one night in an executive suite on August 25. Given that the same night in an executive duplex suite is only Euro 853.60 it seems pretty clear what has happened!
  - Guernsey Globetrotter says:
    
    13 Sep13 September 11:39
    
    Clarification – my post above was about the IC – I confess I miss-read Anna’s original referring to the CP! Still, in definitely is an ‘intern premium’ rate – The duplex suite is listed as 90m2 whereas the ten times more expensive ordinary exec suite is half that size!
- Alan says:
  
  13 Sep13 September 11:40
  
  What is an “intern” rate?
  - Rob says:
    
    13 Sep13 September 11:46
    
    An intern rate is when you get the schoolkid who works in the office on a Saturday morning to load up all your pricing for the next few months.
    - Alan says:
      
      13 Sep13 September 13:48
      
      Thanks
- ankomonkey says:
  
  13 Sep13 September 14:38
  
  Anna, I only saw this rate available for the latest date available on the IHG website for booking. Are you seeing this one day at-a-time or was it available for several dates?
  - Anna says:
    
    13 Sep13 September 19:32
    
    I think it was at least the 2 days furthest out.
    - ankomonkey says:
      
      13 Sep13 September 20:48
      
      Thanks for replying. I’ll keep an eye out over the next few days 🙂
Rui N. says:

13 Sep13 September 07:34

What has the person age or gender anything to do whether they can cry or not?
krys_k says:

13 Sep13 September 07:38

What’s folks approach to travelling with a toddler and declaring it at the point of booking. My 18 month daughter doesn’t use any of the ancillary amenities – breakfast (she has her own that we bring), gym, pool (in fairness most properties we’ve stayed at haven’t had one). Of course she uses the main one, the room. I’ve noticed that prices are significantly hiked when I include her for what is a small footprint (eg we don’t ask for cot, or anything else extra for that matter).
- Can says:
  
  13 Sep13 September 07:43
  
  Mine is three and I rarely include him. My algorithm is this: if there is no price difference, include him. If they give us a price for 3 person room, don’t include him. I’ve seen Hilton hotels that treat toddlers as a third person and not offer a double room.
- NSL says:
  
  13 Sep13 September 07:47
  
  Can’t you just book a room for 2 and then add a cot to the room as a small additional charge? If not ring the hotel and ask, most are usually happy to accommodate.
  The main disadvantage of not declaring is that they may wish to room you away from other guests to ensure they’re not disturbed.
- Pid says:
  
  13 Sep13 September 08:13
  
  I have never added infants to my booking over the last few years and there have never been any additional fees or issues at check in. This includes base rooms booked with points. I do however, email the hotel to confirm that they would be able to put 1 or 2 cots in the room. 9/10 times they confirm they will allocate a bigger room or confirm an upgrade due to status. On the one or two times they have said it would exceed their maximum room capacity or I have to book a bigger room then I weigh up alternatives and normally book elesewhere.
  - Gtellez says:
    
    13 Sep13 September 09:23
    
    I have stayed in several hotels from different chains in the last 7 months with my newborn and never had a problem without adding them, for Marriott I added the request to have a cot and always receive it for free, even with points stays.
- Andrew (@andrewseftel) says:
  
  13 Sep13 September 09:36
  
  I always book for the people who need beds, then immediately email to ask about a cot etc. Can always cancel the booking if they make a fuss, but have never had an issue so far. I have been charged for an extra breakfast so I clarify that too now, but in fairness he ate more than we did!
  - krys_k says:
    
    13 Sep13 September 17:18
    
    Thanks everyone!
- George K says:
  
  13 Sep13 September 18:50
  
  The clue is usually on the ‘room details’ window of whatever hotel you’re looking at. Right where it says ‘maximum occupancy’ or something similar, you’ll be able to see how many rollaway beds or cots are allowed. If you’re seeing a ‘max occupancy: 2’ and ‘Crib permitted: 1’, try seeing if there’s a difference in price with and without a child. If there is, leave it out and email/call the hotel to add a crib as per the room allowances.
  
  This is what we do with our near three-year old. The only question is… when does the freeloading stop. I’ve seen hotels charge for the extra person in the room after a certain age, and I’m not looking forward to that… AT ALL.