Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

The HfP chat thread – Thursday 16th 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

Comments (538)

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

  • Chris says:
    16 Sep16 September 18:03

    Are Amex currently offering bonus MR points for adding a 1st supp card holder to Platinum?

  • Allan says:
    16 Sep16 September 18:10

    I’ve heard that Germany need you to wear FFP2 masks in some areas – including airports. Is this an issue to fly there without one? Would the airline refuse boarding if you don’t have one?

    • Alan says:
      16 Sep16 September 18:17

      Just back from Munich. No problem flying with a surgical mask. I was given two free FFP2 masks at the airport. Easy and cheap to buy more if needed at supermarkets.

    • KZ says:
      16 Sep16 September 20:34

      The only restriction is you have to wear a medical mask, ie no cloth and designer masks.

  • Gareth says:
    16 Sep16 September 18:16

    BA have just cancelled my flight to Capetown in mid November , avios 241.

    Am I right in remembering from earlier discussion that I am entitled to refuse cancellation and ask for it to be moved to a date of my choice. Which for me would be same day in Nov 2022

    • Andy says:
      16 Sep16 September 19:39

      Sounds like recently they reverted to their original stance – i.e. only offering rebooking up to 12 months from ticketing date, rather than flight date as per the HfP article some weeks ago. Whether you are lucky enough to get a rep who will move you to Nov 2022, who knows…

    • Lady London says:
      16 Sep16 September 21:59

      See earlier replies today on this exact ssme thread to a question about a Joburg cancellation

  • Alan says:
    16 Sep16 September 18:18

    Just back from Munich. No problem flying with a surgical mask. I was given two free FFP2 masks at the airport. Easy and cheap to buy more if needed at supermarkets.

  • Katie says:
    16 Sep16 September 18:24

    Is the announcement still going ahead or postponed until new news tomorrow? https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9998367/Ministers-unveil-overhaul-travel-traffic-light-rules-tomorrow.html

    • Andrew says:
      16 Sep16 September 18:32

      Yes, it was always unlikely that there would be a change to traffic light countries this week due to the major changes about to be announced.

  • Kumar says:
    16 Sep16 September 18:46

    Etihad Airways will offer 50 per cent off on air tickets purchased at a pop-up stand in Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates from September 16 to 23.

  • Aston100 says:
    16 Sep16 September 19:06

    I see avios availability to Cape Town next summer school holidays (as in UK summer) has not dried up at all.
    Was expecting the seats to get snapped up very quickly, and yet they are still available, in some cases more than 6 weeks after release
    Is it really such a bad destination during their winter?

    • Michael C says:
      16 Sep16 September 19:14

      @aston, you may well be all sorted, but just fyi a fair bit of Avios availability in and ou of HKG this summer!

      • Reney says:
        16 Sep16 September 19:31

        21 days hotel quarantine into HK

      • Aston100 says:
        16 Sep16 September 20:23

        Thanks Michael.
        Feeling a bit paranoid about HKG for next summer, based on what several people said in here about strong possibility of still being closed.
        Though no one is able to confirm whether BA would allow a change of destination (e.g. SIN) nearer the time.

    • Amy C says:
      16 Sep16 September 19:24

      I wouldn’t go at that time. It’s such an outdoor sort of place. Can be rainy and extremely windy in winter.

    • Jonathan says:
      16 Sep16 September 20:02

      Durban & inland would be glorious in their Winter. Drakensburg is stunning plus some good game reserves in that neck of the woods. Personally wouldn’t bother with Cape Town as it’s selling points are largely dependent on good weather.

      • Aston100 says:
        16 Sep16 September 20:20

        Thanks Jonathan.
        I wasn’t planning on going to SA in UK summer, but given the temperatures don’t seem too bad, I was curious why CPT avios availability is still sitting there after so long.

        I read somewhere SA winter is quite decent for Safari due to reduced foliage allowing better visibility?

        Anyway, am focussed on South East Asia for next summer, fingers crossed!

    • Gareth says:
      17 Sep17 September 18:10

      Can be cold , but it’s the flower season whole desert to north namaqualand turns into riot of flowers in August. Also good time to visit Kruger

  • ZW says:
    16 Sep16 September 19:18

    Anyone else got emails from Curve, asking for payslips?

    • John says:
      16 Sep16 September 19:54

      Yes

    • Aston100 says:
      16 Sep16 September 20:21

      Only the naughty MSrs

    • JDB says:
      16 Sep16 September 20:28

      Lots of people on here have reported this recently. If your payslips support your Curve activity, you will quickly be OK. If not, they may ask for statements or other evidence relating to the payments and/or bank statements for further AML checks. Curve, Revolut etc. under a lot of scrutiny at the moment so they are at least making a show of being whiter than white.

    • Anna says:
      16 Sep16 September 21:47

      I freaked out a bit then before I remembered I hardly ever use Curve any more (even less now they are not creative) 😂. Hairdresser and school dinner money top ups. Can’t imagine they’ll think I’m an organised crime boss.

      • Char Char says:
        16 Sep16 September 22:45

        Curve is now a pain its not compatible with Creation, not sure which one to stop using

    • Babyg says:
      16 Sep16 September 22:33

      be interested to know how much m$ was done to have payslips requested….. my only minor m$ is to save school fees as N&SI, and then withdraw them once a term…

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

New to Head for Points?

Welcome!  We’re the UK’s most-read source of business travel, Avios, frequent flyer and hotel loyalty news. Let us improve how you travel. Learn more on our About page.

VAA

Latest comments

Latest Forum Posts

Get 30,000 points bonus with American Express Platinum

Amex Gold

Check reward flight availability instantly for free!

See a whole year of reward seat availability on one page at SeatSpy.com

Booking a luxury hotel?

Our luxury hotel booking service offers you GUARANTEED extra benefits over booking direct. Works with Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, The Ritz Carlton, St Regis and more. We've booked £1.3 million of rooms to date. Click for details.

Get 20,000 bonus points and your first year free with American Express Gold

Amex Gold