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The HfP chat thread – Thursday 16th September

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General

Comments (538)

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

  • Toaster says:
    16 Sep16 September 12:09

    Che refer a friend bonus now £70 for maximum of five sign ups.

    • VJ says:
      16 Sep16 September 12:11

      Che?

    • Ryan says:
      16 Sep16 September 12:14

      Was £10, £40, £60 now £70!

      Did I miss any other £ referrals?!

      • Toaster says:
        16 Sep16 September 12:28

        Given that the referee receives no bonus it’s tricky to persuade people to sign up. If you know them personally it’s a bit easier as you can agree to split the bonus.

      • TGLoyalty says:
        16 Sep16 September 12:28

        They really want that IPO to go well.

    • John says:
      16 Sep16 September 12:43

      Got another email but still £60 here

      Been meaning to refer my wife for several months but too busy and the bonus kept on going up…

    • Rich says:
      16 Sep16 September 12:45

      Worth noting that the friend has to make 3 card payments of min £5.

      Both of mine nearly fell down on this, it’s hidden behind two clicks in the RAF promo in the app (although it is spelled out in the email.)

  • MW says:
    16 Sep16 September 12:24

    A question for anyone who used T5 recently. Is GF best for breakfast during “these times” or is Plaza Prem worth a try? (Last used GF in Aug 2020 for lunch – table service was great and food choices very decent)

    • Cats are best says:
      16 Sep16 September 13:29

      Not been in the Plaza Premium lounge since nipping in for a quick snack pre-pandemic as my gate was at that end and GC North was rammed, it’s ok, but I’d go GF every time.

  • Shaw West says:
    16 Sep16 September 12:28

    What happens if I close my BAPP with referral bonus still pending to be transferred? Do they get lost or do they transfer before the account is closed?

    • TGLoyalty says:
      16 Sep16 September 12:40

      If the referral bonus isnt actually showing to be transferred over to BAEC you forfeit it.

      • Shaw West says:
        16 Sep16 September 12:42

        It is showing to be transferred. All 12K of it

        • Paul Pogba says:
          16 Sep16 September 12:49

          Wait for it to be transferred then close, anything that isn’t in your BAEC account will be lost.

        • TGLoyalty says:
          16 Sep16 September 13:38

          Then it should transfer over but I’ve heard stories where it hasn’t as the “link” is broken

  • idontflymuch says:
    16 Sep16 September 12:53

    Given the electricity wholesale prices would it be prudent to request Igloo return my 450 pound credit in case they go bust of will I be protected under section 75? The market it heading into a perfect storm, well actually a perfect storm i.e. some wind would definitely help the issue but you know what I mean.

    • Ben says:
      16 Sep16 September 12:58

      You’d be covered under the ofcom agreement whereby if a energy supplier fails, they appoint a new supplier to take over the failed suppliers customers as well as their credits.

      A recent example is PFP energy failed, and British Gas has been appointed as the new supplier. I have a £4.50 credit with them so not bothered as I’ve definitely used that amount of energy up, but if it would have been a £450 credit, British Gas would in theory refund it once the transfer between the providers had been completed

      • idontflymuch says:
        16 Sep16 September 13:04

        thanks that is good to know, I cant imagine they will allow crediting to such high levels in the future.

    • Youllnever says:
      16 Sep16 September 12:59

      Igloo’s prices are pretty much going through the roof next month anyway so you might as well pull your money back and switch to somewhere cheaper.

      • idontflymuch says:
        16 Sep16 September 13:03

        thank you, I will request the credit back from them and then switch.

      • Jane says:
        16 Sep16 September 13:21

        I need to think about changing, who’s doing better than Igloo at the moment price wise ?

        • Neil says:
          16 Sep16 September 13:30

          Probably simplest to check via one of the comparison sites – last time I used the one from Martin Lewis – energy club or something like that.

          • Tracey says:
            16 Sep16 September 21:35

            But check whatever energy club quote. I just found out the price they think OVO charge on their standard variable rate is much higher than they actually do. Anyone would think they are encouraging switchers.

        • Grant says:
          16 Sep16 September 13:33

          Next to nobody if my 5 minutes on uswitch is anything to go by.

          • Craig says:
            16 Sep16 September 13:53

            Don’t forget the filter to allow suppliers they CAN’T switch you to.

          • Shaw West says:
            16 Sep16 September 14:03

            Virgin Red was running an offer of 7000 miles or so for Octopus energy and I switched. Now I see that the miles get credited per month basis after month 12 :O

      • lev441 says:
        16 Sep16 September 14:58

        All prices are going to be crazy this winter.. I’m debating moving regularly (every 2 months or so) to maximise refer-a-friend bonuses to keep my bills down.

        • AL says:
          16 Sep16 September 15:50

          Having just done a comparison for a relative, I was shocked to see their fixed estimates go from £55 to ~£115 pcm at all of the Big Six and not much cheaper on the rest. Referral deals seem the way to go…

          • JDB says:
            16 Sep16 September 17:12

            There was a fairly long thread about this earlier in the year when the 2yr fixes with the big suppliers were very competitive, around 16.7p kWh. The current variable tariffs are mad, but at most times fixing has paid off hugely, even if your supplier doesn’t take Amex.

    • Alex M says:
      16 Sep16 September 12:59

      Fyi if the wind is too strong wind farms consume electricity to limit their rpm, ie strong wind is as bad as slow wind.

      • Rui N. says:
        16 Sep16 September 14:52

        If the wind is too strong the turbines completely stop, they don’t use electricity to do such thing. This is called the cut-out speed. It’s indeed as bad as slow wind, in the sense that they are also stopped when wind is slow (they start rotating at the cut-in speed).

      • Rhys says:
        16 Sep16 September 15:47

        Don’t they just turn their blades so that they are no longer creating lift? ie. point directly into the wind, rather than perpendicular

        • ChrisC says:
          16 Sep16 September 17:04

          They let the blades spin but the blade are decoupled from the electricity generating part so they don’t generate anything and risk damaging the generating mechanism

    • Toaster says:
      16 Sep16 September 13:00

      I’d rather have the money in my account than the energy supplier but if they do go bust they will be taken over by another company and you will get your money back eventually.
      I was with Yorkshire Energy who went bust last year and Scottish Power took over their customers. I had a couple of months on a much worse tariff than I was on (and slightly worse than Octopus who I then moved to) but my credit balance was carried over from YE to SP and I did get back the balance when I switched to Octopus.

      • idontflymuch says:
        16 Sep16 September 13:05

        Thanks, does the credit balance get transferred if you switch providers?

        • EwanG says:
          16 Sep16 September 14:09

          No. If in debit when you switch, you owe that money to your old supplier. If in credit, your old supplier will repay that credit balance to you.
          If your supplier fails, that credit (or debit) balance transfers to the supplier appointed by OFGEM to take on the failed supplier’s customers.

  • Britbronco says:
    16 Sep16 September 13:03

    I’ve just had my third statement for the Sainsburys credit card, no sign of the 10K nectar points yet.
    Should they be mentioned on the statement or do they just randomly turn up?

    • Ja says:
      16 Sep16 September 13:21

      Mine turned up 3 months later in my nectar account. No notification as far as I remember

    • John says:
      16 Sep16 September 13:23

      Tried to find this on previous postings but struggling.
      Flight from Atlanta to Lhr downgraded from First to business.
      I know about the compensation but want to fly First.
      Nearest place with First is Miami (approx 580 miles).
      Would they move me to Miami?
      Thanks

      • Britbronco says:
        16 Sep16 September 13:34

        Is this in November? I have a flight booked then on this route and they just switched from a 787-10 to 787-8.

        • John says:
          16 Sep16 September 13:43

          Yes
          I want to fly First but Miami is nearest with First and it over 300 miles

          • Anna says:
            16 Sep16 September 14:42

            You can certainly contact them as ask, but EU261 doesn’t apply to downgrades and they are under no obligation to move you to another flight.

      • Richie says:
        16 Sep16 September 14:48

        Find the alternative that suits you and then give them a call.

      • Lyn says:
        16 Sep16 September 15:02

        It could be worth calling You First to ask if they would be willing to change your direct flight from Atlanta to connecting flights via Miami.

        Like everyone else, I doubt if they are obliged to do this, but it might be easier to justify than changing your point of departure.

        • Lady London says:
          16 Sep16 September 15:21

          Make surw they know that if stuck with your original destination and now forciblyvdowngraded to Club, you will definitely be claiming the 75% downgrade compensation (plus any 241 seat gets the same again) and wouldn’t they rather keep you in First and change to Miami?

          If they’ve got any sense they should bite your hand off.

      • Jonathan says:
        16 Sep16 September 17:38

        BA First isn’t remotely good enough to justify forgoing the downgrade compo or the hassle of connecting domestically in US.

        • GaryC says:
          16 Sep16 September 19:12

          Unless the tier points are essential or you love flying for the hell of it, I’d agree with this.

  • S G says:
    16 Sep16 September 13:30

    Travelling LHR to PMI Palma Mallorca via MADRID on Sunday – does anybody know what the requirements for entry are? Is a test required?

  • Jamie says:
    16 Sep16 September 13:33

    iPhone 13 preorders start tomorrow. Any tips for maximising avios etc, or is paying with BAPP the best I’m gonna do?

    • Reney says:
      16 Sep16 September 13:49

      Some version of this question has been asked every day for the last few days. The general summary is most avenue does not give offers for the new phones.

      If you have access to the educational portal then maybe discount there (not sure if it includes new phone). If not the best way forward would have been buying John Lewis gift cards via the Morrison offer for 20%+ discount. That offer ended yesterday. Earlier on today’s chat someone reported that Morrison discount still available for some people across a few cards but not the stacking opportunity.

      • LS says:
        16 Sep16 September 13:54

        Neither education nor NHS discount for apple gives any iphone 13 discount, yet.

      • AL says:
        16 Sep16 September 15:53

        Remember, too, that EPP is still a thing. My employer has a discount with them via the EPP, and that doesn’t come out too bad. I did the iPhone Upgrade Programme via BPF last time, and glad I did – it’s ending now, so that phone’s off to trade-in heaven which will pay for about half of my new handset (13 Pro 256gb) which is ~£10/mo cheaper than I was paying. Quids in, I’ll say, as the new handset total cost will be ~retail value of the old SE.

    • LS says:
      16 Sep16 September 13:53

      Depednds: if you *must* be one of the first to own it, I would do via apple and BAPP. If you don’t mind a few days waiting a few days, I would get via John Lewis and certain unspeakable sites (that will give avios), again with BAPP, so you get both extra avios and a 2 year guarantee. But £££ outlay is the same.

      • Aston100 says:
        16 Sep16 September 15:09

        Any idea how long it takes for the prices to come down slightly for the newest models of iPhones?
        I don’t want to wait too long as it is meant to be a gift for someone.

        • Benilyn says:
          16 Sep16 September 15:17

          They rarely come down in price if buying outright.

        • Reney says:
          16 Sep16 September 15:41

          12 months later, when the next one is out?

        • Andy says:
          16 Sep16 September 20:12

          There may be some offers around Black Friday, although that’s normally for pay monthly contracts rather than new devices. Otherwise I’d say giftcard from the employee shopping portals or as payouts from TopCa$hback & co

        • Sloth says:
          16 Sep16 September 21:02

          Can always get 10% off the latest model at Very around thanksgiving/ BF. do this every other year

        • Sarah says:
          16 Sep16 September 23:08

          I was in the Apple store earlier today and the iPhone 12 has dropped in price by £120

    • Rhys says:
      16 Sep16 September 15:49

      The best discount on iPhones is buying one in the US, particularly if you can pick up in a tax free state like Delaware. I was looking at the iPhone 13 Pro Max 256GB, just under £900 in the US vs £1,100+ here. Even better if you know someone who works for Apple and can get you their 15% discount 🙂

      • Ben says:
        16 Sep16 September 16:16

        Be warned that I got my Airpod Pros in America and when one of them started going funny, they said they may not be able to help as the serial number is registered to the US. Went in and they sorted it as it was a hardware problem but just a word of warning

        • Rhys says:
          16 Sep16 September 16:17

          I had the iPhone X (from US) and when Apple were doing the battery replacement program it was no problem to go to a UK store.

          • KBuffett says:
            16 Sep16 September 16:53

            You’re lucky, but there are plenty of reports about US iPhone’s not being able to be swapped out in UK/Europe. Previously, the handsets were actually slightly difference because of the different bands/frequencies (although compatible). Things may have changed now though…..

        • KZ says:
          16 Sep16 September 20:00

          Generally has never been an issue – I have had apple products serviced internationally and they have always been reliable.

      • Andy says:
        16 Sep16 September 20:14

        But of course you declare it when you fly back to the UK and pay tax on that right Rhys?

  • Mco says:
    16 Sep16 September 13:57

    Anyone had a cancellation of BA flights through Cathay miles? Was just wondering how easy it was dealing with Cathay for rebooking?

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