The HfP chat thread – Saturday 18th September

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General

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WearyTraveller says:

18 Sep18 September 08:41

Booked a 6 day BA holiday (flights+ hotels) from Manchester to Istanbul at the end of the month. Now it only shows I will get *240* tier points instead of the *480* I should get owing to the double tier points promotion. What gives? I went through all the T&C and the booking was done correctly. I had to do it over the phone yesterday as I was using a voucher but apart from that there is nothing special about it.

Tried calling BA to complain but all their lines seem closed now they don’t answer no matter which number/option you choose…
- WaynedP says:
  
  18 Sep18 September 08:50
  
  Am in same boat, but not concerned as I understand bonus TPs are only due to show up some time after flights are all taken.
  
  Not worth worrying about until 4 weeks after returning.
- Jonathan says:
  
  18 Sep18 September 08:56
  
  The MMB Avios/TP earnings are flaky at the best of times eg. Often shows earning TP’s for an Avios flight that is upgraded. It’s definitely not worth wasting hours calling BA about this as a) there is nothing they can do & b) the T&C’s make clear the double TP’s will be added at a later date.
- Tim says:
  
  18 Sep18 September 10:02
  
  As far as I’m aware MMB doesn’t show the extra TPs for anyone. It’s not a you issue. They post a month after your trip completely separately.
- Harry T says:
  
  18 Sep18 September 10:53
  
  Extra tier points won’t show in MMB.
- ChrisC says:
  
  18 Sep18 September 15:40
  
  As per the T&Cs it clearly states that the extra points will be added to your account up to 30 days after the flights have taken place.
  
  Calling to complain now won’t get you anywhere!
Oz_Traveller says:

18 Sep18 September 08:43

Hey all

Has anyone had any luck with gaining a recent status match from Marriott Bonvoy with Hilton Honors Diamond? If so, how?

My regular travel plans have changed and Marriott is the closer hotel so I’m hoping I can get myself up the ladder with a status match.

Thanks in advance
- Paul says:
  
  18 Sep18 September 08:52
  
  I don’t think Marriott Bonvoy offer a match per sé! They may offer you a Platinum challenge.
  - Jonathan says:
    
    18 Sep18 September 08:58
    
    Bonvoy is also 1 match/challenge per lifetime as well so think carefully about timing.
    - Oz_Traveller says:
      
      18 Sep18 September 09:08
      
      Thanks Jon – helpful to know.
  - Oz_Traveller says:
    
    18 Sep18 September 09:08
    
    Thanks Paul. I might give that a go
John says:

18 Sep18 September 08:57

Costa. I set my birthday to today but didn’t get any cake coupon.
- Paul says:
  
  18 Sep18 September 09:04
  
  Is that a thing?
  - Spurs drive me mad says:
    
    18 Sep18 September 09:20
    
    I just thought John is taking the mick. No having his cake and eating it for him.
  - Tracey says:
    
    18 Sep18 September 09:56
    
    It’s a new thing, now that points have gone and instead we count beans. No beans on non drink purchases but a free birthday cake.
- Tracey says:
  
  18 Sep18 September 09:57
  
  You are only allowed one birthday a year, when you say you set your birthday to today, have you already had a birthday this year?
- Mike says:
  
  18 Sep18 September 12:45
  
  John – is your birthday today ?
TJ says:

18 Sep18 September 09:06

Is there a way to see what credit card was used to make an IHG booking? Can’t see anything on the email confirmaiton or online reservation.
- ChrisC says:
  
  18 Sep18 September 15:43
  
  check your credit card statement!
- Guernsey Globetrotter says:
  
  18 Sep18 September 16:03
  
  No and it’s really annoying – I suggest that you take a screen shot at the time you input the card you’re using to secure the booking, otherwise the only way is to phone up the hotel ! They can tell you the last few digits on the card so you can figure it out…
James says:

18 Sep18 September 09:19

Transiting through Doha, do we need PCR tests for this? Thanks.
Floriguy says:

18 Sep18 September 09:29

Having a nightmare out in Middle East.

Amex not here. Applepay not working at hotel. Want to use the Amex 5000 spend for 10000 points deal.

If I order a new card, will they ship out here? More importantly will the offers saved to my “old” card transfer to the replacement card?
- N says:
  
  18 Sep18 September 10:04
  
  Almost deff no
- JDB says:
  
  18 Sep18 September 10:31
  
  Can you not ask them either to send you a payment link or to complete a payment authorisation form as if you were paying a deposit to the hotel prior to your stay? Both assume you know all the card details.
- Anuj says:
  
  18 Sep18 September 11:21
  
  Try using Apple Pay but pay in chunks not one go ?
- OP says:
  
  18 Sep18 September 11:45
  
  What card do you have? Supposedly with Global Assist on Amex you can have a new card couriered/shipped to you anywhere… try!
  - Freddy says:
    
    18 Sep18 September 12:03
    
    Is it worth the palava for 10000 points, £100 quid
    - FloriGuy says:
      
      18 Sep18 September 13:14
      
      I get your point. But I value my Avios higher than that.
      
      Will the offer transfer on to the new card even if I can’t get it here in time?
  - AL says:
    
    18 Sep18 September 18:00
    
    They couldn’t ship me a replacement to another UK address a few months ago! Bit of a tip: your new Amex’s card number is the same as your last one aside from the last four (so, the first eleven digits are the same, and the last four change). If you get Brighton on the blower, they might be able to give you the last four (or, if it’s already in Apple Pay, you can see it in there). Your expiry date is five years from the month you request (so, request 01/21, and your expiry is 01/26). That should be all that a merchant needs to pre-auth the card as a CNP txn.
SteveJ says:

18 Sep18 September 09:34

Vanguard SIPP

Anyone know of any sign up bonuses, refer a friend or anything else before I sign up directly?
- BuildBackBetter says:
  
  18 Sep18 September 09:37
  
  Why do you think their costs are low?
  - SteveJ says:
    
    18 Sep18 September 10:50
    
    Their lifestrategy fund is pretty cheap. This is for a small side fund, not the main pension pot.
  - SteveJ says:
    
    18 Sep18 September 10:52
    
    I misread your post BBB, I get it, they keep their costs low by not splurging on sign up incentives 👍
- Hak says:
  
  18 Sep18 September 09:41
  
  If only…….
- DI says:
  
  18 Sep18 September 10:10
  
  Yup, you actually don’t want them to have a referral program 😁
SwissJim says:

18 Sep18 September 09:35

Can you use Amex with Payzone at Post Office? Just used Amex with Paypoint for the first time – doddle. But Payzone not Paypoint shows up on some of my bills…. Thanks.
- Nick says:
  
  18 Sep18 September 10:16
  
  No, the Post Office only takes Amex for PO counter services, not bill payments. You may get lucky in some small ones, but it’s restricted (and enforced) in most.
  - Swiss Jim says:
    
    18 Sep18 September 10:33
    
    Oh well, never mind. May just try it in a small PO inside a Coop in a small village near me just to see…. What’s to lose?
- Peter K says:
  
  18 Sep18 September 15:48
  
  Payzone does not accept Amex as far as I know.