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The HfP chat thread – Monday 20th September

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We are running this daily chat thread on Head for Points during the coronavirus outbreak.

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General

Comments (508)

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

  • happeemonkee says:
    20 Sep20 September 18:19

    Has anyone had problems joining IHG Ambassador? I’m offered the option to pay $200 or use 40000 points but when I select the latter I get “We’re sorry, there was an issue processing payment. Please try a different card” ???

    • ChrisC says:
      20 Sep20 September 18:26

      Had this a couple of months ago when I was renewing using points.

      I sent a message saying that to the ambassador email and they did it for me.

    • Wollhouse says:
      20 Sep20 September 20:30

      I had the same thing…using my IHG credit card…. But, even though I DIDN’T try a different card, later in the day I noticed my expiry date had been amended and I had a pending charge which eventually turned into a charge on the IHG card. So, check to see if it has actually processed before you try another card!

  • Junior says:
    20 Sep20 September 18:37

    Flying to Toronto next week, and I somehow totally missed the part about needing a pre-departure PCR test within 72 hours. What are people’s experiences? Wondering what my options are as I obviously don’t want to risk a postal test as it’s a tight window.

    • Blenz101 says:
      20 Sep20 September 18:44

      3 hour rapid PCR test at Collinson at the airport?

    • bafan says:
      20 Sep20 September 19:03

      I did the regular Collinson test at St Pancras for £55.20 with promo and had it back within 24h.

      • Junior says:
        20 Sep20 September 19:08

        Thanks might give that a shot. The T5 location doesn’t look very accessible (am disabled).

        • Blenz101 says:
          20 Sep20 September 19:15

          For T5 you would need to drive or taxi and the marquee is built in a gravel car park which is gravel in places. Step free.

        • Rob says:
          20 Sep20 September 20:07

          I was at Collinson St Pancras this morning. The testing is on the upper level but there is a lift up and there are no steps into the testing area itself.

    • r* says:
      20 Sep20 September 19:25

      I did the randox one at raddison blu parking lot near lhr. 12 hour test, had result 3 hrs later.

  • Britbronco says:
    20 Sep20 September 18:43

    I’ve just taken out a Platinum card and it appears to be linked to a new MR account with zero balance. I already hold the basic MR card.
    I’ve seen some people saying this means you can effectively exceed the 90k referal cap, but I’m assuming referrals from the plat card go to the new MR account and I can only use the basic card to refer into my original card. Given the paltry rewards for making referrals from the basic card, this doesn’t seem anything to be excited about, am I missing something?
    I think I should just go ahead and ask for the accounts to be merged, if this is posible?

    • TGLoyalty says:
      20 Sep20 September 21:31

      Yes, if you wait until after you’ve hit 90k to merge they should keep the original basic MR account and you’ll have a fresh 90k limit. 50/50 chance they’ll keep your plat one but nothing to gain my merging before the 90k cap is hit.

    • mark2 says:
      20 Sep20 September 21:43

      You will get a new 90 allowance on Jan 1.

      • TGLoyalty says:
        20 Sep20 September 22:40

        Ofcourse but 24k a pop on platinum … only takes 3 to effectively hit the limit

  • Ambient says:
    20 Sep20 September 18:43

    I have a legacy Amex Gold Charge Card. I have just passed the card anniversary date and am waiting for the annual 10,000 bonus points to be credited, having qualified for them by spending £15k. Amex site says these will post within 60 days.

    I want to cancel this card in favour of getting an Amex Gold Credit card and benefitting from the free first year. I also hold the free Amex Rewards Credit Card.

    I was wondering whether anybody knew whether holding the ARCC whilst I switch from Gold Charge to Gold Credit will be sufficient to ensure the bonus MR points post, or whether I do have to be patient and wait until just after they do.

    Hope that makes sense, thanks all!

    • Harry T says:
      20 Sep20 September 18:50

      You can hold the Amex Gold charge card and the Amex Gold credit card at the same time – I currently do. I can’t see any need for an ARCC.

      • Ambient says:
        20 Sep20 September 20:02

        Thanks, but not quite what I was getting at, which is because I didn’t explain it properly!

        What I’m trying to understand is whether I have to wait for the annual bonus points to post before I effect the switch from Gold Charge to Gold Credit (which will be in circa 2 months time), or whether the fact that I also hold an ARCC will be enough to allow these points to credited. I’ll get in touch with Amex also.

        • Ls says:
          20 Sep20 September 20:26

          I don’t think you can cancel the card and then expect the points to show.
          I would:
          Threaten to leave and get a 10k retention bonus now.
          Wait for your additional 10k bonus to turn up.
          Apply for the credit card.
          Cancel the charge card for real one they have all turned up.

        • TGLoyalty says:
          20 Sep20 September 21:31

          No you must hold the card until the 10k points hit.

  • Lee says:
    20 Sep20 September 18:48

    Any easy way to cancel an Avios booking just made?

    BA website says within 24 hours it can be done online, but when I got to cancel it just wants to issue a voucher etc.

    Booked on Avios with a companion voucher.

    help! 🙂

  • Louise K says:
    20 Sep20 September 18:49

    Plat card travel insurance question.

    I have a trip to Hawaii booked for April.

    Have paid $500 deposit for a condo on my curve card and the balance is due Feb 22. If I pay the balance using the Plat Amex will this be covered by their travel insurance?

    Balance is approx. £7k so want to ensure we are adequately insured just in case we can’t travel.

    Have never given insurance this much thought before. Tks

  • HBommie says:
    20 Sep20 September 18:50

    With the US opening up should we expect to see a rash of Avios seats becoming available with the increased traffic?

    • ChrisC says:
      20 Sep20 September 19:01

      I’d have thought they would want to sell cash fares first and not release any more reward seats than they have already until demand settles down again.

      • HBommie says:
        20 Sep20 September 19:20

        Yes, but the guarantee of a number of Avios seats on each flight is in place.

        • ChrisC says:
          20 Sep20 September 19:33

          Yes as that’s the BA guarentee for e.g. 4 club seats per flight.

          I don’t think they will initially release more than that as they will want to get as much cash through the door as possible at the moment.

    • Lee says:
      20 Sep20 September 19:05

      Not unless new flights are added, surely.

    • Blenz101 says:
      20 Sep20 September 19:17

      If frequencies increase, which seems likely, then Avios seats will be available on each extra rotation.

      Seatspy alerts will help you.

  • r* says:
    20 Sep20 September 19:29

    Has anyone ever seen a msg put out by BA on the screen on the back of the seat that says ‘the bar is now closed. Soft drinks will continue to be available’? This was with 2.5 hours left of a 7 hour flight and appeared right after the cabin crew had been asked for drinks by about 5 ppl in prem econ.

    Is it standard behavior for them to not offer alcohol for the whole flight now?

    • ChrisC says:
      20 Sep20 September 19:35

      Flight details would help get better responses.

    • Sam G says:
      20 Sep20 September 20:41

      I’ve seen it before going to NYC in WT+ and it certainly wasn’t a rowdy flight or anything- not sure if they have to count the bar or something?!

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

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