The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 21st September

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• Tracey says:

  21 Sep21 September 16:37

  Opinions on whether some countries will require people to have had a covid jab within the last X months for entry?
  (And what X might be?)
  Trying to gauge the right balance between getting my booster soonest or waiting. I had AZ in January and March. Relatively healthy mid 50s.

  • The Canuck says:

    21 Sep21 September 17:01

    If you’ve been double AZ’d, I would get the booster ASAP. AZ is clearly the inferior one and getting better protected with an RNA would trump any consideration about entry requirements.

    Just my $0.02 though

    • Chris K says:

      21 Sep21 September 17:42

      It’s very sad that AZ has got this reputation when it’s not true at all.

      https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-828021/v1

      And the WSJ article, look at the %, if you don’t want to read the research paper itself https://www.wsj.com/articles/sinopharm-covid-vaccine-seen-as-less-effective-in-bahrain-study-11630150885

      AZ in the real world is as good, or even better, than any.

      • RobL says:

        21 Sep21 September 21:41

        Agreed

      • Lady London says:

        21 Sep21 September 21:53

        +1

  • Craig says:

    21 Sep21 September 17:12

    Booster booked for tomorrow, second jab was February.

  • Rob says:

    21 Sep21 September 17:15

    Austria just moved from 9 months to 12 months.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    21 Sep21 September 18:01

    Isn’t that something you just have to worry about 14 days before the trip anyway?

    • Tracey says:

      21 Sep21 September 19:00

      Not really. This booster could be the last opportunity to get a jab for a year. If a country will only let people in who have had a jab in the last 6 months, I may be better off waiting for my booster until November say.
      I do have flights booked for Israel and Cyprus in June. Israel rumoured to be opening up to foreigners with a requirement to have been jabbed in the last 6 months, so that would mean moving June holiday earlier.

      • TGLoyalty says:

        21 Sep21 September 19:50

        Well then want you really want to know is if anyone can rub a crystal ball a decide what Israel might want in 9 months time.

        If you think they’ll want a jab within 6 months then you’re waiting for late Jan/early Feb (if they’ll even be available then).

        However, if you got the jab for its health benefits you should probably take it when you’re due rather worrying about a holiday…

        • Craig says:

          21 Sep21 September 20:12

          I’m with you TGL, the evidence suggests that vaccine efficacy wanes. I’d rather take the booster as soon as I’m allowed and worry about travel logistics later. One of the biggest benefits of what we do as point collectors is to have flexibility. I’m having my jab tomorrow and I’ll worry about the rest later.

        • Tracey says:

          21 Sep21 September 20:35

          I hear you, though 6 months back from June is December.
          I’m only eligible to get early as I work in a vaccine centre, so count as a health care worker at the moment, otherwise I probably wouldn’t be called for another few weeks or more.
          I could have as early as this weekend, but I’m feeling the side effects of the flu jab (got that one in early!) so the advice is to wait a week or so.
          Plus I’m waiting for the result of an antibody test to detect if I’ve recently had actual covid, so I may as well wait a few days for the result of that.

• Aliks says:

  21 Sep21 September 16:54

  For the Amex Accelerating Business card, does the Amex website give you a running total of your spend to date versus the £5000 target spend?

  When I was chasing welcome bonuses, this info was always displayed on the home page just above recent transactions.

  • Can says:

    21 Sep21 September 17:42

    I’m in the same boat. It seems that you’ll need to manually do the math

• GaryE says:

  21 Sep21 September 16:58

  QQ: Thinking of going to mainland Spain or Portugal after 4th October. Is my understanding correct that I need to have a PCR test 72 hours prior to arriving in Portugal but only need to prove double vaccinated to get into Spain. The return to the UK no longer require any testing before flight and to take LFT upto day 2 on arrival for both countries. Will be first overseas flight in 21 months! Thanks

  • Tracey says:

    21 Sep21 September 19:01

    Yes, though Madeira doesn’t require testing for the double jabbed.

    • GaryE says:

      21 Sep21 September 20:14

      thanks

  • r* says:

    22 Sep22 September 11:31

    Unless its changed you dont need pcr for portugal. I got in with lfa

• HBommie says:

  21 Sep21 September 17:07

  Another BA cancellation question, I booked in the 50% Avios sale in Oct 2020 for a USA March 2021 trip which was pushed to Nov 2021 following a cancellation. I now have another domestic leg cancellation and later flight which isn’t bad.
  My strategy is to leave my acceptance pending until the US details are more clear, anything wrong with this?
  Also are cabin changes allowed? Say from CW to First and maintaining the 50% first paid and paying the difference?

  • ChrisC says:

    21 Sep21 September 17:53

    yes fine to wait

    As to the upgrade my thoughts are that they would charge you the full difference between the 50% rate you paid in club and the full F rate

    • HBommie says:

      21 Sep21 September 18:29

      Thanks Chris

• BJ says:

  21 Sep21 September 17:13

  Haha, I think that’s good Aston but unless they are now flying direct to Phuket next summer (?) you are looking at 2 stops exLHR. Still, a good fare and a chance to try Swiss and Austrian in J.

  • BJ says:

    21 Sep21 September 17:17

    That was meant to be a reply @Aston100.

  • Aston100 says:

    21 Sep21 September 17:25

    Yes 2 stops. I am trying to tweak a multi city in order to get a stop over in Bangkok but the price jumps up by at least £200 per person.
    And then there’s the cost and hassle of getting to London. Not sure why it is significantly cheaper from LHR than from say BHX (£600pp difference). This is on the Lufthansa site, so a legit fare.

    • Michael C says:

      21 Sep21 September 17:31

      Think I mentioned we’ll be “in the area”!
      I think I’m just doing an Avios to SIN out, Avios back from HKG about 5 weeks later (all in economy, sadly, but incredibly cheap + 2-4-1 + HKG lack of taxes), and just fill in the middle bit as we go!
      For example, DPS-BKK via SIN is GBP120 with Singapore Airlines.
      May well treat ourselves to BKK-HKG on Emirates business, hoping it has the bar, if that’s still a thing?!

      • Aston100 says:

        21 Sep21 September 17:54

        Hi Michael, several people here feel Hong Kong won’t be letting tourists in from the UK – even next year.
        Presumably why there are some good prices out there for HKG next summer (e.g. £750pp with Swiss in their new PE, even from regional airports).

        Which is why I’ve given up on routes that include HKG next summer and looking at other ways to get to DPS, or even go just to Thailand alone for 3 weeks.

        • MIchael C says:

          21 Sep21 September 18:52

          Totally understand – more of a back-up for us: just inside the 31 Aug Book With Confidence deadline! So annoying no direct BKK-LHR with BA. Finnair seemed pretty decent one-wat dep. BKK, but no “guarantees” , of course.

        • BJ says:

          21 Sep21 September 19:03

          @Michael, why not try Japan instead of HK? LCC from Bangkok can be cheap even in business. Fees on BA back from TYO are cheap too.

    • BJ says:

      21 Sep21 September 18:57

      What’s the fare to BKK? If it works then I recommend you just do that if multicity or open jaw doesn’t work, and take a hot seat on Air Asia to Phuket, it’s generally painless.

• StevieKicks says:

  21 Sep21 September 17:15

  Just received the £10 Amazon gift card from the Malaysia Airlines promo, didn’t manage to verify the account so didn’t expect it to ever come

  • Sandgrounder says:

    21 Sep21 September 18:45

    I would have probably ignored the email if you wouldn’t have said, such was my level of expectation!

• Toby says:

  21 Sep21 September 17:34

  And check our nectar connect, they’re on there right now too. Makes me think the first box will essentially be free.

• Cuchlainn says:

  21 Sep21 September 17:44

  BA Cityflyer Q : due to circumstances will probably burn an old 241 companion voucher on a BHD to BHX return flight shortly – cash prices are extortionate and voucher only has 4 months left.
  Using BA booking engine ( and companion voucher ) you can only book economy fare – cannot see any mention of baggage allowance ??? ( Paying cash only you can select HBO or 1 checked bag ).

  • Chris K says:

    21 Sep21 September 18:29

    From what others have said, you can book, wait >24 hours and then get a FTV which will include your 241 voucher and Avios/cash for use in future on a more worthwhile flight. Would effectively give you more than 4 months validity on the voucher as FTVs are valid for longer than that.

    • Nick says:

      21 Sep21 September 19:01

      All redemption fares on BA include at least one checked bag. This includes BACF.

      • Cuchlainn says:

        22 Sep22 September 01:27

        Thanks Nick 👍

    • Cuchlainn says:

      22 Sep22 September 01:27

      Thanks Chris but I have 3 x old 241s and OH has 2 x old 241s and 1 new 241, so working out at approx 2.4p for a domestic redemption- happy enough.

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