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The HfP chat thread – Friday 24th September

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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.

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General

Comments (484)

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

  • VickyTM says:
    24 Sep24 September 19:23

    Does anyone have any experience of getting a USA bank account as a UK resident? Am about to start being paid a salary by an American company, and no desire to convert into GBP. At this moment I pay all my taxes to HMRC and don’t have an SSN. Any thoughts or advice welcome.

    • Genghis says:
      24 Sep24 September 19:28

      Will you become US tax resident?

    • Memesweeper says:
      24 Sep24 September 20:08

      Did it through HSBC PREM . Slow but effective.

    • Mr(s) Entitled says:
      24 Sep24 September 21:03

      Your employer may be the wild card here, but have you checked out Revolut? They offer USD accounts. I use it for transferring between my internal accounts but you may be able to accept external deposits.

    • Travel Strong says:
      24 Sep24 September 21:21

      I opened an actual USA bank account (bank of america, opened in person, with mail sent to a US work address ) and would NOT do it again given all the alternatives on offer. Better to use a USD account with a UK provider, be that fintech or HSBC or other highstreet name that lets you have a USD account alongside your GBP account.

    • Toby says:
      24 Sep24 September 22:13

      I’ve heard UK banks with branches in Jersey are good for this sort of thing. I think one was called HSBC expat?

    • @mkcol says:
      24 Sep24 September 22:14

      Simple.
      Opened it with SunTrust in Orlando.

    • Magic Mike says:
      24 Sep24 September 23:34

      Wise – gets you a proper account in the us in usd

      • Sam G says:
        24 Sep24 September 23:43

        I’ve done it with HSBC Expat but agree with this – Wise is a proper USD account these days, no reason not to go with them

    • the_real_a says:
      24 Sep24 September 23:59

      No need for Prem. I held HSBC USD in the UK for a number of years. You can trasnfer into revolut as USD for FX.

  • Crafty says:
    24 Sep24 September 19:38

    Anyone heard from Chris Heyes?

    • Harry T says:
      24 Sep24 September 19:39

      Not recently. Hope he’s okay.

      • BJ says:
        24 Sep24 September 19:48

        +1, a while already, he was off to Brighton or someplace IIRC and I don’t think we have heard from him since. I think that was end of July.

    • Rachel Robinson says:
      24 Sep24 September 19:54

      I asked the other day and my comment got removed!

      • ThePenguin says:
        24 Sep24 September 20:49

        Wasn’t he suspected of being the real notorious Mr squils at one stage? Maybe he was Royal rumbled!

    • Aston100 says:
      24 Sep24 September 20:55

      Rob should have be able to find his email address I imagine.

      Rob – you able to send him a message to check if he’s OK and whether he has finally tried pizza and donner kebabs at last?

      Thanks.

  • BJ says:
    24 Sep24 September 20:11

    Wonder if any HfP reader got caught up in the egate problems today only to get subsequently caught up in a long queue for petrol too.

  • Lula says:
    24 Sep24 September 20:38

    I have flights to Thailand booked for Nov (returning from Singapore), which BA have cancelled, using a 241 that expires next April. It doesn’t look like 241s are going to be extended again, so I’m contemplating exchanging for a FTV.

    On redeeming the FTV, do both the outbound and return flights need to be available? Or can I do them 1 at a time by calling up, like you can when using the 241?

    • Polly says:
      24 Sep24 September 21:27

      Wish they would cancel our SIN flights for end Oct to end November..what dates are yours? Don’t think we will get to HKT or DPS at this stage, really miss the warm swims twice a day…however, this Indian summer is helping…

      • Lula says:
        24 Sep24 September 21:36

        We were due to fly out to Bangkok on 21 November and back from Singapore next June as we’re taking an extended holiday. We’re now hoping to go to Mexico for that time instead. But are doing that on another 241 that also expires next year. So I need to extend one of the vouchers via an FTV but before pulling the trigger wanted to know what the restrictions are on using the voucher.

  • SC says:
    24 Sep24 September 21:40

    BA cancelled our Vegas flights for the second time in August 2021. I’ve called to rebook for 2022 and they’ve said as the ticket was booked in December 2020 i can only rebook and fly by December 2021. This doesn’t seem fair and was totally different to the policy when they cancelled the same flights in 2020. I’ve spoken to so many people in You First who have all said the same thing but I just wanted to get some advice here please. I’m being told to rebook for 2022 there must be avios availability as it was booked with a 241 voucher. It took them a week to decide this and now there’s no return availability.

  • Super Secret Stuff says:
    24 Sep24 September 23:53

    Conrad st james is lovely so far, small issues here or there but been resolved and been given a few free drinks and a bottle of champagne on room service!

    • Super Secret Stuff says:
      24 Sep24 September 23:53

      Obviously detailed review when I leave!

      • Harrier25 says:
        25 Sep25 September 00:08

        I was there a few weeks back and yes, it is a special place. Have you been up to the Rooftop Bar yet? They do an amazing whisky cocktail. It’s the first one on the drinks list. Enjoy the luxury Mr SSS.

        • Super Secret Stuff says:
          25 Sep25 September 00:16

          Not yet but will do that tomorrow evening!

          • Harrier25 says:
            25 Sep25 September 00:22

            Book first thing in the morning and you may be lucky enough to get a table on the outside part with the views over London which are stunning.

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

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