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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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Old chat threads are hidden from the HfP home page.  If you want to look for something in an old thread, click here.  This brings up all the articles in our ‘General’ category which includes the chat threads.

Category

General

Comments (484)

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

  • Tom says:
    24 Sep24 September 13:17

    Just tried to open Barclays premier account online, its stuck on the 2nd stage “ID check”, never ending loop, “we will give you a response within 2 minutes” been about 15 mins now, absolute joke.

    • Tom says:
      24 Sep24 September 13:59

      No email or reference number, worth trying again on the iOS app? don’t want multiple credit checks/multiple accounts.

      Don’t think the first application got anywhere…

  • Super Secret Stuff says:
    24 Sep24 September 13:22

    Heading to the conrad st james in London today until Monday. Any recommendations for place to eat? Looking for hidden jems, doesn’t have to be fancy. Doing the touristy stuff and a concert at the O2 on Sunday so will be all over the place! Also if anyone fancies a drink drop me an email

    • Super Secret Stuff says:
      24 Sep24 September 13:24

      Also we’re a couple in our early twenties, partner is a wheelchair user and I’m visually impaired, if that helps with suggestions! (Not interested in STK steakhouse 🤣 )

    • Aston100 says:
      24 Sep24 September 13:26

      In honour of our missing hero Chris Heyes, please go and have a pizza and a donner kebab.

      • Super Secret Stuff says:
        24 Sep24 September 13:54

        Funny thing is I’m trying to avoid pizzas as my OH says I’m going to turn into one 🤣

    • Rupert says:
      24 Sep24 September 13:32

      Go to Victoria Nova – few good places there to choose. Stoke House, Railhouse cafe (brunch)

      Ivy Victoria is good as well

    • Yorkie Aid says:
      24 Sep24 September 13:40

      I would recommend Mildreds for something completely different. The Kings Cross location is probably a lot more accessible for wheelchairs than the original Soho branch which is pretty small from memory.

      • Super Secret Stuff says:
        24 Sep24 September 14:17

        Thank you, should be around there at some point so will defo go eat!

    • Memesweeper says:
      24 Sep24 September 14:22

      Ichi Richi sushi bar, in a basement on Stratton Ground. An easily overlooked and reasonably priced gem for lunch. Not suitable as an evening destination though, the ambiance doesn’t cut it.

    • mr_jetlag says:
      24 Sep24 September 14:52

      Cinnamon club is close by if you fancy a posh curry instead of the Doner.

      • Super Secret Stuff says:
        24 Sep24 September 15:33

        Will check it out, thank you! Although nothing wrong with a late night doner 😭

        • mr_jetlag says:
          24 Sep24 September 15:55

          nothing wrong indeed, have visited several kebab places near victoria station over the years before the last train dash home…

    • Igloo says:
      24 Sep24 September 16:36

      Market Hall in Victoria has a few nice options (but I am not certain it has step free access).

      There is also a food market on Strutton Ground at lunchtime most days with some really nice stuff.

      • BP says:
        24 Sep24 September 17:39

        Burritos in that food market are amazing!! Had one years ago when staying at was then The Intercontinental. My wife still talks about how good it was!!

        • Chas says:
          24 Sep24 September 18:02

          That’s actually my least favourite of the venues there. I much prefer the falafel, Indian or Spanish stalls. I do miss them – not been in that area since Covid, but used to be a regular visitor (3 times a week for years).

    • AndyW says:
      24 Sep24 September 18:20

      By no means hidden gems, but blacklock and dishoom are always good and decent value.

      • Andrew (@andrewseftel) says:
        24 Sep24 September 19:29

        If I remember correctly, Blacklock Soho and City are very much not wheelchair accessible

  • Adam says:
    24 Sep24 September 13:55

    Hello,
    Does Amex Purchase Protection cover electronic items eg iPhone (cracked iPhone screen)???
    Thanks in advance…

  • Bearing up says:
    24 Sep24 September 15:08

    Update: I advised last week of application for VACC+ to replace Tesco CC. Card issued but credit limit, £7k, wholly insufficient and 1st transaction resulted in wasted points etc.
    Spoke to VA CS who listened but said hands tied and basically, wait 6 months. Not happy.
    Happened to look at account this morning and noticed limit quietly increased to £12k- Result!
    Off to Portugal on Monday to play some golf, happy boy! 🤣

    • Harry T says:
      24 Sep24 September 16:02

      Nice work, Virgin can be utter bastards about credit limits. They once gave me a 1.5k limit! 7k is actually quite good.

    • CarpalTravel says:
      24 Sep24 September 17:03

      7k was decent to start with, astonished they increased it in under 6months. Well done you!

  • Graham Walsh says:
    24 Sep24 September 15:08

    Fun at T5 now, egates down so we are sitting on the plane. Thankfully they’ve opened the door to let air in. Terminal is full so no one else allowed in. Seen online that it looks like chaos in there.

    • Optimus Prime says:
      24 Sep24 September 15:28

      Yeah, it’s a national outage: https://apple.news/Aym83ujy9R5i5XnKWO9JT9A

      • TGLoyalty says:
        24 Sep24 September 15:56

        National outage? A member here swore blind it was just someone at a computers few feet away saying yes or no.

        • AndyGWP says:
          24 Sep24 September 17:44

          Those using it probably get logged onto a National system tho, regardless of who is involved in the decision making

        • Lady London says:
          25 Sep25 September 10:16

          Yes that’s correct TG. The gates are not automatic as to whether they let you through, at all. It’s a human looking at the video to see if it’s you matching your passport.

          I’m sure some of them can lipread so I like to brighten their day with a big smile and “Come on, you remember me, I was only here last Friday” or “Come on mate, today please?” if they’re a bit slow 🙂

    • Andrew says:
      24 Sep24 September 16:03

      Quite different yesterday – I arrived at C gates at 4pm from Spain – and was in Nero in departures by 4:30, having collected luggage.

  • PaulC says:
    24 Sep24 September 15:28

    Anyone who has used Nationwide Pathology for Day 2 testing kit (Cheapest currently available?) – Do they give you the reference code for your passenger locator form straight away when you pay online or does it come with the kit in the post? TIA

    • idrive says:
      24 Sep24 September 15:32

      Straight away. I bought Sat morning, completed PLF immediately, flew in on Sunday, got it on Monday, posted. The email quotes the reference clearly

      • PaulC says:
        24 Sep24 September 15:36

        Cheers. We don’t return until 9th Oct but getting things in place before we fly out next Friday. No rush on this now.

  • Tim Rogers says:
    24 Sep24 September 15:41

    Is the current – soon to be expired – IHG Amex offer stackable? I spent about £150 a few months back and you get £50 off at £200, so wondering if I can get a free hotel stay in the next week.

  • Andrew H says:
    24 Sep24 September 15:50

    Curve latest

    Hi Andrew,

    You received an email from us on Wednesday regarding your account. This message was sent in error.

    Please ignore it and accept our apologies for any inconvenience or confusion this may have caused.

    Thanks,
    Team Curve

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

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