Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

The HfP chat thread – Saturday 25th September

Links on Head for Points may pay us an affiliate commission. A list of partners is here.

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.

Please only comment under the main articles on the site if your comment is directly related to the topic of the article.  This has long-term benefits as it keeps the commentary relevant for people who read those articles in the future.

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 (426)

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

  • Adam says:
    25 Sep25 September 04:16

    Could someone kindly advise the best option (ie. cheapest) for day 2 but without the cowboy sites? My personal favourite was 000 11 travel showing )19.99 and then £69.99 after adding all information and clicking through as the other price had “just sold out.” 😉 😉 Randox seems to be the best at £43 or am I wrong? Honestly, I’m all for competition, however, driving past the completely empty NHS drive thru at LHR yesterday – even with incoming revisions the system is just totally bonkers…

    • Sandgrounder says:
      25 Sep25 September 04:50

      Randox works, if you actually want to do the test you will probably have the least stress from this option. You may not have a drop box conveniently close to you however.

    • TimM says:
      25 Sep25 September 05:42

      You can return Randox tests via the post from any designated ‘Priority Postbox’ but you have to cover the first class post yourself. They cannot be collected by courier or accepted at a post office.
      https://www.royalmail.com/priority-postboxes

      • Sandgrounder says:
        25 Sep25 September 05:51

        If I needed to use the post I’d probably consider giving nationwide pathology a go at £40.

        • Tracey says:
          25 Sep25 September 07:34

          I’ve used NWP, they were fine, and return postage via RM PBs is pre paid. Got results in a little over 24 hours.

        • Mark says:
          25 Sep25 September 13:28

          Just ordered NWP tests for our return from Greece. Would have bought from anywhere regardless of feedback on the basis that It’s no skin off our nose if the tests don’t arrive or we never get the results. Frankly the risk our testing positive is negligable anyway. Was tempted to buy £20 tests for the other end of the country and not turn up but in the end decided the theoretical risk of a fine wasn’t worth it. I did note that NWP has generally good feedback so will see how it goes.

          • Mike says:
            25 Sep25 September 13:43

            Mark why do you think “ the risk our testing positive is negligable ” – that is the view that actually spreads serious diseases!

          • Mark says:
            25 Sep25 September 23:13

            Negligable because we’ve just had a negative test today, and because we keep ourselves to ourselves, avoiding crowds and enclosed spaces so far as possible. Not because we somehow believe we are invincible… rather the opposite!

        • Mikeact says:
          25 Sep25 September 20:07

          Only up to October 4th, and then their web site will be updated with the new rules. ie You can’t order in advance of the 4th for Spain for example.

    • Harry T says:
      25 Sep25 September 07:02

      I recommend the Randy old Ox

      • meta says:
        25 Sep25 September 07:33

        My recent experience with Randox is not good. I blame 50/50 DPD and Randox.

        Still waiting on mine which was delivered to the wrong address and no calling card left. Made a complaint and ordered NHS one. My partner managed to retrieve his from the neighbour yesterday (three days after delivery as the neighbour was away!).

        The reason I blame Randox is because I put in the flight date and the time of arrival (late afternoon) and yet they send it by courrier to arrive in the morning while we are still away.

    • Graham Walsh says:
      25 Sep25 September 07:32

      I’ve got my nationwide kit to do today and send back via a post box near me. £40. As you say, all these test sites are totally empty doing nothing. Maybe a few tests a day. How much longer can they be open? Why not use them for day 2 & 8 tests too.

    • Dave says:
      25 Sep25 September 08:04

      I was happy with https://nwp-online.co.uk/, not sure whether you consider them a ‘Cowboy’…

      £40.

    • Louie says:
      25 Sep25 September 08:19

      I ordered Randox on Thursday at 9.02am and the kits arrived at 9.55am yesterday. Haven’t used them yet but I’m impressed so far. £43 each. Planning to take them with us and do the tests and drop them off on the way back from Heathrow as we’ll be passing a dropbox.

    • J says:
      25 Sep25 September 09:06

      Much to suggest Expert Medicals are cowboys, but I ordered our tests on Wednesday and they were delivered yesterday. And you get the code for the PLF immediately in the order confirmation. £28.

      • mzb says:
        25 Sep25 September 09:20

        That part went very smoothly for me when we ordered earlier this month from EM. In my book this was all I needed them for. The kit did however arrive and decided to use it, that’s where things got less smooth. Couldn’t activate it, eventually got it sorted and 10 days after having sent the test via post (successfully delivered) haven’t heard back about results. Not particularly bothered but just so you are aware.

    • TOBIAS L says:
      25 Sep25 September 10:02

      Just buy any random cheap test for the PLF code and move on with life. No one checks anything beyond that.

      Also, there is no ‘competition’ – sample analysis conducted by yours truly suggests ~50% of cheapest 30 vendors were the same company due to same website template/ordering mechanism/wording.

      Some Tories are lining their pockets!

  • Zoe says:
    25 Sep25 September 05:45

    How do I work out a return leg refund of my Virgin ticket? I.e if I want to get a travel voucher for return leg only. The airline fare breakdown price in my email only takes into account the whole return fare.

    • AJA says:
      25 Sep25 September 09:38

      Try create the same itinerary on Itamatrix. Sum up the return half and calculate the percentage of total and apply to your total fare you paid. Remember the return will be less than half the total ticket as it won’t have UK APD.

  • Mouse says:
    25 Sep25 September 05:46

    To @Gary from page 5 yesterday – I took almost exactly your scenario to CEDR, asking for rerouting beyond 1yr from booking date (rather than compensation) and was awarded what I asked for.

  • Zoe says:
    25 Sep25 September 05:46

    Also where is the cheapest place for LHR T3 parking. 14 days

    • Graham Walsh says:
      25 Sep25 September 07:34

      I used Star Parking this week for Meet and Greet. Car is driven 20 miles or so to the compound. Might check out the dash cam later too.

  • Dominic says:
    25 Sep25 September 06:08

    Stayed at the Conrad (formerly Jumeirah) Abu Dhabi @ Etihad Towers last night. Genuinely very impressed; hotel itself is (obviously) of a very high quality, but service from staff particularly notable.

    Pool/beach is nothing particularly special, but nothing to complain about, either.

    • Magarathea says:
      25 Sep25 September 08:16

      Hi Dominic. I am due to visit Abu Dhabi in 7 weeks for my first post pandemic trip. Can I ask how did you find the Covid restrictions getting into the country? Did you fly into Abu Dhabi directly or via Dubai and if via Dubai are there still restrictions getting from Dubai to Abu Dhabi? Any comments would be really appreciated. Thanks.

      • Dominic says:
        25 Sep25 September 09:57

        Hi there!

        You can now travel between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. I flew in directly to AUH.

        You need a PCR before arriving, and will be tested again immediately upon arrival (for free). You also need a test on day 4 and day 8 (or day 6), which I’m told is around £10 a time. I say day 4&8 or day 6 as the internet says the former, but my tracking app says the latter.

        You need the app to go anywhere, and it has to be green (goes green a few hours after your first PCR).

        Hope that helps! Happy to answer any other questions.

        • Magarathea says:
          25 Sep25 September 11:03

          Hi Dominic. Many thanks for the info. Very helpful. I was booked to AHU using BA on a 2-4-1 reward flight but this was cancelled some time ago. Now that things have opened up a bit, I am about to talk to them about rerouting. I know that BA are not flying to AHU for the foreseeable future but do you or anyone else have any info on BA rerouting me directly to AHU on another carrier or if they would dig their heels in for a DXB reroute? Thanks again in anticipation.

          • Dominic says:
            25 Sep25 September 13:33

            I’m afraid I have only ever flown BA once, so have v little info to give on that! You may have some luck in land transport with them, but – if not – it’s pretty cheap to get to Abu Dhabi from DXB (even by taxi, but can equally get a metro in Dubai most the way and then a taxi, or a bus)

        • Aston100 says:
          25 Sep25 September 12:07

          Hi Dominic, have you seen or heard anything to indicate if there will be a reduction in the number of tests needed by foreign visitors?

          • Dominic says:
            25 Sep25 September 13:30

            Some friends out here suggested they thought it was going down to only day 6 for double vaxxed (and the airport one). The airport one isn’t really an inconvenience, though – took 5 mins at the airport, had the result in two hours (whilst on the beach at the hotel).

            You need the Al Hosn app to be green to go just about anywhere, though, and this is also strict for locals.

        • r* says:
          25 Sep25 September 15:56

          Can you cross between dubai and abu dhabi without needing a test at the border now so if you fly into and out of dxb youd just need the pcr for arrival and that would be it?

      • fivebobbill says:
        25 Sep25 September 12:10

        FWIW, when I landed in Dubai just over 3 weeks ago, showing a PDR test appeared almost irrelevant, when asked for my test I started rummaging through my paperwork and he waved me through! However Emirates (and I suppose BA), did do a thorough check.
        Travelling and staying at a number of hotels in both Dubai & Ras Al Khaimah, the words Covid test or PCR were never mentioned again…

        • fivebobbill says:
          25 Sep25 September 12:13

          * when I say “thorough check”, I mean they simply matched the name and passport numbers and checked the date was valid!

          • Dominic says:
            25 Sep25 September 13:29

            Yes – Abu Dhabi has been much stricter than the other Emirates (only a couple of weeks back did the border between Abu Dhabi and Dubai open again). Dubai has been far more lax.

    • JSemity says:
      25 Sep25 September 09:34

      a friend recently stayed there a few weeks ago and was also exceptionally impressed with the service. Now on my list to visit!

      • Dominic says:
        25 Sep25 September 13:32

        Definitely worth a visit! The breakfast is also, as expected, excellent. If you have status, unfortunately the lounge has closed, but they did do drinks and canapes in a restaurant instead (which, my bill reliably suggested, was worth 270 AED in my case)

  • LM says:
    25 Sep25 September 06:29

    What’s stopping someone hypothetically booking a refundable day 2 and day 8 test while abroad, flying home, leaving Heathrow then refunding the tests?

    • Zoe says:
      25 Sep25 September 06:31

      Refundable? Most say they are not

    • Mike says:
      25 Sep25 September 06:33

      Integrity- and a sense of knowing right from wrong

    • LM says:
      25 Sep25 September 06:53

      Thanks all. If anyone can suggest which suppliers offer refunds so I know which ones don’t have integrity and are best avoided that would be good.

    • Tracey says:
      25 Sep25 September 07:36

      Risk of a £1000 fine?

      Understanding that there is a pandemic and the responsible action is to do a PCR test when asked?

      • Bill says:
        25 Sep25 September 08:06

        Buy a 20 quid ticket to IOM or Jersey. Put transit on your form. ……

      • J says:
        25 Sep25 September 09:16

        @Tracey – Not really though is it. The responsible thing is to make your best day to day judgement based on scientific consensus to reduce your risk of infection and transmission, regardless of government advice. If you calculate your journey from a country with a negligible infection rate shows very low risk, you’d be better off saving your test to use after your next trip to the supermarket.

  • Frankie says:
    25 Sep25 September 06:32

    Hi Rob and Rhys. Is there going to be a HFP Christmas party this year? Here’s hoping there is one.

    • Mike says:
      25 Sep25 September 06:33

      Ooooh can it be in Doncaster

    • Mike says:
      25 Sep25 September 06:38

      It’s ok I will understand if there is no party due to: COVID, NHS waiting lists, BREXIT, a shortage of HGV drivers, high fuel costs, and petrol shortages – although perhaps we could all be asked to phone a call centre individually to find out if there is one.

      • Erico1875 says:
        25 Sep25 September 06:53

        HFP are currently organising their own “fit to attend” PCR test centre at £99.99pp which will be a compulsory purchase if you want to attend the party.😁😁😁

    • TimM says:
      25 Sep25 September 06:42

      Or Huddersfield? Mid way between Manchester and Leeds, Huddersfield is the epicentre of the Northern Powerhouse. There is a grade one listed railway station (it looks like the British Museum). It could be a shock to the system to those used to fast, frequent and on-time trains though.

    • Harry T says:
      25 Sep25 September 07:03

      Can we do it somewhere like York or Edinburgh, for a change?I appreciate I’m not an SW1 billionaire but it would nice to attend one of these without losing my job or taking the day off 😊

      • Danny says:
        25 Sep25 September 07:19

        Harry, from your comments, you seem to travel (and I think works in the NHS) and stay in some top hotels, so I’m sure a few days off work or travel costs to London shouldn’t really an issue surely 😉

      • Andrew says:
        25 Sep25 September 07:38

        It rarely works.

        I spent years working on a medical charity’s events. I could book a 150 seat venue in London and have a waiting list a month before the event, or book a 150 seat venue in Brum or Newcastle and sell 30 tickets.

        Outside London, the only way I could flog all tickets, is to have a device manufacturer or Pharma sponsor the event, and give them away for free. And as people don’t value free events there’d be a 25% no-show.

        (Oh, and London venues tended to be considerably cheaper than the North.)

      • The Savage Squirrel says:
        25 Sep25 September 08:49

        I’m from oop north and to be fair can see that the practicalities and economics mean that it works better in London even though it means I’ll almost certainly never get to go.

      • Spurs drive me mad says:
        25 Sep25 September 08:53

        Come of it Harry you’re always posting about your trips don’t tell us you can’t do 1 night in London. Just think you can use one of the many hotel offers we’ve got on our Amex cards.

        • Harry T says:
          25 Sep25 September 09:04

          They didn’t give me any decent hotel offers! I need to use all my leave for trips outside the UK 😊

    • Raveon says:
      25 Sep25 September 09:00

      Propose Manchester, but would come to London where it would inevitably be.

      • Pangolin says:
        25 Sep25 September 18:22

        I prefer the Maldives or Bora Bora. Plus the hotels will be cheaper than in London

    • Rhys says:
      27 Sep27 September 08:49

      Planning on it.

  • DZOO says:
    25 Sep25 September 06:41

    Slightly crystal ball territory but any thoughts on whether BWC will be extended past Aug 2022?

    • Harry T says:
      25 Sep25 September 07:07

      I highly doubt it, barring some kind of variant calamity or significant vaccine failure.

    • Paul Pogba says:
      25 Sep25 September 08:36

      It’d be hard to see why they would but I’m loving it. Combined with (double) best price guarantee its saving me a fortune.

    • BuildBackBetter says:
      25 Sep25 September 09:10

      Once US opens up (when dates and rules are clear), can’t see why BA would extend it.

    • DZOO says:
      25 Sep25 September 11:31

      Makes sense – will be a real shame to see it go!

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

New to Head for Points?

Welcome!  We’re the UK’s most-read source of business travel, Avios, frequent flyer and hotel loyalty news. Let us improve how you travel. Learn more on our About page.

VAA

Latest comments

Latest Forum Posts

Get 30,000 points bonus with American Express Platinum

Amex Gold

Check reward flight availability instantly for free!

See a whole year of reward seat availability on one page at SeatSpy.com

Booking a luxury hotel?

Our luxury hotel booking service offers you GUARANTEED extra benefits over booking direct. Works with Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, The Ritz Carlton, St Regis and more. We've booked £1.3 million of rooms to date. Click for details.

Get 20,000 bonus points and your first year free with American Express Gold

Amex Gold