The HfP chat thread – Monday 27th September

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Alex says:

27 Sep27 September 19:03

New Platinum supplementary since beginning of Sept with no offers at all. Is that normal? Any tips?
- KBuffett says:
  
  27 Sep27 September 19:05
  
  Any spending so far?
  Anecdotal evidence suggests that they often don’t implement offers until spending comments.
- Peter K says:
  
  27 Sep27 September 19:38
  
  Not that unusual. I had a supplementary with no offers for 3-4 weeks despite spending…then a couple, then a deluge.
  - Reney says:
    
    27 Sep27 September 20:03
    
    My BAPP sup card took a full month from first spend to get offers.
- xcalx says:
  
  28 Sep28 September 10:28
  
  I received Nectar card in May no spend at all and have 23 offers
AL says:

27 Sep27 September 19:21

Booking flights to the US for late October from LHR. Slight preference for VS, but will accept BA. Don’t care about indirect routing. ExpertFlyer showing no/little reward upgrade availability – is that likely to change, in people’s experiences, or are they still running reduced cabin service (and therefore trying to get everyone in to Economy)? BA Silver, VS Gold.
- ChrisC says:
  
  27 Sep27 September 19:44
  
  Why would they try and get everyone into economy? Would make no sense. They make their money from pax in premium cabins not economy.
  
  As far as I’m aware both airlines are now operating normal service (or as normal as makes no difference)
Sandgrounder says:

27 Sep27 September 19:22

Chase UK have confirmed to can withdraw cash from Chase ATMs in the US with no surcharges
https://twitter.com/ChaseSupportUK/status/1442118132517179394?s=19

That is what I was hoping for.
- Harry T says:
  
  27 Sep27 September 20:23
  
  Is that a decent benefit? I’ve genuinely never been to the US, so I don’t know if you usually get punished for withdrawing cash.
  - stevenhp1987 says:
    
    27 Sep27 September 20:31
    
    Most machines charge ~$3 for a withdraw.
    
    Assuming the Chase machines recognise it as Chase and offers $0 withdrawal fee then its not bad.
    
    My Santander Select account should have free withdraws at Santander ATMs in the US but we always have to get them to refund the ATM withdraw charge…
  - Sandgrounder says:
    
    27 Sep27 September 21:15
    
    It’s pretty much impossible to get cash for free, it’s one thing I miss about my Citi account. And I do like to have some cash over there for tipping purposes.
    - lumma says:
      
      27 Sep27 September 23:40
      
      I always thought it was the Chase ATMs that didn’t charge a fee when I wanted to withdraw cash over there
- Char Char says:
  
  28 Sep28 September 01:14
  
  No fee but I wonder if they are going to mark up the exchange rate
The Original Nick. says:

27 Sep27 September 19:40

Can anyone help out here with the new traffic light system changes resulting in if you have to have a kind of Covid. I have a 2 day stop in Valencia the middle of next month 15th -17th. I’m flying from UK to Valencia returning back here in the UK. Will I need any tests? I’m fully vaccinated.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  27 Sep27 September 19:46
  
  Nothing to get on the plane but You will need to have a day 2 PCR test as it stands.
  
  The change to day 2 lateral flow hasn’t been formalised.
  - The Original Nick. says:
    
    27 Sep27 September 20:09
    
    Excellent, thanks.
    - lumma says:
      
      27 Sep27 September 23:41
      
      As long as you’re fully vaccinated, if not 10 day home quarantine
      - TGLoyalty says:
        
        28 Sep28 September 00:10
        
        OP said “I’m fully vaccinated.”
        
        5 days with TTR
The Original Nick. says:

27 Sep27 September 19:41

* any kind of Covid test.
David says:

27 Sep27 September 20:14

Direct fares in business to the states are mad at the moment – LAX in November minimum £4100 !
- Andrew says:
  
  27 Sep27 September 20:20
  
  Gearing up for a sale then – BA’s sale just ended so they hike the prices for a few days and then launch a new sale.
  - David says:
    
    27 Sep27 September 20:55
    
    Virgin prices are even higher.
  - Aston100 says:
    
    27 Sep27 September 21:09
    
    The DFS of the skies?
- John says:
  
  27 Sep27 September 20:33
  
  It seems to be a Heathrow thing. Flights to Atlanta are all around £3990 or so across OW and Skyteam. Originating in Dublin (but otherwise using the same plane across the pond) is closer to £2800.
  Only JetBlue seems reasonable at the moment, but ticking the “flexible ticket” button hikes the price up there too.
  - Scott says:
    
    27 Sep27 September 21:46
    
    I was looking at LHR-JFK in late Jan / early Feb (probably chilly!).
    
    £647 for PE flights. CW fares around £2900 (£600 more for F).
- Harry T says:
  
  27 Sep27 September 20:44
  
  Go via CDG. You can knock 3k off that price at the moment.
  - John says:
    
    27 Sep27 September 20:50
    
    I’ve never actually done CDG because of its poor reputation – is it undeserved?
    - John says:
      
      27 Sep27 September 20:54
      
      Transferring is not a good experience but if you were able to go via Eurostar it should be fine
    - Lyn says:
      
      28 Sep28 September 08:08
      
      I honestly don’t think CDG is quite as bad as its reputation. It is definitely worth considering flights from there.
      
      No lounges are available at the moment though for BA flights because the Cathay and American lounges are closed.
Nick Booker says:

27 Sep27 September 20:55

anyone have a BA code I can use for chronomics fit to fly test
- ChrisC says:
  
  27 Sep27 September 21:28
  
  All the BA discounts are listed on the BA website.
Simon says:

27 Sep27 September 21:04

Day 2 PCR test for uk arrivals. Why are the tests more expensive for amber originating countries (double vaxed) than green originating? Are the tests or procedures different?
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  27 Sep27 September 21:14
  
  It’s exactly the same test.
- Tracey says:
  
  27 Sep27 September 23:07
  
  Click bait?
  
  Nationwide pathology are £40, randox £43 with a code.
- lumma says:
  
  27 Sep27 September 23:43
  
  There’s no such thing as green and amber any more, it’s red or “the rest of the world”
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    28 Sep28 September 00:11
    
    There is until October 4th