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The HfP chat thread – Thursday 30th September

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We are running this daily chat thread on Head for Points during the coronavirus outbreak.

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General

Comments (587)

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

  • David says:
    30 Sep30 September 02:42

    Just realised that I had a bunch of points expire on the HSBC Premier world elite MasterCard. Hasn’t seen that the points would expire. Has anyone had any luck getting HSBC to reinstate points? especially given most loyalty programmes have extended any points expiration dates during the pandemic. I have the Jade account with the free card if that makes any difference.

    • Guernsey Globetrotter says:
      30 Sep30 September 07:42

      I think they have a hard expiry of 3 years from date of earning them. I’d try calling them – after all, lots on here are saying they got the World Elite MasterCard fee waived by HSBC due to the limited travel benefits during the pandemic: You could try and argue that you haven’t had the opportunity to redeem as you usually would? Feels a bit of a weak argument given they are convertible in multiple ways but as my grandad used to say “shy kids get nowt”!

    • Andrew M says:
      30 Sep30 September 23:16

      When you say you have the free card, I hope that’s not the basic card earning 1 HSBC point per £ spent. As a Jade member, you would qualify for the World Elite card earning 2 points per £ without paying the normal fee.

  • MarkS says:
    30 Sep30 September 05:54

    Hi looking at going to dubai early November with 2 2 year olds. Any suggestions on best place to stay which has a seperate room /area for the kids so we can at least use the room once they go to sleep. Don’t want to spend much more than 500 a night if possible

    • Andrew says:
      30 Sep30 September 06:26

      There’s a new Staybridge just opened near Dubai Mall – 2 bedroom suites about £170 a night.

    • Kevin C says:
      30 Sep30 September 07:41

      Look at the options from JA hotels. They have some family suites and hotel apartments.

    • Travel Strong says:
      30 Sep30 September 07:55

      2 bed apartment Sofitel The Palm. Huge amount of room, and pools/play areas for small kids too.

    • Anna says:
      30 Sep30 September 09:12

      There’s a Hilton on Jumeirah Beach which is all-suite, I think, though apparently there’s a new hotel next to it which throws the pool into shadow for much of the day! (Though that could be a benefit with small children).

      • fivebobbill says:
        30 Sep30 September 12:45

        Think that’s the Doubletree you mean Anna, at the Bluewaters Island end of the strip, the new building next to it is the colossal “Address”.
        The actual “Hilton” is in the centre of JBR beach

    • MarkS says:
      30 Sep30 September 13:38

      Thanks all!

  • ChrisC says:
    30 Sep30 September 06:57

    Given today is the last day of the taxpayer funded furlough and many workers will be back at work because of it will this improve BAs call handling resource and thus reduce call waiting times or have the vast majority of call centre staff been working?

    • Anna says:
      30 Sep30 September 16:17

      I doubt it as the job could be done from home. I think one of the overseas call centres (India?) closed down at one point, don’t know if that’s permanent.

  • KBuffett says:
    30 Sep30 September 07:12

    Charles Tyrwhitt offer on my Platinum Charge Cards – 20% back when you spend £100.

    Whilst on the subject of clothing, I’m looking for two recommendations:
    What do people wear as Travel Attire – looking for casual trousers/smart jogging bottoms that are smart/casual with thin material, non crease, slim fit with cuffed/narrow ankles and zipped pockets to prevent things falling out.

    Also, I hate clothes fading. Does anyone have recommendations of smart casual clothes that don’t fade.

    Apologies, neither question are your usual HfP discussion topics

    • Mike says:
      30 Sep30 September 07:29

      Try Rohan (Tour chinos in particular) or Brasher (Stretch Walking Trousers in particular) they fit your criteria (except cuffed ankles – are you wearing an ankle tag ?)

    • Reney says:
      30 Sep30 September 07:39

      Lululemon joggers, for women the on the fly joggers seems to fit your criteria perfectly. I’m sure there is a male version too. The only thing is I wouldn’t put them in the dryer so if you need to do laundry whilst a travelling, it might be a problem. Oh and there is an amex offer at the moment on some people’s plat card.

    • ChrisC says:
      30 Sep30 September 07:41

      I have some ‘puma’ brand joggers that would meet your requirements which I got from Sports Direct.

      And something similar from Primark (which also earns you some airtime rewards)

    • Harry T says:
      30 Sep30 September 08:08

      Lululemon clothes are the comfiest I’ve worn for travelling. They do some very stretchy and comfortable chinos and joggers.

      • MinR says:
        30 Sep30 September 08:32

        +1 for Lululemon!

        • Phil says:
          30 Sep30 September 15:17

          And another for Lululemon.

          A lot of their male clothing has non-obvious zipped pockets in addition to the obvious pockets. For example, their Commission shorts have a hidden zip pocket on the side seam and one of the back pockets is zipped.

    • Michael C says:
      30 Sep30 September 08:47

      A trakkie?!
      For snug non-wrinkle jeans, Banana Republic’s “Travellers”.

    • Louise K says:
      30 Sep30 September 09:05

      Another vote for Lululemon. They are simply the most comfortable sports / leisure wear.

      However, if paying £100 for a pair isn’t your thing then look at the CRZ Yoga store on Amazon. They are almost identical.

    • Sandra says:
      30 Sep30 September 11:08

      Typical having spent £130 with them last week the same Charles Tyrwhitt offer has also appeared on my PRG card today!

      • Reney says:
        30 Sep30 September 14:14

        re-buy and return?

        • Sandra says:
          30 Sep30 September 17:41

          Too late Reney, washed & ironed prior to wearing & in OHs suitcase ready for his flight to AUH tomorrow!

          • Reney says:
            30 Sep30 September 17:45

            Can’t you buy the exact same item in the same size and take it back with the first receipt?

          • Genghis says:
            30 Sep30 September 20:59

            @Reney. I’ve done that a quite a few times when offers have subsequently appeared / a sale has just started etc.

          • Ming the Merciless says:
            30 Sep30 September 21:31

            But an identical order with the discount, return it immediately with the original purchase receipt. Keep the packaging to keep it simple.

    • ThePenguin says:
      30 Sep30 September 12:55

      Try something high-end I am sure you will be find, forget this LL rubbish.

    • Graham Walsh says:
      30 Sep30 September 13:01

      Costco have some nice trousers in a stretch material, called travel pants I think. About £12 a pair. Got one in each colour, grey, black and navy. So comfy.

    • Mike says:
      30 Sep30 September 17:32

      At least no one has suggested Sweaty Betty yet !

    • BP says:
      30 Sep30 September 21:58

      Quite like Uniqlo ultra stretch active joggers for travel. Very comfortable and reasonably smart as far as joggers go.

  • Doog1000 says:
    30 Sep30 September 07:22

    Just a quick one re expert Medicals – do they still work for day two tests – have seen on here that they still issue the relevant code but seem to have disappeared from the list of official suppliers?

    • Graham C says:
      30 Sep30 September 07:25

      Yes they still work. Used them last week.

      • mzb says:
        30 Sep30 September 07:56

        Graham C did you receive your test results? Been a good 2 weeks since I sent mine in. Not particularly bothered by it but curious.

        • Harrier25 says:
          30 Sep30 September 08:17

          When my test result failed to appear from Expert Medicals I did a successful chargeback on my Hilton Barclaycard.

          • mzb00 says:
            30 Sep30 September 11:46

            I am going through the chargeback process with Curve now. Let’s see if I am also successful

    • Pete M says:
      30 Sep30 September 08:32

      The official list of suppliers states that “the government does not endorse or recommend any specific test provider – you should do your own research about them and their terms and conditions.” So you are free to use them.

      • James says:
        30 Sep30 September 09:04

        That’s interesting I just assumed they had to be on the govt list for you to use them

  • Howard says:
    30 Sep30 September 07:34

    I recall that you used to be able to transfer avios to any nectar account, even different names, address etc. Is this still the case or has it changed, I can’t find any articles this post the changes.

    Thanks in advance!

  • Swiss Jim says:
    30 Sep30 September 07:34

    I have a max £1 eBay seller fees offer. Looking at Ts&Cs, only applies if I am on managed payments which I believe I am. Managed Payments I thought meant no PayPal fees – instead one single fee to eBay. But Ts&Cs also say “PayPal and any other third-party fees still apply”. A little confused by this. Any thoughts/clarity, as the reference to PayPal at least seems irrelevant (as none anyway…). Or have I got this wrong?

    Apparently my partner is interested in buying a couple of things from me…. 😉

    • Pete M says:
      30 Sep30 September 08:34

      I think it may be a matter of the T&Cs not having been updated?

    • Louise says:
      30 Sep30 September 08:41

      No it will be ebay payment nothing to do with paypal anymore

    • CarpalTravel says:
      30 Sep30 September 08:47

      As Pete says, that might be legacy, it might also be just be a covering clause, should you decide to also use paypal or another service for payment. You can after all still have cash on collection etc…

      Is it definitely a £1 final value fee offer? I haven’t seen one of those since the managed payments came into place, now it is usually either a £2 FVF or 80% discount on fees offer, They are still usually a better deal as you don’t have to pay Paypal fees, but I thought the £1 days were gone. Also there will be a monthly sale limit (e.g. £650) before you start paying full fees, so make sure you know what that is.

      Finally, be aware that eBay even 15+yrs ago were savvy enough to spot abuse, through presumably IP addresses. I know a guy who tried to bid up his own auctions and they closed his account very promptly. It is therefore likely they are even better at spotting stuff now.

      • Swiss Jim says:
        30 Sep30 September 09:21

        Thanks all. Yes definitely £1 offer. Showing on messages in my eBay account not some dodgy email that purports to claim the same but doesn’t get replicated there. I do need to buy something from eBay by 4 Oct to trigger, but no minimum purchase price for that…

        • CarpalTravel says:
          30 Sep30 September 09:57

          Wow, that is quite the offer! I was happy with the £2 FVF just over a week ago and have sold over £600’s of stuff so made quite the saving. That all despite Hermes temporarily losing two of my parcels. Won’t make the mistake of using them again.

          These kind of offers are the only time I will risk using eBay now. It is a cesspool for people who like to abuse eBay’s policy of “the buyer can do no wrong”, a stance they take on all issues.

          • davefl says:
            30 Sep30 September 10:19

            I’ve had £1 fvf recently too.
            Managed payments means everything is paid into your bank next day. You have no choice now with ebay.
            It’s a nightmare with dozens of tiny payments into my current account all identified by a ref number. And they use the same payment provider as Etsy, so can’t tell the difference unless you open each one.

            Might open a new current account for ebay sales.

          • Mikeact says:
            30 Sep30 September 13:50

            Actually, if you look, you’ll notice that that final fees you pay (Not the odd promotional £1 etc.) is near as damn as it’s always been..around 10%.
            And your payment is not next day at all ,2 days if you’re lucky and the weekend, bank holidays also get in the way

  • Dave says:
    30 Sep30 September 07:34

    Morning,

    May I know what’s the best option (cheapest) for parking 6 days in Heathrow now? The Heathrow long term parking?
    My flight is T5, 1st to 6th Nov

    Cheers

    • Mattb says:
      30 Sep30 September 07:52

      Best doesn’t equal cheapest.

      Thistle often sells spaces cheaply via parking sites, and you can get the pod to T5.

      Best option is short term on site, not cheap though!

    • Travel Strong says:
      30 Sep30 September 07:59

      Agreed. Best = Short stay at terminal. Cheapest = Your Parking Space.

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

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