Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

The HfP chat thread – Friday 1st October

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

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Comments (631)

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

  • DavidC says:

    Still not received my Marriott bonus points from the recent 3x promotion on the Creation credit card. Not heard anything yet but If my card is cancelled will I forfeit these extra points?

    • Guernsey Globetrotter says:

      Someone here mentioned yesterday they’d received the bonus. I haven’t and actually queried it a few days ago with Bonvoy customer support – they told me it was referred to their “specialized team” for review and that they could take 10 days to get revert. I’m not holding my breath for those 30k points …

      • RussellH says:

        To repeat what I posted yesterday, from what I have found to be a 100% reliable contact at Bonvoy: “We were informed on Tuesday there was a delay with the file going to Marriott from BNP (ie Creation). I have been advised the those promotion points will post in the next 14 business days.”
        I make that by 18 October.

        • Guernsey Globetrotter says:

          Makes sense – coincidentally Bonvoy just replied to me and, to cut a long story short, told me to call the number on the back of my credit card (i.e. Creation)! Think I may give that a miss today as I understand their lines may be quite busy…

        • JJ says:

          Thanks for the update Russell

  • Tw33ty says:

    So with creation closing so many cards, what’s people looking at moving their non Amex spend to? Or indeed what card will they apply for now instead of creation.

    I’m spire at ihg, and staying less and less these days and thinking this will be a good opportunity to move stays elsewhere too.

    • Youllnever says:

      Probably VA cards for most people if they haven’t already got it.

    • Andy says:

      I’ve not had my letter yet (I suspect I will as I was doing several thousand in business spend each month through Curve as a way to avoid FX fees).

      Probably the Virgin Reward+ card for me. I did the ANA 1st class to Tokyo last year and I’d like to do it again so it makes sense to switch my spend to that.

    • Sam says:

      HSBC WE when the next sign up bonus appears

      Will cancel Curve Metal as it’s not so useful now

      I have a crypto.com visa debit which i should figure out how to use better if anybody has any tips

  • Andrew says:

    Ok interesting one. Just had a reminder from MBNA about how some card purchases will now be treated as Cash Advances – as I had made one or more of those transactions recently.

    I knew I hadn’t, so went through my transactions for anything that might be miscoded. Found it. Reading Borough Council process their hourly charges for the multi-storey car park as a “Fine”. So my £4.10 for 2 hours parking would in future be Subject to interest and a cash advance fee.

    Ouch!

  • Dubious says:

    Hello All.
    I have a BA Flight Booking from Jersey to Gatwick next year…that I made as a Cash Book + Part-Paid using Avios….yes you know the one I mean.

    BA have cancelled this flight…

    If I want to get a full refund instead of a eVoucher, do I still get everything back as cash, or do BA refund the cash and Avios elements separately?

  • Youllnever says:

    Creation’s IHG card page has been taken down for “maintenance”…

  • Aston100 says:

    Couple questions to help me decide whether to get the premium Virgin Card.
    1. Is this still the best available card for Hilton Honors points? and is it still something like £4 = 6 Flying Club points = 9 HH points?
    2. Are you able to pay Mr Guevara without cash advance fees, or is it inconsistent and different for everyone? (Not going to spend a non refundable £160 fee just to ‘try it yourself and see’).

    Thanks.

    • Paul says:

      1. Yes, correct
      2. No idea but the doors are certainly closing now…

      • Guernsey Globetrotter says:

        2. No. I certainly tested Beardy to Che and got a cash advance fee. It was always Solihull that you could pay with Beardy fee free. Solihull in turn could then load Che fee free… hence some of the consternation from peeps who have had their cards shut down!

        • Aston100 says:

          Thanks GG.
          I didn’t really dabble much with MS, unless you count paying Amex with Che.
          Guess I’ll leave it and find a cheaper visa or debit card to replace the IHG card.

  • Paul says:

    The “Spend £5,000 by 30 November and get 10,000 Avios” offer on BAPP:

    My partner has hit the £5k spend and triggered the bonus, however has now received a refund for the triggering spend. The 10k avios have been immediately debited, which isn’t an issue as she will make the spend again by 30th Nov. However the offer has now disappeared from her available or recently redeemed offers, and so I’m wondering if this bonus will be reapplied upon making the (re)qualifying spend?

  • r* says:

    Does anyone have any suggestions which hotel I should ask IHG to move my cancelled booking at CP The City to?

    It was booked cos of its close proximity to where the fireworks happen on NYE but looking at their site, the only hotel nearby thats open on NYE is the Hotel Indigo Leicester Square which seems to have some mixed reviews, so Im not sure if I should ask for that or somewhere else.

    • AL says:

      CPs in London are a very mixed bag. Stay away from the Kings Cross one. See if they’ll shift you to Park Lane? 😉

      If they’ll shift you to another IHG brand, try the Kimpton on Russell Square – although rooms can be a bit pokey.

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