The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 5th October

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• Sandgrounder says:

  5 Oct5 October 06:50

  Might have been mentioned before, but Etihad have some great sale fares in business to Dubai (with coach transfer). Sale says from 1099, but there seems to be piles of availablity for about 1150, albeit not in the school holidays. It is a lot cheaper than just booking to AUH.

  • mart says:

    5 Oct5 October 09:12

    cant find these from which airport?

    • Matt B says:

      5 Oct5 October 10:51

      I got those prices from Heathrow, but you have to put the destination as Dubai bus station as it effectively makes it a multi-leg booking.

      • Blenz101 says:

        5 Oct5 October 11:33

        I think it’s actually a private car transfer and you also get double guest miles.

        • George M says:

          5 Oct5 October 14:50

          Could you just arrive at the airport and then grab a taxi to your hotel or would this cancel the return legs? Also could you just arrive at the airport for the flight rather then get the bus from dxb to Abu Dhabi airport? Thanks

        • Sandgrounder says:

          5 Oct5 October 16:44

          This is what I’m wondering George, the bus has a flight number? So I’d be worried about not showing up. Has anyone else done this?

    • Sandgrounder says:

      5 Oct5 October 16:42

      LHR to Dubai XNB (which is the Etihad bus station) mart

      • Rob says:

        5 Oct5 October 17:29

        We’re covering this tomorrow as it happens …. can’t argue with €740!

        • David says:

          5 Oct5 October 19:58

          I have been considering this deal for a few days but am unclear if you need to comply with Abu Dhabi or Dubai covid entry requirements, which currently seem to differ quite considerably. Swiss and Lufthansa also have some good prices to Dubai but require a connection which adds complexity and covid rule change risk. BA cash prices for business seem quite high and no reward availability for some time (although the point about an A380 service is noted). I’m also wondering if BA Premium Economy (cash fare) might be a good choice given it’s a relatively short flight… Any thoughts welcome!

        • Niall says:

          5 Oct5 October 21:19

          €740? One way?

        • Rob says:

          5 Oct5 October 21:39

          Return (business to Dubai)

        • Niall says:

          5 Oct5 October 22:33

          Ooh. I can’t wait till the morning, any hints at dates… I’m booking 🙂

• Andrew says:

  5 Oct5 October 06:52

  We are in Italy at the moment and whilst our COVID status is checked when going into restaurants etc we simply show them our results from the fit to fly and they are fine with that. You don’t have to have a green pass which you renew every few days.

  • YC says:

    5 Oct5 October 07:19

    Do they accept nhs vaccine passes? Depending how long ur there, the date of the fit to fly might begin to get challenged as acceptable (?)

  • Save East Coast Rewards says:

    5 Oct5 October 07:33

    They should require proof of vaccination or a test within the last 48 hours. Their app that scans green passes should accept the NHS vaccination pass, but not the England only event pass. There’s a risk that if you have a test older than 48 hours and no proof of vaccine both you and the venue can get fined. I’m not sure how often it’s checked.

    • HBommie says:

      5 Oct5 October 07:48

      Thanks for the info, off to Venice and have the NHS vaccination pass (travel) in readiness.

      • Save East Coast Rewards says:

        5 Oct5 October 07:50

        If you want some reassurance get someone to download the free VerificaC19 app (this is one issued by the Italian government so it’s what most businesses use to check your pass) then get them to scan the pass on your phone and it should show the green tick.

        • Doug says:

          5 Oct5 October 10:15

          yes, make sure you scan the second dose QR code!

        • HBommie says:

          5 Oct5 October 12:05

          Thanks I have both

    • HBommie says:

      5 Oct5 October 07:50

      and PCR tests for Border checks.

      • Save East Coast Rewards says:

        5 Oct5 October 08:02

        I’ve never needed a PCR to enter Italy. A lateral flow has always been accepted. The only PCR needed is the day 2 to enter UK

  • Swiss Jim says:

    5 Oct5 October 15:23

    The issue I think is for children (and others) who are not vaccinated. In England that necessarily includes those under 16. In Italy those under 12 are exempt from testing rules. So those 12-15 need to get regularly tested in Italy, as they can’t show they are vaccinated (as they are not) but are not exempt from evidence in covid status eg via Green Pass even when travelling with fully vaccinated parents. At least that’s my reading…

• YC says:

  5 Oct5 October 07:26

  Any non-us citizens tried to participate in daily gateaways in prior years? T&Cs say us/Canadians only but wondering how strictly enforced it is

  • Rob says:

    5 Oct5 October 07:48

    Not enforced, as long as you know how to fool their website into accepting a US format zipcode (five digits) as your UK postcode 🙂

    • meta says:

      5 Oct5 October 08:18

      Beware that getting Hyatt points for what is effectively very low number of packages is going to be very hard. Only 16 this time around! It’s only ever good for other points if you need more than the annual limit imposed by the programmes as cost is the same as purchasing direct.

      • Rob says:

        5 Oct5 October 09:02

        You’re wasting your time with Hyatt. They were impossible to get when there were 100 of each in previous years.

      • YC says:

        5 Oct5 October 09:03

        Hyatt is a good deal, Hilton looks like the normal sale price

  • Super Secret Stuff says:

    5 Oct5 October 10:25

    What’s gateaways?

• Paul says:

  5 Oct5 October 07:30

  Need 4 new tyres soon, anyone any suggestions for Avios earnings…? Thanks

  • Can says:

    5 Oct5 October 07:38

    I went for KwikFit in the summer. They had the best prices I could find online for premium tyres. And not far from me.

    • KBuffett says:

      5 Oct5 October 08:54

      I’ve recently found Kwik Fit to be the cheapest for premium tyres. To get the best prices, you must book online and look out for discount codes displayed on the site for certain brands. They also offer tyre insurance that has saved a a lot of money. You may be able use TaCoBell etc too.

  • Mattb says:

    5 Oct5 October 08:30

    Not avios but had 10% back at ATS euromaster using smart rewards on my cards recently. Think it was on both Mbna and Santander although had to split the orders as each was capped at £30. Prices at the time were the cheapest too.

  • Yorkie Aid says:

    5 Oct5 October 08:49

    I have used KwikFit many times and always been happy. Last time though I used Costco and got a fantastic deal. It was so much cheaper it more than paid for the year’s membership by itself.

  • Tracey says:

    5 Oct5 October 09:01

    Costco for a competitive price and pay with Amex for Avios.

    • stevenhp1987 says:

      5 Oct5 October 10:16

      +1

    • Super Secret Stuff says:

      5 Oct5 October 10:26

      +1

    • CarpalTravel says:

      5 Oct5 October 10:53

      +1

    • Graham Walsh says:

      5 Oct5 October 12:10

      +1 for Costco. Got 4 tyres there a few months ago for my car. Michelin have offers on where the discount is up front at Costco. Some retailers make you claim it back.

  • Andrew says:

    5 Oct5 October 09:10

    Garages, even dealerships, will usually price match nearby competitors, so focus on price first.

    I currently have 10% back on my MBNA account at ATS Euromaster (max £30) and 14 Nectar Points per £1 on Nectar Connect, max 6000. So a circa £430 spend would earn you 3,750 Avios.

• BLT says:

  5 Oct5 October 07:43

  QQ for Rob – thinking of applying for the capital one card – are there a boosted SUB on the horizon (similar to the one earlier this year)?

  • Rob says:

    5 Oct5 October 07:45

    Capital On Tap? Long story, but not this side of Christmas. Due to the Avios ‘transition’ to the new IT platform, all partners are blocked from launching new Avios offers for a few weeks to avoid unnecessary risk of transactions going missing. You’d get the usual 10,500 for now.

    • BLT says:

      5 Oct5 October 08:24

      Sorry – yes capital on tap. Thanks

• Tom says:

  5 Oct5 October 07:54

  Data point: Upgraded my BA AMEX from blue to black just before the end of August. Was charged £250 fee. Just received the anticipated £55 refund this morning. Worth noting, I have not complained or brought it to AMEXs attention whatsoever. It was on my mind to do so, but I hadn’t got around to it.

  • SteveJ says:

    5 Oct5 October 08:15

    +1, thanks for the data point.

    New BAPP card applicant in Aug, incorrect fee charged and this morning £55 credit has appeared

  • Yorkieflyer says:

    5 Oct5 October 08:58

    +1 here too. August upgrade.

  • Peter K says:

    5 Oct5 October 09:45

    +1

• Mco says:

  5 Oct5 October 07:57

  Called Virgin reservations and waited 2hrs for someone to answer the phone last night and the guy hung up on me as he clearly didn’t know the answer. Currently waiting again since the last hour.

  I used my points and card to book my brother. The flights today and after booking it said that he needs to present the card but he is in a different country. Anyway around this?

  If someone from Virgin reads this

  1. Show the warning before the confirmation screen!
  2. Have something in place if the line drops the operator should call back. Its very annoying to wait 2hrs only for the operator to disconnect you as he doesn’t know what to do.

  • Shub says:

    5 Oct5 October 09:59

    You can send an authorization letter through email to your brother with a photo of your payment card (hiding the CVV)

    • Mco says:

      5 Oct5 October 11:20

      Virgin says they will not accept this. They need the physical card. On top of that they are now saying that the ticket is non refundable as its within 24hrs of departure. Only travel voucher possible or loose the points and taxes.

  • Harley says:

    5 Oct5 October 10:56

    Hanging up has become a major issue. BA have done it to me a few times over the last few months too. Clearly not enough monitoring of calls like there used to be

    • Mco says:

      5 Oct5 October 11:21

      It’s so frustrating when you have had to wait for 2hrs for the call to be answered.

• BP says:

  5 Oct5 October 07:58

  I queried the lack of F&B spend points from my recent SSDV stay and IHG customer service added 25k points. Result!!

  • meta says:

    5 Oct5 October 08:20

    How much did you spend? They only added measly 3k points for me.

    • BP says:

      5 Oct5 October 08:41

      Only about £850. The alcohol spend wasn’t too high as we have a 2 year old.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    5 Oct5 October 09:20

    Are six senses excluded from earning on F&B then or just a mistake?

    • meta says:

      5 Oct5 October 09:35

      I spent about £700. I am going to write them again and see if I can get more.

      @TGLoyatly specifically F&B at Six Senses Douro Valley is excluded. Cash rates too. Basically IHG says they are not participating in IHG Rewards, yet they offer benefits based on status (late check out, upgrade, etc.) and we could book on points.

      • TGLoyalty says:

        5 Oct5 October 12:10

        Makes sense

        I look forward to them participating, I had to cancel the trip I originally booked.

    • Jonathan says:

      5 Oct5 October 09:42

      SSDV is not participating in IHG Rewards at the moment according to website & app so no points for any spend (room rate or ancillaries).

      Apparently the intern rate was them trialling redemptions (& royally messing it up). They are also recognising IHG Elites currently but as a discretionary gesture.

    • Rob says:

      5 Oct5 October 09:58

      They are being, one at a time, dropped into IHG Rewards. Once in, they earn as usual. Until then you get nothing.

      • K says:

        5 Oct5 October 11:16

        I emailed ambassador team. They kindly explained hat SSDV is not in the scheme but as a goodwill gesture, gave me 10,000 points.

  • Toppcat says:

    5 Oct5 October 12:13

    This is a great result. I got (legitimately) fobbed off, but this has inspired me to have another go…

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