Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 6th 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 (560)

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

  • Reney says:

    2% for Asda on Airtime. Not enough to get very excited about…

  • David says:

    Always lease! If the total lease cost is less than the depreciation – then lease. This makes more sense for an electric car as the batteries have a finite life.

    • Jody says:

      Cheers. Depreciation is a tough one to gauge though, as I think most of these are new 2021 models. I was reading something that suggested the residual value of the VW ID3 is supposedly predicted to be pretty good after 3 years, but who knows?

      I just answered a post on the previous page, but have been amazed at what I’ve been offered for my secondhand Nissan Juke that is 4 years old – paid £14k, been offered £11.6k. It’s very low mileage, but am still shocked.

      • Amy C says:

        Ditto, I paid £26250 for my evoque (2019 plate) in June 2020 when it had 7000 miles. It’s now got 24500 and yesterday I was offered 26k for it!

        • Reney says:

          Covid increasing demand for private vehicles and also lack of chips have probably pushed up second hand cars. I wouldn’t necessarily take value from this and last year as a pattern for the future.

          • Colin MacKinnon says:

            Of course, at the other end of the market, there are no 10-11 year old cars because of the credit crunch! And there werem’t that many 8-9 years ago.

            So my 16-year-old Volvo was £1500 when I bought it two years ago, and is now worth £2500!

            Can’t see there being enough affordable new cars soon to supply the new customers plus the ones who would have bought second hand but can’t. It goes right down the chain.

        • Andrew H says:

          Yup – my cash in price for my Giulia Veloce at 3 years old in December is £16k

          Webuyanycar – unlikely to be the best price – are offering £23k

          I don’t think I will be returning it

          • elguiri says:

            webuyanycar had lots of reviews stating they knock down the initial price a lot for anything that isn’t pristine. Also takes a few days for cash to come through.
            I ended up selling mine for well over part-ex price to sellcar – they value and then pick up your car both from your home, and cash goes instantly into your bank account on pickup before you hand keys over. Made it just in time to pay deposit on our new car before picking it up.

    • TicknBash says:

      The strong used car price in the market now is a one off because there was lack of new cars on the road this time last year.

      Technology on EVs are moving very quick so there’s no point holding on cars with today’s technology in 3-5 years time = another pro for leasing.

  • Sam G says:

    any tips on contacting Iberia for a refund of a cancelled flight? Ignored Twitter DM & the phone cuts off after queuing

  • Nicky says:

    Has anyone on here used a good, reliable luggage forwarding service as my Logan Air flight only allows one suitcase and I am going on a cruise out of Southampton (I need at least 2 suitcases) any recommendations would be appreciated.

    • Harry T says:

      Can’t you just pay for more luggage?

      • Nicky says:

        Hi Harry, no Logan Air don’t allow it, if you turn up with 2 suitcases and there is room you can pay for it then but if no room it goes on standby and I don’t want to take the risk in case it goes on standby and doesn’t reach me in time for the cruise.

    • Sam G says:

      I had a suitcase lost quite recently and they sent it via DHL, apparently they handle a lot of lost luggage these days according to the courier who handled it. If you had a not particularly valuable case with clothes & other unbreakables inside then this could be an option (assuming you’re staying at a hotel in Southampton so you’ve somewhere to send it)

    • Rich says:

      Not used them, but sendmybag often comes up in discussions.

      £20 for 30kg, 3 days from Highlands/ Islands.

      The one thing that puts me off these services is finding somewhere/ someone to reliably accept delivery. It would be a lot easier if they offered a collection point.

    • Andrew says:

      Where’s your starting point?

      This might be a bit of a faff, but you could always send some parcels via Hermes and collect them at shop in Southampton? Then just buy some luggage at TK Maxx.

      Or fly to Heathrow and take the train down to Southampton instead.

      • Nicky says:

        My starting point is Newcastle upon Tyne: no direct train to Southampton and the hotel I am staying at state I can send the bags there. Cunard recommend Luggage Forward (since they stopped their own service) but they want £83 per suitcase (fully insured etc). Looked at send my luggage and whilst it is a lot cheaper you have to pay extra for decent insurance etc….it’s a conundrum

    • Yorkieflyer says:

      Perhaps pack lighter? We discovered a few years ago that we really didn’t need everything we thought we did after realising the 12kg weight limit on flights to Lord Howe island

      • Nicky says:

        I wish I could but it is on the QM2 so posh outfits each night, winter clothing for NY and summer stuff for Caribbean Cruise

        • Lady London says:

          I’m jealous Nicky! Sounds wonderful

        • Blindman says:

          So how many months are you going for?

        • Blair says:

          Go Newcastle to London, stop, go London to Southampton. Loganair is a silly choice for your needs and I doubt you are so stretched as to not be able to afford a London overnight.

  • r* says:

    Just received my ihg white card 🙂

    • Anna says:

      I’m loving this. Now apply for a Creation loan then pay it of immediately with the card!

    • Harrier25 says:

      Aren’t Creation a complete joke. Cancelling people’s cards and then letting some walk straight back in through the front door hours later. This is where TCF with the FCA and Ombudsman really doesn’t stand up!

      • Anna says:

        Total joke. Looking forward to sharing anecdotes of exactly how much of a joke they are when all our cards are definitely dead and buried!

        • EwanG says:

          I have decided for my final few statements to go to receive statements in the post. Creation have an ‘audio statements’ option and will be interesting to see how these are delivered.
          Perhaps some of the other 1800 people could choose this option and we could see how Creation cope?

    • Andy says:

      They can cancel the IHG card at any time though, since it doesn’t offer vouchers or have an annual fee

  • Jim says:

    Has anyone made a claim on the Revolut Metal travel insurance and/or car hire excess insurance? It’s all well and good offering these insurance policies but the important bit is the claim process.

    • Youllnever says:

      Only got the Standard plan, so can’t help you. What is it about the Metal plan that’s making you consider it? Is it just the insurance itself?

      • Reney says:

        I got offered an upgrade for free for 3 months, nothing attracted me to it. I assume the unlimited FX might be good for some people?

        • Harrier25 says:

          I’m on the Premium plan for £72 a year with Revolut and easily get that back just in cheaper charges for crypto and stock trading and higher savings interest rate, but the whole thing from Revolut is just so much more attractive and cheaper than the inferior alternative offered by Curve.

  • BlueThroughCrimp says:

    When did DVLA fix their website to allow payment with Amex?

  • Red Flyer says:

    Following comments on page 2 I booked Your Parking Space at Thistle for Jan 2022 – £20 instead of £101 with official Heathrow parking so thanks for the tip! When arrived at Thistle do I just then pay for pod to T5 and vice versa?

    • elguiri says:

      They will normally ask you if you need pod access ticket at check-in (if you’re not staying you should go into reception). Last time I used them I think it was £10pp. I know some people would go to reception alone and ask for one code (to be typed into keypad to open gate to pod car-park, no actual checks on number of people). The pods themselves are free, it’s access to them via the gate that costs. I also remember reading about someone walking around on the main road to avoid having to go through the gate. But, it’s an easy route from reception to the pods via the gate, especially with luggage.

    • The cyclist says:

      When you enter the thistle Be prepared to be transported back in time. Enter a room and its suddenly 1985 all over again

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