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The HfP chat thread – Friday 8th October

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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 (669)

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

  • Harry T says:
    8 Oct8 October 06:04

    First!

  • ChrisBCN says:
    8 Oct8 October 06:38

    I wasn’t sure there would be any articles today after the marathon 8 yesterday! A record?

    • ChrisC says:
      8 Oct8 October 06:49

      If there were no articles at all there would be more comments about that than people having their cards cancelled.

    • Kevin C says:
      8 Oct8 October 12:05

      I was worried it would be like Iberia and we would be left with minus two articles today.

  • AncientSquash says:
    8 Oct8 October 06:45

    I noticed yesterday evening and this morning on SeatSpy that LHR-SIN on BA has almost no Business availability in late Oct 21 – Mar 22, whereas earlier this week (Monday and Tuesday) when I checked, there were 6 seats in Business on nearly every flight BA operated in Oct 21, Nov 21, Jan 22 and Feb 22. Is this just some glitch in the system or does anyone have a more plausible explanation? Hard to imagine every one of those Business seats being redeemed for Avios in a matter of days given the current entry restrictions that still exist in Singapore…

    • Rob says:
      8 Oct8 October 07:38

      Could be a glitch, could be a business decision by BA (assuming the 4 guaranteed Club seats have already gone) to remove them and put them back into cash.

      • AncientSquash says:
        8 Oct8 October 08:36

        It is strange. Just logged into my wife’s Exec Club account (as she has a new BA Companion Voucher that triggered post 1 Sep 21) to see whether that made a difference. 8+ Business class seats show up on 19, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31 October but these don’t show on SeatSpy / normal Avios searches (whereas they did earlier this week). Absolutely nothing however in November in Business – even though you can buy up to 9 ‘I’ Business Class cash tickets on random dates in November as of this morning. Hoping this is just some glitch as I was looking to book for dates in November.

    • Sam G says:
      8 Oct8 October 09:22

      Singapore recently “upgraded” UK from Cat 4 to 3- so you can do home quarantine for 10 days if your entire household travels (vs an expensive hotel).

      This will have caused quite a bit of demand for expat flights home – many of my friends have now booked to travel over the next couple of months – Xmas flights look pretty full already (and SQ have some that are sold out in December). This might have told BA algo to shut off the Avios tap if there have been a flurry of bookings

  • Save East Coast Rewards says:
    8 Oct8 October 06:50

    The last few days (since Wednesday), I’ve woke up with a sore throat. Nothing else – no temperature, not feeling weak. It starts worse in the morning and gradually gets better during the day.

    I came back from the UK on Sunday, I took a lateral flow test on Tuesday (this isn’t required but I had some left over from an NHS pack from a previous visit to the UK) and it showed up negative. So I doubt this is COVID related.

    But yesterday I got a message from a friend who I was at the pub with all Saturday night saying he has the same symptoms.

    So is anyone else got the same or is it just an odd coincidence?

    Unfortunately the test I took on Tuesday is the last lateral flow test I have left.

    • meta says:
      8 Oct8 October 06:58

      Drinking too much cold stuff?

      • Save East Coast Rewards says:
        8 Oct8 October 07:46

        Beer or water?

        I did have quite a few wines and cocktails in the F lounge on Sunday (unfortunately no good beer in the BA lounge and they’d ran out of champagne)

    • ChrisC says:
      8 Oct8 October 07:07

      They’re are a few “normal” bugs around this year that have reappeared now fewer people are wearing masks etc so it’s possible you caught one of those.

    • Dean says:
      8 Oct8 October 07:07

      Lateral flow tests will only pick up covid when you have a high viral load. I got it in July, was only when I was at my worst point that lateral flow picked it up (I’d had it confirmed by PCR 2 days before) and then it was still a really thin line on the test.

      My wife also caught it but tested every day and lateral flow never once went positive.

      We were both double jabbed.

    • ChrisBCN says:
      8 Oct8 October 07:11

      Surely you either have covid (tests aren’t 100% accurate, maybe you didn’t swab enough…) or you have a cold – no comment here is going to help you diagnose that.

      • Save East Coast Rewards says:
        8 Oct8 October 07:33

        I was just curious as whether these symptoms were common at the moment as it seemed rather odd that ones of the last people I saw in England before flying to Italy has developed the same thing at almost the same time. My pre-departure test happened to be a PCR (not needed for Italy, lateral flow will do) as I had a Randox fit to fly test kit from a previous trip that arrived too late. Then I did a lateral flow on the Tuesday.

        • Andy says:
          8 Oct8 October 07:36

          Have had cold and sore throat for a couple of weeks now. Wife has the same with a cough. Not Covid though, just a nasty bug. There was an article in the BBC asking if this was the worst cold ever so you might have that!

          https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-58624295

        • TGLoyalty says:
          8 Oct8 October 07:50

          Strange you both caught a cold? Covid isn’t the only virus out there

          • Save East Coast Rewards says:
            8 Oct8 October 09:23

            It was more that we both developed symtoms around the same time, despite it being a number of days since we last met. Usually someone will develop symtoms first either because they caught it first or differences in the immune system. It just seemed weird that we both fell ill on the same day.

        • Liz says:
          8 Oct8 October 09:53

          According to Tim Spector of the Zoe Covid app the top 5 symptoms if u are double vaccinated are runny nose, headache, sneezing, sore throat, loss of smell. He has been trying for months to get the government to update the symptoms – many other countries have already done this – he reckons this is why are numbers are so stubbornly high.

      • Peter Taysum says:
        8 Oct8 October 10:54

        Lateral flow are (if swabbed correctly) about 50% accurate for true positives (or have 50% sensitivity).

    • Crafty says:
      8 Oct8 October 07:13

      You have symptoms, so should take a PCR test.

      • Save East Coast Rewards says:
        8 Oct8 October 07:42

        I will do, just seeing the experience of others as if I caught this in the UK it seems like it has taken a while to show up

        • Rich says:
          8 Oct8 October 09:10

          I think that about 97% of people turning up for a Covid test with symptoms did not have Covid but some other bug. This whole Covid thing has impacted lots of people’s perspective and we’re in for months or years of people freaking out when their nose runs. Lord help us.

        • Lady London says:
          8 Oct8 October 12:06

          Please post the outcome of your PCR on the daily thread when you get it, Save East Coast Rewards?

    • Flyoff says:
      8 Oct8 October 07:16

      I had similar symptoms and had 2 days later showed positive with a lateral flow test. Very clear line. Mrs flyoff only showed a very faint line with the same symptoms. We wouldn’t even have noticed the line if it wasn’t for my positice as we scrutinised it very carefully. Both of us were double jabbed. Symptoms for me got worse with really bad headache, very sore throat, and occasional runny nose.

      • Jeff Greene says:
        8 Oct8 October 10:03

        Lateral flow tests aren’t particularly accurate.

        The FDA in America said they should be thrown in the bin (their words, although they might have said garbage)

    • Anna says:
      8 Oct8 October 07:17

      https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-58624295

      Apparently we’re all extra susceptible this year. We’re all just getting over it now, PCR tests were negative but it’s easy enough to order one and take it for reassurance.

      • Super Secret Stuff says:
        8 Oct8 October 07:45

        Yes I’ve heard that. I have a very strong immune system so thought I’d be ok again. Been off sick Monday to Thursday with a very aggressive cold / flu 🤣

        • Jody says:
          8 Oct8 October 09:07

          My son and his girlfriend we’re off work last week for 4 days (they do 4 on, 4 off) with a very similar thing. All covid tests negative. Apparently it had done the rounds at their workplace.

    • Claire says:
      8 Oct8 October 07:18

      I have a cold at the moment that started with 2 days of sore throat, then became a blocked nose, body aches and now feels like it has gone to my chest. 2 negative lateral flow tests. Both my sons had the same, except did not go to their chest. Husband has managed to avoid it.

      • meta says:
        8 Oct8 October 07:36

        @Claire my partner had the same, still coughing He went straight for the PCR test. It was negative.

        I also know that since having covid last year I am unable to drink anything too cold (and I used to love cold drinks!) as within and hour or two I have terrible sore throat which doesn’t go away.

      • Super Secret Stuff says:
        8 Oct8 October 07:47

        I currently have something similar, except with massive headaches too. OH has the same at nearly the exact same time

    • Harry T says:
      8 Oct8 October 07:21

      If you’re worried about covid, then get a PCR. If you’re vaccinated, according to the Zoe study, you can catch covid and have cold like symptoms. This is not official medical advice lol

      • Spurs drive me mad says:
        8 Oct8 October 07:33

        Am I the only person who hasn’t taken any kind of Covid test? Although I’m getting more hopeful by the day my January holiday is going to happen so I’m sure some rest will be have to be for that.

        • Spurs drive me mad says:
          8 Oct8 October 07:33

          Test

        • BJ says:
          8 Oct8 October 08:26

          No, not alone, neither my partner or I have had cause to test and we’ve been everywhere from aldi to weddings. We were convinced that would change in recent weeks when cases here topped 1000/100,000 but it didn’t.

        • John says:
          8 Oct8 October 09:28

          I’ve never taken a test and my first test will be on return to the UK, if I decide to go to mainland Europe later this month

      • Jeff Greene says:
        8 Oct8 October 07:46

        How do people STILL not know that you get a PCR test if you have symptoms and that lateral flow tests aren’t particularly accurate?

        As for asking medical questions on a travel blog…. Lol indeed

        • Save East Coast Rewards says:
          8 Oct8 October 07:51

          This is a general chat thread… Read my post CAREFULLY! I wasn’t asking for medical advice, I was curious as to whether other people had similar symptoms.

          This is general chat, not asking a doctor. Also note the NHS website does not list sore throat as a symptom, other sources do though.

          • Jeff Greene says:
            8 Oct8 October 07:53

            “ is it just an odd coincidence?”

            How would anyone on here know?

          • Save East Coast Rewards says:
            8 Oct8 October 08:11

            @Jeff
            I was just looking for experiences not medical advice. Just seeing if other people had experienced the same. Most people seem to get this

          • Henry says:
            8 Oct8 October 08:16

            I know right…..if you’ve got so much time on your hands go watch a movie or something, nothing is less interesting than discussing if someone has a cold !!

        • TGLoyalty says:
          8 Oct8 October 07:53

          Because neither a sore throat or headache is an official symptom to get an NHS covid test?

          • Jeff Greene says:
            8 Oct8 October 07:55

            Neither was loss of smell for months and months before it was known as an actual symptom all over the world.

            Anyway, let me get my crystal ball to understand whether the poster has got a cold, flu or something else.

            👨‍⚕️

          • Tracey says:
            8 Oct8 October 07:57

            Which is why the Zoe study is so useful. There are symptoms other than the official ones that do indicate covid. Plus Zoe is ready good at offering PCR tests for non standard symptoms.

          • TGLoyalty says:
            8 Oct8 October 08:19

            Yes yes Zoe blah blah blah

            However if you go on the website to order a PcR it’s very clear on what symptoms you should have to order a test. Or are you all telling fibs?

        • Char Char says:
          8 Oct8 October 07:57

          Most people won’t bother with doing a test as it is not a cure and worst case they have to stay at home and isolate

          • Tracey says:
            8 Oct8 October 07:58

            Hardly “worst case” if you then spread the virus.

          • Jeff Greene says:
            8 Oct8 October 08:14

            A test isn’t a cure? I wish I’d known this earlier 🤭

          • Jeff Greene says:
            8 Oct8 October 08:30

            “ Or are you all telling fibs?”

            No. I tick the “ I’ve been told to get a test by my nursery, work or place of education” box because double jabbed people at work have had “colds” which have turned up to work and then tested positive and we’ve been told not to come in without a test if we have a cold.

            Zoe blah blah though yeah?

        • Rob says:
          8 Oct8 October 08:56

          Here’s the thing – you will probably get an answer from a qualified medical professional more quickly by posting on here than from trying to call a surgery …..

          • Rich says:
            8 Oct8 October 09:14

            But Rob, here’s another thing – a significant part of the cause of the problem you rightly identify is people calling with a runny nose or a sore throat they’ve had for a day or two. Clogging up the system for those who actually need professional medical support. It’s the same at A&E.

          • Jeff Greene says:
            8 Oct8 October 09:22

            Why would you need to call a surgery about a cold or flu anyway? If you think you’ve got covid then you get a test first too

          • WaynedP says:
            8 Oct8 October 10:28

            😆 Shockingly true @Rob !

    • Luke says:
      8 Oct8 October 07:35

      It’s called a cold or maybe flu. Not everything revolves around COVID. There’s a lot around this year because people’s natural immunity has been reduced due to hiding under beds and whimpering.

      • Save East Coast Rewards says:
        8 Oct8 October 07:45

        At the moment it’s just a sort throat, I don’t feel weak, I actually feel fitter than I did last week. I’ve not been hiding under beds, I’ve tried to live as normal a life as possible.

      • TGLoyalty says:
        8 Oct8 October 08:23

        Highly unlikely to be flu. OP would know if they had flu!

    • J says:
      8 Oct8 October 07:49

      Most people I know who had positive PCR tests, had negative lateral flow tests beforehand.

    • BP says:
      8 Oct8 October 07:55

      Hate to say but today is my last day of self-isolation for COVID. It started with a sore throat…

      • xcalx says:
        8 Oct8 October 08:25

        I got my first ping on Wednesday. No symptoms. Did the NHS home test all clear.

    • Can says:
      8 Oct8 October 07:55

      You sound like an adult. My 3y old kid had similar symptoms. The nursery noticed and ask us to collect him, and added. Only way back is a PCR test. I had to take my 3y to a test centre. Waiting for the results now…

      • JohnT says:
        8 Oct8 October 08:05

        I know not the most accurate but can still order LFT boxes from NHS..

        • Can says:
          8 Oct8 October 21:18

          They wouldn’t accept it. They want PCR

        • Can says:
          8 Oct8 October 21:18

          And the thing is collecting the sample from a toddler — the way the test is conducted AFTER does not matter at this stage..

    • Craig says:
      8 Oct8 October 08:07

      Flew back from Tenerife a few days ago. Had a stinking cold from the next day, doing daily LFT all negative.

    • Mjshort says:
      8 Oct8 October 08:13

      Me too since tue night. Just a standard virus

    • Phil W says:
      8 Oct8 October 09:08

      I started to get a sore throat last Wednesday (29th) in Austria. Took my return to the UK Antigen Test (30th) – Negative. Took my Day 2 PCR test (1st) – Negative. Got my winter flu jab (4th). Started a persistent cough and tiredness (5th). Took PCR test (6th) – Negative. Still feeling exhausted (8th).

      It’s a cold but a really cr@ppy one.

      • Save East Coast Rewards says:
        8 Oct8 October 09:30

        This is exactly why I posted on here. I was interested to see what experiences people had and I’ve now come to the conclusion that it’s likely to be the start of a bad cold.

        So far it hasn’t gone past the sore throat stage for me. Hopefully it stops there and I feel ok by next week.

        But I’ll still get a test, I can stay at home until I get a PCR just to be on the safe side (I still know a few people here who are not yet vaccinated, Italy is still behind the UK but they’ve almost caught up).

        • Jeff Greene says:
          8 Oct8 October 10:14

          “ Italy is still behind the UK but they’ve almost caught up”

          Italy has a higher proportion of the population fully vaccinated than the U.K. already

          • Save East Coast Rewards says:
            8 Oct8 October 11:14

            Well everyone I know in the UK that wants the vaccine has it, but I still know a small number in Italy still waiting (it seems because demand surged as the green pass rules mean you can’t do much without the vaccine unless you get tested every other day)

            I hope the UK doesn’t go for the approach of forcing people to have the vaccine to live a normal life, but it does seem to have worked to push Italy ahead of the UK in total vaccinated.

    • Anna says:
      8 Oct8 October 09:14

      Just order some more tests, they arrive the next day!

      • Save East Coast Rewards says:
        8 Oct8 October 09:25

        I’m in Italy currently, so it’s when I’m back in the UK I order the NHS tests. But this year I’ve been in Italy more than the UK

  • Michael C says:
    8 Oct8 October 07:15

    Re: BAPP experts – I’m only 1.5k into next 241 accrual, auto-renewed at higher price last month. Is the idea I can just demote to free card, keep same card number, and have the proportional part of the fee returned?
    Is there any advantage of doing this now/later if I’m thinking of applying for the Plat. this month? Cheers!

    • Tom says:
      8 Oct8 October 08:28

      I’m no expert but I believe you can do as you outline above. It’s quite common practice to upgrade just prior to hitting the £10K trigger. Or just after, but that can involve challenges getting the 2 year validity period updated.
      Then, downgrade again, retain the voucher, and use it with the blue card as the payment method. That has worked for me in the past.

    • BJ says:
      8 Oct8 October 08:36

      Some mixed comments on whether amex continues to allow downgrades. On balance it seems like they do but if you get an agent who refuses just try again later. However, you might get the retention offer spend £3k get 10k avios.

      • Sam G says:
        8 Oct8 October 09:44

        I downgraded couple of days ago on chat so it is possible. No retention offer but it is a v new card

  • ChrisC says:
    8 Oct8 October 07:16

    Anyone have any experience of the Franklin Hotel in Manhattan?

    It’s under the IHG “voco” brand which I’ve not come across before.

    What’s that brand like in terms of recognising IHG status? I’m Spire.

    Ta very much.

    • ChrisC says:
      8 Oct8 October 08:30

      I found articles on both.

      Helps if you search ‘voco’ and not ‘vocal’

    • Anna says:
      8 Oct8 October 09:17

      We’ve stayed at the Voco Solihull, which I concede was a slightly different experience from New York City! We got great recognition as Spire, both rooms upgraded and 2 drinks vouchers which they let us redeem for absolutely anything in the bar. The spirits were free pour and the lovely lady serving gave us dangerously large measures of Bacardi 8 anos!

      • markpeterborough says:
        8 Oct8 October 18:18

        Its nice to hear some positivity about Solihull after the last couple of weeks.

    • QFFlyer says:
      8 Oct8 October 17:06

      I stayed at the Voco Gold Coast back in June. Usual IHG status recognition (i.e. very little) – if I remember correctly it was a slightly better room, don’t even think there was a free drink involved.

  • Ravi says:
    8 Oct8 October 07:50

    Is there any UK debit/credit card which works in USA for paying pay@pump.Sometimes the machine does ask for zip code linked to the card.I also want to avoid the 3%fx fee.

    • Save East Coast Rewards says:
      8 Oct8 October 07:52

      I’ve not been to the US for a while but 00000 used to work for me. This was before chip and PIN or contactless, do US fuel pumps still use the magnetic strip?

    • mr_jetlag says:
      8 Oct8 October 08:16

      Beverly hills, 90210
      The pump machines don’t check the zip you enter.

    • IanM says:
      8 Oct8 October 08:18

      UK cards rarely work in the pump – just go into shop and prepay with card, what’s the issue?

      • KBuffett says:
        8 Oct8 October 08:48

        Often unmanned.

        I always go for 90210

      • davef says:
        8 Oct8 October 09:28

        Safeway’s fuel stations over there have taken UK chip/pin for years. Never managed to get a Costco one to work with any debit or credit card in the US.

        Never been unfortunate enough to have to use an unmanned pump, but typically with manned ones, go inside and ask them for $20 on pump x, and pre-pay.

        If you’re filling the tank before going back to the airport I usually risk it and leave the card with them while I fill up. If they’re going to clone it I dont care cos I’m on the way home.

        • elguiri says:
          8 Oct8 October 10:49

          One thing to note is that they will return to your card any amount not used. ie If not sure what amount you need to fill by, go for a higher amount (I think I always did $50 which was enough for a full tank). Once you tank eg $15 the remaining $35 will go back onto your card later that day.

    • Andrew says:
      8 Oct8 October 08:46

      This is easy.

      So if your UK postcode is EH1 1YZ, remove the letters, and you’re left with “11”, then add zeroes to make it 5 digits. So your US Zip code is “11000”

      Or, as another example, if it was W12 7RJ, the US Zip code would be “12700”.

      I’ve used this method with MBNA, Virgin and Barclaycard over the years.

      The official Mastercard page for Canadian residents is here for reassurance that this isn’t just a tall tale.

      https://www.mastercard.ca/en-ca/personal/security-benefits/pay-at-the-pump.html

    • stevenhp1987 says:
      8 Oct8 October 08:48

      I use the numbers of my postcode suffixed with zeros.

      Eg. AB12 3CD is 12300.

      Works in most places.

    • Laura says:
      8 Oct8 October 10:22

      My default generic zipcode is 90210 but haven’t used it in this exact circumstance!

    • A says:
      8 Oct8 October 14:15

      00000 sometimes still works, as 90210 sometimes.
      If it doesn’t then take the numbers from your UK post code, and fill the rest with zeros, so W12 8TQ would be 12800.

    • VickyTM says:
      8 Oct8 October 16:17

      The “Wise” debit card worked for me

  • Darko says:
    8 Oct8 October 08:00

    Good morning lovely people! Advice please – my partner is planing LHR-GRU flight in April 2022 now that Brazil is off the red list.
    I though about part pay with avios, but he has around 50k. I have over 100k, partially as Amex points, partially as Avios.
    What is the best way to pool avios so he can pay (or part pay) with avios?

    • Anna says:
      8 Oct8 October 08:07

      I’d say Household Account but I don’t know if they can be opened at the moment.

      • Save East Coast Rewards says:
        8 Oct8 October 08:08

        Good point, that facility has been disabled until November while they make system changes

    • ChrisC says:
      8 Oct8 October 08:07

      House Hold Account but you can’t t create a new one until the middle of November at the moment.

    • Save East Coast Rewards says:
      8 Oct8 October 08:07

      Remember that part pay with Avios (a cash booking discounted by Avios) is usually a terrible deal and you’d actually be better off redeeming the points in Sainsbury’s (via Nectar) and then spending what you saved on the flight although there are occasions where they do a promotion where they offer good value.

      The easiest way to pool points is set up a household account with your partner. Alternatively if you’re BA Gold you can transfer points for free but there’s a relatively low limit on this.

    • Red Flyer says:
      8 Oct8 October 08:21

      Can you get points to Iberia and go via MAD?

      • Red Flyer says:
        8 Oct8 October 08:24

        Will need a cash fare to get to MAD from LHR but tax savings on Iberia should be well worth it.

        • Darko says:
          8 Oct8 October 08:28

          Red Flyer, he just opened Iberia account. I think in first 3 months one cannot transfer between accounts if I read that right… I was looking into that too.

    • Michael C says:
      8 Oct8 October 08:39

      Hi Darko – all depends on what sort of flights you’re after, of course, but just as an fyi:
      -buying PE then upgrading to Club with Avios often has decent availability
      -Iberia go direct from MAD, often a fair bit cheaper.

      • Michael C says:
        8 Oct8 October 08:41

        (oops, sorry about being Peter Repeater with Iberia! That’s what happens for prioritising coffee over posting immediately!).

    • Doug M says:
      8 Oct8 October 09:13

      Player 2 Avios —> Nectar —> Player 1 Avios.

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