The HfP chat thread – Monday 11th October

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• Rob says:

  11 Oct11 October 16:02

  Not really. The rental companies sold off huge amounts of cars during covid as they couldn’t keep up payments, and Hertz went bankrupt entailing a huge fleet sale. There are very few cars to be had so you need to pay.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    11 Oct11 October 16:33

    Not really how it works.

    They’re all on buy back deals with the manufacturers / leasing companies but they wouldn’t have placed new orders / had the financing to fund new orders if they were officially bankrupt.

    • JDB says:

      11 Oct11 October 16:43

      It’s very easy to get ‘debtor in possession’ financing for US companies in Chapter 11 as it ranks above almost all other debt so banks love providing at high fairly rates and lots of associated fees. Fleets shrank and now they can’t get the new cars as Rob says.

• Polly says:

  11 Oct11 October 16:05

  Does anyone know of a currency transfer like Wise etc who will allow an Amex card to fund it. Can use WE for Wise, but maxing out too quickly. Need to pay in euros into a french ac.
  Would like to use Bonvoy for it really, as hunting bonvoy points atm.
  Appreciate any inside info on this.

  • Blenz101 says:

    11 Oct11 October 16:40

    PayPal but you awful FX rates and do it too often you can expect to have your account suspended.

    If for business purposes Amex have a product themselves which has been covered here which will earn MR.

    • Polly says:

      11 Oct11 October 17:30

      Tnx Blenz101,

      Know about both PayPal and Amex Biz, but as you say bad rates. It’s personal, so the Amex one didn’t work out, had read about it on here. Might price up PayPal for a one off amount.
      Wise were cheaper using our WE than a bank transfer from any other. But MasterCard have limits, and think we have reached that one!

• Kurt says:

  11 Oct11 October 16:29

  Hi. Looking to cancel my amex platinum but also still waiting for the 200 pound restaurant offer to credit to a spend 2 weeks ago. I have contacted them via chat and they keep telling me to wait. If I cancel would I still be eligible for.the credit or not? The T&Cs don’t mention? Many thanks

  • TGLoyalty says:

    11 Oct11 October 16:37

    Won’t be eligible.

    • Kurt says:

      11 Oct11 October 16:52

      Thanks. They may already suspect I want to cancel due to recent dearth of transactions so might be delaying the credit. Well I’ll give it a few more days.

• TGLoyalty says:

  11 Oct11 October 16:31

  Honestly for that price you have to seriously consider if it’s not just worth buying a “banger” and selling it when you leave OR just get an Uber. £2000 will buy a lot of lifts.

  • Yorkie Aid says:

    11 Oct11 October 18:36

    Probably worth buying a car for an extended trip. But have you ever tried getting car insurance in USA? Used car prices are through the roof for the same reason. For Orlando if you were mostly doing the theme parks look at staying on site at either Disney or Universal. You wouldn’t actually need a car then. Obviously no good if you’re planning to venture further afield.

• Shaw West says:

  11 Oct11 October 16:33

  What is the cheaper upgrade option. BA WTP to CW or Virgin PE to UC. LHR to NYC

  • ChrisC says:

    11 Oct11 October 16:43

    Do some dummy bookings on both sites will be the quickest way and get you the most accurate answer.

  • Memesweeper says:

    11 Oct11 October 18:46

    Peak/off peak dates will influence the answer.

• Andrew H says:

  11 Oct11 October 16:38

  My free share at Freeshare “between £3 and £200” was… £6. Better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. Anyone wanting to try their luck – I can give them my referral link as I assume I shouldn’t post unsolicited?

  • Andy says:

    11 Oct11 October 17:20

    From my experience with them getting around 20 referrals last year £6 seems about the median for me. I did get lucky with a few around £50-70 though.

  • SteveJ says:

    11 Oct11 October 18:34

    Do I need to deposit anything, it legally open an account and get a free share? If no catch them yeah, I’ll take a referral 👍

    • Andrew H says:

      11 Oct11 October 19:12

      Steve. I did deposit £10 and bought 5 Virgin Money shares. Don’t remember if I had to but £10 in to £16 is ok. Also they have a premium account which looks interesting and pays 3% on £4000 which basically covers the cost.

      https://magic.freetrade.io/join/andrew/8f975078

      • SteveJ says:

        11 Oct11 October 20:30

        Thanks, have gone in with the £1 minimum needed for the free share, will report back once they issue it in a week or so.

        • Andrew H says:

          11 Oct11 October 21:56

          Thanks Steve. I should be due one now as well. Someone else also signed up!

        • Andrew H says:

          11 Oct11 October 22:03

          Actually I see Ryan and Sandip as having signed up!

• Rich says:

  11 Oct11 October 16:44

  Anyone taken Ryanair flight recently with a 6 months, even though EU (and indeed their own website!) says it should be valid for 3 months after your return date.

  • Rich says:

    11 Oct11 October 16:47

    Oops. Angled brackets caused problems. Full post:

    Anyone taken Ryanair flight recently with less than 6 month left on their passport? (UK passport, going to Schengen.)

    Rumours that they are insisting on 6 months, even though EU (and indeed their own website!) says it should be valid for 3 months after your return date.

    • JDB says:

      11 Oct11 October 16:56

      The FCDO advice is that you should have six months validity if travelling to Schengen countries. You can still fall foul of the actual 3 months Schengen rule if that takes the passport over 10 years since issue – mine was issued for 10 years and just over six months.

    • Andrew H says:

      11 Oct11 October 19:22

      Note also passport is only acceptable for 10 years from date of issue, so if you replaced it early work out 10 years from date of issue and count back 6 months to be fully safe.

      Another joy of voting to be treated as a 3rd country.

  • Richie says:

    11 Oct11 October 17:11

    There’ll always be a risk of ryanair interpreting things differently, so always factor this in.

• James says:

  11 Oct11 October 16:58

  Looking for some help regarding Marriott points. I can’t buy anymore and it appears I can’t be gifted anymore either. I need circa 130k more for a booking at Christmas – what on Earth are my options?! Starting to worry a little.

  • Andy says:

    11 Oct11 October 17:08

    Transfer from Amex Membership Rewards?

    • James says:

      11 Oct11 October 17:21

      That’s going to be my plan to top me up to get to the 130k deficit. Can I gift points to my girlfriends account then do a transfer over the phone back to my account?

      • TGLoyalty says:

        11 Oct11 October 17:27

        You can if she has had her account minimum amount of time and she can only transfer you 100k max.

        • TGLoyalty says:

          11 Oct11 October 17:33

          Both Accounts must be in good-standing and have each been open for at least thirty (30) days with Qualifying Activity, ninety (90) days without Qualifying Activity

  • DJ says:

    11 Oct11 October 21:18

    Open another account different email address – wait one month and buy points book some of the reservation using that account – not sure if this works.

    • TGLoyalty says:

      11 Oct11 October 22:50

      Sending some MR will.

      • TGLoyalty says:

        11 Oct11 October 22:51

        Ofcourse there’s a 55% bonus right now which might not be there in a month.

        Don’t know anyone else in your circle with a Marriott account?

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