The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 12th October

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Jonathan says:

12 Oct12 October 12:04

Free year on the Amex gold card has just come to an end thinking of cancelling and going for the free rewards card to keep the points alive.
Is it best to open the new rewards card before cancelling or see if they offer any retention to keep it open?
Roughly when does the bonus 10k points post? Thanks
- BuildBackBetter says:
  
  12 Oct12 October 12:10
  
  Yes, best to open the card before calling them. Chat also works from what I read here. Bonus points usually post in the month after they charge you the annual fee.
- Rob says:
  
  12 Oct12 October 13:43
  
  Bonus 10k will post a month after renewal, so you end up paying 1 month of fee. For safety get ARCC in place first but, according to the rules, your Membership Rewards account isn’t closed for a few weeks anyway.
  - Jonathan says:
    
    12 Oct12 October 14:08
    
    Thanks guys do Amex do a full credit check when opening new cards as an existing card member?
    - Super Secret Stuff says:
      
      12 Oct12 October 14:21
      
      Nope
Magic Mike says:

12 Oct12 October 12:07

Customer Service Shocker

My el-cheapo so-bad-the-CMA-are-investigating-them Expert Medicals PCR Day 2 tests wouldn’t activate online.

So I emailed their support fully expecting never to hear from them and having to do a chargeback.

Polite email reply within 90 minutes with new codes that activate fine. I am now even beginning to believe we might get some results.

HSBC Premier – you could learn some lessons from a jeans shop in Bradford!
- Jonathan says:
  
  12 Oct12 October 12:16
  
  That’s a shame. I’m hoping my test doesn’t turn up or work so I can do a chargeback!
- Matthew says:
  
  12 Oct12 October 12:42
  
  I ordered from EM – got a test, activated and got results in 48hrs.
  - Sam G says:
    
    12 Oct12 October 13:43
    
    Yep me too , multiple all worked as expected
- Anna says:
  
  12 Oct12 October 12:51
  
  Which email address did you use? I can’t get an answer from any I’ve tried about my missing test!
  - Magic Mike says:
    
    12 Oct12 October 13:01
    
    support at expert-medicals dot co dot uk
    - Anna says:
      
      12 Oct12 October 16:22
      
      Thanks, hopefully 3rd time lucky!
- TheOtherN says:
  
  12 Oct12 October 14:17
  
  Lately I’ve had better service from EM than Randox. It’s a mad, mad, mad, mad covid testing world.
- Jody says:
  
  12 Oct12 October 15:54
  
  We had exactly the same problem. Replied very promptly with a new barcode, which activated fine.
  
  Posted on Monday, husband got his result late Tuesday night. I’ve never had my result, and we’re now 3 weeks down the line. I’ve filled out the paperwork to do a chargeback for the missing result one.
Js says:

12 Oct12 October 12:09

StudentUniverse sells turkish airlines tickets for quite abit cheaper, does anyone know if you can book those tickets (offiacialy for under 35s)for an older adult? will the booking work? and is there ant chance of the airline making problems?
- JDB says:
  
  12 Oct12 October 12:20
  
  In order to qualify for the TK student 10% international flight discount, you need to be a member of Miles & Smiles and provide the evidence of age, student card etc. for them to approve you. Look at full T&Cs!
  - Js says:
    
    12 Oct12 October 12:30
    
    I know, but you can book tickets on website called studentuniverse without any of that
    - JDB says:
      
      12 Oct12 October 12:40
      
      If you know the rules, only you can decide whether the airline / check in agent will enforce those rules and how much extra they will make you pay as I doubt that would simply be the fare difference.
Dave says:

12 Oct12 October 12:11

If I have an avios reward booking for a RJ flight, can I just take a FTV the same as if it was a BA flight?
- Andrew says:
  
  12 Oct12 October 12:26
  
  Yes
  - Dave says:
    
    12 Oct12 October 13:45
    
    Thanks Andrew. Paid 18000 plus £80 so for two people so prob worth getting an FTV rather than losing the £70
Chris says:

12 Oct12 October 12:21

I have 2 BA 2-4-1 Vouchers expiring in January 2022. ( Just missed the recent extensions). I am unlikely to be able to use them before Jan 2022. What are my options to preserve some value into 2022?
Thanks
- SteveJ says:
  
  12 Oct12 October 12:26
  
  Covered in below article. Book a one-way UK booking. Cancel for FTV valid to Sept 2023.
  
  https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2021/08/04/british-airways-future-travel-voucher-extension/
  - Chris says:
    
    12 Oct12 October 12:50
    
    Thank You
WearyTraveller says:

12 Oct12 October 12:38

How long does it usually take for BA holiday promotion double tier points to appear in one’s account? It’s been over a week since the holiday ended and I still haven’t seen the promotional TPs. Used the ‘claim missing avios feature’ a few days ago to no avail. Also left a complaint last Friday but still no response and no TPs to be seen.

I’m aware they should be credited ‘within a month’ but there is no confirmation of any kind that I’ll see them. Anyone got any experience with this?
- PMG says:
  
  12 Oct12 October 12:50
  
  Mine did not post for ages, after 40 days I left a complaint and they came back after a couple of days and the TPs were added. I would not worry 🙂
  
  I would just keep your booking information and maybe a screenshot of the T&Cs and wait until 30 days at least…
- David says:
  
  12 Oct12 October 12:51
  
  So, you’re aware that they take up to a month to credit, you’re back just over week, but you’ve made a complaint anyway?
  - Scott says:
    
    12 Oct12 October 12:55
    
    Suppose you could argue, that as with a lot of promos, if you sit back and wait, companies rely on you more likely not noticing them not posting.
    BA, like others, do need a nudge from time to time.
    - ChrisC says:
      
      12 Oct12 October 13:08
      
      The nudge should come after the period in the T&Cs has passed not before barely a quarter of the period has elapsed.
- Marie says:
  
  12 Oct12 October 16:38
  
  If mine tip over 35 days they will be in the wrong calendar year for my otherwise well planned status upgrade !
  - Jonathan says:
    
    12 Oct12 October 18:17
    
    They will post in previous year regardless of when they actually get added to the account in the same way partner TP’s always credit by date of flight.
    - Marie says:
      
      12 Oct12 October 20:17
      
      Phew – that’s very good news, thanks
Ngold says:

12 Oct12 October 12:46

Just received my platinum card. How long does it take generally to have offers show up.
Also, is there any bonus for adding a supplementary card. Are those targeted?
- Rob says:
  
  12 Oct12 October 13:39
  
  5,000 points for the supp – apply here: https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/hfp/amex-supplementary-cards-page/
  - Dave says:
    
    12 Oct12 October 13:46
    
    Haven’t had supplementary card bonus for amex gold yet, was told could take up to 90 days (it’s been three weeks so far). Not sure if plat also taking a while to post
- Laura says:
  
  12 Oct12 October 15:16
  
  I have asked about (lack of) offers on my new platinum card and was told they wouldn’t show up until after the first statement was generated. I did call up to get them to manually add the £200 dining credit though which is now saved. I have not received any points yet for adding a supplementary card and was also told that it’d take up to 90 days.
Doug M says:

12 Oct12 October 12:47

GHIC. Ordered on 6th delivered today. Excellent service.
- Lady London says:
  
  12 Oct12 October 12:58
  
  Which countries does it cover you in?
  - Pete M says:
    
    12 Oct12 October 14:07
    
    Same as the EHIC.
    - Super Secret Stuff says:
      
      12 Oct12 October 14:30
      
      But it’s a Global version, that’s not actually global, but still GLOBAL because brexit! Yay?!
      - Paul Pogba says:
        
        12 Oct12 October 16:14
        
        It’ll cover you in Australia and New Zealand so it’s more than Europe.
    - Sandgrounder says:
      
      12 Oct12 October 15:28
      
      GHIC doesn’t include Iceland, Norway or Switzerland or Liechtenstein.
      - Tony1 says:
        
        12 Oct12 October 23:07
        
        Or Andorra
  - Doug M says:
    
    12 Oct12 October 15:10
    
    Yes EHIC replacement. I think most insurance requires you try this route first for simple treatment.
    - Anna says:
      
      12 Oct12 October 17:01
      
      Yes – but conversely some countries (that’s you, Spain) are sneaky and try and get you to go to a private hospital which they get commission for. The EU has allegedly been trying to stamp it out.
- Chrisasaurus says:
  
  12 Oct12 October 22:10
  
  Ordered 5th August and mine arrived 22nd Sept, so mileage may vary…