The HfP chat thread – Friday 15th October

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Richie says:

15 Oct15 October 09:23

Nectar has spend 350 points at Caffe Nero for a drink. Also 3x points when you shop online at asos through the nectar link.
- Andrew says:
  
  15 Oct15 October 09:32
  
  The Nero offer has been running since January!
  - Richie says:
    
    15 Oct15 October 09:40
    
    Seems new to my account.
  - Rob says:
    
    15 Oct15 October 09:45
    
    No. It comes and goes on a targetted basis for different people.
  - David says:
    
    15 Oct15 October 10:32
    
    The Nero offer has been running for years!
- John says:
  
  15 Oct15 October 09:43
  
  Free Nero from O2 priority Mon to Thu after 10am
  
  Order 20p SIM card from ebay if you need one
  
  I tried the 350 nectar last month when the O2 offer wasn’t on and it didn’t work. Did nectar chat and they said it was used after generated. Made them throw the drink down the drain
  - Char Char says:
    
    15 Oct15 October 09:55
    
    I assume you only had voucher saved in the saved page on the nectar app, if not worth checking all of them as they expire a year from today but at some point they were expiring at the end of next year so easy to get confused when you have many vouchers as to which were used
  - Andrew says:
    
    15 Oct15 October 10:59
    
    When was the O2 Nero offer not on? It’s been going for about 10 years.
    - John says:
      
      15 Oct15 October 13:46
      
      In September O2 only offered me bogof on nero on Tuesdays.
      
      In July and August it was free coffee on Tuesdays, which I wasn’t able to use.
      
      I’ll actually be able to use the current offer of free drink (including things other than standard coffees) Mon to Thu
Keely says:

15 Oct15 October 09:30

Morning all , anyone know preferred currency in Jamaica please? US dollars or Sterling ? Thanks
- John says:
  
  15 Oct15 October 09:39
  
  Jamaican dollars then US dollars
  - Keely says:
    
    15 Oct15 October 10:15
    
    Thank you
- Rui N. says:
  
  15 Oct15 October 09:50
  
  Why would they care about sterling?!
  - Keely says:
    
    15 Oct15 October 10:15
    
    Well I thought not too but I’ve heard otherwise from friends who’ve been there …
  - Alan S says:
    
    15 Oct15 October 11:49
    
    Previous British Colony and still a member of the commonwealth?
    
    Jamaica did once use Sterling as their currency.
    - John says:
      
      15 Oct15 October 14:00
      
      Yes, but it was the Jamaican pound rather than the UK pound.
      
      While they were the same value in theory, Jamaica has had its own notes and coins for at least 100 years.
      
      I have no idea whether UK notes and coins would have been accepted in Jamaica (or anywhere else which used sterling but different physical cash) prior to 1960
    - ChrisC says:
      
      15 Oct15 October 16:29
      
      More than that they share our Queen!
Anita says:

15 Oct15 October 09:40

Has anyone tried to downgrade their BAPP card having upgraded it in the last couple of months? I’ve called & they say I can’t and suggested I apply for the blue card & Amex will realise & link it. But when I try this Amex day I’m not eligible as I have the BAPP!
Worried about cancelling it as BA would not book a flight recently unless we put the fees on the card that triggered it!
Thanks
- Sam G says:
  
  15 Oct15 October 09:53
  
  I’ve downgraded via chat – ask to speak to retentions/cancellations during working hours
  - Anita says:
    
    15 Oct15 October 11:40
    
    Thank you, will try that.
- Jonathan says:
  
  15 Oct15 October 10:32
  
  Worried about cancelling it as BA would not book a flight recently unless we put the fees on the card that triggered it!
  Thanks
  
  They have no way of knowing it’s a specific card only that it is an Amex so don’t believe this BS. If they could actually enforce it then a downgrade would not work either.
  - Anita says:
    
    15 Oct15 October 11:42
    
    Seems logical as BA and Amex are separate so they are unlikely to know your card number anyway! The operators just have to follow instructions. Thanks
- Guernsey Globetrotter says:
  
  15 Oct15 October 11:00
  
  A couple of things:
  1) Not sure why anyone would downgrade – just cancel and then get referred for the free card separately. At least your player2 / friend can earn a referral bonus?
  2) Via Chat today I was cancelling Mrs T’s BAPP as 2-4-1 triggered after 3 months and frankly not worth continuing to pay the fee. Got transferred to the retention team and offered a spend £3k in 3 months for an extra 10,000 Avios so worth trying this if (1) doesn’t appeal.
  I went with (1) as I will then refer Mrs T for the BA free card via my Plat for a 24k referral bonus before I also cancel my Plat (having used the dining credit, and a couple of other referrals in the last month) so only paying the first month fee on that card also. A £200 dinner at Colbert Sloane Square and 72,000 MRs in referrals for a £47.92 monthly fee is not bad in my book 🙂
  - Anita says:
    
    15 Oct15 October 11:44
    
    Think cancelling is the best option and hadn’t thought about referring for the blue – genius! We’d have a blue card to book flights just in case!
    Thank you
  - Sam G says:
    
    15 Oct15 October 12:45
    
    I downgraded as my OH is maxed out for referrals anyway.
    
    Though you’ve reminded me to ask you guys something – I’ve spent a couple of K on the paid card before I cancelled for the SUB. If I now spend up to ~£9.5k – if I reupgrade (assuming possible) and then spend up to £10k, will it immediately trigger a 2-4-1? I think so?
    - Guernsey Globetrotter says:
      
      15 Oct15 October 14:25
      
      Yes and this is possibly the only scenario when the downgrade makes sense as I think the spend counter is not reset (but I have no personal experience on this).
Niall says:

15 Oct15 October 09:41

Someone mentioned cheaper randox click and collect tests yesterday I think (was it £36). I know lateral flow test news today, but returning on a trip before then. What’s the code/deal?
- Toby says:
  
  15 Oct15 October 09:44
  
  No code. You just go through the normal randox website and select click and collect. The Codes airlines provide is only for delivery. So if you attempt to add one of those, they’ll remove that if you select click and collect.
  - Niall says:
    
    15 Oct15 October 11:04
    
    Thanks! Stupid me found click and collect then selected buy and added and saw it showed £48. Seems you need to press click and collect again to get the price down to £35.
    - Toby says:
      
      15 Oct15 October 11:47
      
      Great!
Harrier25 says:

15 Oct15 October 10:01

Our new Virgin Atlantic credit cards have arrived this morning, 7 days after receiving acceptance, so they must be speeding up with getting the cards issued.
Doog1000 says:

15 Oct15 October 10:11

Just wondering if the revolut 30% (or was it 40) cash back offer at the Ivy expired – I’m sure it was on my account a couple of weeks ago and now can’t seem to see it?
- Benilyn says:
  
  15 Oct15 October 10:55
  
  It’s gone for me
YC says:

15 Oct15 October 10:14

Upgrade experiences with Emyr/FHR – is there a very likely chance of upgrade and is it usually just a 1 cat upgrade (non-chain or no status)?
- N says:
  
  15 Oct15 October 10:18
  
  Upgrade at booking with Emyr. I have no experience of a further upgrade at checkin – I’m sure others will chime in soon.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  15 Oct15 October 10:19
  
  Well FHR is a guaranteed 1 cat upgrade where Emyr depends on the deal in the programme and his relationship with the property.
  
  Some are dependent on availability and other are confirmed upgrades like a recent stay at GSY was guaranteed upgrade to a suite if I booked a certain cat room.
  - YC says:
    
    15 Oct15 October 10:59
    
    Thanks all – did not realise FHR is guaranteed, I thought it was just based on availability/up to front desk. I’ll just treat the upgrade benefit as a non-benefit to set expectations unless its a Hyatt Prive where its upgrade at booking. Also does not feel up to the same league as marriott plat/titanium or hh diamond in terms of generosity of upgrades
    - Ian says:
      
      15 Oct15 October 11:22
      
      FHR upgrade is not guaranteed, still subject to availability.
      - TGLoyalty says:
        
        15 Oct15 October 12:59
        
        The hotel collection is subject.
        
        FHR is guaranteed it’s just that some cats are excluded so it’s “when available”
- Optimus Prime says:
  
  15 Oct15 October 10:31
  
  Booked with Emyr, no upgrade
- Super Secret Stuff says:
  
  15 Oct15 October 14:08
  
  No hilton status, upgrade from 2nd night once room was physically free. 1 cat upgrade but probably due to accesible room requirement
Aston100 says:

15 Oct15 October 10:22

Good morning from Marrakech Menara Airport, where they are trying to keep unemployment down in Morocco by employing lots of people to unnecessarily check your passport every few metres.
I’ve had mine checked six times thus far, and haven’t got to the gate yet.
One particular checkpoint was additionally asking passengers how much money they’ve got. It wasn’t clear if this was in regards to money currently carried upon the person, or money being cycled through Bendy and Ernie.

The Pearl Departure lounge looks pleasant and is totally devoid of guests. They advised that due to Covid they have no food or drinks. However they generously allowed me to step out to buy food and drink from the shops next door which were immune to Covid.

Do you think it’s possible to keep receipts for f&b and somehow claim back from Priority Pass? It’s outrageous they the lounge will be getting money for our visit but providing nothing but some seats and WiFi.
- Jonathan says:
  
  15 Oct15 October 10:35
  
  “ Do you think it’s possible to keep receipts for f&b and somehow claim back from Priority Pass?”
  
  Zero chance I’d say. Same as they won’t give you a refund if you’re denied entry for “capacity reasons”. No harm in firing off a complaint though.
- Cat says:
  
  15 Oct15 October 10:55
  
  “It wasn’t clear if this was in regards to money currently carried upon the person, or money being cycled through Bendy and Ernie.” 🤣
  - meta says:
    
    15 Oct15 October 10:57
    
    Do you have Priority Pass with Amex Plat? I once got 2.5k MR for complaining when the lounge was closed, so I’d complain to Amex.
- Amy C says:
  
  15 Oct15 October 11:00
  
  Great, thanks for letting me know. That’s pretty crap, is that the only lounge? I expect so but I have a plat and am going CE so was hoping there might be another option.