The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 19th October

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Tabby says:

19 Oct19 October 13:01

In re the Uk and EU digital apps, does anyone have any idea how this will work if you have a CDC vaccination card from the USA? There are no barcodes or QR codes. Anyone had any joy with getting this into something digital for overseas travel or is it just a case of carrying my card on me at all times? And no, my local doctor in Scotland can’t help. They said the systems within the UK aren’t even working properly yet and all they can do is note it on my medical chart:(
- Pete M says:
  
  19 Oct19 October 13:23
  
  One of the other travel blogs (GSTP) with a broader US focus has done a couple of articles on this.
  - Tabby says:
    
    19 Oct19 October 13:24
    
    Thanks. Will have a look.
    - Pete M says:
      
      19 Oct19 October 13:38
      
      Someone also posted a trick via Switzerland earlier in the chat today.
Craig says:

19 Oct19 October 13:18

Email from Monese, gift cards are back again.

SHOP50 – £50 card for £40
SHOP100 – £100 card for £80

I didn’t see Amazon as an option after I bought, topped up my Apple account instead.
- Aston100 says:
  
  19 Oct19 October 13:25
  
  Yup, just used both of these successfully.
  Used these same codes just a few weeks ago too.
- Aston100 says:
  
  19 Oct19 October 13:27
  
  Seem to be more retailers than last time too.
  I see Morrisons, M&S, John Lewis and more.
  Used on Sainsburys last time. Will go for something else this time.
- Andrew (@andrewseftel) says:
  
  19 Oct19 October 13:33
  
  This is the list of retailers:
  
  adidas, App Store & iTunes, Arsenal F.C., ASDA, ASK Italian, Caffè Nero, Cineworld, Currys PC World, Decathlon, Deliveroo, Eurostar, Google Play, Habitat, Halfords, H&M, Jet 2 Holidays by Inspire, John Lewis & Partners, Just Eat, lastminute.com Travel, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, The National Trust, New Look, Nike, Photobox, Pizza Hut Restaurants, Primark, River Island, Sainsbury’s, Sports Direct, Spotify, The Body Shop, Ticketmaster, Uber, Uber Eats, Virgin Gift Card, Zizzi
  - Ben says:
    
    19 Oct19 October 14:59
    
    If you are struggling with which voucher to buy , you can always prepay your Spotify Premium account – £30 ( for example ) would buy 3 months. Doesn’t work with Student accounts or any other discount. No Hotels.com this time , unfortunately.
- Alekun says:
  
  19 Oct19 October 15:14
  
  tried to add promo code saying eligible for promotion.
  - Nectar Collector says:
    
    19 Oct19 October 15:20
    
    Make sure you have enough money in your account first…..?
- Mattb says:
  
  19 Oct19 October 15:50
  
  Than you just purchased
- rams1981 says:
  
  19 Oct19 October 18:20
  
  thanks still works.
Leo says:

19 Oct19 October 13:22

Hi,

I am flying to Germany tomorrow and as such an antigen test is required. Where is the cheapest I could do this? I am London based.

Also wondering if anyone has tried to use the nhs covid pass that you get from uploading a negative result from a lateral flow test.
- Pete M says:
  
  19 Oct19 October 13:24
  
  You don’t need a test if double-jabbed at least two weeks before travel.
  - leo says:
    
    19 Oct19 October 14:57
    
    Not double jabbed yet
- ChrisC says:
  
  19 Oct19 October 15:27
  
  NHS lateral flow tests cannot be used for travel.
  
  They don’t contain the required information for that purpose.
  - Pete M says:
    
    19 Oct19 October 15:51
    
    Then I would probably aim for one of the testing locations at the airports – you don’t really have time for anything else.
Amy C says:

19 Oct19 October 13:26

OK if you’ve actually got through to BA in the last few days please give up your secrets? Tweeted them Friday….Still waiting
Tried getting on online chat today and yesterday….Nope, no agents available
Tried calling….can’t take my call.
I am lowly blue so can’t ring Gold line.
In addition has anyone had a ‘ghost’ booking made by BA to keep a booking live on the system?
Background: Booked CW in the 747 promotion a year ago for CPT in Feb this year. They cancelled and I did not rebook. I’ve let them keep my 1K for a year. Suddenly about 2 months after the cancellation this one way to CPT booking appeared for October 21st under the same booking ref. I rang and queried it and they said not to worry, it’s just there keeping the booking alive their end. Well the 21st is 2 days away and the online check in is counting down like it’s a real booking and I am worried what’s going to happen next if I can’t get through to them. Ta
- Babyg says:
  
  19 Oct19 October 13:29
  
  BA need to “park” the booking somewhere.. hence your CPT booking, even so I would keep trying to get through (eg 8am, or overseas number) to get the warm and fuzzies about your booking)
- pauldb says:
  
  19 Oct19 October 14:16
  
  A bit random but you can get a chat going with someone at https://chat.avios.com/Live/webchatLogin.php (select BAEC obviously). Just tried and got someone in 2mins. But I’m not really sure it’s a legitimate channel and whether they’ll help you.
  - Amy C says:
    
    19 Oct19 October 14:23
    
    Thanks. Just tried, but when I press to start chatting after putting name etc in
    nothing happens 🙁
    - Sean says:
      
      19 Oct19 October 15:27
      
      I phoned at 8.45 this morning , call picked up at 9.03 and finished by 9.15 – I was shocked.
      - Amy C says:
        
        19 Oct19 October 15:35
        
        That is bizarre! Gives me hope. A tiny smidgen of hope but hope nonetheless.
- Duncan says:
  
  19 Oct19 October 15:28
  
  I his this problem recently. Tried calling and was told they were too busy to take my call a few times. I tried a few hours later and got through with almost no hold at all! It seems entirely random. I’ve no idea what their limit is to say “we’re too busy to add you to the queue” but I think they could tweak this.
  
  Also Blue, BTW.
- QFFlyer says:
  
  20 Oct20 October 03:59
  
  Call their HK call centre.
Tarmohamed says:

19 Oct19 October 13:42

Data point:

Amex to Emirates points transfers:

Already linked account: instant
Newly linked account: 5 minutes
- Sammy says:
  
  19 Oct19 October 14:00
  
  But make sure you dont have a previously linked amex (even if cancelled) on the same EK account, otherwise its a long winded process to unlink and relink as the two systems dont speak at offboarding stage.
  - Tarmohamed says:
    
    19 Oct19 October 14:12
    
    Thanks for the heads up
billybob johnson says:

19 Oct19 October 13:49

Datapoint – Expert Medical day 2 test ordered for my flight home tomorrow. = Just had an email from DPD advising that it will be delivered monday which will be day 6. You get what you pay for – a number to put on the PLF
- Alan says:
  
  19 Oct19 October 14:30
  
  Ours, ordered two days before our flights home, turned up on day 2 so cannot complain about the service.
- Lady London says:
  
  19 Oct19 October 17:05
  
  Charge it back. Timing of delivery is of the essence for these.
  - Jonathan says:
    
    19 Oct19 October 19:58
    
    Not sure that’s reasonable if you order at this late notice. 5 days from ordering would be a reasonable delivery time in current climate (especially if you’re paying substantially less than competitors). They also don’t make any promises on next day delivery etc.
- Jonathan says:
  
  19 Oct19 October 19:55
  
  I had same but it arrived on Day 2.
S says:

19 Oct19 October 14:01

What’s the cheapest route to buying a one off lounge entry at MAN these days? On a break from amex and very rarely travel LCC so doesn’t make sense to open any bank accounts for this one off trip.
- Rob says:
  
  19 Oct19 October 14:16
  
  Airport often emails 10% codes if you join its email list. Check Aspire’s social feeds too.
Sammy says:

19 Oct19 October 14:02

Not sure if the ‘shiny’ NHS travel certificate will arrive in time (takes up to 10 working days wth). Is the online downloadable NHS PDF with both doses enough for airlines/customs?
- Pete M says:
  
  19 Oct19 October 14:08
  
  Yes, hasn’t been an issue anywhere I’ve been or you can use the app itself in most place.
  - Sammy says:
    
    19 Oct19 October 14:24
    
    Yes, both available to show on e-wallet. Is it really necessary to show the shiny version?
    - Pete M says:
      
      19 Oct19 October 14:34
      
      I always carry that as well, it looks official!
- Jonathan says:
  
  19 Oct19 October 20:03
  
  Depends where you’re going. Some countries insist on paper certificates & this was enforced for me in Bosnia & Montenegro earlier this year. If you input all of the requested info (including NHS number) then delivery time should be less than 10 days as it’s apparently printed immediately. The delay occurs if you omit some details & a human has to verify it.