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The HfP chat thread – Friday 22nd October

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General

Comments (444)

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

  • Harry T says:
    22 Oct22 October 06:53

    I’ve been trying to add my new Amex Gold Credit card to an existing Amex account so I can manage my cards in the same place (annoying to log in and out of the app). However, it keeps throwing an error when I try to do so. I’ve tried desktop and the app. Any advice gratefully received!

    • Rui N. says:
      22 Oct22 October 06:56

      Wait a few days and it should work. Had the same happening to me in a couple of cards over the past few months. in all cases was able to eventually add them.

      • YC says:
        22 Oct22 October 07:19

        I know this is the experience of most but as a datapoint, it’s been many months and I still can’t add a sup in my name. Main loss is the offers.

        • VerdantBacon says:
          22 Oct22 October 07:20

          If it’s been months, call Amex and ask them to do it for you

          • YC says:
            22 Oct22 October 07:32

            I tried via chat and phone and was told I had to create a new account. Will try again the next time on the phone to them

    • VerdantBacon says:
      22 Oct22 October 07:20

      Whenever this happens, I either wait a few days or just call Amex to get it done. Very quick and easy for Amex CS to do it

    • Munch says:
      22 Oct22 October 07:21

      Similar problem trying to add a new supplementary card.

    • Mouse says:
      22 Oct22 October 07:44

      Just make a new account then call CS to combine them

    • BJ says:
      22 Oct22 October 07:47

      And don’t add them at weekend. If you want it online soon, just create the new account, let it run a few days and then call them to combine accounts.

    • BuildBackBetter says:
      22 Oct22 October 09:02

      I have 6 Amex cards (including supplementary) – mix of MR, bapp and nectar in same online account. As others have said, wait a couple of days and use desktop.

      • Rui N. says:
        22 Oct22 October 09:11

        For me the app is much more reliable to add cards into my account.

      • CarpalTravel says:
        22 Oct22 October 09:12

        That is good to know! Such a PITA having to do cross account logins and verify my computer each time.

  • Bigmaggot says:
    22 Oct22 October 07:00

    Can anyone recommended a local company for a private airport hotel transfer in Lanzarote please?

    • Eoc says:
      22 Oct22 October 07:35

      No specific recommendation but here’s a few..

      Airport Taxi: (0034) 928 520 176.
      Taxi Playa Blanca: (0034) 928 524222.
      Arrecife Taxi: (0034) 928 800 806.
      Haría: (0034) 982 835 368.
      Teguise: (0034) 928 524 223.
      Tías: (0034) 928 524 220.
      Puerto del Carmen: (0034) 928 524220.

    • Sukes says:
      22 Oct22 October 08:08

      Try shuttlespaintransfers dot com. First recommended to me by Melia Fuerteventura. Have used multiple times since including three times on Costa del Sol last wk.

    • Bigmaggot says:
      22 Oct22 October 09:39

      Thanks both 😁

  • Anna says:
    22 Oct22 October 07:02

    Morning. Does anyone know the dates started for the bonus 10,000 Avios when spending £5k on BAPP please? Think it was sometime in august. And if a refund hits your account due to a cancelled flight will it be clawed back and then given again when you spend by expiry date 30/11/21? Thanks in advance.

    • BJ says:
      22 Oct22 October 07:25

      23rd August rings a bell but not certain. Yes, it will be clawed back and yes it will be reinstated when crossing the spend threshold again. If you are worried about it though you could always pay a flexible hotels com booking now and cancel it for a refund in December. By doing so your account would not slip below tbe spend threshold despite the flight refund.

    • Andrew says:
      22 Oct22 October 07:41

      If you click on the T&Cs of the offer it states the start and end date:
      Offer valid from 23 August until 30 November 2021.

      • JohnT says:
        22 Oct22 October 09:12

        Bet my long awaited BA voucher refund finally hits on 29th Nov!

      • TedL says:
        22 Oct22 October 13:56

        Does anybody know if supplementary card spend is counted towards the £5k. Also if Paypal spend is counted?

    • Karl says:
      22 Oct22 October 10:21

      If you were refunded something after the promo dates that took the slending below £5k would you go into negative Avios with BAPP?

  • HH says:
    22 Oct22 October 07:13

    Hotel advice for Mauritius please. I noticed the Anantara is <25% of the price of the likes of JW Marriott, Shangri-La, Four Seasons over Christmas… Is there something wrong with it I should know about? Reviews all seemed decent.

    And thanks Rob for pointing out Christmas Avios availability yesterday, I bit the bullet for my 30th birthday.

    • BJ says:
      22 Oct22 October 07:32

      Anantara brand is solid IME but never been to Mauritius. They are all just variations on boxes with one or two beds and attached bathrooms anyway, or sitting areas and sometimes kitchen if a suite.

      • Crafty says:
        22 Oct22 October 09:14

        Could be a red herring, but I was researching Anantara Algarve yesterday, and recent reviews have completely put me off. Perhaps the brand variation is significant.

        • BP says:
          22 Oct22 October 09:26

          Anantara Koh Phangan really annoyed me years back. They insisted that they needed to take our photos to show staff so they know we are guests and haven’t walked in off the street. Haven’t stayed with the brand since.

          • David says:
            22 Oct22 October 09:50

            That hotel annoyed me too wanted me to leave without giving me a final bill – just my card details so they could charge a random amount at a later date.

          • Lady London says:
            22 Oct22 October 11:45

            What happened to just asking the customer to show a keycard?

        • Gary says:
          22 Oct22 October 14:26

          Stayed Anantara Algarve in Aug. It’s an excellent hotel unless beach is important for you. Get a room with a Butler who arranges everything from arrival to departure. Would go back.

    • Spurs drive me mad says:
      22 Oct22 October 09:53

      I really liked what is now the Shanghai la
      Had a beachfront twin room, breakfast on our terrace every morning watching the resort wakeup. Rooms were a good size.
      Don’t forget beach shoes as island is surrounded by coral reef and you need shoes to go into sea so you don’t cut your feet.

      • Dave says:
        22 Oct22 October 14:26

        Le Touessrok…..we had our honeymoon there some years ago, also pre Shangri-La (think it was Sun Resorts). Had a junior suite on the beachfront ground floor. Absolutely stunning resort. Moved elsewhere for the second half of our trip, and regretted it so much we checked out returned to Le Touessrok!

    • Rhys says:
      22 Oct22 October 09:56

      I will be staying at the Anantara Angkor Watt in February. Anyone have any experience there?

      • Michael C says:
        22 Oct22 October 10:54

        Rhys, not the Anantara, but if Raffles is open, they do a gorgeous outdoors evening meal with dancing entertainment.

        • Tony1 says:
          22 Oct22 October 20:28

          If Raffles not open try the Sofitel. Floor show is normally good. ( well was 2019 ). Also don’t forget to get your Accor Plus if using Accor – worth the cost.

          Get the 7 day temple ticket – well worth the extra few $$ and do the ones “out of town”. Hire car and driver.

      • Anuj says:
        22 Oct22 October 11:59

        I have no experience but for Angkor Watt you would do well to just hire a bike and explore the temples yourself, the guides are very hit and miss and just try and take you to tourist traps. You can also get a sim from near the exit to the airport quite cheap.

      • Sam G says:
        22 Oct22 October 12:35

        I think it’s a little way out of the main city but there are plenty of tuk tuks and Grab works there too IIRC. I was there in December 2019 and it was already weirdly quiet with the tourist economy according to many we spoke to so I dread to think how things are there by now, I often think of our guides and drivers we met there!

        We did a Jeep tour with toursbyjeeps.com (Sunset and boats) which was really fun. Agree with Anuj re: the temples themselves. We kinda did a halfway measure – booked just a private sunrise tour (via Klook) so we didn’t have to worry about the logistics of things at the crack of dawn. Got back to the hotel in time for breakfast. Then another day we went there ourselves to explore some more.

      • Aston100 says:
        22 Oct22 October 12:59

        Rhys, what route are you taking to Siem Reap?

    • Kevin C says:
      22 Oct22 October 14:14

      Only Anantara I’ve been to is the Dhigu in the Maldives. It was terrific.

      The Discovery card works with Anantara so well worth getting one if you do decide to stay.

    • Bob says:
      22 Oct22 October 16:39

      Anantara is a relatively new property as it opened late 2019 so just a few months before covid. It’s on the south east coast of the country so not far from the airport.

  • Ben says:
    22 Oct22 October 07:57

    Do I need to call IHG if I have booked a room for someone else using points for a reward stay? Pretty sure I wrote in the notes when booking online that my girlfriend would be checking in first but I can’t remember if that’s good enough for IHG or not…

    • Andrew says:
      22 Oct22 October 08:04

      Call the hotel direct. Best approach is for you to book for 2, name the other person in the booking as second guest and then they can checkin without you.

      • BJ says:
        22 Oct22 October 08:27

        Agreed, I always call the hotel too. I think the hotel appreciates the call as ur removes any doubt regarding intentions.

    • John says:
      22 Oct22 October 08:29

      Which country? Some require ID from all named guests

    • Genghis says:
      22 Oct22 October 08:46

      I’ve always called IHG in the past and booked in the name of the actual person that’s staying.

    • SteveJ says:
      22 Oct22 October 08:53

      You can usually email the hotel to let them know in advance. Done this in the UK, no issues.

  • Bill says:
    22 Oct22 October 08:20

    Re BAPP card

    I contacted Amex to ask why my Avios haven’t transferred around the time of the first statement and they claimed to have no record of my BA executive club number. I though I added it at the time of application. So, if like me, you are planning to close the card as soon as you get the bonus, make sure you keep on to them. It looks like I will have the card for at least 2 months – which is longer than I wanted

    • Genghis says:
      22 Oct22 October 08:47

      Does your name on Amex exactly match that on BAEC, including all middle names? Process was changed at start of year such that I had to change wife’s name on BAEC to include all middle names.

      • bill says:
        22 Oct22 October 09:26

        Amex statement says prepared for: Firstname Surname
        BA account personal details: Firstname Surname
        BA API: includes middle names

    • Gustavo says:
      22 Oct22 October 16:43

      I have double-barrelled surname with a space so often that’s removed or some systems simply remove the space (like BA for example). I had no issues when applying with my executive club number and as soon as the card showed up on the app, I could see my executive club number on the account. So for others who want to cancel the card straightaway I would recommend checking the amex app to see if you are able to see your executive club number.

  • Darko says:
    22 Oct22 October 08:33

    I’m in Sicily at the moment, returning on 25th. For me that means that I can pre-order Day2 lateral flow/antigen test. Did anyone managed to order through the BA discount webpage where the discount is automatically applied?

    • Sandgrounder says:
      22 Oct22 October 09:33

      https://www.find-travel-test-provider.service.gov.uk/providers#list-of-test-providers

      The list is live, some providers may be cheaper. Some may also be cowboys.

    • ktk says:
      22 Oct22 October 09:56

      Returned from Nice on 14th on BA. Decided on Randox, and ordered while there. Used code ‘BritishAirways’ – I think- for a fiver off. So, £43.00 each. Day 2 packs were couriered to my home within 2 days while I was away. Returned them via local drop box (Glasgow) before noon on day 2after return. Got both sets of negative results by email by 1 pm the day after. All went pretty smoothly. (Courier (dpd) ignored my request to leave them with neighbour tho’, and put them through my letter box.)

    • ktk says:
      22 Oct22 October 10:03

      PS. I don’t think you need to use a BA link to get to Randox. Just go straight to their site and put in discount code ‘BritishAirways’ when signing up.

      • Pete M says:
        22 Oct22 October 10:59

        Those are PCR tests, ktk, which are no longer required from 24 October.

        • Sandgrounder says:
          22 Oct22 October 12:04

          Randox are £21.50 with a code, £20 for click and collect. The gov.uk site is still pretty glitchy, quite a few providers are coming up as £null.

    • Darko says:
      22 Oct22 October 13:35

      Thank you everyone for your comments, website started working in the afternoon and I purchased discounted antigen Day2 test for £18. I see no reason to pay for PCR for double the price if it is not prerequisite anymore.

  • Alex says:
    22 Oct22 October 08:45

    Can you pay taxes on avios booking with an e-voucher from a cash only booking? I thought you could but didn’t have the option to when booking online and BA live chat says you can’t.

    Took me about 30mins to get through to them on live chat at 8:05am.

    Thanks

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