The HfP chat thread – Monday 25th October

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• lumma says:

  25 Oct25 October 18:34

  Does anyone know when the IHG status will be lost after Creation close the cards?

  I know some people say it’s useless but I’ve had some decent upgrades over the years from it both as gold and silver

  Club Room at intercontinental Madrid
  Dead Sea view room at Crown Plaza Dead Sea Jordan
  “The best room in the hotel” at Oxford Spires Voco

  I think it sometimes helps with getting early check-in over “leave your bags and come back at 3pm”

  • Harrier25 says:

    25 Oct25 October 19:18

    We all know the answer to that question is ‘No’ if you’ve hit the points required with IHG for 2022 because they operate as two different entities.

• Luke says:

  25 Oct25 October 18:52

  Neon Reef referral code – @Jason asked for this the other day and I’ve now posted it on the old chat thread but I don’t know if it’ll be seen there.

  NeonReef515 gets both of us £50 off the next bill.

  • lumma says:

    25 Oct25 October 20:16

    I was wondering when it ends though? Immediate on the card being closed by creation or will we get the rest of the year, like with amex plat

• Reney says:

  25 Oct25 October 19:25

  I think if you click around it tells you when it will come off pending. I don’t have any pending transaction to test for you…

• Patrycja says:

  25 Oct25 October 19:35

  Paul Charles on Twitter just shared US entry criteria from 8th of November. For fully vaccinated lateral flow or PCR test 3 day prior to departure.

  https://twitter.com/PPaulCharles/status/1452701000083681285?s=20

  • Patrycja says:

    25 Oct25 October 19:37

    Link to the fact sheet with details

    • ChrisC says:

      25 Oct25 October 20:17

      No further testing require after arrival which had been mentioned before as a possible requirement so that’s good.

      So a test before going and a test 0-2 after UK return seems pretty reasonable.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    25 Oct25 October 19:41

    Lateral flow accepted as per today … what were the chances …

    • TGLoyalty says:

      25 Oct25 October 19:45

      U18’s also exempt and can take 72hr antigen when travelling with fully vaccinated but will then need to take a test within 24hours if alone/with unvaccinated.

      A pragmatic approach for u18’s.

    • Patrycja says:

      25 Oct25 October 19:46

      Good to see that common sense prevailed. Now hoping for Hawaii to recognise UK vaccine certificates before Christmas 🤞

      • Louise K says:

        25 Oct25 October 20:48

        I’m following closely too! Fingers crossed 🤞

• Robert says:

  25 Oct25 October 19:37

  BA booking merger question.
  We had previously booked 3 Lloyds vouchers in my wife’s name on one booking (her, me, our son), but… Covid. Vouchers were returned and we were waiting until late September dates opened to use them before 31 Oct expiry date. Called Avios today, and was told not possible to do 3 vouchers on one booking – apparently the last time was agent error (I mean, that means it must be possible to do, but…, Even if it’s outside the T&C)

  Anyway, we’re now probably going to do her and my son on two vouchers, and me on cash (I’ve got Silver status, so I want it to be on one booking to do seat selection together immediately). My questions are:
  – Can Avios do this (mix of cash and Avios voucher booking) under one booking ref?
  – can I book my flight for cash on BA.com, my wife book on Avios.com, then merge the booking refs via BA.com?
  – is there any alternative way of doing this?

  TIA

  • Anna says:

    25 Oct25 October 19:56

    You can’t mix cash and avios bookings. I’ve previously made a single booking using 2 Lloyds vouchers so it might be a case of try another agent. You could use 2 vouchers for you and your son on one booking (IIRC) and use your silver status to select seats, and get your wife a cash ticket. We have travelled as 2 adults and a child on a variety of separate booking over the years and never ended up not being able to sit together.

    • Robert says:

      25 Oct25 October 20:27

      Thanks for your comments, Anna. I think it’s ok using 2 vouchers (it’s treated as account holder booking one outbound upgrade for you both, and one return booking for you both, so technically the holder is on both bookings), the complication is the third person (kids, eh!). And as it’s my wife’s account, she has to be on the voucher. She could book her and I, but I’m not sure you can book an unaccompanied child (2-11) cash ticket on their own ticket without a world of admin!

  • ChrisC says:

    25 Oct25 October 19:59

    You cannot merge separate bookings. Nor can you mix cash and avios bookings.

    • Robert says:

      25 Oct25 October 20:29

      Thanks, Chris. I’ve definitely merged bookings in the past (my wife and I on one, adding my parents separate booking), but they were all cash tickets.

      • ChrisC says:

        25 Oct25 October 21:41

        Merged in what way? All under the same PNR? Able to manage the bookings and seats?

        • Robert says:

          25 Oct25 October 22:30

          It was a while ago, but I think I’m remembering correctly: two separate booking refs… Parents merged into mine, allowing seat selection because of my silver. Can’t remember if I MMB at all (suppose I must have for seat selection). Obvs couldn’t get them into lounge with my silver (my wife and I enjoyed without them).

• Michael says:

  25 Oct25 October 20:35

  Does anyone know where a Morrison’s is selling John Lewis (for use in Waitrose) giftcards?
  Near Windsor or alongside the M4 towards e.g. Hammersmith or Kensington or along the way.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    25 Oct25 October 20:48

    Have you had any issue finding some or put off by new baby/beauty branding(as they both work fine in waitrose)?

    • Alex says:

      25 Oct25 October 21:02

      I wasn’t sure they do BTW. There are no issues with spending the Beauty branded cards for groceries in a Waitrose?

      • mark2 says:

        25 Oct25 October 21:19

        I have done it many times, although I only bought one to try first time around.

        • Alex says:

          25 Oct25 October 21:22

          That’s good to know. Thanks!

        • Michael says:

          25 Oct25 October 21:23

          Thank you for the feedback, I will have a look.

      • TGLoyalty says:

        25 Oct25 October 21:43

        Yes they work just fine. I’ve spent a few k worth.

• Malte says:

  25 Oct25 October 21:21

  Canadian entry requirements question: Does anyone know if PCR tests taken at home (e.g. Randox) are accepted for entry? It’s not quite clear to me from the site whether they need to be taken at a test facility.

  • Lev441 says:

    25 Oct25 October 21:46

    Yes it’s fine. Just landed in Toronto. Uploaded the randox paperwork to ArriveCAN. Nothing looked at upon arrival at security.

    • Malte says:

      25 Oct25 October 21:58

      Thanks – that’s a relieve. The person on the Canadian Government’s health hotline just said it had to be done by someone else (never mind it being done in a lab), but i didn’t get the sense they were at all sure.

      • Lev441 says:

        25 Oct25 October 23:24

        No worries. Just hope you get a green sticker on your passport.. if you get a pink one that means you need to do a random COVID test after baggage control

        • Malte says:

          25 Oct25 October 23:58

          Good to know – enjoy your stay!

• Alan says:

  25 Oct25 October 22:27

  Could anyone advise if my daughter will be covered by my Amex Plat insurance for an upcoming trip to Switzerland.

  She is a 21yr old student living away at Uni, doesn’t have her own Amex card and has paid for the flight on her own Visa card.

  Thanks in advance.

  • Peter K says:

    25 Oct25 October 22:43

    Yes, the amex platinum insurance helpline agents.

    • Peter K says:

      25 Oct25 October 22:44

      Chances are, anyone else will be making a guess and this is something it’s worth getting from the horse’s mouth.

    • Alan says:

      26 Oct26 October 00:28

      They thought it would be ok but weren’t sure and referred me to the underwriters at Axa. Their lines had closed for the day, I will give them another call tomorrow.

      Thanks for the replies.

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