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The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 26th October

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We are running this daily chat thread on Head for Points during the coronavirus outbreak.

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Comments (669)

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

  • Ant says:

    Hi does anyone know if the antigen test required for Italy needs to be in person? I see it needs to be done within 48 hours. Where is the best place to get this done? We work in the City and live in Essex if that helps.

    • Paul Pogba says:

      I had an email from Malaysia this morning stating they would be resuming service (from London) to Sydney on 1 November (MH3/MH141) so competition on the route is coming back.

    • Jeff Greene says:

      Actually being allowed in as a tourist would be even better news for those hoping to go

  • BuildBackBetter says:

    Krisflyer 12-15% transfer bonus from Amex and hsbc.

  • The Savage Squirrethe many says:

    Currently back at Hilton Garden Snowdonia. For the many who stayed in summer ; a few minor changes.
    Service now much slicker and all service staff engaged. You can really tell they now have 6 months under their belts. No more brekkie queues.
    Pre pack croissants replaced with fresh bakery ones – excellent.
    Waffle maker installed. Omelette guy still in place 🙂
    We now have a dog in tow. Hotel very dog friendly other than restaurant – but you can eat in bar area (breakfast too) so this is no problem.
    Dinner menu still looks very generic and uninspired. Local pubs still a far better bet. Groes Inn 3 miles up road was absolutely excellent – as others have mentioned before. Book in advance: they turned away 20 people just while we were there.
    Chucking it down now but you get wet anyway surfing, right?! 🤪

    • memesweeper says:

      thanks for the update — sounds like they improved the things they needed to 🙂

      • Lady London says:

        Now if we could just hear the same about The Langley?

        • Anna says:

          Recent reviews on TripAdvisor suggest not, LL 😔. But my new Jack Reacher is due to arrive today to pass the next few chilly evenings!

  • James says:

    Can the BA EC Gold Upgrade Voucher (2500 tier points) be used to upgrade from CW to F if initially purchased via a 2-4-1? I doubt it but just curious.

  • BJ says:

    Anybody stayed at Marriott Element brand? Similar to Staybridge, Residence etc?

  • Ant says:

    I need an anti gen Fit to Fly for this Thursday any company that does next day delivery?

    • memesweeper says:

      For this Thursday I’d do it at the airport…

    • Ali M says:

      My randox came next day – paid around 1500ish.heart sank as the email said ‘can take up to 5 working days’ it worked for me but later realised Colinson at the airport was 66 instead of Randox 43 at home so may as well as suggested…

    • Lev441 says:

      Randox click and collect today if any nearby to you ? Post back before drop boxes close and you’ll get result by 11.59pm tomorrow

  • Malte says:

    I asked this yesterday, but was wondering if there are any more data points about using at home/unsupervised PCR tests for travel to Canada? It seems to have worked for a user here, but Health Canada are insistent it needs to be done at a testing facility. Trying to figure out whether I really have to pay for another test…

    • Pete M says:

      So the official source is telling you it needs to be done in person. Some people get away with not doing it in person. It’s really about your appetite for risk in case your immigration agent starts asking questions?

    • Sean says:

      I know the speed limit on the motorway is 70 mph the signs tell me so – but i know someone who was driving at 130mph the other day and didn’t get caught – so must be ok for me to travel at that speed right?

    • Ben says:

      There’s no way to tell if a test was done at home or supervised via the paperwork I’ve experience in all my travels…

      All they will look at is name and possibly passport number/dob and whether it was a negative result or not. Do you really think they have a list of every provider worldwide who does in person tests?!

      • Blenz101 says:

        Well some do check for the date the same was collected. My understanding is that some certificates do indicate in this area if it was an at home test and therefore can’t give a sample collection date / time.

        Seems silly to risk an entire trip for the sake of what, £20 extra? to get the test done as per the requirements.

        • Malte says:

          It’s more like 140 GBP extra for both of us since these are PCR tests (on top of the nun refundable Randox tests we bought). Health Canada are ultimately just reading lines that seem designed for home test kits that don’t involve a laboratory at all. The speed limit analogy doesn’t really apply here.

          Agree re the risk, hence why I’m looking for more data points. If there are none then I’ll bite the bullet and pay up.

      • Malte says:

        I believe (but may be wrong) that Randox certificates do indicate it’s an at home test unfortunately.

        • Lev441 says:

          They don’t indicate that it’s either an at home test or lab test on the randox certificate..

          As I mentioned yesterday, it was absolutely fine to use a randox- at home test.

          You have the date & time of test, date and time of result and result itself.

          My girlfriend used the randox test also and she left a few days prior to me and again – no issues.

          I think you are working it up to a bigger deal than it actually is… all it says on the government Canada website is that you need a negative PCR test. It doesn’t actually say anywhere about it needing to be a supervised test… But if you want to pay the additional £140 for both of you than feel free…

    • James says:

      Have travelled to Canada since they opened up last month. Was asked for arrive Can receipt and my test result by border agent even though had already uploaded it. It might be that they pick one of test result, vaccine or quarantine plan or all to ask you about further when you arrive?

      • Malte says:

        Thanks – I think i will end up paying for the extra tests. Bit frustrating as I think the Canadian site could be clearer, but ultimately my fault and not worth the risk.

    • Jeff Greene says:

      Try and it see what happens and then let us know

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