The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 27th October

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Jonathan says:

27 Oct27 October 07:17

I’ve got a 241 expiring shortly but want to use it this time next year. I k is to get a FTV and call up but should I use Manchester for the FTV or my ultimate location – will it make it any easier for the Ba agent to handle?

Secondly if I book the outbound leg at t-355, when I call up later to add the return leg can they apply the FTV then so I end up with the best desired outcome?
- SteveJ says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 07:24
  
  Book the cheapest possible ticket for the FTV, no benefit in locking up more cash and Avios than necessary IMHO. One way to Man/Edi/Inv does the trick.
  
  I believe you’ll need to call both times, you need to get the 241 onto the booking on the outbound, and then call again to add the inbound.
Mark says:

27 Oct27 October 07:37

Returning to England in a few days and wonder what the HfP collective wisdom thinks is the best course of action for testing?

1 – Make up a number for my PLF, then do a free lateral flow test on Day 2
2 – Buy the cheapest test, but not bother to attend the appointment. Instead do a free lateral flow test on Day 2
3 – Buy a test from a reputable supplier, and complete as instructed.
4- Buy a PCR test as they are more reliable, and results would identify variants.

1,2,3 all acheive the same outcome, but 3 is the only official route, despite 4 being the more responsible route.

What would you do?
- Mike says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 07:39
  
  3 – (Always think of others first – not your own convenience)
- Blenz101 says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 07:42
  
  3. If that is positive then follow up with a PCR.
  
  And 4 won’t identify variants. Only a tiny fraction of positive tests are sent for sequencing.
- SteveJ says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 07:42
  
  3
- Andrew H says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 07:43
  
  Why wouldn’t you do route 3. You can afford to travel – you can afford to spend £20 on a test. (LFTs are more accurate than previously thought)
- Tracey says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 07:50
  
  1- risk a £1000 fine
  2- you sometimes need to collect in person to get the code
  3- obvious choice
  4- only a handful of tests are sequenced, wait to see if you are positive before having a PCR.
- Andrew says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 07:51
  
  Absolutely absurd that anyone would do anything other than number 3
  - Mark says:
    
    27 Oct27 October 08:06
    
    Option 1 is about my convenience and getting the same outcome as option 3.
    - Mike says:
      
      27 Oct27 October 08:12
      
      Mark – you are part of society- the rest of society is not bothered by your level of convenience
    - John says:
      
      27 Oct27 October 08:29
      
      It’s convenient for me to go to shops and take whatever I want without paying.
      It’s convenient for me to punch anyone who gets in my way on the street.
      It’s convenient for me to drive at 100mph whenever possible.
      Should I do those things?
      - Mark says:
        
        27 Oct27 October 09:03
        
        @john, @Mike you might want to quell your moral outrage somewhat. Unlike some people who have posted on HfP, I will be taking a test no matter what.
        
        The only difference is whether I take a test which comes with a code, to fill out a form, which is then unlikely to be checked, or if I just take a test. My actions have exactly the same outcome, and present no risk to anyone else.
    - Blenz101 says:
      
      27 Oct27 October 08:44
      
      Unless your made up number sticks out like a sore thumb and you are challenged on it and asked to provide your proof of purchase.
    - John Caribbean says:
      
      27 Oct27 October 08:49
      
      How’s it more convenient? You don’t have to spend 5 minutes booking a test?
    - AJA says:
      
      27 Oct27 October 09:02
      
      @Mark. What an appalling post! JUST DO OPTION 3. I know everyone thinks this is a waste of time and that it is just lining the pockets of Tory donors but doing anything else is morally wrong. Covid really does kill, you’d have to be totally heartless and daft to believe anything else. You presumably have not caught Covid and have been vaccinated (unless you’re an anti-vaxxer?) But that does not mean you cannot catch Covid. You have the privilege of flying when many are still suffering and while the deaths in the UK are now down to the low 3 digits they are still loved ones of others. If you and others do your own thing rather than do what is right you are no better than Dominic Cummings and lose any right to criticise anyone else who fails to do the right thing. End of rant!
      - Lady London says:
        
        27 Oct27 October 11:54
        
        Well said AJA.
        We have a lot of fun on here and I’m glad when people share their views, and even when creative solutions faced with nonsense or idiot systems are shared, but enough’s enough.
        
        Covid still kills, as AJA says you are privileged to travel. Especially with recent lightening of requirements, do at least that.
      - r* says:
        
        27 Oct27 October 14:09
        
        Thing is, are 1, 2 and 3 not the same thing as they are all taking a lateral flow test?
      - Js says:
        
        27 Oct27 October 17:08
        
        Covid kills – what does this have to do with crossing borders?
- Bob says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 08:01
  
  If 3 is positive then you get a free PCR anyway.
  - Rui N. says:
    
    27 Oct27 October 08:39
    
    And in that get you get assured that it gets sequenced – at least, that’s what the government said, all people travelling that get a day 2 positive would get their PCR sequenced.
    - Blenz101 says:
      
      27 Oct27 October 08:41
      
      Not true. A tiny fractional % of positive tests are sent to be sequenced.
      - Rui N. says:
        
        27 Oct27 October 09:26
        
        Like it was pretty clear in my message, I was not talking about all positive tests, so that’s irrelevant. The government said that all PCRs following a positive day 2 LFT test would go for sequencing.
- Harry T says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 08:17
  
  Obviously option 3 lol.
- Amy says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 08:37
  
  3 aka line the pocket of tory donors
  - JDB says:
    
    27 Oct27 October 09:33
    
    Do you have any evidence of this or are you a parrot?
- Anna says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 09:07
  
  Do what every savvy HPF reader will do, buy the cheapest test available, and take it!
- Nick Burch says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 09:45
  
  simplytestme are £12 for a lateral flow test, with valid PLF code, and a LFT that turns up. For the risk of a fine with the cheating options, why wouldn’t you just go for that?
  - Pete M says:
    
    27 Oct27 October 10:25
    
    Gosh, people get really excited about this, don’t they? Mark is clearly saying he will take the exact sort of test the government asks for, no matter what. The biggest risk to no 1 and 2 is that he gets caught and has to pay a fine, as he didn’t follow the rules exactly. That would be his problem, though. Risk of that is very low, of course.
- HBommie says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 10:24
  
  I think you know the answer, but the question is in the hope of triggering an argument. Well done.
- Js says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 16:26
  
  1- without the lft on day 2
Andrew H says:

27 Oct27 October 07:39

£203 purchase at Mozzers tracking on VACCSA at 262 points?! Makes no sense. (£200 vouchers + £3 meal deal). That’s not 8points/£1…
- Mike says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 07:40
  
  Is “Mozzers” on this months HFP approved codeword list – I checked and couldn’t find it
  - Andrew H says:
    
    27 Oct27 October 07:45
    
    Nope. It’s what regular Mozzers users call Mozzers. At least around here.
    - gillydee says:
      
      27 Oct27 October 08:29
      
      Billy’s – not Mozzers
- Andrew says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 07:54
  
  Morrison’s I presume. Combining the Amex 10% offer and Virgin to get points as well as it thinks it’s a goods purchase rather than a gift card purchase by adding one legitimate item to the basket.
  - Andrew H says:
    
    27 Oct27 October 08:18
    
    That’s what I was doing. But the maths don’t work out however you do it. 8% of £3 is 24 points. So £200 is 238 points?! Was hoping for 1624 points…
    
    Yet to appear in Amex account – (though just got the annual Dropbox reward there which is quite juicy).
  - Swiss Jim says:
    
    27 Oct27 October 09:55
    
    How long does the 10% Amex credit take to post? Spent £500 a few days ago and still nothing. Keen to know it will post before going back and buying a few more cards…
    
    Also I have no Morrison points offer on Virgin Shops. Didn’t realise these weren’t generic. Shame not to be able to double up this time.
- Andrew says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 08:45
  
  I’m on 6pts/£.
  
  As far as I can see, I’ve earnt 6pts per £1 on groceries and 5.6pts per £1 on Futures.
Ed says:

27 Oct27 October 07:55

Can you refund a single ticket (from a three person booking) onto an FTV?

Can you then use a cash FTV for a rewards booking?

I think the answer to both is no but wanted to confirm
- Sam G says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 08:15
  
  1. Yes – you need to call and get the booking split onto its own reference first
  
  2. No
  - Ed says:
    
    27 Oct27 October 12:38
    
    Thanks – is this true of eVouchers too? On FT seems to suggest that evouchers could be used but I’m unsure.
Idontflymuch says:

27 Oct27 October 08:02

Sorry for the cluelessness but how can you combine the amex and v card spend?
- Reney says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 08:19
  
  Can you explain a bit more what are you trying to achieve?
- Andrew H says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 08:19
  
  That’s what I was doing. But the maths don’t work out however you do it. 8% of £3 is 24 points. So £200 is 238 points?! Was hoping for 1624 points…
  
  Yet to appear in Amex account – (though just got the annual Dropbox reward there which is quite juicy).
  - Anuj says:
    
    27 Oct27 October 11:51
    
    I never get the morrisons offer on virgin shops away across three accounts but the calculator suggests £1 gives 7 points, anyone had any luck getting points if only the calculator shows ?
- Andrew H says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 08:20
  
  If Mozzers you are asking about it was Shops Away with my Amex.
- Andrew says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 08:53
  
  It’s one of the most beautiful things. Earning Virgin Points whilst spending on a BA Card.
  
  It doesn’t even have to be your card! My gin soaked maiden aunt used to make a substantial contribution to my domestic travel when BA ran a similar scheme with Waitrose. I can see she’s been getting her Mozzers deliveries in recent weeks too – except her £300+ purchase isn’t Futures, that’ll be a dozen bottles of Tanqueray and 2000 pts for me. Cheers!
  - Pete M says:
    
    27 Oct27 October 10:28
    
    Beautiful post, Andrew! 🙂
  - David says:
    
    27 Oct27 October 10:54
    
    This story never gets dull.
Anna says:

27 Oct27 October 08:19

Creation cc data point – my points for this week’s spend so far have been added to last month’s points which haven’t been transferred to IHG. No sign of the free night voucher though, and the £99 fee hasn’t been charged.
- BLT says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 08:30
  
  My creation card is being cancelled in December. Never used For Ernie but was linked to curve. I stopped spending after the letter and the annual fee has just been added, but no free night awarded. What are people doing in this situation. I’m not keen on paying the £99, but want my free night that I earned fair and square. If I cancel then I can’t imagine creation giving in to the free night
  - ken says:
    
    27 Oct27 October 08:38
    
    How much do you value the free night at ?
    
    Honestly, not some fantasy valuation in Bora Bora.
    
    How much do you value your time ?
    
    How upset will you be at reading on here in a years time, people claiming to get fee refunds, free night and £££ compo when going down MCOL/ FOS route.
    
    Its utterly disgraceful what creation are doing, but remember, principles cost time, effort and sometimes money.
    - Anna says:
      
      27 Oct27 October 08:44
      
      No fantasy valuations – I have 4 nights booked at the Kimpton Seafire next July (1 free night, 3 nights on points) and was intending to use my next free night cert to add on a 5th night. Cash cost of the room is £711 and that’s in low season. This is what I will be claiming for. The certificate is for use at “any IHG hotel” so it’s entirely valid to cite Bora Bora, if you so wish.
    - BP says:
      
      27 Oct27 October 09:54
      
      As much as many of us have put an inflated value on the free night, it could be argued that a free night is valued at whatever it would cost to buy 100,000 IHG points. Assuming 100k is the cap for a single night.
      
      Of course, it’s maybe not that simplistic as I believe the free nights come out of a different inventory from reward nights.
      - Anna says:
        
        27 Oct27 October 10:52
        
        How is it inflated if that’s what the certificate can genuinely be used for?
      - QFFlyer says:
        
        27 Oct27 October 11:59
        
        Not inflated at all, I used 2x free night certificates at IC Hayman Island earlier this year, which indeed charges 100k points per night.
      - TGLoyalty says:
        
        27 Oct27 October 18:42
        
        No 100k cap. Seen IC PL for more than that in coming weeks
    - Char Char says:
      
      27 Oct27 October 10:02
      
      The value of your time can be added into any claim which they will become liable for rather than at the moment they could just refund the fees and give the nights without messing around.
- Andrew says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 08:57
  
  Should make a formal report to Action Fraud about Creation.
  - Anna says:
    
    27 Oct27 October 09:11
    
    Not sure if you’re serious, Andrew, but in case anyone is actually thinking of doing this it would be a waste of everyone’s time, especially that of the victims of real fraud! Creation are breaching their own Ts and Cs and the correct route to challenge them is obviously the financial regulator.
    - Andrew says:
      
      27 Oct27 October 09:28
      
      I’m being absolutely serious. Right now, you and many other Creation customers appear to be victims of wholesale Corporate Fraud.
      
      You are paying directly or indirectly for a service or product that they clearly have no intention to deliver. That’s fraud.
      
      Get a Crime Reference Number to back up your complaint to Creation and FOS.
      - Rachel Robinson says:
        
        27 Oct27 October 10:00
        
        Nevermind Action Fraud, I’m going straight to the local constabulary in Solihull! I’m sure they’ll drop everything and authorise an armed raid on the offices.
      - Char Char says:
        
        27 Oct27 October 10:00
        
        Andrew is right, what they are doing now is fraud.
        “In law, fraud is intentional deception to secure unfair or unlawful gain, or to deprive a victim of a legal right. Fraud can violate civil law”
        
        Taking a fee for a product and service that is then not provided in certainly an unfair gain, cutting it the services off after a few months of taking a fee is clearly unfair.
        
        It is clear they are not paying out the points or nights now for anyone they are cancelling thinking that they have some advantage due to some customers abusing their broken system.
        
        This is their attempt to get back at all customers for the actions of a few due to their lack of a profitable product. They still allow their cards to be paid off with another card costing them, makes no sense.
      - Anna says:
        
        27 Oct27 October 10:51
        
        It’s not fraud. If anyone can get either Action Fraud or the police to agree to investigate this, I will happily stand corrected, but I am fairly sure that the most that will happen is that they will tell you it’s a civil matter and give you an incident reference number to make you go away.
      - Char Char says:
        
        27 Oct27 October 12:30
        
        It is fraud if they intentionally take another £99 with no intention to provide the free nights or points to then cancel a month later.
      - Brian W says:
        
        27 Oct27 October 22:49
        
        😂 you’ve actually made me laugh @Andrew.
    - Lady London says:
      
      27 Oct27 October 11:59
      
      MCOL for breach of contract more lucrative if presented correctly. Do both. As JDB says FOS is overloaded
      - Anna says:
        
        27 Oct27 October 12:20
        
        I’m thinking I’ll put separate complaints in for all the issues as they arise. So this morning I’ve logged a complaint for the non-appearance of this year’s free night, then if they charge the £99 fee I’ll submit another one if they don’t offer a pro-rata refund in December, then if I spend another £10k between now and the closure date and don’t get another free night, that will be complaint no. 3. Hopefully the FOS will hit Creation for each one separately.
      - BLT says:
        
        27 Oct27 October 16:31
        
        Thank you. So I have put in a complaint regarding the £99 annual fee for 5-6 weeks of card use and not getting a free night certificate. I’ve put a separate complaint in for not receiving the Marriott 3 x points bonus from July. Lets see if I get a reply.
Nicky says:

27 Oct27 October 08:30

Has anyone got the contact number for the Newcastle BA office? Number that I had is now unavailable
- Trish says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 08:36
  
  Hi try +442032500145 we have had all our Inverness connections changed on 3 different bookings. This number was on the latest e mail. To my surprise my call was answered in 5 mins yesterday morning, spoke to a lady in SA who changed my Europe flight and Inverness to suit us .
  Trish
Alex says:

27 Oct27 October 08:31

5 off 15 spend coupon on the Amazon front page, though not everyone will be eligible…