The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 27th October

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Paul says:

27 Oct27 October 09:04

For those who have recently taken out the BA Accelerate Business card, have and when did you receive your sign up bonus? It’s been over a week since I’ve made the qualifying spend and nothing yet.
- Ant says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 09:11
  
  same here, i have hit the qualifying spend about 10 days ago but no sign of bonus. Waiting to get the first statement before i contact them
- Sam G says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 09:25
  
  Same – they told me up to 8 weeks
  - Paul says:
    
    27 Oct27 October 11:24
    
    Goodness, I wonder why the delay?
- den says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 11:52
  
  I took out the card during the June/July offer for 50k bonus points. I hit the spend within 5 weeks and the points only posted last week. I think the issue is that AMEX doesn’t actually give you the bonus, they tell BA who then deposit the 50k into your BAEC so not a normal AMEX only bonus like most of their credit cards.
  - Allan says:
    
    27 Oct27 October 13:32
    
    Arrived for me after first transfer of Avios to BA. Never showed in Amex app.
    - memesweeper says:
      
      27 Oct27 October 13:43
      
      Mine never showed up in Amex either. Keep checking BA.
Rhys says:

27 Oct27 October 09:12

Thanks to everyone who recommended Cafe Andaluz in Aberdeen – I had a lovely dinner last night!
- Vit says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 09:39
  
  Do try the bubble tea at Tchit! Order for collection through deliveroo and pay via your gold card. 🙂
  - Rhys says:
    
    27 Oct27 October 09:46
    
    If find bubble tea is far to sweet for me! After a couple of sips I am over it…
    - Vit says:
      
      27 Oct27 October 09:50
      
      You can adjust your sugar level and ice level via the app too. But yes I know what you meant, once a while for me is okay.
      - Anna says:
        
        27 Oct27 October 10:01
        
        Vit, have you seen my reply to you on page 1?
- Dave says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 12:10
  
  Mackie’s 19.2 Ice cream shop (next to Marriott Residence Inn) is also worth a visit. The 19.2 is the distance to their farm.
  - meta says:
    
    27 Oct27 October 13:00
    
    I second Mackie’s 19.2. The best UK made ice cream in my opinion.
    - Super Secret Stuff says:
      
      27 Oct27 October 13:56
      
      Cornwall has got some strong competition though…
manilabay says:

27 Oct27 October 09:20

Datapoint on the Singapore Airlines bonus if useful to anybody – transferred 29,578 points to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer yesterday from HSBC UK – in my account by this morning along with the 3.5k bonus & 6k status credits without flying. This was my first transfer to SIA KF 🙂
- Sprout says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 09:37
  
  I’m also going to make my first transfer shortly and it’s good to know that the process seems painless. Could you expand on the “6k status credits” you mention as I’ve never heard of that (or point me in the direction of where I might be able to read up on it)?
  thanks
  - Sprout says:
    
    27 Oct27 October 09:39
    
    Please ignore – I’ve found an explanation on Singapore web site.
- Rahaney says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 15:39
  
  Is this because you’re flying SIA soon? Can’t quite get the logic unless you’re going to use larger amounts to maintain status? Especially since KF points expire at the 36 month point?
  Ta
C says:

27 Oct27 October 09:27

BA double tier points offer – any thoughts or experience on whether booking flights to one city and hotel in a different city will meet the conditions? It seems like it would
- Sarah says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 09:38
  
  I asked when I was booking a flight to Dubai and wanted to stay in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai during the trip, they said this would be fine. The hotel nights just need to be for the entire duration of the trip.
Nomid says:

27 Oct27 October 09:39

I wasn’t following the comments recently so sorry if asked and answered.
Noticed that points are not transferred from Creation to IHG after 3 days post statement day.
Anyone else?
- Anna says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 10:02
  
  Have a look at page 1 and 10 from yesterday!
  - Ben says:
    
    27 Oct27 October 10:59
    
    Great help there @Anna, why bother replying?
    - SteveJ says:
      
      27 Oct27 October 11:17
      
      @Ben Because all the answers can be found on pages 1 and 10 yesterday. Thought that’d be pretty obvious.
      - Ben says:
        
        27 Oct27 October 11:21
        
        @SteveJ – phew thanks for clearing that one up.
        
        If only someone could just summarize rather than just telling someone to go look at previous posts. One can only dream
      - Paul says:
        
        27 Oct27 October 11:26
        
        Same here! To be fair even though there is much discussion on it yesterday, we don’t have any answers yet. My statement also showed X earned however 0 transferred and nothing received at IHG’s end.
      - Sprout says:
        
        27 Oct27 October 11:32
        
        @Ben What are you expecting her to do, copy all the bits she thinks the OP might be interested in or alternaively point them in the direction of the discussion so they can read for themselves. oh wait, hang on a minute!
      - SteveJ says:
        
        27 Oct27 October 11:52
        
        Yes @Ben, we’re all sat here to respond to your every command.
    - ChrisC says:
      
      27 Oct27 October 13:23
      
      More helpful than your comment!
      
      Why didn’t you summarise the situation??
      
      At least Anna was specific as to date and page of where to find it not just say ‘look at yesterdays thread’
      - Aston100 says:
        
        27 Oct27 October 13:39
        
        This. Rather rude of Ben IMO.
      - Char Char says:
        
        27 Oct27 October 13:54
        
        It’s difficult enough to find posts never mind finding previous threads about it, then what if he wants to reply to it.
        
        Better to have a summary on current threads if someone asks same as the never ending same questions asked about anything every day
    - High Grade says:
      
      27 Oct27 October 23:35
      
      That’s a bit harsh. I thought Anna’s reply was quite helpful, pointing the poster in the right direction to find the answer.
- Char Char says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 13:55
  
  Yes not received the points, people have said that they have no intention to pay them to us either
- Char Char says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 13:56
  
  We NEED a dedicated pinned thread on creation please!
James says:

27 Oct27 October 09:55

Hotels.com / Tesco Bank promotion – has anyone received their bonus Clubcard points yet? 15 weeks since my stay and no points. Do we contact Hotels.com or Tesco Bank? Anyone had any success?
- ben says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 11:58
  
  Nothing yet. I chatted online and then phoned Hotels.Com and they said the points were to be added by Tesco and to contact them. I phoned Tesco and they said it was nothing to do with them and to contact Hotels .Com. By then I kind of gave up after spending an hour on chat and on the phone. I guess we will just have to wait.
  - meta says:
    
    27 Oct27 October 13:01
    
    You’re not to going to see points unless you actually stayed.
    - James says:
      
      27 Oct27 October 16:23
      
      I question how Tesco Bank would have any idea of whether i stayed or not. Not an issue for me because i did but Tesco have zero way of knowing whether i did or not.
  - Mike says:
    
    27 Oct27 October 21:16
    
    So Ben you are capable of doing things for yourself rather than just offering criticism – good to see
Vit says:

27 Oct27 October 10:14

Good morning all, anyone willing to share their travel tips about Mexico? First timer and currently deciding between 2-3 weeks. Thinking of flying into MEX and out of CUN.
Cheers,
Vit
- Rachel Robinson says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 10:30
  
  When are you going? I’m just in the middle of planning a 2 month Mexico trip, starting in Mexico City and finishing probably in Cozumel. We’re going on 1 December, so happy to share tips in real time if that helps.
  - Beardless Hipster says:
    
    27 Oct27 October 11:46
    
    Don’t forget to pack a bulletproof vest for dining out.
    - GeorgeJ says:
      
      27 Oct27 October 15:56
      
      Oddly enough I have never felt the need for one in the fifty years that I have been visiting!
      I did have an armed guard for company on a train crossing the Sierra Madre many years ago. However they were so young and hopeless looking we decided we would hit the floor at first sign of trouble.
  - Vit says:
    
    27 Oct27 October 12:49
    
    I wish I could do 2 months! More like 2-3 weeks in May we are looking at. Do share tips in real time please!
- Anna says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 10:36
  
  Vit – see the first post on page 1 about your flight!
  - Vit says:
    
    27 Oct27 October 12:47
    
    Hi Anna, sorry been a hectic morning. Just seen it now. Thanks very much! 🙂
- JDB says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 10:39
  
  It really depends what you are looking for in Mexico. The area around CUN is very developed now, which means you have a good choice of large hotels with lots of facilities but it’s now relatively expensive and crowded. The Pacific coast offers more unspoilt areas, less crowds, smaller hotels, is cheaper for almost everything and more Mexican so it’s a matter of personal preference. If you are in MEX – a great city to visit, it’s only a short hop say to ZIH which is what I hope we will be doing in a couple of weeks.
  - Vit says:
    
    27 Oct27 October 12:48
    
    Thanks JDB. Interesting point. I think we are a bit of both really and only have 2 weeks. I am keen to go for 3 weeks though!
- GeorgeJ says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 15:53
  
  Vit,
  It all depends what you are interested in and its a very big country so you will barely scratch the surface in two weeks, even three is a stretch. However internal travel by bus or air is efficient and cheap. Your flight plan is basically what I follow when visiting (next there in three weeks).
  Mexico city is a huge but superb destination, worth a visit, dont miss the Anthropological Museum in Chahuletepec park, temples of the Sun & the Moon and the newish Museum of the excavations off the Zoccalo. All three are worth the visit on its own.
  From Mx you could take a couple of nights in San Miguel de Allende (picturesque colonial era town) or Puebla (both fine by bus).
  If you head to the coast, Cancun is very developed these days and it depends if you like five star high-rise hotels. Personally I head for Playa del Carmen or Tulumn which are more low rise (though changing fast). The real highlights for the Yucatan are the Mayan sites of which Chichen Itza and Tulumn are perhaps best known but Uxmal and others are also worth a look. You could also travel by bus to Palenque (Late Maya/Toltec I believe) and then on to Merida and the Coast if you are sufficiently adventurous. Mexican car hire is not for the non street wise (damage reports are often cursory in the extreme so make sure you have full insurance in some form) though I drive there regularly and have found Mex Rent a Car acceptable.
  - Vit says:
    
    27 Oct27 October 20:18
    
    Thanks GeorgeJ. I think we are pretty much looking at the route / locations you mentioned. Only problem is we cannot find and J from CUN back to LHR. 😀 So we are thinking of taking internal flight back to MEX to fly back out. It is 2.5 hrs flight. Feeling like backtrack so not sure if it is worth it though.
jj says:

27 Oct27 October 10:17

Marriot newbie question here. I’m looking to spend my Amex Platinum bonus with a short stay in the Gritti Palace, but I’m clueless about the Marriott scheme.

I’ll have Marriot Gold status from my Amex, and I’m thinking of booking two nights with points and my last night with the Amex FHR programme (late checkout). So, the newbie questions:

– Should I expect an upgrade or will the points booking kaibosh my chances?
– Will the two bookings join up or might I have to change room mid-stay?
– Will my free breakfast be restricted to the FHR day? Breakfast in the Gritti is eye-wateringly expensive…
– Will I be able to spend my $100 credit on the points nights or only on the FHR night?

It’s all so confusing to a simple person like me!
- Harry T says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 10:22
  
  1) might get upgraded based on FHR. Good upgrade unlikely on Gold alone. Put the FHR night first to improve chances of keeping the room.
  2) you can ask them to link the bookings but I don’t think it’s possible due one being a preferred partner and the other being points.
  3) you technically only get comped breakfast on the FHR night. YMMV.
  4) I imagine only the FHR night
  - jj says:
    
    27 Oct27 October 10:28
    
    Thanks, Harry T
    - Sam G says:
      
      27 Oct27 October 11:06
      
      I’d say getting upgraded all 3 nights is possible but the others pretty unlikely but also hotel dependant. Let them know in advance you’ve got the two bookings
- HBommie says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 11:29
  
  Late check out with FHR also.
  - HBommie says:
    
    27 Oct27 October 11:30
    
    must read before commenting
- Munch says:
  
  27 Oct27 October 19:30
  
  Stayed 3 nights just before the pandemic. Gold status, 2 nights in a standard room and last night in an upgraded room with a view across the Grand Canal. All booked on points,. We just explained we didn’t mind moving rooms if there was chance of an upgrade when we checked in.