The HfP chat thread – Monday 1st November

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• estrangeiro8 says:

  1 Nov1 November 14:52

  OT: excellent customer service experience with Turkish Airlines just now regarding a flight schedule change. Got through to an agent within 5 minutes of calling. I was given the option of changing the destination, changing the dates or getting a full refund. The agent processed the refund which should hit my credit card within 5 days. This was a lot less stressful and anxious an experience compared to trying to call BA or Avios… Definitely hope to be able to try Turkish another time.

  • Katie says:

    1 Nov1 November 15:42

    Nice – What type of ticket did you purchase?

    • estrangeiro8 says:

      1 Nov1 November 17:35

      Thanks Katie. It was a business class ticket that I purchased in January when there was a sale on.

  • Aston100 says:

    1 Nov1 November 19:09

    TK are normally bloody horrible to deal with when things go wrong.

• Andrew says:

  1 Nov1 November 14:56

  DP – Mozzers

  Amex purchase on 23rd October. The rebate hasn’t shown until today when it posted as a credit backdated to 29th October.

  • Katie says:

    1 Nov1 November 15:43

    That was quick… most people are still waiting for theirs and mine.

  • BuildBackBetter says:

    1 Nov1 November 16:00

    Waiting for rebate for transaction on 26th.

  • Pete1968 says:

    1 Nov1 November 16:06

    +1 & the 32K Virgin miles are tracking fine as well in shopping portal

  • Tariq says:

    1 Nov1 November 17:34

    Still waiting for my credit for the Mozzers, but in better news, the IHG credit posted this morning from the 50 off 200 offer ages ago.

• elguiri says:

  1 Nov1 November 15:02

  Does anyone know if Radisson rewards points are extended? AwardWallet says mine will expire end of this year, but couldn’t find anything within my login. I’m aware there was an article on status extension, but didn’t see it refer to points balance.

  • SteveJ says:

    1 Nov1 November 15:06

    Award Wallet must be sending out bulk notifications as I was also pinged by them re Radisson today.

    Related, if it’s true, might need to dig out the “what to do with orphan points” article.

    • elguiri says:

      1 Nov1 November 15:24

      my thoughts exactly…

    • Spurs drive me mad says:

      1 Nov1 November 16:06

      I was also pinged re Hilton but I know I’ve added by buying this year.

  • E says:

    1 Nov1 November 16:53

    I also thought Radisson had extended membership status, but I have points that I ought to do something with if they’re not extended too. I’d assumed (wrongly probably) that their expiry was also extended. Thanks for the reminder.

  • elguiri says:

    1 Nov1 November 16:58

    @Rob/Rhys any insight into Radisson points expiry extensions?

  • Tw33ty says:

    1 Nov1 November 17:00

    Just send over 3 Amex points and it will extend

• Young L says:

  1 Nov1 November 15:16

  Any recent experience booking Avios flights using FTV? Is it difficult getting through? TIA.

• Lee says:

  1 Nov1 November 15:18

  Seeking some advice for Vegas trip next Easter.
  InterContinental Palazzo vs The Venetian, which one is better for the first time visitor? Only 24000 points for both.

  • BP says:

    1 Nov1 November 15:39

    Palazzo slightly nicer but not much between them. 24,000 points is great value.

  • AL says:

    1 Nov1 November 16:12

    Same room types? If so, then much-of-a-muchness. Have stayed multiple times in both. Palazzo slightly more modern in the way that only faux Roman decor can be!

    • The Savage Squirrel says:

      1 Nov1 November 22:24

      Palazzo is still faux Venetian decor, not Roman 😉

      Lee, the Palazzo end is slightly more modern, slightly quieter, slightly less Venice-themed and slightly further from centre of Strip than the Venetian end, but it’s all very fractional – it’s basically the same property. Have a look at the rooms and pick whichever looks nicest to your taste 😀

  • TGLoyalty says:

    1 Nov1 November 16:13

    these have both been sold so worth having a back up plan in case they drop IHG

• AnotherUser says:

  1 Nov1 November 15:51

  For a flight from non-red-list EU to Scotland, do I (a fully vaccinated UK citizen) need a predeparture test before boarding the flight? The government advice is a bit ambiguous: “You’ll need to take a test if you’re travelling from a non-red list country, are over 18 and not fully vaccinated.

  When boarding your plane to Scotland, you will need to provide proof that you have taken a test, and that the result of your test was negative. You may also be asked to provide proof of a negative test when you arrive in Scotland.” https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-international-travel-quarantine/pages/testing-for-people-travelling-to-scotland/

  Unhelpfully, it doesn’t make explicit who can travel without a test!

  • Pete1968 says:

    1 Nov1 November 16:23

    But you are fully vaccinated so it doesn’t apply to you.

  • Patrycja says:

    1 Nov1 November 17:16

    You don’t need any tests pre-departure but you do need to buy a lateral flow test before you come back and add the reference to your Passenger Locator Form. This test will have to be taken between day 0 and 2 after your arrival.

    • AnotherUser says:

      1 Nov1 November 17:41

      Thanks! I thought as much, but the guidance could be more clearly written…

      • John says:

        1 Nov1 November 18:19

        How is that line ambiguous? Seems perfectly clear to me

        • AnotherUser says:

          1 Nov1 November 19:09

          If I were writing it, I’d have included a sentence saying that fully vaccinated travellers don’t need a predeparture test, or laid it out more like the guidelines for England (which has sections for what fully vaccinated travellers, and other travellers, need to do https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19). Others may differ, though 🙂

• Js says:

  1 Nov1 November 16:06

  Is there any way of spending turkish miles other then for flights?

  • AL says:

    1 Nov1 November 16:27

    Other than at shopandmiles.com, not really unless you haven’t already considered spending them on Star Alliance flights (thereby expanding redemption opportunity). The partners that Turkish have are both petrol stations, and the Shell redemption is only valid in Turkey.

    If you’re looking to earn in future, though, Turkish are an airline that allows you access to multiple JVs/partnership – you can earn on Scandinavian (and maybe ANA and others) to redeem on VS/DL/AF/KL, for example.

    • Js says:

      1 Nov1 November 17:11

      Thanks, my understanding is that shopandmiles is also only if you are in turkey otherwise you need to pay for taxes and shipping which is for some reason more then what it costs!

      • AL says:

        1 Nov1 November 21:57

        I wonder if you can do a transfer to, say, United or Scandi and then out from there. If you can somehow get to VS, points never expire.

  • MinR says:

    1 Nov1 November 16:40

    I have circa 5k TK miles expiring at the end of the year too and not sure what I can do with them.

• mr_jetlag says:

  1 Nov1 November 16:26

  HFP brain trust – I’m flying to Singapore Tues next week – PCR test 48hr before is required, unfortunately “self administered tests” are not allowed. Any 3hr test recommendations apart from the LHR £119 one? Ideally would look to do one on Monday morning and have the results before Tuesday. Thanks all.

  • AL says:

    1 Nov1 November 16:30

    Collinson’s are £95 on their website, and further reduced if you use AMEX20 at checkout. Three hour turnaround

    https://www.collinsongroup.com/en/covid-19-testing

    • mr_jetlag says:

      1 Nov1 November 16:45

      Thanks, exactly what I needed – Heathrow site a bit of a pain to get to but O2 and LCY easy for me to access on Monday.

  • Polly says:

    1 Nov1 November 22:56

    How are you getting on with all the paperwork, found the VTP bitty getting it sorted. We fly 18th, we hope! Are you worried bout the PCR on arrival, we are.

    • mr_jetlag says:

      1 Nov1 November 23:07

      hi Polly, VTP was straightforward, sorting out all the tests should be ok after our marathon testing regime to the Maldives back in April in the depths of lockdown! Good luck with the trip, I’m going for work so I suppose am not too price sensitive but bringing the wife and kids in January is a whole other matter…

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