The HfP chat thread – Thursday 4th November

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• Jonathan says:

  4 Nov4 November 07:48

  I have a companion voucher due to expire shortly and my understanding is to keep it alive I should book a local flight with Avios and then cancel and accept a FTV . What would be the most economical flight to book re taxes/Avios ? Any advice would be most welcome.

  • FCP says:

    4 Nov4 November 07:54

    LHR-MAN one way.

    • Anna says:

      4 Nov4 November 08:40

      And off-peak to reduce the number of avios to the absolute minimum!

      • roberto says:

        4 Nov4 November 08:43

        Jersey to London to save a few extra pounds.
        One way for 2 pax is about £15 off peak and 4750 avios.

        • SteveJ says:

          4 Nov4 November 12:42

          Does Jersey count as UK (for the purposes of 241 having to be ex-UK)?

        • Rob says:

          4 Nov4 November 13:40

          No APD if you start there, yes.

• Barraclough says:

  4 Nov4 November 07:52

  Virgin Flying Club has a Household account but reward points can only be pooled if at least one person is at Gold tier. Wife and I have separate Virgin accounts and neither is at Gold tier. We would like to use points from both accounts to make a booking at some point next year as we will only have about 60,000 points each. Is it allowed when making a flight booking for both of us to draw points from both accounts or is their some other way round (other than just making two separate bookings)?

  • Degsy says:

    4 Nov4 November 08:06

    IME, generally there is flexibility – whilst they don’t allow ‘pooling’ they do allow you to use points from related/connected accounts.
    Note though they have to be for exact amounts ie for the specific amount of one of the sectors. (You couldn’t just take a random amount of say 2432.)

  • Blindman says:

    4 Nov4 November 08:06

    Yes

    Agents are happy to do this.

    You also can get one of you to be authorised to use the others account, so no need for both of you to be on the phone

    • Barraclough says:

      4 Nov4 November 08:30

      Thanks That’s good to know. I’ll look to set that up now.

  • Chas says:

    4 Nov4 November 08:22

    A couple of years ago I asked a Virgin CSA what the rules were on this, and they said that they will allow miles to be used from the accounts of anyone travelling in multiples of the number of miles needed for the cheapest sector.

  • Barraclough says:

    4 Nov4 November 08:28

    Thanks for all the helpful comments.

• Anna says:

  4 Nov4 November 08:20

  Remind me – will I get charged for withdrawing cash from Revolut in Europe on a weekend? Will be in Berlin soon Fri-Sun and was thinking of withdrawing a chunk of euros to avoid ATM charges on future trips.

  • Harrier25 says:

    4 Nov4 November 08:33

    The charge is 0.5%. Withdraw on the Friday to avoid the weekend charge, or open and pre-load a Revolut Euro account Mon-Fri to also avoid the charge.

    • Anna says:

      4 Nov4 November 08:44

      Thanks Harrier25 – just to clarify, is the euro account a different thing from just converting currency in the app?
      For various reasons I’d rather have the cash than leave it with Che more than a few days, even if there’s a small charge.

      • Joints&Piles says:

        4 Nov4 November 09:28

        Convert in the app. You can add accounts in the app for many currencies and exchange between them.

        When you use Revolut (ATM or purchase) it will automatically take from the matching currency account if you have enough money for the transaction. If you don’t have enough balance in that currency it will take from your GBP balance and convert.

      • Blenz101 says:

        4 Nov4 November 09:31

        If you are converting in the app then you will have a Euro account. i.e. you get a drop down with “all currencies”, “GBP”, “EUR” etc.

        You can shift between these Mon-Fri free of charge. When spending on the card in say EUR it will be taken from the balance in the EUR account. If you only had a GBP account it would first be converted then taken from that.

        So if you open or just convert you GBP into the EUR section of your account today when you use the ATM it will be taken from that and without fees at the weekend as no conversion is required, you have already done it.

      • Harrier25 says:

        4 Nov4 November 09:36

        No its not different, Anna.

        • Anna says:

          4 Nov4 November 09:43

          Thanks – yes I already use the app for euros and USD so just checking if there was something else. Got stung in Tenerife as we needed cash but were in a rather remote location with only a Santander ATM, ended up getting charged 7 euros!!

  • Sandgrounder says:

    4 Nov4 November 09:27

    Convert to euros during the week to avoid the exchange rate loading at the weekend. To avoid the £200 free withdrawal cap, add Revolut to Curve, set the card currency in Curve to match the Revolut currency you will be withdrawing, and you then get 10 free withdrawals a month.

    • Anna says:

      4 Nov4 November 09:43

      Ooh, hadn’t thought of that …!

• Jamie says:

  4 Nov4 November 08:38

  Any recommendations for the cheapest/most stress-free valid tests to enter the US? Going after Nov 8th as fully vaxxed

  • Jen T says:

    4 Nov4 November 09:09

    We’re using Qured at home. I’m not sure what is stress free for you – you may prefer a local testing centre, but supervised at home works for us. With the Heathrow discount it worked out at about £30 each.

• Charlie says:

  4 Nov4 November 08:44

  Apologies if this has been asked a Billion times already. What’s the best/cheapest Lateral flow tests to do the day 2 lateral flow when returning from holiday?
  Thankyou

  • Rob says:

    4 Nov4 November 08:45

    Specify whether you want best OR cheapest and then we’ll tellyou.

    • Charlie says:

      4 Nov4 November 09:09

      Best

      • Rob says:

        4 Nov4 November 09:12

        ExpressTest is £19 for a posted test and is very reputable.

        • Charlie says:

          4 Nov4 November 09:52

          Thankyou

      • Pete M says:

        4 Nov4 November 09:45

        What does “best” even mean? It’s the same Chinese stick you get from everyone, including the NHS. Simply Test Me turns up on time and it’s a simple enough process…

        • Rob says:

          4 Nov4 November 09:51

          Technically not. The Govt website specifically states that it has given some companies permission to sell substandard kits temporarily because there is a shortage of fully approved ones with the latest spec.

          Not that it matters, of course – I used simplytestme last week with no issues. They buy the kits for £2.90 so still a decent margin on the £10 plus VAT sale price.

  • Anna says:

    4 Nov4 November 08:45

    People are citing Simply Test Me as cheapest, though not necessarily best!

    • ankomonkey says:

      4 Nov4 November 09:51

      I used Simply Test Me LFTs last weekend. £12 each, arrived on time and received the negative result confirmation within a couple of hours of uploading the test cassette photos. PLF accepted their codes. Why pay more than that?

    • Mikeact says:

      4 Nov4 November 16:13

      Just done two more with them..locator number by return…where’s the problem?
      Just wondering why Rob would answer Express Test when he himself used Simply Test Me ?

      • Rob says:

        4 Nov4 November 17:02

        I asked if the poster wanted best or cheapest? He said best. I was happy to take cheapest. Depends if you’re happy to hand over your credit card and passport details to a company which didn’t exist a few weeks ago and whose website was clearly built in India for £100.

        • Mikeact says:

          4 Nov4 November 18:26

          Fair do’s…no problem for me as well.

  • Paul says:

    4 Nov4 November 08:54

    why bother, just make up a code for the PLF e.g. EXMED_________. No one checks. If you want to test yourself, just use one of the free NHS lateral flows, same thing.

    • Anna says:

      4 Nov4 November 09:02

      Are EM doing lateral flow tests now?

    • Save East Coast Rewards says:

      4 Nov4 November 09:26

      I saw someone requested a test from Randox and what they sent was exactly the same as the NHS provide, even down to the packaging (except it was a single test, rather than the pack of 7 NHS provide free). They paid £24 for the privilege and couldn’t get the Randox app working to upload their result.

      I think everyone should test but why are we paying private companies to get what the NHS gives out for free.

      • Blenz101 says:

        4 Nov4 November 09:39

        Because the NHS is only free at the point of use. It is still paid for via taxes. Many people arriving into the country are also not entitled to free NHS care.

        The government could easily issue LFTs to all arriving passengers. It could undertake PCR tests on arrival. It has instead decided to ask people to buy a test. That is the rule, if you don’t like it write to your MP.

        • Anna says:

          4 Nov4 November 09:46

          Agree you should pay a (reasonable) fee for the test, but wish the money could go to the NHS and not government cronies!

        • John says:

          4 Nov4 November 13:44

          Actually everyone is entitled to free covid-related care just like everyone is entitled to free emergency care

        • Blenz101 says:

          4 Nov4 November 14:26

          Taking a mandated test for something when you are displaying zero symptoms is hardly emergency care.

      • Will says:

        4 Nov4 November 09:44

        Clearly there is a cost to the NHS and the argument is that travel shouldn’t be subsidised by Rishis printer.

        I agree with you though, NHS have economies of scale, let them make a small charge for travel test certificates based on negative tests.

        The entire travel test system has been set up by idiots from day 1.

        • Save East Coast Rewards says:

          4 Nov4 November 10:00

          Exactly my point, the NHS is getting no benefit from this, but if on the PLF you paid a £15 ‘test and trace’ fee which then was used to fund testing for arriving passengers I’d prefer that then the current situation where you’re paying a company to send out a cheap test with a ridiculous markup.

        • TGLoyalty says:

          4 Nov4 November 10:06

          Replace idiots with Tory donors

        • Blenz101 says:

          4 Nov4 November 10:10

          Or just take a look at the reality on the ground. The UK is reporting the third highest number of cases per day worldwide. Arriving passengers are far more likely to catch covid in the UK that just about anywhere else on the planet.

          Arriving passengers have 2 days to even take a test so there is no containment in any event if they do bring something in. How are you going to test and trace a random piccadilly line train heading into central London?

          I can see the logic in a pre-departure PCR test prior to arrival but day 2 LFT is theatre.

        • Lady London says:

          4 Nov4 November 11:29

          Idiots…or corrupt. Or both.

          You literally couldn’t make it up.

      • Gavin says:

        4 Nov4 November 11:46

        The “simply test me” £12 test is also exactly the same as the current NHS 15 minute test (flowflex branded)

    • Grimz says:

      4 Nov4 November 20:22

      Does that work? I test every few days anyway

• berneslai says:

  4 Nov4 November 09:15

  Just found an old Tesco clubcard account that I’ve forgotten about with a few hundred quid of vouchers in there. Now that most of the travel partners have quit, what’s my best redemption?

  • Youllnever says:

    4 Nov4 November 09:22

    VA maybe?

  • Joints&Piles says:

    4 Nov4 November 09:35

    Depends what you would actually use.
    Intrepid holidays and Eurotunnel are my top 2. Have used RAC in the past. Others say railcards.

    I see Best Western are a new partner.

  • Blenz101 says:

    4 Nov4 November 09:43

    Hotels. com grab it whilst you can. 3x face value just pay the tax.

    Expedia appear to be on a drive to improve revenues and the Tesco scheme can’t be long left for this world.

  • ianM says:

    4 Nov4 November 09:47

    You might find the vouchers have all expired

  • stevenhp1987 says:

    4 Nov4 November 10:13

    I tend to use mine on the Eurotunnel. Great value. Works with the cheapest online fares (including the weekend saver!).

    If you need to extend them put 50p towards something like Hungry Horse or Greene King and have the change come back as a new voucher with an extended life span.

    Did this a few months ago. My local Hungry Horse were happy taking 4 or 5 Clubcard coupons!

• Roger says:

  4 Nov4 November 09:28

  Do sky team have upgrade opt on from economy to business across the program?
  I,e, can I use delta Miles to upgrade Vietnam air or Saudi air flights?

  • Save East Coast Rewards says:

    4 Nov4 November 10:06

    They never used to when I was a Flying Blue member, upgrades with miles was only possible with the Flying Blue member airlines (and Northwest airlines before merging with Delta who had a longterm partnership with KLM).

    I’ve just looked and it seems there’s some SkyTeam airlines you can upgrade with Flying Blue miles and so Delta is probably similar. Unfortunately with the exception of Kenya Airlines only the highest fare classes can be upgraded.
    https://img.static-fb.com/m/4c5b4aa7376c93ba/original/Upgrade_RewardsBookingClass_en_V2.pdf

    • Roger says:

      4 Nov4 November 10:56

      Many thanks.
      Quite insightful

• Anna says:

  4 Nov4 November 09:51

  Various sources reporting that it will soon be announced that 16 and 17 year olds will be able to get their 2nd jab after 12 weeks – obviously someone has realised that this age group will experience waning vaccine immunity as much as 18+ will!

  • Chas says:

    4 Nov4 November 10:17

    Hi Anna – where about are you seeing this please? It’s particularly relevant to us at the moment as my 17 year old is meant to be going on a geography field trip to Iceland in Feb (lucky her!), but the current Icelandic government rules (based on her year of birth) mean that she will only be allowed in with 2 jabs, and she’s not eligible currently to have that….

    • Anna says:

      4 Nov4 November 10:44

      https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/medical/covid-second-vaccine-doses-to-be-made-available-for-16-and-17-year-olds/ar-AAQfxeE
      If this is correct, they should be able to have 2nd jabs 12 weeks after the first one. I don’t know how this fits in with your dates but surely a lot of the students aren’t going to be eligible to go on that trip?

      • Chas says:

        4 Nov4 November 11:32

        Thanks Anna. You’re right, but perhaps less than you’d imagine – only about half of the Yr 13 year-group. Half of them are eligible for the 2nd jab, and all the Year 12s and below (there’ a GCSE and an A-Level trip) will have been born in 2005 onwards, and the 2-jab rule doesn’t apply to them. My eldest is currently caught in no-mans-land between the rules. Fingers crossed this is announced soon.

        • Anna says:

          4 Nov4 November 12:36

          Me too as son has vulnerable grandparents so at present I try and keep him isolated before he spends time with them as his school seems to be pretty much riddled with covid all the time! He also wants to do Geography A level from next year.

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