The HfP chat thread – Monday 8th November

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• Barraclough says:

  8 Nov8 November 09:12

  OH is closing Amex Gold account shortly to start the two years of no MR cards but in order to preserve their flexibility what can she do with the 60,000 MR points earned? An AmEx International Card could do it (as suggested to me on HfP a while ago) but I retired a couple of months ago and our income has dropped below the threshold required by Amex for an International Card.

  Are there any suggestions for ways to keep flexibility or should we resign ourselves to transferring to an airline loyalty scheme?

  • Harry T says:

    8 Nov8 November 09:18

    Transferring to Marriott Bonvoy gives you the flexibility to use the points on hotels or transfer to a myriad of different air miles schemes (more partners than amex).

    • Barraclough says:

      8 Nov8 November 09:53

      Thanks Harry T. I never knew that.

      • YC says:

        8 Nov8 November 10:01

        While you keep flexibility, you lose value (if your ultimate aim is to use for flights). 2MR = 3Bonvoy = 1Airmile. 50% reduction. Having said that, there is still lots of value in redeeming for marriott hotels (for now)

        • Barraclough says:

          8 Nov8 November 10:48

          Thanks YC. Just seen your comment after posting my 10.46am message. I think it confirms my arithmetic and conclusion.

  • Barraclough says:

    8 Nov8 November 10:46

    Thanks again for the Marriott Bonvoy tip. I’ve been looking into their scheme and as I understand it the following applies but I’d welcome comments on whether I’ve understood it properly or am missing something.

    Looking at Marriott Bonvoy to see how Amex MR points transfers hold up compared with a transfer to say BAEC Avios (Avios being just an example):

    DIRECT TRANSFER FROM AMEX TO BAEC AVIOS

    40,000 Amex MR direct to BAEC = 40,000 Avios

    TRANSFER VIA MARRIOTT BONVOY USING AVIOS AS EXAMPLE

    40,000 Amex MR to Marriott Bonvoy = 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.
    THEN
    60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points = 20,000 AVIOS PLUS 5000 MILES BONUS to BAEC Avios = 25,000 Avios

    Conclusions

    1. Going via Marriott Bonvoy loses 15,000 Avios compared with direct to BAEC. Assuming 1p Avios value that would be £150 loss, or if converted to Nectar £120.

    2. As Harry T says, though, there is a wide range of airline and other partners which could be booked – and Marriott Bonvoy seem to have good flexibility for their own loyalty scheme and for room bookings too.

    3. The question therefore is whether these benefits are worth losing 15,000 Avios (or other points if Amex MR was transferred direct to such as Virgin Flying Club). Seems worth putting MR points to Marriott Bonvoy to see how it goes.

• N says:

  8 Nov8 November 09:17

  Is in-person (LHR) Randox currently best
  (balance of cheapo vs reliable) option for predeparture for DXB? Flight is on Sunday at 1200ish. At £50 for next day results, if I get tested on Thursday, I should have a result by Friday 2359. If anything goes wrong, then I have time to get a same day on Saturday…

  First flight since all this covid stuff, so just making sure my thinking is right!

  • Katie says:

    8 Nov8 November 09:44

    yes accepted but better to go collisons at o2 for 3 hour one similar price with amex code

    • mr_jetlag says:

      8 Nov8 November 10:19

      Am sitting in a cafe right now having done my 3hr test at O2. If convenient for you it beats the uncertainty of a next day test.

      • Rob says:

        8 Nov8 November 10:33

        Go and try out the cable car!

  • N says:

    8 Nov8 November 11:15

    Thanks all – I’m in West London so O2 is way inconvenient. Will check collinson Heathrow options.

    Thanks!

  • Blair says:

    8 Nov8 November 11:31

    It probably soubds very indulgent but on a price of holiday to price of test ratio, I sometimes take 2 tests. I’d rather suck up an extra £40-50 on a second test and double my chances of at least one coming back in good time than miss the first class shower on Emirates, etc.

    • N says:

      8 Nov8 November 12:14

      Thursday evening test for result by 2359 Friday.

      If that goes wrong then same day test, pre 2359 result on Saturday.

      If that goes wrong then 3 hour test on Sunday at 0700 for a result by 1015 for a 1225 flight.

      Obviously don’t want to get to the last option but it is a Plan C!

      • Katie says:

        8 Nov8 November 15:20

        But are you allowed to re-take a private test if it comes out positive, do they pass it on to NHS?

  • Sarah says:

    8 Nov8 November 12:29

    You could try DAM Health, they have a number of locations and offer a same day by midnight service for £69. I think they have locations in Fulham, Hammersmith and Notting Hill in West London. Not the cheapest but I’ve never had any issues using them.

    • Katie says:

      8 Nov8 November 15:20

      Thanks, sounds like a good option b

• Dave Barron says:

  8 Nov8 November 09:33

  Morning, Grateful for some confirmation before I make a decision today.

  I currently have two BA Amex companion vouchers, which although they have been extended more than once will expire before I need to use them (one expires 17/11/21 and the other 05/03/22). Realistically I next plan to travel as a family of 4 to the USA either Easter or Summer 2022.

  I understand from HFP postings previously, if I use both vouchers to make a one-way domestic booking for the four of us (e.g. the cheapest example I have seen would be Jersey to LHR for 9500 Avios plus £30.40 charges total) then I could cancel and effectively wrap up the Avios, charges and both 241’s into a future travel voucher valid until 30/09/23?

  I assume I can cancel online via Manage My Booking to obtain the future travel voucher? At what stage after booking should I cancel – do I need to wait until after 24 hours have elapsed or can I cancel for voucher immediately?

  I also appreciate from earlier comments that it must be the same passengers when eventually rebooking and that any future booking using the future travel voucher must be done by phone which may limit ability to book 355 days in advance?

  Many thanks in advance (and sorry as I know this will no doubt have been asked before). I ultimately just want to protect my 241’s for a 2022 USA trip and having put so much effort into earning them don’t wish to do something stupid now! Cheers Dave.

  • Tracey says:

    8 Nov8 November 09:46

    LHR to MAN one way is often quoted as the cheapest flight.

    • Save East Coast Rewards says:

      8 Nov8 November 10:05

      LHR to MAN was just chosen as it was the one that instantly comes to mind. LHR-any domestic is the same price. This is because reward flight saver is a fixed price cap and as Heathrow fees are so high they always hit the cap.

      Therefore as Dave mentioned starting somewhere with low airport fees and taxes like JER is the best bet, just remember it has to be JER-LHR not LHR-JER

      • Anna says:

        8 Nov8 November 10:56

        Surely LHR-JER would just cost the same RFS fee?
        I haven’t read of anyone having 2 companion vouchers wrapped up in a FTV but it should theoretically be possible.
        You can cancel for a FTV the same day. Don’t forget you have to call BA to redeem it so maybe have a few options in mind when it comes to making the booking 😬😬😬

        • John says:

          8 Nov8 November 12:05

          If the RFS fee is higher than the actual fees and taxes then the actual fees and taxes will be charged.

      • Tracey says:

        8 Nov8 November 11:45

        In that case LHR-GIB was 50p last time I flew it in 2019.

        • John says:

          8 Nov8 November 12:08

          No, that’s because of the avios pricing options, you have to look at the basic option of 4750/5250 + £17.50

          Anything out of LHR will be £17.50 as APD and Heathrow fees exceed it, although domestics might be lower once APD is cut

  • Jonathan says:

    8 Nov8 November 12:57

    @Dave i cancelled about 10 minutes after making the initial booking and got the FTV within the hour (although they do say upto 7 days).

    BUT dont get caught out like i did making a booking t-355 online (i was in the queue on the phone but got cold feet i might lose the tickets). I now cannot use the FTV on the existing booking so this limits its use somewhat but i hope to make another booking in the near future i can use it on.

    • Dave Barron says:

      8 Nov8 November 21:12

      Thanks Jonathan (plus all others who replied to my original post). Tonight I made a one way booking from JER to LHR for my family of 4 using both 241’s. As expected cost was 9500 Avios plus £31.40 total. Once booking was confirmed I followed the cancellation option online and was able to complete the form to request a voucher. Within 15 minutes of submission I am now the proud owner of 4 individual Future Travel Vouchers who all going well I can now use prior to September 2023 – fingers crossed! (Albeit slightly disconcerting vouchers when received don’t specify their “value”). Thanks again 🙂

• JS says:

  8 Nov8 November 09:37

  Hello 👋
  Does anyone know if a pre-purchased pre-flight in person antigen test for US travel can be used for Day 2 UK arrival test? Current plan is to land back from the US on the 21st Nov and take off again on the 24th. Obviously will only save £12, but every little helps!

  • Sean says:

    8 Nov8 November 10:59

    Does the pre-flight test give you a relevant reference for putting on the PLF that you will need – if not then won’t work.

• manilabay says:

  8 Nov8 November 09:41

  Anybody have experience of using the T5 B Gate BA Lounge recently? What’s the current menu, hot food etc? Flying Iberia A350 on Friday evening, and have heard the A Gate lounges are getting very busy…

  • Save East Coast Rewards says:

    8 Nov8 November 10:01

    I’ve heard it’s pretty normal. Drinks are back to self service but food is via the QR code ordering system. Last time I looked (menu is on t5b.yourmenu.cloud) the offering is similar to the other club lounges.

    So if you don’t have Flounge access then it’s a good idea to use the B lounge. In my experience the Iberia A350 leaves from the C gates, but check before leaving the lounge.

  • AFKAE says:

    8 Nov8 November 10:23

    I was in there Saturday evening. Very pleasant and quiet. All drinks self service. Food a bit limited, afternoon tea or hot options. The only one I can remember was lentil stew with steamed rice. I tried that and it was pretty good.

    • manilabay says:

      8 Nov8 November 12:04

      Thanks both 🙂 I don’t have First access – just BA Silver/Biz Class Ticket so will head across to the B gate lounge. Cheers!

• Toppcat says:

  8 Nov8 November 09:43

  Morning all. A quick question, that I suspect I know the answer to, but I remain forever optimistic… I have an AA cash flight into MIA, and then a same day BA avios flight from MIA to LHR. These are obviously on separate tickets.

  Is there any chance of AA through-checking my bags to LHR, given that I am transiting onto another One World airline? I know BA don’t do this, but live in hope that AA will…

  I should have enough time to get out, clear immigration, collect my bags, and check in again. I would just like to not have to do so.

  • ChrisC says:

    8 Nov8 November 10:05

    No. Neither AA or BA will interline bags on separate bookings.

    • Toppcat says:

      8 Nov8 November 11:19

      I thought that might be the case. Sigh. Thanks for the response.

  • John says:

    8 Nov8 November 12:11

    As your itinerary involves the USA, you will have to clear immigration and recheck your bags regardless of whether AA agrees to tag them all the way to LHR. Assuming that your first flight is from outside the US of course

• Katie says:

  8 Nov8 November 09:45

  website error? replies and comments are all in grey

• Andrew Mc says:

  8 Nov8 November 09:49

  Morrisons. Any issues using the self checkout for both Amazon (4 x £250) and Morrisons own gift cards? Tips? Thanks 😊

  • Katie says:

    8 Nov8 November 09:53

    no, just place a dummy weight on the scale otherwise it wont go through (remove the dummy weight after checkout)

    • LS says:

      8 Nov8 November 09:58

      A mars bar works perfectly for me as the dummy weight

  • Mattb says:

    8 Nov8 November 10:02

    Better to use the self checkouts, you need to weigh the packing area down though as the GC don’t register after scanning them, I just use whatever choc bars they have above the till.

    • Mattb says:

      8 Nov8 November 10:03

      Too slow!

    • Save East Coast Rewards says:

      8 Nov8 November 10:10

      Couldn’t a member of staff think you’re stealing chocolates?

      • Anuj says:

        8 Nov8 November 10:12

        Well it’s quite obvious when you put them back/ just say if they ask/ they’ve seen people do it before and they know about the weight issue

      • Andrew H says:

        8 Nov8 November 10:16

        I was told – ” oh you know the trick”.

        Not that the sales have registered on VA – SA, but one (so far) has on Amex

        The weird values I did see on VA SA for 272 or 256 points etc that confused me…worked out they were OH buying groceries; I’d registered her Curve a while ago…

      • Reney says:

        8 Nov8 November 10:53

        I put my wallet and my phone down on the scale instead, as recommended by another person here.

      • Katie says:

        8 Nov8 November 15:22

        No thats a silly suggestion, as you would put chocolates on the same are anyway, where else do you put your chocolates, on your head?

  • flyoff says:

    8 Nov8 November 11:53

    I have had issues with multiple non Morrisons cards. It appears some stores limit the quantity you can buy in one transaction at self-serve and manned tills. They are happy if you buy them as different transactions. Morrisons giftcards have no restrictions so I often buy them and use them to purchase other retailer giftcards when I need them.

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