The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 9th November

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• S says:

  9 Nov9 November 20:48

  Any risk of losing BA Executive Club/Virgin Flying Club or miles if you MCOL them?

  • Andrew says:

    9 Nov9 November 22:07

    There’s risk in anything. But unlikely.

• Gormlesstraveller says:

  9 Nov9 November 20:50

  Brexit potentially can save £11.50 for a litre of spirits at Duty Free. Can anyone confirm?

  • Travel Strong says:

    9 Nov9 November 21:31

    Not an exact answer – but I pick up 1L of basic spirits (e.g. havana club) for about £5 – £7 pre and post brexit from GIB duty free, JD for £14. So both of those examples are indeed around £11.50 or more saved compared to typical prices in the supermarket.
    The brexit influence on this route means more bottles per person are now allowed, but price was always great.

  • ChrisC says:

    9 Nov9 November 21:36

    well without knowning what you want to buy at duty free and what it costs there v what it costs in a supermarket it’s hard to respond!

  • ianM says:

    9 Nov9 November 21:39

    There is no duty free anymore with EU. Tesco usually cheapest.

    • Travel Strong says:

      9 Nov9 November 21:48

      Reading between the lines – the £11.50 is reference to the max duty saving possible since Jan ’21 when travelling *to* the EU from the UK. And I guess the question is either a genuine interest ahead of potential purchase(s) or a brexit related ‘where is our brexit dividend’ fist shake. Either way, if you want seriously cheap intoxication … buy British, buy Gibraltar.

      • ChrisC says:

        9 Nov9 November 22:04

        and it’s only benefits us if the retailer passes on the duty reduction to the customer.

        Plenty of evidence that retailers don’t pass tax savings on. Lots of places didn’t reduce their costs last year when VAT was reduced on hospitality.

        Sure the bill showed 5% VAT but the total charges was the same as when it was 20%

        • TGLoyalty says:

          9 Nov9 November 22:26

          “ Lots of places didn’t reduce their costs last year when VAT was reduced on hospitality.”

          The point was to give them additional margin to survive. I didn’t expect many restaurants or bars to pass on any “saving”

      • Gormlesstraveller says:

        10 Nov10 November 00:11

        Thank you, definitely genuine interest! I’m not clued up on the cost of whisky but want to take some to Germany as a gift.

        • Travel Strong says:

          10 Nov10 November 00:32

          The £22/litre branded whisky’s (j walker, grouse, bells) are certainly all closer to £12 than £22 in the uk airports right now.
          Top shelf stuff is more hit and miss.

    • ChrisC says:

      9 Nov9 November 21:56

      Yes there is duty free on alcohol and tobacco.

      https://www.gov.uk/government/news/duty-free-extended-to-the-eu-from-january-2021

      • Mike says:

        9 Nov9 November 22:06

        Why are there now limits on how much you can bring in from Europe if it is for your own personal consumption- seems a bit unreasonable- if I want to take advantage of the propensity of the French to sell things cheaply surely that is my decision!!

        • Andrew H says:

          9 Nov9 November 23:29

          Er.. because of Brexit?

        • Yorkie Aid says:

          9 Nov9 November 23:39

          That was a side effect of being in the “single market”. Not quite sure where you might have been for the last five years but a little thing called Brexit happened.

        • Spurs drive me mad says:

          10 Nov10 November 11:45

          Oh the outrage 🙄

• Danscu says:

  9 Nov9 November 21:11

  Sorry for the dummy question, but I’m going round in circles here for some reason. Flying to the USA next week, I’m fully vaccinated. Can someone point me in the right direction for a suitable pre flight test? Would a Collinson Unsupervised Antigen Self-Test do the trick? Or any other recommendations?

  • Andrew says:

    9 Nov9 November 22:05

    No that won’t be accepted as it’s unsupervised. An ExpressTest antigen at a centre will be fine or you can opt for one of the video ones.

• David says:

  9 Nov9 November 22:00

  Hi all, question on supp cards. I’ve read Rob’s two articles and the associated comments, and searched a little, but perhaps someone can confirm something.

  I currently have a Gold (within the fee-free first year, and a BAPP, for what it’s worth) and a few months ago added my wife as the first and only Gold supp cardholder when there was a higher bonus – 6k? She recently got her own Gold… can I be added as the first and only supp, then:

  a) no £45 fee, despite previous activity?
  b) she gains the 3k bonus for first supp card?
  c) generally not antagonise Amex? 🙂

  Thanks in advance!

  • SteveJ says:

    9 Nov9 November 22:05

    Yes to all of the above.

    • David says:

      9 Nov9 November 22:35

      Brilliant, thanks Steve, much appreciated.

• Adam says:

  9 Nov9 November 22:19

  Hello,

  Has anyone tried VA companion seat ticket purchasing option i.e buy a cash ticket and get the second ticket added with 50% miles + taxes etc.

  Any thoughts on if is it worth it?

  Note: this is not a companion voucher, I do not have VA CC or status with them

  Thanks

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