The HfP chat thread – Thursday 11th November

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• Phil says:

  11 Nov11 November 03:47

  Morning all 😀

  • mr_jetlag says:

    11 Nov11 November 05:40

    morning Phil!

• N says:

  11 Nov11 November 03:55

  Morning from Dubai! I’m returning to London on Saturday early morning and flying out to the US on Wednesday afternoon

  Is there a way I can combine my day 2 arrival LF test with my pre departure LF test for the US?

  Timing wise it works to do it on Sunday evening but I’m wondering if they will accept a certificate for a day 2 arrival test

  • Sandgrounder says:

    11 Nov11 November 04:32

    As long as the certificate contains the required information and the test was supervised, in person or by video, you should be fine.

  • Andrew says:

    11 Nov11 November 06:05

    Key is that it can’t be an unsupervised one for entry to US

    • Pete M says:

      11 Nov11 November 08:59

      No reason why this wouldn’t work, someone asked the same yesterday – remember the day you arrive is day 0, so you could take the Day 2 on Monday as well.

  • ianM says:

    11 Nov11 November 08:58

    What exactly does ‘supervised’ mean – so if I use an NHS LFT and have someone record it on my mobile phone – is that supervised?
    BA advice is not clear it needs to be supervised and they are the ones that are going to check?

    • Pete M says:

      11 Nov11 November 09:01

      It means someone from Prenetics, Qured or similar watches you on webcam or you do it in person.

    • ChrisC says:

      11 Nov11 November 09:15

      You can’t use an NHS test for travel!

      The text / email results don’t include the required information for travel.

      And no check-in or border agent wants to see a video of you being swabbed.

      • Nick says:

        11 Nov11 November 10:18

        It depends on the country – NHS tests have plenty of information on them, of course no good if the country needs a passport number or supervision! Before the new US rules on telehealth, I travelled many times using them.

        For the US, BA will not check if it is supervised or not. One day the US may decide to enforce the rule, so just get a Qured test for <£30.

      • ianM says:

        11 Nov11 November 15:47

        Well actually the NHS test does have the required information, and as Nick says below they have been used without any issue before the opening on 8th. I just wondered where the definition of supervised was but I see it on the CDC website. As others have said BA do not mention the supervisory aspect in their advice

• A says:

  11 Nov11 November 06:39

  Is there an article outlining the cheapest routes to get to BA gold when flying from London airports? In a recent article they covered doing it in one trip and mentioned “there are cheaper ways such as a few trips to Amsterdam”.

  • WearyTraveller says:

    11 Nov11 November 07:39

    In my experience the most reasonable way is two BA holidays in club world before 31 March 2022 which is when the double tier points BA holiday offer ends. Start your trip in Manchester or similar with a connection in LHR to get additional TPs. Alternatively you can do one club world and one club Europe holiday and supplement it by a short return club Europe flight (which could be your trip to and from Manchester 😅).

  • Clive says:

    11 Nov11 November 15:26

    Qatar to the Far East ex EU

    • A says:

      11 Nov11 November 17:46

      Thanks @weary traveller
      @Clive I assume it would need to be booked through ba.com/have a flight share code?

• Paul says:

  11 Nov11 November 07:25

  Following up on yesterdays piece regarding heightened entry restrictions to Austria.
  As an independent traveller I contacted my hotel which had a 90 cancellation policy requiring at least 50% payment for any changes inside 90 days.
  They have replied already and their policy is now free cancellation up to 24 hours before arrival if:-

  You are not allowed to leave your country.
  You are not allowed to enter Austria. (Exception 2-G)
  An official travel warning is issued for Austria.
  You or a fellow traveller have tested positive for Covid-19 themselves (in which case a positive test result must be submitted).
  If the hotel needs to be closed due to Covid-19.

  This seems both reasonable and pragmatic and consequently I will keep things in track. Given the location it should also mean much quieter slopes at half term though the financial impact on some in the smaller resorts will be severe.

  • Pete M says:

    11 Nov11 November 09:02

    That does seem very sensible and customer-friendly. I am still scratching my head at the logic of the Austrian government when it comes to this whole thing, though…

    • meta says:

      11 Nov11 November 09:45

      The logic is low vaccination rates and the possibility of spreading the virus which means deaths and overcrowded hospitals…Also look at neighbouring countries – Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, etc. and their struggles to contain new covid wave.

      • Pete M says:

        11 Nov11 November 09:55

        I understand pushing people to have vaccines, but what’s the logic of the 9months cut-off? Especially when it will affect your own citizens and most places don’t offer the booster to everyone?

        • meta says:

          11 Nov11 November 10:24

          I think unlike in the UK some countries are giving boosters to anyone who had last dose six months ago. Not sure about 9 months, but this is what was previously agreed at EU level for covid passes then some countries started extending to 12 months.

        • Pete M says:

          11 Nov11 November 10:46

          It does sound like a great way to kill off your tourism industry for limited benefit…

        • Mike says:

          11 Nov11 November 10:50

          The interesting bit is that because the UK went with a long gap between vaccines, we probably have had a stronger immune response (though it too will wane). 9 months may be appropriate for those with a 3 week vaccine schedule but might not be appropriate for those from the UK.

        • andyT says:

          11 Nov11 November 12:50

          I visited Austria at the end of August. Even then the date of last (2nd) vaccination had to fall within previous 9 months, and hotels, tourist attractions, cable cars/funiculars etc were checking vaccination details prior to entry.
          So is this latest news actually news at all?

      • Lady London says:

        11 Nov11 November 14:58

        Worrying as geographically the cold weather reached those countries first?

• KBuffett says:

  11 Nov11 November 07:32

  Greetings from The Maldives 😀

  • Guernsey Globetrotter says:

    11 Nov11 November 07:57

    Nice – where you staying KB?

  • Chris says:

    11 Nov11 November 08:03

    How is the weather? I’m heading down next week to laamu and online weather reports suggest hours of rain each day still.

    • Guernsey Globetrotter says:

      11 Nov11 November 08:16

      Laamu is on my list for next year Chris – hope you have a great experience and please do report back here!

    • Lee says:

      11 Nov11 November 08:35

      Laamu is still the best for me among all resorts I have stayed above W and St Regis. Although I will be staying W again this Christmas as that’s the only one I can book water villa with points over festival season

    • KBuffett says:

      11 Nov11 November 10:06

      Staying at Lux and it’s very nice. The weather is great and online weather reports are often inaccurate

• Ian Hubbard says:

  11 Nov11 November 08:24

  Hi All,
  Data point – LHR – Miami BA0209 14:15 07/03/21 changed from A380 to 777-200 Type 77L.
  I was accessing the BA web site and wanted to verify flight number and I noticed the plane change. I think it may of happened recently. Lucky I looked as able to rebook seats.
  In rebooking I noticed the Club Class seats are only four wide, after much research I have concluded that this means new Club Suite. Am I correct? If so, lets hope the plane doesn’t change again.
  Did a dummy booking to confirm four wide and it is, but note my row is not shown (4), I assume this is the infamous IT software gremlins.
  If you are in a similar position it may be worthwhile checking BA.com as I didn’t get an email

  • Andrew says:

    11 Nov11 November 08:49

    Yes 4 across is Club Suite. The older Club World seat is about 20 across – makes economy look spacious!

    • Ian Hubbard says:

      11 Nov11 November 08:51

      Thanks Andrew

      • Andrew says:

        11 Nov11 November 09:21

        My sarcasm aside, the A380 Club World isn’t great with 8 across on the lower deck and 7 on the upper. So you’re much better off following this switch. I think they are going to install Club Suite on the A380 soon though, so will be the aircraft of choice then.

        • Ian Hubbard says:

          11 Nov11 November 09:34

          Agreed re A380, I used to like upstairs on the 747.
          We are returning on A380, upstairs seats 53 J & K, let’s hope galley not noisy.

  • Sarah says:

    11 Nov11 November 09:19

    My return flight from MIA in May was annoyingly switched from 777 with CS to A380, it would be nice if it was switched back.

• Ste C says:

  11 Nov11 November 08:31

  Hoping someone here can help with this. Do i need to take a day 2 test if i am coming back from Ireland – from what i have read i dont think i do since its in the CTA but cant find any official statement.
  Thanks

  • John says:

    11 Nov11 November 08:35

    Only if you have been outside the CTA in the past 10 days and you haven’t already entered the UK and taken a day 2 test in the past 10 days

    • Ste C says:

      11 Nov11 November 08:41

      Thanks.Thats what i thought.

  • Rob says:

    11 Nov11 November 09:13

    Nothing needed.

• ds_travels says:

  11 Nov11 November 08:50

  LHR T5 lounge question. BA Silver, flying to HAM at 15:10 tomorrow and thinking of arriving a few hours early to grab some lunch and do some work.

  Top priority is a desk that is suited to working on a laptop – which lounge would be best? Happy to trek back from the 5B lounge if this has a better setup.

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