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The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 16th November

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Comments (329)

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

  • Paul says:

    Is Virgin to NS&I with Curve dead in the water? I’ve seen some comments suggesting so but just wanted to ask again. **Not Paul the Destroyer but appreciate that’s something Paul the Destroyer would maybe say**

    • Youllnever says:

      Best way to know for certain is to try it?

    • Andrew H says:

      I couldn’t get it to work a couple of weeks ago whereas it had previously

    • Andy says:

      I just phoned Virgin and and NSANDI and Curve to ask if it would work and suggested the three of them have a meeting to try and get it working if not

    • Reney says:

      A few people have reported in the last week getting letters from NSandI that they know it is being backed by a CC and they will start sending the money back. I take that to mean the whole thing is dead.

      Would be helpful to know if Che works with Ernie.

      • Alan says:

        Seems very strange, unless you are doing blatant in/out money recycling why would NS&I care.

        Has anyone who has not been doing this received a letter?

      • J says:

        FWIW I had an in-app message from Mr Guevara last week saying (to paraphrase) “Too many transfers, give it a rest or we’ll send you to the naughty step”.

      • Anna says:

        Never tried, but ernie can’t possibly know where your Che funds come from.

        • Ed says:

          But is che compliant with ns&i rules?

        • JDB says:

          Therein lies the problem. NS&I has got increasingly concerned that with these pseudo debit cards they not only pay higher fees but also can’t be confident of the source of funds.

          • Harrier25 says:

            JDB, complete nonsense. It costs the same to accept a payment from a Revolut personal debit card as it does from any other UK personal debit card.

      • Aston100 says:

        Che works with Ernie and there is no breaking any rules by doing so, as far as I am concerned.
        Don’t even need to use the debit card.

    • ashish says:

      what about hong kong and an Hilton?

      What other ones can we do? COT

    • Babyg says:

      not yet.. but keep talking and it will be…

  • Fazzy Bear says:

    For those with Amex Business Gold, do most people utilise the 2 x £50 annual Dell statement credit by buying accessories below the £50 threshold twice a year?

    Is there any gems out there that I’m missing apart from the obvious Keyboard or Mouse?
    My hunch is that the prices on the Amex Dell site are inflated but could be wrong.

  • LakerDC10 says:

    Amex Emirates: Save up to £300 with Emirates on Plat Card. Saw this offer on my card statement online – wedged between transactions. No details of how you can save £300 (ie no listing of % discount). Went to book Y class and got about £20 off. Any ideas of how this offer works? Said use a promo code and book by 15 Dec 2021

  • Sam G says:

    check places like Secret Escapes, as the pricing / availability isn’t particularly dynamic you can sometimes find a few reasonable options. But otherwise agree with Rob – Fri/Sat running up to Xmas is looking very very busy!

  • Danny says:

    Any chance you are NHS with a badge? Code HJH with marriott.com has a few offers.

    • Soloflyer1977 says:

      Thanks all. Busy times indeed. I’ll do some more investigating

      • elguiri says:

        When I checked a couple of nights ago, the Andaz liverpool st. was on for around £250, with the £100 off via Amex hyatt offer, that could bring it down within your budget

  • Aslan says:

    Question – what kind of level are Leonardo Hotels pitched at? Comparisons to other brands welcome

    • Roy says:

      Not a direct answer to your question, but the old Holiday Inn Bath Road/Sipson Way is now a Leonardo…

    • BP says:

      Leonardo Royal is a bit like Crowne Plaza.

    • Yorkie Aid says:

      We have only stayed at the one by St Pauls but we liked it overall. Probably similar to a good CP with pool. Check-in experience was lousy though – stupidly busy and very poorly managed.

    • Red Flyer says:

      I stayed in Edinburgh 18 months ago and felt like a Mercure – but that might have been because was full of French over for the 6 nations game?!

  • Tom H says:

    A question about Virgin redemptions if anyone can advise:

    We’ve booked Upper Class outbound flights using a companion voucher, and the booking is currently deemed a partial redemption of the companion voucher while we wait to see if Upper or Premium availability opens up on the return leg.

    As the weeks pass-by I’m getting a bit nervous that no availability will open up so I’m tempted to book into Economy on the return leg, just so we have a return flight.

    If I do so, and Upper or Premium availability subsequently opens up, can I change the class of the return leg seats (for the change fee and incremental miles) and will the change receive the benefit of the companion voucher (i.e. the companion seat remains “free”/50% in Upper)?

    • Mark says:

      Yep but they’ll be a change fee and additional
      Taxes but they will have no problem doing that.

  • njb says:

    Did anyone see the Wimbledon tickets that have just appeared on the Events app for platinum holders? I clicked immediately – think I am on waiting list bit have the circle of doom whirring away still!

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