The HfP chat thread – Friday 19th November

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Worksop Dave says:

19 Nov19 November 09:22

My booster is now showing on the travel pass section of the nhs app.

In reality, they’re being offered six months after the second dose regardless of whether you’re over 40 or classified as vulnerable (I’m neither)
- stevenhp1987 says:
  
  19 Nov19 November 09:25
  
  +1 My booster is also now showing!
  - stevenhp1987 says:
    
    19 Nov19 November 09:27
    
    Although mine is showing as “booster” when it was in-fact offered as my 3rd primary dose (immunosuppressed).
    - Tracey says:
      
      19 Nov19 November 18:14
      
      NHS still coding them the same way, so the system has no way of knowing you had a third, probably will remain that way until you get a booster or 4th.
      - Lady London says:
        
        19 Nov19 November 18:47
        
        How long is this gonna gp on for?
        
        Getting vaccinated every 6 months is going to get a bit wearing, including on the immune system, and soon may not be as effective.
        
        I hope either we discover that immunity is longer than we thought or somrone comes up with a better idea 🙂
      - Worksop Dave says:
        
        19 Nov19 November 19:33
        
        “ How long is this gonna go on for?”
        
        Dunno. Let me get my crystal ball
John says:

19 Nov19 November 09:23

Anyone had a spend £5000 get 10,000 Avios on the BAPP Amex? How long did it take to get the bonus Avios?

I hit trigger and received an email to confirm but no Avios as yet.
- Jody says:
  
  19 Nov19 November 09:26
  
  I had the email on a Tuesday, then the points on Thursday.
- CarpalTravel says:
  
  19 Nov19 November 09:29
  
  I didn’t get an email or the offer moved to redeemed after I was certain I had hit the target. About ~10days later the points appeared on my account and then it was marked as redeemed. That you have got an email is good, they will post eventually.
- NvT1115 says:
  
  19 Nov19 November 09:43
  
  It took four working days for the 10k bonus to post for me after email confirmation
Anna says:

19 Nov19 November 09:26

Best Hiltons in Glasgow? Looking for 2 nights in December to possibly replace our Berlin trip. IHG prices (cash and points) and currently insane and I’m saving my Bonvoy points for a 5 nighter. Already got Edunburgh booked for later in the month and rail fares to London are also crazy.
- Shaw West says:
  
  19 Nov19 November 09:30
  
  Are you travelling via Lumo ?
  - Shaw West says:
    
    19 Nov19 November 09:32
    
    I meant by Lumo
    - Anna says:
      
      19 Nov19 November 09:37
      
      Still over £100 return each. OH is now pulling his face at the idea of Glasgow (he thinks it’s still the 90s!) so may be going back to the drawing board. Needs to be reasonable via train or within 2 hours drive from Manchester/Preston.
      - Shaw West says:
        
        19 Nov19 November 09:41
        
        Glasgow is doable in 2.5 hours by drive 🙂
      - Anna says:
        
        19 Nov19 November 10:04
        
        Maybe if you’re driving a Ferrari on a day when there’s no traffic on the M6!
      - Anna says:
        
        19 Nov19 November 10:05
        
        But it’s not an issue anyway, as rail fares are cheap to Scotland!
      - Mr(s) Entitled says:
        
        19 Nov19 November 10:08
        
        I stayed at the Hilton Glasgow pre-Covid. It’s a decent hotel, easy walk (5-10 mins) to the centre and the same to the station.
        
        Given your location and OH’s face however, I’d probably opt for Liverpool. The two cities are very similar in architecture, arts, shopping, regeneration and dare I say it, amazing people. It’s also a lot closer and comes with all the same Covid restrictions you are currently used to living with. With the train fare saved I’d book a table at Roski. Hands down the most consistently impressive food I have ever eaten. Lots of good Hiltons in Liverpool too.
      - Mr(s) Entitled says:
        
        19 Nov19 November 10:21
        
        I should also add that both cities house two great football teams. Celtic and Rangers in one, Liverpool and Liverpool U23’s in the other.
      - Sandgrounder says:
        
        19 Nov19 November 10:25
        
        Ticket Manchester Crewe £19.30 anytime short return c.40mins, Crewe Euston on London northwestern £34.60 2h17. Takes a little bit longer, but cheaper. And they are walk-up (off peak for second leg) prices.
      - Sandgrounder says:
        
        19 Nov19 November 10:26
        
        Birmingham? It’s actually pretty nice these days.
      - Char Char says:
        
        19 Nov19 November 10:36
        
        Birmingham nice? LMAO
      - Anna says:
        
        19 Nov19 November 10:39
        
        Well Liverpool is a day trip for us so probably wouldn’t bother staying overnight. Will look at changing at Crewe but coming back on a Sunday may complicate things and it would also royally screw up the weekend if there were any delays!
      - Anna says:
        
        19 Nov19 November 10:40
        
        Lol Mr(s) Entitled, my stepfather and brother are massive Liverpool fans so I won’t argue with you on that!
      - Anna says:
        
        19 Nov19 November 10:46
        
        @Sandgrounder, I had never thought of this but we could easily drive to Crewe and get the train from there – maybe not this time but thanks very much for planting that seed!
      - Mr(s) Entitled says:
        
        19 Nov19 November 12:57
        
        @Anna: Liverpool is 45 minutes from me and we make a weekend of it once a year. Manchester is 20 mins on the train and we stayed over at the Hilton last weekend, enjoyed the Christmas Markets and £200 of free food courtesy of Amex and a cracking breakfast the next day.
        
        Sometimes we are all guilty of overlooking the places on our doorstep when they can provide equal enjoyment without the travel.
- ianM says:
  
  19 Nov19 November 10:17
  
  Main Glasgow Hilton on William St. ALthough the nearby Garden Inn is nice and great riverside location.
- BP says:
  
  19 Nov19 November 11:34
  
  Hilton Grovesnor in the West End is the best located. That’s the nice part of town with Byres Road, Ashton Lane on your doorstep and Kelvingrove and Finniestoun a short walk away.
- David D says:
  
  19 Nov19 November 11:34
  
  Hilton Glasgow should be good, though some of the rooms are rather tired now and not yet stayed in one of the refurbished rooms. Executive Lounge is currently in the bar, as they are refurbishing it, with two drinks per night and a platter of charcuterie and cheese or desserts per person. They changed the rules slightly whereby you could put them together and buy a bottle of wine up to the value of £34, and now I think each drink has a maximum value of £8.50. Breakfast is a decent buffet, and last time I was there in July hot food was being cooked to order. DoubleTree is better for upgrades and more city centre based for shopping. Hilton Garden Inn down by the arena is ok, though not stayed there for a few years now. Radisson Red is across the road and their restaurant and bar would be better.
- John says:
  
  19 Nov19 November 11:39
  
  None of them are great, on my next trip to Glasgow I’ll be booking the Hampton unless the others are a lot cheaper.
  
  Main Hilton recently refurbished but lounge crap (was never great) and I think this is the only UK Hilton which once charged Diamonds for full breakfast rather than continental.
  
  HGI has poor insulation.
- Peggerz says:
  
  19 Nov19 November 11:39
  
  Hi Anna.
  I was looking at Glasgow Hilton last night. It looks ok, right in the West End/Charing Cross area. The DT looks decent too.
  I had a one night visit to Glasgow earlier this year (Kimpton Blythswood), enjoyed it so much that I’m going back to the city in early December for a couple of nights. If you’re into museums, the Riverside, People’s Palace, Kelvin Grove are all great (be careful of opening times). There is even a small Police Museum. We also visited the Necropolis. Great bars and resto’s.
  There is an underground system to get you around. Give it a go, it’s come on a lot since the 1990’s.
  - Pete says:
    
    19 Nov19 November 13:42
    
    Once you clear Preston the car journey to Glasgow is generally a pleasant breeze (with several decent service stations to stop at). Glasgow is great though.
    
    Liverpool at the weekend is always completely heaving with tourists. That has implications for finding a reasonably priced hotel.
    - David D says:
      
      19 Nov19 November 16:13
      
      Football matches or any event at the M&S Arena sees the prices jump significantly for Liverpool as they love to price gouge those who come to stay for that rubbish. If you are to stay in Liverpool for a weekend, there are about 3 weekends a year whereby you don’t get gouged due to a concert, boxing match or football match being on.
      - Mr(s) Entitled says:
        
        19 Nov19 November 19:54
        
        If the price is high 51 weeks of the year and only low for 3 weeks that would indicate it is demand/supply driven and the market is there for it.
  - Anna says:
    
    19 Nov19 November 15:47
    
    Indeed, I visited about 10 years ago with my mum and really want to go back and see the museums. We took my son and his cousin who were both aged 5 at the time and had a fun day in the science museum. Will probably try out the Blythswood at some point when cash prices aren’t too silly.
    - BP says:
      
      19 Nov19 November 19:43
      
      There’s a great weekend indoor street food market just behind the Science Centre, across the road. The Big Feed.
  - Tariq says:
    
    19 Nov19 November 21:50
    
    I prefer the DoubleTree having been around all of them. Always used to have a great Exec lounge and free street parking in the area off peak. Not stayed since Covid though.
Shaw West says:

19 Nov19 November 09:29

London Stanstead to Amman return for £27 flying Ryanair
- Andy says:
  
  19 Nov19 November 10:28
  
  You need to factor in the damage of (1) going to Stanstead and (2) flying Ryanair (3) for 4+ hours though…
- Sina says:
  
  19 Nov19 November 15:04
  
  Where do you see this?
Keely says:

19 Nov19 November 09:29

Morning all , in case anyone looking for recommendations , just used express test LFT in Heathrow t4 long stay car park. No one else there, results emailed in 40 mins . Very thorough nasal swabbing !!
Could have got cheaper in person test (needed for Jamaica) but would have involved driving into London meaning travel time and parking costs not worth saving a tenner (to me ).
Shaw West says:

19 Nov19 November 09:42

Any decent miles offers for full fibre broadband. Only Bt or Sky
- Spurs drive me mad says:
  
  19 Nov19 November 09:47
  
  Look on nectar 10k points for broadband package. Also check the site that can’t be named for deals.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  19 Nov19 November 11:25
  
  Vodafone are doing 910mb in city fibre areas for £30pcm with a £3 discount if you’re a mobile customer.
Super Secret Stuff says:

19 Nov19 November 09:46

Sorting out my passport today, any idea on replacement times?

Also SSS is now a single pringle and needs a holiday. Any suggestion for winter sun in December? I’m thinking sharm el shake, try out some scuba diving. Sure they’ll love a nearly blind English tourist 🤣
- Sandra says:
  
  19 Nov19 November 10:04
  
  Daughter sent hers for renewal on 2 November & got an email yesterday to say application & photo checked & approved & that the new passport is now being printed. So I would hope it will be here by the end of the month at the latest.
  - Sandra says:
    
    19 Nov19 November 10:57
    
    Update SSS – e mail just come in to say new passport on its way today so, assuming it arrives tomorrow/Monday, it will have taken a little over 2 weeks which is good going at the best of times!
    - Super Secret Stuff says:
      
      19 Nov19 November 14:17
      
      Ahhh thats perfect, thanks for sharing!
    - Super Secret Stuff says:
      
      19 Nov19 November 16:28
      
      Update: my passport is checked and sent in the post!
      
      Apparently official guidelines say up to 10 weeks! Although usually quicker so here’s to hoping!
- Blair says:
  
  19 Nov19 November 11:34
  
  Sorry to hear of your single status. If you’re travelling solo, surely you don’t want the hassle of conmen and hassle in Egypt. Get yourself a SAD lamp till the Canary Islands warm up
  - Super Secret Stuff says:
    
    19 Nov19 November 14:18
    
    Thanks. What do you mean by hassle of eygpt?
    - Blair says:
      
      19 Nov19 November 14:49
      
      Security risk, hospital standards if you fall ill, navigating the airport yourself but avoiding the cons
      - Super Secret Stuff says:
        
        19 Nov19 November 16:29
        
        I’m the nicest possible way, I’m beyond caring now and think you’ll get that anywhere
      - Tariq says:
        
        19 Nov19 November 21:53
        
        +1. Went 15 years ago and wouldn’t go again. All Arabic passport stamp caused hassle on entry to the USA for years afterwards 🙄
- Jody says:
  
  19 Nov19 November 11:35
  
  Sorry to hear you’re now a single pringle (unless you want to be obviously!!). Sure it wasn’t that long ago we were reading about you and your partner’s trip to London. Hope you’re ok.
  - Super Secret Stuff says:
    
    19 Nov19 November 14:21
    
    Thanks, it was unwillingly my choice. Anyone with self respect would have done the same but rough none the less. Yeh we went end of September, things got worse after that and can no longer be blamed on her new job as she’s been there 4 and a half months. So difficult but I had to do it, now I just want to bin off life for a bit
    - Anna says:
      
      19 Nov19 November 15:51
      
      Sorry to hear that, you definitely need some sunshine and a nice hotel to cheer you up!
      - Super Secret Stuff says:
        
        19 Nov19 November 16:30
        
        Definitely!
      - Lady London says:
        
        19 Nov19 November 18:56
        
        Why not take a look at Oman? Thinking might be a nicer experience than Egypt
Rich says:

19 Nov19 November 09:48

I need to cancel a BA Holiday by 2359 today, and get the deposit back as an FTV. Just kicked off the call on 0345 number, and can’t be done online..

What’s best to do?
- Rich says:
  
  19 Nov19 November 09:51
  
  Tried DMing them on Twitter – Twitterbot leads me to a form on the BA website ‘Apply for a voucher’. Is that the right one?
- Spurs drive me mad says:
  
  19 Nov19 November 10:05
  
  Try chat ..bottom right hand corner of BA contacts page.
- Rich says:
  
  19 Nov19 November 10:12
  
  Thanks. Twitterbot has been followed up by a real (I think!) person, so I’ll see where that leads. My reply to her question has just been answered by the Bot again!
- Anna says:
  
  19 Nov19 November 10:31
  
  Why can you not do it online? Have you tried going via the link on the home page (not MMB?)
- Rich says:
  
  19 Nov19 November 10:46
  
  Which link Anna?
  - Anna says:
    
    19 Nov19 November 10:56
    
    Top of the home page “Covid 19” Click on “Find out more” and it takes you to a page where you should be able to claim a voucher by entering your booking ref.
    - Rich says:
      
      19 Nov19 November 11:10
      
      Thanks. More fool me for following the instructions in MMB!