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The HfP chat thread – Monday 22nd November

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General

Comments (429)

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

  • Benilyn says:
    22 Nov22 November 09:08

    FAO people who are familiar with rules of entry Qatar. UK was added to Qatar’s red list recently.

    For visitors / tourists to Qatar, who are fully vaccinated, need to do PCR 72 hours before (fine) and now “After arrival: A PCR test on arrival at the quarantine hotel​.”

    Do I need to book an official govt quarantine hotel, or book my own one?

    https://www.discoverqatar.qa/welcome-home/ – website to book the quarantine hotel says “Adults who have received a complete vaccine for COVID-19 from the Approved Vaccine list below do not need to book a quarantine hotel, unless arriving from one of the Exceptional Red List Countries.”
    UK is not “Exceptional Red List Countries”, just normal “Red List”.

    • Mark says:
      22 Nov22 November 12:58

      Hi Benilyn. I’m also investigating this point as off there in Feb. Just before the quote you have put above about not needing to book a quarantine hotel, it refers you to the full MOPH Travel and Return policy, where it does say a fully vaccinated person from a red list country needs to book a 2 day hotel quarantine stay using the Discover Qatar Quarantine Hotel Package. So I’m reading that I have to book the quarantine package (full policy overrides the home page of the booking website), which also can’t be in the hotel I’m due to stay in (so I think I will be cancelling the trip!). If you find out more, please post.

      • Benilyn says:
        22 Nov22 November 13:28

        Thanks. So FCO website: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/qatar/entry-requirements says you need a Discover Qatar Quarantine hotel too:

        “Vaccinated visitors
        Fully vaccinated visitors travelling from a red listed country must have a pre-departure PCR test within 72 hours of their arrival in Qatar, with a negative result. You will be required to undergo a 2 day hotel quarantine (including unvaccinated children aged 11 or under), where a PCR test will be conducted. You may be released from quarantine early depending on the availability of your test results. All hotel quarantine packages need to be booked through the Discover Qatar website.”

        Trying to find out more from family on the ground. Bit annoying…

  • ianM says:
    22 Nov22 November 09:15

    Quick question on Hilton reward bookings – I know they count for status, but do they count towards milestone bonus points, ie 10 nights for 10,000 bonus points?

    TIA

  • rosie says:
    22 Nov22 November 09:29

    Any idea when BA will be releasing there black Friday deals and will they be offering the £1k return in CW to NYC like they have done for the last 2 years travelling in Jan

    I see VS have there sale on but couldn’t see any deals in upper class to the US (premium to SFO in K class has defo gone down since sat , around £100 )

    • AJA says:
      22 Nov22 November 10:52

      I think they have more urgent issues to deal with at the moment. On the other hand they might release some great deals to make up for the IT SNAFU.

  • Henry says:
    22 Nov22 November 09:39

    Hello, please does anyone know if I book QR business class on a BA code share ticket, can I still reserve seats and use the QR lounges for free. I’m sure I read it somewhere before, but can’t find the source. Many thanks, Henry

    • AJA says:
      22 Nov22 November 10:51

      It depends on the booking class of the ticket. Also depends if you have status with BA. If you are BA Silver or higher you can reserve seats and have lounge access. The lounge access will be the inferior OW lounges.

      • Henry says:
        22 Nov22 November 12:08

        Hello AJA, very many thanks for the update, appreciated, we’re BA gold so hopefully all OK, Henry

  • ledcran02 says:
    22 Nov22 November 09:43

    Q regarding BA LHR –> LCY transfer checkin policy. I’m booked on a BA marketed/AA metal overnight flight from JFK>LHR, then have a LCY>FLR Cityflyer on the same booking /ticket later on the day of arrival. But I DON’T want to take the flight to Florence. My Q is, upon JFK departure, will I just be checked in for the JFK>LHR leg (and thus only have to fulfill UK entry requirements), and NOT for the final leg (for which I would have to provide Italy entry requirements). I know the luggage won’t be checked through and don’t care about the no-show, but mainly concerned about problems checking in at JFK for the 1st flight w/o Italy PLF, test, etc.

    • Richie says:
      22 Nov22 November 10:08

      How long is the gap between arriving at LHR and departing LCY?

      • ledcran02 says:
        22 Nov22 November 10:08

        About 5 hrs

        • Richie says:
          22 Nov22 November 10:33

          Fingers crossed they will not want to check you in for the final sector at JFK. I’d double check that BA’s auto check in feature is switched off though.

  • Ed says:
    22 Nov22 November 09:47

    I fully agree and haven’t seen anyone ever suggesting anything else in practice. But others have been speculating about if Amex/ba were able and/or choose to enforce the t&c’s following the sept Amex changes and BA IT update whether this might change. And also, whether a downgrade form BAPP to free BA met the requirements of the t&c’s even if never enforced in practice. Hopefully this might sink the later part of the speculation.

    • Ed says:
      22 Nov22 November 09:48

      This should’ve been in response to the questions around 241 validity and the TPG article on p2

  • Simon says:
    22 Nov22 November 09:55

    Anyone else having issues making a payment to Amex. When i click make a payment the new page wont load….. How else can i throw money at them

  • Nigel says:
    22 Nov22 November 10:17

    Has the 25% reduction in tier point thresholds been extended past June 2022? My year end is 8th Nov and I was expecting the app to tell me I need 600 for Silver this time but it’s still saying 450…

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