The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 23rd November

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• Clive says:

  23 Nov23 November 16:04

  Scrapping of Covid Tests https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10230745/No10-consider-scrapping-Covid-tests-travellers-January.html

  • Anna says:

    23 Nov23 November 16:07

    That would be very handy as out next family trip abroad is in February. The current process is completely pointless anyway with no guarantee that anyone is doing the day 2 test properly (or at all!)

  • Roy says:

    23 Nov23 November 19:55

    The article only says “review”. Even the headline only says “consider scrapping”.

    I wouldn’t get your hopes up too much.

    • TGLoyalty says:

      23 Nov23 November 20:09

      “Need to learn to live with it” but agree end of Jan might be too soon

      • Rob says:

        23 Nov23 November 21:32

        I doubt it’s the Day 2 test that is putting many people off at the moment. At least you know where you stand on that.

    • Tariq says:

      23 Nov23 November 20:41

      Evidence shows that this Government tests public reaction to their intended actions in the media before making announcements so wouldn’t surprise me if it were true.

• Paul G says:

  23 Nov23 November 16:05

  My wife and I want to go to New Zealand for a longish trip in early 2023. I have two BA companion vouchers which will still be valid then. I know I can’t get all the way to NZ on BA, but any ideas on how to maximise use of companion vouchers (I’m willing to use them both) and Avios towards getting there in Club Class or equivalent?

  • Rob says:

    23 Nov23 November 17:55

    Obviously you can fly via a BA partner hub – Qatar, Malaysia, Qantas, Cathay. Issue is how the cash vs Avios sums work out from each of those spots for the 2nd leg.

    If Avios doesn’t work you might as well work around every BA destination in Asia and see which has cheapest cash flights onwards.

  • Shaw west says:

    23 Nov23 November 18:02

    Fly to sydney or melbourne using companion voucher and book the new Zealand leg separately

  • Can says:

    23 Nov23 November 20:20

    If you haven’t done it before, 24h total flight time is brutal. It exhausted us when we were in our early 30s. Fly to Asia/Singapore etc, rest then fly on. That’d be two birds with one stone.

    • John says:

      23 Nov23 November 20:43

      If you prepare for it properly it’s fine especially in J. Done it several times including in Y. No alcohol, don’t force yourself to stay awake if you’re sleepy, but force yourself to get up after 3 hours sleep if it’s awake time in your destination.

      • Anna says:

        23 Nov23 November 20:51

        We went to NZ (with a 4 year old!) some years ago. I did a lot of research on minimising jet lag because I really suffer from it and used a technique which involved fasting for 16 hours then having meals at the time they would be served at destination (apparently your digestive system is hugely important in re-setting your body clock) It did seem to work, it was the longest journey we’ve ever taken and one of the least jet-lagged I’ve felt. I’ve not been organised enough to do it since.

      • TJones says:

        23 Nov23 November 21:24

        One of my favourite flights ever was MAN-DOH-AKL and return in business for £1300 in 2018. I wish I’d booked more than one trip at that price.

        • Polly says:

          24 Nov24 November 00:06

          We desperately tried to fit that offer in, but couldn’t make it work. Have been looking for it on QR ever since. What a dream price…

        • Yorkieflyer says:

          24 Nov24 November 00:10

          With or without alcohol?🤭

        • Paul G says:

          25 Nov25 November 09:37

          Thanks to all for suggestions and advice. Looks like Sydney or Melbourne for a couple of days is probably best option for us.

• Mco says:

  23 Nov23 November 16:48

  Can anyone recommend a hotel close to LHR T3 that offers parking too?

  • Tariq says:

    23 Nov23 November 18:31

    Depends what you mean by close? The Marriott always used to be available on Just Park. The Radisson would have some parking bundle stay offers I assume. The Moxy is £12.50 per day if I remember correctly.

    • Mco says:

      23 Nov23 November 23:38

      Thanks

• Den S says:

  23 Nov23 November 16:50

  Apologies if this has been answered before! To cancel a reward flight booking and to request a cash refund. Is it possible to do it online? or do you only get the voucher option? Therefore you have to ring to cancel and request a cash refund as per last year!

  • ChrisC says:

    23 Nov23 November 17:08

    Phone.

• Cats are best says:

  23 Nov23 November 16:52

  Eurostar is extending status again… “we’re extending the time you have to keep or upgrade your Club Eurostar status by six months. Your new membership end date will show on your account by the end of the year.”

  Also extending points expiration until 30/6/2022.

  • Mjshort says:

    23 Nov23 November 17:11

    I had the same email.

    Using Amex plat Card to get into eurostar lounge, do they check name against ticket?

    • Rob says:

      23 Nov23 November 17:52

      Purely down to who is standing on the door on the day.

    • Andrew says:

      23 Nov23 November 19:59

      Never once in my experience – just the expiry date

    • Sloth says:

      23 Nov23 November 22:26

      They did in St Pancras on Saturday morning but did not in gare du nord on Sunday evening

• Lyn says:

  23 Nov23 November 17:11

  Good luck today Polly! So glad you got your fresh milk and the fruit must be divine after the strange food you’ve been supplied with.

  @Dubious, what a lovely kind practical gesture of help for Polly! Little things can mean a lot sometimes.

  • Polly says:

    24 Nov24 November 00:08

    Tnx Lyn, it was such a kind thought.. just had my first dawn cup of milk tea just now. This balcony helping a LOT! Tnx again Dubious…

• C says:

  23 Nov23 November 17:12

  241 voucher that was triggered 2 weeks ago by upgrading to BAPP has finally landed in my account, but is only valid for 24 months and not 30 as I was expecting – I thought all companion vouchers issued before 31 Dec were being given an extra 6 months? Worth a call to BA? The extra 6 months would be useful

  • Rob says:

    23 Nov23 November 17:51

    You are not the only one. Will hopefully self-correct.

• Mick S says:

  23 Nov23 November 17:26

  So I’m currently BA blue (worked my way down from silver because all my flights have been avios).

  I’m going to book a CW flight soon to Sydney. Will this take me straight to silver? I’m not sure what is classed as an eligible flight, and my flight is also classed as direct. Manchester to Heathrow, Heathrow to Singapore, Singapore to Sydney. Is this classed as 6 flights (once i have returned)?

  • Shaw west says:

    23 Nov23 November 17:42

    If you are a direct flight lhr-sin-syd it will be classified as a single sector/flight

    • Mick S says:

      23 Nov23 November 18:00

      so it would be better to book LHR-SIN, stop-over, SIN-SYD. That would take me to bronze. Not sure what the requirement is to get from Bronze to Silver as the BA website is once again unavailable.

      • Shaw west says:

        23 Nov23 November 18:04

        450 sikver / 1125. Gold

      • Sam G says:

        23 Nov23 November 20:09

        you can (in normal times)switch between the BA11/15 & BA12/16 in Singapore without stopping over as well to squeeze out more TPs

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