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The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 24th November

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Comments (448)

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

  • Alex M says:
    24 Nov24 November 09:36

    Can anyone please confirm that they can log into their Radisson account- I can’t as I get thrown back to the homepage every time I try to log in.

    • Adam says:
      24 Nov24 November 10:24

      Yes. I can log in.

    • Michael says:
      24 Nov24 November 10:31

      Hi ALEX, I’ve been having the same issue for the past few days.

    • Guernsey Globetrotter says:
      24 Nov24 November 14:53

      Yes – I can log in via the app (iOS) on both my and Mrs T’s accounts…

    • Roy says:
      25 Nov25 November 00:10

      Force a password reset. Or try the mobile app – you may find it tells you you need to reset your password (it did for me – but then I haven’t logged in since pre-pandemic so who knows when that happened).

  • Mark says:
    24 Nov24 November 09:45

    Anyone knows if there are any promo for hotel chains where you stay 3 nights and get 1 night free? Think I’ve seen it somewhere but can’t find it now

  • Gary says:
    24 Nov24 November 09:47

    DP: think there were discussions few days ago re checking in day prior. My fight is Friday midday and just received below from BA, so it’s possible logistically.

    “ The airport will be busy when you fly on Friday. To save time and give you more flexibility, you can check in your bag the day before you fly from 18:00 – 21:00 at London Heathrow T5. You can also check-in hand baggage free of charge”

    • ChrisC says:
      24 Nov24 November 09:57

      You can only use twilight if your flight is before 13.00 though.

      • Magarathea says:
        24 Nov24 November 10:40

        I did twilight bag drop at 3pm at zone E in T5 10 days ago. Club check in at zone H would not take our bags as said it was officially too early but tagged the bags and suggested we try zone E. The CS rep at zone E queue winked when we asked and waved us through. We were staying at the Sofitel and it made the whole experience very relaxed. Well done BA.

    • @mkcol says:
      24 Nov24 November 10:51

      I got this (and also a warning that our flight itself was busy in a separate message) when we went to Oslo 2 Fridays ago – the load was 35!

  • Laura says:
    24 Nov24 November 09:49

    Morning! I have just reached the sign up bonus on my Amex Platinum and would like to close that and get the International Dollar Card, (although I understand I need to have held a personal Amex for 6 months first.)
    If I downgrade to the Gold card first:
    a) Will the first year fee for the Gold card still be waived if I downgrade?
    b) Will the 6 month requirement for the IDC be based on a single card (i.e. the Gold card) or when I first took out the Platinum?
    c) Does the SUB rule for no personal Amex cards in the last 2 years include the IDC?

    • TGLoyalty says:
      24 Nov24 November 10:01

      A) not always available to downgrade and free first year if it is downgraded is seen as a retention offer so not always offered.
      B) can’t help but if it’s a downgrade to a gold it keeps the same card number and therefore should be the same account.
      C) IDC is excluded.

    • Rob says:
      24 Nov24 November 10:31

      c) is No, this isn’t looked at.

    • Laura says:
      24 Nov24 November 16:31

      Thank you both

  • Anna says:
    24 Nov24 November 10:13

    Hoping to move our Berlin flights to Mallorca for next October, and have a stash of Bonvoy points to use before devaluation kicks in. Castillo Son Vida or St Regis Maravall. Son Vida is handy for Palma sightseeing but the St Regis does look fab.

    • Anna says:
      24 Nov24 November 10:14

      Sorry, there should have been a ? in there, I’d like opinions. Both reviewed on here recently.

    • mutley says:
      24 Nov24 November 10:37

      You could try the old Park Hyatt, I’m not sure who is running it now, but the rates were a lot less than the St Regis (if paying cash) When is the Bonvoy devaluation, I must have missed that?

      • Ken says:
        24 Nov24 November 11:09

        You missed the ‘exciting news’ about the flexible pricing bookings from March 2022 ?

        Will gut those outsize value bookings (eventually).

        • Anna says:
          24 Nov24 November 11:12

          Exactly!

          • mutley says:
            24 Nov24 November 12:29

            Well good unintentional timing on my part, I am, now Titanium and used 70000 points at the JW Essex House in NYC last week when rates were over a $1000. This afternoon I am off to the Langley, which cost me 60000, I have an upgrade to a Brew House Junior suite, so all good!

  • xcalx says:
    24 Nov24 November 10:28

    VPN question please.
    Having never had a VPN could anyone advise which is best for use in the Caribbean. Also can it be used to access soccer saturdays super six from that part of the world ( I am doing pretty well this year and don’t want to drop down the league table in the 5 week I’m away ), thanks.

    • Aston100 says:
      24 Nov24 November 11:49

      The more obscure the VPN provider, the less likelihood of getting blocked.
      The big boys like Nord and Cyberghost etc are unreliable in my opinion.

    • Shaw West says:
      24 Nov24 November 12:35

      PureVPN is running a deal for less than £1 a month. Nordvpn is the reasonably priced better value option.

      • Guernsey Globetrotter says:
        24 Nov24 November 14:59

        Nord is also offering 40 Avios per £1 for new subs via the BA shopping portal at the moment. Seems a crazy good deal but I cannot speak to the reliability of Nord personally.

        • Guernsey Globetrotter says:
          24 Nov24 November 15:07

          Nord also have what looks to be a very cheap black Friday deal too but not sure if it’ll stack.

    • Anastasia Beaverhausen says:
      24 Nov24 November 13:31

      I use ExpressVPN and have found it to be very reliable for things like iPlayer and Prime Video. It worked very well in China. I previously used NordVPN but it didn’t work in China and never worked for Prime.

      The war between VPNs and the likes of Netflix etc means that what works for somebody today might not work for you tomorrow.

      I can give an Express VPN referral link that gives you a month free, if you want it, though I’m not sure if that adds anything over the current Cack Friday offer.

      If you pay for a Google Drive subscription note that it now includes a VPN.

      There is also a free version of ProtonVPN, from the makers of ProtonMail. Unlike other free VPNS, which can not be trusted, ProtonVPN is trustworthy and has a strong security reputation. I have’t used their VPN because I have Express but I do use ProtonMail which is secure and free.

    • Lady London says:
      24 Nov24 November 15:17

      Nordvpn big problems, I have mentioned before.

      I like Windscribe so far and their support has been practically responsive

      Nordvpn has comprehensively failed to continue working after year1 of a 3year prepay. They’ve admitted they know there’s a bug they can’t fix. Their solution was finally to hand instructions on how to use OpenVPN. But regardless they still refuse to refund the remainder of their useless contract.

      Basically, Nordvpn official policy is even if their product completely stops working and even if they agreed it’s their product stopped working they will never ever refund any money beyond Day30 of any contract even if it’s a 3 year contract.

      Be warned.

  • Alex says:
    24 Nov24 November 10:30

    Will I be charged anything extra if I attempt to withdraw £400 cash from a UK ATM using Curve linked to Virgin?

    • henry437 says:
      24 Nov24 November 10:40

      I had a worrying one last night – was going to withdraw £50 from an independent ‘notemachine’ but thought better of it and cancelled when it said ‘your card issuer may charge’ – so no money dispensed but it is still showing on Curve and Virgin. Have lodged a query.

      As to the query it may depend what curve you have, that is above the blue limit

      • Alex says:
        24 Nov24 November 10:47

        Yes my question is about Blue Curve, in the past they allowed withdrawals above their limits with no fees and I a wondering is it still the case

    • Anna says:
      24 Nov24 November 11:13

      I haven’t tried it as I’ve seen mention on here of Virgin treating it as a cash transaction.

      • Magic Mike says:
        24 Nov24 November 18:05

        200 quid a day (if that is the limit in your curve app) is still fine with Beardy, or at least it was last week.

        • Magic Mike says:
          24 Nov24 November 18:26

          …and I seem to remember in the past attempting to go over your ATM limit results in the withdrawal being refused, but I might be misremembering that.

          The “you might be charged” messaging on ATMs always appears for me for Curve, it bears no relation to whether you will actually be charged…

    • Mr. AC says:
      24 Nov24 November 19:57

      I believe there were previous reports here that Virgin treats it as a cash advance so I never attempted it.

  • Steve R says:
    24 Nov24 November 10:37

    We have an RFS to Antalya next August.
    For the past couple of months when I have searched for the flights and a week either side to see if they have been moved.
    I keep getting “We’re sorry but we can’t find any flights matching your search”.
    Phoned BA they say it is flying but won’t look at their own website

    Any thoughts. I would screenshot, but their online form doesn’t allow you to attach anything & can’t find an email address

    • Sam G says:
      24 Nov24 November 11:28

      is this Gatwick?

      • Sam G says:
        24 Nov24 November 11:31

        Gatwick flights are still in the schedule but currently zero’d out all availability whilst they sort out BA Euroflyer operating carrier arrangements. I’d have thought they’ll finalise the schedule and go back on sale imminently but in the meantime nothing you can do as they’re still in the system as operating (and v likely to do so I’d have thought)

        • Steve R says:
          24 Nov24 November 12:54

          Yep LGW which is a right PITA, when coming from the Northern Powerhouse (lol) but at £35 a pop in the summer hols not to be sniffed at

          • Anna says:
            24 Nov24 November 13:36

            There’s a MAN-LGW service now once a day, unless it’s been pulled yet again?!

          • Rob says:
            24 Nov24 November 13:45

            Thought it was delayed again?

          • Anna says:
            24 Nov24 November 16:36

            Possibly, I did a couple of dummy bookings a few weeks ago and it popped up.
            Not sure I would even book it though as there would be a high chance of it being cancelled or discontinued at any time!

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

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