The HfP chat thread – Monday 29th November

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Thywillbedone says:

29 Nov29 November 09:12

Anyone here stupid enough (like me) to be flying to Thailand this Christmas? Following the ever-changing rules is a serious test of mental acuity: last week they announced (although didn’t formalise) that the PCR test on arrival would be changed to a Lateral Flow test from mid-December …meaning shorter quarantine time in your hotel room. The chatter now is that they are going to reverse that decision and stick with PCR! Not forgetting that you have to be double-vaxxed to go at all AND have a PCR test prior to departure. Thinking of binning my trip entirely …
- Andy says:
  
  29 Nov29 November 09:33
  
  Yes I am due to go for a month from the 17th December. Booked it well before it looked like it would shift from PCR back to lateral flow. I’m not surprised though, it would make more sense to do the change than close borders completely!
  
  Of course having had Covid just over a month ago there’s always a risk I could still test positive but I’m so desperate for a holiday that if I had to hole up in a quarantine hotel in bangkok for ten days I might do that.
  
  Looked at bringing holiday forward to next weekend but that has its own issue. Might just sit on it and see what develops. If Omicron kicks off everywhere and turns out to be bad I’m not sure how much of a holiday it will be as there might be lockdowns etc. Then again if it’s not as bad as some people thing it might be fine,
  
  Anxiously awaiting data and news in the next couple of weeks!
  - Thywillbedone says:
    
    29 Nov29 November 09:47
    
    Yeah, I’m thinking the same. I got a great rate at a hotel I’ve wanted to stay at for a while …but, like you, I’m not sure how enjoyable things will be if the situation escalates. Do you have any good up to date news sources? Richard Barrow on Twitter seems to have his finger on the pulse.
    - Andy says:
      
      29 Nov29 November 11:55
      
      Richard Barrow definitely the best I’ve found and am in various FB groups now as well as following Bangkok post…
      - ayearinmx says:
        
        29 Nov29 November 17:55
        
        just as some information… i flew into Phuket on the 18th November, the PCR test took about 4hrs to get the “results” back (i say results, but in reality, i just got a phonecall from reception saying i was negative)
        
        things have been in a state of flux here with things opening/shutting at random but overall, its still a good time
- Blenz101 says:
  
  29 Nov29 November 09:40
  
  Not entirely related but just had a friend refused travel at DXB last night as she had renewed her passport since being vaccinated. The UAE vaccination certificates show both passport number and Emirates ID. Phone calls to Thai immigration came back with the answer she would not be admitted.
  
  Lesson is for anybody travelling to be 100% certain you have complied with the entry rules and your paperwork and contains everything the local authorities expect to see.
  - Babyg says:
    
    29 Nov29 November 09:53
    
    wow, that wouldn’t be that uncommon (passport renewal since vaccination)…
    - manilabay says:
      
      29 Nov29 November 10:00
      
      @thywillbedone – I am travelling on the 17th to BKK too! I had already booked my Test & Go package in order to get the Thailand Pass. I suspect the move to LFT (or ART as they call it) will not go ahead – I was happy to do the 1 night quarantine whilst waiting for test. Personally I will still go, I will just be extra cautious in the coming weeks leading to the trip.
      - Andy says:
        
        29 Nov29 November 11:54
        
        I was close to booking my test and go a couple of weeks ago but then held off after rumours to change to no PCR on arrival. Had planned to book today and apply for Thailand pass but think I’ll give it a few more days to see what develops.
        
        Dilemma is if they bring back ten day quarantine on arrival for UK passengers would I do it? The cost and ten days inside a hotel do not appeal! But then again I’d have almost twenty days holiday after that.
        
        One day hopefully going on holiday will be relaxing again rather than all this stress!
  - kitten says:
    
    29 Nov29 November 10:15
    
    Even carrying the old passport with her?
    Still, the US works the same way with visas I think
    - Will says:
      
      29 Nov29 November 10:28
      
      Yes my partner has previously had to take her last Polish passport as well as new one to enter the US as it contained a valid Visa even though the passport has expired.
- Bearded Bill says:
  
  29 Nov29 November 11:42
  
  Not strictly true. The period in the sandbox has been 24hrs since 1st Nov for PCR for vaxxed. LF will not reduce that. Unvaxxed can still enter but are required to do a full ASQ (10days)
  However, as always it is a case of moving goalposts in Thailand. We arrived 6 weeks ago and sandbox/PCR’s/ASQ changed once during the run up to departure and once in sandbox.
  Having said that once you are in the country, you are in. Main problem will be can you get out again if Thailand goes back into full lockdown.
Francesca says:

29 Nov29 November 09:22

Is anyone else due to fly to the US soon? Due to fly later this week but not seen any updates regarding their travel restrictions and wondering if I should scrap the trip and stay here in case a ba/quarantine is introduced. Would be interesting to see how others here are navigating this.
- roberto says:
  
  29 Nov29 November 14:08
  
  Yes. Due to fly this week too and awaiting news.
Michael C says:

29 Nov29 November 09:26

On a positive note, just back from our (second) Sheraton Grand Park Lane intern stay!
So much better than the first: stunning Grand Suite, much better service (minus the lunge staff again – the way it’s run really does seem as though it’s a minor annoyance/afterthought for them, not that we were there much).
Christmas decorations just stunning. I do however still think that there is an odd smell in one particular part of the lobby!
Breakfast in Mercante, great service and all v tasty.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  29 Nov29 November 09:29
  
  I recall the Xmas decorations in the past and agree they always make a great effort. Glad you managed to get away for a nice stay
  - Polly says:
    
    29 Nov29 November 09:37
    
    =1. Wish we had managed a couple of those stays. Hope you feel better now after them..great luck.
  - Michael C says:
    
    29 Nov29 November 09:47
    
    Thanks, TG. Hopefully next year the food will actually be in SEAsia!
- Anna says:
  
  29 Nov29 November 09:33
  
  Sounds lovely, are lunge staff some kind of personal trainer lol?!
  I’m back formulating plans B and C, possibly the best thing is just to plan to visit places in England for the winter! We have our £40 “thanks easyJet” flights to AGP in February half term but should all be fully vaxxed and boosted by then in case they stick with the new rules.
  - Michael C says:
    
    29 Nov29 November 09:37
    
    Haha, I need to do some lunges after w/end food (excellent Singa/Malay dinner at Rasa Sayang, which has reopened in new Chinatown location).
    And I guess our German market trips were cancelled in time, Anna, so yes – back to hunting for more local delights!
    - Polly says:
      
      29 Nov29 November 09:41
      
      Michael C,
      Reminds me, we just had a couple of yummy NasiGoreng meals locally here this week. More to come…Seriously, the food here is to die! For literally. Main reason, one of, that we risked this trip….
      Must visit Rasa Sayang, sounds gorgeous.
      - Michael C says:
        
        29 Nov29 November 09:44
        
        5, Macclesfield St, simple, v v good value, v v popular, so I’d ring!
        Have some roti canai for me, preferably for b/fast!
      - Anna says:
        
        29 Nov29 November 10:10
        
        Polly, reading the descriptions of the food in the Kevin Kwan books made me want to visit Singapore!
      - BuildBackBetter says:
        
        29 Nov29 November 10:41
        
        Having moved from SG to UK, food options there is the biggest thing we miss!
        @Anna, the movie is a must watch, if you haven’t already seen it yet. Though I have to warn it’s a bit OTT.
      - Anna says:
        
        29 Nov29 November 10:43
        
        BBB yes I’ve seen the film twice, hoping they do a sequel!
  - Michael C says:
    
    29 Nov29 November 10:31
    
    Anna, I did have some guilty laughs at the K Kwans, too!
    - Anna says:
      
      29 Nov29 November 10:42
      
      Laugh out loud funny, though I think that’s ok as he is actually from Singapore!
- Babyg says:
  
  29 Nov29 November 09:55
  
  good to know.. ive got a 2nd booked to use too
Safety Card says:

29 Nov29 November 09:29

Has anyone used their Curve linked to a Virgin Atlantic credit card for ATM withdrawals abroad recently? Are Virgin charging a cash advance fee for that or are they still counted as a purchase?
- DarrenS says:
  
  29 Nov29 November 12:24
  
  Used in Malta last month – no fee.
- @mkcol says:
  
  29 Nov29 November 17:04
  
  Worked as it should in Oslo ~3 weeks ago.
xcalx says:

29 Nov29 November 09:48

With the combine my avios function not working has anyone called BA to combine them, if that’s even possible. Thanks.
- Toby says:
  
  29 Nov29 November 11:18
  
  I’d be interested to know this too. Not had a chance yet to call. Need to send to Iberia from BA. My experience so far:
  BA site:
  BA to Iberia – Fails
  BA to Avios – Works
  Iberia Site:
  BA to Iberia – Fails
  Avios to Iberia – Fails
- Flyer68 says:
  
  29 Nov29 November 11:25
  
  Used the Webchat function on the Avios site just now and a very helpful agent completed the transfer manually from Iberia to Avios for me within a couple of mins. Almost no wait on the webchat either.
  - Toby says:
    
    29 Nov29 November 11:48
    
    Wow – great, thanks! Will try now
  - xcalx says:
    
    29 Nov29 November 11:51
    
    Thank you, that’s great
  - Toby says:
    
    29 Nov29 November 12:04
    
    Just done the same – worked a treat! Thanks for the tip
  - xcalx says:
    
    29 Nov29 November 12:50
    
    Me too Iberia to Avios to BA. Thanks again.
Vasco says:

29 Nov29 November 09:50

Has anyone tried to get Creation to reconsider their cancellation of the IHG Black cards?
- Lady London says:
  
  29 Nov29 November 10:17
  
  No. Can we watch while you try?
- Anna says:
  
  29 Nov29 November 10:21
  
  On what grounds? If they’re digging in their heels and refusing to even honour points and free nights earned, they’re clearly not feeling conciliatory.
- K says:
  
  29 Nov29 November 10:25
  
  Yes, we have. Me and my O/H. They responses saying NO! And reminding that they will charge the upcoming annual fee and no free night. And they stopped the cards too, well before 3rd December. O/H never used the card for anything than purchases, I used it once for £100 for non-purchases. But they are keeping my White card open. So, am good enough for the white, but not for the black/premium one… make of it what you will…
manilabay says:

29 Nov29 November 10:17

Pre-departure PCR test requirements for Thailand. I know that Singapore, Hong Kong & Jersey have very stringent requirements for which tests they accept (I think it’s the full UKAS accreditation) – does anybody know if this also relevant to Thailand? I am currently assuming this is not the case but would be interested to see if anybody has experience of entering Thailand recently?
meta says:

29 Nov29 November 10:19

Japan is the latest country to ban all foreign arrivals for a period of one month.