The HfP chat thread – Friday 3rd December

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• NT says:

  3 Dec3 December 14:37

  Not sure if anyone has had the email about the Amex area in Covent Garden, but just a quick heads up anyone expecting it to be like previous years, it isn’t. It’s simply a how to make a non alcoholic cocktail and a gift wrapping service with odd ‘masterclass’ on how to make Xmas based things. Would say you could maybe get 15 people in there at a time.

  • BuildBackBetter says:

    3 Dec3 December 14:42

    Thought there was some food and drink?

    • NT says:

      3 Dec3 December 14:45

      Nothing offered apart from the non alcoholic cocktail they show you how to make, so you can make it with alcohol at home!

  • Christina says:

    4 Dec4 December 00:06

    It does sound like previous years…pointless and unnecessary.

• Andrew says:

  3 Dec3 December 15:21

  Has anyone collected their £5-£1000 gift cards from the Chase Octagons yet?

  https://www.chase.co.uk/gb/en/octagon/

• Therooster says:

  3 Dec3 December 15:23

  Can anyone recommend an in person PCR test near Leeds?

  • xcalx says:

    3 Dec3 December 15:30

    I am using Express test at Trinity on Sunday for a PCR RT £80 pp

• GaryE says:

  3 Dec3 December 15:38

  Family arriving in late on 23rd into LHR – is there anywhere that will turn the 2 day PCR test around on 24th Dec in London, Hertfordshire area. Happy to do at home test late 23rd evening and get in couriered /or visit location. Unclear if any of these places are analysing tests late on 24th or Xmas day

  • Tracey says:

    3 Dec3 December 16:20

    Concepto clinic in Watford.

• Alan S says:

  3 Dec3 December 15:48

  I’m largely unfamilar with Terminal 5 at Heathrow and what to expect when arriving back into the UK.

  We’re flying in business with BA, Dubai to T5 and then a connection 3.5 hours later to Scotland (still with BA). Arrives at T5 on a Tuesday afternoon.

  Based on the collective experience, do we have time to clear immigration/customs to do a PCR test landside at ExpressTest/Halo and go back through security to catch the domestic connection?

  Presumably we’ll be clearing immigration anyway on arrival at Heathrow?

  Would heading landside and then back airside have any effect on our hold luggage being transferred onto the Edinburgh flight, or would that happen regardless?

  • JDB says:

    3 Dec3 December 15:57

    We flew back to T5 yesterday, landing c. 13.30. At C gates, so longest transit, but were at ExpressTest by 14.05, having collected our luggage. We were earlier than our appointment, which was no problem and there was no queue and their test place is just outside customs. The Halo test place in the Sofitel is a bit further away, but not too far. Fairly much all e-gates were open and luggage came quickly, both probably helped by it being a relatively quieter time of day. Now just waiting for result due by 10pm…

    • Alan S says:

      3 Dec3 December 16:02

      Be interesting to see if ET hit the 10pm target. Seems to be quite a few reports of them missing it/needing chased, which is probably no surprise with these things.

      • JDB says:

        3 Dec3 December 18:16

        @Alan S just got our negative results, so slipped in four hours ahead of time, sadly not quite early enough to go out to buy our Christmas tree!

  • John says:

    3 Dec3 December 16:27

    Yes, you’ll go through immigration on arrival at LHR. If you want to go landside you must follow the normal arrivals (yellow signs) and not the connections route (purple signs).

    This will not affect your hold luggage.

    You should have enough time unless the Dubai flight is late. You must enter security (scan your boarding pass to Scotland) no later than 35 minutes before scheduled departure.

    • Alan S says:

      3 Dec3 December 19:23

      Thanks John.

  • davefl says:

    3 Dec3 December 17:04

    Good luck getting a slot at expresstest.

    I’m checking for Dec 12th because I have a 6.5 hour layover (thanks BA for cancelling my flights) and there’s no slots at T5 and only a few left for T3.

• Lee says:

  3 Dec3 December 15:48

  When will Boris update any change for travel restrictions? Somewhere mentioned 3 weeks which will be 17-18th. We will travel to Maldives on 19th that will leave us no time to react. Looking other countries are all starting tighten travel rules, I think predeparture test would be inevitable. In case rapid antigen results would be acceptable, can I order some kits here then submit online to get fit to fly cert? Thanks!

  • Tracey says:

    3 Dec3 December 16:21

    Think Maldives looks safer than Mauritius where we will be on that date!

    • Lee says:

      3 Dec3 December 16:44

      Still not 100%. Our cancellation date has passed even it’s on points as it’s Christmas stay. We probably won’t go if we could get our stay cancelled but now we will have to wait and see.

  • Sam G says:

    3 Dec3 December 16:45

    Any changes to the UK rules (e.g. revert to tests to come back) will be announced with a few days notice & I’m sure any hotel in the Maldives can arrange it

    Nothing to do with UK govt if Maldives changes their rules but again I’d imagine they’d give some notice

    • Lee says:

      3 Dec3 December 16:58

      Hotel can only provide PCR, but would prefer Antigen if it’s acceptable.

• ianM says:

  3 Dec3 December 16:14

  Quick query on IC AMB weekend voucher and points. I had a weekend stay last weekend in Miami IC and used the 2nd night free AMB benefit. I was expecting points for the first night ($350) although obvs not for the 2nd night which was free.

  But they have given me zero points for first night as well because it was a ‘discounted rate’ !! Really? I thought it should be on spend, surely an AMB rate should qualify cos it’s actually more expensive than best available.

  Not a property I would recommend anyway at that price, rapidly losing it with IHG.

  Thanks

  • John says:

    3 Dec3 December 16:27

    Email the ambassador help line

  • Anna says:

    3 Dec3 December 16:41

    If you go into your stay in your IHG account there’s a form for submitting for missing points, don’t know if it’s worth trying that before emailing?

  • Craig Vassie says:

    3 Dec3 December 17:08

    I’ve had that happen too @ IC Lisbon. But you’re inclined to not niggle when you’re given a massive upgrade!

  • TGLoyalty says:

    3 Dec3 December 21:12

    It’s 100% qualifying

    Ambassador support should fix it.

• T says:

  3 Dec3 December 16:53

  Has anyone who brought the Easyjet Advent calendar had any sign of delivery yet – ordered on Sat 27th (and received confirmation) but no sign yet!

  • David D says:

    3 Dec3 December 19:14

    I am also awaiting delivery. This was discussed today on page 2/3 – seems some people have received their calendars and others haven’t. Hoping ours arrives soon

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