The HfP chat thread – Tuesday 7th December

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

• Graham Walsh says:

  7 Dec7 December 17:32

  Just had my IHG free night stay cancelled at CP London Kings X for the weekend. Seems the government is taking over the hotel until 31st Jan.

  They say they’ll return the voucher, but it expires on the 31/12/21. Have things booked around London already.

  IHG Rewards Club Free Night will be returned in line with IHG Global Policies.

  What a PITA!!

  • kitten says:

    7 Dec7 December 17:56

    Check your contract (terms) and also the rest of IHG’s policies as there should be something in there that means they should book you same or better accommodation at no extra cost close by.

    I’d phone and request them to do that especially at this short notice and complain to IHG if they don’t.

  • NorthernLass says:

    7 Dec7 December 18:01

    Could you not use it for another IHG hotel on the same night?

    • Graham-Walsh says:

      7 Dec7 December 18:36

      Just on a call to an agent in the US, there’s only one hotel (Camden Lock) that has a cash rate for 2 double beds. Now to try and apply the free voucher to it as it doesn’t show up when trying to book with a voucher.

      Wants me to use my free voucher and 75k points, so 2 rooms!!

  • Graham-Walsh says:

    7 Dec7 December 19:51

    They have booked me into a Mr & Mrs Smith hotel in Covent Garden and I kept asking if it’s for 4 people. Yes, yes, yes they said. Got the email confirmation, just 2 adults mentioned!! I’m losing the will to live here

    • Lady London says:

      8 Dec8 December 02:32

      Why are you paying more? At this late notice after being messed arounf by the other hotel they should issue vouchers to comp the whole cost…

      No the other hotel wasnt taken over by the government the hotel sold it as a quarantine hotel to make much more profit and dumped your booking. The least iHG and that hotel should do is pay all your costs for a better replacement

• Will says:

  7 Dec7 December 17:32

  Still not clear how to fly into Geneva for french ski holiday. France needs self administered lft on short notice but Swiss need PCR. As a result some but not all ski companies saying PCR at a clinic on 24 hr notice which is either impossible to find or crazy prices. Anyone got clarity on this?

  • Metopes says:

    7 Dec7 December 20:29

    We are doing Randox same day result PCR for £65, friend is doing 3 hour results for £80. We have a late flight to Geneva so it makes the 48 hour test rule quite tricky.

• TJ says:

  7 Dec7 December 17:36

  Does anyone know, from recent experience, if purchasing an e-Gift card from Selfridges will still trigger the Amex offer (the T&Cs state that gift cards are excluded).

  • Andrew says:

    7 Dec7 December 18:45

    No, only instore as they are sold by a third party online.

  • Lammy52 says:

    7 Dec7 December 20:15

    I was looking for this information also, plus what are the Bicester Village options, outside of spending in store. What, if any, gift cards can be purchased to qualify.It is a significant trip for us, so would want to be confident of it being worthwhile.

    • Tracey says:

      7 Dec7 December 20:59

      I think a Bicester gift voucher would work.

    • Andrew says:

      7 Dec7 December 21:44

      None. They used to specify Bicester Village gift cards WERE included, purchased from the visitor centre, but that isn’t included this time, unless by legacy. Don’t know of any of the stores selling gift cards and not sure what the advantage of doing that would be as you’d just have to go back again and make another significant trip.

• dst87 says:

  7 Dec7 December 17:59

  Apologies if I missed this, but is there a reason that many commenters here now seem to have ‘HfP Staffer’ avatar and blue colouring?

  I assume something to do with the forum doing something funky?

  • Rob says:

    7 Dec7 December 18:05

    Yes, it’s an IT quirk which we’ll fix tomorrow.

    • dst87 says:

      7 Dec7 December 18:37

      Got it! Thanks, and congratulations on the soft launch! It’s very exciting. 🎉

    • BuildBackBetter says:

      7 Dec7 December 19:45

      We knew HfP is close friends with BA, but you don’t have to use the same IT vendor.

  • Secret Squirrel says:

    7 Dec7 December 18:27

    Forum?

    • dst87 says:

      7 Dec7 December 18:38

      Mentioned by Rhys on page… something or other.
      https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/forums/

• Sandgrounder says:

  7 Dec7 December 19:17

  Anyone know a reasonably priced in person fit to fly provider in Glasgow? Price to beat is £49, friend doesn’t have access to a car and Randox are booked up until Friday. Needs to be tomorrow ideally.

  • Sandgrounder says:

    7 Dec7 December 19:18

    Its for Ireland so self test kits are out.

  • Pedro says:

    7 Dec7 December 19:42

    DAM Health have taken over a shop in the St Enoch Centre – so very accessible. Did me a fit to fly for Italy a couple of weeks ago for £29. Certificate within 2 hours.

    • Sandgrounder says:

      7 Dec7 December 19:46

      Looks like they have nothing until next week sadly!

• Tom says:

  7 Dec7 December 19:39

  (Sorry to ask for a hotel recommendation again)

  Warsaw – Sheraton or Westin?

  I’ve stayed at the Marriott and The Bristol recently. Marriott upgraded me to a suite, but the only thing I liked about the hotel was the v

  • Tom says:

    7 Dec7 December 19:40

    was the view. It seems like Westin is more generous with upgrades, although Sheraton has more suites available. Not sure which one to go for, both locations can work for me.

    • GeorgeJ says:

      7 Dec7 December 21:10

      Sheraton every time, last stayed there a month ago for 3 nights.

• Will says:

  7 Dec7 December 19:39

  BA shopping portal has an escalating bonus at present for each purchase. 100 avios bonus on first purchase, then 200 etc. Is this blocked if using the app? Seems that way but that would be a bit silly?? Especially as the online website portal crashes when you log in at the moment

  • Jane says:

    7 Dec7 December 19:45

    I’ve been having problems with the online version this week and was betting a bit twitchy to finish the Christmas shopping, worked fine in Edge tonight, still problems in Chrome though. I think the app is excluded.

    • will says:

      8 Dec8 December 13:38

      I got my 200 today (3 days after the main posting), suggesting the app link qualifies. Wouldn’t bet good money on it though. Nice stacking at F&M with £50 off £200 on Amex and the double Avios.

• The Original Nick. says:

  7 Dec7 December 20:07

  Has anyone been to Edinburgh recently? We’re flying up there from Birmingham on Saturday and was wondering if we’ll need to go by any covid restrictions etc? I guess all venues pubs/restaurants are open as normal?

  • Alan S says:

    7 Dec7 December 20:18

    Yes all open as normal, well the ones that reopened after lockdowns anyway.

    We’ve never stopped wearing masks up here and in my experience it’s well followed.

    Sturgeon has said that she’ll be reviewing Covid restrictions every day from today in light of this new variant, so things could be changing.

    • The Original Nick says:

      7 Dec7 December 21:14

      Thanks Alan S

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