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The HfP chat thread – Wednesday 8th December

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General

Comments (452)

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

  • Harry Holden says:
    8 Dec8 December 14:25

    Does anyone know if You First can change the dates on a booking or is it just standard customer services?

  • ben says:
    8 Dec8 December 14:42

    I need to book my IHG Spire free night before the end of 2021 otherwise I will lose it. I can make an advance booking for sometime in 2022 – any ideas of the best London hotels? I see IC Mayfair is available as is Kimpton Fitzroy. Seems a waste staying in a posh hotel as it is just me staying on my own (and there isn’t even a free breakfast) but somehow psychologically it seems more of a waste just to use it on a business trip on a Holiday Inn or similar.

    • elguiri says:
      8 Dec8 December 14:47

      Have you double checked expiry date recently? Mine has been extended to 31st Dec 2022…

    • rams says:
      8 Dec8 December 15:05

      it it booked by or use by? I have one expiring this year which I assumed was use by – have I got this wrong?

      • jsto says:
        8 Dec8 December 15:10

        I’ve got one expiring in February (which had previously been extended automatically) – anyone have any joy in getting these extended further through contacting IHG?

        • elguiri says:
          8 Dec8 December 15:25

          Mine was until end Feb and then sometime in the last couple of weeks been extended until end of 2022 without any contact from myself.

          • Ben says:
            8 Dec8 December 19:19

            This is April 2020 to Dec 2021 so already extended. I’ll keep tabs on it.

    • ianM says:
      8 Dec8 December 22:53

      i used one at IC Mayfair and it was a total disappointment

  • YC says:
    8 Dec8 December 14:56

    If booking multiple rooms at Marriott. Do you get the points for both rooms if you merge the bills at the end of the stay?

  • bafan says:
    8 Dec8 December 15:29

    I’m finally coming back to the UK next week. Flying BA from JFK. Are the lounges worth going early for or just fine?

  • Michael says:
    8 Dec8 December 15:41

    Anyone here who has suggestions of how to get from London to Bogota in Colombia on 24/12 or 25/12 ideally with a return for 08/01 for a little money as possible or how I can possibly use my Avios or Virgin Points.
    There seem to be no options via BAEC with Avios including not on IBeia (via Madrid as there seems no availability). I am also gonna try via Vrigin ATlantic, to see if Delta might be an option via NYC, Houston or Miami.

    I have never flown to this destination before, so any tips are appreciated. I am happy to fly economy, as long as I can get there ideally with no more than 1 connecting flight. I am happy to consider other European airports, if not to far off.

    • Michael says:
      8 Dec8 December 15:44

      Also, what is the best way to check for Iberia reward flights? Does anyone know if they are flying form the US to BogotaColombia and if I could potentially use Avios for such routing too?
      Any other airlines to consider where I could use Avios of Virgin Points?

    • elguiri says:
      8 Dec8 December 16:09

      Pre-covid have use the various routes, which might or might not still be available:
      FRA-Caracas (4hrs)-BOG with Lufthansa
      LHR-MAD-BOG with Iberia
      FRA-JFK (Delta), 15hrs, JFK-SJO (3hrs)-BOG with Lacsa (pack for NY in snow and Costa Rica humidity).

      Other route looking at for next year is flying to US on BA with avios (NY, florida, ATL) and then using avios to get down to BOG with AA on reward flight.

      If your final destination isn’t actually Bogota, then there are also direct flights from Florida to Barranquilla, Cartagena, Santa Marta.
      You can also fly from Spain to Medellin (again this was pre-covid)

      • Super Secret Stuff says:
        8 Dec8 December 16:14

        TAP should be able to get you there too and probably the cheapest

    • Not Long Now... says:
      8 Dec8 December 16:37

      LMGTFY, £1050, LHR-YYZ-BOG Air Canada…. or £935, CDG-DFW-BOG American…

    • GeorgeJ says:
      8 Dec8 December 17:28

      Plenty of options coming up on google flights via US and Canada. Nothing especially cheap.

      • SamG says:
        8 Dec8 December 20:22

        I went for 390 on Air France / KLM last December but nothing coming up anywhere near that now when friends were looking for Jan. Air Europa seems cheapest otherwise AF/KLM especially if you are flexible a little bit

        Iberia pretty pricey & can’t imagine miles works out well in economy

        US transit adds a test currently presumably? And Air Canada operating A319 and land at 4am so not ideal at all!

  • Harry T says:
    8 Dec8 December 15:47

    Thank you to HFP for flagging the chance to book rooms at the W Abu Dhabi for the 2020 Grand Prix. It’s taken a while but we’ve got here in the end for the 2021 GP, after the hotel kindly moved our stay from 2020. Somehow five SNAs cleared into a Fantastic Suite and we have a direct view of the track, which is about 20m from our balcony. Definitely the best use of 120k Bonvoy points I’ve found, but I couldn’t have done it without HFP 😊

    • Rhys says:
      8 Dec8 December 15:49

      Send us some photos if you have the chance!

    • FFoxSake says:
      8 Dec8 December 15:55

      Fantastic result with the hotel Harry – and a race in Abu Dhabi that actually has something riding on it for a change. Enjoy it 🙂

      • Harry T says:
        8 Dec8 December 18:40

        Thank you 🙂

      • BuildBackBetter says:
        8 Dec8 December 19:27

        We all know the ending. Ham will lead and Max will crash into him so that he wins by number of races won.

        • Graham-Walsh says:
          8 Dec8 December 23:24

          You could be right there 🙂

          Well jealous on this. I should really try and plan it one year. Flew to China for the weekend for the GP once in VS Prem on points/cash getting best value from here.

    • Michael C says:
      8 Dec8 December 17:48

      Harry, that’s fabulous – know how long you’ve been planning it!

    • SamG says:
      8 Dec8 December 20:23

      Very jealous, what a race to be at !

  • Bent R says:
    8 Dec8 December 15:57

    US Travel – Vaccine question.

    NY/MIA Christmas/NYE

    1. Is there an expiry on your vaccination status from your your second dose. E.g. I had mine in June’21 I assume I am safe for entry. Or is there no expiry time?
    2. Has anyone been to Miami and to they check vaccination status e.g.

    • JenT says:
      8 Dec8 December 16:23

      1. No expiry time (the CDC website is the authority here).
      2. Can’t help unfortunately as was elsewhere in the USA this month.

    • John says:
      8 Dec8 December 17:04

      Isn’t it illegal to check vaccination status in Florida

    • The Canuck says:
      8 Dec8 December 17:25

      Miami will not check for vaccination when you are going around restaurants, bars etc. But airline will check to ensure that you are vaccination to travel to US as this is a federal requirement

    • HBommie says:
      8 Dec8 December 20:19

      If flying BA, Verifly worked from MIA on the return, the agent glanced at it.

      My second was in May and travelled in Nov, no issues.

      I wasn’t staying in Miami but there were no checks at all in any venues in Florida apart from at check in.

  • Secret Squirrel says:
    8 Dec8 December 16:07

    I only need an extra 690 IHG points for a future redemption.
    Apart from buying 1000 from the store, are there any other ways of acquiring 1000 or less? Thanks

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