The HfP chat thread – Thursday 9th December

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• zark says:

  9 Dec9 December 11:47

  For those interested:
  Bought ‘Day 0-2’ PCR test on return to UK online last week from RANDOX and picked up at Brent Cross shopping centre (North London) customer services desk following morning @ £34.99 each.

  Performed PCR test on return to UK yesterday at 16.30 & dropped off at 16.50 to their collection box (latest drop 17.00 said website).
  Email received 23.50 that test had arrived, Negative result at 07.55 this morning.
  Ofcourse, there had been no gaurantee of such fast turn around, but very pleased with the service.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    9 Dec9 December 12:18

    My experience of Randox drop boxes too. As long as it’s there by collection time it’s usually in your inbox the next morning.

    18-24 hrs isolation isn’t bad.

  • Mrs_Fussy says:

    9 Dec9 December 14:20

    Hi Zark – did you take a pre-departure test with you to test prior to boarding flight back to the UK. We are travelling to Tenerife next week and i would prefer to take a test with me

    • zark says:

      9 Dec9 December 16:46

      No sure what you mean.
      I took the day ‘0-2’ PCR return UK test box with me on way out, so that when I got back to UK had time to do the test and drop off.

• Ryanfozzie says:

  9 Dec9 December 11:53

  Has anyone recently applied for an ESTA? I’m not receiving the code via email to continue the application. Tried 4 email address all with different providers / domains without luck. Hoping it is an issue that will be fixed shortly!

  • ianM says:

    9 Dec9 December 13:02

    Got one a few weeks back no problem. Make sure you are using official US gov site and not some scammer.

  • Andrew says:

    9 Dec9 December 14:25

    Are you definitely applying using the official site at esta.cbp.dhs.gov ? Applying anywhere else is a scam.

• FFoxSake says:

  9 Dec9 December 12:04

  Datapoint for those with Creation Marriott and on the naughty step – my final(?) statement shows xxxx points earned but 0 transferred.
  Previous months the points transferred OK, but looks like they finally caught up and applied same transfer blockage as the IHG card. Guess I’ll just let it slide.
  Farewell my generous old friend…

  • Char Char says:

    9 Dec9 December 12:19

    Don’t let the greedy guys take your points!

  • Lady London says:

    9 Dec9 December 12:40

    Let it slide? firstly don’t assume that’s the reason

    Defo worth giving it another month to see if it fixes then making a polite innocent enquiry.

    If they are changing the benefits then remember they can’t do that till they’ve given you reasonable notice as per the agreement. Usually this would be around 60 days.

    So definitely worth an innocent enquiry and however subtly, not taking it lying down

    • Yorkie Aid says:

      9 Dec9 December 12:46

      How would it be viewed by the regulator if you were to deduct the “value” of the points not transferred from your final balance payment? I don’t mean exaggerated value but the real monetary cost of purchasing the same number of points directly from IHG Rewards.

      • blenz101 says:

        9 Dec9 December 12:55

        That your account was in default

      • FFoxSake says:

        9 Dec9 December 13:00

        Even though that sounds like a fair and reasonable thing to do I presume that approach would simply cause interest to be charged on the outstanding balance and further complications in the long run.

      • Lady London says:

        9 Dec9 December 13:01

        Morally but not legally justified.
        Don’t mess up your credit record for the sake of it.

    • FFoxSake says:

      9 Dec9 December 12:56

      Good advice as always LL. A polite innocent enquiry might be a good way to go.
      I’d rather not poke the beast too hard at this stage and potentially cause some unwanted downstream effects at Bonvoy.

    • Rui N. says:

      9 Dec9 December 13:42

      That’s my plan. Wait until final statement posts, wait a few days after and then give them a call asking about the points. I’ll also make sure to record the call and if they say that the points will not post because my account was closed, I’ll say during the call that I have not received anything indicating that any terms of my account would change between the closing letter and 3/12.

• Char Char says:

  9 Dec9 December 12:18

  Shop Small: Is anyone getting emails for transactions? Got none so far

  • peckishpassport says:

    9 Dec9 December 12:23

    Nope.

    Check the ‘Savings’ tab (only accessible on desktop/web and not app) as it typically appears on there after a few days. If not, it most likely didn’t trigger so you’d need to get in touch with Amex CS via chat.

    • Char Char says:

      9 Dec9 December 12:28

      Thanks, more wondering if anyone has been getting the instant emails as I know it can takes days to credit, have to spend and hope it seems

      • TGLoyalty says:

        9 Dec9 December 12:35

        Instant emails stopped months ago for all offers.

        • meta says:

          9 Dec9 December 13:24

          Not for me. In the last two weeks got it for Amex Travel, dining offer, Marriott offer. However, I haven’t had any shop small purchases, so can’t comment on that.

        • Rob says:

          9 Dec9 December 14:39

          I got a Dropbox one on Monday.

        • TGLoyalty says:

          9 Dec9 December 14:41

          Strange. I’ve used multiple offers and not had a single one.

          On cards 2 long standing cards I used to previously get them for and no marketing preference changes have been made at all.

        • TGLoyalty says:

          9 Dec9 December 14:41

          Just to add I’ve seen similar comments from others across here and other sources.

• janolabs says:

  9 Dec9 December 12:21

  The UAE wouldn’t accept home test kit results, as pre-departure PCR tests. I see this, however, very difficult to enforce. Any experience with this? Thanks.

  • blenz101 says:

    9 Dec9 December 12:32

    see reply below

• Barbs says:

  9 Dec9 December 12:28

  Would the Amex Plat travel insurance cover one in South Africa if the FCDO currently advises against all but essential travel? Not super keen on having to buy extra travel insurance at this stage.

• iamlost says:

  9 Dec9 December 12:30

  Pre-departure PCR test to enter Mauritius – I’ve seen nothing to suggest it has to be supervised, can anyone who’s gone since October confirm at-home tests e.g. Randox are accepted? Thanks.

• blenz101 says:

  9 Dec9 December 12:31

  Where are you flying from? If via Etihad you will need a full PCR in any event.

  The UAE does not offer ‘self’ testing or any other form of covid test other than PCR across the Emirates. You can go to a clinic or have a sample collected at home / hotel.

  If you take a lateral flow test from the UK and are flying from an Emirate / Airline which doesn’t require a PCR such as Dubai then the re-entry rules of the country to which you are flying to will apply to your pre-departure test and as such a certified lateral flow result should be acceptable.

  Frankly getting a full PCR in the UAE is straightforward, is certain to be acceptable and costs the same as carrying a LFT with you anyway.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    9 Dec9 December 12:37

    Frankly getting a full PCR in the UAE is straightforward, is certain to be acceptable and costs the same as carrying a LFT with you anyway.

    The issue is never cost but connivence and risk.

    In any case I’m pretty sure OP was taking about the test required by Dubai. My experience is there’s no way to easily tell and no one check in that much detail. Name and negative.

    • blenz101 says:

      9 Dec9 December 12:50

      Well isn’t clear from what was posted what is being asked given the broad mention of UAE and ‘PCR pre-departure’. Given the number of people who are over for for the grand prix I specifically mentioned Etihad who do require PCR tests pre-departure.

      If it is a Dubai query then they have no testing regime to leave, you just need to have the documents in place required by the country you want to enter.

      • TGLoyalty says:

        9 Dec9 December 13:21

        You need a pre-departure test to enter UAE emirates though …

    • janolabs says:

      9 Dec9 December 14:26

      Thanks, TGLoyalty, I think you’ve answered my question.

      blenz101, apologies if I wasn’t clear enough. I meant taking a PCR test in the UK in order to enter the UAE, specifically Dubai (LHR-DXB on EK). Thanks.

      • TGLoyalty says:

        9 Dec9 December 14:43

        For what it’s worth if you’ve got somewhere nearby and the cost difference is small I’d just do it in person because it’s not worth the hassle if you’re denied boarding.

      • Blenz101 says:

        9 Dec9 December 15:17

        Sorry! With the UK just brining in pre-departure testing to get home wasn’t sure which.

        As TG says, so longs as it is PCR and isn’t obviously marked in such a way that could make it invalid (which most aren’t, they just list the time sample received) then you will be fine.

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