The HfP chat thread – Friday 10th December

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• Mel TS says:

  10 Dec10 December 11:39

  Good grief, I cannot imagine how chaotic it will be if Canada try to test 100% of arriving passengers. Thought I would be sensible and get ahead by pre registering for the testing which seems from Flyertalk posts that this is the part that is taking forever. You can only put a Canadian phone number, it won’t accept UK post codes… I will just use the hotel address etc, but no wonder it takes forever!

  • James Vickers says:

    10 Dec10 December 12:36

    I got selected for random testing last month and it was chaos and that was half the amount of people there’ll be now!!

    • Mel TS says:

      10 Dec10 December 13:22

      i just tried to register, but you only get so far, and then you cant access the account to change any details eg putting a non canadian mobile phone number in until you’ve arrived – and it insists on sending a text security code to log in at first and then allows you to ask for a emailed code. Unless I went the wrong way to register, I’m just hoping I haven’t stuffed it up.

      • The Canuck says:

        10 Dec10 December 15:35

        Where are you flying into?

  • lev441 says:

    10 Dec10 December 13:43

    My gf got randomly selected but I got straight a green sticker so I was all good 😂

  • davefl says:

    10 Dec10 December 15:31

    I was hit by Cyprus’s new policy on testing all arrivals on Sunday night(at passenger’s own cost) but since the rule actually came in 40 mins after I arrived we didn’t get chargesd.

    The vitriol from some of the arriving passengers was ridiculous. One mid 30s lady in particular screaming at everyone I’ve been double jabbed, I dont need this. She pushed past everyone, ducked under all the queueing passengers, and made a complete scene. Then once she’d had the test we were all crammed onto an airport bus to the terminal/immigration, so anyone who was carrying it probabaly could have infected 75 or so.

  • The Canuck says:

    10 Dec10 December 15:34

    Flew into YVR yesterday and can confirm they are now testing everyone from non US arrivals. So it’s already happening, but only took a couple mins to get everything done.

    For what it’s worth I came in through YYZ on Tuesday and it didn’t look like they were testing everyone but I was flying from the US so can’t say for sure. It’s only a matter of time until they start though.

    The process if all very quick so not sure what the point of pre registering would be

    • Martin says:

      10 Dec10 December 16:09

      Out of interest did you have to quarantine until you got your results and how long did the results take? Due to go to Toronto next months for 5 nights to see relatives. If we have to quarantine for a couple of days then can’t see the point going.

      • The Canuck says:

        10 Dec10 December 16:39

        If you are flying from a non US country, then quarantining until you receive results is mandatory. If you are randomly selected off a US flight, then my understanding is that quarantine is not necessary but rules are a bit hazy in this regard.

        I’m currently on Day 1 of my first mandatory quarantine with no signs of results yet. Previously in the Fall when I’ve been randomly selected I’ve had results back in around 30-40 hours at YYZ and anywhere from 48-120 hours at YVR. Can’t really say how much things will change now they’re testing everyone but will report back when I get the results

        • Mel TS says:

          10 Dec10 December 18:07

          Thanks for keeping us up to date. I think I’ve tried to be over organised with this!!!

• Sandra says:

  10 Dec10 December 11:56

  Advice please, OH arrives at LHR on international flight at around 0445 a week tomorrow with onward domestic to Man leaving at 0745 (all BA). He is wfh when he gets back so day 2 PCR result isn’t that critical, he’s tested regularly at work & will have pre-flight PCR so anything he picks up is likely to be in transit, but obviously doesn’t want to wait ages for result in case he wants to see family. Is there anywhere in T5 arrivals accessible before onward flight where he can get tested that early (don’t really know LHR that well) or would he just be better getting a home kit via the post & doing it later in the day when he gets home/Sunday bearing in mind priority post box won’t be collected until Monday? Collinson at Man showing no appointments in walk through & Randox is in wrong terminal for BA.

  • John says:

    10 Dec10 December 12:30

    They all seem to open at 0700 but he needs to enter security before 0710, so that won’t work.

    • Sandra says:

      10 Dec10 December 12:39

      Ok thanks John. I had seen one opened at 7 but not knowing layout wasn’t sure if it was feasible.

• Kevin says:

  10 Dec10 December 12:00

  Have been trying BA phone No. 02079493086 & 0203 250 0145 this morning since 8am for almost 1.5 hours respectively, trying to amend an inbound flight that been cancelled but no luck at all. Does anyone got other phone No. I can try to get through the avios team as the ticket booked via 50% off avios?

  • Tom1 says:

    10 Dec10 December 12:10

    I called +44 344 493 0747 to handle my avios cancellation (for lowly blue members).
    First call timed out after an hour.
    Second call I got through after 28 minutes and was put through to another team where I was cut off.
    Third call took 40 mins in total, but had to be polite but firm to get the correct process.

  • WaynedP says:

    10 Dec10 December 14:36

    Try 0207 949 3064, which worked well for me last month, esp at 07:55 on a weekday.

  • Kevin says:

    10 Dec10 December 14:56

    Will try next week as really struggling being cut off after being on hold on the 0344 493 0747 for an hour just now 🙁

• elguiri says:

  10 Dec10 December 12:02

  Best card for spend in Tenerife (just being specific in case different from mainland Spain)?
  Best card for ATM withdrawals in Tenerife (only if I have to)?

  Choice:
  MBNA Horizon
  VA+
  Revolut (Standard)
  Monese (Starter)
  Curve (legacy black – but currently unlinked)

  • Anna says:

    10 Dec10 December 12:57

    Revolut is fine as long as you switch to euros first, but a lot of ATMs charge up to 7 euros for the privilege of giving you your money!

    • CH says:

      10 Dec10 December 13:31

      Isn’t there no surcharge for in person EUR spend on the VA+ card?

      • Rob says:

        10 Dec10 December 13:33

        Correct.

      • TGLoyalty says:

        10 Dec10 December 13:44

        Doesn’t have to be in person either.

      • elguiri says:

        10 Dec10 December 14:02

        So it’ll be the VA+ card for card spend then, and Revolut for ATM withdrawal (if need be) it seems. Thanks all!

  • Eldar says:

    10 Dec10 December 14:12

    Having used Revolut, Curve Metal and MBNA Horizon to withdraw cash from ATMs in Tenerife, I have found that most Spanish banks apply a surcharge when using their ATMs with a foreign card. The one exception was Deutsche Bank, which has ATMs in Los Cristianos and Santa Cruz – all my cash withdrawals from their ATMs were free, regardless of the card used. Other banks that reportedly also offer free cash withdrawals with a foreign card in Tenerife are Banca March (34 ATMs in Tenerife) and ING (only one ATM in Santa Cruz), but I have not tried using their ATMs myself.

    • elguiri says:

      10 Dec10 December 15:01

      Great, many thanks ! I had heard about foreign banks possibly being free, so good to have some confirmation.

      • Shaw West says:

        10 Dec10 December 15:29

        VA+ will charge ATM withdrawal fee as it is cash advance. I used curve to avoid the cash advance. Couple of Banks don’t charge ATM withdrawal fees. Cant remember on top of my head.

        • elguiri says:

          10 Dec10 December 15:53

          Yep, will only be using VA+ for payments

  • Karl says:

    10 Dec10 December 17:37

    Spanish ATM fees can be quite steep. Last time I was there (a couple of years ago) if you have a Santander UK bank account you could use Santander ESP ATMs for free.

• Froggee says:

  10 Dec10 December 12:17

  Shangri-La Golden Circle – I’ve just had an email and it’s now showing

  “Points will expire on 31 Dec 2021 0”

  whereas the last few have shown them all expiring then. I can’t see anywhere that they’ve extended points expiry. Does anyone else have something similar? For what it’s worth my Jade has also been extended to 31 December 2022 which I don’t think should have happened as Jade was from Amex which is no longer offered. I’m very happy if this is the case as I might actually be able to spend my 9,000 points on $1,125 of food and beverage in Singapore in 2022.

  • Roundtheworld says:

    10 Dec10 December 15:53

    I have received the same, so emailed Golden Circle to confirm when will now my current points expire. Awaiting their response. I did receive an email from them few weeks ago advising my Jade membership has been extended to 31 December 2022 because of Covid.

• Roberto says:

  10 Dec10 December 12:18

  Converted 50k Avios into Nectar on the 25th of November and they haven’t appeared into my Nectar account and also the transaction has disappeared from my account transactions page
  I have the 2 emails that I received at the time from executive club for the activity but that’s it!
  Spoke to Ba who have said they are having big problems with the Avios-Nectar conversions and I have to call back in another 10 working days whilst they look into why they have not shown up in my Nectar account.
  Why is nothing ever simple with this company!

  • Roberto says:

    10 Dec10 December 12:24

    What’s the point of setting something positive up like this new route for Avios but then doing it so badly that it just ends up pissing people off!

• can says:

  10 Dec10 December 12:47

  Wife cancelled her Gold personal credit last year. Can I refer her with my Plat for a signup bonus? Would she qualify for the 70k?

  • stevenhp1987 says:

    10 Dec10 December 12:54

    You’ll get the referral bonus.

    She will not get any bonus because it needs to be 24 months since her last MR card.

    • can says:

      10 Dec10 December 12:59

      thanks!

• Bill says:

  10 Dec10 December 13:01

  Has anyone got any experience of changing an easyJet holidays reservation? I’ve booked a holiday with flights that depart LGW and return to LGW. I was wondering if it’s possible to change the outbound to depart from a different airport?

  • Richie says:

    10 Dec10 December 13:14

    easyJet’s flight change facility in your booking is very easy to use, I haven’t done it with a holiday booking though. I would give it a try and see how far you get.

  • Sukes says:

    10 Dec10 December 13:46

    I’m assuming you are 28+ days from departure. EasyJet Holidays faqs: “ If you’re 28 days or more from your departure date, and you’re looking to make substantial changes to your easyJet holiday (such as changing your destination or dates), you’re covered by our industry leading easyJet holidays Protection Promise. This allows you to cancel your holiday online, with the option of a full refund in easyJet holidays credit, or receiving your deposit as easyJet holidays credit and having any further payments refunded to your original method of payment for your booking.

    Whatever you choose, it means you’ll be able to quickly and easily re-book a different holiday. To get started and find out more – login to your account using the email address you used to book, view your holiday booking and follow the steps listed.

    If you’re just looking to make small tweaks to your existing holiday (such as a name change, a room or board basis upgrade and so on), you can get in touch with our team who will be happy to help with your query!”

    • Bill says:

      10 Dec10 December 20:12

      Yes, 28+. The faq didn’t really answer the question. I think I will give them a call

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