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The HfP chat thread – Friday 10th December

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General

Comments (375)

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

  • Jody says:
    10 Dec10 December 13:59

    Anna, what did you do with your easyJet flights in the end (think they were to Berlin?) as I know you were hoping they’d release next winters flights before the 10th December?

    I really wish they’d hurry up and release them too, it was on the 15th December they did it last year, so hopefully next week.

    Have no idea whether to go ahead with our Tenerife trip between Christmas and New Year or to move them elsewhere (complication being that I can’t seem to do that online as it throws up error codes, possibly because these are flights that have already been moved once as they were cancelled ones from last year).

    Normally it wouldn’t bother me and I’d be happy to go with the flow. However, we are back on the 3rd Jan, and then I have a birthday weekend booked in the UK from the 7th for my husband as his Christmas present, with loads of things booked like shows and other activities. I really don’t want to jeopardise that weekend.

    • Anna says:
      10 Dec10 December 17:54

      Hi Jody, turns out they can be changed up till next March so I’ve “parked them” over May half term next year at no extra cost to see what the winter schedule brings!
      I’d love to be going somewhere warm & definitely would be if OH’s work commitments allowed – go for it!

  • Ollie says:
    10 Dec10 December 14:23

    Does anyone know if a NHS lateral flow qualifies as a “RAT-rapid antigen test within 48h of arrival” for entry to Spain?

  • Hotel Inspector says:
    10 Dec10 December 14:30

    Looking for a place within 100miles of Heathrow — but not central London — to take my new squeeze for a couple of nights in late January.

    We are looking for a room so fabulous we won’t want to leave. Big bath a must. Four poster and/or open fire would be wonderful.

    Decent places to eat nearby and/or on premises is about the only other requirement, hence my preference is for a city location, not a “country pile” getaway.

    … or should this be a thread in the new forum? Romantic rooms in England perhaps?

    • Andrew says:
      10 Dec10 December 15:00

      Macdonald’s in Woodstock definitely has 4 posters, and I’m sure there’s a real fire in the main hotel.

      If you can do without the bath or 4 poster, there’s always “A Room with a View” in Oxford. Around £1500 a night.

      https://www.theroomwiththeview.com/

      • Rui N. says:
        10 Dec10 December 15:34

        That Oxford one is also very (very) visible from the tower of the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, which is open to the public. That might be a plus for some people I guess.

        • Hotel Inspector says:
          10 Dec10 December 16:09

          That would be a strong minus, as it happens… thanks for the heads up!

      • elguiri says:
        10 Dec10 December 15:55

        I first read this as a McDs with 4 posters hanging on walls, and was going to say there are none in Woodstock. Then I reread the post 🙂

    • Paul Pogba says:
      10 Dec10 December 15:03

      Crazy Bear, Beaconsfield – it’s a bit garish for me but it might be worth a look.

    • JDB says:
      10 Dec10 December 15:19

      The Five Arrows at Waddesdon

    • Tracey says:
      10 Dec10 December 18:08

      Sopwell House, St Albans. Some 4 posters, some rooms with outdoor fire pits. Restaurants in the hotel. Or the Grove nr Watford.

      • Hotel Inspector says:
        10 Dec10 December 20:36

        thanks!

      • Graham Walsh says:
        10 Dec10 December 23:07

        Had my first wedding at Sopwell and stayed afterwards in a 4 poster 🙂

        The Grove is meant to be good. Only need there for Food at the Glasshouse.

  • Richie says:
    10 Dec10 December 15:17

    I’ve had a “BA 50% bonus avios when you purchase them” e mail.

  • M says:
    10 Dec10 December 15:29

    RE: Amex Plat Dining Offer.
    Can someone recommend a nice restaurant in London for vegetarians?

  • davefl says:
    10 Dec10 December 15:55

    BA are really going to stress people out with their traveldocs.ba.com process for the routes that don’t use Verifly. It states that a pre-departure test should be taken with “1” day of departure, not 2.

    Luckily they just passed mine ok, 40 mins between submission and approval.

    • Andrew says:
      10 Dec10 December 17:20

      Best not to bother with all that and get the checkin staff to do it.

      • davefl says:
        10 Dec10 December 21:08

        I’d rather have it done in advance than have an argument at 6am and hold up the queue while I’m checking a bag as well.

  • YFP says:
    10 Dec10 December 15:57

    Hi all, for reasons related to getting flying blue status, I need to fly from Scotland to London via Amsterdam. Will I need to do an pre-departure tests/post arrival tests seeing as I’m flying within the UK (albeit via Netherlands?)

    • TimW says:
      10 Dec10 December 16:35

      On the assumption you will be flying KLM, this is the site they will use to check whether you will be allowed to board in Scotland: https://klm.traveldoc.aero/

    • memesweeper says:
      10 Dec10 December 16:35

      I’d hazard a guess the people who drafted the rules never considered this possible routing. Thus I’d comply with the relevant laws as though arriving from the Netherlands, just in case.

      • TimW says:
        10 Dec10 December 16:46

        I agree with this approach and have always checked the Dutch and U.K. government websites before travelling, but recently I got denied boarding in the U.K. as the travel doc site had not been updated with the latest Dutch government rules. Despite numerous calls to the KLM Platinum Line and showing the check in agent supervisor the Dutch government website, I was still not allowed to board. Unfortunately, the travel doc seems to be the de facto system where KLM is concerned. KLM have since dismissed my complaint in this matter and I am now mulling over going to the arbitration service they have suggested.

        • Tarmohamed says:
          10 Dec10 December 17:13

          Similar situation happened to another reader with BA.

        • YFP says:
          10 Dec10 December 17:33

          Thanks for the link to the traveldoc Tim. I suspect my best option will be to take a test that comes just before I fly and then use that to come back into the UK.

          • TimW says:
            10 Dec10 December 20:39

            Please also consider that it’s unlikely KLM will issue your boarding passes electronically. Probably not an issue boarding in Scotland as you can get to the airport a bit early to queue for your document check at the check in desk. However, in Amsterdam, they currently have a health screening area at D8 for all KLM flights to the U.K., including transit passengers. If you do not have Sky Priority, I estimate the queuing time could be over 1 hour depending on the time of day so short connections could be an issue: Mornings are particularly bad. You can try (sometimes they do not respond) and avoid this though by uploading your documents in advance to KLM. For the UK the link for this is https://klforyou.force.com/s/covidform?language=en_US&destination=United_Kingdom. Therefore, you might want to do your test before you start your trip. Good luck!

  • elguiri says:
    10 Dec10 December 15:58

    Creation IHG Black – 0.5% cashback on all shopping until 15th Jan.
    I can’t imagine anyone will reply to this post…

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