The HfP chat thread – Sunday 12th December

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• Dev says:

  12 Dec12 December 16:03

  Haven’t seen any comments on here yet unless I have missed them, but I needed a top up on avios to book some tickets for next year and noticed that BA have a 50% free offer on right now which was a nice win.

• davefl says:

  12 Dec12 December 16:09

  Halo – 4 hrs 40 mins for a negative result.. so I cleared isolation 90 mins before leaving LHR for my connection. Can’t argue with that.

• Lee says:

  12 Dec12 December 16:37

  15000 Marriott points vs 5 SNA certificates

  I will be 1 night short of 50 nights this year, platinum already extend to next year. Should I do 1 mattress run to claim 5 SNA certificates. Any suggestion?

  • NSL says:

    12 Dec12 December 16:42

    I’m in the same boat and have booked a day room for Tuesday. I think it’s just about worth it.

    I’ve never done well with SNAs but that’s probably because I mostly try and use them in the USA.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    12 Dec12 December 16:47

    I’d swap £75 for 5 SNA as long as you had a use for them next year.

    In fact the 5 nights at st Regis Venice were worth a hell of a lot more to me!

  • Magic Mike says:

    12 Dec12 December 16:57

    I’d save the points, depending on where you are you can get a room for £50-60 this time of year. e.g. Moxy Slough is £58 next Sunday, Moxy Heathrow £61.

  • Harry T says:

    12 Dec12 December 16:58

    I think it’s fair to do a cheap mattress run. I’ve done well with SNAs into real suites this year at W Barcelona, W Amsterdam, Prince De Galles and W Abu Dhabi.

    • mutley says:

      12 Dec12 December 17:27

      What does the W stand for?

      • Rob says:

        12 Dec12 December 17:50

        Westin – it was originally a spin off from that brand.

        • TGLoyalty says:

          12 Dec12 December 18:42

          Thought it was whatever/whenever …

      • marcw says:

        12 Dec12 December 20:39

        Warm, witty, welcoming, wired, and least we forget whatever/whenever.

  • Lee says:

    12 Dec12 December 17:03

    Thanks all, the cheapest room I can find is Moxy Heathrow for £61. May book a night for exchange 5 SNA

• Sandra says:

  12 Dec12 December 17:02

  Anyone by any chance got a valid Blacklane discount code (not first time user) please? I know they are generally more expensive than some others but have always found them reliable whatever the country they’ve been booked to pick up in.

  • BuildBackBetter says:

    12 Dec12 December 17:42

    BTXMAS10

    • Sandra says:

      12 Dec12 December 18:26

      Thank you BuildBackBetter, it worked.

• LilysDad says:

  12 Dec12 December 17:32

  Apologies if this is a hoary old chestnut, but…
  Thinking of using Expedia to book a package of flight+transfer+hotel for a couple of days in Dublin in the run up to Christmas.
  Wondering whether if I selected a Hilton whether I’d be granted the HH points / Gold status free breakfasts. I thought I once read that these were granted if you booked direct with Hilton or via an Approved channel, but have no idea if Expedia counts as ‘approved’.

  • John says:

    12 Dec12 December 18:05

    No

  • Anna says:

    12 Dec12 December 18:29

    Depends, some will still give free breakfast but you won’t get points or night credits.

  • Peter K says:

    12 Dec12 December 19:12

    Unlikely to work. Also, I’m not sure that booking all the elements on Expedia makes it a package holiday giving you the protection that would normally bring.

    • Nick says:

      12 Dec12 December 20:57

      It does count as a package holiday. Expedia doesn’t like that rule and tries to get out of it, but they don’t have a choice, it’s the law. Also applies if you add a hotel within 24 hours to a flight you’ve already booked.

• Geoff 1977 says:

  12 Dec12 December 18:15

  From the Finanicial Times. Time to get rid of any shares in travel companies (if for, whatever reason, you still have any!):

  “ The UK government is laying the groundwork to extend its Covid-19 test and trace system as far as 2025 in a sign of how long officials fear the pandemic could continue, according to recently published contracts.

  The UK Health Security Agency, which took over test and trace in October, has signed at least four contracts with consultancies Deloitte and Accenture relating to the delivery of the programme, with the potential to extend until April 2025.

  The documents also indicate that travel restrictions could remain, at least intermittently, for several years.”

  • TGLoyalty says:

    12 Dec12 December 18:43

    Not very happy Geoff

    • Geoff 1977 says:

      12 Dec12 December 18:46

      Might not actually materialise though TG Loyalty so it’s because to just enjoy the great British festive season for now and not worry about what’s coming!

  • The Savage Squirrel says:

    12 Dec12 December 18:53

    To be fair it’s obviously incumbent on the relevant agencies to plan and prepare for the worst case scenarios (more deadly variants, etc), even though it’s hopefully unlikely to be needed.

    • Geoff 1977 says:

      12 Dec12 December 19:40

      Good point, The Savage Squirrel

• Zoe says:

  12 Dec12 December 18:17

  So a pre recorded announcement from Boris at 8pm, should give Ant and Dec long enough to rip it out of him again tonight. Really would like it if my daughter can come home for Xmas from Zurich this year but not making too many plans as it all seems to be heading downhill again.

  • Geoff 1977 says:

    12 Dec12 December 18:21

    No new restrictions announced tonight according to the usual leaks etc

    • Andrew says:

      12 Dec12 December 18:32

      BBC confirmed that no new restrictions being announced – just a push to get people to have their boosters. Pretty light touch, nothing to worry about.

  • Anna says:

    12 Dec12 December 18:30

    Pre-recorded so he doesn’t get asked any questions?!

    • Andrew says:

      12 Dec12 December 18:33

      I think it’s just a sit at the desk statement one for a few minutes like he does from time to time rather than a press conference.

      • Geoff 1977 says:

        12 Dec12 December 20:41

        Great statement from uncle Boris 👍

    • Zoe says:

      12 Dec12 December 18:46

      ‘We will keep on announcing restrictions until the press stop wittering on about out Christmas parties’

      • TGLoyalty says:

        12 Dec12 December 19:51

        He’s lost public confidence

      • Anna says:

        12 Dec12 December 20:33

        Quite. They’ve conveniently forgotten that under 18s are still having to wait 12 weeks to get their 2nd dose, let alone boosters.

        • Geoff 1977 says:

          12 Dec12 December 20:38

          Boosters are only being offered to over 18s so what’s the relevance of under 18s? Slightly confused by your post.

        • Anna says:

          12 Dec12 December 21:36

          We – they are making a song about people getting boosters when the majority of 12 – 18s are only single jabbed and therefore presumably hugely likely to contract and spread Omicron. This is causing a fair amount of stress to people like my mother who had been looking forward to seeing her 4 teenage grandchildren at Xmas this year.

        • Anna says:

          12 Dec12 December 21:37

          *Song and dance! I haven’t actually heard anyone singing about it lol.

        • Geoff 1977 says:

          12 Dec12 December 21:42

          Over 18s are more likely to need hospital treatment though so that’s they they’ve made this decision.

          Are you saying advice around when to give vaccines should revolve around your personal situation?

        • TGLoyalty says:

          12 Dec12 December 22:51

          If it’s about hospitalisation you’d stop at 50 and share with the rest of the world …

• Gavin says:

  12 Dec12 December 18:57

  750 nectar points for an advance single with GWR. Had a play but struggling to find a cheap journey (child ticket) which qualifies for an advance single ticket. Not found a way to filter for that ticket category. Any ideas?

  • Andrew says:

    12 Dec12 December 19:27

    Worth bothering for £3.75?

    • David says:

      12 Dec12 December 19:28

      Get out more? 😉😀

    • Gavin says:

      12 Dec12 December 19:33

      Probably worth it for a £1 child ticket as per some of the rail offers.

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