Have lunch with Clare Smyth courtesy of your Marriott points

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• rob says:

  1 Aug1 August 09:30

  OT – A friend is trying to apply for the SPG Amex but has recently got married, should she put her new name on her form as that is what all of her current statements/utilities will have. Would Amex query this?

  Many thanks

  • john says:

    1 Aug1 August 09:42

    I think this could be a credit-check related thing.. I’m not sure if credit-check stuff links old name with new name? I guess the issue would be if stuff doesn’t carry over and she has no credit record on it.

    My wife has only changed half her stuff and hasn’t applied for any credit on anything yet so don’t have experience. Maybe do a credit report type thing on the new name and see what comes out?

  • sunguy says:

    1 Aug1 August 10:23

    What is it that is on her passport and driving licence along with her bank accounts – specifically the bank account that she is going to setup the direct debit on ? Also, what about the electoral register ?

    That would be the name she should use – preferably all 4 should be the same prior to applying.

    • Anna says:

      1 Aug1 August 11:09

      Not so, I have cards in both married and maiden names depending on what I’m going to use them for, I just assumed the credit check is based on my address. I’ve also paid Amex bills from bank accounts in both names and never had it queried.

      • Hugo says:

        1 Aug1 August 13:44

        ‘…depending on what I’m going to use them for… ‘ Buying household items in your married name and naughty weekends away with former lovers in your maiden name?!?! That is what I would do anyway. 🙂

      • Genghis says:

        1 Aug1 August 15:28

        Paying Amex bills can be done from a card in any name, seemingly.

        • Rob says:

          1 Aug1 August 16:12

          Amex doesn’t do name verification, you can put in any name you want.

• Alex says:

  1 Aug1 August 09:49

  ‘Core’ is excellent, easily the best opening in the last few years and already among the best restaurants in London overall.

• N says:

  1 Aug1 August 10:15

  £5 off £20 at Nandos on my Gold Credit Card…

  That’s one I never thought I’d see!

  • Frances says:

    1 Aug1 August 10:24

    Thank you! Just checked and on my BA card as well.

  • BJ says:

    1 Aug1 August 11:50

    £28 off a Nespresso subscription on one of mine for folks lime Rob who seem very partial to these machines. Personally I will stick with my cafetierre.

    • Mark2 says:

      1 Aug1 August 15:10

      +1

  • Peter K says:

    1 Aug1 August 22:23

    Thanks for the heads up ????

• Sh83 says:

  1 Aug1 August 10:26

  OT.
  I’m Amex Plat and want to self refer to SPG card. Is this still possible to earn both sets of points? i.e 18k MR and 11k SPG.
  Thanks in advance

  • BJ says:

    1 Aug1 August 11:53

    Done this yesterday with BAPP so will post an up to date answer on a few days.

    • Boi says:

      1 Aug1 August 12:21

      done with BAPP at the weekend and 18K posted

      • BJ says:

        1 Aug1 August 17:34

        cool, thanks 🙂

  • Alan says:

    1 Aug1 August 13:42

    You would have got both the 18k MR points for the referral and the enhanced 11k SPG sign-up bonus rate, but it appears that as of today they’ve stopped this and now you can only refer for same card ‘family’ (ie MR, BA, SPG, Nectar etc.) – I’d love to think it’s a temporary glitch but I suspect now 🙁

    • Optimus Prime says:

      1 Aug1 August 15:23

      I guess it’s cheaper for Amex if you cancel your Amex Plat as soon as you get your bonus than you keeping it for at least 6 months and referring others for up to 90k points?

    • BJ says:

      1 Aug1 August 17:42

      Oh no, was loving platinum and was finally planing on keeping it but will not if this is a permanent reversal to old system. I got lucky, about 8 last night I figured I best apply for BAPP before 1st August just in case.

      • Peter K says:

        1 Aug1 August 22:24

        Oh, poo ????

• Henry says:

  1 Aug1 August 10:30

  OT – is amex plat referral bonus (for person referring) only for other amex charge cards or can a plat holder refer for a BA premium plus and get the bonus? Thanks

  • Gareth says:

    1 Aug1 August 10:56

    Any card

    • BJ says:

      1 Aug1 August 11:55

      Not any, but most. A few are excluded.

  • Alan says:

    1 Aug1 August 13:43

    As of today appears to be only Amex Plat/Gold – see other post 🙁

    • Peter K says:

      1 Aug1 August 22:52

      I just checked as I was going to refer Mrs K from platinum to BA but that’s route’s no longer open, only to another MR card.

• Nicky says:

  1 Aug1 August 10:39

  I have just spoken to AmEx in order to cancel my BAPP card: I was asked if I had any 2-4-1 vouchers on the account and I stated that I have but have used them to book a holiday next May. It was then explained to me that as per the terms and conditions of the card in order not to lose those flights I have to be in possession of a BA card when I go on Holiday. I fully intend to apply for another BAPP in February but what worries me is if they change the rules and say that you have to wait a year etc to reapply. Wondering what to do for the best: has this happened to anyone else?

  • Gareth says:

    1 Aug1 August 10:56

    If they change the terms and conditions just order one anyway just be prepared to not get any bonus miles.

  • Anna says:

    1 Aug1 August 11:12

    I’m pretty sure BA wouldn’t be able to cancel your flights once they’ve been booked as they are then protected by the same consumer laws as any other flights. Does it actually say that in the Ts & Cs – those CS staff can be very misinformed about their own products?!

  • Andrew says:

    1 Aug1 August 11:48

    BA reserve the right to ask to see the payment card upon checkin. Given that, in theory, you have to pay using your BA amex card I’d guess this is what Amex CS are getting at. This is just to verify identity and in the very, very rare cases when they’ve done this I haven’t read of anyone having a problem showing an alternate card.

    • Mr(s) Entitled says:

      1 Aug1 August 12:37

      Who is to say that your wallet/purse is not stolen a week before you board and therefore you have no card to show? Thankfully, you will have other ways handy to prove your identity at the airport.

      • Rob says:

        1 Aug1 August 12:42

        I have been asked for my card at the airport and didn’t have it. They couldn’t have cared less.

    • S**mo says:

      1 Aug1 August 12:52

      And how about if your Credit Card changed since then? i.e Stolen?
      Always wondered how it could be enforced… (I imagine only difficulty if you book for somebody else with different name?)

      • Rob says:

        1 Aug1 August 14:24

        It can’t be enforced can it. I mean …. if the average person books 4 months ahead then 1 in 12 are going to have their credit card expire naturally – and reissued with a new number – in the gap between booking and flying.

• Simon D says:

  1 Aug1 August 10:49

  O/T Does anyone know when we should expect the next IHG Accelerate promotion to drop? Am holding off booking some stays for the end of Aug.

  • Alexr Smotrov says:

    1 Aug1 August 12:32

    If one does a little bit of a search, one would see that last year the autumn Accelerate was announced on or around 15 August

    • BJ says:

      1 Aug1 August 17:49

      Thanks Alexr, missed Simons comment before asking same question later.

  • KevMc says:

    1 Aug1 August 12:41

    Unlikely to be one until September/October for Q4. They don’t usually do one in Q3

    • Simon D says:

      1 Aug1 August 16:26

      Thank you!

• Axel says:

  1 Aug1 August 11:13

  OT – Any advice on the best method for checking BAEC reward availability for Aer Lingus once Avios.com is removed?

  Obviously you can call up BA, but asking them to check 20+ different dates or options seems a hassle.

  • Rob says:

    1 Aug1 August 12:50

    United and Qantas used to show Aer Lingus availability but it was never an exact match with what BA had. However, let’s be clear, avios.com is NOT going away. Where do you think Aer Club members are meant to book redemptions?

    Open an Aer Club account (which IS an avios.com account but won’t be closed) and all will continue as it does now.

    • Axel says:

      1 Aug1 August 13:42

      Thanks, Rob.

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