American Express Shop Small is returning in December

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• Shoestring says:

  6 Oct6 October 09:13

  I was checking out the Shop Small map last night, pretty poor pickings for me apart from 3 chippies and a decent pub (which last year had messed up Amex acceptance just at the wrong juncture!)

  Might be a way to get some half price stamps if I check carefully.

  • FlyUpTop says:

    6 Oct6 October 09:29

    I’ve always found the local map out of date. I have been into shops listed and owners stated they have not used amex for years.
    Best to check first before spending..

    • Genghis says:

      6 Oct6 October 09:37

      Amex usually credit anyway if Amex not accepted and they’re on the map

    • Polly says:

      6 Oct6 October 09:58

      But, if you phone up amex, inform them, they will credit you the £5.

      • Shoestring says:

        6 Oct6 October 10:07

        They got sniffy about crediting me multiple £5s LY and said I would not be allowed any more manual credits for 6 months! Pretty unfair as a £5 credit is there purely because they got it wrong. You could always HUACA but I figured they were putting a note on the a/c to that effect.

  • Chris Palmer says:

    6 Oct6 October 10:30

    It very much depends where you live. Unsurprisingly, in London, there are plenty. The first year they ran it, it was £5 off a £5 spend. I visited practically every corner shop in West and South West London buying exactly £5 worth of beer! Sensibly, though sadly, they changed it to £5 off £10 the year after.

  • Gin and Tonic Please says:

    6 Oct6 October 12:00

    I just checked the map too. It’s got mostly the same places listed near me as it did last year – including several of the venues that I know don’t accept Amex. One in particular (local restaurant) is showing as a New Listing, despite the fact they stopped taking Amex 15 months ago.

    I also had issues last year with them crediting for venues that were listed but didn’t accept Amex. I ended up getting a total of 10 credits, though in reality it should have been closer to 20. They really should sort out that map…

• Polly says:

  6 Oct6 October 09:31

  Harry, l took your advice couple years again, and have had half price stamps for 2 years now. ESP useful when sending something recorded etc. Counter staff don’t really like us coming with the pre stamped envelope!

• B Brooks says:

  6 Oct6 October 09:34

  Shop small has been confirmed by AMEX
  As a business owner, I received a merchant email saying it’s ‘on it’s way’. It will launch on Small Business Saturday 1st December to 16th.

• Sussex bantam says:

  6 Oct6 October 09:47

  Data point – I didn’t get the email about the Tesco transfer bonus but thought I’d give it a go anyway. Did the transfers yesterday which arrived today but sadly no bonus 🙁

  • Shoestring says:

    6 Oct6 October 09:52

    Bonus takes up to 28 days to be awarded – in T&Cs – nil desperandum

    • Peter K says:

      6 Oct6 October 10:24

      Up to 28 days after the end of the promotion period.

      • Sussex Bantam says:

        6 Oct6 October 16:09

        Ah ok – thanks all !

• Nigel the Pensioner says:

  6 Oct6 October 09:52

  I too cant see where £600m has / is being spent. I really don’t care who makes the seat cover and duvet or blanket in CW as long as the seat topper is comfy. The blanket is usually kicked off within 20 mins or so as the cabin is woefully hot. As for the amenity kit in CW well what a waste of time. You can save the old mini duffel bags and use one for each shoe you pack in future. The contents are binned on the plane. The only decent thing in first is the pen!
  I also believe that I have had several CW food servings straight from the galley this year, with wine coming on a trolley. I assumed that this was a feature of either upstairs on a 744 or row 10 on a 777. Not sure. Will try to remember to check downstairs on Tuesday on BA 285 to see what happens down there. F is served galley to seat to I assume that this is considered a superior service?
  Cruz’s time is up. He has to go. Maybe Coco the Clown will do a better job. When Cruz does go back to baggage handling, we will have to travel cabin baggage only – goodness knows where your checked luggage will end up!!

  • marcw says:

    6 Oct6 October 11:26

    I think Cruz is doing a good job, even if you dislike him (I´m not arguing whether he could do a better job, because that´s all hypothetical). The BA operations are working (look at other EU carriers, LH Group or AF group), flights usually on time (again look at other carriers), carrying more pax than ever, to more destinations than ever. And managing a good profit. Of course we can all dream of having a British Qatar Airways, but I guess you have not seen the prices Qatar charges if you depart from Doha.
    I mean, you can always travel with someone else, no one forces you to fly on BA.

    • BJ says:

      6 Oct6 October 14:42

      BA on its day was more innovative and at the leading edge than Qatar have ever been. In 10-20 years I imagine most carriers business class cabins will more closely resemble CW than Qsuites.

• Darren says:

  6 Oct6 October 10:29

  OT,
  Florida holiday recommendations

  Picked up reward flights to Miami yesterday, for Feb. We normally stay on South Beach but would like a change, thinking of West Palm beach area. Any recommendations for a hotel close to the centre, or a similar town up the east coast. It will be cash not points.

  Thanks

• David says:

  6 Oct6 October 10:32

  OT: when using the BA Amex companion voucher – does anyone know what would happen if both passengers fly the outbound but only one flies the return?

  Eg. my partner and I use the voucher for a return flight to the US – we fly the outward bound together but the one of us decides to stay in the US longer so books a later flight home using money or points. Is the return part of the voucher trip automatically cancelled if only one of us turns up at the gate? Or do we just lose the benefit of the ‘free’ companion ticket?

  I’ve read the helpful advice on using the vouchers on here but I can’t see anything on this issue.

  Thanks for any HFP wisdom as always!

  • Shoestring says:

    6 Oct6 October 10:38

    Won’t affect the ticket validity for the one who checks in & flies, doesn’t matter which of you is no show

    • Alex W says:

      6 Oct6 October 11:10

      Isn’t there a rule that both pax are supposed to fly together and the person on the “free” ticket can’t fly without the paying person.

  • Rob says:

    6 Oct6 October 11:56

    I think you’re fine – 100% fine if voucher holder flies.

    • David says:

      6 Oct6 October 17:28

      Thanks everyone – v helpful!

  • Bonglim says:

    6 Oct6 October 15:46

    Would it not be cheaper if you booked a one way ticket out for 2, using the voucher.
    Then a single one way ticket back for the one person flying back. I suspect it will be less taxes overall.

    I guess you might need the flexibility of having that flight available. Or if already booked there is no guarantee those tickets will be available if you cancel and try to rebook.

• Wally1976 says:

  6 Oct6 October 10:44

  OT – planning on getting a new Amex SPG card soon – are points transferring OK for new customers? Wasn’t sure if the issues reported are for new customers, old or both.

  • Lee says:

    6 Oct6 October 10:52

    both

  • Ian M says:

    6 Oct6 October 12:14

    Points are not transferring for anyone

  • SS says:

    6 Oct6 October 21:45

    Still having issues from Aug points balance

  • Wally1976 says:

    6 Oct6 October 23:08

    Boo – thanks for the replies – hope they sort it out soon.

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