Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

Forums Daily chat thread Click here for today’s chat thread Chat thread – Monday 13th January

  • Rob
    HfP Staff
    2,705 posts

    This is today’s chat thread.

    If you have specific questions about Avios, hotels or credit cards, please ask them in the appropriate forum and not here. This thread is a good place to post interesting deals you have spotted or your general thoughts on travel and all things miles and points. Thank you for contributing.

    Gordon 199 posts

    What an opportunity,
    It was great to join in the Sunday Ciclovia, that originated in Bogota, it’s a social walk/Dog walk/jog/Cycle along several miles of the Carrera 43A, in Medellín, this occurs on every sunday morning, which funnily enough runs outside our hotel, singers, entertainment, and refreshments along the way, one side of the road is shut to all motorised traffic until lunchtime, the sun was shining, and a little too warm at 28c, but fun was had by all.


    @davefl
    I though I would add this here, incase your in the area on your trip, not sure when your travels land you in Colombia?
    I will do my best to get the report completed and posted in the relevant place asap.

    This will probably too late for your plans, so apologies for that, as I guess you are close to completion now.

    davefl 2,004 posts

    @Gordon Thanks for thinking of me, I only have a Sat/Sun in Cartagena and Mon/Tue/Wed in Bogota. That’s crammed in between Panama and Paraguay.

    Sounds like you’re having a great time though.

    Gordon 199 posts

    @Gordon Thanks for thinking of me, I only have a Sat/Sun in Cartagena and Mon/Tue/Wed in Bogota. That’s crammed in between Panama and Paraguay.

    Sounds like you’re having a great time though.

    No problem, hope you get everything sorted, and we are not finished with South america yet, so I will look forward to your journal on the different states you visit.
    Yes, it’s been a great trip, thanks.

    Andrew. 625 posts

    A 5% rebate for Emirates (max £60) has popped up on my MBNA Horizon card.

    phantomchickenz 561 posts

    I’m looking to construct a multi-city fare on SQ to allow for a short hotel stay to recharge the batteries. If we have a 14 hr layover in Singapore, will SQ check our bags through or will we need to collect them during the layover?

    roams84 14 posts

    London folk. Thoughts on the best Amex Plat London-based restaurants to go with a toddler?

    I want to use the 2025 dining credit asap and have my son every Wednesday, which is my only opportunity to use it in the week.

    Thanks

    BBbetter 1,254 posts

    I’m looking to construct a multi-city fare on SQ to allow for a short hotel stay to recharge the batteries. If we have a 14 hr layover in Singapore, will SQ check our bags through or will we need to collect them during the layover?

    The bags can be checked through, as long as they are on same ticket.

    JerrySignfield 105 posts

    RJ Gold Status now updated from last week, applied to existing bookings, thanks to HFP for the heads up!

    Michael C 890 posts

    London folk. Thoughts on the best Amex Plat London-based restaurants to go with a toddler?

    I want to use the 2025 dining credit asap and have my son every Wednesday, which is my only opportunity to use it in the week.

    Thanks

    I’ve been taking my son to Sabor since he was 4. Weds lunchtime would be perfect: buzzy and no fine crystal to break! Stand outside at 1150h and you’ll get a seat at the counter to watch all the chefs in action. The tortilla is fantastic and toddler-friendly, as is the bread with tomato. Sitting at the actual bar is also great. And the staff love kids.
    Also, 2 minutes from Hamley’s, then a short stroll to Waterstones Piccadilly with it’s fantastic kids’ section.

    NorthernLass 10,480 posts

    Morning all, thanks for the suggestions re the trains yesterday. I’ve just looked at EUS-PRE departures for next Sunday and everything is showing as running but sold out apart from a few services with multiple changes after 5pm.

    What does this mean in respect of our tickets? Should we just forget trying to get home by rail that day?

    Manchester services showing the same.

    Any point in Kings Cross to Leeds? Doesn’t seem to be affected by strikes but I guess might also be busy?

    slonik 16 posts

    @roams84 Bread St Kitchen is quite family friendly with a kids menu and even entertainment for them at the weekends.
    Otherwise I would go for something big and buzzy (eg Balthazar or Zedel). The D&D-owned places and The Ivy should also be fairly safe bets, and should have kids menus.

    BBbetter 1,254 posts

    London folk. Thoughts on the best Amex Plat London-based restaurants to go with a toddler?

    I want to use the 2025 dining credit asap and have my son every Wednesday, which is my only opportunity to use it in the week.

    Thanks

    Ivy city garden was good. Bright and spacious. You can request a table away for the bar and closer to the ‘plants’. Saw a few kids there.
    Wouldn’t suggest Brigadiers. Claustrophobic and noisy.

    Whisper2 60 posts

    I am considering booking a one way flight with Sri Lankan from Sydney to Columbo, on the Sri Lankan Airlines website. Is there any way to get them to charge be in GBP and not Australian Dollars? ( can’t see any option on the website)

    TooPoorToBeHere 302 posts

    Morning all, thanks for the suggestions re the trains yesterday. I’ve just looked at EUS-PRE departures for next Sunday and everything is showing as running but sold out apart from a few services with multiple changes after 5pm.

    What does this mean in respect of our tickets? Should we just forget trying to get home by rail that day?

    Manchester services showing the same.

    Any point in Kings Cross to Leeds? Doesn’t seem to be affected by strikes but I guess might also be busy?

    Sorry admins, clicked “report” by accident.

    Kings Cross – Leeds – Manchester always used to valid on an “any permitted” ticket for London Terminals to Manchester and WCML stations north of it, but I *think* (and the nationalrail site, not guaranteed correct agrees) this no longer applies. So even if you don’t have train-specific advances I think you’d be buying new tickets unless notified by the operator that ticket acceptance over alternative routes is in place.

    As for practicality…well it’s slow…but you might get there.

    You could look at the Grand Central train to Bradford Interchange out of Kings Cross, get off at Halifax, catch the Blackpool train there which calls at Preston. Christ knows how you’d buy that as a through ticket without getting robbed blind now the ticketing engines all optimise for dry buggery and inconvenience; it wasn’t easy to get Grand Central connecting tickets even Before. It might be (significantly) cheaper than an on-the-day Leeds single at walk-up price, though, even if you have to buy a separate Halifax – Preston ticket. Also, Halifax station is no place to sit and wait.

    Personally I’d drive because we don’t do trains anymore, it always ends up…like this.

    NorthernLass 10,480 posts

    Thanks – OH would have collected us from Leeds, but I think we have just reached a consensus that we’ll enjoy an extra night in London and return on Monday as none of us have to be at work that day!

    Misty 418 posts

    Well off topic here, but I am having a bathroom fitted and have got a lot of metal, shower, massive old school radiator, huge taps etc from the old bathroom and was wondering if any of you know how I can recycle it and maybe even get a few quid for it (cost of new bathroom being extortionate!) Plus I don’t want it to go into landfill. Thanks to anyone who knows.

    davefl 2,004 posts

    Well off topic here, but I am having a bathroom fitted and have got a lot of metal, shower, massive old school radiator, huge taps etc from the old bathroom and was wondering if any of you know how I can recycle it and maybe even get a few quid for it (cost of new bathroom being extortionate!) Plus I don’t want it to go into landfill. Thanks to anyone who knows.

    Metal in landfill, the horror! Your local council recycling centre (AKA “the tip”) will have a mixed metal container for you to throw them in.

    Otherwise if you want to go to the effort of listing them somewhere, there’s freecycle, facebook marketplace, ebay etc if you think the items have value to someone.

    phantomchickenz 561 posts

    Well off topic here, but I am having a bathroom fitted and have got a lot of metal, shower, massive old school radiator, huge taps etc from the old bathroom and was wondering if any of you know how I can recycle it and maybe even get a few quid for it (cost of new bathroom being extortionate!) Plus I don’t want it to go into landfill. Thanks to anyone who knows.

    When I did my bathroom (a while ago now) I just left all the metal in the (metal) bathtub on the verge outside the house. It was gone within 2 hours! Might just be London, but the scrap vans certainly do the rounds.

    Misty 418 posts

    Thanks Dave, yes won’t be going into landfill. Probably take them to the dump, not been there since Covid, so I hope its not closed. Thinking about it they are not up to freecycle/marketplace standards, perhaps they have a scrape metal value.

    alastairtravel 40 posts

    London folk. Thoughts on the best Amex Plat London-based restaurants to go with a toddler?

    I want to use the 2025 dining credit asap and have my son every Wednesday, which is my only opportunity to use it in the week.

    Thanks

    Agree with the suggestions above – Heddon Street Kitchen also suitable – this along with Bread Street Kitchen is triple dip with 20% dining and BA Shopping registered card so could get a few lunches out of it

    Skywalker 940 posts

    HSBC has issued a Notice of Variation for various accounts, including Premier customers – so if as an existing Premier customer you previously qualified at £50k savings/investment, from the 9th April 2025 you are required to have £100k savings/investment.

    https://www.hsbc.co.uk/content/dam/hsbc/gb/pdf/notice-of-variation-personal-banking-terms-and-conditions.pdf

    aq.1988 614 posts

    London folk. Thoughts on the best Amex Plat London-based restaurants to go with a toddler?

    I want to use the 2025 dining credit asap and have my son every Wednesday, which is my only opportunity to use it in the week.

    Thanks

    I’ve been to Bread Steeet Kitchen a couple times. It also stacks with the 20% Amex dining offer (make sure you’re enrolled for both). Kids under a certain age also dine free (cant remember the age now, but your son will definitely be ok), so your money will go further.

    Skywalker 940 posts

    London folk. Thoughts on the best Amex Plat London-based restaurants to go with a toddler?

    I want to use the 2025 dining credit asap and have my son every Wednesday, which is my only opportunity to use it in the week.

    Thanks

    Butler’s wharf chop house – and I believe they have a children’s menu as well.

    JDB 6,205 posts

    HSBC has issued a Notice of Variation for various accounts, including Premier customers – so if as an existing Premier customer you previously qualified at £50k savings/investment, from the 9th April 2025 you are required to have £100k savings/investment.

    https://www.hsbc.co.uk/content/dam/hsbc/gb/pdf/notice-of-variation-personal-banking-terms-and-conditions.pdf

    I guess not really a surprise after raising the requirement for new applicants. The income increase is more or less in line with inflation.

  • The topic ‘Chat thread – Monday 13th January’ is closed to new replies.

The UK's biggest frequent flyer website uses cookies, which you can block via your browser settings. Continuing implies your consent to this policy. Our privacy policy is here.