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Forums Daily chat thread Click here for today’s chat thread Chat thread – Tuesday 21st 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.

    TMG 25 posts

    Good day from seat 3A on NZ104, SYD to AKL. First experience of both the airport and of Air NZ, and both rate very highly. On to Christchurch later today.

    Scottpat78 260 posts

    Morning. We are taking the eldest daughter’s boyfriend on holiday in the summer, he is 16 years old. We are headed to US & Caribbean.

    Am I right in thinking that both Amex Platinum & HSBC Premier insurance coverage won’t apply to him? If that’s correct, anyone have any suggestions for a single trip policy that I can take out for him?

    Michael C 890 posts

    Morning. We are taking the eldest daughter’s boyfriend on holiday in the summer, he is 16 years old. We are headed to US & Caribbean.

    Am I right in thinking that both Amex Platinum & HSBC Premier insurance coverage won’t apply to him? If that’s correct, anyone have any suggestions for a single trip policy that I can take out for him?

    Lucky bf!! Not sure of the Amex coverage (perhaps if his ticket was bought with it?), but Staysure has been my go-to for coverage (do check about any medical conditions first, of course).

    strickers 1,030 posts

    That’s Cuba back on the sponsors of terrorism list, as expected it was a short respite.

    BSI1978 25 posts

    Can some kind soul recommend a better site/source for airline seat maps than Seatguru? TIA

    Jill Kinkell 218 posts

    Aerolopa

    Andrew. 625 posts

    Morning. We are taking the eldest daughter’s boyfriend on holiday in the summer, he is 16 years old. We are headed to US & Caribbean.

    Don’t forget to bring a letter of consent from both of his parents in order to make sure there are no issues with you taking him out of the country or approving medical procedures.

    (Remind them both that “special cuddles” may be ok at 16 in the UK, but the age of consent varies between 16 & 18 across US States)

    Scottpat78 260 posts

    Ha ha, yes indeed!

    Yep, got a letter with a copy of both passports in progress.

    Will have a look at Staysure. The tickets were
    Avios redemptions, taxes paid on BAPP.

    Thanks.

    Morning. We are taking the eldest daughter’s boyfriend on holiday in the summer, he is 16 years old. We are headed to US & Caribbean.

    Don’t forget to bring a letter of consent from both of his parents in order to make sure there are no issues with you taking him out of the country or approving medical procedures.

    (Remind them both that “special cuddles” may be ok at 16 in the UK, but the age of consent varies between 16 & 18 across US States)

    phantomchickenz 561 posts

    Good day from seat 3A on NZ104, SYD to AKL. First experience of both the airport and of Air NZ, and both rate very highly. On to Christchurch later today.

    Enjoy! Why not fly direct to CHC from Sydney?

    neojago 17 posts

    Hi! I’m trying to use a BA 2-for-1 voucher for Dec 2025, to book MAD-MEX (Iberia) outbound and MEX-LHR (Iberia via MAD) return in business class. Over the phone, the BA call center quoted 105K Avios + £1,000 in taxes, but online (without the voucher), taxes are much lower.

    What am I missing? Has anyone booked this route with the voucher and can share their experience or advice?

    Thanks in advance for your help!

    davefl 2,002 posts

    Morning. We are taking the eldest daughter’s boyfriend on holiday in the summer, he is 16 years old. We are headed to US & Caribbean.

    Am I right in thinking that both Amex Platinum & HSBC Premier insurance coverage won’t apply to him? If that’s correct, anyone have any suggestions for a single trip policy that I can take out for him?

    Use the insurance comparison sites. Recommendations on here are unlikely to fit the insurer’s risk profile for a single 16 yr old traveller. Companies such as Staysure are unlikely to be competitive because they target a different market.

    Blair Waldorf Salad 1,357 posts

    Morning. We are taking the eldest daughter’s boyfriend on holiday in the summer, he is 16 years old. We are headed to US & Caribbean.

    Am I right in thinking that both Amex Platinum & HSBC Premier insurance coverage won’t apply to him? If that’s correct, anyone have any suggestions for a single trip policy that I can take out for him?

    Make sure his booking is refundable. Teen relationships end on a whim.

    phantomchickenz 561 posts

    Use the insurance comparison sites. Recommendations on here are unlikely to fit the insurer’s risk profile for a single 16 yr old traveller. Companies such as Staysure are unlikely to be competitive because they target a different market.

    Do it via the shopping portal and you might get a few extra avios too!

    JDB 6,205 posts

    @Scottpat78 – is your daughter’s boyfriend maybe covered under an annual policy held by his parents? If they have an annual annual policy, he should be covered and good policies cover children when travelling independently.

    RonnieB 374 posts

    What’s gonna be the impact of the Trump presidency to the UK traveller?
    More security at the border – longer queues?
    Tariffs on consumer goods – increased prices in shops etc?
    Strengthening dollar – increased costs everywhere?
    Law and order issues – more lunatics on the streets?
    Overall any positives – clear US Customs in Greenland perhaps? 😉

    strickers 1,030 posts

    @RonnieB I’m looking forward to cruising along the MAGA Canal at some point.

    redlilly 149 posts

    What’s gonna be the impact of the Trump presidency to the UK traveller?
    More security at the border – longer queues?
    Tariffs on consumer goods – increased prices in shops etc?
    Strengthening dollar – increased costs everywhere?
    Law and order issues – more lunatics on the streets?
    Overall any positives – clear US Customs in Greenland perhaps? 😉

    Only speculating, but surely there must be more countries going on the terrorism list… so more likely we will need visas to travel to USA. Not that I am in any rush to go there, but does impact those who go for business etc.

    executiveclubber 529 posts
    Swiss Jim 310 posts

    Morning. We are taking the eldest daughter’s boyfriend on holiday in the summer, he is 16 years old. We are headed to US & Caribbean.

    Am I right in thinking that both Amex Platinum & HSBC Premier insurance coverage won’t apply to him? If that’s correct, anyone have any suggestions for a single trip policy that I can take out for him?

    Lucky bf!! Not sure of the Amex coverage (perhaps if his ticket was bought with it?), but Staysure has been my go-to for coverage (do check about any medical conditions first, of course).

    Bill 229 posts

    Loganair homepage now says they’re accepting Amex. It’s a shame their seats are so expensive

    davefl 2,002 posts

    @redlilly The UK is not a state sponsor of terrorism, nor do we have bad relations with the US, so it’s almost impossible to conceive of a scenario where the UK would be dropped from the ESTA scheme. If Trump abolished the ESTA scheme the US would pretty much collapse as there are already massive backlogs in full visa applications.

    The amount of tourism revenue the US recieves is a significant contributor to its economy, it would be a financial distaster.


    @RonnieB
    The dollar is unlikely to strengthen any more, in fact it dipped a little over the past couple of days, and as for the tariffs, he will add some so that he can say he kept to his election promise but they won’t be as sweeping as his earlier rhetoric. High tarrifs=higher prices=higher inflation at the factory door. He was elected on a mandate to lower inflation so he’s on a knife edge.
    Increased border security will only apply if you’re coming in from Mexico by land, there’s unlikely to be any change for anyone coming in by air from other countries.

    BBbetter 1,254 posts

    The amount of tourism revenue the US recieves is a significant contributor to its economy, it would be a financial distaster.

    But the contribution from foreign tourists is not significant compared to domestic tourism and travel. The FX rates, inflation and ridiculous wealth creation in the last decade has ensured domestic tourists are the biggest spenders.
    Imagine European tourists (forget about the Asian tourists) spending $30 on a burger and paying $10 as tips on top.

    High tarrifs=higher prices=higher inflation at the factory door. He was elected on a mandate to lower inflation so he’s on a knife edge.

    Newspapers have repeated this ad nauseum, but they underestimate the ability of an economy to adapt. Cost of goods is just a small part of the retail selling price. There wasnt much inflation when Trump 1.0 imposed tariffs on China.

    redlilly 149 posts

    @redlilly The UK is not a state sponsor of terrorism, nor do we have bad relations with the US, so it’s almost impossible to conceive of a scenario where the UK would be dropped from the ESTA scheme. If Trump abolished the ESTA scheme the US would pretty much collapse as there are already massive backlogs in full visa applications.

    The amount of tourism revenue the US recieves is a significant contributor to its economy, it would be a financial distaster.



    @RonnieB
    The dollar is unlikely to strengthen any more, in fact it dipped a little over the past couple of days, and as for the tariffs, he will add some so that he can say he kept to his election promise but they won’t be as sweeping as his earlier rhetoric. High tarrifs=higher prices=higher inflation at the factory door. He was elected on a mandate to lower inflation so he’s on a knife edge.
    Increased border security will only apply if you’re coming in from Mexico by land, there’s unlikely to be any change for anyone coming in by air from other countries.

    Hi Dave, what I meant was – the state sponsored terroism list will extend further (in my view) than those already on it… being N Korea Iran, Cuba etc.

    So, for those more adventurous travellers who want to go to these countries (and others that may be added – who knows but there are rumours (wasnt Tanzania nearly on it during the last Trump presidency?)), they will have to get a visa to travel to the USA in future.

    BA Flyer IHG Stayer 3,074 posts

    1% tariff might not have much effect but what about a 10% one or the even higher ones he’s proposing for Mexico and Canada?

  • The topic ‘Chat thread – Tuesday 21st January’ is closed to new replies.

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