[ML11]

You mean using avios.com page? I cannot find any way to log in there. It only asks me to open a new account with BA/Iberia.

[ML11]

I am still having trouble deciding between Chinese cuisine options in London.
Hakkasan seems to be a popular choice but I saw mixed reviews recently. The other Chinese options I consider are Yauatcha, Hutong and Tattu.
Is anybody able to compare these places based on recent visits?

[ML11]

Yes, this is what I thought. I looked at the lunch menu and then tasting menu and it seems the lunch one is a winner for that price. Thanks!

Any other recommendations, maybe for Chinese or Japanese food?

[ML11]

By lunchtime offer you mean lunch menu or there is some special lunch deal right now?

[ML11]

I am looking for an Asian cuisine tasting menu experience in London. I think Hakkasan is a popular choice but I would appreciate other opinions and recommendations!

[ML11]

Is this considered manufactured spend or anything that could be in breach of T&Cs? In theory you could keep recycling your credit card balance between 2 cards (or maybe even using the same card to pay its own balance?) which just sounds too good to be allowed. I would also be happy to earn extra 3000 Avios a month but I would not like to somehow abuse the opportunity Fronted gives us.

[ML11]

Any recommendation if it is possible to combine 10% Dining offer with the Platinum dining credit? I checked a few restaurants but was not able to find any eligible for both offers.

[ML11]

1. I do not have BA Household account, just a regular one.
2. I would be happy to pay the cash component and get reimbursed.
I agree this is quite a complicated process.
Probably easier to execute with a friend or family. Still, it may be difficult to settle up the Avios balance.

[ML11]

Not sure if this is a right place for this question but I will be receiving an upgrade voucher in 2 months. I do not actually have any use for it and I know people can get better value than 7k Avios. So I thought, maybe someone would like to trade it? As far as I know I can make a booking using a voucher for anyone so should be possible unless I am violating some other T&C?

[ML11]

Is there a way to combine Amex offer on IHG (spend 300 for 70 back) and Amex Travel offer (spend 300 for 75 back) in one booking?
Thanks!

[ML11]

To be honest, this is about everything but exclusivity.
I am not old enough to remember this myself but looking at photos, newspapers, movies etc. just a few decades ago it was normal for every man (I have no idea about women’s fashion) to be able to dress somewhat decent. Wearing a suit and hat in public places was a normal thing for everybody from working class to royalty. This is the exact opposite of exclusivity or pretentiousness, especially for more formal dress codes like white and black ties where basically all the men are supposed to look almost the same, all in black: elegant but not flashy.
Recently, I went to Royal Albert Hall and I was horrified and somehow disappointed to see men both young and old in t-shirts, shorts and trainers. It was especially striking to see them accompanied by contrastingly elegant women.
I do not want this discussion to turn into conservative rant because in principle I do not care about strangers having good or bad taste or whether they feel a need to dress appropriately. The problem is that if I myself do care about dressing appropriately for an occasion, it is difficult to do so when you are obviously sticking out of the crowd, which is so easy these days. And as I said the principle of men’s elegance is not to stick out.
So basically it is about feeling comfortable in an environment rather than some silly exclusivity or snobbish vibe.
Of course I can just walk around St James but I’d rather have a drink or dinner in a nice place without being accused of manifesting something with my overly formal clothes.

[ML11]

To be honest, this is about everything but exclusivity.
I am not old enough to remember this but looking at the old photos, newspapers, movies etc. just a few decades ago it was normal for every man (I have no idea about women’s fashion) to be able to dress somewhat decent. Wearing a suit and hat in public places was a normal thing for everybody from working class to royalty. This is the exact opposite of exclusivity or pretentiousness, especially for more formal dress codes like white and black ties where basically all the men are supposed to look and dress similar: elegant but not flashy.
Recently, I went to Royal Albert Hall and I was horrified and somehow disappointed to see men both young and old in t-shirts, shorts and trainers. It was especially striking to see them accompanied by contrastingly elegant women.
I do not want this discussion to turn into conservative rant because in principle I do not care about strangers having good or bad taste or whether they feel a need to dress appropriately. The problem is that if I myself do care about dressing appropriately for an occasion, it is difficult to do so when you are obviously sticking out of the crowd, which is so easy these days. And as I said the principle of men’s elegance is not to stick out.
So basically it is about feeling comfortable in an environment rather than some silly exclusivity or snobbish vibe.
Of course I can just walk around St James but I’d rather have a drink or dinner in a nice place without being treated as a snob.

[ML11]

Thanks a lot. As a non-Brit I always thought that if there were any venues left which still do require evening dress code (and are not extremely exclusive and high-profile), they would be in the UK. Regrettably, it seems this is not the case anymore most of the time.

[ML11]

Thanks! What about some elegant jazz/other music clubs? Basically, a place where you can have a drink and chat in a nice atmosphere.

[ML11]

I have £200 Amex Travel credit (Plat SUB) + spend £300 on Amex Travel, get £75 back + spend £200 at Hilton get 9k points. Is there a way to combine all 3 offers/credits during one stay?

[ML11]

Any opinions on Sketch? Got my Platinum recently and thought why not to try Michelin restaurant for the first time. I was thinking about lunch at the Glade.

[ML11]

MKB wrote:

DarrenS wrote:

I have Melia spend £300 get £75 credit. Does anyone have experience as to whether cumulative spend will trigger the offer, a la Hilton and IHG?

The terms specifically allow cumulative spend:
“Save to Card to get a £75 statement credit when you make one or more transactions up to £300+ in participating hotel(s) at Meliá Hotels & Resorts by 30/6/2023.”

Beware that there are very few participating properties. ME London is the only UK one.
https://www.americanexpress.com/content/dam/amex/uk/merchant/Melia_participating_list_Q2_23.pdf

Does “in-store only” mean that only transactions made in person at a hotel qualify for the offer? i.e. if I book and pre-pay my stay online, I will not received the credit?

[ML11]

Carlos wrote:

ML11 wrote:

-Amex offers better flight delay insurance but requires the payments made with an Amex card – annoying abroad

Shouldnt be annoying if you book in the UK or online before travelling? Do you mean any payments whilst abroad and delayed? They do not strictly require this but rather prefer it as they can access the statements easily.

For example 1.2 Cancelling, postponing and abandoning your trip exclusions state in 6) that „Travel and/or accommodation costs not purchased on the card account” are not eligible. This means that I have to suffer Amex FX rates and fees if I book anything in local currency or I do not get the coverage.
I find it hard to believe any insurer is not going to try to waive their liability in case I do not pay with the card which is strictly required for the coverage in T&Cs.

@JDB of course HSBC insurance is free but requires setting up the premier account which I am not going to do just to get the insurance. So for me it is really a choice of HSBC account with insurance + card or Amex.

[ML11]

Hi,
I am deciding between Amex Platinum and HSBC World Elite cards for lounge access. Can someone more knowledgable help me compare the insurance offered by Amex Platinum and HSBC Premier account (required to hold the card)? From my very brief research:
-HSBC covers the account holder and their family, Amex covers the card and supplementary card holders and their families (so potentially more people)
-Amex offers rental car insurance
-Amex offers better flight delay insurance but requires the payments made with an Amex card – annoying abroad

Can some point out anything else?
Thanks!