[SpectroMartin]

I bought a “Hushed” lifetime subscription on Stacksocial. $24.99 for life for a USA (or Canada) number with a text and minutes allowance:

https://www.stacksocial.com/sales/hushed-private-phone-1-line-plan-1000-mins-6000-sms

It was easy to set up but I’ve not tried calling out yet.

[SpectroMartin]

The best place to look is the Priority Pass app as it will show if pre-booking is available. Some of the apps you can’t pre-book with Priority Pass do show up as pre-bookable on the LoungeKey app so you may be able to use the link on that. However, I have not tried it myself (yet).

[SpectroMartin]

I booked and paid for rooms for my parents a couple of times and I added one of them as an additional guest so they could check in. On the most part it was fine, but in one hotel they were VERY funny with them and caused a bit of a scene about me not being there. They said that they couldn’t apply the status benefits because the HHonors member wasn’t there. However, when they realised the stay had been paid up-front they didn’t have a problem with it. I didn’t do it again after that because I didn’t want them to run the risk of that happening again to them.

[SpectroMartin]

I’ve used Very.co.uk with BA eStore to buy iPhones before when there have been Apple offers – I got the Avios and the discount and paid on Barclaycard Avios+. I applied for a Very account and they only offered me the option to pay in instalments and not BNPL (which they class as different things). They offered my wife BNPL straight away and that was the only way to get the offer that was running at the time.

Also be aware that the postage and packaging charge is not interest free so you’ll be charged interest on that if you don’t pay it off straight away!

[SpectroMartin]

It shows up as pre-bookable on my LoungeKey (Santander Issued) but not Priority Pass (Amex Issued). This is the case with a few of the lounges I use bizarrely with the reverse the case for some lounges too.

[SpectroMartin]

It did give me points for Hilton points purchases (not sure how) and it seemed a good deal for foreign spending, especially in Hilton properties abroad or am I missing something?

If you can’t preauthorise then does it mean you can’t use the card at check-in in a hotel? This does seem a bit pointless if you are using it at a Hilton Hotel?

The debit card wouldn’t add to Curve and I couldn’t get it to work with Paypal which is frustrating.

[SpectroMartin]

They also said it was a provisional rate so don’t quote me on it!

[SpectroMartin]

I could have misheard but I am sure they said per night.

I did manage to get a double bed room for the same redemption rate so going to go with that.

[SpectroMartin]

John wrote:

Is there a phone number for the hotel you can call

Yes, I managed to speak to them. Deluxe King has one bed, no sofa-bed and a rollaway is $250 per night.

[SpectroMartin]

kai wrote:

This is an appalling card. You shouldn’t use it for any purchase.

Harrier25 wrote:

Cancel that awful card and say, “sorry for any inconvenience caused.”

Why do you think it’s a dreadful card?

[SpectroMartin]

I got it for 150k per night for three nights and figured it was a “once in a lifetime” opportunity. There is a deluxe double mobility available for 150k points too and it lets me book with the statement saying you can book if no other suitable rooms available. I don’t know if this is frowned upon or will be cancelled though?

[SpectroMartin]

The only room with double beds are the mobility adapted rooms. It said I could book it, and I do have a bad back per se but not sure that I should be booking that one?

There’s no mention of a resort fee on the website or app but I am aware there might be one. I think this is usually waived when you pay with points? I don’t think we paid one with a points redemption at the Waldorf Orlando.

[SpectroMartin]

New York Hilton Midtown is great if you are Diamond as it has an executive lounge. Location is great too and walking distance from Central Park.

[SpectroMartin]

Thanks for that Hbommie!I am a newbie with car hire.

I just chose the absolute lowest level of cover that was included with Avis. I presume this means that I am covered by the Amex Platinum cover now? There was no way for me to not have the CDW on the website.

The email confirmation says that it includes:

Damage Cover
Collision damage waiver (CDW) ensures you are covered if your vehicle is damaged and repairs are required. An excess per clearly separate incident of damage applies but this can be reduced significantly or completely if you select one of our vehicle cover products. Windscreen is only included when renting from Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. In Scandinavia, these products are called CDI & SCDI. In other countries, windscreen cover can be added at the counter for a small fee. With this product, your vehicle’s excess per clearly separate incident of damage is €2,420.00.

Theft Cover
Theft Protection (TP) ensures you are covered if your vehicle is stolen. An excess applies, but this can be reduced significantly, or completely, if you select one of our Super Cover products.With this product, your vehicle’s excess is €2,420.00.

WHAT IS INCLUDED
Airport/city surcharge
Local Tax
Vehicle Registration Fee
Theft Cover
Damage Cover
Unlimited Mileage