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  1. andye

    A disrupted reunion

    Alight at H&H and fortunately there is a plug outlet in the little waiting room. Once I had some juice, I was able to get back onto the ESTA site. And I can now reaccess the payment page...hooray I pay by credit card this time... And get -"Thank you for your payment. We are unable to make...
  2. andye

    A disrupted reunion

    So I board the DLR and change onto the Elizabeth line. At Stratford there is an announcement that due to people on the tracks, the train wont go all the way to LHR but will terminate at Hayes & Harlington. I hadn't noticed my battery bar but en route, my phone conks out. The travel gods are...
  3. andye

    2025 Amex Membership Rewards Devaluation

    I'm still leaning to CX and BA. CX have good availability currently but are hard to top-up so will tilt to them. Avios have other ways of acquiring (eg boost, subscription) and in theory its possible to access QR via VA which is not devaluing.
  4. andye

    A disrupted reunion

    It would have been but they were obliged to get me to HKG which wouldn't have been for a while given the weather event
  5. andye

    A disrupted reunion

    Get on the official ESTA site. its not straightforward. As well as the old demographics and questions of turpitude, they now want the details of all held passport numbers (took a trail of my emails to find my expired UK passport details) and Facebook/Linkedin etc usernames. Go to pay. Click...
  6. andye

    A disrupted reunion

    Now I know you are all disappointed to be missing the Berlin stopover and the QR and CX flight reports. Believe me I was too. But I was feeling relieved that I'd be back home in time for mstrandye3's presentation. I go to the BA desk and tell them I'm a no-show for LCY-BER. Took a couple of...
  7. andye

    A disrupted reunion

    Not sure. A now-defunct butcher called Kennedy's in East Lane market was considered best when I wss young. But I always had an aversion to the jelly
  8. andye

    A disrupted reunion

    And then my mobile data crashes. Settle down into a cafe with wifi. FIre up google flights for anything ex-LON or BER. A couple of Y options around $1.5k via Vietnam and Taiwan but maybe not the best idea flying through SE Asia. Anything via Middle East considerably more. Then onto seats.aero...
  9. andye

    A disrupted reunion

    My internal monologue was resembling Hugh Grant's opening scene in Four Weddings and a Funeral. My previous hire car logistical challenge fades into insignificance (and this isnt my fault). I call an Uber and get onto Alaska (the issuers of the QR award flights). Short wait, helpful agent. But...
  10. andye

    ATO (tax office) payments by credit card

    I agree paying an inflated fee to get extra points wouldn't stand up as deductible if scrutinised. Deducting the standard fee for the normal points is reasonable IMO as you van argue you are using a portal for convenience, cash-flow whatever There are also some people who genuinely believe that...
  11. andye

    Coles gift card offers

    That's what I call manufactured spend I always thought money landering implied that the initial funds were nefariously acquired
  12. andye

    Coles gift card offers

    Oops you are right Mygov no Easypay yes
  13. andye

    Coles gift card offers

    Can still pay via mygov :)
  14. andye

    A disrupted reunion

    Separate title deeds I believe. I dont think any of the residents actually have titles though
  15. andye

    A disrupted reunion

    Following day was the start of my return trip. LCY is a pretty easy airport to depart from so I hadnt planned on getting there too early. I was just on a zoom to attend a rather testy Medical Staff Council meeting, when I received a call from Cathay to say my HKG-SYD flight had been cancelled...
  16. andye

    Coles gift card offers

    I prefer to use a QF earning card there for the bonus point for QF spend
  17. andye

    A disrupted reunion

    After catching up on our families' lives and assorted ailments, take the train back to London Bridge. There is a bit of a wait for the next bus to mumandye's so I stop off for a Guinness at one of my favourite pubs, The George in Southwark. It's a old coaching inn originally built in the 1600s...
  18. andye

    A disrupted reunion

    And so to set off for Sussex. Longish drive (by UK standards) and around the M25 with a few go-slows Drop into Crawley to return suit and pick up some wine and flowers (no proper florists open on Sunday so not the best) The Green Motion LGW drop-off looks like a farm but reasonably efficient...
  19. andye

    Coles gift card offers

    Yes, I usually pay asap before bill due. The couple of months delay I mention is that is the point at which lost interest on cash in my offset account makes the accrued Amex points borderline worth it
  20. andye

    Coles gift card offers

    I'm with @Chicken. These particular cards are very useful online where surcharges for Amex apply especially if you have an Edge so I try to buy as mamy as I can use in the next 2 months. The bonus VA points are good and a decent quantity but still cost 1c each as in lieu of FB discount. Wouldnt...
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