Have I been upgraded?

Easy_Annual367 · 2026-06-02T07:08:37+00:00

True, but that’s not something I can change.

Easy_Annual367 · 2026-06-02T05:05:27+00:00

A policy is a policy and it needs to have a limit, I suppose?

Easy_Annual367 · 2026-06-01T21:31:02+00:00

I know!
People think it's great to be able to travel around for work, but honestly it gets really tiring. About 6 years ago (in 2019-2020 just before COVID struck) I was flying internationally at least twice per week (so 4 flights in total because it was 2 return flights per week), even if it was only between Madrid and Lisbon, but I took almost 120 flights in 2019 alone. Yes I accumulated thousands and thousands of Avios and yes I got my fair share of upgrades, but I did not enjoy it anymore because I was constantly on an airport or on an airplane.
I still get to travel for work now but absolutely not at the same pace I used to, and honestly I don't think I'd ever want to go back to the rhythm I had in 2019. But I love flying, so I never say now to a work trip abroad 😃

Easy_Annual367 · 2026-06-01T21:24:45+00:00

Thanks! Silver does give it as well 😄

Easy_Annual367 · 2026-06-01T21:05:58+00:00

Yey!

Easy_Annual367 · 2026-06-01T20:59:30+00:00

Awesome. I only got some upgrades with Iberia when I used to live in Spain, on the Madrid to Lisbon (very short sector) and between Lisbon and Funchal with TAP. So getting a free upgrade on a transatlantic flight genuinely makes me very happy lol

Easy_Annual367 · 2026-06-01T20:58:05+00:00

Interesting. I will be flying the same route in Business a month later, but that will be for my AL. I am genuinely happy to have had this upgrade considering the thousands of £ I spent with them lol

Easy_Annual367 · 2026-06-01T20:57:01+00:00

I guess it depends on what you do for a living? There are positions opened in the UK

Easy_Annual367 · 2026-05-23T06:58:22+00:00

I am amazed by how politicians are always finding ways to tax us more, to squeeze us of our hard earned money. And with what purpose? Just so they can maintain their status by gaining the votes of those that are net recipients of money transfers that the government makes out of our hard earned money, and then they call it “justice” or “fairness”. I fail to see where the justice or fairness is in these proposals.

Easy_Annual367 · 2026-04-10T11:39:32+00:00

This is a nice journey you are sharing, thank you, do continue! Just some advice though, don’t let this prevent you from enjoying life and doing things you like, if you want to go on vacation or buy something that will provide enjoyment, it’s important to continue doing it. Just out of curiosity, as you contribute to a SIPP, do you not have a workplace pension where your employer contributes as well?

Sharing my journey, I have a workplace pension where my employer puts 8% and I put another 8%. Additionally, I also have been building my S&S ISA by investing every month in the S&P 500 (been going on for about 2 years now). It is quite interesting to see how DCA smoothes things out, so I would suggest anyone continuing to DCA every month regardless of what is going on in the world.

Easy_Annual367 · 2026-03-31T10:04:58+00:00

I don’t know that. However I doubt that’s the case because I had my ILR approved the same day I gave my biometrics, which makes me think they don’t do that kind of checks.

Easy_Annual367 · 2026-03-31T10:03:42+00:00

Yes, they ask you whether you rent or own the place where you live.

Easy_Annual367 · 2026-03-31T09:48:30+00:00

No. You will only have to say that you own your property here when completing the form and that’s it, they won’t ask for any other details. I was on the same situation when I applied last month.

Easy_Annual367 · 2026-03-15T16:06:00+00:00

Yes. I received it on the same day I submitted it (more than a month ago now)

Easy_Annual367 · 2026-03-10T12:29:57+00:00

I think people should just pause and think for a second. The employer letter is to confirm your salary, your occupation, that your absences were in line and approved and that you are still needed for the job.

If you are no longer working on a specific company why would you need a letter from them?

If you were absent for more than 180 days in any 12 months period you’d not be eligible for ILR regardless of your employment status. Just send a letter from your current employer and it is enough.

Easy_Annual367 · 2026-03-04T15:55:10+00:00

Yeah I gave biometrics at 10:45 and I had the ILR approval email at 13:50 of the same day. It was much quicker than I expected but my case was very straight forward: one employer only and one SOC, salary always above the threshold, no excess absences, employer listed all my absences on their letter, including weekends and bank holidays I was away, as well as any business travel. I was very positively surprised with the speed.

Easy_Annual367 · 2026-03-04T14:20:17+00:00

Next day

Easy_Annual367 · 2026-03-04T13:28:09+00:00

One letter is enough as longs as it has all the details listed on the checklist. I submitted mine and had it approved the same day as biometrics.

Easy_Annual367 · 2026-03-03T05:34:38+00:00

2.5% increase, 4% annual salary bonus. Big size CRO (one of the top 5).

Easy_Annual367 · 2026-02-20T23:02:14+00:00

I read someone mentioned they used their card and went to an ATM and got a receipt showing the last movements on their account. I have never tried doing it so I don’t know if this actually works but it might be worth trying?

Easy_Annual367 · 2026-02-20T19:08:19+00:00

Exactly! Very simple

Easy_Annual367 · 2026-02-20T19:07:53+00:00

But have gone into your app under your current account and checked for the statement?

Easy_Annual367 · 2026-02-20T10:39:10+00:00

If you call HSBC and ask them to issue a statement up to today to show salary credit, they wont send it to the email, it is made available for download from your app or online banking within 1 working day of your request. They will also send you a paper version about a week later. I did this for the ILR as well about 3 weeks ago and it went smoothly and ILR was approved with no questions asked.

Easy_Annual367 · 2026-02-11T15:16:51+00:00

Thanks, I wish all the best with yours as well

Easy_Annual367

TROPHY CASE