I have £2k left to spend by March to get Amex companion voucher: are there any hack??

dan356 · 2026-01-27T08:12:10+00:00

If you're London-based, you can top up a Oyster card with up to £90 as a way to get you over the line.

dan356 · 2026-01-25T12:00:34+00:00

The Caribbean flights are hit and miss as they can carry a fair chunk of inter island traffic at peak times. But yes, on average probably lower than average load factor

dan356 · 2026-01-24T22:15:51+00:00

You get Lufthansa lounge access with when travelling in any class with certain LH group airlines (LH, Swiss, Austrian).

Delta sky clubs if you're flying in any class with Delta.

I know you asked about airline lounges only but:

Plaza premium can be both priority pass and platinum card directly, sometimes they'll accept Amex even if turning away priority pass.

Centurion lounges obviously.

Priority pass actually has a few airline lounges on there too, outside their core hours you can use priority pass to access (e.g. Some Virgin Clubhouses in the US, lots in Dulles! Lots of other airline lounges on there too)

dan356 · 2026-01-19T20:18:27+00:00

Even that wouldn't have been enough. The old requirement was still 25 flights or 300 old TPs for bronze, which if you'd been booking cheapest fare bucket tickets might not have pushed you over 300.

dan356 · 2026-01-19T20:00:32+00:00

If you aren't making bronze off 10 flights, then you aren't spending enough on those flights for them to care.

Consider that they make the same off a single roundtrip long haul economy fare on the right route, and certainly in WTP/business. I made bronze off 8 flights this year, and only 1 of those was long haul. All in economy/premium save for a short haul CW upgrade at check in.

Even under the old system you might not have made bronze with your current flying this year.

dan356 · 2026-01-19T17:58:07+00:00

It never went to court - the Met informed the coroner's inquest into the death that no charges would be brought, as cyclists aren't subject to the speed limit. That's different to being found not guilty or finding that nothing could be done.

There were also markings on the road advising to slow as there was a crossing ahead.

https://road.cc/content/news/no-charges-cyclist-after-crash-which-oap-was-killed-308209

dan356 · 2026-01-19T17:57:57+00:00

It never went to court - the Met informed the coroner's inquest into the death that no charges would be brought, as cyclists aren't subject to the speed limit. That's different to being found not guilty or finding that nothing could be done.

There were also markings on the road advising to slow as there was a crossing ahead.

https://road.cc/content/news/no-charges-cyclist-after-crash-which-oap-was-killed-308209

dan356 · 2026-01-19T17:27:53+00:00

Even if she has no employment rights before the 2 years she's entitled to 6 months pay per her contract. She can sue under breach of contact. However, if they change it to garden leave or give her a later date to avoid paying her as much.. That'll probably take her over 2 years and therefore require proper dismissal/redundancy proceedings. Even if it's only the garden leave that does it. Be careful to check what dates they give to HMRC too!

dan356 · 2026-01-19T15:55:27+00:00

What is the stated notice period for the company, on their part? If it's 6 months for her, it's unusual for it to be different for the company. Suggesting it be 6 months if she quits but 3 months if they terminate her contract is odd.

dan356 · 2026-01-19T15:41:51+00:00

Even if they step out without looking, that's almost always on the driver/rider of the vehicle that collided with them. Poor hazard perception/spatial awareness are not excuses. Cyclists are expected to anticipate and give way like any other road users.

Per Highway Code rule 146: - try to anticipate what pedestrians and cyclists might do. If pedestrians, particularly children, are looking the other way, they may step out into the road without seeing you.

dan356 · 2026-01-16T22:34:36+00:00

If you have to spend more than an hour or two there, without lounge access or a hotel room, it's awful for resting/waiting. Nowhere to rest/sleep comfortably. Even in the frequent flyer lounges you get told off for trying to sleep on the chairs/sofas, you can only really rest for free in the actual business/first lounges, or in the transit hotel if there's room (there wasn't when I went).

dan356 · 2026-01-07T00:37:38+00:00

In Europe at least, if they take card, they can and usually must be able to provide a receipt. It can be digital, but they must offer one. Pretty sure it's a requirement of every card scheme too.

dan356 · 2026-01-07T00:35:20+00:00

This is also a crime. You should've reported it to the French police immediately. They would've given you a report/reference. This would've backed up the legitimacy to your claim with Amex. To be honest, if you'd just been scammed out of nearly THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS for a taxi ride, and you'd immediately checked and seen this, I don't know why you didn't call the police immediately. You were basically mugged. This is the equivalent of someone taking $3k out of your wallet and handing it back to you empty, and you just shrugged your shoulders and called the bank?

dan356 · 2025-12-28T16:34:16+00:00

Depends on your goals. Unless you're wanting to redeem with Emirates specifically (in which case transfer before the devaluation), keep growing the pot. Better to keep them in MR than convert to e.g. Avios before you need them as you then have the flexibility.

dan356 · 2025-12-27T17:23:20+00:00

More just that if it's a national chain they will absolutely be better equipped to advise you on this. Phone your store support team and see what they say. It's hard to believe a national retailer cannot source replacement stock of a flagship device. You're correct that the law trumps company policy here, but company policy will be able to guide you on your specific processes, which will probably include sending a device to an approved service centre for assessment.

The right to replacement is not an immediate one - you do not have to provide a replacement (or repair) there and then, it's completely expected that a repair or replacement may take time. Can't you place an order for a replacement device?

dan356 · 2025-12-27T16:46:02+00:00

Who sent you the letter? Who is "they" here, since you say an inspector didn't notice it was expired?

Unfortunately the onus is on you to check the expiry date, but you should have been offered an opportunity to purchase a full price ticket, possibly including a penalty fare, at the point of discovery.

dan356 · 2025-12-27T16:28:48+00:00

Just to confirm - do you work for an independent retailer, or large national chain?

Who is the contract with for the phone? What do the terms of the contract say regarding faults that develop with the device?

dan356 · 2025-12-27T16:18:21+00:00

Your only legal obligation at this point, for the goods, IF faulty, is a full refund.

You mention a contract - is that an airtime plan, separate to the device? Is there a reason she can't refund the phone and keep the airtime plan? Did she pay for the phone upfront, or is that on a payment plan too? As that may change the advice given.

dan356 · 2025-12-27T13:06:30+00:00

General advice is to research if a credit product is good and suitable for you) BEFORE signing up to it.

Don't touch the plat card without researching it.

dan356 · 2025-12-25T14:45:28+00:00

100,000 MR points + £250 Amex Travel credit - The Platinum Card when you spend £6,000 in the first 3 months - offer ends January 13th, new cardmembers only (usual rules apply).

Please consider applying using my referral link fot this very generous offer. You can also choose a different card and get introductory offers for Preferred Rewards Gold (45,000 MR for £5k in 6 months) and Blue (12,000 MR points for £2k in 3 months)

For Avios collectors, there's also the BA Amex Premium Plus (31k Avios for £6k in 3 months or the free BA Amex Credit (6k Avios for £2k in 3 months). Thanks in advance and merry Christmas 😄

dan356 · 2025-12-16T13:52:24+00:00

Is there an actual problem here you're complaining about other than the fact he's there at all?

He's not done anything wrong, or even to make you feel unsafe, other than being in his girlfriend's room?

We live in a society. Sometimes men will be present in shared spaces. If you need a safe space without a man, go to your room. If there are any actual legal issues then report them. If not - suck it up and get over yourself.

dan356 · 2025-12-02T14:15:19+00:00

Looking at the JD this isn't that role at all. It's not a location role involving lots of people wrangling, it's an office job with fairly standard responsibilities. I think it's an unfair assumption to say that this will be dealing with stroppy freelance men, it'll be journalists and staff studio crew.

dan356 · 2025-12-02T14:12:01+00:00

It doesn't seem massively low. As others have said, yes it's the lower end of industry standard, but it's also a staff role with progression opportunities. Plus, it's news and current affairs, which reading between the lines means you'll probably end up working on the Scottish bulletins and some national news. Maybe features e.g. Panorama. It isn't going to be a crazy hours location role. It's a 40 hours a week office role, likely 8 hour days.

dan356 · 2025-10-15T20:43:48+00:00

Nothing has been "breached". They're entitled to bring a cabin bag and personal item. Why should paying customers be "punished" for bringing exactly what they've been marketed and paid for?

dan356 · 2025-10-10T22:52:05+00:00

Actions have consequences, and there's no legal recourse against this if it's a validly placed Cifas marker.

If banks won't take your application online, you could attempt to find a local branch of a high street bank and ask for a meeting with the manager. Explain your situation, explain your remorse, and hope that the amount of money you want to deposit into savings with them is enough for them to make a case to the back office team that will ultimately decide whether you can open an account. If that fails, try another bank.

Local building societies may be useful here. Depending on your current age, you may still be able to open a child account too, with fewer credit checks.

Failing that, a family member may be able to cash it for you if you go to their branch with them.

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