InterContinental Hotels: Priority Club & Inter-Continental Ambassador - upgrade policy for plantium members at Ic London

I know there is a thread here for upgrade policy for RA holders at IC Park lane but does anybody know if its the same for plantium members?

I booked a classic room using free nights promotion. The room was classic and we were upgraded to Deluxe from classic which seems to confirm the two tier system here

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/intercontinental-hotels-priority-club-inter-continental-ambassador/969082-upgrade-policy-ras-ic-london-park-lane.html#post12665344


(they wouldnt upgrade us any further - if we wanted the club lounge it was £80! - we got it for £40 as i saw RA members on here got it for £40, is that only RA members or plantium as well. Also is the £40 a daily charge? or a one off charge?)


At the time of booking the only option for the free nights was the classic room but i also have another 2 free nights to take before 26th Dec and notice i can get free nights in a superior room. Working on the two tier system would mean i could get upgraded to Executive room is that right? and if so would i automatically get the club access or just the better room anybody know?

Plain platinums (i.e. no ambassador status) are bottom of the pile for upgrades at IC hotels. Platinum is the top tier in Crowne Plazas and Holiday Inns but at ICs - the Ambassador programme is the most important.

It's worth paying the $150 (first year, $100 to renew) for Ambassador membership then you're guaranteed some sort of upgrade.

The Ambassador membership comes with a BOGO voucher that gives you a free night when staying over a weekend (min 2 nights) and it can pay for itself in properties like the IC Park Lane.

It's worth noting that this particular IC will not give you club access for free as part of an upgrade. Some do, but it's not a requirement.

Plain platinums (i.e. no ambassador status) are bottom of the pile for upgrades at IC hotels. Platinum is the top tier in Crowne Plazas and Holiday Inns but at ICs - the Ambassador programme is the most important.

It's worth paying the $150 (first year, $100 to renew) for Ambassador membership then you're guaranteed some sort of upgrade.

The Ambassador membership comes with a BOGO voucher that gives you a free night when staying over a weekend (min 2 nights) and it can pay for itself in properties like the IC Park Lane.

It's worth noting that this particular IC will not give you club access for free as part of an upgrade. Some do, but it's not a requirement.


thanks for that if i paid for ambassador would it give me club access at park lane? im likley to only use it another once or twice in one year but consdering it would cost me £80 each night to get club access then it may be worth it.

also there was a prmotion on here stay twice and get ambassdor status free is that still on?

thanks for that if i paid for ambassador would it give me club access at park lane? im likley to only use it another once or twice in one year but consdering it would cost me £80 each night to get club access then it may be worth it.

also there was a prmotion on here stay twice and get ambassdor status free is that still on?

Ambassador status will get you a 50% reduction on the fee to access the lounge, bringing it to a number that makes sense. It does not give you free access.

upgrade policy for plantium members at Ic London

"plantium" members have a nice upgrade: view of interior court yard with (I hope) some plants :D:D

1 Pay TV film free per stay as well

If you went for Club you've covered your AMB fee, pretty much - you'd save £92 on Club access (£46 per day instead of £92) plus say £10 of pay TV movie. At the current exchange rate $150 is about £90.

You'll also get the voucher for 5,000 PC points and the BOGO weekend night voucher. If you can't use the latter you can easily swap it with another FT'er for another 5,000 point voucher - when you hit 90 posts you'll get access to the Coupon Connection board on FT.

If you have already been upgraded from a Classic to a Deluxe as a PC Plat then someone in the hotel was feeling very generous that day. If you book other nights in a Superior and they are consecutive to the first stay they will let you keep the Deluxe room all the way through (with 90% certainty). From an upgrade point of view, AMB won't help you here if you have already been upgraded to a Deluxe as this is more than you 'deserve' anyway!

Ambassador status will get you a 50% reduction on the fee to access the lounge, bringing it to a number that makes sense. It does not give you free access.

Note, it doesn't ALWAYS give a 50% discount, as the property uses the price to throttle the numbers in the club. It's always worked for me so far though.

1 Pay TV film free per stay as well

If you went for Club you've covered your AMB fee, pretty much - you'd save £92 on Club access (£46 per day instead of £92) plus say £10 of pay TV movie. At the current exchange rate $150 is about £90.

You'll also get the voucher for 5,000 PC points and the BOGO weekend night voucher. If you can't use the latter you can easily swap it with another FT'er for another 5,000 point voucher - when you hit 90 posts you'll get access to the Coupon Connection board on FT.

If you have already been upgraded from a Classic to a Deluxe as a PC Plat then someone in the hotel was feeling very generous that day. If you book other nights in a Superior and they are consecutive to the first stay they will let you keep the Deluxe room all the way through (with 90% certainty). From an upgrade point of view, AMB won't help you here if you have already been upgraded to a Deluxe as this is more than you 'deserve' anyway!

thanks for this would the ambassador status be applied immediately. how can i purchase this. also can the bogof wkend voucher be transfered to someone else?

www.priorityclub.com/ambassador

Status is instant but you won't get the box (inc the weekend night voucher) for about 3-4 weeks. The Pay TV and upgrade benefits would kick in immediately as this is automatic, no vouchers or anything (the hotel will see on their system that you are an AMB and act accordingly).

Yes, the voucher is transferable (although the person who redeems it must be a fellow Ambassador) - as is the 5,000 point voucher (which anyone, AMB or not, can redeem).

If you are travelling alone, I would question the value of the IC London lounge even at £46 per night (£47 after Jan 1st when VAT goes up to 17.5%) unless you like a big breakfast and are going to be around during the day and for the 6-8pm (or whatever) free drinks. You can get breakfast in the cafes nearby in Shepherds Market for a few pounds. For a couple, though, its a decent deal.

thanks for this would the ambassador status be applied immediately. how can i purchase this. also can the bogof wkend voucher be transfered to someone else?


You can buy it here (http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/intercontinental/en/gb/ambassador) for 150$. If you want to use 24K points instead you have to call the Service Center. Another option is to buy Ambassador Status directly upon checkin.

You will then receive the status immediately.

The BOGO can be transferred, it is valid for 1 year.


EDIT: hmm, too late ;)

thanks for this would the ambassador status be applied immediately. how can i purchase this. also can the bogof wkend voucher be transfered to someone else?

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/intercontinental/en/gb/ambassador

it should be applied straight away as far as i am aware