InterContinental Hotels: Priority Club & Inter-Continental Ambassador - Why is PC 18+ only?

Title says it all, why do you have to be at least 18 years old to join PC?

don't you have to be at least 18 to reserve a hotel room by yourself?

It probably has something to do with legally being obligated to keep your end of the bargain at that age, I would imagine (though this probably does vary country by country).

In the United States if you are under 18, you can't enter into a legally binding contract without the consent of a parent or legal guardian.

The way around it:
Have your parents get you a PriorityClub Rewards VISA from Chase. It will be their account, but you'll be an authorized user with your own card.
When you make a reservation with points (again, from their account), have your name listed as an additional guest.

Never had problems with my underage sons checking in this way. They probably just "assume" on their ages.

When you make a reservation with points (again, from their account), have your name listed as an additional guest.

Never had problems with my underage sons checking in this way. They probably just "assume" on their ages.

Not a kiljoy or anything, just don't try it if you booking in the UK.
A colleague of mine booked his 17 year old son into a HI in London to join up with us whilst we were all down there. His son looks over 18 and drives.

He was named as the 2nd Guest and when arrived all seemed fine, after an hour the manager rang the room and started questioning. He was lucky to be in London and tubed it over from the CP and went straight to reception.

Duty manager kept going on about Insurance and Health and Safety.
Maybe an Isolated incident.

Also in my experience if you not a National of the County you have to surrender passports for scan or for held during 1st night.
So even as a 2nd guest, if the 1st does not arrive they may ask you questions over your Bacon and Eggs in the morning...

Again - I not trying to be a killjoy, just sharing my views.

Would not want anyone to be stuck in a place with no room or a GM on the case.

Duty manager kept going on about Insurance and Health and Safety.

Sure. But I fail to see how kicking an underage guest back to the street with nowhere to go is improving the situation.

HTB.

Sure. But I fail to see how kicking an underage guest back to the street with nowhere to go is improving the situation.

HTB.

The hotel is legally bound to verify the age of the person checking in if they appear to be under age. It not only has to do with safety but also liability in case of damage and/or injury.

mxm135 :)

Even more greenhorns on FT? :D

So, will I be in trouble if I want to make use of my PC platinum? I have enrolled directly via email correspondence in conjunction with a status match. Only later I have found out you'd have to be 18+.
The stay is in Thailand with my parents.
I'm fine if I don't get the benefits, but the hotel can't cancel my reservation based on this, can they?

Sure. But I fail to see how kicking an underage guest back to the street with nowhere to go is improving the situation.

HTB.

I agree with you, my son 17 as traveled to spain about 3 times 1 once at 16 and twice at 17 with other groups his age, and they have surrendered passports on arrival an no-one as asked them to leave, they just upped the security deposit to 100 euro's per room :D.

I just thought I would share with the OP as at the time of post he had not indicated the location of travel and the UK in most hotels, especially the smaller ones do strictly adhere to the 18 year rule.

Hopefully the rest of community can shed some light on his travel location and offer him the most sound advice. Also if he his travelling with Parents then the 18+ requirement for staying is irrelevant and its only the PC Status - Points, upgrades etc that are in question as someone over 18 is in the property.

The hotel is legally bound to verify the age of the person checking in if they appear to be under age. It not only has to do with safety but also liability in case of damage and/or injury.

That may be -- but in an extreme case that could mean that the person they send back to the streets freezes to death that very night. I don't understand the logic of that law.

HTB.

So, will I be in trouble if I want to make use of my PC platinum? I have enrolled directly via email correspondence in conjunction with a status match. Only later I have found out you'd have to be 18+.
The stay is in Thailand with my parents.
I'm fine if I don't get the benefits, but the hotel can't cancel my reservation based on this, can they?

I sincerely doubt they'll cancel your reservation. I actually doubt it'll be an issue at all, since you'll be with your parents.

But can they? I have taken a quick look at the T&Cs and found nothing. I hope the hotel will not mind but if they refuse to honour benefits, I'll not complain. :)

But can they? I have taken a quick look at the T&Cs and found nothing. I hope the hotel will not mind but if they refuse to honour benefits, I'll not complain. :)

From a purely legal poInt of view it depends on Thai law whether or not you would have a binding reservation. I assume you are from the great soccer nation of the Netherlands :D and there you could not make a valid reservation without the consent of your guardian. In practice nobody will ever check if this is done online. In your specific case they can only check the moment you arrive together with your parents and they will consent at the latest in this very moment. So I would not worry.

Thank you. I'm reassured.
Another question (I read the FAQ sticky): do Platinum benefits apply on stays that are booked by a TA? The hotel is part of a package tour so I have no idea what kind of rate it is. I think it isn't a very negotiated rate as we paid extra for the HI as it wasn't the standard hotel.
So do you have to have a specific rate for benefits to apply, or are all paid stays valid?

Does not specifically apply to the rate paid. As long as you heave your PCR number applied to the reservation you might get the elite benefits. Always depends on the hotel what benefits they extend to the guest

In the United States if you are under 18, you can't enter into a legally binding contract without the consent of a parent or legal guardian.

I'm pretty sure this is the reason. When you rent a room at a hotel you're essentaily signing a contract, which would not be legally binding if the signers had not reached the age of majority (weren't legally viewed as adults) where the contract was signed and where it was to be honoured.

Because PC works with many nations they would err on the side of caution and choose their age cut off to match the most restrictive country they operate in. Otherwise, there would be too many legal issues, etc to be sorted out on a case by case basis.

As to whether your booking will be honoured, I don't know. If you wanted to be sure you could call or email the hotel in advance but that might also draw unwanted attention to your situation. IE if you say nothing you might have a higher chance of getting away with it that you would if you tried to do the right thing and confirm everything in advance.

Had no idea about this rule but I joined PC when I was 12...through airline FFP though.

My kids became PC golds before they turned one...:D

All ended well. Though of course I did not give them my passport at check-in! :D
The plat status was nicely honoured with upgrade on both occasions. I also reported my experience in the maser thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18966987-post3735.html).
Thanks for all your insight!