InterContinental Hotels: Priority Club & Inter-Continental Ambassador - Friends and Family ... but not for me?

I'm doing a search on a hotel using the F&F rate. If I log-in it says that there is no availability. If I log out - it's available. If I use my wife's and log her in - it gives her the rate. If I then log her out in the middle of the booking and log me in - it allows me to proceed with the rate. If I log out and then try again using my own number it won't allow it. and says:

No rooms exactly matching your preferences were found. The following room types are available.

.......... and offers other higher rates. Tried several times - and I promise it doesn't want me to have it unless I trick it but it seems to not mind anyone else. It is membership number related - not cookie related because I've tried different PC's and the behaviour is identical.

Anyone else ever try logging out when F&F seems not to be available and then try it outside of a log-in and notice this rather anti-social behaviour?:(

I have the same problem - when I am logged in, I get no availability for the F&F rate.

No matter what browser or computer I use - clearing the cookies also does not help!

I always log myself out, select the room under the F&F rate I want and then log in again on the first booking page (the one directly after selecting the room, where you are asked to provide your details).

Works now fine for me...

I have the same problem - when I am logged in, I get no availability for the F&F rate.

No matter what browser or computer I use - clearing the cookies also does not help!

I always log myself out, select the room under the F&F rate I want and then log in again on the first booking page (the one directly after selecting the room, where you are asked to provide your details).

Works now fine for me...

Thanks for trying and reporting back ....

Looks like there is some previously unreported mechanism for deciding that some members shouldn't see F&F rates.

Just to try and drill this down a bit ... is it a property where you have a current booking at F&F - or have previously had and F&F booking - ie could it be a marker placed by the property in the belief you'll pay another rate if the F&F rate is withdrawn? If you have a moment it'd be interesting to see whether if you sign in again and try to make a second booking under F&F for the same date and property whether it says no availability or not and then try again outside your login to see whether it's you!

I suspect that this happens to people and as they don't retry outside their account they will think there isn't availability when in fact there is .... but just not for them .......... :)

Just to try and drill this down a bit ... is it a property where you have a current booking at F&F - or have previously had and F&F booking - ie could it be a marker placed by the property in the belief you'll pay another rate if the F&F rate is withdrawn?


I tried for a completely random property I have never been to and get the same result: no F&F rate when logged in.

Anti-social for sure, but so far only mildly bothersome, as F&F nights are non-qualifying and have never counted for any promotion, to my knowledge.

I tried for a completely random property I have never been to and get the same result: no F&F rate when logged in.

Anti-social for sure, but so far only mildly bothersome, as F&F nights are non-qualifying and have never counted for any promotion, to my knowledge.

Interesting game they are playing ...... Not a way to delight your regulars. They need to get a grip on these rather cheap tricks ..... We find out in the end. Nasty. Friends and Family are now precluded from your friends and now only available to strangers. Pathetic way to conduct a loyalty based busines when you treat your customers like idiots.

Non qualifying etc is of no issue to - all my travel is leisure and from my own shallow pockets.

Any other experiment feedback welcomed.

Interesting game they are playing ...... Not a way to delight your regulars. They need to get a grip on these rather cheap tricks ..... We find out in the end. Nasty. Friends and Family are now precluded from your friends and now only available to strangers. Pathetic way to conduct a loyalty based busines when you treat your customers like idiots.

Non qualifying etc is of no issue to - all my travel is leisure and from my own shallow pockets.

Any other experiment feedback welcomed.


This is not new. It is an issue also seen with the exclusive A rate. If you look up another rate first, such as best flexible, often it will not show a lower rate. I deal with it by switching browser, it does not seem to be such as issue with Firefox where I do not allow cookies.

Why do you want to log in if F&F rate is a non-qualifying stay?

If you'd like the hotel to know your status, you can just show your card at check-in.

Why do you want to log in if F&F rate is a non-qualifying stay?

If you'd like the hotel to know your status, you can just show your card at check-in.

Loads of reasons. I'm suprised you ask ..... as so many potential benefits depend on your booking being in your own profile. eg

1. I like the convenience of having all my bookings in one place so that I can change or cancel them easiy. Keeping all bookings seperately means that you can make mistakes.

2. Some properties look out for my bookings and I do considerably better than a single upgrade. Several properties I visit four or five times a years. Many properties give me triple or better with club thrown in.

3. Some properties that know me do not take the payment for F&F until I checkout thus effectively allowing me a flex rate thus #1 is important.

4. My stay history enhances my welcome at many of the properties - not everyone knows me - some people are new. Previous contact with the GM will be noted. Some properties have people that have been there for years and they like to handle my bookings personally and my upgrades appear magically even on F&F rates within a day or two sometimes followed up with a personal note saying they're noticed the booking and have reserved my favourite suite and are looking forward to my visit.

5. My personal preferences are all logged including particular suite numbers, preferred cleaning times, some always give me free wifi etc....

6. Sometimes non-qualifying rates get credited.


.......obviously I could go through the trouble of getting it linked in but may I respectfully suggest that it seems to me that you aren't getting the most out of your IC stays if you think that just showing up with your card is the same thing .........

Thanks for trying and reporting back ....

Looks like there is some previously unreported mechanism for deciding that some members shouldn't see F&F rates.

Just to try and drill this down a bit ... is it a property where you have a current booking at F&F - or have previously had and F&F booking - ie could it be a marker placed by the property in the belief you'll pay another rate if the F&F rate is withdrawn? If you have a moment it'd be interesting to see whether if you sign in again and try to make a second booking under F&F for the same date and property whether it says no availability or not and then try again outside your login to see whether it's you!

I suspect that this happens to people and as they don't retry outside their account they will think there isn't availability when in fact there is .... but just not for them .......... :)

It happens with all properties when I am logged in - no matter if I stayed there before or not, so no marker from a special property.
Have not tried to book a second room under F&F when logged on - and probably will not try to in the next days as my future F&F bookings for the next weeks are already made - but when having booked a room with the F&F rate and then trying to book another room at another property there is again no availability as long as I am looged in. If I log out and do the trick again, it works.

I think I don't get all those perks because I don't normally stay at IC and I'm not a RA.

A lot of the IHG properties I stayed at I get an upgrade when I disclose my plat status at chcek-in. I also don't stay at the same IHG hotel all the time, so I guess even if I do all those things it wouldn't have much effect.

I think I don't get all those perks because I don't normally stay at IC and I'm not a RA.

A lot of the IHG properties I stayed at I get an upgrade when I disclose my plat status at chcek-in. I also don't stay at the same IHG hotel all the time, so I guess even if I do all those things it wouldn't have much effect.

I'm currently not an RA, but have been for many years so can compare. The only difference for me now is the mini bar which is pretty irrelevant anyway because we use the lounge and travel is leisure so we're there for the bars and restaurants. All our stays except Nice are ICs.

If you don't return to the same places then showing your card will be fine ... But if you keep returning to the same properties then you must make friends with them and that friendship is pretty much always returned.

We visit a handful pf properties several times a year and would possibly qualify for RA if they were all qualifying stays. But it makes better sense to buy what we require at the lowest rates .........

Anyway. ....... my point was that the Friends and Family rate seemed odd when it was introduced ...... but now bizarrely is withdrawn from Friends and only offered to non-Friends.

Do you have a corporate ID showing when trying to book, that may be the issue?

Nope. I'Ve never had one and it isn't the issue.

Thanks.