InterContinental Hotels: Priority Club & Inter-Continental Ambassador - Pay for wifi being platinum?

I called the hotel and they told me you have to pay for wifi and breakfast even being a platinum member. Is this correct?

Anyway to avoid the fees?

Thanks

I called the hotel and they told me you have to pay for wifi and breakfast even being a platinum member. Is this correct?

Anyway to avoid the fees?

Thanks

You can avoid the fees by:

a) booking a rate that includes these items, or
b) staying at a property that does not charge for these items

I called the hotel and they told me you have to pay for wifi and breakfast even being a platinum member. Is this correct?

Anyway to avoid the fees?

Thanks

Are you sure that you are in the right forum? It's never an IHG's elite perk to offer Plat free breakfast and internet.

You can get both free at Marriott hotels/Hilton.

Are you sure that you are in the right forum? It's never an IHG's elite perk to offer Plat free breakfast and internet.

You can get both free at Marriott hotels/Hilton.

I'm Marriott plat. I thought IHG would offer similar perks.

There's a short list of a dozen or so ICs that offer free internet as part of Ambassador, but PC Platinum is definitely the weakest of published top tier statuses.

(Yes, I know RA is the real top tier, but I wouldn't call it a published status level).

I'm Marriott plat. I thought IHG would offer similar perks.

Of course not, their Plat status is easy to earn. I'm a MR Gold and IHG Plat - I bought my IHG Plat by buying points but I had to earn my MR Gold through mattress run.

It's odd though. The past couple of non-IC properties have all offered me free wireless or wired internet on multiple devices specifically for being a Platinum member, in addition to an upgrade.

This includes Crowne Plaza's/HI's on both sides of the Atlantic. I just book the standard Adv-purchase rate in almost all instances too.

It's odd though. The past couple of non-IC properties have all offered me free wireless or wired internet on multiple devices specifically for being a Platinum member, in addition to an upgrade.

This includes Crowne Plaza's/HI's on both sides of the Atlantic. I just book the standard Adv-purchase rate in almost all instances too.

Wow, which properties are they? It wasn't the case in a HIE and HI in Germany I stayed at. I'm a PC Plat.

Thanks in advance!

Try Crowne Plazas in Ireland. Free wifi. All guests AFAIK

I'm Marriott plat. I thought IHG would offer similar perks.
Never assume such things. The elite status perks vary from program to program, the number of status levels varies from program to program, the meaning of a word like "Platinum" varies from program to program.

For example, Marriott Platinum is the third tier up, and requires 75 nights a year. (And even if you are in the US and can get the Chase Marriott Premier Visa, that only lowers that by 15 nights, to 60 nights.)

On the other hand, Priority Club Platinum is only the second tier up, and even then requires only 60,000 points earned in a year. You can get Priority Club Platinum status on just a few stays a year if you pay attention to all the promos listed in the Promos thread here on FT, or you can get Priority Club Platinum status by transferring 60,000 points from somewhere else. (Or, for those who are US based, you can get Platinum status just for having the Priority Club Select Visa credit card from Chase.)


Related to your original question:

Free internet and free breakfast are not guaranteed benefits in any Priority Club elite level. It is up to the hotel whether they provide either (or both). For example, some Holiday Inn hotels in the US do provide a breakfast buffet for Platinums (though how complete it is varies; one I've stayed at does not include juice, only water and/or coffee), but others don't, and you always have to research beforehand. Or just stay at Holiday Inn Express or Staybridge Suites, both of which provide free breakfast and free internet to everyone.

As a Priority Club Platinum, but also a member of many other programs, I basically limit my Priority Club stays to Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites (only when I don't need a breakfast provided), and those Holiday Inns that I can determine ahread of time comp breakfast and/or internet to Platinums.

I otherwise stay in other hotel programs. There are too many hotel programs out there, and since I now (that the Priority Club Select Visa gives it to me "free") don't have to do any paid stays at all to maintain Priority Club Platinum Status, I can use it only when the property doesn't nickel & dime me, and look to other programs at all other times.

I think wifi is a RA benefit, not AMB. Once I was in Singapore IC and I have to pay as an AMB

Always a good idea to read the program's website rather than assuming anything.

For example, here are the official benefits for each Priority Club membership level:

https://secure.priorityclub.com/hotels/us/en/global/support/about-priority-club-rewards/membership-levels.html

Of course, individual brands or hotels may throw in some additional benefits (either as a brand standard, or just an extra).

I think wifi is a RA benefit, not AMB. Once I was in Singapore IC and I have to pay as an AMB

And only on paid stays.

Keep in mind PC Plat doesn't guarantee you free wifi anywhere. It's totally YMMV.

I'm Marriott plat. I thought IHG would offer similar perks.

The T&C of all programs can be quite different. Therefore, it's best to never assume and alway read ahead (or ask FTers:D ----simple shortcut to avoiding a very large headache:p)

Wow, which properties are they? It wasn't the case in a HIE and HI in Germany I stayed at. I'm a PC Plat.

I don't believe that HI, HIX and CP properties distinguish between Plat, AMB or RA.

In Germany, HIX in Munich and Frankfurt gave me a voucher for WiFi - as part of a Platnum benefit. The same in some (non LHR) HI.

In the US last week, a CP gave me free breakfast recently. Most US properties I stay at (as far as I can remember) have free WiFi. The UK is a bit of a blackspot - hence a pre-pay data SIM card is the solution.

I think I had comp WiFi in Dubai as well, earlier in the year.

To be honest, I won't pay for WiFi in the hotel. Either it's free, or I have a local SIM card.

Most US properties I stay at (as far as I can remember) have free WiFi.
http://www.holidayinn.com/hotels/us/en/global/offers/amenities/internet?cm_sp=IMMerch-_-HI2_US_en-_-Amenities_Internet seems to suggest that internet access is free in all US Holiday Inns. Wish they'd do the same elsewhere!

http://www.holidayinn.com/hotels/us/en/global/offers/amenities/internet?cm_sp=IMMerch-_-HI2_US_en-_-Amenities_Internet seems to suggest that internet access is free in all US Holiday Inns. Wish they'd do the same elsewhere!

+1 especially when other chains offer free internet

And only on paid stays.

Keep in mind PC Plat doesn't guarantee you free wifi anywhere. It's totally YMMV.

Always paid stay for me at Singapore. I miss the food at the club.

It's odd though. The past couple of non-IC properties have all offered me free wireless or wired internet on multiple devices specifically for being a Platinum member, in addition to an upgrade.

This includes Crowne Plaza's/HI's on both sides of the Atlantic. I just book the standard Adv-purchase rate in almost all instances too.

It's definitely hit or miss as it's not a published benefit, but I've gotten it in a few places as well (CP Milan City being one, can't remember others but I know I have).

well I think that cinches it for me. I'll have my platinum status next year with IHG while I stay in Starwoods during a platinum challenge. No free internet for Platinum means my butt is in another hotel.

$449 a night at the IC here in Manhattan and no free internet while the Courtyard Marriott around the corner is the same price (and the room no less special) with free internet for being platinum.

The UK is a bit of a blackspot - hence a pre-pay data SIM card is the solution.

To be honest, I won't pay for WiFi in the hotel. Either it's free, or I have a local SIM card.

The UK is totally confusing!!!!! I stay 100 nights a year and 70 of them in the UK.

This week -

Crowne Plaza Docklands - Paid £60 a night 2 for 1. (mon/tue)
Free Upgrade to Executive Room, welcome card, chocolates and free drink voucher on arrival.
FREE WIF --- :td: No CHANCE!!! Never free...

HIX Royal Docklands - Paid £49.95 a night 2 for 1. (wed/thurs)
No upgrades, no rooms.
BUT 2 VOUCHERS for 24 hour WIFI Access free of charge as platinum on check in.

The wifi is so expensive in the UK hotels , it is a good money maker.. Average price is £12-£15 for a 24 hour period... Hence why they try not to give it away, it makes them so uch money...

The wifi is so expensive in the UK hotels , it is a good money maker.. Average price is £12-£15 for a 24 hour period... Hence why they try not to give it away, it makes them so uch money...

I had an interesting conversation recently with a HI franchisee, he said that their internet was still costing more than €10K per month, with >5TB volume, when they applied their daily charges. Another of their hotels was offering 1 hour free, and it was costing the hotel €3,000 per month. (I think I remembered the numbers correctly).

I had an interesting conversation recently with a HI franchisee, he said that their internet was still costing more than €10K per month, with >5TB volume, when they applied their daily charges. Another of their hotels was offering 1 hour free, and it was costing the hotel €3,000 per month. (I think I remembered the numbers correctly).

Those prices are absolute insanity.

I called the hotel and they told me you have to pay for wifi and breakfast even being a platinum member. Is this correct?

Yes, unfortunately. It's ridiculous.

Anyway to avoid the fees?

Yes they usually waive the fee when I ask them to.

Holiday Inn Express or Staybridge Suites, both of which provide free breakfast and free internet to everyone.
They don't, sadly. I'm in a HIX now that wants money for wifi and couldn't care less about my Platinum status (a common theme at IHG hotels). Not a cheap property, either. Nor refurbished.

I think it really depends on the hotel.

The Manchester, UK Crowne Plaza offered me free wifi, breakfast and room upgrade however the CP in St. James Park in London: no wifi, no breakfast no upgrade or etc.

I really think it depends on the hotel~

Free internet for Gold & Plat. starting July with new IHG Rewards Club. Free for everyone starting 2014.
http://www.ihg.com/hotels/us/en/global/offers/offers/ihgrewardsclub?scmisc=OSMAM-GL-EN-IHGRewardsClub_Announcement

Free Internet + additional perks in Greater China properties (http://www.ihg.com/priorityclub/hotels/us/en/global/offers/pcr_basics) since beginning of the year. For elite members of course.