InterContinental Hotels: Priority Club & Inter-Continental Ambassador - Non-RA using PC points to reserve for an RA and ensure RA benefits?

My wife has lots of PC points but was recently dropped from RA to Amb. I have many fewer PC points but currently am an RA through a referral. We will be travelling together and staying at ICs in the future so we are interested in the best strategy for using my wife's points to make a reservation in my name that will ensure full RA benefits. Am I correct in assuming that this can be done and, if so, what is the best process for doing this?

How are you under the impression it can be done?

Since she is no longer an RA, any bookings made from her points will show her name and status. You could try to flash your own RA card at check-in to see if they'll extend benefits, but the property is under no obligation to do so.

Alternatively, she could transfer her points into your account, and you could make the bookings with your RA status showing, and thus get the benefits. However, I believe there is a per point transfer charge you'd have to incur.

Benefits are for the person booking the room and related to their status. Give me one good reason why IC should extend them to you?

While I agree (in principle) with Shareholder's view, it should be noted that it's possible.

When I first joined AMB, I went to a conference in Dallas with my parents, for whom the room was booked. (They were unable to put my name in because it was part of a very large group booking for which, I assume, they wanted loads of PC points.) Upon arrival at the hotel, I talked to the front desk person and flashed the AMB card and explained the situation - they offered me Club Access (they would have offered a Suite but were out of them because all of them were claimed by the conference) and all of the other basic AMB privileges. [I realize that in my case, this was a paid room (by the conference organizers), but the principle - using A/RA status as the secondary person on the reservation - is the same.]

Not surprisingly, all I can say based on this is that YMMV.

As you suggest "your experience may vary". The OP's wife might consider putting her hubby's PC RA number as a notation on the reservation that they will be sharing the room. This might pro-actively get the RA benefits. Or email each property a few days ahead of arrival and see what they send back as a commitment to honour RA benefits of hubby.

Upgrader,

Several people here have a situation where RA membership fluctuates between husband and wife and the way I have sometimes approached this with success is by e-mailing in advance and before making a reservation to ask whether they would be prepared to transfer the booking to a spouse membership number in order to recognise the more beneficial membership.

I've specifically done this when I've made a booking as an RA before an impending demotion, but when my wife has had an impending promotion. I've found properties accomodating and have no reason to believe that they wouldn't be in your case if you ask nicely without getting grumpy if turned down.

From recollection transfer of points is very expensive.

Thank you all very much for your explication of the policy and your suggestions. I did not mean to suggest that IC had any obligation to honor my RA status while we were using my wife's points on joint stays. I was simply inquiring whether it would be possible. My use of the word "assuming" in my first post was unfortunate because in reality I had no idea if such a process was allowed and just wanted to tap the wisdom of FTers to understand the situation. My approach to FT has always been to aid others in a positive spirit whenever possible and to trust that the reverse would be true. Shareholder, I can't give you "one good reason" why IC should recognize my status when we're using my wife's points. I did and do not have that expectation but simply was hoping there would ways in which the possibility could be increased. While I respect your considerable contributions to FT and thank you for the suggestions in your second post, I must confess that I did not particularly appreciate what I took to be the somewhat condescending/hectoring tone of your first post. IMHO, it was not in the true spirit of FT. I really didn't need the lecture.