Jul 8, 2013, 11:43 am
Last edit by: FLYGVA
Recent discussion (After January 01, 2016) could be found in this thread.
Most important points to consider for a valid BRG:
1. The comparison website MUST bill in the same currency as the hotel .
2. The cancellation terms must be equal or better, than the terms by the hotels.
3. The Website needs to provide INSTANT confirmation.
4. The room names should match, but if you can demonstrate, that the room is comparable, it will also work with discrepancies in the name.
5. The price difference has to be more than either USD 1 or 1% (whichever is higher).
5.b In regards to hotels located in australia and New Zealand the price difference must be greater than 3% .
Hotels for which you will get reimbursed:
(Note: There have been significant problems with getting full reimbursements from IHG, especially for reimbursements in other currencies than USD)
IC Istanbul ( BRG claim from the 17.05.2013/ "Technical Difficulties")
IC Frankfurt ( BRG claim from the 20.08.2013/ "Technical Difficulties")
Link to the Terms and Conditions : https://www.ihg.com/hotels/us/en/cus...rms-conditions
Most important points to consider for a valid BRG:
1. The comparison website MUST bill in the same currency as the hotel .
2. The cancellation terms must be equal or better, than the terms by the hotels.
3. The Website needs to provide INSTANT confirmation.
4. The room names should match, but if you can demonstrate, that the room is comparable, it will also work with discrepancies in the name.
5. The price difference has to be more than either USD 1 or 1% (whichever is higher).
5.b In regards to hotels located in australia and New Zealand the price difference must be greater than 3% .
Hotels for which you will get reimbursed:
(Note: There have been significant problems with getting full reimbursements from IHG, especially for reimbursements in other currencies than USD)
IC Istanbul ( BRG claim from the 17.05.2013/ "Technical Difficulties")
IC Frankfurt ( BRG claim from the 20.08.2013/ "Technical Difficulties")
Link to the Terms and Conditions : https://www.ihg.com/hotels/us/en/cus...rms-conditions
New IHG Best Rate Guarantee - Discussion & Feedback
May 17, 2013, 3:58 am
#3721
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Tyrone,EU
Programs: Avios Hunter
Posts: 2,811
Its bad enough that IHG gets the 3rd party website to change its rate to deny the claim. Its totally unacceptable that the they change the rate on their own website, when the damn BRG guarantee is supposed to be guaranteeing the rate on the IHG site is the cheapest you can book the room, even with IHG !
ON that basis you can never make a claim, as IHG can drop their own price for 5 minutes, deny the claim and raise the price again. Any reasonable arbitrator would accept that the IHG price to compare with is the one that is on the IHG booking that the OP has on his account. It basically confirms that at the time he phoned in, the IHG price was $219. THere is no way a guest can know that, some time in the future, an IHG price is going to be same/lower than the competing rate he has found. Remember unlike many other such programs (including SPG), you MUST make a booking on the IHG website before you can file a claim.
ON that basis you can never make a claim, as IHG can drop their own price for 5 minutes, deny the claim and raise the price again. Any reasonable arbitrator would accept that the IHG price to compare with is the one that is on the IHG booking that the OP has on his account. It basically confirms that at the time he phoned in, the IHG price was $219. THere is no way a guest can know that, some time in the future, an IHG price is going to be same/lower than the competing rate he has found. Remember unlike many other such programs (including SPG), you MUST make a booking on the IHG website before you can file a claim.
Last edited by tangey; May 17, 2013 at 5:57 am
May 17, 2013, 9:13 am
#3722
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 50
Its bad enough that IHG gets the 3rd party website to change its rate to deny the claim. Its totally unacceptable that the they change the rate on their own website, when the damn BRG guarantee is supposed to be guaranteeing the rate on the IHG site is the cheapest you can book the room, even with IHG !
ON that basis you can never make a claim, as IHG can drop their own price for 5 minutes, deny the claim and raise the price again. Any reasonable arbitrator would accept that the IHG price to compare with is the one that is on the IHG booking that the OP has on his account. It basically confirms that at the time he phoned in, the IHG price was $219. THere is no way a guest can know that, some time in the future, an IHG price is going to be same/lower than the competing rate he has found. Remember unlike many other such programs (including SPG), you MUST make a booking on the IHG website before you can file a claim.
ON that basis you can never make a claim, as IHG can drop their own price for 5 minutes, deny the claim and raise the price again. Any reasonable arbitrator would accept that the IHG price to compare with is the one that is on the IHG booking that the OP has on his account. It basically confirms that at the time he phoned in, the IHG price was $219. THere is no way a guest can know that, some time in the future, an IHG price is going to be same/lower than the competing rate he has found. Remember unlike many other such programs (including SPG), you MUST make a booking on the IHG website before you can file a claim.
Every time the guarantee department does respond, they continue to claim that since the price on their website went down between the time I booked and the time they verified, that the guarantee doesn't apply. Essentially it is like you said. They can lower the price on their own website and deny a claim even though that lower price was never available to me. I am still shocked.
May 20, 2013, 5:08 pm
#3723
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Silver, EY Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 12,210
Can someone advise via PM what websites bill in CAD?
May 20, 2013, 8:40 pm
#3724
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Hinterlands, CA
Posts: 363
50 Miles
<<< within 50 miles of Hotel A >>>
It appears they use mileage "as the crow flies" and not via shortest driving distance. Was just denied on a second property that is 50.4 miles via google, 50.5 miles via mapquest, and 42.85 miles in a straight line through mountains. My denial email came complete with a map and a big solid straight red line drawn between the two locations and the meandering 50-mile-plus driving route in blue.
Oh well, was worth a shot.
It appears they use mileage "as the crow flies" and not via shortest driving distance. Was just denied on a second property that is 50.4 miles via google, 50.5 miles via mapquest, and 42.85 miles in a straight line through mountains. My denial email came complete with a map and a big solid straight red line drawn between the two locations and the meandering 50-mile-plus driving route in blue.
Oh well, was worth a shot.
Last edited by RobertTheTraveler; May 20, 2013 at 8:53 pm
May 21, 2013, 4:44 am
#3725
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Silver, EY Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 12,210
May 21, 2013, 9:55 am
#3726
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Live: IWI; Work: DCA/Everywhere; Play: LAS/SJU/MLE
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Ambassador/LTP, Nat'l Exec Elite, LEYE Gold
Posts: 6,670
It has always taken me seven days to receive a response when I reply to an email that I have received from the BPG desk.
When I contacted corporate by forwarding all of the correspondence to them with a 2-3 sentence note requesting relief, I received a phone call within one or two days along with the desired relief.
May 21, 2013, 12:27 pm
#3727
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 143
Does anyone have any tips on London bookings?
I can exchange info re: New York, where I've been having a lot of success lately. PM please.
I can exchange info re: New York, where I've been having a lot of success lately. PM please.
May 21, 2013, 4:55 pm
#3728
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: N/A
Programs: 100m swimming certificate level 5
Posts: 1,456
terrace vs balcony
Any thoughts/experiences of room type - IGH site = terrace versus competeting site = balcony being successful?
May 21, 2013, 7:06 pm
#3729
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 50
It has always taken me seven days to receive a response when I reply to an email that I have received from the BPG desk.
When I contacted corporate by forwarding all of the correspondence to them with a 2-3 sentence note requesting relief, I received a phone call within one or two days along with the desired relief.
When I contacted corporate by forwarding all of the correspondence to them with a 2-3 sentence note requesting relief, I received a phone call within one or two days along with the desired relief.
May 21, 2013, 11:19 pm
#3730
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: AA EXP (owe), BA Silver (ows), AB Silver (owr), WN A+/CP, IHG Spire AMB, Avis First
Posts: 1,414
For those having difficulty with cancellation terms, I will say that it matters a lot who is available at the hotel when you make your BRG claim.
How do you control who is available at the hotel when the BRG agent calls them? I leave that as an exercise to the reader.
How do you control who is available at the hotel when the BRG agent calls them? I leave that as an exercise to the reader.
May 21, 2013, 11:56 pm
#3731
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 940
Screen shot your reservation, at least
My friends were declined to check-in for 1 out of 2rooms they BRG at HI Manchester Airport last night. The Front Desk just told them that the reservation was cancelled and the hotel is fully booked.
My wasn't the type who like to argue and this is his 1st time staying via BRG, so 4of them squeezed in 1room. He emailed for compensation afterwards, any chance of getting compensation in cash or points in this case.
And it seems that it's better to screen shot or print out your reservations next time, guys=)
My wasn't the type who like to argue and this is his 1st time staying via BRG, so 4of them squeezed in 1room. He emailed for compensation afterwards, any chance of getting compensation in cash or points in this case.
And it seems that it's better to screen shot or print out your reservations next time, guys=)
May 22, 2013, 2:06 am
#3732
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,673
another claim denied....
the rate on ihg.com was $350 & i found a rate on an indian booking site for inr 17,290....that roughly translates to about $312....more than a 10% difference in the rates....
the reason i was given was that the booking engine is in a different currency than the one on ihg....they completely choose to ignore the fact that the website has the ability to display rates in usd as well....
the rate on ihg.com was $350 & i found a rate on an indian booking site for inr 17,290....that roughly translates to about $312....more than a 10% difference in the rates....
the reason i was given was that the booking engine is in a different currency than the one on ihg....they completely choose to ignore the fact that the website has the ability to display rates in usd as well....
May 22, 2013, 2:16 am
#3733
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: London
Programs: SK Gold, ITA Executive, Sixt Diamond, Hertz PC, Avis PC, IHG Platinum
Posts: 5,163
another claim denied....
the rate on ihg.com was $350 & i found a rate on an indian booking site for inr 17,290....that roughly translates to about $312....more than a 10% difference in the rates....
the reason i was given was that the booking engine is in a different currency than the one on ihg....they completely choose to ignore the fact that the website has the ability to display rates in usd as well....
the rate on ihg.com was $350 & i found a rate on an indian booking site for inr 17,290....that roughly translates to about $312....more than a 10% difference in the rates....
the reason i was given was that the booking engine is in a different currency than the one on ihg....they completely choose to ignore the fact that the website has the ability to display rates in usd as well....
May 22, 2013, 2:34 am
#3734
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,673
May 22, 2013, 3:11 am
#3735
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,088
My friends were declined to check-in for 1 out of 2rooms they BRG at HI Manchester Airport last night. The Front Desk just told them that the reservation was cancelled and the hotel is fully booked.
My wasn't the type who like to argue and this is his 1st time staying via BRG, so 4of them squeezed in 1room. He emailed for compensation afterwards, any chance of getting compensation in cash or points in this case.
And it seems that it's better to screen shot or print out your reservations next time, guys=)
My wasn't the type who like to argue and this is his 1st time staying via BRG, so 4of them squeezed in 1room. He emailed for compensation afterwards, any chance of getting compensation in cash or points in this case.
And it seems that it's better to screen shot or print out your reservations next time, guys=)
Has your friend's account being hacked?
I always bring a print out of the claim approval email to show them that the claim has been approved. I would probably contact the BRG and they will throw you 2k points as compensation.