Ambassador - 1 Category Upgrade - Mystery Room Levels???
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cannock, UK
Posts: 273
Ambassador - 1 Category Upgrade - Mystery Room Levels???
Interesting the one level upgrade. I had my first experiance of "mystery Levels" that the hotels keep...
I booked a Deluxe Room at IC Malta, for a three night break. Ask politely and told they have upgraded me to a Deluxe Panaramic room.
I only asked as we are arriving late 23:45 on the first night, so with such a late check in and being in the hands of the night porter I wanted to get everything done in advance.
I did not see that room on the booking page, they only had four room types available.
Deluxe, Club, Jnr Suite, Duplex Suite. (no sign of a deluxe panaramic room)
When I asked they said they dont sell the rooms on the Internet and cannot be pre-booked, they are the next catagory up and that is my Ambassador upgrade, its basically a refurbed Delux room with the windows changed to go floor to celing.
Is this the normal?
To compensate for this I then changed my booking to 1st Night Deluxe room (Will only be in it to sleep after landing) and then 2 nights in the Club room, so awaiting to see if they upgrade to the panaramic on the 1st night and see what Mystery Level they come up with maybe they have a Club Intercontinental Panaramic Room and that would qualify for a catagory upgrade.
Anyone else experianced the Mystery Room Level?
Ths is my first experiance with IC's as an Ambassador.
I also have a booking with the CP Estepona for 5 nights as a Platinum they upgraded me from a Standard Room to a Deluxe room without any questions, arranged pick up from the airport (Gibraltar - at the boarder) and then offered me the chance to upgrade to a full suite for 50 euros a night (The rate difference on the booking is 89 euros a night from the Deluxe room or 109 euros a night from the standard room booked)
I booked a Deluxe Room at IC Malta, for a three night break. Ask politely and told they have upgraded me to a Deluxe Panaramic room.
I only asked as we are arriving late 23:45 on the first night, so with such a late check in and being in the hands of the night porter I wanted to get everything done in advance.
I did not see that room on the booking page, they only had four room types available.
Deluxe, Club, Jnr Suite, Duplex Suite. (no sign of a deluxe panaramic room)
When I asked they said they dont sell the rooms on the Internet and cannot be pre-booked, they are the next catagory up and that is my Ambassador upgrade, its basically a refurbed Delux room with the windows changed to go floor to celing.
Is this the normal?
To compensate for this I then changed my booking to 1st Night Deluxe room (Will only be in it to sleep after landing) and then 2 nights in the Club room, so awaiting to see if they upgrade to the panaramic on the 1st night and see what Mystery Level they come up with maybe they have a Club Intercontinental Panaramic Room and that would qualify for a catagory upgrade.
Anyone else experianced the Mystery Room Level?
Ths is my first experiance with IC's as an Ambassador.
I also have a booking with the CP Estepona for 5 nights as a Platinum they upgraded me from a Standard Room to a Deluxe room without any questions, arranged pick up from the airport (Gibraltar - at the boarder) and then offered me the chance to upgrade to a full suite for 50 euros a night (The rate difference on the booking is 89 euros a night from the Deluxe room or 109 euros a night from the standard room booked)
#2
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Singapore
Programs: IC RA, KrisFlyer, Evergreen
Posts: 551
Unfortunately, your experience is certainly not out of the ordinary. There've been quite a number of reports in this forum of "phantom upgrades" for Ambassadors, and even sometimes for Royal Ambassadors as well. I believe hotel owners do not like the Ambassador program since it brings no revenue for them while costing them money to provide the benefits. Therefore they resort to tactics such as phantom upgrades, which is something IHG really needs to clamp down on if they expect people to pay for the program.
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cannock, UK
Posts: 273
Another Phatom Level Found by IC Malta.
I changed my booking to book the Club Intercontinental Room.
They have honoured the Ambassador program to the letter, they have upgraded me to a King CLub Panaramic Room.
The next room listed on the website was Junior Suite, again the Panaramic Club room is not available to book direct and only exists in the internal land of the IC Malta.
It is basically one of the Club Rooms that was refurbished last year in the same part as the Deluxe Rooms that were refurbished....
I changed my booking to book the Club Intercontinental Room.
They have honoured the Ambassador program to the letter, they have upgraded me to a King CLub Panaramic Room.
The next room listed on the website was Junior Suite, again the Panaramic Club room is not available to book direct and only exists in the internal land of the IC Malta.
It is basically one of the Club Rooms that was refurbished last year in the same part as the Deluxe Rooms that were refurbished....
#4
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Shanghai and Bavaria
Programs: Spire RA, 1865 Voyager, Bonvoy Titanium, FB LP, LH SEN.
Posts: 3,104
Unfortunately, your experience is certainly not out of the ordinary. There've been quite a number of reports in this forum of "phantom upgrades" for Ambassadors, and even sometimes for Royal Ambassadors as well. I believe hotel owners do not like the Ambassador program since it brings no revenue for them while costing them money to provide the benefits. Therefore they resort to tactics such as phantom upgrades, which is something IHG really needs to clamp down on if they expect people to pay for the program.
What concerns 'mystery' room categories, they've popped up here and there (Malta, Hamburg), but in the OPs case they seem to resemble a real upgrade (renovated room). There are plenty of hotels where a one level upgrade just means a higher floor room (IC Vienna) or a better view (IC Nanjing and Foshan).
There is no easy answer to the OP's issue and I'm inclined to suggest that the hotel has a good point for paid AMB status. Nonetheless, the hotels with 'mystery' categories are just a few.
#5
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Moscow
Programs: DL GM and so on
Posts: 1,200
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cannock, UK
Posts: 273
Received and email from a Nice Lady at IC Malta, saying they have upgraded me to the King Panaramic Club overlooking the pool/garden in the new part of the hotel, these rooms have all been recently refurbished and have balconny and new style furniture etc etc. Picture show on the hotel website.
She as also amended the booking to upgrade the following:
1st Night - Deluxe room to King Panaramic Club
2nd/3rd Night - Club Room to King Panaramic Club
Just checked on the mobile site and PC Site and reservations have been modified to reflect this.
She as also booked me a transfer from the airport to be waiting at the flight arrival for 23:45 and amended the last day to the 4:00pm Late check out.
So thank you all for the information regarding rooms.
She as also amended the booking to upgrade the following:
1st Night - Deluxe room to King Panaramic Club
2nd/3rd Night - Club Room to King Panaramic Club
Just checked on the mobile site and PC Site and reservations have been modified to reflect this.
She as also booked me a transfer from the airport to be waiting at the flight arrival for 23:45 and amended the last day to the 4:00pm Late check out.
So thank you all for the information regarding rooms.
#7
Join Date: May 2011
Location: BSL
Programs: LH SEN, Priorityclub Platinum, Hyatt Platinum, Marriott Silver
Posts: 40
to follow up on that topic:
is there a way to see which IC have those hidden room categories?
I have a reservation for 3 weeks in South Africa / IC Sandton. I tried to get in touch with the reservation desk there regarding their upgrade policy but they did not give me any clear answer. What can I expect, having a standard room (aka deluxe room) right now?
is there a way to see which IC have those hidden room categories?
I have a reservation for 3 weeks in South Africa / IC Sandton. I tried to get in touch with the reservation desk there regarding their upgrade policy but they did not give me any clear answer. What can I expect, having a standard room (aka deluxe room) right now?
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Manchester
Programs: Hertz Gold / Hilton Diamond / Hyatt Plat / Marriott Gold / IC RA / SPG Plat
Posts: 707
Had the same thing with the Holiday Inn Brent Cross London last week. Stay there quite a bit and called up to secure my regular upgrade to an Executive room and was told I would be upgraded to a Superior room. (Guess what...no superior room bookable! Just standard & exec)
When I told him that there was no such thing as a superior room in that hotel and that it wasnt bookable he told me that the superior rooms are not bookable online (yeah rightttttt) In the end got the executive room but it was funny to hear him trying it on!
When I told him that there was no such thing as a superior room in that hotel and that it wasnt bookable he told me that the superior rooms are not bookable online (yeah rightttttt) In the end got the executive room but it was funny to hear him trying it on!
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cannock, UK
Posts: 273
to follow up on that topic:
is there a way to see which IC have those hidden room categories?
I have a reservation for 3 weeks in South Africa / IC Sandton. I tried to get in touch with the reservation desk there regarding their upgrade policy but they did not give me any clear answer. What can I expect, having a standard room (aka deluxe room) right now?
is there a way to see which IC have those hidden room categories?
I have a reservation for 3 weeks in South Africa / IC Sandton. I tried to get in touch with the reservation desk there regarding their upgrade policy but they did not give me any clear answer. What can I expect, having a standard room (aka deluxe room) right now?
I have no idea what IC's have hidden room types, but check out the ambasser upgrade thread it may have a recent visit there, showing what was done in the past.
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cannock, UK
Posts: 273
Had the same thing with the Holiday Inn Brent Cross London last week. Stay there quite a bit and called up to secure my regular upgrade to an Executive room and was told I would be upgraded to a Superior room. (Guess what...no superior room bookable! Just standard & exec)
So we both received an upgrade.. as it was on the 5000 points break before christmas last year I had no complaints..
#11
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Singapore
Programs: IC RA, KrisFlyer, Evergreen
Posts: 551
For instance, Singapore Airlines is notorious for almost never upgrading their customers. Even many of the highest tier PPS members have never been upgraded on SQ, while other airlines like Cathay have no problems doing it.
#12
Malta is my favourite in finding mysterious new room levels. As a Royal Ambassador I should get an upgrade worth 10 € per night - great! Had to pay 100 € in the end to get a more or less propper room. Never again!
Another favourite: Hamburg! They have although a mysterious category, that no oine can book online.
Another favourite: Hamburg! They have although a mysterious category, that no oine can book online.
#13
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Dallas TX (DFW/DAL)
Programs: American Gold, Hyatt Diamond, Starwood Gold
Posts: 312
Had the same thing with the Holiday Inn Brent Cross London last week. Stay there quite a bit and called up to secure my regular upgrade to an Executive room and was told I would be upgraded to a Superior room. (Guess what...no superior room bookable! Just standard & exec)
When I told him that there was no such thing as a superior room in that hotel and that it wasnt bookable he told me that the superior rooms are not bookable online (yeah rightttttt) In the end got the executive room but it was funny to hear him trying it on!
When I told him that there was no such thing as a superior room in that hotel and that it wasnt bookable he told me that the superior rooms are not bookable online (yeah rightttttt) In the end got the executive room but it was funny to hear him trying it on!
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cannock, UK
Posts: 273
It as helped in any new HI's and CP's I stay in, the regulars just comment as everything is normally done as I arrive, based on the fact I put 2 nights a week in the hotel every week not the status...
So I cannot say they do recognise it but it does stick out above the regular Platinum members on the screen.