Apr 14, 2015, 7:18 pm
Last edit by: beltway
What points count towards status?
"Base points earned from Qualifying Rates paid for hotel stays, points collected from partner transactions, IHG® Rewards Club Bonus Points Packages and Meeting Rewards are considered Elite Qualifying Points and counted towards membership elite status."
What activity resets the one-year point expiration clock (i.e., prevents points from expiring)?
"Base points earned from Qualifying Rates paid for hotel stays, points collected from partner transactions, IHG® Rewards Club Bonus Points Packages and Meeting Rewards are considered Elite Qualifying Points and counted towards membership elite status."
- The bonus points received for the credit card sign-up are nonqualifying towards status.
- Points from credit card spend are qualifying points and will count toward a member's status qualification.
- Bonus Point Packages are qualifying points and will count toward a member's status qualification.
- Bonus points received through promos, including credit card offers, are nonqualifying points for status.
What activity resets the one-year point expiration clock (i.e., prevents points from expiring)?
- Maintaining elite status (including via the credit card, if your card offers that benefit)
- Any earning activity that increases your balance (including nonqualifying or bonus points), such as transfering points from programmes like e-rewards
- Any redemption activity that decreases your balance (including an award booking that is subsequently canceled)
- Being a dining rewards member
Change to IHG Rewards Club 2015
Jul 6, 2015, 1:58 am
#631
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
It's all working fine for me. Maybe they are doing some rolling changes? There are millions of accounts after all.
Jul 6, 2015, 2:02 pm
#633
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Princeton, NJ; Lviv Ukraine
Programs: UA 3.6MM, AF/KL Lifetime Plat, BA Gold, AA 1MM, IC Spire RA, Kimpton IC, Marriott Plat, et alia
Posts: 2,732
Minibar myopia
The Minibar benefit makes the program seem exceptional to the mortals out there.
And what's brilliant is that the cost to provide this program is de minimus -- I would guess the average consumption would be one bottled water and one bottle of booze -- cost less than a buck, perceived value $20, and bragging rights priceless.
Jul 6, 2015, 2:07 pm
#634
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
The minibar benefit gives RAs more "bragging rights" than suite upgrades or free WiFi (now extended to everyone) or early checkin or late checkout or Club benefits when available, etc. Every other program gives those benefits (some give club access or free breakfast at lower levels than RA! Hint! Hint!)
The Minibar benefit makes the program seem exceptional to the mortals out there.
And what's brilliant is that the cost to provide this program is de minimus -- I would guess the average consumption would be one bottled water and one bottle of booze -- cost less than a buck, perceived value $20, and bragging rights priceless.
The Minibar benefit makes the program seem exceptional to the mortals out there.
And what's brilliant is that the cost to provide this program is de minimus -- I would guess the average consumption would be one bottled water and one bottle of booze -- cost less than a buck, perceived value $20, and bragging rights priceless.
But if you think about it, the free mini-bar was started when IC was a very small chain where the HQ had a lot of control over the product. I'm sure that the marketing people at Starwood, Hilton, Marriott, etc. would love to add free mini-bar to their offering, but those chains are just too large to effectuate such a change to the program. It is practically impossible for the others to copy IHG here. So IHG should absolutely keep it as their USP and maybe even try to extend it to Kimpton. I'd add Crowne Plaza too, but that's probably a bit too adventurous.
Jul 6, 2015, 2:10 pm
#635
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Princeton, NJ; Lviv Ukraine
Programs: UA 3.6MM, AF/KL Lifetime Plat, BA Gold, AA 1MM, IC Spire RA, Kimpton IC, Marriott Plat, et alia
Posts: 2,732
Did they downgrade the "welcome amenity?"
I had a stay in Spain at a HX on 4 July -- they didn't know about the new level; they still had me as Platinum.
But the "welcome amenity" there was only 300 points -- less than the usual 500 at an HX.
Is this a downgrade (aka "enhancement"), and the 500 will now apply to only to the "Diamond/Black" or whatever the new level is going to be?
(I note on 26 June, I got the usual 600 points from a CP in Spain, so did something change on July 1?).
I had a stay in Spain at a HX on 4 July -- they didn't know about the new level; they still had me as Platinum.
But the "welcome amenity" there was only 300 points -- less than the usual 500 at an HX.
Is this a downgrade (aka "enhancement"), and the 500 will now apply to only to the "Diamond/Black" or whatever the new level is going to be?
(I note on 26 June, I got the usual 600 points from a CP in Spain, so did something change on July 1?).
Jul 6, 2015, 2:27 pm
#637
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: IHG Spire Ambassador, Club Carlson Gold, HHonors Gold, Best Western Diamond Select, BA Blue
Posts: 1,335
In recent months I got 150 welcome points at a Holiday Inn Express, 300 at a Holiday Inn and 600 at an Indigo.
When you say HX, do you mean Holiday Inn Express?
When you say HX, do you mean Holiday Inn Express?
Jul 6, 2015, 2:42 pm
#638
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Memphis, TN
Programs: IC Spire Ambassador
Posts: 105
I always just assumed it was property-dependent rather than brand-dependent.
Jul 6, 2015, 4:00 pm
#640
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
Jul 6, 2015, 4:03 pm
#641
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Usually in SAN or Central Europe.
Programs: AA:EXP/1MM. Accor/Radisson:Silver; HH:Gold; ICH:Plt Amb.
Posts: 22,307
Jul 6, 2015, 4:11 pm
#642
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Somewhere in Europe
Posts: 3,362
In the UK it has been fairly consistent for me.
Platinum
HIX - 300 or drink/snack
HI - 500 or drink/snack
CP/Indigo - 600 or drink/snack
All three of these have been within the last week and have been those amounts for at least a year with me. The after stay questionnaire for my HIX last week also asked specifically if I received the offer of 300 or a drink/snack.
Golds get
HIX - 200 or drink/snack
HI - 300 or drink/snack
CP/Indigo - 400 or drink/snack
It's a while since I've been to an SBS or IC so someone else might be able to confirm if there is anything at either of them.
With all these digital creations that IHG appear to be coming up with I hope they go down the Hilton route and let you pick what option you want and it automatically posts with the stay or if you select the drink/snack the voucher is ready or better still on your phone after you've checked in at the hotel.
There has to be a better way of managing it and keeping it consistent rather than the constant variations in the offer and the subsequent game of will they post them or will they not that follows.
Platinum
HIX - 300 or drink/snack
HI - 500 or drink/snack
CP/Indigo - 600 or drink/snack
All three of these have been within the last week and have been those amounts for at least a year with me. The after stay questionnaire for my HIX last week also asked specifically if I received the offer of 300 or a drink/snack.
Golds get
HIX - 200 or drink/snack
HI - 300 or drink/snack
CP/Indigo - 400 or drink/snack
It's a while since I've been to an SBS or IC so someone else might be able to confirm if there is anything at either of them.
With all these digital creations that IHG appear to be coming up with I hope they go down the Hilton route and let you pick what option you want and it automatically posts with the stay or if you select the drink/snack the voucher is ready or better still on your phone after you've checked in at the hotel.
There has to be a better way of managing it and keeping it consistent rather than the constant variations in the offer and the subsequent game of will they post them or will they not that follows.
Last edited by chrism20; Jul 6, 2015 at 4:18 pm
Jul 6, 2015, 7:52 pm
#643
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
HIX, Staybridge, Candlewood and HI have always been 500 points for me as Platinum in the States. CP is definitely 600. It's been a while since I've stayed at an Indigo, but I thought they were 500, too. Haven't stayed at an IC itself in years.
Jul 6, 2015, 9:23 pm
#644
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
I had a really bad experience at Hilton CPH in 2010, arrive at hotel around 3.30am, they had my AMEX on reservation so they charge me with a room as no show and they didn't give me a room because they were sold out and they give my room to someone else.
I end up sleeping at CP CPH.
Made a complain, got a mail that almost call me stupid, apperently I should know if you don't inform in the reservation that you going to arrive after 1am they can charge you with a no show.
I learned that to stay at hilton I need to foreseen the future and realise that my 10 hours flight will get late so I can inform the hotel.
They return me the money with a note that due to my status (was top tier) they will refund...
I end up sleeping at CP CPH.
Made a complain, got a mail that almost call me stupid, apperently I should know if you don't inform in the reservation that you going to arrive after 1am they can charge you with a no show.
I learned that to stay at hilton I need to foreseen the future and realise that my 10 hours flight will get late so I can inform the hotel.
They return me the money with a note that due to my status (was top tier) they will refund...
Jul 7, 2015, 6:11 pm
#645
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Programs: UA 1K, DL Gold, IHG Diamond AMB, MR Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, National EE
Posts: 1,083
I noticed an interesting change when I called into the Ambassador Service Center today. You no longer have the option to either press 2 for reservations, or 3 for the ambassador service center. It just says "Thank you for calling reservations...".
I also noticed that the lady I spoke with (and the people I overheard) didn't have Southeast Asian accents. It doesn't sound like you are calling the Philippines anymore, but rather somewhere in the US. A welcomed change in my opinion.
I just found it to be interesting...take from it what you will.
I also noticed that the lady I spoke with (and the people I overheard) didn't have Southeast Asian accents. It doesn't sound like you are calling the Philippines anymore, but rather somewhere in the US. A welcomed change in my opinion.
I just found it to be interesting...take from it what you will.