Location: Long Island, NY, AA EXP, Charter AAdv Member
Posts: 2,090
Quote:
Originally Posted by tristan727
Now you as a Royal Ambassador didn't even get a junior suite, I also recall other FT posts about this hotel's upgrading policy as being in the negative - has anyone had a great upgrade at all from them?
Last year as an RA on a paid stay I did receive an upgrade to a Jr. Suite with Club benefits at the IC London.
__________________
7 Million Miles and counting ........
As a new Royal Ambassador in Shanghai/Pudong I was upgraded to a Club floor on my first stay last week. I came back 3 days later and was upgraded to a suite but without club priv.
Ambassadors do get priveleges for award stays, however since award nights are typically for standard rooms the 1 category upgrade might not make a noticeable differences.
Using my first award night as an RA later in the month so I'll report back how that goes.
Location: Long Island, NY, AA EXP, Charter AAdv Member
Posts: 2,090
Quote:
Originally Posted by why fly
As a new Royal Ambassador in Shanghai/Pudong I was upgraded to a Club floor on my first stay last week. I came back 3 days later and was upgraded to a suite but without club priv.
Next time I will stick with the Club floor.
What did you think of the bed on the Club floor at the IC Pudong?
__________________
7 Million Miles and counting ........
I just got back from a recent stay at the IC Grand Stanford as an RA.
Room - Was upgraded to a 2-room suite with a City View. Also had the option of an executive room with a Harbour View, but I wanted to check out the suite. I booked the cheapest room I could find which was $125
Room Quality - The suite had 2 large bathrooms (well, I guess 1.5 technically). The seating area had a full length sofa and arm chair as well as a round table with seats. A nice chandelier hanged from the ceiling. Panasonic Tau TVs in each room. Carpet and furniture were fairly new. There is some construction going on the outside of the hotel so there is a little bit of noise during the day, but nothing distracting (the side of the hotel they have finished looks very cool). Overall, nice and well-appointed, but not slick like say a W. Well beyond what you would expect for the price, though.
Lounge - No lounge offered to RAs.
Good - They know how to treat their RAs. I received a box of chocolates, a plate of fruit, a plate of cookies, a teddy bear, flowers, a coupon for a 15 minute massage, and a coupon for a free drink at the bar. All the food and drinks in the minibar were free.
Bad - Lobby service is lacking. Once they pulled me up in the computer, they transferred me to a manager and everything was great. Before that, I felt like I was checking into a motel. No one helped me with my luggage (2 large suitcases and my briefbag). I had to unload the taxi, and carry/roll my luggage while simultaneously pushing open the front door. Didn't really mind, just not what I expect at an IC. Ambassador counter was unattended, which I later noticed to be the norm. After check-in though, everything went great.
Value/Return Stay - For RAs in HK, this place is an incredible value. If I were using points, however, I would opt for the IC HK. Definitely would return at room rates this low (almost half of the IC HK).
Programs: UA 1K Millon Mile Flyer, IC Plat Royal Ambassador, SPG Gold
Posts: 325
We just returned from an awesome weekend in San Francisco. I booked a King Classic at the Mark Hopkins IC and requested an upgrade to Club Level.
On arrival, we were given a choice of lower floor suite or a King Bed on Club Level. We chose the Club Level with access. The new club is nicely done. Continental Breakfast is weak compared with other hotels, but afternoon tea and snack service is nice. The staff was extremely helpful as well.
Programs: BA Gold; FB Plt; LH Sen // HH Dia; HYG Dia; IC RoyAm; SPG Plt
Posts: 3,191
Ic De La Ville-roma
Rome: IC DE LA VILLE-ROMA
Were you (or for multi-stayers are you generally) happy with the hotel/stay?
Absolutely.
- Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
I was upgraded to a suite on the 8th floor (had booked a standard/classic room). The suite is on the highest floor (there are only two suites on that floor: rooms 839 and 840) and offers a stunning view over Rome from the terrace (large terrace with wonderful sitting area).
- How are the rooms?
Very nice rooms, but nothing exciting.
- How is the exec. lounge?
There is no lounge.
- What was good and what was bad?
Excellent location, outstanding view from the terrace on the 8th floor of my suite. Excellent status recognition (early check-in, very late check-out, minibar free).
Only a very small gym, no pool. Bed cover is a basic blanket only wrapped in white linen.
- Value for $ or Priority Club Points? Would you return?
I would definitely return. Outstanding stay. Excellent value.
I was upgraded to a suite on the 8th floor (had booked a standard/classic room). The suite is on the highest floor (there are only two suites on that floor: rooms 839 and 840) and offers a stunning view over Rome from the terrace (large terrace with wonderful sitting area).
Oh, I envy you LH738. We had rooms on the 3rd floor, but we spent time on the rooftop deck (ajacent to the suites) on new year's eve watching the fireworks. You're right, it's a wonderful view of the city.
Rita
In my six months using the hotel, i have had to fight for every single benefit listed on the membership and even then, they don't give at all even when they are suppose to.
Ambassador benefits and membership is not recognised at this hotel. regulars at this hotel will know that all rooms except the suites are the same. The only difference is the view, thats all. Nothing special. So if you book into a Club City view room, you might get a room with a better "perceived view" of the sydney Harbour partially not teh full view.
Hotel does not give free video benefit or 4 pm check-out or welcome gift and so on. Ambassador Benefit does not exist at this hotel.
Local reservations staff will even tell you that under no circumstances will they upgrade anyone to 1 category higher if you are booked into a Club Grand Harbour room. I.e If you book a room below the executive suite, you will not get any room upgrades at all.
Even when pointed to them that it is a clear printed benefit, the reservation staff will try to tell you it does not apply.
FAIR WARNING: Do not join Ambassador program thinking you will get all the stated benefits. Cos you will not most of the time.
Programs: AC*SE; UA 1K; PCPlat/RoyalAmbassador; HyattGPDiamond; SPGGold;AirMilesGold
Posts: 26,110
Suite upgrades are not part of the AMBASSADOR program, or even PC Plat, but are reserved for ROYAL AMBASSADOR members. So the top room category on a Club level is the best you'll get.
As for the other benefits, have you contacted AMBASSADOR in Bristol, not just the local phone agents in Australia or Sydney? I haven't come across any IC that has denied me the movie -- though as posted months ago, I seldom find any worth watching -- and fruit and water is always standard. The gift can be iffy, in definition, but where there is no actual item [business card folder, luggage tag, book mark] I have usually received a box of chocolates or bottle of wine.
I suggest if you want to be treated well in Sydney, as a Plat PC or even AMBASSADOR [downunder they seem to confuse the two, at least when I check in at the front desk at an HI or CP, they keep referring to my A/RA status], stay at the Old Sydney HI. They treat elites very well, with upgrades to Exec rooms on the top floor, and harbour views, free drink coupons. Same with the HI at Potts Point where I received a top floor suite with a great view of both the city and the harbour. I have become generally indifferent about the Sydney IC, and would only consider it if I had to use up a 2nd night free weekend certificate. Otherwise, the HIs or even CP Darling Harbour -- though it is landlocked with construction these days -- are my choice for the city. And for an award, one cannot beat the Old Sydney HI at just 15K per night, and they provide elite upgrade benefits on such stays too, even though the T&C says they don't have to.
At check in the first did not find my reservation. After some searching in the system still nothing. I gave them the reservation numer and finally they found it.
The upgrade (Royal Ambassador) was a standard room with a better view on a higher floor. When i asked about a 'real' upgrade to a suite the answer was: 'they have upgraded you to this room. Nothing i can do. It is in the system this way.'
I asked politely to check with a supervisor. The supervisor came, did not greet me or intruduced her. She turned her back to me ald told the check in agent: Tell him that he can have a junior suite, but it has no view, is on a low floor, next to the elevator and very noisy.
The agent: You can have a junuir suite, but.......
Some fruits, small bottle of water, no gift in the room.
And something new: Almost nothing in the minibar. 4 beer, 6 soft drinks, 2 small bottles of water. 2 small bags of cookies, 1 small pack of potatoe chips.
Minibar looked almost empty.
Is this a new idea? Free minibar, but nothing in it?
And up-grade taken back to the origin of the word? One level upgrade is one floor higher, two level is two floors?
Programs: AA CK/EXP/3MM, BA Gold, PC Ambassador, HH Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,428
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unterwegs
Found another stingy one:
IC San Juan, Puerto Rico.
At check in the first did not find my reservation. After some searching in the system still nothing. I gave them the reservation numer and finally they found it.
The upgrade (Royal Ambassador) was a standard room with a better view on a higher floor. When i asked about a 'real' upgrade to a suite the answer was: 'they have upgraded you to this room. Nothing i can do. It is in the system this way.'
I asked politely to check with a supervisor. The supervisor came, did not greet me or intruduced her. She turned her back to me ald told the check in agent: Tell him that he can have a junior suite, but it has no view, is on a low floor, next to the elevator and very noisy.
The agent: You can have a junuir suite, but.......
Some fruits, small bottle of water, no gift in the room.
And something new: Almost nothing in the minibar. 4 beer, 6 soft drinks, 2 small bottles of water. 2 small bags of cookies, 1 small pack of potatoe chips.
Minibar looked almost empty.
Is this a new idea? Free minibar, but nothing in it?
And up-grade taken back to the origin of the word? One level upgrade is one floor higher, two level is two floors?
Great. I am planning a weekend getaway to this proporty for March, and was hoping for a little more with my newly minted RA status. Did you have Club privileges?
