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FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Jul 8, 2013, 11:43 am by FLYGVARecent 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
#1501
TodayQuote:
If you click to book the room on PC website, you should find that they charge you in MYR regardless of what currency you choose on the room selection page. Since Orbitz charges you in USD but not MYR, your BRG must fail. In other words, you must find a website quoting and booking the room in MYR for BRG. It is the hard part to do if the hotel currency is not a worldwide used currency like USD and EUR.
+1, it has to be the BILLING currency that matches IHG.com's currency. The only way you can get out of it is the rates that are booked through sites like booking.com, where you pay at check-out.Originally Posted by samwkchan
This trick won't work because the third-party website must use the hotel currency (MYR in your case) to quote and book in order to fulfill the BRG requirement.If you click to book the room on PC website, you should find that they charge you in MYR regardless of what currency you choose on the room selection page. Since Orbitz charges you in USD but not MYR, your BRG must fail. In other words, you must find a website quoting and booking the room in MYR for BRG. It is the hard part to do if the hotel currency is not a worldwide used currency like USD and EUR.
Quote:
You might want to copy paste the url after kayak directed you, i.e. don't just type: www.xxxxx.com, instead www.xxxxx.com/xxx=loewOriginally Posted by samwkchan
Some booking websites offer a 1% off when you click through Kayak. However, it is not regarded as a "publicly accessible" way to reserve rooms, so it shouldn't work. Please correct me if you have had a successfully claim with this trick.
#1502
GlobalExpat , May 2, 2012 4:39 pm
Quote:
If you click to book the room on PC website, you should find that they charge you in MYR regardless of what currency you choose on the room selection page. Since Orbitz charges you in USD but not MYR, your BRG must fail. In other words, you must find a website quoting and booking the room in MYR for BRG. It is the hard part to do if the hotel currency is not a worldwide used currency like USD and EUR.
You're right, that was me being in a hurry and not seeing the switchback. Edited to use hotels.com where you can select MYR for matching currency. Thanks.Originally Posted by samwkchan
This trick won't work because the third-party website must use the hotel currency (MYR in your case) to quote and book in order to fulfill the BRG requirement.If you click to book the room on PC website, you should find that they charge you in MYR regardless of what currency you choose on the room selection page. Since Orbitz charges you in USD but not MYR, your BRG must fail. In other words, you must find a website quoting and booking the room in MYR for BRG. It is the hard part to do if the hotel currency is not a worldwide used currency like USD and EUR.
#1503
GlobalExpat , May 2, 2012 4:44 pm
Quote:
I've never seen anything like that, on each off-site checkout page I've had work I just see room rate, taxes, and totals. Never anything on the actual page that the Best Price Guarantee overlords would use to compare. I actually preferred it when they matched the price and gave you %10 off. You'd still get points. I did a couple of those as well. Originally Posted by samwkchan
Some booking websites offer a 1% off when you click through Kayak. However, it is not regarded as a "publicly accessible" way to reserve rooms, so it shouldn't work. Please correct me if you have had a successfully claim with this trick.
Every time I was on the phone with them they seem really friendly and helpful, they don't care in the least giving free rooms away.
#1504
Quote:
Does it work over the phone?Originally Posted by nacho
You might want to copy paste the url after kayak directed you, i.e. don't just type: www.xxxxx.com, instead www.xxxxx.com/xxx=loew
#1505
Quote:
To be precise, you are changing "your location" to Malaysia but not just the currency. If you are using the US website, you will still see the words "You will be charged in US Dollar" on the page for entering travelers' information and credit card details.Originally Posted by GlobalExpat
You're right, that was me being in a hurry and not seeing the switchback. Edited to use hotels.com where you can select MYR for matching currency. Thanks.
#1506
GlobalExpat , May 2, 2012 10:42 pm
Quote:
Ok, that one I do know, I got a lower price once at bookings.com and on the checkout page it has: Total Price: US$ XXX.XX MYR XXX.XX the guy on the phone only cares about the local currency.Originally Posted by samwkchan
To be precise, you are changing "your location" to Malaysia but not just the currency. If you are using the US website, you will still see the words "You will be charged in US Dollar" on the page for entering travelers' information and credit card details.
Quote:
Seems like you were lucky. A more "experienced" BRG agent would claim that the charge on your card would be USD and deny the claim.Originally Posted by GlobalExpat
Ok, that one I do know, I got a lower price once at bookings.com and on the checkout page it has: Total Price: US$ XXX.XX MYR XXX.XX the guy on the phone only cares about the local currency.
HTB.
#1508
Quote:
When was it? Was it in the first month when the program has just begun?Originally Posted by GlobalExpat
Ok, that one I do know, I got a lower price once at bookings.com and on the checkout page it has: Total Price: US$ XXX.XX MYR XXX.XX the guy on the phone only cares about the local currency.
There was one time that an agent approved my claim on phone at first, but revoked his decision some hours later by email. It was because of a service fee charged on a refundable room when refunded. The agent and I overlooked that when we were on the phone.
Luckily, I got a "backup" website selling rooms in the same hotel which satisfies the BRG. The only issue was that the "backup" website doesn't have suites but just double rooms. Eventually, I cancelled the reservation of the suite and reserved a double room for BRG. It went through smoothly and didn't affect my trip much.
#1509
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Don't know, never tried that. Normally I prefer filling the online form, then call. This time I didn't bother calling because they seem to be very unfriendly when I called. I filled out the online form and got a reply in about 7 hrs or so with an approval.Originally Posted by samwkchan
Does it work over the phone?
#1510
I haven't done a BRG claim in a few months--wow has it changed.
Anyway, I am seeing a one bedroom suite rate at 3rd party sites for the IC I want, but the IC website does not show one bedroom suites at all, either AP or Flex. The highest they go is a studio suite. Do you think it would be worth it to call IC to see if there is a rate for a one bedroom suite I can book by phone? Will a reservation made by phone be OK for BRG claims?
Anyway, I am seeing a one bedroom suite rate at 3rd party sites for the IC I want, but the IC website does not show one bedroom suites at all, either AP or Flex. The highest they go is a studio suite. Do you think it would be worth it to call IC to see if there is a rate for a one bedroom suite I can book by phone? Will a reservation made by phone be OK for BRG claims?
#1513
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Re-Posting...?? TSSSOriginally Posted by buhuffer
DID a BRG last week, claim is accepted and confirmation code is given. But after that nothing happens.... what to expect ?
Well, the hotel has to adjust the rate by accepting the claim. Then you will get another email confirming all this.
But never mind, with the claim accepted by the BRG Desk you got your free night. What might happen is that the hotel does not accept, charged the night and you then get refunded by the BRG Desk/Guest Relations.
#1514
MightyTravels , May 14, 2012 9:18 am
Used to be highman123
I just claimed and was approved for 2 rooms in the intercontinental San Francisco. It took me a while to get all parameters right but after all what a great deal. I'm a big fan of marriotts/Starwood/Radisson BRG but I think I'm switching allegiances now 
#1515
Quote:
I just submitted a claim for the same hotel about 30 minutes ago. I hope I'm as successful as you.Originally Posted by highman123
I just claimed and was approved for 2 rooms in the intercontinental San Francisco. It took me a while to get all parameters right but after all what a great deal. I'm a big fan of marriotts/Starwood/Radisson BRG but I think I'm switching allegiances now
Did you have to file a separate claim for each room? Several months ago I was denied BRG for two rooms (1 room free, 2nd room rate-match), so I booked each separately and was ultimately successful.
Congrats on your success.
