In terms of IC stays - are they basically the same properties all the time with which you have strong personal contacts at the property?
Sadly no. My IC stays were very sporadic and it was simply business trips that allowed me to hit so many IC properties. My best IC contacts were at 1 IC in China, and I would go there at most 1x/year now if that.
Originally Posted by
olegator
Just stay 7+ nights in cheap chinese Hiex or do the mattress run and voila you will be RA again*
*probably
Well, first sadly I'm not in China anymore. But great suggestion, though that would take time. Second, the problem is in the fact as you say, there is no true qualification. If I hit 60 IHG nights I would have expected to get it, but with only 53 I don't.
Originally Posted by
WilcoRoger
I was happy with IC as an AMB. Then they made me RA. RA for two years - very happy. Now I'm totally spoiled and have NOT qualified for RA, so back to vanilla AMB.
What I'm afraid of that the same AMB treatment I was happy with 3 years ago won't feel the same... especially the 8 am checkin and nearly universal free club access* will be missed.
(I still have 6 months of RA staying under my wife's RA but that's the most I can still wring out of it)
* at least at the places I frequent.
Well, my issue with RA over time has been that more and more places do not give you club for sure. The list of club or UG has increased and the list of UG only has increased even more.
It's sad, because I know I can get club/lounge at Hilton's and Hyatt's, but the IC lounges were the best.
Originally Posted by
Lack
I have no complaints about the quality of IC's (heck, I even enjoyed San Juan), but the 180 hotel count is still a pretty small number - especially on the resort side in Europe. Still, that's better coverage then Hyatt for example.
Yes, IC coverage is better than Hyatt and IC's I have been nothing but impressed with the quality of hotel, rooms, service etc. The big stickler for me seems to be the 60+ night stay requirement to requalify, Much more difficult than say 28 at Hyatt or 30 at Hilton.
Originally Posted by
antonius66
I loved RA when I had it, but prefer Hyatt Diamond MUCH more. I find the benefits more consistent, and I don't have to deal with IHGs mystery qualification requirements. I DO miss the footprint though of hotels.
I guess I wasn't one of those that had like 90 or 75 nights and didn't get it, but we'll see if 1 year as AMB changes my mind.
Originally Posted by
IflyfromABE
If I were the OP, I'd wait for the announcement of the changes to the loyalty program before I decided to more.
For what is worth, it is hard to beat the IHG redemption levels, which is part of the reason I defected from Hhonors. Comparing Hhonors Diamondb to IHG PC Platinum, the later gave me more consistent benefits and much better upgrades, including free breakfast in several places...
Great suggestion, thanks.