Originally Posted by
vsevolod4
Agreed that it would be a good idea to offer lifetime benefits - that might get me to be even more loyal to ICH. I've been RA since the program began (2004), and prior to that, have been 6 Continents Ambassador (they had 3 tiers - Standard, Executive after 30 nights or $15,000 in spend, and Ambassador after 50 nights or $25,000 in spend after that). But I feel like I get no credit for my almost 20 years of loyalty. Which is a shame.
As others have mentioned, Platinum is beginning to mean something, but it's still not the equivalent of Marriott's, SPG's, Hyatt's or Hilton's top tier program. RA of course is a superior program. I'd be more excited about lifetime RA than lifetime Platinum.
In the case of Air France/KLM, British, now American+USAir, the lifetime program caused me to spend more money with those airlines, and I'm currently working on my 4MM status with United for similar reasons -- exceding the requirements for being top tier.
that's exactly right, guys like you should be made RA for life, and frankly IHG would benefit from it, you'd continue to push as much of your business their way, and probably continue to exceed the minimum thresholds on an ongoing basis, other hotel groups are doing it, so if you qualify for the highest status, year after year, who are you going to invest in, the chains that offer lifetime status, or the one that doesn't?