I wouldn't have had a problem if the hotel said we can only extend your checkout to 2pm or told me that if we let you check out at 4pm we have to pay housekeeping staff overtime so we have to charge. They said check out was at noon and it was 10 Euros per hour later than noon checkout. Effectively, with that kind of rule, there's no benefit at all to being Spire elite.

The IHG Spire late checkout is already as much as a non-benefit as it could possibly be as hotels could just have it not available and also doesn't specify how late it needs to be so 11:30am checkout where normal checkout is 11:00am is within the terms, however, I thought the one thing that isn't allowed with respect to the Spire benefit of late checkout subject to availability is charging for late check out....I guess even hotels can get away with this.