Last year, as a PC Platinum [and SCC/Ambassador] I generally received the best room or club floor at most HIs that had such rooms, but seldom at CPs where even after asking was not always upgraded.

This year, at all but one CP, I was told at check in I had been upgraded to the Exec level and had full Club benefits, including breakfast and evening drinks where available [and scrumptuous cakes and tea/coffee late afternoons in Auckland!]. At the one I was not pre-assigned an Exec level room, I was quickly upgraded when I mentioned this was a benefit of Plat PCs. At HIs I now generally get mini- or full suites, and certainly the best room on Exec floors where these exist. HIXpresses have little special to offer.

I have definitely noticed the difference this year, and I suspect the word has gone out around the system. Though as I have posted before, there remains confusion among HI and CP about the whole Ambassador program. This is generally now confused as an elite tier of the PC program, and often seems to surpass Plat in the minds of desk staff. This was particularly true in Australia where I was always welcomed as an Ambassador at these two brands, where technically, this status is not recognized.

It is at ICs where the upgrade is still just to a superior room, or one grade over that booked.