About 17A
As an example at IC AMS:
- book a Jr suite -> upgrades to Exec suite (suite cat +1)
As an example at IC Bali
- book Club Duplex Suite -/- nothing to upgrade into
(suite cat+1 are all specialty suites excluded by terms &conditions)
! So better to book a cat - 2 lower as in classic room
RA: gives Club
Cat+2 upgrade as RA : classicroom upgrades into duplex suite
=
makes a Club Duplex suite at the rate of a classic room
utilizing the full RA upgrade benefits
(how can you not love this!)
If at any case the RA upgrade path is exhausted some hotels will go the extra mile and still upgrade suite cat +1
Only works with longstanding frequent stay relationships as mentioned
stimpy as in IC PLG
For example at IC PLG as i am recuring guest:
i booked prestige suite = 1 bedroom suite : no more RA upgrade because terms conditions exclude upgrade into Ambassador Suite
Yet they still upgraded us anyway to Ambassador suite
Due to the longstanding relationship
or in another case IC AMS as i am recuring guest:
i must have and book the executive suite anyway
so my RA (suite cat +1) upgrade path is exhausted
......
but I book also an extra classic room for my personal inviteés
thanks to the longstanding relationship
my RA upgrade (cat+2) shifts from my own room to the extra room
and is applied to the extra room to upgrade into Jr suite
I actually never had to experience a no upgrade scenario as RA as 1 way or the other at least somehow there was a room cat upgrade possible or provided by discretion of the hotel and by smartly booking the appropiate catagories below the max RA upgrade level
Only at Kimpton Fitzroy London as InnerCircle was an upgrade not possible because the only [cat+1] suite to upgrade into was already booked: instead a daily lavish bottle of Moét was offered so no complaints!