Originally Posted by
Epicura
I have a meeting with my LHW account manager next week. I will try to find out more about all your questions/remarks/issues.
Just a few remarks I can already point out:
- Virtuoso/FHR is now reciprocal. Meaning that you can still get LC points when booking a Virtuoso rate for instance but like
Koen dc rightly stated: LC exclusive rates (if available) are always lower. Virtuoso rates are typically higher versus BAR and LC exclusive rates represent a discount versus BAR. Worst case you book BAR via LHW and you will get more or less the same benefits as under a Virtuoso rate (which is higher than BAR).
- LC is free since a few years. Some sort of watering down should be expected in that case. Also remember that these days LC is a spent driven program, in the past it was based on stays.
- LHW does work with prefered agents, albeit a bit in a more "hidden way". Per region/country they work with a selection called "best of the best". I can assure you that it can make a difference.
The pre-arrival upgrades were an issue even while the programme charged a fee before Summer 2021. They were only confirmed 50-60% of the time. Now it's between 40-50% of the time so it's declined to an even worse level.
Can you give some more information about the best of the best agents and what difference it makes for aurelian members for example making a booking via them?