Guaranteed Room Availability
 

Was looking for a room at AKL airport for next March
I saw that the Pullman was 'not available for my dates'
Joined Explorer, with instant promotion back to Gold
Looked again and 'as you are Gold you have unlocked availability'
.. didn't take it as will only be in the room for a few hours (have a 6am flight to Oz, so happy with the Novotel), but it did make me think - If i had booked a room, would some poor sod have been bumped out to the Novotel, or even the IBIS...??

Possible somebody would be bumped, but unlikely since you're talking about next March. Even if completely sold out now, more likely that between now and next March, there would be some cancellation or even a no-show on the day, and nobody needs to be bumped. And, if they walk somebody, it's supposed to be to a property (even if not Accor) that is as good or better than the one booked.

except that, the guarantee does apply for any booking made up to 3 days in advance

Hotel systems juggle this pretty well. Cancellations happen more often than you think so chances of "being walked" are quite low. BTW: Gold get D-3 days, Platinum and above D-2 days.