New to Choice - Whats the quick run down on the program
#16


Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: ORD, MDW or MKE
Programs: American and Southwest. Hilton, Marriott, IHG - whichever is rated well and cheapest
Posts: 6,570
Not sure why you keep trying to propagate the myth that it is possible to sign up for this program. And don't tell me to PM you. We have done that twice. I have never received an 'extra'.
#17
Original Poster
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Potomac Falls, VA
Programs: AA Plat 2MM, MR Gold, Avis Pref
Posts: 41,109
1) Register for national promotions - Choice Privileges has the most robust point bonus promotions (in my opinion!) - including 'Stay 2x, Get a Free Night' and 'Stay 2x, get a $50 Gift Card' which is current promotion. However, you need to register to qualify, so therefore you need to have an online account to allow your registration. There is no better way to build some great point balances with repeat stays.
2) Sign up for Your Extras - this new benefit offers members an instant reward at check-in for stays that include at least one Sunday - Thursday night in their stay. Literally one night can deliver an instant reward, that includes Amazon, Uber, Shell and Starbucks in the US. No other program offers instant value on just one stay! You don't need to be an Elite to get a return in this program, we get you going with rewards literally from first stay.
that brings me to two additional questions:
1. My two stays are each covering a night in the Sun-Thu period, would I get this extra during both stays?
2. How do I exactly get this extra? I mean, do I ask at the front desk, is it sent automatically after I complete my stay? I'm new so I don't have a clue as to how this works?
4) Points Plus Cash - we offer Points Plus Cash (PPC) w/ as little as 6K Choice Privileges points. So if you are looking at higher point level reward nights, you can attain them with that minimum point requirement and then a subsequent 'cash' payment (credit card for the differential). It's another great way to make the program work for you.
Above and beyond? Digital gift cards via the mobile app or desktop to give you a digital PIN to redeem instantly instead of waiting for a gift card to show up in the mail, a new forfeiture point policy that ensures you keep your points as long as you stay active, and 10pts/$1 at every brand effective February from earlier this year.
Oh, and also elite recognition gift or points at Comfort Suite stays, and ANY member gets either points or a collectible coaster for a free beverage at every cambria hotel & suites location.
Hopefully this was a helpful overview of what Choice Privileges can offer. I welcome any suggestions you have!
Hopefully this was a helpful overview of what Choice Privileges can offer. I welcome any suggestions you have!
Question: are suites two rooms connected or actual suites (Quality Inn)?
#18
Company Representative, Choice Hotels


Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 601
Responses to responses - hope this helps!
Re: Summer Promo
It's the same concept - you are trued up to a net 8000 points after two stays. Per the rules: After every second qualifying trip, you will be awarded a minimum of 5,000 points and a maximum of 8,000 bonus points, depending on how many base points were earned from your two (2) separate trips. So - to answer your question, if you exceed 8000 points, you'll get a 5000 point true up.
Re: Your Extras
1 - Yes, you'd get it each stay, as each stay has a qualifying night.
2 - You have to sign up via your online profile at ChoiceHotels.com; go to edit your profile and you will see the Your Extras menu to select and save.
IF you select points or miles, you'll get those up to 72 hours after check-out.
IF you select Starbucks, Uber, etc, you'll get that bonus via an email within an hour of your check-in, so you can use it during your stay!
Re: 18 Month forfeiture policy:
?
Yes, it is. If you have no qualifying activity in 18 months - point-earning stay, any redemption, any buy point, use your co-brand Barclays VISA or refer a friend who stays - otherwise the points will be lost. We think its a pretty good range of options for nearly any member to stay active.
Re: other new options
Suites are determined by the property. Most suites are actual two room (separate bedroom) but there are extended rooms that are also categorized as such.
Thanks again!
Re: Summer Promo
I've registered for the 2X/$50; is that different than the 2X/8000 points mentioned in other posts? If not, per the other posts, I won't get this bonus because I will earn more than 8K points in my two stays which just seems very odd to me (again see my other post above on this issue)
Re: Your Extras
So do I have to stay Sunday Through Thursday? I have a Sunday - Wed so I presume that wont work. Edit, I just re-read this after reading the other thread where you addressed this. So my Sunday - Wed stay would count.
that brings me to two additional questions:
1. My two stays are each covering a night in the Sun-Thu period, would I get this extra during both stays?
2. How do I exactly get this extra? I mean, do I ask at the front desk, is it sent automatically after I complete my stay? I'm new so I don't have a clue as to how this works?
that brings me to two additional questions:
1. My two stays are each covering a night in the Sun-Thu period, would I get this extra during both stays?
2. How do I exactly get this extra? I mean, do I ask at the front desk, is it sent automatically after I complete my stay? I'm new so I don't have a clue as to how this works?
2 - You have to sign up via your online profile at ChoiceHotels.com; go to edit your profile and you will see the Your Extras menu to select and save.
IF you select points or miles, you'll get those up to 72 hours after check-out.
IF you select Starbucks, Uber, etc, you'll get that bonus via an email within an hour of your check-in, so you can use it during your stay!
Re: 18 Month forfeiture policy:
Just to make sure, it is an 18 month policy right? 18 months of no activity and poof? is it a hard 18 months meaning on the day of the 18th month, poof
Yes, it is. If you have no qualifying activity in 18 months - point-earning stay, any redemption, any buy point, use your co-brand Barclays VISA or refer a friend who stays - otherwise the points will be lost. We think its a pretty good range of options for nearly any member to stay active.
Re: other new options
since I'm not elite, n/a but whether I get there or not depends on these two stays
Question: are suites two rooms connected or actual suites (Quality Inn)?
Question: are suites two rooms connected or actual suites (Quality Inn)?
Thanks again!
#20
Original Poster
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Potomac Falls, VA
Programs: AA Plat 2MM, MR Gold, Avis Pref
Posts: 41,109
Responses to responses - hope this helps!
Re: Summer Promo
It's the same concept - you are trued up to a net 8000 points after two stays. Per the rules: After every second qualifying trip, you will be awarded a minimum of 5,000 points and a maximum of 8,000 bonus points, depending on how many base points were earned from your two (2) separate trips. So - to answer your question, if you exceed 8000 points, you'll get a 5000 point true up.
Re: Your Extras
1 - Yes, you'd get it each stay, as each stay has a qualifying night.
2 - You have to sign up via your online profile at ChoiceHotels.com; go to edit your profile and you will see the Your Extras menu to select and save.
IF you select points or miles, you'll get those up to 72 hours after check-out.
IF you select Starbucks, Uber, etc, you'll get that bonus via an email within an hour of your check-in, so you can use it during your stay!
Re: 18 Month forfeiture policy:
?
Yes, it is. If you have no qualifying activity in 18 months - point-earning stay, any redemption, any buy point, use your co-brand Barclays VISA or refer a friend who stays - otherwise the points will be lost. We think its a pretty good range of options for nearly any member to stay active.
Re: other new options
Suites are determined by the property. Most suites are actual two room (separate bedroom) but there are extended rooms that are also categorized as such.
Thanks again!
Re: Summer Promo
It's the same concept - you are trued up to a net 8000 points after two stays. Per the rules: After every second qualifying trip, you will be awarded a minimum of 5,000 points and a maximum of 8,000 bonus points, depending on how many base points were earned from your two (2) separate trips. So - to answer your question, if you exceed 8000 points, you'll get a 5000 point true up.
Re: Your Extras
1 - Yes, you'd get it each stay, as each stay has a qualifying night.
2 - You have to sign up via your online profile at ChoiceHotels.com; go to edit your profile and you will see the Your Extras menu to select and save.
IF you select points or miles, you'll get those up to 72 hours after check-out.
IF you select Starbucks, Uber, etc, you'll get that bonus via an email within an hour of your check-in, so you can use it during your stay!
Re: 18 Month forfeiture policy:
?
Yes, it is. If you have no qualifying activity in 18 months - point-earning stay, any redemption, any buy point, use your co-brand Barclays VISA or refer a friend who stays - otherwise the points will be lost. We think its a pretty good range of options for nearly any member to stay active.
Re: other new options
Suites are determined by the property. Most suites are actual two room (separate bedroom) but there are extended rooms that are also categorized as such.
Thanks again!
thank you very much
TH
#21
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: BGR/PWM/ALB
Programs: AA, BA, UA, LH, AF/KLM, SPG Gold, Hyatt Plat, Hilton Gold, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 29
You've figured it out! The best redemptions in this program are overseas hands down. Earn in the US when you need to stay (or transfer in), spend in Europe!
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Freeload Univ. Where are you sitting?
Posts: 14,818

8K/night in Paris, 8-10K/night in Rome, etc. It's all a matter of timing, but with some effort you can really score YU-U-U-U-U-GE!
#23
Original Poster
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Potomac Falls, VA
Programs: AA Plat 2MM, MR Gold, Avis Pref
Posts: 41,109
right now my overseas travel will be with Marriott or SPG where I have a ton of points.
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 26,113
What are the better domestic redemptions? Domestically is where I'm likely to use these points. Right now the best I can come up with is 30K a night at the property in Hermosa Beach.
right now my overseas travel will be with Marriott or SPG where I have a ton of points.
right now my overseas travel will be with Marriott or SPG where I have a ton of points.
Second, the better domestic redemptions tend to be at places which skyrocket temporarily for some event but their points rate doesn't reflect that. For example, the Clarion SNA which has room rates starting close to $150 next week because of the nearby Orange County Fair (mid July through mid August), but you can get not a just room, but any room (include the ones priced even a bit more than $150ish in cash) for 16k a night.
As another example, a few years ago I was traveling to Monterrey CA, not for the Pebble Beach event but in spite of it, and cash room rates were through the roof (only during that event), but a Quality Inn there was very reasonable on points and had availability.
One thing you need to realize is that with Choice points (unlike many other programs) you can usually choose most if not all rooms in the hotel (perhaps excluding the very fanciest ones, if there are any). So another better redemption is when you want a room that's too high priced (with cash), yet with points the room is the same number of points as the cheapest (with cash) room.
Last edited by sdsearch; Aug 4, 2016 at 1:10 pm
#25
Original Poster
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Potomac Falls, VA
Programs: AA Plat 2MM, MR Gold, Avis Pref
Posts: 41,109
thanks for the domestic response
I have a boatload of Club Carlson points too that are good in Scandanavia. That said and done, I don't really go there much
I've been to Norway but thats about it
I have a boatload of Club Carlson points too that are good in Scandanavia. That said and done, I don't really go there much
I've been to Norway but thats about it
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 26,113
But get out into the smaller towns on the western fjords, and all you'll find in terms of chain hotels is Choice here and Best Western there (but probably more Choice than Best Western, though with the distances involved depending on where you want to go you might have you use for both programs).
I presume that where Club Carlson works vs where only Choice works is similar elsewhere in Scandinavia, but I haven't done that evaluation for countries other than Norway yet.
#28


Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: ORD, MDW or MKE
Programs: American and Southwest. Hilton, Marriott, IHG - whichever is rated well and cheapest
Posts: 6,570
What do you mean by earlier this year??
You were not supposed to receive a $50 gift card. You received 8,000 points, which you could exchange for a $50 gift card, if you chose. If it was during the current promotion, which started May 12, then you can still exchange those 8,000 for a $50 gift card. If it was for a previous promotion, then it is to late to make the exchange.
Either way, you still have the 8,000 points.
You were not supposed to receive a $50 gift card. You received 8,000 points, which you could exchange for a $50 gift card, if you chose. If it was during the current promotion, which started May 12, then you can still exchange those 8,000 for a $50 gift card. If it was for a previous promotion, then it is to late to make the exchange.
Either way, you still have the 8,000 points.
Last edited by lougord99; Aug 6, 2016 at 7:36 pm
#29




Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 903
What do you mean by earlier this year??
You were not supposed to receive a $50 gift card. You received 8,000 points, which you could exchange for a $50 gift card, if you chose. If it was during the current promotion, which started May 12, then you can still exchange those 8,000 for a $50 gift card. If it was for a previous promotion, then it is to late to make the exchange.
Either way, you still have the 8,000 points.
You were not supposed to receive a $50 gift card. You received 8,000 points, which you could exchange for a $50 gift card, if you chose. If it was during the current promotion, which started May 12, then you can still exchange those 8,000 for a $50 gift card. If it was for a previous promotion, then it is to late to make the exchange.
Either way, you still have the 8,000 points.
What does make me an idiot is not printing out the offer so I can specifically refer to it.
#30


Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: ORD, MDW or MKE
Programs: American and Southwest. Hilton, Marriott, IHG - whichever is rated well and cheapest
Posts: 6,570
if your earnings are set to miles, then no you won't get 8,000 points.
I think it would be smart to read the terms of any travel program bonus deal. They all have specific requirements. The spring Marriott promotion was so complex that a Wiki was created on the Flyertalk board in order to attempt to explain it and many people still didn't fully understand it.
I think it would be smart to read the terms of any travel program bonus deal. They all have specific requirements. The spring Marriott promotion was so complex that a Wiki was created on the Flyertalk board in order to attempt to explain it and many people still didn't fully understand it.

