SusanDK

I've got Nordic Choice Platinum Status (having learned about it here some years back) but I have not yet started to accrue points. I would like to stay one night at the CPH airport Clarion in December. The rate is DK 2100 but if I understand correctly, if a standard room is available, I should be able to book it for 20,000 points as per:

https://www.nordicchoicehotels.com/n...nts-per-hotel/

When I log into my account, however, I do not see how to search for an award booking. Can anyone guide me? Is it possible I don't see it because I don't have any points on my account?

If award space should be available, are there any transfer partners that transfer to Nordic Choice (e.g. AmEx, SAS, etc.) that might allow me to pay for the award at better value than the current price, which is over $300 for a night.

Thanks!

GUWonder

SusanDK

Thanks for letting me know about the possible downgrade. I just logged into my account and it is still showing me as Platinum, but I'll keep an eye on it.

So I would sign up for US Choice, buy points, and then book the hotel on a reward stay? Is there any way to check with certainty before buying points that the hotel is available? I was reading several of the threads claiming that there was almost no reward availability for US Choice members at Scandinavian properties.

But it's a great option since the current rate for the night I need (based on an existing airline reservation) is over $300.

GUWonder

SusanDK

I signed up for the Choice US program where I could transfer AmEx points at 1:1. But when I search for the Clarion CPH airport hotel for my date within the US Choice site, it says Sold Out for that night. However, if I search for a regular paid night either on the US Choice site or the Nordic Choice site, I can book a standard room for cash. I don't currently have any NCC points to allow me to try to book for a reward night under NCC.

I'll keep checking back from time-to-time and see if a reward night ever turns up.

Thanks for your help, GUWonder.

sdsearch

You haven't mentioned which month you're looking to stay. Choice US can only book award stays 120 days in advance, even though paid rates are generally bookable much further advance. But it doesn't always clearly explain that that's the issue when you try to search for any award beyond 120 days.

SusanDK

I'm looking at first week of December and was within 100 days which it said I could book for rewards. It shows availability for an award stay at the Quality in Malmö, but all remaining Choice hotels in the area, including the CPH airport Clarion, are sold out for points. Still available to book for a cash stay. I made a tentative reservation for cash that is cancellable but I think DK 2100 is a bit steep. We'll be staying in north Sjælland for a few nights prior to this but I thought it would be more relaxing to use the airport hotel the night before we fly out. If the reward night doesn't turn up, I'll probably cancel the cash stay and extend our prior stay and drive in.

GUWonder

SusanDK

Good to know. I'll check closer in.

SusanDK

Oops. Sure enough, you were right. I was just downgraded to Blue. Thanks for the heads-up.

GUWonder

If you have your Nordic Choice Club Platinum card, they may still give you the at-hotel benefits upon card presentation even when the status shown on the card has expired. It’s not guaranteed that they will, but I have received multiple positive reports of such so far.

GUWonder

I have also received multiple reports of it not working. The upside of it not working is that you’re way more likely to get some NCC points that you may not have anticipated getting. The downside of it not working is that you may get NCC points but it will be at the expense of the elite status benefits. Either way, some people may still manually put in special instructions noting an elite status level that may have already expired.

One of the things about NCC status earning is that the elite status qualification period is not necessarily on a calendar year basis and may be based on when in the year the NCC account was opened and/or upgraded. I don’t currently know the details about that as it hasn’t usually mattered all that much to me.

SusanDK

I received a promotion email last week that prompted me to check my date again for a points redemption at the CPH airport Clarion. Luckily, I was able to snag the night for 20,000 points (which I transferred 1:1 from AmEx Membership Rewards) and cancel the reservation that was DK 2100 (ca. $300). Not only that, but I was able to select a suite for that point value whereas my original reservation was for a standard room. Not sure if there is really much difference between rooms.

I could also have paid 6,000 points + $105 and I'm not sure which is the better offer, but with points to burn I offered the full 20,000.

Thank you for the tip to check back closer in!

GUWonder

The points+cash option you were presented is a way of buying Choice US points at a rate of 2000 points for $15 if you have at least 6k Choice US points. As you already had 20k Choice points and can readily get 6k points whenever you wish after running down your current balance, you did fine. Personally, I would do the same as you, even as I tend to always keep at least 6k Choice US points on hand to more readily buy Choice points at the rate of 2000 points/$15.

pbd456

transfer US amex points to choice at 1:1 is a terrible deal!