Big point increases in New Zealand
Most expensive hotels in New Zealand last week was 25,000 points, now 75,000 points. Lake Wanaka I have booked in two weeks for 10k per night, now 75,000 per night, hope this is not an indication of what is to come worldwide.
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It seems like a mistake (I've occasionally seen errors that correct themselves after a few days or so).
The Choice Privileges terms state the maximum points needed is 35,000 points (and that's just for the HI properties): You may redeem a free night for as little as 6,000 points. Reward nights are available in the following tiers: 6,000, 8,000, 10,000, 12,000, 16,000, 20,000, 25,000, 30,000 and 35,000. There's also a notice on the website right now: ATTENTION: You may experience limited access on Saturday, March 28, 2009 from 12:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. EST. Our site will be undergoing maintenance during this time. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause |
Unfortunately it is not a mistake just tried to add a night, by calling and was told Wanaka hotel is now 75K points. I have 3 other nights reserved for 10K points. (reserved a month ago) All hotels in Auckland have at least doubled in points required. This has nothing to do with the website malfunctioning because the point incresase actually appeared Wednesday. (I thought it was a mistake at first also) Website now working correctly and points increases remain at new levels. I just wish it was a mistake. Remember they can change the rules and point requirements without notice and it looks like they just have done that in New Zealand.
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I still think it's a mistake.
They can change the requirements without notice, but they still have to update the T&C. |
Originally Posted by soitgoes
(Post 11488397)
I still think it's a mistake.
They can change the requirements without notice, but they still have to update the T&C. You may redeem a free night for as little as 6,000 points. Reward nights worldwide are available from 6,000 to 35,000 points (excluding Australasia where points required are up to 75,000). |
Originally Posted by perthite
(Post 11491702)
Australia, New Zealand and Singapore are currently being integrated into the worldwide program. The T&C's of the integrated program state:
That's a pretty absurd point level considering you can redeem at the Preferred/Summit properties for 40-50K points/night. EDITED TO ADD: While I anticipated some point increases when Australasia was added to the program, I did not anticipate them to increase to this absurd level. I think they're out of their tree. It's a shame because I am planning to be in Australia in August and was going to redeem. But not for 40-75K points/night. |
Originally Posted by soitgoes
(Post 11491725)
Sure enough. The terms now say that.
That's a pretty absurd point level considering you can redeem at the Preferred/Summit properties for 40-50K points/night. EDITED TO ADD: While I anticipated some point increases when Australasia was added to the program, I did not anticipate them to increase to this absurd level. I think they're out of their tree. It's a shame because I am planning to be in Australia in August and was going to redeem. But not for 40-75K points/night. EDIT: Having a look from Australia, it seems that anything in the Clation Collection is 75,000. Everything else seems much the same as it did. |
This is strange abrupt increase. Hope they roll it back. Is this something to do with the expansion of the program to Au? Wish it did not happen.
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Luckily I just made the booking before this increases, although I wish I could make some changes.
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Originally Posted by UA Fan
(Post 11507731)
This is strange abrupt increase. Hope they roll it back. Is this something to do with the expansion of the program to Au? Wish it did not happen.
It was also called Choice Privileges. Point earnings were 10 per AUD or NZD (depending on hotel location). Awards ranged from 16-38K points. Since 1 USD is worth more than either an AUD or NZD, it does look like they roughly doubled the points needed to redeem in Australia/New Zealand from the Choice Privileges Australasia rate. Australia Award Levels Points Silver 38,000 points Red 33,000 points Blue 28,000 points Green 24,000 points Pink 20,000 points Yellow 16,000 points New Zealand Award Levels Points Red 34,000 points Blue 25,000 points Green 21,000 points Yellow 18,000 points Asia/South Pacific Points Country From 17,000 Papua New Guinea From 16,000 Singapore Code:
General Program Information |
I just found out this morning when I tried to look for places where we could use up account balance before losing them end of the year. Last year I wound up donating my bal of 4K to Red Cross.
There are huge disparity amoung pt levels - take a look of properties in Japan, versus those in Australia / NZ... In 2007 we booked several nights at Queenstown on a Clarion Select or whatever it was called, a property perched on the Shotover River where the Jetboats turned, for 10K a night. It was a very nice boutique hotel. Same 10K got us a dump in Te Anau, that nobody knew such hotel except the girl at the tourist information center - a hotel has changed hand several times and ended up with Choice group but not a single sign outside the hotel indicating such. The pt levels in many locations, including US, are so absurb now, and there is no way to extend the expiration of account balance, plus the restriction in advance booking - totally turn us away from this program. They are only useful to us on roadtrips to places like National Parks, where most often you have to stay in a motels. Otherwise we would get much more value for our money by going thru Priceline bidding. It seems Choice has forgotten it has to compete with Best Western, Holiday Inn Express, Fairfield, Hampton, and even Four Points and Hilton Garden Inn, just off the top of my head. |
They did this thing in such a backwards manner. What they should have done is converted the Australasia CP points into new CP points at some conversion rate other than 1:1. Instead, they are converting them 1:1 but adjusting the Australia/New Zealand point rates.
The point levels have become bizarre and extremely high in some cases. There is little correlation between property quality or cost and point level. When luxury properties go for 40,000 points and a Quality Inn goes for 75,000 points one has to go "huh?". Sorry, Choice, but you're pushing me away. I'll stick to HHonors, Priority Club, and, to a small extent now, SPG. |
Originally Posted by soitgoes
(Post 11524529)
They did this thing in such a backwards manner. What they should have done is converted the Australasia CP points into new CP points at some conversion rate other than 1:1. Instead, they are converting them 1:1 but adjusting the Australia/New Zealand point rates.
The point levels have become bizarre and extremely high in some cases. There is little correlation between property quality or cost and point level. When luxury properties go for 40,000 points and a Quality Inn goes for 75,000 points one has to go "huh?". Sorry, Choice, but you're pushing me away. I'll stick to HHonors, Priority Club, and, to a small extent now, SPG. That said, with Choice's seemingly never ending promo's, I find it difficult to justify NOT staying with them. I've got about 150k points expiring at the end of the year - I'm almost hoping that I don't need them for a family excursion so I can cash them in for gift certs. It's not a fantastic conversion rate (64k = $200) BUT it is a great opportunity to get some value out of expiring points. |
Originally Posted by nitro
(Post 11524917)
That said, with Choice's seemingly never ending promo's, I find it difficult to justify NOT staying with them. . |
Originally Posted by UA Fan
(Post 11525402)
I think other chains also provide this benefit.
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In late March (but before the changes), we booked a night at a hotel near BNE for 8000 points. Now the same room requires 25000 points! That's absolutely ridiculous... I couldn't find any hotel in Australia for less than 25000 points. What was the point of adding Australasian hotels to the program if they've now become ridiculously expensive?
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