Jul 8, 2013, 11:43 am
Last edit by: FLYGVA
Recent discussion (After January 01, 2016) could be found in this thread.
Most important points to consider for a valid BRG:
1. The comparison website MUST bill in the same currency as the hotel .
2. The cancellation terms must be equal or better, than the terms by the hotels.
3. The Website needs to provide INSTANT confirmation.
4. The room names should match, but if you can demonstrate, that the room is comparable, it will also work with discrepancies in the name.
5. The price difference has to be more than either USD 1 or 1% (whichever is higher).
5.b In regards to hotels located in australia and New Zealand the price difference must be greater than 3% .
Hotels for which you will get reimbursed:
(Note: There have been significant problems with getting full reimbursements from IHG, especially for reimbursements in other currencies than USD)
IC Istanbul ( BRG claim from the 17.05.2013/ "Technical Difficulties")
IC Frankfurt ( BRG claim from the 20.08.2013/ "Technical Difficulties")
Link to the Terms and Conditions : https://www.ihg.com/hotels/us/en/cus...rms-conditions
Most important points to consider for a valid BRG:
1. The comparison website MUST bill in the same currency as the hotel .
2. The cancellation terms must be equal or better, than the terms by the hotels.
3. The Website needs to provide INSTANT confirmation.
4. The room names should match, but if you can demonstrate, that the room is comparable, it will also work with discrepancies in the name.
5. The price difference has to be more than either USD 1 or 1% (whichever is higher).
5.b In regards to hotels located in australia and New Zealand the price difference must be greater than 3% .
Hotels for which you will get reimbursed:
(Note: There have been significant problems with getting full reimbursements from IHG, especially for reimbursements in other currencies than USD)
IC Istanbul ( BRG claim from the 17.05.2013/ "Technical Difficulties")
IC Frankfurt ( BRG claim from the 20.08.2013/ "Technical Difficulties")
Link to the Terms and Conditions : https://www.ihg.com/hotels/us/en/cus...rms-conditions
New IHG Best Rate Guarantee - Discussion & Feedback
Sep 10, 2012, 12:36 am
#1816
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,095
As a note to newbies and anyone on the fence.about doing the BRG with IHG: Orlando is very easy, you can book the best flex rate with IHG at many of the hotels (HIX, HI, and SB all had same policies with BF rate) and use another site I referenced in a previous post (yes, you'll have to work for it...) for the 3rd party comparison. It has the same cancellation policies as IHG. Use Orlando to practice if you have a desire to go there, in other words.
The issue with IHG BRG is that sometimes they allow you to change the rate into AP when you file a claim using flex rate, but it's not all the time. I have tried that they denied my claim based on that and closed the case - the worst of this is that when they denied it they also shut down the site. So when you tried to look again the rate on the third party site is gone.
Sep 10, 2012, 3:47 am
#1817
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: SYDNEY
Programs: *A Gold, HH dia,Hyatt plat,Sixt PLAT,QF , EY Gold
Posts: 1,890
I also did a separate one for a 2k a night room an it got approved within half hour . That's what I call service
Sep 10, 2012, 9:33 am
#1818
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Germany / Spain / Switzerland
Programs: LH M&M SEN, bmi DC Gold, CO Gold Elite, bahn.comfort nothing
Posts: 310
They again a lot of times seem not to be able to find the found lower rate and the time of verification, but only slightly higher rates that then do not qualify on the same 3rd party site. Sometimes also the room categories magically disappear at the time of verification.
Screenshots do not help as they correctly claim that the rate has to be available at the time of verification.
Nonetheless i scored the IC Dusseldorf a week ago with breakfast, but had a discussion in the hotel, that stated that actually only the night would be for free and i would have to pay for the breakfast if i wanted it.
Here the BRG Desk actually solved the problem for me and called the hotel while i was there to fix this.
So there is a really big ^ from my side for the BRG Desk for this, but at the same moment i can only comment the way of denying claims as very mysterious...
Screenshots do not help as they correctly claim that the rate has to be available at the time of verification.
Nonetheless i scored the IC Dusseldorf a week ago with breakfast, but had a discussion in the hotel, that stated that actually only the night would be for free and i would have to pay for the breakfast if i wanted it.
Here the BRG Desk actually solved the problem for me and called the hotel while i was there to fix this.
So there is a really big ^ from my side for the BRG Desk for this, but at the same moment i can only comment the way of denying claims as very mysterious...
Sep 10, 2012, 9:38 am
#1819
Moderator: Chase Ultimate Rewards
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 2P, MR LT Plat, IHG Plat, BW Dia, HH Au, Avis PC
Posts: 5,457
Sep 10, 2012, 10:06 am
#1820
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 727
if anyone knows a site that would work for prague please send me a pm
thansk
thansk
Sep 11, 2012, 2:03 am
#1821
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: SYDNEY
Programs: *A Gold, HH dia,Hyatt plat,Sixt PLAT,QF , EY Gold
Posts: 1,890
After further discussion I was told it has been approved and waiting for the hotels response . When I logged into my priority club account the status is showing modified . When I click thru to view reservation details I can not see any more information . Is this correct ?
Sep 11, 2012, 2:50 am
#1822
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 525
After further discussion I was told it has been approved and waiting for the hotels response . When I logged into my priority club account the status is showing modified . When I click thru to view reservation details I can not see any more information . Is this correct ?
Sep 11, 2012, 2:51 am
#1823
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 525
They again a lot of times seem not to be able to find the found lower rate and the time of verification, but only slightly higher rates that then do not qualify on the same 3rd party site. Sometimes also the room categories magically disappear at the time of verification.
Screenshots do not help as they correctly claim that the rate has to be available at the time of verification.
Nonetheless i scored the IC Dusseldorf a week ago with breakfast, but had a discussion in the hotel, that stated that actually only the night would be for free and i would have to pay for the breakfast if i wanted it.
Here the BRG Desk actually solved the problem for me and called the hotel while i was there to fix this.
So there is a really big ^ from my side for the BRG Desk for this, but at the same moment i can only comment the way of denying claims as very mysterious...
Screenshots do not help as they correctly claim that the rate has to be available at the time of verification.
Nonetheless i scored the IC Dusseldorf a week ago with breakfast, but had a discussion in the hotel, that stated that actually only the night would be for free and i would have to pay for the breakfast if i wanted it.
Here the BRG Desk actually solved the problem for me and called the hotel while i was there to fix this.
So there is a really big ^ from my side for the BRG Desk for this, but at the same moment i can only comment the way of denying claims as very mysterious...
Sep 11, 2012, 2:53 am
#1824
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: ,BW Rewards, Skymiles, Aeroplan, SPG, IHG, Marriott, Club Carlson, Alaska Airlines
Posts: 256
After further discussion I was told it has been approved and waiting for the hotels response . When I logged into my priority club account the status is showing modified . When I click thru to view reservation details I can not see any more information . Is this correct ?
I could not see my reservation, so I called the Hotel directly and it was confirmed, my One night was free.
Sep 11, 2012, 2:56 am
#1825
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,095
Yes, this is correct, Once the Hotel has approved. You cannot see the reservation online. Just to make sure, call the hotel directly and ask them the rate. They will tell you one night is complimentary.
I could not see my reservation, so I called the Hotel directly and it was confirmed, my One night was free.
I could not see my reservation, so I called the Hotel directly and it was confirmed, my One night was free.
So far my experience is that IC is the only one that 'disappeared' from ordinary ressie. Sometimes I got an updated 'house comp' rate and sometimes not.
You might be able to see it in IHG's mobile website - as stated in one of the earliest posts.
Sep 11, 2012, 3:48 am
#1826
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Germany / Spain / Switzerland
Programs: LH M&M SEN, bmi DC Gold, CO Gold Elite, bahn.comfort nothing
Posts: 310
But if Best-Flex is the Best Available Rate and on really short notice to arrival date it is actually not the easiest thing to find matching sites that provide all the requested conditions.
And if the prices then magically go up or room categories disappear the whole thing smells a bit fishy.
If there is time and availability for AP as BestAvailable it is a lot easier and you almost always find cheaper 3rd party sites that qualify.
Sep 11, 2012, 4:10 am
#1827
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: SYDNEY
Programs: *A Gold, HH dia,Hyatt plat,Sixt PLAT,QF , EY Gold
Posts: 1,890
I submitted a BRG for a room and then asked a fellow friend to submit it for the following night. My got denied and his got aprroved . So once they discover the lower price do they take it off the system so no othe people can take advantage of it ? I think it's very hardto find exact for exact with THe boat website
Sep 11, 2012, 4:24 am
#1828
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,095
Sep 11, 2012, 4:30 am
#1829
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,095
So do i.
But if Best-Flex is the Best Available Rate and on really short notice to arrival date it is actually not the easiest thing to find matching sites that provide all the requested conditions.
And if the prices then magically go up or room categories disappear the whole thing smells a bit fishy.
If there is time and availability for AP as BestAvailable it is a lot easier and you almost always find cheaper 3rd party sites that qualify.
But if Best-Flex is the Best Available Rate and on really short notice to arrival date it is actually not the easiest thing to find matching sites that provide all the requested conditions.
And if the prices then magically go up or room categories disappear the whole thing smells a bit fishy.
If there is time and availability for AP as BestAvailable it is a lot easier and you almost always find cheaper 3rd party sites that qualify.
1. really check the terms (best flex is not necessary cancellable 6pm local time on check-in day) on IHG;
2. check ALL the room types - it's easier to find BRG on those hotels that have tons of types of room - not necessary all the rooms have AP rate;
3. I have seen hotel with AP but no AP with breakfast.
I got a denial for one of my IC Berlin nights, if I had booked AP and then screwed up that would have cost me a lot (AP rate for junior suite is EUR 250) without any lounge access/brekkie! YMMV
Sep 11, 2012, 4:49 am
#1830
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Germany / Spain / Switzerland
Programs: LH M&M SEN, bmi DC Gold, CO Gold Elite, bahn.comfort nothing
Posts: 310
That's why you need to really look because IHG's system is messy and there are various chances that will improve your BRG success:
1. really check the terms (best flex is not necessary cancellable 6pm local time on check-in day) on IHG;
2. check ALL the room types - it's easier to find BRG on those hotels that have tons of types of room - not necessary all the rooms have AP rate;
3. I have seen hotel with AP but no AP with breakfast.
I got a denial for one of my IC Berlin nights, if I had booked AP and then screwed up that would have cost me a lot (AP rate for junior suite is EUR 250) without any lounge access/brekkie! YMMV
1. really check the terms (best flex is not necessary cancellable 6pm local time on check-in day) on IHG;
2. check ALL the room types - it's easier to find BRG on those hotels that have tons of types of room - not necessary all the rooms have AP rate;
3. I have seen hotel with AP but no AP with breakfast.
I got a denial for one of my IC Berlin nights, if I had booked AP and then screwed up that would have cost me a lot (AP rate for junior suite is EUR 250) without any lounge access/brekkie! YMMV
And the smart way of booking Flexible, file a claim and then change to AP is somethin that formerly worked well and, as you already stated' still works, but sometimes it does not.
I actually believe that depending on the record of filed claims from a client and the development of such is also something that tends to have an influence on the decisions. They sometimes do not have such a 'hard' look at all the requested facts, but seem to be customer friendly and then again they give others a hard time.
It is still a really lucrative game with some effort, but a really high value if you 'win'.
Also: Status Benefits such as RA are granted as well, at least in parts and in most cases.