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
Oct 3, 2011, 6:43 am
#211
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 496
I am just wondering if the following scenario qualifies.
There are three rates on Priority Club:
1. advanced purchase rate (without breakfast)
2. best flexible rate (without breakfast)
3. best flexible rate (with breakfast)
Suppose I book a room with the best flexible rate (with breakfast) and find a lower rate (again, with breakfast) on a third-party website. does it qualify?
There are three rates on Priority Club:
1. advanced purchase rate (without breakfast)
2. best flexible rate (without breakfast)
3. best flexible rate (with breakfast)
Suppose I book a room with the best flexible rate (with breakfast) and find a lower rate (again, with breakfast) on a third-party website. does it qualify?
Oct 3, 2011, 6:46 am
#212
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 496
Ok, I just called the hotel and asked if they will honor the complimentary stay. They said yes. So I am currently in a hotel (Crowne Plaza Sun Palace Beijing), got upgraded to a deluxe room and given free breakfast (the original rate did not include breakfast).
However, it does not wipe off the bad impression of BRG team not responding to any of my emails in the past 6 days.
However, it does not wipe off the bad impression of BRG team not responding to any of my emails in the past 6 days.
Oct 3, 2011, 7:09 am
#213
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: POLAND
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum AMB, PrivilegeClub Gold
Posts: 96
Oct 3, 2011, 7:21 am
#214
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: POLAND
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum AMB, PrivilegeClub Gold
Posts: 96
Oct 3, 2011, 7:33 am
#215
Join Date: May 2009
Location: DUS
Programs: IC PLAT AMB, clubcarlson Concierge, Le Club Accor Gold
Posts: 368
There are three rates on Priority Club:
1. advanced purchase rate (without breakfast)
2. best flexible rate (without breakfast)
3. best flexible rate (with breakfast)
Suppose I book a room with the best flexible rate (with breakfast) and find a lower rate (again, with breakfast) on a third-party website. does it qualify?
1. advanced purchase rate (without breakfast)
2. best flexible rate (without breakfast)
3. best flexible rate (with breakfast)
Suppose I book a room with the best flexible rate (with breakfast) and find a lower rate (again, with breakfast) on a third-party website. does it qualify?
Oct 3, 2011, 7:36 am
#216
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Tyrone,EU
Programs: Avios Hunter
Posts: 2,811
If ICH doesn't have an advanced purchase rate, but 3rd party does, will they grant the guarantee against a higher BFR ?
Oct 3, 2011, 9:17 am
#217
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: MUC / VIE
Programs: LH M&M - US AIR - BMI - HYATT - SPG - SIXT - PP
Posts: 184
Oct 3, 2011, 9:22 am
#218
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,421
What I have done to qualify is to find refundable rates on other websites that are lower than their non-refundable rates. I then book the ICH refundable rate and they "authorize" me to to get the guarantee so long as I switch my rez to their non-refundable rate.
This is making me nervous -- I mean, who really trusts these guys? -- but I have done it to qualify. I have it documented by email so I should be OK, but I have this bad feeling I will be fighting later for my free rooms. And what do I do when somebody bills me for the room?
It's just a sucky way of doing business, and can't possibly be making any of their customers happy.
Oct 3, 2011, 10:13 am
#219
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Tyrone,EU
Programs: Avios Hunter
Posts: 2,811
IMO then its totally misleading "guarantee" then. They guarantee that I will "find the best prices for our hotels on our website", and yet If I find a cheaper rate than their cheapest possible rate, they'll not honour it ?
"We encourage you to review the full Terms & Conditions before filing your claim to make sure it is valid."
THe T/C make no mention of having to match APR with APR. Only that you much match with the lowest available price on the "best available rate"
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/6c/.../rd/rate/lowtc
The FAQ-type page does talk about match rate types and specifically says you can't do it the other way round. However one assumes the formal T&C overides any FAQ type page, and refund V non-refund is not mentioned (or APR V BFR etc) on the T&C
"We encourage you to review the full Terms & Conditions before filing your claim to make sure it is valid."
THe T/C make no mention of having to match APR with APR. Only that you much match with the lowest available price on the "best available rate"
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/6c/.../rd/rate/lowtc
The FAQ-type page does talk about match rate types and specifically says you can't do it the other way round. However one assumes the formal T&C overides any FAQ type page, and refund V non-refund is not mentioned (or APR V BFR etc) on the T&C
Last edited by tangey; Oct 3, 2011 at 10:23 am
Oct 3, 2011, 10:21 am
#220
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,760
In your particular situation you will be OK but, in general, they are claiming they can beat a fully flexible rate with a non-refundable rate -- even though the website guarantee implies otherwise.
What I have done to qualify is to find refundable rates on other websites that are lower than their non-refundable rates. I then book the ICH refundable rate and they "authorize" me to to get the guarantee so long as I switch my rez to their non-refundable rate.
This is making me nervous -- I mean, who really trusts these guys? -- but I have done it to qualify. I have it documented by email so I should be OK, but I have this bad feeling I will be fighting later for my free rooms. And what do I do when somebody bills me for the room?
It's just a sucky way of doing business, and can't possibly be making any of their customers happy.
What I have done to qualify is to find refundable rates on other websites that are lower than their non-refundable rates. I then book the ICH refundable rate and they "authorize" me to to get the guarantee so long as I switch my rez to their non-refundable rate.
This is making me nervous -- I mean, who really trusts these guys? -- but I have done it to qualify. I have it documented by email so I should be OK, but I have this bad feeling I will be fighting later for my free rooms. And what do I do when somebody bills me for the room?
It's just a sucky way of doing business, and can't possibly be making any of their customers happy.
It is totally bizarre to force customer to book non-refundable rate in order to qualify the BRG. Travel plans do change, often out of unforseeable situation. IHG should offer apple for apple, and if customer has to cancel / change booking, customer lose the free stay. That is simple, fare and straight forward. And if customer cancels, IHG does not have to fulfill its promise. A Win-Win situation and why the marketing "genius" at IHG don't see that?
Oct 3, 2011, 1:12 pm
#221
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Singapore
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hh Gold, NH*G, SPGP, SQ-CC
Posts: 1,381
Does anyone have news whether BRG first night is a qualifying night?
Oct 3, 2011, 8:06 pm
#222
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,760
Unless you are staying at an IC, whether it is or not does not make any difference since PCR status is earned by points, not by stays. BRG night is free therefore no points on stay, qualified or not qualified. Incidentals should still earn you points though.
Oct 3, 2011, 8:26 pm
#223
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,421
Precisely. This "guarantee" is so flaky - it makes customers to jump through multiple hoops and still not offers any assurance that the customer is indeed "guaranteed" a free night.
It is totally bizarre to force customer to book non-refundable rate in order to qualify the BRG. Travel plans do change, often out of unforseeable situation. IHG should offer apple for apple, and if customer has to cancel / change booking, customer lose the free stay. That is simple, fare and straight forward. And if customer cancels, IHG does not have to fulfill its promise. A Win-Win situation and why the marketing "genius" at IHG don't see that?
It is totally bizarre to force customer to book non-refundable rate in order to qualify the BRG. Travel plans do change, often out of unforseeable situation. IHG should offer apple for apple, and if customer has to cancel / change booking, customer lose the free stay. That is simple, fare and straight forward. And if customer cancels, IHG does not have to fulfill its promise. A Win-Win situation and why the marketing "genius" at IHG don't see that?
I do wonder what would happen if they made me switch to a non-refundable rez and then I couldn't travel. I would hope reason would prevail and we'd just mutually agree to cancel the free night, but who knows? And what if you're being nice to them and had booked multiple nights (although I don't think many flyertalkers would be doing that -- you might as well keep the lower refundable rate from the competitor for the additional nights).
Oct 3, 2011, 10:19 pm
#224
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,760
Yeah, I really can't believe IHG came up with this bird-brained scheme. Actually, they probably didn't -- if you look at the terms and conditions it's relatively simple -- it's just that they're applying it in a crazy way to keep the number of free rooms down to something managable.
I do wonder what would happen if they made me switch to a non-refundable rez and then I couldn't travel. I would hope reason would prevail and we'd just mutually agree to cancel the free night, but who knows? And what if you're being nice to them and had booked multiple nights (although I don't think many flyertalkers would be doing that -- you might as well keep the lower refundable rate from the competitor for the additional nights).
I do wonder what would happen if they made me switch to a non-refundable rez and then I couldn't travel. I would hope reason would prevail and we'd just mutually agree to cancel the free night, but who knows? And what if you're being nice to them and had booked multiple nights (although I don't think many flyertalkers would be doing that -- you might as well keep the lower refundable rate from the competitor for the additional nights).
The way they twist the interpretation / implementation of the Ts and Cs, proves this is a scam, plain and simple.
By now pretty much most of us posting here know IHG customer service dept is useless. Good luck if you need their help to get you out of a no show on a non-refundable, even it is a free night to begin with.
Oct 3, 2011, 10:21 pm
#225
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Posts: 256
Using Ambassador free weekend night
So, has anyone tried using this in conjuction with the Bogo certificate, obviously for a 3 night stay? And, since you have to book the nights on the special IC Bogo site, which is typically more expensive than the normal site, can you use this price to compare with the 3rd party site?