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
Nov 7, 2012, 7:59 am
#2296
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Tyrone,EU
Programs: Avios Hunter
Posts: 2,812
However the rules do say:-
"All claims are subject to verification by IHG."
Perhaps the BRG dept contacted the website and they confirmed that the room type is mis-described, thus making the claim non-verifiable.
Nov 7, 2012, 8:21 am
#2297
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: SYDNEY
Programs: *A Gold, HH dia,Hyatt plat,Sixt PLAT,QF , EY Gold
Posts: 1,890
Hey guys, I need your help regarding this issue:
Yesterday I booked Suite "A" at an IC in Europe. After some hours I got an email from them saying they need to check the room type and today I received an email that my claim got approved and I will get the first night free. 30 mins after I got the final approval from the BRG team, they came back to me again and told me that the third party website had a glitch and that they advertised Suite "A" with the price of Suite "B"! The ordinary customer only could see Suite "A" for xyz Euros on the third party website!
So what shall I do now? Seems like they are trying to find ridiculous excuses to NOT honor the room!
Yesterday I booked Suite "A" at an IC in Europe. After some hours I got an email from them saying they need to check the room type and today I received an email that my claim got approved and I will get the first night free. 30 mins after I got the final approval from the BRG team, they came back to me again and told me that the third party website had a glitch and that they advertised Suite "A" with the price of Suite "B"! The ordinary customer only could see Suite "A" for xyz Euros on the third party website!
So what shall I do now? Seems like they are trying to find ridiculous excuses to NOT honor the room!
What websites that I can't find anything for Europe.
Nov 7, 2012, 8:45 am
#2298
Join Date: May 1998
Location: australia
Posts: 5,762
Nov 7, 2012, 10:11 am
#2299
Join Date: May 2002
Location: District of Columbia, Maryland- AA 2M Life Platinum, UA 1K, TK Gold, BA Silver, IC RA, Fairmont/Marriott Platinum, SPG/Hilton/Omni Gold, Wynn/Makers Mark Ambassador, Hertz Presidents Circle, Avis Chairmans, National Executive
Posts: 1,578
Does this ever work? Sorry for my rant, but I have tried 8 BRGs and all got denied for IC Alliance Resorts in Las Vegas.
Competing website Reasoning
olotel.com charged in Euros, must be USD
olotels.com foreign website not allowed
onhotels.com cancellation penalty vs. 100% refundable on IC website
expedia.com special last minute sale, next day normal rate so denied
priceline.com opaque website not allowed
weholiday.co.uk foreign website although used toll free 800$ to reserve
This is really frustrating. Maybe we can pm each other when we find something that works since you know, they are probably watching this site!
Competing website Reasoning
olotel.com charged in Euros, must be USD
olotels.com foreign website not allowed
onhotels.com cancellation penalty vs. 100% refundable on IC website
expedia.com special last minute sale, next day normal rate so denied
priceline.com opaque website not allowed
weholiday.co.uk foreign website although used toll free 800$ to reserve
This is really frustrating. Maybe we can pm each other when we find something that works since you know, they are probably watching this site!
Nov 7, 2012, 10:17 am
#2300
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
These look like legitimate denials:
The website MUST charge in the same local currency as the hotel and it has to be a no-penalty cancellation to compare against IC (onhotels charges 10%, right?)
It's allowed, if you can prove the currency charged is the same as the local currency. (Probably isn't, for those sites and that hotel)
I would have tried calling to expedite the claim. Sometimes it works.
You have to make sure they understand you're using the direct booking function at priceline, not the opaque bidding.
olotels.com foreign website not allowed
weholiday.co.uk foreign website although used toll free 800$ to reserve
weholiday.co.uk foreign website although used toll free 800$ to reserve
expedia.com special last minute sale, next day normal rate so denied
priceline.com opaque website not allowed
Nov 7, 2012, 11:30 am
#2301
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Exeter, UK
Programs: BA Gold. Flying Blue Gold. Hilton Gold, Accor Gold, IHG Plat AMB, Radisson Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 220
Just had a BRG claim turned down for an upcoming stay at the Crowne Plaza, London the City. Booked it for £129 through the IHG website (without breakfast). Found it for £127 on olotels.com this morning - same room with breakfast.
Claim refused because:
"per the terms and condition of the Guarantee, room prices that include food or beverage items such as breakfast or dinner, entertainment items such as tickets to a show, and/or free local calls, parking or other bundled items will be considered as packages. These package or inclusive rates must be compared to prices with the same type of inclusive items."
That's obviously fair enough if comparing a "with breakfast" rate booked through IHG with a "without breakfast" rate found elsewhere. It's not comparing like with like. It just seems a bit weaselly when applied like this though... it amounts to refusing a claim on the basis that one managed to find a rate that includes more, for less!
If I'd have booked the £145 rate including breakfast with IHG, it seems I'd have qualified.
Claim refused because:
"per the terms and condition of the Guarantee, room prices that include food or beverage items such as breakfast or dinner, entertainment items such as tickets to a show, and/or free local calls, parking or other bundled items will be considered as packages. These package or inclusive rates must be compared to prices with the same type of inclusive items."
That's obviously fair enough if comparing a "with breakfast" rate booked through IHG with a "without breakfast" rate found elsewhere. It's not comparing like with like. It just seems a bit weaselly when applied like this though... it amounts to refusing a claim on the basis that one managed to find a rate that includes more, for less!
If I'd have booked the £145 rate including breakfast with IHG, it seems I'd have qualified.
Nov 7, 2012, 1:45 pm
#2302
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Tyrone,EU
Programs: Avios Hunter
Posts: 2,812
Just had a BRG claim turned down for an upcoming stay at the Crowne Plaza, London the City. Booked it for £129 through the IHG website (without breakfast). Found it for £127 on olotels.com this morning - same room with breakfast.
Claim refused because:
"per the terms and condition of the Guarantee, room prices that include food or beverage items such as breakfast or dinner, entertainment items such as tickets to a show, and/or free local calls, parking or other bundled items will be considered as packages. These package or inclusive rates must be compared to prices with the same type of inclusive items."
That's obviously fair enough if comparing a "with breakfast" rate booked through IHG with a "without breakfast" rate found elsewhere. It's not comparing like with like. It just seems a bit weaselly when applied like this though... it amounts to refusing a claim on the basis that one managed to find a rate that includes more, for less!
If I'd have booked the £145 rate including breakfast with IHG, it seems I'd have qualified.
Claim refused because:
"per the terms and condition of the Guarantee, room prices that include food or beverage items such as breakfast or dinner, entertainment items such as tickets to a show, and/or free local calls, parking or other bundled items will be considered as packages. These package or inclusive rates must be compared to prices with the same type of inclusive items."
That's obviously fair enough if comparing a "with breakfast" rate booked through IHG with a "without breakfast" rate found elsewhere. It's not comparing like with like. It just seems a bit weaselly when applied like this though... it amounts to refusing a claim on the basis that one managed to find a rate that includes more, for less!
If I'd have booked the £145 rate including breakfast with IHG, it seems I'd have qualified.
Nov 8, 2012, 3:58 am
#2303
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: SYDNEY
Programs: *A Gold, HH dia,Hyatt plat,Sixt PLAT,QF , EY Gold
Posts: 1,890
Does this ever work? Sorry for my rant, but I have tried 8 BRGs and all got denied for IC Alliance Resorts in Las Vegas.
Competing website Reasoning
olotel.com charged in Euros, must be USD
olotels.com foreign website not allowed
onhotels.com cancellation penalty vs. 100% refundable on IC website
expedia.com special last minute sale, next day normal rate so denied
priceline.com opaque website not allowed
weholiday.co.uk foreign website although used toll free 800$ to reserve
This is really frustrating. Maybe we can pm each other when we find something that works since you know, they are probably watching this site!
Competing website Reasoning
olotel.com charged in Euros, must be USD
olotels.com foreign website not allowed
onhotels.com cancellation penalty vs. 100% refundable on IC website
expedia.com special last minute sale, next day normal rate so denied
priceline.com opaque website not allowed
weholiday.co.uk foreign website although used toll free 800$ to reserve
This is really frustrating. Maybe we can pm each other when we find something that works since you know, they are probably watching this site!
I think it's a good idea not to post any sites once they have been used they can't be used again . So these probably will no longer work
Nov 8, 2012, 4:29 am
#2304
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 11
Yes, I have done that and the bank did not reject me this time. Hope it works.However, the attitude of IHG is terribly unacceptable.
Nov 9, 2012, 5:27 am
#2305
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Australia
Programs: QF, LM, AA,VA Silver, Qatar, Accor Gold, CC Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott B Plat
Posts: 535
Refunds of Advance Payments
Can I get an opinion of everyone.
When you get an advance payment refunded from a BRG, does anyone else have problems with foreign currency exchange rates. I loose about $50 just between charging my credit card then refunding it.
When you get an advance payment refunded from a BRG, does anyone else have problems with foreign currency exchange rates. I loose about $50 just between charging my credit card then refunding it.
Nov 9, 2012, 5:43 am
#2306
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
From BRG or from the hotel? If the hotel refund you the $ you'll have to get the hotel to refund you the lost due to currency exchange.
Nov 9, 2012, 5:56 am
#2307
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Australia
Programs: QF, LM, AA,VA Silver, Qatar, Accor Gold, CC Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott B Plat
Posts: 535
From the hotel, CP Brussels was good when they did it, they wire transferred the exact money i was charged including the exchange rate fees. But all the rest just refunds you the original rate and when I show them that i'm still out of pocket from the refund they ignore my emails.
Nov 9, 2012, 6:07 am
#2308
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
From the hotel, CP Brussels was good when they did it, they wire transferred the exact money i was charged including the exchange rate fees. But all the rest just refunds you the original rate and when I show them that i'm still out of pocket from the refund they ignore my emails.
This is all part of BRG, sorry to hear that they are not willing to do more, but I don't think there is much more you can really do.
Nov 9, 2012, 10:41 pm
#2309
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Australia
Programs: QF, LM, AA,VA Silver, Qatar, Accor Gold, CC Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott B Plat
Posts: 535
In a way, they don't owe you more than the actual amount in EUR (their currency) + the exchange rate fee. I don't think they are obliged to refund you 'more' than necessary, since they are not controlling the currency fluctuation - what if it's the other way round that they have to refund you more because EUR is strong?
This is all part of BRG, sorry to hear that they are not willing to do more, but I don't think there is much more you can really do.
This is all part of BRG, sorry to hear that they are not willing to do more, but I don't think there is much more you can really do.
Nov 9, 2012, 11:59 pm
#2310
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
It was the other way around at 1 Hotel but because they charged me then refunded me then charged again, I ended up loosing money again in the currancy fluctuation. There are so many problems when you do the advanced purchase on BRG I have found, i'm always chasing them for a refund.