Jul 8, 13, 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
Apr 6, 14, 1:49 am
#5671
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Amsterdam, Asia, UK
Programs: IHG RA (Spire), HH Diamond, MR Platinum, SQ Gold, KLM Gold, BAEC Gold
Posts: 5,072
No you can't ask IHG to confirm first as that is not what BRG program says... it says
" If you book with IHG and within 24hours find exactly same room you booked cheaper we will give you the first night free and price match the remaining nights of the reservation " ... in other words book on IHG first and as you have not yet booked ihg brg team will not be interested AND you need to also provide IHG Reservation number which you obviously will not yet have.
We know everyone picks their stay city. checks several local IHG hotels out and books the BRGable one if available, then pretends they book on ihg.com then find the OTA rate to beat the ihg site rate.
In fact IHG will no doubt inform that IHG hotel so they can tell ota to correct rate, before getting back to you anyway.
" If you book with IHG and within 24hours find exactly same room you booked cheaper we will give you the first night free and price match the remaining nights of the reservation " ... in other words book on IHG first and as you have not yet booked ihg brg team will not be interested AND you need to also provide IHG Reservation number which you obviously will not yet have.
We know everyone picks their stay city. checks several local IHG hotels out and books the BRGable one if available, then pretends they book on ihg.com then find the OTA rate to beat the ihg site rate.
In fact IHG will no doubt inform that IHG hotel so they can tell ota to correct rate, before getting back to you anyway.
Apr 6, 14, 2:38 am
#5672
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: N/A
Programs: 100m swimming certificate level 5
Posts: 1,452
No you can't ask IHG to confirm first as that is not what BRG program says... it says
" If you book with IHG and within 24hours find exactly same room you booked cheaper we will give you the first night free and price match the remaining nights of the reservation " ... in other words book on IHG first and as you have not yet booked ihg brg team will not be interested AND you need to also provide IHG Reservation number which you obviously will not yet have.
We know everyone picks their stay city. checks several local IHG hotels out and books the BRGable one if available, then pretends they book on ihg.com then find the OTA rate to beat the ihg site rate.
In fact IHG will no doubt inform that IHG hotel so they can tell ota to correct rate, before getting back to you anyway.
" If you book with IHG and within 24hours find exactly same room you booked cheaper we will give you the first night free and price match the remaining nights of the reservation " ... in other words book on IHG first and as you have not yet booked ihg brg team will not be interested AND you need to also provide IHG Reservation number which you obviously will not yet have.
We know everyone picks their stay city. checks several local IHG hotels out and books the BRGable one if available, then pretends they book on ihg.com then find the OTA rate to beat the ihg site rate.
In fact IHG will no doubt inform that IHG hotel so they can tell ota to correct rate, before getting back to you anyway.
Apr 6, 14, 7:39 pm
#5673
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 827
Keep in mind, I'm not an advocate of abusing this program, and it drives me nuts whenever I see a BRG advertised as a "hotel deal" on flyertalk. But not living up to the T&C's is equally as frustrating with how they interpret the rule for two guests of different households in one room.
Apr 7, 14, 2:11 am
#5674
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: N/A
Programs: 100m swimming certificate level 5
Posts: 1,452
It has nothing to do with that. The better analogy would be not getting the full inch here! IHG's rules about guests staying in a free room (if they aren't part of the same household) is ridiculous. IF they dont want to do that, then whats the difference if those two people just each end up getting a free room their first night, and then sharing a room the second night. The net result is the same, but IHG is choosing to interpret the rules rather oddly in that scenario.
Keep in mind, I'm not an advocate of abusing this program, and it drives me nuts whenever I see a BRG advertised as a "hotel deal" on flyertalk. But not living up to the T&C's is equally as frustrating with how they interpret the rule for two guests of different households in one room.
Keep in mind, I'm not an advocate of abusing this program, and it drives me nuts whenever I see a BRG advertised as a "hotel deal" on flyertalk. But not living up to the T&C's is equally as frustrating with how they interpret the rule for two guests of different households in one room.
Apr 8, 14, 11:40 pm
#5675
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 827
It is their game, and they can change the rules. However, they're not playing by their rules right now on that particular subject, hence the confusion. A simple re-wording of the T&C's would help clarify the issue and end any discussion.
Apr 10, 14, 6:36 am
#5676
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 31
I have a BRG that I received confirmation was converted to a free night. However when I log into the reservation it still says I am paying the regular rate. It does say the reservation was modified. Do you think there is any issue here?
Apr 10, 14, 6:57 am
#5677
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: UK
Programs: IHG Plat; CC Gold
Posts: 845
It should be fine. Sometimes it is altered, but frequently it is only altered at the hotels end, so you do not see it. I have had this on several occasions and never had a problem.
Apr 10, 14, 7:45 am
#5678
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: N/A
Programs: 100m swimming certificate level 5
Posts: 1,452
Apr 10, 14, 7:55 am
#5679
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: UK
Programs: IHG Plat; CC Gold
Posts: 845
It should be fine. Sometimes it is altered, but frequently it is only altered at the hotels end, so you do not see it. I have had this on several occasions and never had a problem.
Apr 10, 14, 8:31 am
#5680
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MUC
Programs: BA Gold, AA Plat, TK*G, UA*G
Posts: 51
I have an upcoming claimed stay on Saturday at IC Westminster in London, I haven't received any updates by IHG and the rate isn't adjusted either so can I assume I get reimbursed or how do they handle it there?
Does anybody know if the IC Westminster comps your room or is it know for reimbursement?
Does anybody know if the IC Westminster comps your room or is it know for reimbursement?
Apr 10, 14, 10:30 am
#5681
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: N/A
Programs: 100m swimming certificate level 5
Posts: 1,452
I have an upcoming claimed stay on Saturday at IC Westminster in London, I haven't received any updates by IHG and the rate isn't adjusted either so can I assume I get reimbursed or how do they handle it there?
Does anybody know if the IC Westminster comps your room or is it know for reimbursement?
Does anybody know if the IC Westminster comps your room or is it know for reimbursement?
Apr 10, 14, 7:04 pm
#5682
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: AA EXP (owe), BA Silver (ows), AB Silver (owr), WN A+/CP, IHG Spire AMB, Avis First
Posts: 1,376
so I've been gone from this BRG scene for awhile now.
I haven't used the BRG since they cut the phone lines. I've found a BRG where the OTA has a "refundable" rate, but the cancellation terms are slightly worse than IHG's best flex:
OTA: 20 EUR between 6/1/2014-6/30/2014, nonrefundable after 7/1/2014
IHG: Before 4:00PM 7/9, no charge, nonrefundable after.
In the past, I've been able to just call in a few times and eventually one of the agents would cave in. But I'm guessing this is no longer the case anymore with the form?
The OTA "refundable" is also better than IHG's advance purchase rate, so maybe I should try that - it's just a 508EUR room and I don't feel so great about a silly web form vs being able to call people.., but I'm guessing many have had success recently?
I haven't used the BRG since they cut the phone lines. I've found a BRG where the OTA has a "refundable" rate, but the cancellation terms are slightly worse than IHG's best flex:
OTA: 20 EUR between 6/1/2014-6/30/2014, nonrefundable after 7/1/2014
IHG: Before 4:00PM 7/9, no charge, nonrefundable after.
In the past, I've been able to just call in a few times and eventually one of the agents would cave in. But I'm guessing this is no longer the case anymore with the form?
The OTA "refundable" is also better than IHG's advance purchase rate, so maybe I should try that - it's just a 508EUR room and I don't feel so great about a silly web form vs being able to call people.., but I'm guessing many have had success recently?
Apr 10, 14, 8:23 pm
#5683
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 21
so I've been gone from this BRG scene for awhile now.
I haven't used the BRG since they cut the phone lines. I've found a BRG where the OTA has a "refundable" rate, but the cancellation terms are slightly worse than IHG's best flex:
OTA: 20 EUR between 6/1/2014-6/30/2014, nonrefundable after 7/1/2014
IHG: Before 4:00PM 7/9, no charge, nonrefundable after.
In the past, I've been able to just call in a few times and eventually one of the agents would cave in. But I'm guessing this is no longer the case anymore with the form?
The OTA "refundable" is also better than IHG's advance purchase rate, so maybe I should try that - it's just a 508EUR room and I don't feel so great about a silly web form vs being able to call people.., but I'm guessing many have had success recently?
I haven't used the BRG since they cut the phone lines. I've found a BRG where the OTA has a "refundable" rate, but the cancellation terms are slightly worse than IHG's best flex:
OTA: 20 EUR between 6/1/2014-6/30/2014, nonrefundable after 7/1/2014
IHG: Before 4:00PM 7/9, no charge, nonrefundable after.
In the past, I've been able to just call in a few times and eventually one of the agents would cave in. But I'm guessing this is no longer the case anymore with the form?
The OTA "refundable" is also better than IHG's advance purchase rate, so maybe I should try that - it's just a 508EUR room and I don't feel so great about a silly web form vs being able to call people.., but I'm guessing many have had success recently?
Apr 10, 14, 8:25 pm
#5684
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 21
After I received an email saying my rate was adjusted for free by the hotel I cannot view the reservation details online.
I get this: "Can not display details for this booking. Please contact Service Center or each hotel directly."
Does this happen a lot after the rate has been adjusted?
I get this: "Can not display details for this booking. Please contact Service Center or each hotel directly."
Does this happen a lot after the rate has been adjusted?
Apr 10, 14, 8:30 pm
#5685
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: 404 - Can't Be Found
Posts: 134
I haven't lodged a BRG application previously.
Did my first one recently.
Short answer = "no".
My story:
Australian Priority Privilege website said an average ( over four nights ) for a particular IC = $xxx.
Because of an expected drop from RA to Plat AMB ( when booking due to stay ), I rang the IC directly.
Staff told me they would given me the 'best rate' etc.
Booking Modified by IC staff.
Now reads $7.50 a night higher than the PP price I originally booked for.
I called back, and explained that I'm not actually better off. I mentioned BRG, and does this situation qualify.
Staff told me, they would look into it. I was asked for 'screen-shot' ... which was sent to the IC property directly ( via email to the staffer ).
Staffer rang me back, and said they would further Modify to the PP price - which was done.
Nothing further.
I waited a day or so ( yes, longer than 24 hours ), and nothing else.
I lodged my BRG form, and got an email response in 3 hours & 15 minutes !!
'sorry, but you don't qualify ...'
Reasons:
Longer than 24 hours.
Priority Privilege deemed as an IHG site.
( 'line & verse' from THEIR Rules ... )
My 'virginity' stolen ....
Did my first one recently.
Short answer = "no".
My story:
Australian Priority Privilege website said an average ( over four nights ) for a particular IC = $xxx.
Because of an expected drop from RA to Plat AMB ( when booking due to stay ), I rang the IC directly.
Staff told me they would given me the 'best rate' etc.
Booking Modified by IC staff.
Now reads $7.50 a night higher than the PP price I originally booked for.
I called back, and explained that I'm not actually better off. I mentioned BRG, and does this situation qualify.
Staff told me, they would look into it. I was asked for 'screen-shot' ... which was sent to the IC property directly ( via email to the staffer ).
Staffer rang me back, and said they would further Modify to the PP price - which was done.
Nothing further.
I waited a day or so ( yes, longer than 24 hours ), and nothing else.
I lodged my BRG form, and got an email response in 3 hours & 15 minutes !!
'sorry, but you don't qualify ...'
Reasons:
Longer than 24 hours.
Priority Privilege deemed as an IHG site.
( 'line & verse' from THEIR Rules ... )
My 'virginity' stolen ....
