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
May 18, 2015, 5:13 pm
#6826
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: N/A
Programs: 100m swimming certificate level 5
Posts: 1,456
I've heard rumors about a new way to interpret the T&Cs.
The clause
(https://www.ihg.com/hotels/gb/en/cus...rms-conditions)
is supposed to be subject to "nonobservance" by BRG staff.
Has anyone been confronted with this issue recently (end of last week)?
The clause
(https://www.ihg.com/hotels/gb/en/cus...rms-conditions)
is supposed to be subject to "nonobservance" by BRG staff.
Has anyone been confronted with this issue recently (end of last week)?
May 18, 2015, 8:31 pm
#6827
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 116
A few years ago I had a claim in New Zealand denied because I missed that IHG included a 1.5% service
From a claim response dated 2-3-13, "With regards to the 1.5% Service Charge which is considered as a Merchant Service Fee for Australian hotels, it would only apply for guests who will be paying with credit cards. Please be informed that this amount is being paid at the hotel and will not be part of the computation for the Best Price Guarantee. This kind of fee is also considered as “Extra Fees”. As per the terms of the program under “Matching Prices”, it is also stated that “Any taxes, tariffs or fees imposed by a governmental authority (e.g., federal, state or local) will not be considered as part of the Best Price Guarantee claim. The Guarantee does not include extra fees such as extra person charges.”
May 18, 2015, 8:47 pm
#6828
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 116
I'm currently fighting with IHG BPG because they say that city taxes aren't included on the third party website. When the third party site says nothing about them being excluded or that I would have additional charges upon check in. Does anyone have any experience dealing with this.
May 18, 2015, 9:11 pm
#6829
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 827
I'm currently fighting with IHG BPG because they say that city taxes aren't included on the third party website. When the third party site says nothing about them being excluded or that I would have additional charges upon check in. Does anyone have any experience dealing with this.
May 19, 2015, 3:30 am
#6830
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
I'm currently fighting with IHG BPG because they say that city taxes aren't included on the third party website. When the third party site says nothing about them being excluded or that I would have additional charges upon check in. Does anyone have any experience dealing with this.
If that is the case, and your claim is a narrow one, where the missing tax tips the balance, then you've lost your claim.
And you're probably going to have trust IHG/the hotel about whether or not the OTA includes the city tax.
May 19, 2015, 9:52 am
#6831
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Belgium
Programs: Gold Star Alliance,IHG Spire Ambassador, Starwood, Hilton Honor Diamond, Silver Accor, Diamond Hyatt
Posts: 68
I booked the lowest rate available on IHG for 1 night(best flexible for stay in 3 days). Found a lower rate and sent the claim.
Their answer is that they found the lower rate but as it is a prepaid/non refundable rate on third party website it doesn't match to the terms that stipulate it should be the same condition.
I replied with the terms showing that a flexible can be compared to a lower rate if it is lower and got same reply with terms number 5 matching price same condition...
So started from last week I always get rejected claim for same reason despite it was working before all the time.
I think they will change their terms with this condition...
Their answer is that they found the lower rate but as it is a prepaid/non refundable rate on third party website it doesn't match to the terms that stipulate it should be the same condition.
I replied with the terms showing that a flexible can be compared to a lower rate if it is lower and got same reply with terms number 5 matching price same condition...
So started from last week I always get rejected claim for same reason despite it was working before all the time.
I think they will change their terms with this condition...
May 19, 2015, 11:49 am
#6832
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: N/A
Programs: 100m swimming certificate level 5
Posts: 1,456
I booked the lowest rate available on IHG for 1 night(best flexible for stay in 3 days). Found a lower rate and sent the claim.
Their answer is that they found the lower rate but as it is a prepaid/non refundable rate on third party website it doesn't match to the terms that stipulate it should be the same condition.
I replied with the terms showing that a flexible can be compared to a lower rate if it is lower and got same reply with terms number 5 matching price same condition...
So started from last week I always get rejected claim for same reason despite it was working before all the time.
I think they will change their terms with this condition...
Their answer is that they found the lower rate but as it is a prepaid/non refundable rate on third party website it doesn't match to the terms that stipulate it should be the same condition.
I replied with the terms showing that a flexible can be compared to a lower rate if it is lower and got same reply with terms number 5 matching price same condition...
So started from last week I always get rejected claim for same reason despite it was working before all the time.
I think they will change their terms with this condition...
May 19, 2015, 12:38 pm
#6833
Join Date: May 2008
Location: BOS/SIN
Programs: SQ
Posts: 2,704
I had a BRG approved in NYC which I'm quite happy about as the rates were sky high.
They emailed me and let me know that they're working on getting the rate changed to zero, which is a bit confusing to me. I don't understand why they can't just do it automatically. Is this normal?
They emailed me and let me know that they're working on getting the rate changed to zero, which is a bit confusing to me. I don't understand why they can't just do it automatically. Is this normal?
May 19, 2015, 2:41 pm
#6834
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: switching frequently between US and Germany
Programs: DL GM / HH DIAMOND / IHG PlatAmb / AB Silv
Posts: 37
I had a BRG approved in NYC which I'm quite happy about as the rates were sky high.
They emailed me and let me know that they're working on getting the rate changed to zero, which is a bit confusing to me. I don't understand why they can't just do it automatically. Is this normal?
They emailed me and let me know that they're working on getting the rate changed to zero, which is a bit confusing to me. I don't understand why they can't just do it automatically. Is this normal?
So, you´re save with the free night, just not sure how they will handle the "payment" yet.
May 20, 2015, 3:12 pm
#6835
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Belgium
Programs: Gold Star Alliance,IHG Spire Ambassador, Starwood, Hilton Honor Diamond, Silver Accor, Diamond Hyatt
Posts: 68
And you booked a flexible rate comparing to a prepaid ?
Here is the new answer :
We know that this will be frustrating on your part but please be informed that the outcome of this validation we made was attained from an appropriate premise. Thus, we stand with the result of our verification.
So it means they just don't want to recognize the part of comparing the lowest rate on IHG with the prepaid
Here is the new answer :
We know that this will be frustrating on your part but please be informed that the outcome of this validation we made was attained from an appropriate premise. Thus, we stand with the result of our verification.
So it means they just don't want to recognize the part of comparing the lowest rate on IHG with the prepaid
May 20, 2015, 4:25 pm
#6836
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: N/A
Programs: 100m swimming certificate level 5
Posts: 1,456
May 20, 2015, 4:33 pm
#6837
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: N/A
Programs: 100m swimming certificate level 5
Posts: 1,456
Here is the new answer :
We know that this will be frustrating on your part but please be informed that the outcome of this validation we made was attained from an appropriate premise. Thus, we stand with the result of our verification.
So it means they just don't want to recognize the part of comparing the lowest rate on IHG with the prepaid
We know that this will be frustrating on your part but please be informed that the outcome of this validation we made was attained from an appropriate premise. Thus, we stand with the result of our verification.
So it means they just don't want to recognize the part of comparing the lowest rate on IHG with the prepaid
May 21, 2015, 9:37 am
#6838
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 211
Yeah don't bother going back and forth with them over it. Just cancel and rebook.
I note the response time is down to a few hours at the moment?
I note the response time is down to a few hours at the moment?
May 21, 2015, 10:36 am
#6839
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Belgium
Programs: Gold Star Alliance,IHG Spire Ambassador, Starwood, Hilton Honor Diamond, Silver Accor, Diamond Hyatt
Posts: 68
I will try in a week because all this week and last week got rejected claim for rate problem.
So maybe they want to hold a moment with my claims^^
Today I got a reply in 2h ! So back to quick answer.
So maybe they want to hold a moment with my claims^^
Today I got a reply in 2h ! So back to quick answer.
May 22, 2015, 8:24 am
#6840
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 116
So I cancelled and rebooked my room and was approved within 6 hours. One thing I did was to not your my IHG rewards number and change my address and phone number to my work. I have had lots of BPG claims with IHG over the years. I wondered if this helped me get approved with less scrutiny. My question is this: Once approved for a BPG claim can I add my IHG rewards number or is that considered modifying a reservation and will void my claim?
This really only affects the stay if they end up reimbursing me by check, which has been the typical course of action in my experience lately. (Then I would be eligible for rewards points)
This really only affects the stay if they end up reimbursing me by check, which has been the typical course of action in my experience lately. (Then I would be eligible for rewards points)
Last edited by discountsae; May 22, 2015 at 8:55 am