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
Oct 15, 15, 11:57 am
#7111
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA, BA, Delta, SPG, Hilton
Posts: 718
In order to have a valid BRG claim I NEED to book NON REFUNDALE rate if it is available? I did use Best Available Rate Search and booked refundable rate which is higher rather than nonrefundable one.
My understanding was different.
Oct 15, 15, 12:08 pm
#7112
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: DUS
Posts: 199
Don't be so sure about that. I had a stay there last week. Got a letter saying stay would not be adjusted to expect a check. Then, four days after check out, they reversed the charge back to my card and updated my bill to show that the stay was a nonqualifying free stay.
Oct 15, 15, 12:15 pm
#7113
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 15,239
I apologize but I do not understand Your reply.
In order to have a valid BRG claim I NEED to book NON REFUNDALE rate if it is available? I did use Best Available Rate Search and booked refundable rate which is higher rather than nonrefundable one.
My understanding was different.
In order to have a valid BRG claim I NEED to book NON REFUNDALE rate if it is available? I did use Best Available Rate Search and booked refundable rate which is higher rather than nonrefundable one.
My understanding was different.
You can't book a refundable room and then BRG a non-refundable rate against a non-refundable rate on IHG.
Starwood allows it, IHG sadly doesn't - though the IHG BRG offers free nights and Starwood doesn't, so that's your tradeoff.
Oct 15, 15, 12:28 pm
#7114
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA, BA, Delta, SPG, Hilton
Posts: 718
if you book the refundable rate, all you can BRG against it is another refundable rate. (then you booked the "lowest available rate" for a "refundable room type".)
You can't book a refundable room and then BRG a non-refundable rate against a non-refundable rate on IHG.
.
You can't book a refundable room and then BRG a non-refundable rate against a non-refundable rate on IHG.
.
I am comparing apples to apples. Refundable to refundable.
My question was different as GordonUK confused me as if I have to book nonrefundable rate since it is the lowest one. I guess not.
Last edited by ellylex; Oct 15, 15 at 12:41 pm
Oct 15, 15, 1:48 pm
#7115
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: N/A
Programs: 100m swimming certificate level 5
Posts: 1,452
New IHG Best Rate Guarantee - Discussion & Feedback
You can actually compare best flex against ota non refundable. When flex only left.
Oct 15, 15, 2:06 pm
#7116
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA, BA, Delta, SPG, Hilton
Posts: 718
Who oversees that BRG department?
I called Guest Relations and basically no assistance. I have received 2 emails from BRG in 36 hrs - both stating they are working on it. I guess they are waiting for the rate to change on competitor's website so that they can deny a valid claim.
Which department at IHG can assist in this matter?
I searched online and flyertalk and can't find anything except one vague reference to exec complaints department. Guest Relations claims there is no such, or that it is them but they can't assist. "Great" company - no one knows anything, no accountability....
I haven't done the claim in many years due to the same treatment years ago.
I called Guest Relations and basically no assistance. I have received 2 emails from BRG in 36 hrs - both stating they are working on it. I guess they are waiting for the rate to change on competitor's website so that they can deny a valid claim.
Which department at IHG can assist in this matter?
I searched online and flyertalk and can't find anything except one vague reference to exec complaints department. Guest Relations claims there is no such, or that it is them but they can't assist. "Great" company - no one knows anything, no accountability....
I haven't done the claim in many years due to the same treatment years ago.
Oct 15, 15, 3:07 pm
#7117
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,374
I don't think that kind of response is appropriate. Give them the time to handle your request. Have some patience. Mostly they can make an evaluation quickly. In rare cases it can take up to a few weeks, but from what I understand your case is nowhere near those conditions.
Oct 15, 15, 3:34 pm
#7118
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA, BA, Delta, SPG, Hilton
Posts: 718
336,
I am not following your logic. I would be patient if not for the BRG rules which state that rate has to be available at the time they check it. So, of course, it wouldn't be available if they wait several days or weeks, as you stated.
How long, in your opinion, it takes to verify the BRG claim?
In my opinion, few minutes.
PS It takes longer for them to write 2 long emails than it would take to look at the rate on the website provided.
I am not following your logic. I would be patient if not for the BRG rules which state that rate has to be available at the time they check it. So, of course, it wouldn't be available if they wait several days or weeks, as you stated.
How long, in your opinion, it takes to verify the BRG claim?
In my opinion, few minutes.
PS It takes longer for them to write 2 long emails than it would take to look at the rate on the website provided.
Oct 15, 15, 7:36 pm
#7119
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: Yorkshire Coastliner
Posts: 1,275
336,
I am not following your logic. I would be patient if not for the BRG rules which state that rate has to be available at the time they check it. So, of course, it wouldn't be available if they wait several days or weeks, as you stated.
How long, in your opinion, it takes to verify the BRG claim?
In my opinion, few minutes.
PS It takes longer for them to write 2 long emails than it would take to look at the rate on the website provided.
I am not following your logic. I would be patient if not for the BRG rules which state that rate has to be available at the time they check it. So, of course, it wouldn't be available if they wait several days or weeks, as you stated.
How long, in your opinion, it takes to verify the BRG claim?
In my opinion, few minutes.
PS It takes longer for them to write 2 long emails than it would take to look at the rate on the website provided.
"...as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don't know we don't know."
Oct 15, 15, 7:43 pm
#7120
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA, BA, Delta, SPG, Hilton
Posts: 718
patgarrett,
Thank You for the reading suggestion, but I am asking practical questions not philosophical ones. )))
Thank You for the reading suggestion, but I am asking practical questions not philosophical ones. )))
Oct 15, 15, 9:33 pm
#7121
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: DUS
Posts: 199
You should wait at least 72hrs. If I don't receive any statement within 3 days I cancel, book again and submit another claim. Nevertheless you already got an answer and your case is worked on.
Oct 15, 15, 10:47 pm
#7122
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA, BA, Delta, SPG, Hilton
Posts: 718
My aqaintance, on the other hand, submitted a claim (almost same time as myself) for the same property and got a reply today, that rate doesn't qualify because it is corporate. BUT, they conveniently omitted another rate mentioned in the comments which is still lower that IHG.
Given that information, it doesn't make sense what are they researching, if another person already got a response many hours ago.
Oct 15, 15, 11:21 pm
#7123
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,374
The rate you saw has been registered as from the first response you have received from the BPG desk. You are protected from price changes. The next step is only normal, they verify whether all conditions are met. This can take a while. If you thought of getting a free night quickly and hassle free, I am sorry, but this may not be the right programme.
Last edited by 336; Oct 16, 15 at 12:09 am
Oct 16, 15, 12:11 am
#7124
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 274
Did anyone ever experience the following?
I submitted a claim on a flex rate I booked.
The claim was correct in my opinion and after 15h I got a response that they were still researching the room accommodation.
30 minutes later I got a reply they couldn't retrieve the room type on the website.
I checked the website and indeed the particular room type disappeared.
It didn't disappear only on the website that I submitted, but on all websites (booking, expedia, hrs, ...)
3 hours later I checked it again, and the room type was back available on all websites, also on the one I submitted with the lower price.
Am I getting crazy or do they really sometimes block room types for resellers to prevent a BPG?
I submitted a claim on a flex rate I booked.
The claim was correct in my opinion and after 15h I got a response that they were still researching the room accommodation.
30 minutes later I got a reply they couldn't retrieve the room type on the website.
I checked the website and indeed the particular room type disappeared.
It didn't disappear only on the website that I submitted, but on all websites (booking, expedia, hrs, ...)
3 hours later I checked it again, and the room type was back available on all websites, also on the one I submitted with the lower price.
Am I getting crazy or do they really sometimes block room types for resellers to prevent a BPG?
Last edited by daruda; Oct 16, 15 at 12:45 am
Oct 16, 15, 1:42 am
#7125
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA, BA, Delta, SPG, Hilton
Posts: 718
If rate has to be verified by the rep and it takes for them awhile (intentionally or not) - then Your statement "You are protected from price changes" cannot be true.
Correct me if I am wrong.
