The Big Win returns - Spring 2014
Apr 11, 2014, 1:31 am
#1321
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Somewhere in Europe
Posts: 3,362
Has anyone had any issues with IHG changing the Big Win challenges midway through the promotion?
One of our challenges was 'start the day off right' (2,400 points) where we had to book 2 nights on a 'best flexible rate with breakfast' which we had done for two upcoming stays, however they have changed the requirement of this particular challenge to now "book now and stay with us before 30 April 2014 with IHG Great Value Package to receive 2,400 points. Available at participating IHG hotels in Asia, Middle East and Africa."
The annoying thing is that we did stay at 2 of the eligible hotels being the CP NRT & HI SYD Airport however not on the 'Great Value Package' as this was never one of our challenges when The Big Win 2014 was released & we made our hotel reservations.
It was only when we got back from that trip & were checking if the IHG points had posted that we noticed the challenge had changed completely.
Another problem we had was with the 'getaway with a win' (6,000 points) challenge to stay at a Holiday Inn Resort. When we clicked on the link to view the full list of participating hotels it did not display any properties so we called IHG who told us it was any property on the www.holidayinnresorts.com website so we booked 3 nights at Cabo San Lucas (SJD).
Now the link is up & running it lists the hotels however does not include Mexico but a whole lot of other countries.
If we were able to complete all 7 challenges we would have received a bonus 45,000 points but IHG account manager who called us (after posting on the IHG FB page said it's 3 nights in China. The T&C's mention China as being a 3 night minimum however you can stay at plenty of other countries as well however I think it's only a minimum 1 night stay outside China.
It's clear that IHG themselves don't even understand the eligibility criteria of their own offers.
One of our challenges was 'start the day off right' (2,400 points) where we had to book 2 nights on a 'best flexible rate with breakfast' which we had done for two upcoming stays, however they have changed the requirement of this particular challenge to now "book now and stay with us before 30 April 2014 with IHG Great Value Package to receive 2,400 points. Available at participating IHG hotels in Asia, Middle East and Africa."
The annoying thing is that we did stay at 2 of the eligible hotels being the CP NRT & HI SYD Airport however not on the 'Great Value Package' as this was never one of our challenges when The Big Win 2014 was released & we made our hotel reservations.
It was only when we got back from that trip & were checking if the IHG points had posted that we noticed the challenge had changed completely.
Another problem we had was with the 'getaway with a win' (6,000 points) challenge to stay at a Holiday Inn Resort. When we clicked on the link to view the full list of participating hotels it did not display any properties so we called IHG who told us it was any property on the www.holidayinnresorts.com website so we booked 3 nights at Cabo San Lucas (SJD).
Now the link is up & running it lists the hotels however does not include Mexico but a whole lot of other countries.
If we were able to complete all 7 challenges we would have received a bonus 45,000 points but IHG account manager who called us (after posting on the IHG FB page said it's 3 nights in China. The T&C's mention China as being a 3 night minimum however you can stay at plenty of other countries as well however I think it's only a minimum 1 night stay outside China.
It's clear that IHG themselves don't even understand the eligibility criteria of their own offers.
Apr 11, 2014, 2:35 am
#1322
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver, IHG Spire, Radisson Gold
Posts: 991
Just this morning my 'Book with IHG' points have finally come through!
It's been done manually I assume, as the description on my IHG statement is "The Big Win - Recovery". However, upon logging into bigwin.ihg.com I am still told that the offer hasn't been completed - thus my 'Win Big for 25k points' won't track
I'll give it a few days whilst things even out and scripts run, and if nothing else happens it may be time for another CS email.
It's been done manually I assume, as the description on my IHG statement is "The Big Win - Recovery". However, upon logging into bigwin.ihg.com I am still told that the offer hasn't been completed - thus my 'Win Big for 25k points' won't track
I'll give it a few days whilst things even out and scripts run, and if nothing else happens it may be time for another CS email.
Apr 11, 2014, 11:44 am
#1323
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: CAE,AGS
Programs: AAExP, Hyatt Globalist, HHonors Gold, IHG Spire, Marriott Plat
Posts: 3,124
After reading over these pages over the past couple, I have come to the conclusion that this round of the Big Win has been a major headache for a lot of people!
I had initially planned to do the Big Win... but with the current promotion of being able to buy points and get a 100% bonus, it is a no brainer for me... I am just going to buy the points. I will end up with 16K more points than I would have achieved with the Big Win... and for a lot less money and headache in the long run.
I had initially planned to do the Big Win... but with the current promotion of being able to buy points and get a 100% bonus, it is a no brainer for me... I am just going to buy the points. I will end up with 16K more points than I would have achieved with the Big Win... and for a lot less money and headache in the long run.
Apr 11, 2014, 4:05 pm
#1324
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,523
Just got the following email.
What's missing is:
Sigh, that was done along with all my reservations/stays.
That’s an impressive string of wins you‘ve put together. You should see 17,200 bonus points added to your total points balance very soon. Now here’s even better news—you’re only one win away from The Big Win. Complete one more offer before April 30 and you’ll have earned 19,000 bonus points. Your opportunity to take advantage of all that IHG® Rewards Club has to offer has never been this close.
Book 3 separate stays through an IHG® hotel website or mobile device to get our best price guarantee and receive 2,200 POINTS
Apr 11, 2014, 4:22 pm
#1325
In Memoriam
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 35,555
Apr 11, 2014, 7:44 pm
#1326
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,286
I had initially planned to do the Big Win... but with the current promotion of being able to buy points and get a 100% bonus, it is a no brainer for me... I am just going to buy the points. I will end up with 16K more points than I would have achieved with the Big Win... and for a lot less money and headache in the long run.
When my Big Win bonus posts I'll have earned about 85k points during the promotion. (That figure includes room rate points, elite bonus, and a few small stackable promos.) I spent about $1,000 on hotel stays. From a strict cost-per-point perspective that's 1.176cpp (cents per point). With the 100% bonus points promo I can buy a large number of points outright for 0.575cpp. That's less than half the cost. But it's not that simple. I needed those hotel stays I spent $1000 on. If I hadn't stayed with IHG I would have stayed with another hotel chain and spent about the same amount of money.
Apr 12, 2014, 4:49 am
#1327
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,110
Really bad customer service from PC, but they never got it right and possibly never will.
I won't let this go, because 53k hangs on it.
And a final note - this whole BigWin might bring some more new business their way, but surely pisses off a lot of old business with (next to) impossible goals. I stayed spot on the absolute minimum amount to fulfill the BW and spent everthing else elsewere. Quite an eye-opener, but surely not what PC intended
Apr 12, 2014, 6:22 am
#1328
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 103
Wednesday will be exactly 6 weeks from checkout, so I'll just pester them again.
Really bad customer service from PC, but they never got it right and possibly never will.
I won't let this go, because 53k hangs on it.
And a final note - this whole BigWin might bring some more new business their way, but surely pisses off a lot of old business with (next to) impossible goals. I stayed spot on the absolute minimum amount to fulfill the BW and spent everthing else elsewere. Quite an eye-opener, but surely not what PC intended
Really bad customer service from PC, but they never got it right and possibly never will.
I won't let this go, because 53k hangs on it.
And a final note - this whole BigWin might bring some more new business their way, but surely pisses off a lot of old business with (next to) impossible goals. I stayed spot on the absolute minimum amount to fulfill the BW and spent everthing else elsewere. Quite an eye-opener, but surely not what PC intended
Apr 12, 2014, 2:43 pm
#1330
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,110
Apr 12, 2014, 5:47 pm
#1331
In Memoriam
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 35,555
1 stay at a HI I had used Ice bags and then cockroaches in the morning.
1 Stay at HIX I had left over soap in the shower
1 stay at Staybridge I had inop icemaker for the second time in three months
1 stay at HIX I had a plugged toilet (on arrival)
1 stay at a HIX got walked (as a Platinum)
1 stay at HI had the wrong "rate code" entered for Best Flexible Rate with Breakfast after I asked at checkin.
Now keep in mind, this was on 8 stays and 9 nights. (I still have one to go)
(Which reminds me, I need to make some cancellations)
Last edited by underpressure; Apr 13, 2014 at 5:35 am
DIAMOND?!
Apr 12, 2014, 10:55 pm
#1333
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: CAE,AGS
Programs: AAExP, Hyatt Globalist, HHonors Gold, IHG Spire, Marriott Plat
Posts: 3,124
Yes and no. It depends on whether you need to stay in a hotel.
When my Big Win bonus posts I'll have earned about 85k points during the promotion. (That figure includes room rate points, elite bonus, and a few small stackable promos.) I spent about $1,000 on hotel stays. From a strict cost-per-point perspective that's 1.176cpp (cents per point). With the 100% bonus points promo I can buy a large number of points outright for 0.575cpp. That's less than half the cost. But it's not that simple. I needed those hotel stays I spent $1000 on. If I hadn't stayed with IHG I would have stayed with another hotel chain and spent about the same amount of money.
When my Big Win bonus posts I'll have earned about 85k points during the promotion. (That figure includes room rate points, elite bonus, and a few small stackable promos.) I spent about $1,000 on hotel stays. From a strict cost-per-point perspective that's 1.176cpp (cents per point). With the 100% bonus points promo I can buy a large number of points outright for 0.575cpp. That's less than half the cost. But it's not that simple. I needed those hotel stays I spent $1000 on. If I hadn't stayed with IHG I would have stayed with another hotel chain and spent about the same amount of money.
At a minimum, for this challenge requiring 7 nights and multiple brands, I would have had to complete a couple of MRs ( which I really try to avoid). Other travel plans just involved other hotel promotions this go round.
Apr 12, 2014, 11:42 pm
#1334
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: West Coast, USA
Programs: Skywards Platinum
Posts: 3,747
I am going to be really disappointed if I ever fall for it again....
1 stay at a HI I had used Ice bags and then cockroaches in the morning.
1 Stay at HIX I had left over soap in the shower
1 stay at Staybridge I had inop icemaker for the second time in three months
1 stay at HIX I had a plugged toilet (on arrival)
1 stay at a HIX got walked (as a diamond)
1 stay at HI had the wrong "rate code" entered for Best Flexible Rate with Breakfast after I asked at checkin.
Now keep in mind, this was on 8 stays and 9 nights. (I still have one to go)
(Which reminds me, I need to make some cancellations)
1 stay at a HI I had used Ice bags and then cockroaches in the morning.
1 Stay at HIX I had left over soap in the shower
1 stay at Staybridge I had inop icemaker for the second time in three months
1 stay at HIX I had a plugged toilet (on arrival)
1 stay at a HIX got walked (as a diamond)
1 stay at HI had the wrong "rate code" entered for Best Flexible Rate with Breakfast after I asked at checkin.
Now keep in mind, this was on 8 stays and 9 nights. (I still have one to go)
(Which reminds me, I need to make some cancellations)
Well, apparently this is how stays go at HI/HIX when you tell them to use your HHonors#.
Apr 13, 2014, 12:09 am
#1335
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Singapore
Programs: SIA Solitaire PPS, IHG Royal Amb, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Hhonor Gold
Posts: 2,208
I have 2 stays over last weekend at 2 different cities (both HI). One is a Saturday night stay and the other is on Sunday night stay. The one on Sunday has posted 2 days ago, but not the one on Saturday stay.
I am seeking for a missing points claim but this will take a while, and I need this to be credited to complete the Big Win challenge. Will this affect the completion of task? Thanks.
I am seeking for a missing points claim but this will take a while, and I need this to be credited to complete the Big Win challenge. Will this affect the completion of task? Thanks.