IHG Platinum status: worthless.
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: ATL/TLV/SDF
Programs: AA EXP, UA LT Ag, Marriott LT Ti, Hyatt Glob, Avis PC, Busted-Knuckles Club Grand Poobah.
Posts: 2,590
IHG Platinum status: worthless.
At my last stay at the CP Tel Aviv Azrieli I was told Platinum status does not mean a thing there. No lounge access, no upgrade. This during a 35-night stay. Granted, a suite upgrade for that length of stay would be a stretch but not even an offer of a partial-stay upgrade.
At USA IHG properties, no upgrades ever. At one CP she basically said to my face that it doesn't mean much.
Why do I bother?
At USA IHG properties, no upgrades ever. At one CP she basically said to my face that it doesn't mean much.
Why do I bother?
#3
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: West Coast, USA
Programs: Skywards Platinum
Posts: 3,747
IHG Platinum status: worthless.
Why would you expect Platinum to mean anything? IHG gives it away for free to anybody that gets a specific IHG branded credit card. So, basically, anybody (at least US based, not sure about their overseas credit card offerings) can buy the status for less than $100 per year.
It's a complete slap in the face for loyal members that earn it by staying 60 nights, and dilutes the benefits to the point where there is little to no value.
It's a complete slap in the face for loyal members that earn it by staying 60 nights, and dilutes the benefits to the point where there is little to no value.
#5
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
At my last stay at the CP Tel Aviv Azrieli I was told Platinum status does not mean a thing there. No lounge access, no upgrade. This during a 35-night stay. Granted, a suite upgrade for that length of stay would be a stretch but not even an offer of a partial-stay upgrade.
At USA IHG properties, no upgrades ever. At one CP she basically said to my face that it doesn't mean much.
Why do I bother?
At USA IHG properties, no upgrades ever. At one CP she basically said to my face that it doesn't mean much.
Why do I bother?
That's pretty much the only Platinum benefit I can see.
It used to be that some hotels used to give free breakfast and/or free internet to Plats. Now, internet is free for all IHG Club members (of any or even no status level), and by forcing the hotels to give that 500-point check-in bonus, that made many of the hotels that used to give free breakfast to Plats not give it any more.
That's all in the name of "standardization" of benefits!
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/inter...-benefits.html
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2003
Location: AA Plat / UA NOTHING / Alaska 75K / Hyatt Diamond / SPG LT Plat / Marriott Gold / Priority Club Plat / Hertz Pres
Posts: 24,710
Research on how individual hotel's recognize status is about all any of us can do. At least the info is available here for those in the future via the search feature.
#9
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Netherlands
Programs: SQ S, IHG Diamond/Amb, Accor S
Posts: 703
Not sure why you expected free lounge access as that is not a published benefit of platinum status. Neither is an upgrade to a suite, unless you book one room category under the suite. And even then according to the t&c's it's upon availability only and even then you may end up in a corner room or a room with better view instead of the much desired suite.
In all my years of being platinum (earned through stays, not credit card) I have only been given free lounge access a very few times, mostly as a gesture because no room was available for an upgrade. However on multiple occasions when I asked I was offered paid lounge access (even with my partner and kids) at a significantly reduced rate because of my platinum membership.
Bottom line: is platinum worthless? It depends on where you are staying, your expectations, and often also on your attitude.
In all my years of being platinum (earned through stays, not credit card) I have only been given free lounge access a very few times, mostly as a gesture because no room was available for an upgrade. However on multiple occasions when I asked I was offered paid lounge access (even with my partner and kids) at a significantly reduced rate because of my platinum membership.
Bottom line: is platinum worthless? It depends on where you are staying, your expectations, and often also on your attitude.
#10
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Netherlands
Programs: SQ S, IHG Diamond/Amb, Accor S
Posts: 703
In properties with many different room categories, if you book the lowest (or one of the lower) room categories the upgraded room may still be a "normal" room which just is a little larger, has a bigger tv screen, a nespresso machine instead of a water cooker and, if you are extremely lucky, a bathrobe and a pair of slippers :-)
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
Sure - there used to be endless posts on the theme "why oh why doesn't IHG give consistent levels of benefits".
But I'm guessing the idea was the level should settle around places like the CP in Bangkok, which routinely offers room upgrade + lounge access to Plats
Unfortunately the CP Tel Aviv was the target level. Surprise!
But I'm guessing the idea was the level should settle around places like the CP in Bangkok, which routinely offers room upgrade + lounge access to Plats
Unfortunately the CP Tel Aviv was the target level. Surprise!