New RA rules after SPIRE
Jul 25, 2015, 2:50 pm
#76
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
As has been discussed quite a bit here, most IC's do give full RA benefits on award stays. A certain few don't and we avoid those. But when we are talking about earning points for award stays at nice hotels, IHG is the best. Hilton and Marriott have fallen way down the list. And SPG isn't as good as it used to be. Accor is decent now too that they are having promos. In some ways I'd rate them as 2nd place behind IHG.
Jul 25, 2015, 8:45 pm
#77
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Programs: IHG Royal Ambassador
Posts: 846
Is the 50% RA bonus gone? I had an IC stay post last week and received the 100% Spire bonus + 50% RA bonus. This morning, I had another IC stay post, and only received the 100% Spire bonus. Just to be clear, these were stays at InterContinentals, not other IHG brands.
Jul 26, 2015, 11:32 am
#79
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: AA LifeTime PLT (2.982 MM, But 3MM+ Total), HHonors GOLD, IHG AMB
Posts: 787
Royal Ambassador Criteria: Royal Ambassador status is by invitation only. To qualify for invitation to Royal Ambassador status, an Ambassador member must: During their membership year, stay at least 75 qualifying nights in any IHG® properties including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, HUALUXE™, EVEN™ Hotels, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites. At least 30 of these qualifying nights must be at InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts properties. The member must also stay at 3 or more different InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts properties. SCH reserves the right to change these criteria at any time and without prior notification. Existing Royal Ambassador members must meet the criteria listed within the last 365 days from the expiry date of the status. Rewards Nights do not qualify towards Royal Ambassador status/...
When I recently checked the Criteria, none of this was listed (i.e. it was removed). All that was there was the level
was by "invitation only." Did it change again? I thought it was 60 nights, and 3 different brands, etc.
P.S.: I disapprove of the phrase "Spire Elite".
Last edited by Spock Seat; Jul 26, 2015 at 11:37 am
Jul 26, 2015, 4:43 pm
#80
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
Are there too many RA's? Something tells me someone very envious decided to create and green light this criteria.
When I recently checked the Criteria, none of this was listed (i.e. it was removed). All that was there was the level
was by "invitation only." Did it change again? I thought it was 60 nights, and 3 different brands, etc.
P.S.: I disapprove of the phrase "Spire Elite".
When I recently checked the Criteria, none of this was listed (i.e. it was removed). All that was there was the level
was by "invitation only." Did it change again? I thought it was 60 nights, and 3 different brands, etc.
P.S.: I disapprove of the phrase "Spire Elite".
One might think 75 nights is due to gratis Spire to RAs, but historically the gratis Platinum was only free to to those us RAs referred and referral certs disappeared in April 2014.
RAs will find it virtually impossible to hit the needed 60nights with 20 IC nights without earning 75k points needed for Spire as now IC stats are points per Us$ not that crappy 2k plus bonus point s per stay
Jul 27, 2015, 6:22 am
#81
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: WORLD
Programs: Bonvoy Titanium, Flying Blue (KLM) Platinum, Oneworld (BA) Sapphire, *A (Aegean) Gold, IHG Spire RA,
Posts: 555
Aug 1, 2015, 3:19 am
#82
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Oxford, United Kingdom
Programs: BA GGL, NH SFC, IHG Diamond, Radisson VIP, HH Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 838
My RA status has expired on 31 July 2015. I am now Spire Ambassador.
I stayed for 32 nights at 10-15 ICs and 30 nights at the other brands. The last stay (5 nights) has not yet been posted as I checked out yesterday (31 July). Additionally 5-6 rewards nights at 2-3 properties.
I am not sure if the 5-night stay counted, but my status has been downgraded today. I will quite likely cancel all future IC bookings, SPG looks better.
I stayed for 32 nights at 10-15 ICs and 30 nights at the other brands. The last stay (5 nights) has not yet been posted as I checked out yesterday (31 July). Additionally 5-6 rewards nights at 2-3 properties.
I am not sure if the 5-night stay counted, but my status has been downgraded today. I will quite likely cancel all future IC bookings, SPG looks better.
Aug 1, 2015, 3:31 am
#83
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: UK
Programs: IHG
Posts: 1,316
My RA status has expired on 31 July 2015. I am now Spire Ambassador.
I stayed for 32 nights at 10-15 ICs and 30 nights at the other brands. The last stay (5 nights) has not yet been posted as I checked out yesterday (31 July). Additionally 5-6 rewards nights at 2-3 properties.
I am not sure if the 5-night stay counted, but my status has been downgraded today. I will quite likely cancel all future IC bookings, SPG looks better.
I stayed for 32 nights at 10-15 ICs and 30 nights at the other brands. The last stay (5 nights) has not yet been posted as I checked out yesterday (31 July). Additionally 5-6 rewards nights at 2-3 properties.
I am not sure if the 5-night stay counted, but my status has been downgraded today. I will quite likely cancel all future IC bookings, SPG looks better.
Aug 1, 2015, 3:50 am
#84
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Oxford, United Kingdom
Programs: BA GGL, NH SFC, IHG Diamond, Radisson VIP, HH Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 838
I will keep you updated.
Aug 1, 2015, 5:09 am
#85
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
My RA year ends a month from now but I see online I was just renewed yesterday. I have no idea what my 12 month stats are, but for calendar year I'm around 100 nights counting 25 rollover. And I think at least 50 IC nights.
Jul 31, 2015 | Other | Royal Ambassador Renewal
Jul 31, 2015 | Other | Royal Ambassador Renewal
- just ring AMB Services when those last nights post.
Aug 1, 2015, 6:51 am
#87
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: UK
Programs: IHG
Posts: 1,316
Aug 1, 2015, 7:15 am
#88
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: WORLD
Programs: Bonvoy Titanium, Flying Blue (KLM) Platinum, Oneworld (BA) Sapphire, *A (Aegean) Gold, IHG Spire RA,
Posts: 555
My RA status has expired on 31 July 2015. I am now Spire Ambassador.
I stayed for 32 nights at 10-15 ICs and 30 nights at the other brands. The last stay (5 nights) has not yet been posted as I checked out yesterday (31 July). Additionally 5-6 rewards nights at 2-3 properties.
I am not sure if the 5-night stay counted, but my status has been downgraded today. I will quite likely cancel all future IC bookings, SPG looks better.
I stayed for 32 nights at 10-15 ICs and 30 nights at the other brands. The last stay (5 nights) has not yet been posted as I checked out yesterday (31 July). Additionally 5-6 rewards nights at 2-3 properties.
I am not sure if the 5-night stay counted, but my status has been downgraded today. I will quite likely cancel all future IC bookings, SPG looks better.
Aug 1, 2015, 1:18 pm
#89
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
My RA status has expired on 31 July 2015. I am now Spire Ambassador.
I stayed for 32 nights at 10-15 ICs and 30 nights at the other brands. The last stay (5 nights) has not yet been posted as I checked out yesterday (31 July). Additionally 5-6 rewards nights at 2-3 properties.
I am not sure if the 5-night stay counted, but my status has been downgraded today. I will quite likely cancel all future IC bookings, SPG looks better.
I stayed for 32 nights at 10-15 ICs and 30 nights at the other brands. The last stay (5 nights) has not yet been posted as I checked out yesterday (31 July). Additionally 5-6 rewards nights at 2-3 properties.
I am not sure if the 5-night stay counted, but my status has been downgraded today. I will quite likely cancel all future IC bookings, SPG looks better.
Downgrade, albeit temporary, is purely your own fault for cutting things so fine! You just admitted you only have 57nights posted before midday 31stJuly and you now have 5nights more to post shortly as you checked out yesterday Friday and know full well you need wait 4-5 days for those to boost your total to 62 paid qual nights to requal as an RA
Look on the bright side, this could well work to your advantage as if you get Amb pack first, followed a few days later by RA pack you get 2x bogo certs which are always worth having
I am sure IHG will bump you back to RA the day after your 5nighrs post. Unless you have manually adjusted nights to be qual nights, in which case you will need ring Amb a Desk and ask for a manual count as the auto-nights-counter for RA qual still ignores manually adjusted nights
Aug 1, 2015, 2:38 pm
#90
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Oxford, United Kingdom
Programs: BA GGL, NH SFC, IHG Diamond, Radisson VIP, HH Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 838
Why does everyone over react to the imagined slight by IHG of a reduction in Elite Status. Also award night stays having no meaning regards RA qualification.
Downgrade, albeit temporary, is purely your own fault for cutting things so fine! You just admitted you only have 57nights posted before midday 31stJuly and you now have 5nights more to post shortly as you checked out yesterday Friday and know full well you need wait 4-5 days for those to boost your total to 62 paid qual nights to requal as an RA
Look on the bright side, this could well work to your advantage as if you get Amb pack first, followed a few days later by RA pack you get 2x bogo certs which are always worth having
I am sure IHG will bump you back to RA the day after your 5nighrs post. Unless you have manually adjusted nights to be qual nights, in which case you will need ring Amb a Desk and ask for a manual count as the auto-nights-counter for RA qual still ignores manually adjusted nights
Downgrade, albeit temporary, is purely your own fault for cutting things so fine! You just admitted you only have 57nights posted before midday 31stJuly and you now have 5nights more to post shortly as you checked out yesterday Friday and know full well you need wait 4-5 days for those to boost your total to 62 paid qual nights to requal as an RA
Look on the bright side, this could well work to your advantage as if you get Amb pack first, followed a few days later by RA pack you get 2x bogo certs which are always worth having
I am sure IHG will bump you back to RA the day after your 5nighrs post. Unless you have manually adjusted nights to be qual nights, in which case you will need ring Amb a Desk and ask for a manual count as the auto-nights-counter for RA qual still ignores manually adjusted nights
If they don't put me back, it may be time to go. I enjoyed the RA perks a lot for several years.