Nov 2, 2015, 8:31 am
Last edit by: Suite Disposition
ALL THE URLS AND LINKS IN YOUR EMAILS ARE THE SAME. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO "REPLAY" A GIVEN EMAIL.
Plays are linked to your IHG account number and your IHG link you receive in the email. The links contained are unique to each IHG account number and cannot be "shared".
If you didn't receive all your plays and think that HW might have gotten your email address incorrect, then simply click the link again in your email.
Their email is [email protected].
Quantity of emails received does not always equal quantity of plays available. Emails received does imply that you have plays available.
If you click on your email links and receive a screen with the below message then you do not have plays available.
We love your enthusiasm!
However, you do not have any instant win chances to use.
Complete a qualified stay before February 15 to earn another chance to win.
Prizes:
Chances of winning:
500 pts 1:1.18 or 84.75% (This does not mean you will be guaranteed 500 pts per play)
1000 Pts 1:14.29 or 6.7%
2000 Pts 1:28.57 or 3.5%
5000 Pts 1:42.86 or 2.33%
Other prizes or no prizes: depends on number of entries
5B Prizes= 1,000, 2000, 5,000, $50 GC & Free night
BE SURE TO REGISTER BEFORE SENDING IN ENTRIES!
Leave Surprises here:
500 points (x1098)
1000 points (x42)
2000 points (x26)
5000 points (x17)
$50 Prepaid MasterCard (x13)
1 free night at any IHG hotel (x6)
$2500 Gilt.com GC (x1)
Sony Package (x1)
No Win (x7)
Official Rules
Logistics of the Mail-In Option:
Index Cards Okay? YES (I used 3x5 blank index cards and they were accepted)
Lined Index Cards Okay? Yes, of course, enough with the index cards!
OK to mail cards not inside an envelope? Not according to the rules, which state they must be inside envelopes, one card per envelope
Need to write title before each line? NO
Need second phone number? NO
Middle name required? NO (Left mine out, still got emails. If it's part of your account info, maybe leave it.)
Printed Destination Address Okay? YES (I used printed a bunch of sticker labels and put them on envelopes, accepted)
Printed Return Address Okay? YES (I used an ink stamp)
No Return Address Okay? Yes
Envelope size? Doesn't seem to matter
Non-IHG MasterCard Okay? YES
Debit MasterCard Okay? YES (I used an Ally Bank issued Debit MasterCard)
Use somebody else's MasterCard first 6 digits? YES
There have been reports of mail-in entry emails being sent out on 12/4 and 12/11, and the emails came in rapid succession. This is indicative of HelloWorld batching these out.
Initially batches of emails sent out was on Fridays but as of of 1/6/16 appears to be Wednesdays
#1 Batch=12/4
#2 Batch= 12/11
#3 Batch= 12/18
#4 Batch(xmas)= 12/23
#5 Batch(New Years Day)=12/30
#6 Batch= 1/6
#7 Batch= 1/13
#8 Batch= 1/18-1/24 (emails appear to be arriving daily)
#9 Batch= 2/3-2/5
As of 1/5, points have been posting within a week(ish) of playing and getting confirmation that you've won points.
Points will be paid out without additional email
Some points have been distributed (probably in batches on either Monday or Tuesday)
Points Payout Batches:
#1 12/28 & 12/29--500 pts, 1000pts, 2,000 & 5,000pts (plays before 12/25)
#2 1/4 & 1/5 (plays 12/25-12/30?)
#3 1/11(free nights & pts) & 1/12 (plays from 12/31-1/8)
#4 1/15 (limited due to MLK holiday on 1/18) (for plays from until 1/14)
#5 1/19 (plays from 1/15 til?)
#6 1/29 (plays until 1/24)
#7 2/3 (plays until 1/29)
#8 2/5 (plays until 1/31?)
Has anyone received email with instructions on how to redeem prize? YES ($50 MC redemption instructions received 12/28)
STATUS:
--As of 1/19/16 10:00 am et(estimated) all plays were showing up as no wins. . The play site seems to be undergoing maintenance. Best not to use up the majority of your plays until things smooth out.
--As of 2:45 pm ET on 1/19 play site appears to be back up.
--as of 4:17pm ET on 1/19 500 point plays seems to be working again. No 5B prizes seem to be won at this time
--As of 6pm ET on 1/19 emails being received for wins during the morning hours of 1/19 where it stated no win after select elevator.
--As of 2:30pm EST on 1/20 still reports of nearly 100% 500 pt wins only. Best not to play alot of plays unless you only want 500 pt wins
--As of 8:00 pm EST on 1/20 multiple reports of 5B prizes being won again. Seems to be back to normal.
--As of 2:00 pm EST on 1/21 reports of $50, 2k, 5k, 1k pt wins (unsure of free night wins)
--As of 6:00 pm est on 1/22 everything seems to be working as usual(although very few mentions of free night)
--As of 2:00 pm EST on 1/25 seems like daily emails have been sent out since 1/18 until now.
--As of 6pm EST on 1/29 reports of emails being received from mailed in entries from around mid January. So turnaround for new mailings appear to be about 1 week.
--As of 5pm EST on 2/2 appears that emails have stopped arriving daily with many reporting last email received on 1/29.
Plays are linked to your IHG account number and your IHG link you receive in the email. The links contained are unique to each IHG account number and cannot be "shared".
If you didn't receive all your plays and think that HW might have gotten your email address incorrect, then simply click the link again in your email.
Their email is [email protected].
Quantity of emails received does not always equal quantity of plays available. Emails received does imply that you have plays available.
If you click on your email links and receive a screen with the below message then you do not have plays available.
We love your enthusiasm!
However, you do not have any instant win chances to use.
Complete a qualified stay before February 15 to earn another chance to win.
Prizes:
Chances of winning:
500 pts 1:1.18 or 84.75% (This does not mean you will be guaranteed 500 pts per play)
1000 Pts 1:14.29 or 6.7%
2000 Pts 1:28.57 or 3.5%
5000 Pts 1:42.86 or 2.33%
Other prizes or no prizes: depends on number of entries
5B Prizes= 1,000, 2000, 5,000, $50 GC & Free night
BE SURE TO REGISTER BEFORE SENDING IN ENTRIES!
Leave Surprises here:
500 points (x1098)
1000 points (x42)
2000 points (x26)
5000 points (x17)
$50 Prepaid MasterCard (x13)
1 free night at any IHG hotel (x6)
$2500 Gilt.com GC (x1)
Sony Package (x1)
No Win (x7)
Official Rules
Logistics of the Mail-In Option:
Index Cards Okay? YES (I used 3x5 blank index cards and they were accepted)
Lined Index Cards Okay? Yes, of course, enough with the index cards!
OK to mail cards not inside an envelope? Not according to the rules, which state they must be inside envelopes, one card per envelope
Need to write title before each line? NO
Need second phone number? NO
Middle name required? NO (Left mine out, still got emails. If it's part of your account info, maybe leave it.)
Printed Destination Address Okay? YES (I used printed a bunch of sticker labels and put them on envelopes, accepted)
Printed Return Address Okay? YES (I used an ink stamp)
No Return Address Okay? Yes
Envelope size? Doesn't seem to matter
Non-IHG MasterCard Okay? YES
Debit MasterCard Okay? YES (I used an Ally Bank issued Debit MasterCard)
Use somebody else's MasterCard first 6 digits? YES
There have been reports of mail-in entry emails being sent out on 12/4 and 12/11, and the emails came in rapid succession. This is indicative of HelloWorld batching these out.
Initially batches of emails sent out was on Fridays but as of of 1/6/16 appears to be Wednesdays
#1 Batch=12/4
#2 Batch= 12/11
#3 Batch= 12/18
#4 Batch(xmas)= 12/23
#5 Batch(New Years Day)=12/30
#6 Batch= 1/6
#7 Batch= 1/13
#8 Batch= 1/18-1/24 (emails appear to be arriving daily)
#9 Batch= 2/3-2/5
As of 1/5, points have been posting within a week(ish) of playing and getting confirmation that you've won points.
Points will be paid out without additional email
Some points have been distributed (probably in batches on either Monday or Tuesday)
Points Payout Batches:
#1 12/28 & 12/29--500 pts, 1000pts, 2,000 & 5,000pts (plays before 12/25)
#2 1/4 & 1/5 (plays 12/25-12/30?)
#3 1/11(free nights & pts) & 1/12 (plays from 12/31-1/8)
#4 1/15 (limited due to MLK holiday on 1/18) (for plays from until 1/14)
#5 1/19 (plays from 1/15 til?)
#6 1/29 (plays until 1/24)
#7 2/3 (plays until 1/29)
#8 2/5 (plays until 1/31?)
Has anyone received email with instructions on how to redeem prize? YES ($50 MC redemption instructions received 12/28)
STATUS:
--As of 1/19/16 10:00 am et(estimated) all plays were showing up as no wins. . The play site seems to be undergoing maintenance. Best not to use up the majority of your plays until things smooth out.
--As of 2:45 pm ET on 1/19 play site appears to be back up.
--as of 4:17pm ET on 1/19 500 point plays seems to be working again. No 5B prizes seem to be won at this time
--As of 6pm ET on 1/19 emails being received for wins during the morning hours of 1/19 where it stated no win after select elevator.
--As of 2:30pm EST on 1/20 still reports of nearly 100% 500 pt wins only. Best not to play alot of plays unless you only want 500 pt wins
--As of 8:00 pm EST on 1/20 multiple reports of 5B prizes being won again. Seems to be back to normal.
--As of 2:00 pm EST on 1/21 reports of $50, 2k, 5k, 1k pt wins (unsure of free night wins)
--As of 6:00 pm est on 1/22 everything seems to be working as usual(although very few mentions of free night)
--As of 2:00 pm EST on 1/25 seems like daily emails have been sent out since 1/18 until now.
--As of 6pm EST on 1/29 reports of emails being received from mailed in entries from around mid January. So turnaround for new mailings appear to be about 1 week.
--As of 5pm EST on 2/2 appears that emails have stopped arriving daily with many reporting last email received on 1/29.
Priceless Surprises Promotion
Feb 24, 2016, 1:17 am
#3031
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: QLA
Programs: SBUX Gold
Posts: 14,507
I don't know if it's been mentioned, but to save a bit of time, you can skip the elevator animation by going to the bottom and clicking on the "Can't See the Game?" link.
Feb 24, 2016, 8:46 am
#3032
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YYZ, YUL, PEK
Posts: 429
Mailed in my remaining 40-ish entries on 2/13. Got one email yesterday, one the day before, and that's it so far. Mrs. javabytes mailed all 94 of hers the same day and hasn't received any. Makes me a bit worried that I only got 2 emails - I imagine they're flooded with entries but I can't imagine the envelopes got split up all that much...
Feb 24, 2016, 9:51 am
#3033
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SDF
Programs: UA, HH
Posts: 692
Strange situation here...
My wife got all 94 plays:
- 500 pts x 89
- 1,000 pts x 2
- 2,000 pts x 1
- 5,000 pts x 1
- $50 MCGC x 1
Can't complain here, other than the sore hand (mine).
For my own entries - I received none. Have to say that I was the Einstein of not registering for the promo before mailing the first batch of 30, but I did register before mailing another 90.
When you contacted Hello World - do they go by IHG number? Email address? Is that something they can fix?
My wife got all 94 plays:
- 500 pts x 89
- 1,000 pts x 2
- 2,000 pts x 1
- 5,000 pts x 1
- $50 MCGC x 1
Can't complain here, other than the sore hand (mine).
For my own entries - I received none. Have to say that I was the Einstein of not registering for the promo before mailing the first batch of 30, but I did register before mailing another 90.
When you contacted Hello World - do they go by IHG number? Email address? Is that something they can fix?
Feb 24, 2016, 9:59 am
#3034
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: IHG, RC, HH, AA, QF, UA, Aeroplan
Posts: 2,690
Strange situation here...
My wife got all 94 plays:
- 500 pts x 89
- 1,000 pts x 2
- 2,000 pts x 1
- 5,000 pts x 1
- $50 MCGC x 1
Can't complain here, other than the sore hand (mine).
For my own entries - I received none. Have to say that I was the Einstein of not registering for the promo before mailing the first batch of 30, but I did register before mailing another 90.
When you contacted Hello World - do they go by IHG number? Email address? Is that something they can fix?
My wife got all 94 plays:
- 500 pts x 89
- 1,000 pts x 2
- 2,000 pts x 1
- 5,000 pts x 1
- $50 MCGC x 1
Can't complain here, other than the sore hand (mine).
For my own entries - I received none. Have to say that I was the Einstein of not registering for the promo before mailing the first batch of 30, but I did register before mailing another 90.
When you contacted Hello World - do they go by IHG number? Email address? Is that something they can fix?
i've had a few email contacts with them, no results yet, but after sending confirmation numbers, they've told me they will fix.
Feb 24, 2016, 11:36 am
#3035
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: PHX
Posts: 380
My wife and I sent all our entries on 2-13. She received almost of of hers (5 or so missing) and I only received 52 emails. No rhyme or reason to the processing.
Guess I'll play the waiting game before contacting them. I don't want to get too close to March 15th to have this resolved.
Guess I'll play the waiting game before contacting them. I don't want to get too close to March 15th to have this resolved.
Feb 24, 2016, 11:39 am
#3036
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 3
Missing Entries
I'm still waiting for my wife to receive Any of her 94 that were sent in with 55 of mine. I got all 55 of those at once and I sent in the rest a few days later. I've received random amounts of the rest.
Kind of worried that she's not getting any. We reached out and got a 1-3 business day response.
Kind of worried that she's not getting any. We reached out and got a 1-3 business day response.
Feb 24, 2016, 11:55 am
#3037
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 11
After weeks of dealing with emailing HelloWorld, I finally got most of my entries. The points posted to my account yesterday but now it seems like my 500 points posted as 100 and I am also getting posts of 200 and 400 points, which aren't even supposed to be possible.
Feb 24, 2016, 12:02 pm
#3038
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 35
My wife and I sent all our entries on 2-13. She received almost of of hers (5 or so missing) and I only received 52 emails. No rhyme or reason to the processing.
Guess I'll play the waiting game before contacting them. I don't want to get too close to March 15th to have this resolved.
Guess I'll play the waiting game before contacting them. I don't want to get too close to March 15th to have this resolved.
Feb 24, 2016, 12:23 pm
#3039
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Miami
Posts: 138
Another data point
Just another data point. I sent in 72 entries on 2/12 and 18 entries on 2/13 (and some before that). SO also sent in 94 entries on 2/13.
I am still missing 63 entries (I last received a play on 2/22) and SO is missing all 94.
I have e-mailed Hello World through the web form and the e-mail address in the Wiki with no response.
EDIT: I have received all points award from the 31 plays I have played.
I am still missing 63 entries (I last received a play on 2/22) and SO is missing all 94.
I have e-mailed Hello World through the web form and the e-mail address in the Wiki with no response.
EDIT: I have received all points award from the 31 plays I have played.
Last edited by mike814; Feb 24, 2016 at 4:15 pm Reason: Update
Feb 24, 2016, 12:28 pm
#3040
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NJ
Posts: 3,335
Based upon those types of redemptions, I like to use them when I can get 1 point = $.01 or greater. Cash and points is great for that.
Feb 24, 2016, 12:54 pm
#3041
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 30
i had someone transfer me points, any data points on how long that takes?
Feb 24, 2016, 2:24 pm
#3042
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 97
When used well, your IHG points can be worth far more than that. Couple years ago, we stayed at one of the nice Holiday Inns in Paris during high demand time (French Open at Roland Garros). Rooms were otherwise @$300 per night. We got them for Cash & Points at 20,000 points + $20.
Based upon those types of redemptions, I like to use them when I can get 1 point = $.01 or greater. Cash and points is great for that.
Based upon those types of redemptions, I like to use them when I can get 1 point = $.01 or greater. Cash and points is great for that.
20k + $20? Wow, that is a deal. None that I have ever seen. The 20k is usually combined with $90-100.
I do agree in regards to leveraging point value. For my desired room type in the IHG property that I frequent, the room rate is sometimes over $300. I have even seen as high as $389. When rates are this high I combine points with cash and reserve multiple nights.
Last edited by Collee; Feb 24, 2016 at 2:36 pm
Feb 24, 2016, 6:05 pm
#3043
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 20
Sent mine in on 2/12 and 2/13. Received zippo so far. If I don't get plays be the 27th gonna write it off as a loss.
Feb 24, 2016, 6:48 pm
#3044
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Florida:)
Programs: AA, HH, SPG, UA
Posts: 269
Same here, one family member sent all on 2/12....no emails yet. Another family member sent half on 2/12 and the other half 2/13...received about 20 emails a couple days ago. Both were mailed from same post office.
Feb 24, 2016, 6:54 pm
#3045
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Kansas City - MCI
Programs: AA Exec Plat, WN CP, Hilton GoId, IHG Spire, Hyatt Globalist, Citi, Barclay, Chase, Amex, CapOne
Posts: 257
Sent in 94 for me on 2/12 and 94 for my wife on the same day. My wife has received 5 emails so far--3 on 2/18, and 2 on 2/22. None for me, though.
I would agree that it seems that the pile just keeps getting deeper, and they're never really reaching the bottom. Promo period ends on March 15. It's going to be a pretty big bummer if we don't get all (or even most!) of our emails by then.
I would agree that it seems that the pile just keeps getting deeper, and they're never really reaching the bottom. Promo period ends on March 15. It's going to be a pretty big bummer if we don't get all (or even most!) of our emails by then.