Points Scrounger

If I booked three nights as paid + Chase cert + points at an IC (three reservations), would I be better off asking the hotel to note the single stay in advance? Are they likely to deem it an "award stay" overall, declining an upgrade? Have they been known to upgrade only the paid night, and downgrade the rest?

This would be my first Ambassador stay ever, and I rarely have multi-night stays generally.

rbAA

Of course it depends on which IC you are doing. IC GS might be a problem or they may ask you to move or pay. IC HK was never a problem, but I haven't stayed there in a year so maybe they changed. I had a recent IC SIN stay-BOGO+ an award night- and I got the usual one category UPG, which in my opinion was not really an UPG, at least one that was noticable.

336

Of course the ratio amongst the type of nights needs to be reasonabble, but if it would be e.g. 3 nights paid, 1 chase, 3 reward, I would be royally pissed off if the hotel makes a point for moving me after 3 nights..

Points Scrounger

IC O2 in London probably, maybe PL.

eggzlot

IC Tahiti - I had 3 nights booked in 2 reservations: Reservation #1 was a paid Saturday followed by a free Sunday with the Ambassador free weekend night coupon. The 2nd reservation was for a Monday night using points. About a month before my trip I noticed the Sat/Sun was upgraded to an OWB but the free award night was not. I tried to email/call and got very vague answers. Since there was a nice savings on the OWB upgrade and we already had 1 free night, to make our trip easy I sucked it, cancelled the monday points night, did a paid night 1 level below the OWB and within 1-2 days they automatically upgraded me prior to check in to OWB

Just a reference point with my experience 1 month ago.

vh_bu98

IC Ambassadors are guaranteed an upgrade even on award stays.

scubaccr

Please don't mislead. Ambassador/RA have no upgrade entitlement on Award nights at IC's, but many IC's do try to do so once paid rooms guaranteed upgrades are processed.

The Ambassador t+c's have always stated that upgrades benefit does not apply to reward nights (along with other exceptions)... virtually all that remains Amb benefits wise are .... fruit+water, free-internet, 4pm checkout

from https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental...rms-conditions
" When staying on Reward Nights and on Best Price Guaranteed Free Nights, all Ambassador and Royal Ambassador Privileges apply with the exception of upgrades, Club Lounge access (Royal Ambassadors), Mini bar beverages (Royal Ambassadors), free Pay-TV film per stay, 24-hour guaranteed room availability (Royal Ambassador) and 8:00 am early check-in (Royal Ambassador - where a cost is applicable). A Reward Night booking must be booked under the IHG Rewards Club account of the member for him/her to enjoy the benefits. "

vh_bu98

Here is a screenshot off of InterContinental's website and as you can see right in the middle, it says guaranteed upgrade. Personally, I have always been upgraded when using a Reward Night so that's my experience.

Troopers

Nope. Read the T&Cs.

Points Scrounger

Thanks for the info, guys! I went ahead and booked this as a Chase free night and an award night back-to-back. So, I am definitely not expecting any sort of upgrade.

demue

As others pointed out, there is this thing called Terms & Conditions that you surely have come across in other cases and sadly in there IHG has buried this "poison pill" for reward night bookings. It is one of my main gripes (together with lack of a breakfast amenity, e.g. for Spire) and they are one of the few chains being that stingy with benefits when you would actually want them during a (reward) vacation.