Mar 12, 2020, 3:18 am
Last edit by: blindman
UPDATE - 23rd April 2020
Status will be extended through to January 2022 (please wait for it to reflect in accounts. IHG say this will happen 'in the coming weeks'
Spire members will receive another choice benefit
See this post for links to IHG page https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/32317728-post77.html
12th March 2020 Change in Requalification Requirement for IHG Status
In regard to the situation with the ongoing Coronavirus, IHG Rewards Club changed the requirment for earnng and requalification of Rewards Club Status
Gold: 7000 points / 7 nights (regular 10000 points / 10 nights)
Platinum: 30000 points / 30 nights (regular 40000 points / 40 nights)
Spire: 55000 points / 55 nights (regular 75000 points / 75 nights)
Link: https://www.ihg.com/content/gb/en/customer-care/travel-advisory
Please note, that IHG also mentions, that it may take up to 4 weeks until the updated information is available in the account overview.
Ambassador Status: extended for 3 months (China seems to be 6 months)
Royal Ambassador: will be extended through January 2022. The thread about this is here
For discussion of an extension of the Ambassador free night certificate see this thread.
For discussion on cancellations of stays (general bookings) see this thread.
For discusson on cancelations of stay in regard to events, conference, etc which are canceled, see this thread.
Status will be extended through to January 2022 (please wait for it to reflect in accounts. IHG say this will happen 'in the coming weeks'
Spire members will receive another choice benefit
See this post for links to IHG page https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/32317728-post77.html
12th March 2020 Change in Requalification Requirement for IHG Status
In regard to the situation with the ongoing Coronavirus, IHG Rewards Club changed the requirment for earnng and requalification of Rewards Club Status
Gold: 7000 points / 7 nights (regular 10000 points / 10 nights)
Platinum: 30000 points / 30 nights (regular 40000 points / 40 nights)
Spire: 55000 points / 55 nights (regular 75000 points / 75 nights)
Link: https://www.ihg.com/content/gb/en/customer-care/travel-advisory
Please note, that IHG also mentions, that it may take up to 4 weeks until the updated information is available in the account overview.
Ambassador Status: extended for 3 months (China seems to be 6 months)
Royal Ambassador: will be extended through January 2022. The thread about this is here
For discussion of an extension of the Ambassador free night certificate see this thread.
For discussion on cancellations of stays (general bookings) see this thread.
For discusson on cancelations of stay in regard to events, conference, etc which are canceled, see this thread.
Coronavirus: IHG Rewards Club & InterContinental Ambassador membership extension
Dec 3, 2020, 12:43 pm
#152
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 6,437
I called IHG RC and the Spire rep told me the new choice benefit will only be deposited to my account in early Jan. 2021. I haven't used the one I received almost a year ago, and that one's expiry date has been moved to 31DEC2021. She said that if I don't redeem the current one I have, I will have 2 choice benefits by early Jan. 2021. Does that sound right to everyone, or did I have a confused rep? I wanted to ask because it seems to take her a long time to give me the answer.
Dec 6, 2020, 11:15 am
#153
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Gold Country, California
Programs: Hilton Gold, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,199
Don’t Trust Anything a CSR Says on the Phone or Email
My Ambassador was set to expire Nov. 1. Called to ask for an extension. Put on hold, answer was we’ll extend it for 2 months, Jan. 1, 2021. I asked about the unused weekend cert—she replied very confidently that it would be extended to Jan. 1 as well. I asked are you sure? She said I’ll extend your Ambassador right now. I checked while on the phone with her. Cert showed previous expiration date. When I pointed that out, she replied “it takes a few days for that to update”. Well, of course, I was pretty sure that wasn’t going to happen.
Could have used it now, however, no surprise showing expired when I went to book. I wrote to say their rep emphatically told me it would be extended. IHG answer was what angered me the most. Was told I misunderstood, which was really insulting. Would have appreciated a sorry what our rep told you was wrong. When a mistake is made, an honest apology is better than denial.
Could have used it now, however, no surprise showing expired when I went to book. I wrote to say their rep emphatically told me it would be extended. IHG answer was what angered me the most. Was told I misunderstood, which was really insulting. Would have appreciated a sorry what our rep told you was wrong. When a mistake is made, an honest apology is better than denial.
Dec 7, 2020, 3:41 am
#154
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 6,437
My Ambassador was set to expire Nov. 1. Called to ask for an extension. Put on hold, answer was we’ll extend it for 2 months, Jan. 1, 2021. I asked about the unused weekend cert—she replied very confidently that it would be extended to Jan. 1 as well. I asked are you sure? She said I’ll extend your Ambassador right now. I checked while on the phone with her. Cert showed previous expiration date. When I pointed that out, she replied “it takes a few days for that to update”. Well, of course, I was pretty sure that wasn’t going to happen.
Could have used it now, however, no surprise showing expired when I went to book. I wrote to say their rep emphatically told me it would be extended. IHG answer was what angered me the most. Was told I misunderstood, which was really insulting. Would have appreciated a sorry what our rep told you was wrong. When a mistake is made, an honest apology is better than denial.
Could have used it now, however, no surprise showing expired when I went to book. I wrote to say their rep emphatically told me it would be extended. IHG answer was what angered me the most. Was told I misunderstood, which was really insulting. Would have appreciated a sorry what our rep told you was wrong. When a mistake is made, an honest apology is better than denial.
Jan 30, 2021, 6:19 am
#156
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,203
My current Ambassador membership expires 2/1/21. It had already been proactively extended by IHG at some point in 2020; I do not recall for how long. In addition, I barely had any IHG nights in 2019 as the property I normally stayed for many nights annually was rebranded to a Hilton property. Frankly the only reason that I have purchased the Ambassador membership in the past was for the great upgrades at the Willard Intercontinental!
I took a chance this past week and called the Ambassador number to find out if additional extensions were available, with the expectation that the answer would be 'no', especially with no business during 2019/2020. She had me confirm that COVID was the reason I was not traveling. I explained that I have an international trip planned in May and I am considering several IC properties (legit - there are some great properties with either low prices and/or points redemptions and I figure I can splurge a bit).
She advised that she could extend me to 4/1/21. I thanked her and told her that it would not do me any good and I didn't want to waste anyone's time. She said 'let me check something, may I place you on hold?'. She was away for about five minutes and came back and told me that she could grant a 'once in a lifetime six month extension due to extenuating circumstances'. My Ambassador now expires 8/1/21 and I verified as such. (This included my BOGO also; although I've never found it to be a great deal in the US at least.)
While her manager was processing the approval, we had a pleasant conversation about COVID and travel. She was Manila-based and one of the few working in the office while many of her colleagues were still working at home. She is looking forward to receiving the vaccination.
I took a chance this past week and called the Ambassador number to find out if additional extensions were available, with the expectation that the answer would be 'no', especially with no business during 2019/2020. She had me confirm that COVID was the reason I was not traveling. I explained that I have an international trip planned in May and I am considering several IC properties (legit - there are some great properties with either low prices and/or points redemptions and I figure I can splurge a bit).
She advised that she could extend me to 4/1/21. I thanked her and told her that it would not do me any good and I didn't want to waste anyone's time. She said 'let me check something, may I place you on hold?'. She was away for about five minutes and came back and told me that she could grant a 'once in a lifetime six month extension due to extenuating circumstances'. My Ambassador now expires 8/1/21 and I verified as such. (This included my BOGO also; although I've never found it to be a great deal in the US at least.)
While her manager was processing the approval, we had a pleasant conversation about COVID and travel. She was Manila-based and one of the few working in the office while many of her colleagues were still working at home. She is looking forward to receiving the vaccination.
Jan 30, 2021, 7:02 pm
#157
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Perth, WA, Australia
Programs: QF Gold, VA Plat, IHG Plat Amb, LCAH Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,846
She advised that she could extend me to 4/1/21. I thanked her and told her that it would not do me any good and I didn't want to waste anyone's time. She said 'let me check something, may I place you on hold?'. She was away for about five minutes and came back and told me that she could grant a 'once in a lifetime six month extension due to extenuating circumstances'. My Ambassador now expires 8/1/21 and I verified as such. (This included my BOGO also; although I've never found it to be a great deal in the US at least.)
Jan 31, 2021, 6:35 am
#158
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Gold Country, California
Programs: Hilton Gold, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,199
Does your BOGO show that's it's been extended? I was told the same thing except my one-time exception was 2 months (which I now have learned is wrong per T&Cs and reading what others have received, I've been an Ambassador much longer than 2 years). But my BOGO did expire a few weeks later on the original date, Nov 2020. When I wrote to ask what happened to the BOGO extension, they told me I misunderstand--no extensions for the BOGO cert. I wrote back disputing that--no response ever received. I don't think anyone here has posted that they got it extended.
Jan 31, 2021, 8:27 am
#159
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,203
Does your BOGO show that's it's been extended? I was told the same thing except my one-time exception was 2 months (which I now have learned is wrong per T&Cs and reading what others have received, I've been an Ambassador much longer than 2 years). But my BOGO did expire a few weeks later on the original date, Nov 2020. When I wrote to ask what happened to the BOGO extension, they told me I misunderstand--no extensions for the BOGO cert. I wrote back disputing that--no response ever received. I don't think anyone here has posted that they got it extended.
Jan 31, 2021, 10:29 pm
#160
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,738
The fact that your Bogo got extended as well together with the once a lifetime 6 months extension is not the norm and you should be very happy about that. We did the same and the BOGO was left to expire and only AMB status was extended. Hence my view that IHG handled this entire AMB extensions terribly and apparently even arbitrarily. YMMV.
Feb 2, 2021, 1:11 pm
#161
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Programs: IHG Diamond Ambassador, Accor Plus Platinum, Caesar's Diamond, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold,
Posts: 116
Has anyone received their “early January” Spire Elite Choice benefits yet for status earned in 2019 (not 2020)?
Feb 4, 2021, 7:00 pm
#162
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: BDL, BOS
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, AA EXP, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 627
Also, as a reminder, I was informed by the Director of Global Customer Care back in July that all Spire members whose status was extended through January 2022 will receive the Spire Elite Choice Benefit whether or not they requalified for Spire the "normal" way through stays or points.
Feb 5, 2021, 1:28 pm
#163
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: USA
Programs: All
Posts: 104
I'm guessing that's a typo and you meant to say "status earned in 2020 (not 2021)?" I would like to know as well.
Also, as a reminder, I was informed by the Director of Global Customer Care back in July that all Spire members whose status was extended through January 2022 will receive the Spire Elite Choice Benefit whether or not they requalified for Spire the "normal" way through stays or points.
Also, as a reminder, I was informed by the Director of Global Customer Care back in July that all Spire members whose status was extended through January 2022 will receive the Spire Elite Choice Benefit whether or not they requalified for Spire the "normal" way through stays or points.
Feb 20, 2021, 7:03 pm
#165
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Panama City
Programs: IHG Diamond Royal Ambassador , CM Presidential, Marriot Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 125