IHG still flogging Ambassador membership
Jun 5, 2021, 5:53 pm
#121
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
Benefits on even a cash stay can can be weak enough to go unnoticed: I really wouldn't worry about missing out on award stays.
I haven't noticed any difference in the way I'm treated on point-fuelled nights. I've received the same lacklustre range of upgrades on award nights as I have when paying cash.
I haven't noticed any difference in the way I'm treated on point-fuelled nights. I've received the same lacklustre range of upgrades on award nights as I have when paying cash.
Jun 5, 2021, 6:12 pm
#122
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: San Diego Area
Programs: UA Gold MM, AA Gold MM, Marriott Plat LT, HH Gold, IHG Plat, WoH Discvst, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,834
Tried to sign up for Ambassador. First, tired to pay with points. Got this message: "We’re sorry, there was an issue processing payment. Please try a different card or contact Customer Care for assistance."
Then, tried to pay with credit card. Got SAME message.
Is this happening to anyone else?
Then, tried to pay with credit card. Got SAME message.
Is this happening to anyone else?
Jun 7, 2021, 8:03 am
#123
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 100
I signed up for Ambassador a few weeks ago for that extra free night promo and had a paid stay at an IC hotel in Washington, DC. We checked out 8 days ago and still haven't seen anything post re: the free night. I'll give it a few more days before giving them a call to see what's up. But so far it's not as seamless as I would have hoped.
That said the Ambassador benefits at the IC hotel were great - we got a suite for the price of a normal room, and got to check in at 11am when we arrived and took advantage of the 4pm check out, which was fantastic.
That said the Ambassador benefits at the IC hotel were great - we got a suite for the price of a normal room, and got to check in at 11am when we arrived and took advantage of the 4pm check out, which was fantastic.
Jun 7, 2021, 1:04 pm
#124
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: LAX/ONT
Programs: AS 100K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott G, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 518
I signed up for Ambassador a few weeks ago for that extra free night promo and had a paid stay at an IC hotel in Washington, DC. We checked out 8 days ago and still haven't seen anything post re: the free night. I'll give it a few more days before giving them a call to see what's up. But so far it's not as seamless as I would have hoped.
That said the Ambassador benefits at the IC hotel were great - we got a suite for the price of a normal room, and got to check in at 11am when we arrived and took advantage of the 4pm check out, which was fantastic.
That said the Ambassador benefits at the IC hotel were great - we got a suite for the price of a normal room, and got to check in at 11am when we arrived and took advantage of the 4pm check out, which was fantastic.
Jun 7, 2021, 1:05 pm
#125
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: LAX/ONT
Programs: AS 100K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott G, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 518
Tried to sign up for Ambassador. First, tired to pay with points. Got this message: "We’re sorry, there was an issue processing payment. Please try a different card or contact Customer Care for assistance."
Then, tried to pay with credit card. Got SAME message.
Is this happening to anyone else?
Then, tried to pay with credit card. Got SAME message.
Is this happening to anyone else?
Jun 8, 2021, 11:26 am
#126
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 100
I may need to call because this booking was made in a peculiar way as we were supposed to stay in a newly renovated Kimpton but apparently the renovations were not complete yet so they rebooked us on the phone to the Wilard instead. So I wouldn't be surprised if that breaks the automatic trigger to provide the free night.
Jun 8, 2021, 12:17 pm
#127
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: LAX/ONT
Programs: AS 100K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott G, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 518
How does it appear in your account? I have the one free ambassador one, but I figure I should see something else that's obvious.
I may need to call because this booking was made in a peculiar way as we were supposed to stay in a newly renovated Kimpton but apparently the renovations were not complete yet so they rebooked us on the phone to the Wilard instead. So I wouldn't be surprised if that breaks the automatic trigger to provide the free night.
I may need to call because this booking was made in a peculiar way as we were supposed to stay in a newly renovated Kimpton but apparently the renovations were not complete yet so they rebooked us on the phone to the Wilard instead. So I wouldn't be surprised if that breaks the automatic trigger to provide the free night.
See the right, I have expanded the t&c and details.
Jun 8, 2021, 1:45 pm
#128
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: TPE, SFO, PAE
Posts: 862
For those who renewed recently, could you check how the renewal was coded on credit card? When I renewed by phone almost two years ago it was billed as "IHG Ambassador Activation" and did not triggered the IHG card bonus since it was coded as business service. Wondering if this remains the same, and if renewing at a hotel would trigger the bonus category.
Jun 9, 2021, 9:28 am
#129
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: San Diego Area
Programs: UA Gold MM, AA Gold MM, Marriott Plat LT, HH Gold, IHG Plat, WoH Discvst, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,834
For those who renewed recently, could you check how the renewal was coded on credit card? When I renewed by phone almost two years ago it was billed as "IHG Ambassador Activation" and did not triggered the IHG card bonus since it was coded as business service. Wondering if this remains the same, and if renewing at a hotel would trigger the bonus category.
Jun 10, 2021, 11:25 am
#130
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: San Diego
Programs: IHG Spire Amb, HH Diamond, DL Diamond and 1MM
Posts: 3,610
Jun 17, 2021, 8:11 am
#131
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 100
Thank you.
Jun 18, 2021, 1:57 am
#132
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Seattle WA
Programs: DL DM, Marriott Titanium, AA PLT for Life
Posts: 398
Jun 18, 2021, 7:25 pm
#133
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: San Diego
Programs: IHG Spire Amb, HH Diamond, DL Diamond and 1MM
Posts: 3,610
The 10% Back Ambassador Benefit may be Gone.
You are probably right. It looks like the 10% back on point stays was only given on Ambassador renewals, and likely phased out entirely by now.
https://loyaltylobby.com/2020/10/25/...sador-members/
https://loyaltylobby.com/2020/10/25/...sador-members/
Jun 23, 2021, 9:10 pm
#134
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Bangkok, Thailand. No longer Palm Coast, FL though still exiled, again, from the Bay Area.
Programs: Only the good ones
Posts: 5,153
The free weekend voucher can be used any day of the week at Kimpton and Regent hotels but only on a Fri/Sat or Sat/Sun at an IC
And IIRC the use at Kimpton and Regent is only until the end of this year.
And whilst the rates for using the weekend cert are a higher than best flexible when you take unto account you are only paying for the first night of the stay you are still making a saving.
And IIRC the use at Kimpton and Regent is only until the end of this year.
And whilst the rates for using the weekend cert are a higher than best flexible when you take unto account you are only paying for the first night of the stay you are still making a saving.