flyerfirsts

Can anybody fill in how, if it does, the Ambassador membership "guaranteed" upgrade compares with the Platinum status upgrade? The Platinum status upgrade typically is zero upgrade in my experience (or some form of gaslighting, like you were upgraded to a better view, but that view is not a separate category when booking). On the Ambassador upgrade, it sounds like it is supposed to be a real upgrade, but inquiring with hotels I'm told things like "if available," which doesn't sound like much of a guarantee. I tried asking the Intercontinental Hotels facebook messaging system, but all I got is a recitation of the terms with no explanation.

mikew99

Keep in mind that Ambassador membership applies only to InterContinental Hotels, but Platinum Elite status applies throughout the IHG portfolio of hotels. I have gotten an upgrade here and there from my Platinum Elite status, but it is never guaranteed.

The Ambassador upgrade is a minimum one-category upgrade, where categories vary by hotel but are (very) loosely defined by price. There is a thread in this forum where people post which upgrades they've received to help give you an idea of what kind of upgrade to expect.

The Ambassador upgrade is about as guaranteed as you will find. I have been an Ambassador member since 2009, and in that time, I have failed to receive an upgrade only twice. There is specific compensation when an upgrade is not possible, although it is not as good as it used to be.

flyerfirsts

Interesting. The IC San Diego tells me it's subject to availability at arrival, which doesn't sound very guaranteed. I can only free cancel up to one week before, and I guess before that runs out I'll call the hotel and say is it guaranteed or not, since I have a backup reservation elsewhere. The 10,000 points for a missed upgrade is worth nearly 0 in my experience with the program.

demue

It is guaranteed, but sadly, IHG introduced this 10,000 points "compensation" loop hole a few years back into the AMB T&Cs.

Some properties are using that as a way to sell higher category rooms / suites (if not on excluded suites list) till last day and then only on day of arrival decide whether to upgrade the 1 category or provide the 10k points instead.

Other properties do process the upgrades within days of receiving the booking to manage their room inventory accordingly. That way they only need to "activate" the 10k compensation when to be upgraded room suite category is already sold out or so.

Both approaches are in line with the T&Cs, so in the end depending on property. If you would not stay at the hotel if the upgrade is not confirmed by hotel prior to booking cancellation deadline, then all you can do is make this clear to the hotel and request if they would consider confirming the room upgrade upfront.

However, be prepared that they may still say no and risk you cancelling (especially if rates have gone up since you booked) and ensure you have another fallback option booked / locked in. YMMV.

IAMORGAN

As someone else upthread said, YMMV, but I have also been an Amb for a similar time and all I can say is at InterCon hotels, they have always, bar 1 stay, given me a �proper� upgrade and recognised my status. I get the sense Ambassador is trained for at IC hotels. Nothing in life is guaranteed (the test of that is what happens if you don�t get it, rather than the label �guaranteed�) but ICs do recognise you. As others have said, the minimum is a one category room upgrade. Keep in mind it�s a $200 status and manage your expectations and I think it is good value. The late 4pm checkout is in itself a very nice benefit.

IAN-UK

I'm not sure what triggers the non-upgrade payment. I'd hope that it's where any upgrade is not to a defined room category above the the one booked; though I imagine gas-lit upgrades still take place, and arguing the toss on arrival or a check-out would be messy. The city-view vs park-view at Mexico City's IC come to mind.

The Ambassador $200 programme is an odd concept. For other hotel programmes the equivalent to Ambassador membership is earned (mainly) through heavy use of hotels, rather than a cash payment to corporate. That must go a long way to convincing the likes of Hilton and Marriot hotels that it is in their wider interest to make status guess happy and comfortable.

IHG attempts to achieve the same goal by threatening its hotels with fines for non-compliance.

The RA programme works on the traditional lines of loyalty programmes, and the benefits are great, even though watered down from the programmes better days.

I left the Ambassador world when I lost my RA status: I rock along with Spire status for IHG's lesser brands, and I'm happy as a Hilton Diamond enjoying free breakfasts, upgrades and invitations to use executive lounges. OK, I no longer travel extensively in the US, where travels with Hilton would be less than stellar

vkis

In my experience ICs often confirm the upgrade shortly after booking (you can see the new room category reflected online/in app); on my last two stays I've been upgraded from a base room to a (nice!) suite. Maybe I've just been lucky...?

schlegfr

+1
Always saw the upgrade mentioned in the app / web site some days / couple of weeks after booking (20+ bookings across Europe and Asia over the last decade) - Upgrades were also applied to bookings with the free week end night (BOGO).

Fred

ninjalad

I have always had upgrades as an ambassador though hotels tend to be more generous if you are a regular guest.
Don�t expect to be upgraded to club rooms as that is excluded. I have often booked one and received nice suites.
Yes it seems some hotels class a better view asan upgrade (never happened to me) which seems a bit of a cheat

flyerfirsts

I get the feeling Intercontinental in the USA is not what it must be elsewhere. I haven't gotten my 20,000 bonus points from the Ambassador sign up promotion for instance after completing a stay a week ago, and have been trying for days (every way you can imagine, phone, email, twitter, facebook, web chat) to get someone to help me with this and haven't gotten a single reply (phone rep just says I'll transfer you to someone and then hangs up, twice now). IC San Diego has confirmed in writing that their position is the upgrade is only if available and on arrival (FWIW I booked a week ago and the booking doesn't reflect any upgrade either).

demue

As I already tried to explain, AFAIK, IHG does not mandate that the property processes the AMB or even RA upgrade at time of booking. They can and it would maybe be considered a good practice, but it is not a must.

Without getting into the intricacies of hotel revenue management (Revpar etc.), trying to sell your more premium rooms until the last day prior to arrival of the guest with the guaranteed upgrade "may" make sense and IHG is not preventing the property from doing so. To the contrary, they empowered that practice by offering a defined (cheap) way out with 10k points per stay (not even per night if multi night) that does not hurt a property that much versus a solid chance for generating more revenue which is their job.

The IC SD is well within their rights to do what they do, whether we like it or not. They'll look at all the to be upgraded guests the day or night before check in and make the call on upgrades - simple as that. Best way to do it from a customer point of view - probably not, but you never know. They may also bump you up beyond 1-category if they want to free up booked lower category level rooms. YMMV..

flyerfirsts

I was just providing a follow up data point, since people posted experiences to the contrary.

ninjalad

A lot of the time I see upgrades/room changes/nothing but only on day of check in is final room type shown

pinniped

Did you ever get your points?

I signed up for the same promo, joined Ambassador, did my 2-night Kimpton stay, and never received the 20k.

I haven't yet pursued it, thinking I'd give them a few weeks first.

flyerfirsts

I got it on week 5 after the stay.