pretzlaff

I find the new elite benefits choice thing annoying....suite upgrades, money for f+b, and the possible lounge access at 40 nights. However, I will be 3 nights away from 40 nights and the lounge access choice at my current rate, and am wondering about pushing for it.

How is this new 'benefit' actually working out at IC's and the occasional Crowne Plaza?

ninjalot

Also curious, I'm 7 nights away from 40 (will complete it this month).

It sounds like the benefit will last for the remaining of the year you activate and the entire following year. So if you get your 40-night milestone rewards in November 2022, you'll have 3-months to choose it. Then if you activate it in January 2023, it should last until 31st December 2024. Any flaws in my logic?

Atacama40

Also curious about this. Although an RA, I've been loading excess nights onto the son's Diamond account to get him to lounge access.

I read it as only for one person, not couple. But have to confess to not being overly familiar with the T&C's of the new program or benefits.

Interested to know about that.

Admiral Ackbar

Not that complicated in my opinion and for my stay pattern (works stays are at HIX/HI and I stay at ICs for vacation) it works out swimmingly. If you stay at ICs a lot then it is a no brainer, I thought you mentioned Hilton lounges in your OP (may have confused it with another thread), in my opinion IC lounges, in general, blow Hilton lounges out of the water. I stay mostly at Euro (and Asia eventually) ICs so that may skew my opinion as the North American IC are definitely less upscale than the rest of the world in my experience.

What is annoying exactly about this benefit? Have had no issue using it, the hotels I have stayed at so far have been very proactive at providing my benefits.

The lounge access is for yourself and one guest, the T&C are crystal clear on this.

pretzlaff

I guess what is 'annoying' is that you strive for an elite status and benefits should derive from that attained status. But with this new program, you work toward status but then you also work toward benefits. This adds a layer of administration on top of my other 4-5 elite program juggling.

Perhaps it is a system designed to only give high level benefits to people that earn them organically rather than from credit cards and buying ambassador status.

It is good to hear that IC's are proactively honoring this new benefit.

For a while, I was beginning to wonder if anyone had actually attained and used this new benefit.

saecotech

..... I would push for 40 nights if I was within 20 nights away. Lounge access is one of the most desired perks of IHG

Admiral Ackbar

That is exactly what they are going for in my opinion

Atacama40

Super stuff, thanks for clarifying .... so it's +1 he gets. A good benefit adding proper value. Think he needs another 8 or so nights which will be easy enough to help out with.

doktor24

I'm not sure if is answered before but would like to clarify and be sure about my question. Does 40 nights reset on year-end or whenever you make it you can choose form benefits? I'm 9 nights form turning 40 nights so would like to know if it has to be until end of 2022. good thing with this reward choice is that reward night count as well! I see 1 year lounge access as good value if you have just few IC or CP stays per year - beats 20USD F&B voucher that is sometimes one drink in IC and usually half of the breakfast price.

Admiral Ackbar

Milestone nights reset at year-end

ninjalot

My reward says I have to choose by 19/01/2023. So I'm assuming rewards yet to be chosen still stay. Do you have any experience?

Reason I ask is, I want to start my lounge pass next year, so I can have it expire in 2024. And then for my 40N milestone next I can choose something else. But maybe its too risky to try over-optimise it

Admiral Ackbar

Given this is the first year with milestone nights, it is safe to say no one has any experience with year-end activities

However, I don't see a problem with the selection date extending to 2023, I will be crossing 70 nights at the end of December so I fully expect to be able to choose that reward in January.

UKtravelbear

Whilst it is clear rewards have to be earned in the calendar year when they afe selected is a different issue so if you earned a reward today you have 92 days (so until 10th Feb 23) to select it.

Though it's hard to tell at the moment. When rewards started anyone who had qualified before the scheme formally launched had their 3 months start then to be selected by early September. I earned a further reward at the end of August with a select date at the end f November. Then the hack hit and those dates were all extended to 31st December. I've not earned a reward since then but I would assume they have reverted to the 92 days from award to selection.

If people have earned a reward since early September it would be useful if they could post the earned and select by dates.

Admiral Ackbar

I will be over 60 nights this Saturday, will let you know when it posts next week

ninjalot

I completed 20N on September 19th, posted on September 24th, and the expiry is January 22nd 2023
I completed 30N on October 17th, posted on October 19th, and the expiry is January 19th 2023 (yes, earlier than the first milestone)

Finishing 40N soon, banking on the 92 days.