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RA referral value
I am THINKING read it again THINKING of putting my RA referal form in the coupon connection, I have done a search in there and not turned a lot of info up on its value.
Not been in a job that provides me with free hotel stays or even pays that well :) , I do all my own traveling out of my own pocket, and I am after some advice. what would you ask for if it was you? I know cash is out out unless it goes on ebay as per FT rules. All I really know is IF I did put it on CC I would want it to go to an established FTer for there contributions to the forums. And please NO PM's saying you want it and so on, I have had enough of them already just for saying I made RA, IF I decided to trade it, it will go in the CC |
Without condoning/condeming the exchange of RA referrals - I think your best bet is to find someone here who is a regular at IC's but not enough to make RA. (o.k that sounds pretty obvious I know....). For such an FT'er the RA referall might be worth a few free nights worth of points?
Please don't give it to someone who intends to bring an empty suitcase for the mini-bar contents! It'd be nice if RA benefits were still there this time next year :) |
Given that Amex Centurian luggage tags regularly go for £100 or so on ebay, and IC free weekend night certificates go for a fair price, you may want to stick it up for auction.
Its probably worth £250 or so to me, as an occasional leisure traveller who would do 4 IC stays max this year, but it should be worth £500+ to someone who has a stay a month. Someone who normally books an executive room may pay even more, knowing they could go back to booking a very cheap room with a guaranteed upgrade. Do a post on here to say you've done it and if anyone does want to bid then they can. You've paid your own way for your stays, so you should have no qualms about getting a few quid back for your trouble. Are we clear about whether referred RA's can renew their membership without hitting any qualification targets? This would greatly affect what you it would fetch, in my view. |
Originally Posted by RJB
Are we clear about whether referred RA's can renew their membership without hitting any qualification targets? This would greatly affect what you it would fetch, in my view.
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Originally Posted by RJB
Its probably worth £250 or so to me, as an occasional leisure traveller who would do 4 IC stays max this year, but it should be worth £500+ to someone who has a stay a month. Someone who normally books an executive room may pay even more, knowing they could go back to booking a very cheap room with a guaranteed upgrade.
-A free wknd night cert -Unlimited minibar access (including alcohol!) -Suite/Exec room upgrade at booking -Guaranteed 8am check-in (a godsend for those early morning arrivals to SE Asia!) -Platinum PC level automatically (i.e. a 50% bonus on earning points) -Automatic renewal of status with US$100 -Another referral form with their card On an average 2 night stay at any IC as a RA my minibar condumption usually totals about about £30-40. (The L-P champers bottles which were replenished daily in the IC Berlin minibar last week were quite a treat. :D ) So I would quite agree with RJB that for someone who stays once a month or even 10 times a year at IC's, this voucher should be worth atleast close to £500. |
Most of us have passed our referral cards on to other "worthy" IC forum FTers and never considered any merchantile aspects related to the invitation. But while you're on the subject, don't forget the 5K PC points certificate.
And while one does get PC Plat status, one must ultimately earn 60K points or stay 50 nights to requalify. Otherwise, even with three different IC-branded stays, you will not be able to renew RA, just AMBASSADOR, for the US$100. |
Originally Posted by Shareholder
And while one does get PC Plat status, one must ultimately earn 60K points or stay 50 nights to requalify.
Infact, is there any RA on FT who is not on the Plat PC level...?? |
Originally Posted by AJLondon
The RA benefits brochure I have says that Platinum level is "automatic" in the PC program due to the RA status. So I believe that as long as you are a RA you would have automatic Platinum level in PC (whether or not you stay 50n or earn 60k)..
Infact, is there any RA on FT who is not on the Plat PC level...?? True to a degree, but the catch is that to maintain RA status, you must re-earn PC PLATINUM status AND have the three different IC stays. It is only automatic PC PLAT the first year you get RA status. From then on you can only requalify for RA status by having the minimum three IC-branded stays at different properties AND earning 60K PC points or staying 50 nights. This is not a perpetual thing, and you'd be dropped down to AMBASSADOR if you did not have the three stays, or only earned enough PC points for Gold. |
Originally Posted by Shareholder
True to a degree, but the catch is that to maintain RA status, you must re-earn PC PLATINUM status AND have the three different IC stays. It is only automatic PC PLAT the first year you get RA status. From then on you can only requalify for RA status by having the minimum three IC-branded stays at different properties AND earning 60K PC points or staying 50 nights. This is not a perpetual thing, and you'd be dropped down to AMBASSADOR if you did not have the three stays, or only earned enough PC points for Gold.
Originally Posted by Dino2020
Yes, I have now spoke to 2 other agents and have there names, who say you only need to pay $100 to renew.
And the way I interpret the rules is that as long as you are a RA you are guaranteed Plat PC level automatically. (Atleast this is what the benefits booklet says in no uncertain terms). I guess the disagreement comes from how one renews RA. Is it just the fees or is it the 3 stays in IC's etc etc... |
Originally Posted by AJLondon
According to Dino2020, all you need is the $100 to renew and nothing else.
"do I need to requalify, or do I just pay $100 dollars to renew" there reply was "NO you dont need to requalify you just pay $100 or 20k points to renew" I then asked "how do I renew" they said "you should get an email asking you if you wish to renew, if you dont get this call us before you status expires and pay with a credit card or with points" I then asked "will I get another referral when I renew they said "yes" I got the same replys from both agents. The first agent said you have to requalify, I told both agents what the first one had said and they said" she must of been confusing it with platinum, you dont need to requalify" Personally it does seem a bit odd that you can retain it for life for $100 each year, you could have more than that from a mini bar in one stay of a few days, but this is what I was told. Dino |
Back to the original thread… I think some PC points could be a good deal for the RA referral. Personally I would be willing to pay 30-40k for a one time referral, which can be worth a few nights if spent on HIs.
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Originally Posted by Gustaf
Back to the original thread… I think some PC points could be a good deal for the RA referral. Personally I would be willing to pay 30-40k for a one time referral, which can be worth a few nights if spent on HIs.
I think thats a little optimistic, 1 night at an IC in a basic room(reward night) for a years worth of free mini bar and room upgrades and platinum status, I am sure we all would of paid 30k points for one :) Dino |
Originally Posted by Dino2020
I think thats a little optomistic, 1 night at an IC in a basic room(reward night) for a years worth of free mini bar and room upgrades and platinum status, I am sure we all would of paid 30k points for one :)
Dino |
So now that you have infos and our opinions about it Dino, what will happen to that damned coupon? ;-)
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-Unlimited minibar access (including alcohol!) -Suite/Exec room upgrade at booking Royal Ambassador Status: Royal Ambassador status is the highest level of status and entitles Priority Club® Rewards members to additional benefits at InterContinental and Forum hotels and resorts. Royal Ambassador status is granted to Priority Club® Rewards members by invitation and at Priority Club® Rewards’ sole discretion. Priority Club® Rewards reserves the right to limit the number members with Royal Ambassador status. Guaranteed room availability for one room occupied by the Royal Ambassador with 24-hour advance reservation. Reservations must be made before 12:00 midday (local hotel time) 24 hours prior to intended arrival for room availability to be guaranteed. Only in exceptional circumstances where the hotel has been completely reserved by the Government and with explicit Priority Club® Rewards approval, may a reservation be declined. Early check-in (8:00 am) shall be available to all Royal Ambassadors. Upgrade to an executive room or suite for Royal Ambassadors at check-in. In circumstances where an executive room or suite is not available at 8:00 am, the Royal Ambassador will be checked into an available room until the executive room or suite is available later on the day of arrival. Use of health club facilities shall be complimentary for Royal Ambassadors. Treatments such as massage, facials, manicure may incur charges. |
Originally Posted by stef9152
So now that you have infos and our opinions about it Dino, what will happen to that damned coupon? ;-)
I honeslty dont know if it will CC or ebay I have had many pm's seems its worth to some people 150k pc points or 100k of reward flight miles, or over $1000 if I was to put it on ebay I would like it to go to a FTer on the CC to be honest rather than the cash off ebay. But with the cost of transfering so my PC points ie $500 for 100k And I just dont know enough about rewards flights and so on, thats why I asked for what people thought they were worth. Guess the reward flight would be the way to go business class seat to the US or something Dino |
Originally Posted by Markie
I did not see this listed in the T&C's on the web site.
Royal Ambassador Status: Royal Ambassador status is the highest level of status and entitles Priority Club® Rewards members to additional benefits at InterContinental and Forum hotels and resorts. Royal Ambassador status is granted to Priority Club® Rewards members by invitation and at Priority Club® Rewards’ sole discretion. Priority Club® Rewards reserves the right to limit the number members with Royal Ambassador status. Guaranteed room availability for one room occupied by the Royal Ambassador with 24-hour advance reservation. Reservations must be made before 12:00 midday (local hotel time) 24 hours prior to intended arrival for room availability to be guaranteed. Only in exceptional circumstances where the hotel has been completely reserved by the Government and with explicit Priority Club® Rewards approval, may a reservation be declined. Early check-in (8:00 am) shall be available to all Royal Ambassadors. Upgrade to an executive room or suite for Royal Ambassadors at check-in. In circumstances where an executive room or suite is not available at 8:00 am, the Royal Ambassador will be checked into an available room until the executive room or suite is available later on the day of arrival. Use of health club facilities shall be complimentary for Royal Ambassadors. Treatments such as massage, facials, manicure may incur charges. Dino |
The only benefit to taking points or miles is that you might get a bit more for it, depending on how you value them. Most road warriors have an excess of the former but are not always the best paid people in the world. They may also not be so keen to explain to their partner why they've blown a few £100 on something intangible!
Accepting miles might be tricky because you may get stung over redeeming them (we all know hard it is to get BA premium seats to anywhere outside the US) and you have the hassle of sending the money for the airport tax over to whoever issues the tickets for you. PC points could be useful but you already have a lot of those! And Starwood or Hilton points are useless given that you want to be an IC given your status. Decisions, decisions .... |
Originally Posted by RJB
The only benefit to taking points or miles is that you might get a bit more for it, depending on how you value them. Most road warriors have an excess of the former but are not always the best paid people in the world. They may also not be so keen to explain to their partner why they've blown a few £100 on something intangible!
Decisions, decisions .... Also I was thinking whats stopping any one using the referral form to referr them selves when there RA status expires, new members and if you renew you get the referral form, keep it till the the membership expires and just renew your self, and do this each year. I even if I do have to requalify, the agents said you dont have to, but if you do, I will have enough this year to make sure I requalify if I have too, so I figure I can let this cert go, and just try the above method if they dont allow I will just referr Mrs Dino so one of us is always plat RA |
person A gets refferal form and signs up $150
11 months later give referral to Person B who signs up cost 150$ (which you pay) 2 weeks later person B gets a RA box with refferal form they give this to you 2 weeks later you sign up using refferal off person B when you RA status expires for 150$ RA for 12 more months total cost 300$ a year to keep RA for life |
Originally Posted by Dino2020
And if you have to requalify and the RA agents have it wrong...
person A gets refferal form and signs up $150 11 months later give referral to Person B who signs up cost 150$ (which you pay) 2 weeks later person B gets a RA box with refferal form they give this to you 2 weeks later you sign up using refferal off person B when you RA status expires for 150$ RA for 12 more months total cost 300$ a year to keep RA for life |
Originally Posted by DoubleJ
This assumes that your partner is not going to at some point down the road find a new "partner" or decide they need some quick $/miles for a trip. ;)
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Originally Posted by Dino2020
person A gets refferal form and signs up $150
11 months later give referral to Person B who signs up cost 150$ (which you pay) 2 weeks later person B gets a RA box with refferal form they give this to you 2 weeks later you sign up using refferal off person B when you RA status expires for 150$ RA for 12 more months total cost 300$ a year to keep RA for life |
Originally Posted by Dino2020
Person B = very very very trusted friend :) who might enjoy the benefits of Plat RA status
"I'll be your friend!!....." ;) This is a pretty funny thread! -- Dambus |
Originally Posted by Dambus
Crows dancing on telephone lines singing like the Beatles....
"I'll be your friend!!....." ;) This is a pretty funny thread! -- Dambus Dino |
Originally Posted by Dino2020
I have had many pm's
seems its worth to some people 150k pc points or 100k of reward flight miles, or over $1000 if I was to put it on ebay No disrespect meant towards you personally, Dino2020. |
Originally Posted by DoubleJ
Based on the interest expressed in Dino2020's RA referral, I'm beginning to realize that the real value of RA status may not be in the Plat PC or RA hotel benefits, but in the lucrative extra annual income/points/miles one can get from pawning the RA referral. :eek:
No disrespect meant towards you personally, Dino2020. Dino |
[QUOTE=AJLondon]In assessing the 'value' of the referral, I would break it up into different components of it's worth to the receiver:
-A free wknd night cert -Unlimited minibar access (including alcohol!) -Suite/Exec room upgrade at booking -Guaranteed 8am check-in (a godsend for those early morning arrivals to SE Asia!) -Platinum PC level automatically (i.e. a 50% bonus on earning points) -Automatic renewal of status with US$100 -Another referral form with their card QUOTE] So as a referred RA I will receive all of the above? If so, it is well worth the $150 RA fee. Is the renewal unlimited even if I don't reach 50 nights or 60K points in PC next year? |
And another one just went over on Coupon Exchange for an unknown amount of UA miles, or something similar. So much for the spirit of sharing for sharing sake on the FT community...
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Originally Posted by Motion122
Originally Posted by AJLondon
In assessing the 'value' of the referral, I would break it up into different components of it's worth to the receiver:
-A free wknd night cert -Unlimited minibar access (including alcohol!) -Suite/Exec room upgrade at booking -Guaranteed 8am check-in (a godsend for those early morning arrivals to SE Asia!) -Platinum PC level automatically (i.e. a 50% bonus on earning points) -Automatic renewal of status with US$100 -Another referral form with their card Is the renewal unlimited even if I don't reach 50 nights or 60K points in PC next year? When pressed on what's the "normal" manner she said, "Attaining PLT status (I assume via points or nights) and 3 nights in IC properties (not the same one either!). :-: When I asked about the $100 renewal she said that yes it will maintain RA AND PLT status, but still NOT entitle me to a referral cert! :( Make sense to anybody else? |
Originally Posted by EdV
When pressed on what's the "normal" manner she said, "Attaining PLT status (I assume via points or nights) and 3 nights in IC properties (not the same one either!). :-: When I asked about the $100 renewal she said that yes it will maintain RA AND PLT status, but still NOT entitle me to a referral cert! :( Make sense to anybody else?
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It is true that the referred person is not meant to get a referral voucher, but some people have been lucky enough to get them, luck of the draw I guess.
Dino |
Two people I referred both got the referral vouchers in their package. So I guess a lot of people may get lucky.
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Originally Posted by EdV
Isn't it true that the newly referred RA would get all of the above, EXCEPT the additional referral form? :confused: I have just received an RA referral from a friend here on FT (thanks you know who) but haven't yet activated it. I called the line for a quick question and the agent told me that I would get the entire package as listed above and many times before, but WITHOUT THE REFERRAL CERT!. :eek: She said that I would need to qualify in the "normal" manner to get that.
When pressed on what's the "normal" manner she said, "Attaining PLT status (I assume via points or nights) and 3 nights in IC properties (not the same one either!). :-: When I asked about the $100 renewal she said that yes it will maintain RA AND PLT status, but still NOT entitle me to a referral cert! :( Make sense to anybody else? I wonder if some of us who did get the Referral Certificate with our initiation RA packages got them because we would have otherwise qualified under the new 3 stays at 3 different properties within a 12-month period? I know I had at least that number of stays before I was gifted my referral cert, and had my 60K points for requalifying for Plat the following year? When I sent that Referral Cert on to another FTer who I felt deserved the upgrade in status, he spoke with the Customer Service people before sending it in and they told him not to bother, he had enough stays and they upgraded him there and then. He kindly returned my cert, which I than passed along to another FTer who had helped me on another matter. I have just renewed, so expect my kit in a week or two. Shall advise if it contains the RA Referral Cert as well as the 5K one [which I think I shall hold off cashing in until the start of 2006, just to fast-track myself should promos next year not be so generous, or the required points are raised... |
I 'sold' the referral certificate I had to a fellow FT'er...the price...a decent bottle of Port...the thought of actually selling it on ebay or wherever never entered my head...after all the help I have had on this forum I felt for once I was giving something back. ^
I do agree with those who say one ought to check who it goes to...by that I mean have they been contributing to FT...either on a frequent basis if a more recent member...or for a long time if not too many posts. That is of course subjective...but are all decisions not so? |
Originally Posted by Shareholder
wonder if some of us who did get the Referral Certificate with our initiation RA packages got them because we would have otherwise qualified under the new 3 stays at 3 different properties within a 12-month period? I know I had at least that number of stays before I was gifted my referral cert, and had my 60K points for requalifying for Plat the following year?
It will be interesting because I do NOT have enough stays to warrant RA status on my own. So I wonder if they will send me a ref cert as well. :confused: |
I gave my last one to a work colleague who is IC'ing for his ruby wedding anniversary ... the new one I just received is going to another colleague for her honeymoon ... what better way of distributing minibar largesse
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I agree that these certificates should not be sold or bartered for large somes. I for one would not look to sell a certificate or ask absured amounts of points for the certificate. I would be content to give back to the community and ask either a B1G1 certificate, 5k certificate, or a nice bottle of wine or something to show that the referral is appreciated.
I personally have given away several NWA certificates that I couldn't use, and a couple I could have used and didn't realize it. When it came time for me to need a certificate, I have a very tough time finding one, and the people I gave my certificates to (one was a very recent member) wouldn't even respond to my e-mails or PM's. They decided after they got what they needed Flyertalk wasn't for them. I think that the flyertalk community should be about sharing experiences and letting people know the great deals that we find. Just my 2 cents Sincerely, Timo |
Your heart is in the right place, timo469 :) . Unfortunately, the reality is that there will always be those who only know how to take and not to give, whether on FT or in society at large.
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