Points and Cash: New reward nights options Master Thread [merged]
Jun 9, 2009, 9:13 am
#46
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: PDX/AUS
Programs: AA-UA-AS IHG-SPG-Carlson
Posts: 4,562
I just tried 2 bookings, one in Asia, one in Austin.
Same CC error as yesterday.
Yawn.
So, we have only ONE confirmed purchase using this feature?
Same CC error as yesterday.
Yawn.
So, we have only ONE confirmed purchase using this feature?
Last edited by MrHalliday; Jun 9, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Jun 9, 2009, 6:33 pm
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 10,912
I don't believe that IC will allow this offer to degenerate into an unlimited points generation machine @.6cpm. $240 for a night at the ICs in Thalasso, Amstel, Paris, and $30 for a pointbreaks night? Unlikely to happen, but I have no problem exploiting this loophole while it's open. ^
Jun 9, 2009, 8:21 pm
#50
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Programs: QF QP NB, PC Plat. Amb, SPG Gold
Posts: 1,879
).
Jun 9, 2009, 9:09 pm
#51
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PlatMM, BA and Alaska Emerald, HHonors DIA, Accor, Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat Amb, UA Silver, AA
Posts: 4,516
So some of you have been successful at this? I have tried 3 CCs but get the same message every time:
Unable to process credit card. Please try again later or specify another card.
Any other pointers?
TIA.
Unable to process credit card. Please try again later or specify another card.
Any other pointers?
TIA.
Jun 9, 2009, 9:22 pm
#52
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Programs: QF QP NB, PC Plat. Amb, SPG Gold
Posts: 1,879
Oh, and I answered my own question above as well, the points do count towards Platinum qualification!
Jun 9, 2009, 10:07 pm
#53
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,377
I sure hope they'll close it immediately - otherwise why bother collecting points? Award inventory will be wiped out as everyone and his grandmother will be able to book a room on points and all loyal PC members are all gonna be left sitting on a pile of unusable PC currency.
Jun 10, 2009, 9:10 am
#54
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: PDX/AUS
Programs: AA-UA-AS IHG-SPG-Carlson
Posts: 4,562
It is now working with my SPG Amex card.
I am $120 poorer, 20K points richer.
This bumped up my annual activity over 60K,
so Plat status thru next year already shows confirmed.
I bought 40K earlier (at very high price)
,
so these points are not (yet) controlled
by the 40,000 purchased limit.
So what "fix" could be applied?
Charge $.011 per point instead of $.006 ?
Make Points reservations non-cancelable?
Very dangerous indeed.
I am $120 poorer, 20K points richer.
This bumped up my annual activity over 60K,
so Plat status thru next year already shows confirmed.
I bought 40K earlier (at very high price)
,so these points are not (yet) controlled
by the 40,000 purchased limit.
So what "fix" could be applied?
Charge $.011 per point instead of $.006 ?
Make Points reservations non-cancelable?
Very dangerous indeed.
Last edited by MrHalliday; Jun 10, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Jun 10, 2009, 9:33 am
#55
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,377
Other options would include forfeiture of cash paid AND points 'purchased' upon award cancellation (I don't really like that idea) or to limit the number of Cash & Points purchases to something like 40K points/year.
On the surface, a Cash and Points option is a good idea. However, this is very different than SPG's offer, where hotels collect the cash portion and keep it for themselves.
Jun 10, 2009, 9:53 am
#58
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: UK
Programs: Royal Ambassador Priority Club, Silver Elite goldpointsplus, Gold SPG, Diamond Hyatt
Posts: 206
I think l have become confused. Are you peeps saying that you can make a reserversation using part points and parts cash. Then cancel the reservation and keep the points that you paid for in cash and the your original points?
Jun 10, 2009, 10:22 am
#60
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,871
Interesting point above about the 40,000 point annual limit. Does this count towards it or not? I guess not.