Jul 8, 2013, 11:43 am
Last edit by: FLYGVA
Recent discussion (After January 01, 2016) could be found in this thread.
Most important points to consider for a valid BRG:
1. The comparison website MUST bill in the same currency as the hotel .
2. The cancellation terms must be equal or better, than the terms by the hotels.
3. The Website needs to provide INSTANT confirmation.
4. The room names should match, but if you can demonstrate, that the room is comparable, it will also work with discrepancies in the name.
5. The price difference has to be more than either USD 1 or 1% (whichever is higher).
5.b In regards to hotels located in australia and New Zealand the price difference must be greater than 3% .
Hotels for which you will get reimbursed:
(Note: There have been significant problems with getting full reimbursements from IHG, especially for reimbursements in other currencies than USD)
IC Istanbul ( BRG claim from the 17.05.2013/ "Technical Difficulties")
IC Frankfurt ( BRG claim from the 20.08.2013/ "Technical Difficulties")
Link to the Terms and Conditions : https://www.ihg.com/hotels/us/en/cus...rms-conditions
Most important points to consider for a valid BRG:
1. The comparison website MUST bill in the same currency as the hotel .
2. The cancellation terms must be equal or better, than the terms by the hotels.
3. The Website needs to provide INSTANT confirmation.
4. The room names should match, but if you can demonstrate, that the room is comparable, it will also work with discrepancies in the name.
5. The price difference has to be more than either USD 1 or 1% (whichever is higher).
5.b In regards to hotels located in australia and New Zealand the price difference must be greater than 3% .
Hotels for which you will get reimbursed:
(Note: There have been significant problems with getting full reimbursements from IHG, especially for reimbursements in other currencies than USD)
IC Istanbul ( BRG claim from the 17.05.2013/ "Technical Difficulties")
IC Frankfurt ( BRG claim from the 20.08.2013/ "Technical Difficulties")
Link to the Terms and Conditions : https://www.ihg.com/hotels/us/en/cus...rms-conditions
New IHG Best Rate Guarantee - Discussion & Feedback
Dec 25, 2012, 2:54 am
#2731
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: in your favourite lounge, clearing the whole buffet
Programs: LH Maximizer of the year, BA Blue Label killer
Posts: 1,001
Dec 25, 2012, 3:57 am
#2732
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: All over
Programs: Most
Posts: 10,839
Open tomorrow on the 26th. You would imagine that the wages for call center monkeys is so low in the Philippines that it wouldn't make a difference to have them keep the call center 247 365.
Dec 25, 2012, 6:45 am
#2733
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Germany / Spain / Switzerland
Programs: LH M&M SEN, bmi DC Gold, CO Gold Elite, bahn.comfort nothing
Posts: 310
I think it's closed during Christmas, I didn't get email reply from them as well...
Btw, recently, I'm trying to BRG for Istanbul hotels, it's kinda weird that they couldn't find the room type which I found...They even sent me a screen shot showing that the room type really doesn't exist on that website, but I could still see the rate and did the screen shot as well...
How is it possible for them to be on the exactly same URL, but something is missing on their screen compared to mine? I really couldn't understand...And I wonder how to get this BRG...
Btw, recently, I'm trying to BRG for Istanbul hotels, it's kinda weird that they couldn't find the room type which I found...They even sent me a screen shot showing that the room type really doesn't exist on that website, but I could still see the rate and did the screen shot as well...
How is it possible for them to be on the exactly same URL, but something is missing on their screen compared to mine? I really couldn't understand...And I wonder how to get this BRG...
They seem to do this regularly but without any obvious scheme if the 3rd party cannot be held to kill the price immideately...
Dec 25, 2012, 1:52 pm
#2735
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 2,055
I searched this thread a bit but could not find an answer. Searching for hotels in New York I find availability for the HI Express on Kayak.com and it IS bookable but not on the HIExpress website. Is there any recourse for doing a BRG in this situation? Thanks.
Dec 25, 2012, 1:56 pm
#2736
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 940
You must be able to first, reserve a room on IHG.com, then only you could make comparison to any other 3rd party website...You might wanna try to contact the hotel directly to see whether they could make a reservation for you...
Dec 25, 2012, 3:38 pm
#2737
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: UK
Posts: 452
Happy Christmas all!
My Brg reservation has now changed from 0.01 euro to 124 euro, I was wondering if this has happened to anyone before?
I have a confirm BRG for a night at IC this week..
The hotel modified my reservation within 3 hours after my Brg was approved, and I was able to see from a mobile device that the room rate has adjusted to 0.01 euro.
I have then received a confirmation e-mail and a updated reservation from IC system which confirmed my reservation as House use comp with rate 0.01 euro and also gave me 1 category upgrade as ambassador.
My reservation shown like that for 8 weeks until this Monday.. although the rate type still showing as House use Comp, my room rate is now showing 124 euro..
I though this is rather strange, so I was just wondering if anyone has came across something similar before?
Thanks.
My Brg reservation has now changed from 0.01 euro to 124 euro, I was wondering if this has happened to anyone before?
I have a confirm BRG for a night at IC this week..
The hotel modified my reservation within 3 hours after my Brg was approved, and I was able to see from a mobile device that the room rate has adjusted to 0.01 euro.
I have then received a confirmation e-mail and a updated reservation from IC system which confirmed my reservation as House use comp with rate 0.01 euro and also gave me 1 category upgrade as ambassador.
My reservation shown like that for 8 weeks until this Monday.. although the rate type still showing as House use Comp, my room rate is now showing 124 euro..
I though this is rather strange, so I was just wondering if anyone has came across something similar before?
Thanks.
Dec 26, 2012, 4:45 am
#2738
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Germany / Spain / Switzerland
Programs: LH M&M SEN, bmi DC Gold, CO Gold Elite, bahn.comfort nothing
Posts: 310
But there won't be a scheme behind it, its just that sometimes they will verify as valid, then they directly kill the price on the 3rd party site and then there is this screenshot method.
And the rules often change and Hotels often are really unhappy with the Garantuee. You can score great value, but the time consumption and sometimes really weird rule interpretation killing more time and treating the customer like the 'bad guy that stays for free' really doesnt make this garantuee that great as it sounds.
I scored really good things, but the discussions and sometimes rant with one Manager calling me to tell me that she will not accept the garantuee no matter what 3 days after the claim got verified as valid reflects the inconsistency within the chain as well when it comes to Status Benefits, Platinum, Ambassador or Royal Ambassador which vary widely and change a lot as well.
Dec 26, 2012, 7:32 am
#2739
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: UA*G(1K), PC Diamond Amb, Marriott Titanium, Accor Platinum
Posts: 4,667
Well, it's so ambiguous, I have no idea what they are saying. To me it looks like "your money" (i.e. your payment in whatever currency) "is converted to USD" (i.e. will appear as USD in our account, even though it leaves as whatever currency from your account).
It doesn't sound like they are saying that you will be charged in USD. If that's what they wanted to say, they would have said so.
Best would be to write an email yourself and ask in what currency your credit card will be charged.
HTB.
It doesn't sound like they are saying that you will be charged in USD. If that's what they wanted to say, they would have said so.
Best would be to write an email yourself and ask in what currency your credit card will be charged.
HTB.
Dec 26, 2012, 9:27 am
#2740
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,653
LOL. I got a reply today claiming that IHG actually test booked a room on getaroom.com and their card was charged in USD. Wow. They really take it seriously.
So getaroom is dead for non USD bookings.
So getaroom is dead for non USD bookings.
Dec 26, 2012, 11:04 am
#2741
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 940
Well, things get funny and absurd...Here goes the story...
At first, I file a BRG at their Istanbul property for their club room, got rejected with a screen shot showing every room type except the club room...Went to the website immediately, the club room has gone...Well, fine, I modified my reservation into deluxe room, then reply to them...Got a reply from them just now, rejected again, they can't 'see' the rate again, but well, it's clearly shown on the previous screen shot which they sent me for rejecting my club room BRG...now waiting for their further response, wonder how they are going to explain themselves...
At first, I file a BRG at their Istanbul property for their club room, got rejected with a screen shot showing every room type except the club room...Went to the website immediately, the club room has gone...Well, fine, I modified my reservation into deluxe room, then reply to them...Got a reply from them just now, rejected again, they can't 'see' the rate again, but well, it's clearly shown on the previous screen shot which they sent me for rejecting my club room BRG...now waiting for their further response, wonder how they are going to explain themselves...
I am afraid yes.
But there won't be a scheme behind it, its just that sometimes they will verify as valid, then they directly kill the price on the 3rd party site and then there is this screenshot method.
And the rules often change and Hotels often are really unhappy with the Garantuee. You can score great value, but the time consumption and sometimes really weird rule interpretation killing more time and treating the customer like the 'bad guy that stays for free' really doesnt make this garantuee that great as it sounds.
I scored really good things, but the discussions and sometimes rant with one Manager calling me to tell me that she will not accept the garantuee no matter what 3 days after the claim got verified as valid reflects the inconsistency within the chain as well when it comes to Status Benefits, Platinum, Ambassador or Royal Ambassador which vary widely and change a lot as well.
But there won't be a scheme behind it, its just that sometimes they will verify as valid, then they directly kill the price on the 3rd party site and then there is this screenshot method.
And the rules often change and Hotels often are really unhappy with the Garantuee. You can score great value, but the time consumption and sometimes really weird rule interpretation killing more time and treating the customer like the 'bad guy that stays for free' really doesnt make this garantuee that great as it sounds.
I scored really good things, but the discussions and sometimes rant with one Manager calling me to tell me that she will not accept the garantuee no matter what 3 days after the claim got verified as valid reflects the inconsistency within the chain as well when it comes to Status Benefits, Platinum, Ambassador or Royal Ambassador which vary widely and change a lot as well.
Dec 26, 2012, 3:15 pm
#2742
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 940
Updates
Just got a reply, from a different staff instead, it seems that the previous staff 'doesn't' wish to confront with me...
Got rejected with a different screen shot again...This time their screen shot is showing the 'Club Room' and not showing the 'Deluxe King room'...Went to the website, there's no 'club room' but there's 'deluxe king room'...Well, I modified the itenary again into 'club room' and comparing directly to the screen shot which they have taken...Will see what happens next...Well, I have time...
Got rejected with a different screen shot again...This time their screen shot is showing the 'Club Room' and not showing the 'Deluxe King room'...Went to the website, there's no 'club room' but there's 'deluxe king room'...Well, I modified the itenary again into 'club room' and comparing directly to the screen shot which they have taken...Will see what happens next...Well, I have time...
Well, things get funny and absurd...Here goes the story...
At first, I file a BRG at their Istanbul property for their club room, got rejected with a screen shot showing every room type except the club room...Went to the website immediately, the club room has gone...Well, fine, I modified my reservation into deluxe room, then reply to them...Got a reply from them just now, rejected again, they can't 'see' the rate again, but well, it's clearly shown on the previous screen shot which they sent me for rejecting my club room BRG...now waiting for their further response, wonder how they are going to explain themselves...
At first, I file a BRG at their Istanbul property for their club room, got rejected with a screen shot showing every room type except the club room...Went to the website immediately, the club room has gone...Well, fine, I modified my reservation into deluxe room, then reply to them...Got a reply from them just now, rejected again, they can't 'see' the rate again, but well, it's clearly shown on the previous screen shot which they sent me for rejecting my club room BRG...now waiting for their further response, wonder how they are going to explain themselves...
Dec 27, 2012, 4:20 am
#2743
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Germany / Spain / Switzerland
Programs: LH M&M SEN, bmi DC Gold, CO Gold Elite, bahn.comfort nothing
Posts: 310
Just got a reply, from a different staff instead, it seems that the previous staff 'doesn't' wish to confront with me...
Got rejected with a different screen shot again...This time their screen shot is showing the 'Club Room' and not showing the 'Deluxe King room'...Went to the website, there's no 'club room' but there's 'deluxe king room'...Well, I modified the itenary again into 'club room' and comparing directly to the screen shot which they have taken...Will see what happens next...Well, I have time...
Got rejected with a different screen shot again...This time their screen shot is showing the 'Club Room' and not showing the 'Deluxe King room'...Went to the website, there's no 'club room' but there's 'deluxe king room'...Well, I modified the itenary again into 'club room' and comparing directly to the screen shot which they have taken...Will see what happens next...Well, I have time...
I would call now, as this might go on this way and they will not verify as valid. Its a gamble.
Dec 27, 2012, 5:51 am
#2744
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 940
I thought the same claim will always handled by the same agent...I think so because sometimes, it took some days for the same agent to reply when I asked for some details/pending verification...
I think they are just reluctant to give out the free nights at their istanbul properties...The latest reply which I got is saying that the claim doesn't valid anymore as it has already passed the 24hours time limit, wow...So I made a new reservation (with the exactly same details) and give that agent my reservation number, wonder what she would say next...
Regards.
I think they are just reluctant to give out the free nights at their istanbul properties...The latest reply which I got is saying that the claim doesn't valid anymore as it has already passed the 24hours time limit, wow...So I made a new reservation (with the exactly same details) and give that agent my reservation number, wonder what she would say next...
Regards.
Dec 27, 2012, 8:47 am
#2745
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 124
I thought the same claim will always handled by the same agent...I think so because sometimes, it took some days for the same agent to reply when I asked for some details/pending verification...
I think they are just reluctant to give out the free nights at their istanbul properties...The latest reply which I got is saying that the claim doesn't valid anymore as it has already passed the 24hours time limit, wow...So I made a new reservation (with the exactly same details) and give that agent my reservation number, wonder what she would say next...
Regards.
I think they are just reluctant to give out the free nights at their istanbul properties...The latest reply which I got is saying that the claim doesn't valid anymore as it has already passed the 24hours time limit, wow...So I made a new reservation (with the exactly same details) and give that agent my reservation number, wonder what she would say next...
Regards.
