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
May 22, 2013, 3:12 am
#3736
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,092
I received an email yesterday from a corporate liaison in the President's office (I figured out his email address and sent a plea for help) and was told they wouldn't charge me the cancellation fee. She also said she is going to look into the rest of it and get back to me in the next few days. The cancellation fee hit the credit card the next morning, so they will have to reverse it. At this point I am waiting to hear back, but considering I decided not to stay in the hotel, I am glad that I am not out the cancellation fee.
Thanks in advance!
May 22, 2013, 3:23 am
#3737
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
Yes, they will convert this to INR when it comes to paying the bill at the exchange rate in force. But the room price is defined in dollars: you simply pay the INR equivalent.
The do the same thing in many other countries. In Poland the IC billing currency is EUR but you'll pay in Zlotych. Et cetera.
So if the default currency in USD you need to find a third party billing in USD. And be careful, the third party must charge your card in that currency, not simply display it as an indicative rate.
May 22, 2013, 3:58 am
#3738
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: N/A
Programs: 100m swimming certificate level 5
Posts: 1,456
maybe I'm bias then..
May 22, 2013, 4:26 am
#3739
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Tyrone,EU
Programs: Avios Hunter
Posts: 2,811
"By securing your online reservation with a credit card, you are eligible for our Reservations Guarantee. If your reservation cannot be honoured, the host hotel will provide a room at, and transportation to, another convenient and comparable hotel, and pay for telephone calls to notify family of the lodging change. The host hotel will also pay the full cost of the first night's lodging rate, plus tax. Any advance deposit will be refunded."
May 22, 2013, 4:29 am
#3740
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Tyrone,EU
Programs: Avios Hunter
Posts: 2,811
The billing currency on the IHG website is $. the competing website must also bill in $. The hotel's billing currency is irrelevant. Displayed currency is irrelevant. Its a clear rule.
May 22, 2013, 4:37 am
#3741
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: SFO/ATL/MEL/BKK
Programs: Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond, Hyatt Globalist UA 1K MM, Delta Diamond
Posts: 2,678
So I made a BRG against a hotel in Berlin.. They came back denying my claim with a screen shot of the booking engine showing a different hotel! I rebutted showing the correct hotel, which is not not available at the better price... I'm assuming this is a method they are using to decline the claim. It's a pretty bad practice I would say.
May 22, 2013, 4:44 am
#3742
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,678
here is what the email said:
As per the terms of the program, the room price on the non-IHG website must be available in the currency of the hotel. The average nightly rate must be a minimum difference of 1% or $1 USD (or the equivalent in the hotel’s currency) of the IHG room rate, whichever is higher. The room price must be quoted, booked, and paid for in the currency of the hotel.
Since www. xxxxxxxx .co .in does not display rates in EUR (Euros) only in Indian rupees. With this, since your claim violates the stated terms and conditions above, your claim won’t qualify for the Best Price Guarantee.
Since www. xxxxxxxx .co .in does not display rates in EUR (Euros) only in Indian rupees. With this, since your claim violates the stated terms and conditions above, your claim won’t qualify for the Best Price Guarantee.
clear enough????
May 22, 2013, 4:54 am
#3743
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Silver, EY Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 12,210
ok....maybe i was not clear....the billing currency on the ihg website is in inr....i put down the $ equivalent because i thought it would be easier for the best claim guys to understand....
here is what the email said:
why would they be concerned with euros????that makes no sense....also, they say the rate is only displayed in inr....so it doesn't seem like the displayed or billing currency is irrelevant as far as this email is concerned....
clear enough????
here is what the email said:
why would they be concerned with euros????that makes no sense....also, they say the rate is only displayed in inr....so it doesn't seem like the displayed or billing currency is irrelevant as far as this email is concerned....
clear enough????
May 22, 2013, 5:18 am
#3744
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,678
what i don't understand is what this all has to do with euros, as the email states....
May 22, 2013, 6:00 am
#3745
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: VIE/KRK/WAW
Programs: Senator, IHG Spire, Marriott Titanium, HH Diamond, Radisson Gold
Posts: 156
Any idea why replies are taking since one week about 12 hours?
May 22, 2013, 7:39 am
#3746
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Tyrone,EU
Programs: Avios Hunter
Posts: 2,811
Ok you confused him and you confused me ! Indeed if both IHG and your competing site bill in the same currency, and its more than 1% etc, you have a match.
May 22, 2013, 7:45 am
#3747
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,678
that's what i thought....in any case, i've filled in the claim form again....hopefully will get a better result this time....
May 22, 2013, 9:41 am
#3748
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 940
If your friend had a booking for 2 rooms via the IHG website, and the hotel was saying they had oversold, then IHG rules state they have to book you into another hotel of similar quality for free.
"By securing your online reservation with a credit card, you are eligible for our Reservations Guarantee. If your reservation cannot be honoured, the host hotel will provide a room at, and transportation to, another convenient and comparable hotel, and pay for telephone calls to notify family of the lodging change. The host hotel will also pay the full cost of the first night's lodging rate, plus tax. Any advance deposit will be refunded."
"By securing your online reservation with a credit card, you are eligible for our Reservations Guarantee. If your reservation cannot be honoured, the host hotel will provide a room at, and transportation to, another convenient and comparable hotel, and pay for telephone calls to notify family of the lodging change. The host hotel will also pay the full cost of the first night's lodging rate, plus tax. Any advance deposit will be refunded."
You can safeguard yourself against this, they can cancel your reservation at any time.
Has your friend's account being hacked?
I always bring a print out of the claim approval email to show them that the claim has been approved. I would probably contact the BRG and they will throw you 2k points as compensation.
Has your friend's account being hacked?
I always bring a print out of the claim approval email to show them that the claim has been approved. I would probably contact the BRG and they will throw you 2k points as compensation.
2k points is so little...
Regards.
May 22, 2013, 4:12 pm
#3749
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
Yet in your original post you say the IHG rate was in USD, and for our convenience you translated the third-party INR rate into USD. It gets more confusing
"the rate on ihg.com was $350 & i found a rate on an indian booking site for inr 17,290....that roughly translates to about $312....more than a 10% difference in the rates...."
May 22, 2013, 9:55 pm
#3750
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: SPG Plt, HH D, IHG PA
Posts: 51
I am still a newbie to this BRG game. Can someone advise if I notice a clear price difference for a room type which is not cheapest shown on IHG website, i.e. suites or club rooms vs standard rooms, would that still be a valid claim? Cheers.