Free Night Certificate Usage new style BOGO / BOGOF (Feb. 10 onward)
Nov 16, 2014, 12:40 pm
#556
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,428
Thank you scubaccr for your quick reply.
I also received a PM saying I should email hotel in question (HKG), so I did that. Of course it's middle of the night there, but hopefully I'll get an answer tonight.
I also received a PM saying I should email hotel in question (HKG), so I did that. Of course it's middle of the night there, but hopefully I'll get an answer tonight.
Dec 16, 2014, 7:22 am
#557
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: Star Alliance G*, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium,
Posts: 3,585
where to use free weekend night & other queries
I am looking for the best way to use my free weekend night cert?
I am YOW-based, so YUL/YYZ are my closest options. NYC is also an option?
Two related questions:
- IHG has said the 1st (paid) night must be booked on their rate plan? For example, I tried the Venetian (LAS) but their rate was ridiculous ($203 US). If so, this is a change since I last used a free night reward (I have booked on the gov't rate) and this does affect the value of the benefit? (NB They also advised club room stays are eligible, a plus if I can find where to use it? LHR?).
- the expiry on my cert is Feb 28, 2015, but I am told that hotel managers have the discretion to extend this? Any success with this (Easter?)
I am YOW-based, so YUL/YYZ are my closest options. NYC is also an option?
Two related questions:
- IHG has said the 1st (paid) night must be booked on their rate plan? For example, I tried the Venetian (LAS) but their rate was ridiculous ($203 US). If so, this is a change since I last used a free night reward (I have booked on the gov't rate) and this does affect the value of the benefit? (NB They also advised club room stays are eligible, a plus if I can find where to use it? LHR?).
- the expiry on my cert is Feb 28, 2015, but I am told that hotel managers have the discretion to extend this? Any success with this (Easter?)
Dec 17, 2014, 5:29 am
#558
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Programs: FB LTPE, BAEC GGL, EK Blue, SK Gold, Marriott Amb+LTT, IHG Diamond Amb, Accorhotels Silver
Posts: 1,953
IHG has said the 1st (paid) night must be booked on their rate plan? For example, I tried the Venetian (LAS) but their rate was ridiculous ($203 US). If so, this is a change since I last used a free night reward (I have booked on the gov't rate) and this does affect the value of the benefit? (NB They also advised club room stays are eligible, a plus if I can find where to use it? LHR?)
Dec 17, 2014, 9:02 pm
#559
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: SJC
Programs: IC Spire Amb, RC Plat, Shangri-La GC, and more.
Posts: 148
In previous years I've used this cert for regular rooms, but just noticed that suites seem to be eligible. Not sure if I never noticed this, or just wasn't looking. Booked an oceanfront one bedroom at IC Monterey!
The cert is an incredible value if used this way!
The cert is an incredible value if used this way!
Dec 18, 2014, 5:53 am
#560
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,738
Whether suites are offered or not at the Ambassador rate seems to depend on the property. I also know IC Bali, IC HKG, IC London and some others to offer them.
Feb 28, 2018, 5:38 pm
#561
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: SoCal
Programs: UA 1K 2Millon Mile Flyer, IC Diamond Royal Ambassador Inner Circle, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 479
I’m booked for a BOGO stay this weekend in SYD. The rates have dropped significantly since booking, so i went back to update the reservation. I based this on the Best Available Rate. The website said “Ambassador Weekend Rate Unavailable.” In all my years as a RA, I’ve never heard of BOGO’s bring capacity controlled. Has anyone else heard of this?
Feb 28, 2018, 6:20 pm
#562
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Ottawa
Programs: IC/AMB - Diamond Elite, AC E50K, AA, AM-Onyx, HH-Diamond, BW, Choice - Gold
Posts: 1,736
I’m booked for a BOGO stay this weekend in SYD. The rates have dropped significantly since booking, so i went back to update the reservation. I based this on the Best Available Rate. The website said “Ambassador Weekend Rate Unavailable.” In all my years as a RA, I’ve never heard of BOGO’s bring capacity controlled. Has anyone else heard of this?
"Advance reservations required. Rooms on the Ambassador 'Weekend rate' are subject to availability."
Mar 1, 2018, 11:00 am
#566
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Amsterdam, Asia, UK
Programs: IHG RA (Spire), HH Diamond, MR Platinum, SQ Gold, KLM Gold, BAEC Gold
Posts: 5,072
I’m booked for a BOGO stay this weekend in SYD. The rates have dropped significantly since booking, so i went back to update the reservation. I based this on the Best Available Rate. The website said “Ambassador Weekend Rate Unavailable.” In all my years as a RA, I’ve never heard of BOGO’s bring capacity controlled. Has anyone else heard of this?
Also if you were looking to reprice/cancel/rebook 1week out before arrival, you could find hotel delists bogo rooms 7-10days out. thus you need to reprice at least 2weeks out. I have seen IC-Paris-LG/IC-ParkLane bogo both open until 3days before arrival and also not available months out.
For me if an IC drops room rates in the 30days before a stay due tolow occupancy, I often find booking 2x corp rate nights is less than a bogo booked 6months or more out and simply book corp rate and cancel my bogo booking .
Any rate booked 6months or more out is often reduced if hotel has too many unsold rooms 30days out, and one should really check+rebook 2months/1month/2weeks if on a flexible rate booking.
Apr 9, 2018, 11:51 pm
#567
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SEA town
Programs: Alaska LTG, HHonors-Gld, IHG-Dia, LT MR Ti
Posts: 627
Apr 10, 2018, 12:11 pm
#568
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sunny AZ
Programs: HH Diamond, Sixt Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, Marriott/SPG Gold .....
Posts: 3,210
There is value but you need to check
Apr 10, 2018, 1:13 pm
#569
Moderator: Mileage Run, InterContinental Hotels
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 5,913
Japan is one of the places where the BOGO can still be good value. Lots of people do staycations, and hotels are packed on Saturday nights, and therefore much pricier than on regular nights. If you can use your BOGO on a Fri-Sun stay, you pay the (much lower) Friday night and get the (much higher) Saturday night for free. For instance, I spend a weekend at IC Osaka last Fall, and paid 22k yen for Friday and Saturday would have been 45k.
Apr 10, 2018, 2:31 pm
#570
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sunny AZ
Programs: HH Diamond, Sixt Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, Marriott/SPG Gold .....
Posts: 3,210
Japan is one of the places where the BOGO can still be good value. Lots of people do staycations, and hotels are packed on Saturday nights, and therefore much pricier than on regular nights. If you can use your BOGO on a Fri-Sun stay, you pay the (much lower) Friday night and get the (much higher) Saturday night for free. For instance, I spend a weekend at IC Osaka last Fall, and paid 22k yen for Friday and Saturday would have been 45k.