BOGO capacity controls
Dec 1, 2014, 1:55 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Moscow
Programs: DL GM and so on
Posts: 1,200
BOGO capacity controls
Do hotels really not get any compensation from IHG for Ambassador certificates?
For the second time in a month I'm trying to book a BOGO rate and see no availability. First it was Le Grand in Paris, now IC Melbourne. Reward nights were/are readily available. So it seems BOGO usage is more heavily restricted than free nights.
For the second time in a month I'm trying to book a BOGO rate and see no availability. First it was Le Grand in Paris, now IC Melbourne. Reward nights were/are readily available. So it seems BOGO usage is more heavily restricted than free nights.
Dec 1, 2014, 2:30 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Singapore
Programs: IHG Plat Amb, Accor Plat, Hilton HHonors Gold, Best Western Diamond, Club Carlson Gold, GHA Black
Posts: 278
you may try to email the hotel, During my previous BOGO stay, it is deemed unavailable online, after emailing the hotel, they manage to book my stay under BOGOF/Ambassador Weekend Certificate.
Dec 1, 2014, 5:23 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Moscow
Programs: DL GM and so on
Posts: 1,200
They nicely washed their hands:
Unfortunately we do not have access to Ambassador program rates...
...we do not have access to information as to whether or not it is available on any particular date.
...we do not have access to information as to whether or not it is available on any particular date.
Dec 1, 2014, 11:07 am
#4
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
Do hotels really not get any compensation from IHG for Ambassador certificates?
For the second time in a month I'm trying to book a BOGO rate and see no availability. First it was Le Grand in Paris, now IC Melbourne. Reward nights were/are readily available. So it seems BOGO usage is more heavily restricted than free nights.
For the second time in a month I'm trying to book a BOGO rate and see no availability. First it was Le Grand in Paris, now IC Melbourne. Reward nights were/are readily available. So it seems BOGO usage is more heavily restricted than free nights.
unfortunately just because flex nights still bookable for both first&second night does not mean bogo is available to book
Seems likely ihg corporate pays hotels some monies for free second nights based on anecdotal evidence
Dec 2, 2014, 2:45 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: PARIS (France)
Programs: AF/KLM Club 2000 | InterContinental Diamond RA |AMEX Plat | Visa Infinite |Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 10,961
Dec 2, 2014, 3:00 am
#7
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: 7,739
I have seen something similar at a few ICs at times. for example, IC Bali sometimes only showed a high end suite for AMB FWNC bookings even though for normal rate (advance / best flex) all room categories were available.
Usually I tried a few days or so later again and the problem was gone and all showed up. Not sure on the root cause, but worst case try to call AMB services and ask them to make a reservation at the certificate rate and see what they offer in regards to rooms / categories.
Usually I tried a few days or so later again and the problem was gone and all showed up. Not sure on the root cause, but worst case try to call AMB services and ask them to make a reservation at the certificate rate and see what they offer in regards to rooms / categories.
Dec 2, 2014, 4:44 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Moscow
Programs: DL GM and so on
Posts: 1,200
Dec 2, 2014, 4:50 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Moscow
Programs: DL GM and so on
Posts: 1,200
For comparison: about half day later I contacted Delta about some missing Air France miles. They have already verified everything and credited these miles earlier today.
Dec 3, 2014, 2:28 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Moscow
Programs: DL GM and so on
Posts: 1,200
The Ambassador service centre has finally responded:
Please note that the Ambassador Weekend Rate is not available on your preferred date. We apologize for any disappointment this has caused.
Dec 3, 2014, 5:34 pm
#11
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
Wrong terminology.
BOGO night is not being blocked
BOGO is simply unavailable because other Ambassador's have booked the hotel's available BOGO allocation for that pair of nights earlier.
This is no different than when Award nights are unavailable despite entry level rooms still being available on both Advance+Flex rates.
I have seen same hotel with sometimes BOGO available for weekend the day before a weekend, at other times not available 3months out for more popular weekends.
Dec 3, 2014, 9:00 pm
#12
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: 7,739
So you are basically saying that BOGO/FWNC nights are also capacity controlled? Meaning the hotel only publishes a certain number of rooms at AMB Certificate rates and when scooped up one is out of luck?
Never occurred to me quite like that, but then I always managed to get the FWNC rate eventually (after checking back every few days). That pretty much stinks, but I guess one shouldn't be surprised with IHG. I find it quite silly to make that restriction of rooms at Best Flex rate are available.
They already watered down the FWNC benefit when requiring that silly AMB Certificate rate which usually is the same or sometimes even higher than Best Flex. Restricting bookings at that inflated rate (even when 2nd night is free) is ridiculous. Oh well ...
Never occurred to me quite like that, but then I always managed to get the FWNC rate eventually (after checking back every few days). That pretty much stinks, but I guess one shouldn't be surprised with IHG. I find it quite silly to make that restriction of rooms at Best Flex rate are available.
They already watered down the FWNC benefit when requiring that silly AMB Certificate rate which usually is the same or sometimes even higher than Best Flex. Restricting bookings at that inflated rate (even when 2nd night is free) is ridiculous. Oh well ...
Dec 3, 2014, 11:03 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Moscow
Programs: DL GM and so on
Posts: 1,200
There's also one more restriction with the new style BOGO: it' not applicable for suites.
Dec 4, 2014, 12:38 am
#14
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: 7,739
As far as the suites part goes it is an interesting one. Yes I also know of the restriction, but some hotels do publish Suites at AMB certificate rates. For example, I made a booking at AMB cert rate at IC Bali for next year for a Club Uluwatu Suite and my booking has been modified by the hotel with the one night rate now having been split over 2 nights (basically halved) so that the total stay cost is the same like one night charge and the booking was also upgraded to a Club Jimbaran Suite (1-category upgrade for AMB).
So I guess in this case the hotel accepts the FWNC also for a suite booking. I will follow up again with them prior to the stay to be safe, but am wondering if anyone has any experiences (successes) with FWNC and suite bookings?
Dec 12, 2014, 4:56 am
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Moscow
Programs: DL GM and so on
Posts: 1,200
I decided to drop my Ambassador status, because I don't routinely stay at IHG hotels now. I have been spending my points during high-demand periods like New Year in NYC and last year used my BOGO certificate with no problem whatsoever.
With the new restrictions I have little reason to be Ambassador.
With the new restrictions I have little reason to be Ambassador.