Extending Diamond status by purchasing Ambassador?
Dec 15, 2016, 2:41 pm
#16
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: a hotel room, somewhere...
Posts: 962
i don't think it's a loophole. IHG probably realizes that Spire is, well and truly, only worth the net 2000 points!
truth be told, based on the value of the spire non-'benefits' i received during stays over the past year, 2000 points is arguably overpaying!
truth be told, based on the value of the spire non-'benefits' i received during stays over the past year, 2000 points is arguably overpaying!
Dec 16, 2016, 7:49 am
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Programs: OWEmerald; STARGold; BonvoyPlat; IHGPlat/Amb; HiltonGold; A|ClubPat; AirMilesPlat
Posts: 38,186
Same here with my Platinum status as I've only enough nights or points this year for Gold next year. But when I renewed my Ambassador in July the Rewards status counter showed me extended through to the end of 2017.
Jan 3, 2017, 6:21 am
#21
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: UK
Programs: IHG Diamond Amb, Bonvoy Plat (+LTP), VS Silver
Posts: 1,392
Jan 3, 2017, 7:35 am
#22
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: World
Posts: 1,647
If it matters it doesn't look like any of the major hotel chains have 100% finished updating everyone's accounts for the new year.
Last edited by mster; Jan 3, 2017 at 7:41 am
Jan 3, 2017, 7:43 am
#23
Join Date: May 2001
Location: TPA 50%/BKK 30%/HKG 20%
Programs: UA 1K MM - AF G – TK G – AZ Ex – Hilton D – Marriott G – IHG P
Posts: 1,990
Can you get Spire by getting the credit card again?
Or did they kill that method of entry?
[Ah never mind, someone already answered that. Well, it was good while it lasted. Spire was great in Asia. I got upgraded just about everywhere.]
Or did they kill that method of entry?
[Ah never mind, someone already answered that. Well, it was good while it lasted. Spire was great in Asia. I got upgraded just about everywhere.]
Jan 4, 2017, 2:03 am
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Usually in SAN or Central Europe.
Programs: AA:EXP/1MM. Accor/Radisson:Silver; HH:Gold; ICH:Plt Amb.
Posts: 22,307
Are you saying that your Spire status was extended (when you did not meet the qualifications for renewal) because you renewed you Ambassador membership. But that you were just not given the Spire benefit choice of 25K points? If so, perhaps that benefit is only triggered in the system once you've passed the 75 nights/or 75K base points threshold.
Jan 4, 2017, 7:49 am
#26
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: World
Posts: 1,647
Are you saying that your Spire status was extended (when you did not meet the qualifications for renewal) because you renewed you Ambassador membership. But that you were just not given the Spire benefit choice of 25K points? If so, perhaps that benefit is only triggered in the system once you've passed the 75 nights/or 75K base points threshold.
Jan 5, 2017, 8:33 pm
#27
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: IHG Diamond Elite, Hilton Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 3,531
I passed the Spire Elite 75 nights/75K points needed for requalification 8 or 9 months ago. I was not offered the bonus again until this month (one year after accepting it last year). I checked December 30, 2016 and it was not available. It was available today. I requested the 25K today and it was posted to my account instantly. For me, at least, you've got to wait a year in between requests for the 25K even if you re-qualify much earlier in a calendar year.
Jan 6, 2017, 10:06 am
#28
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 passed the Spire Elite 75 nights/75K points needed for requalification 8 or 9 months ago. I was not offered the bonus again until this month (one year after accepting it last year). I checked December 30, 2016 and it was not available. It was available today. I requested the 25K today and it was posted to my account instantly. For me, at least, you've got to wait a year in between requests for the 25K even if you re-qualify much earlier in a calendar year.
Obviously you can only trigge the 25k once per calendar year, though as life og 25k is until 31st Dec the following year, you could leave te 25k unclaimed into next calendar year and once you hit 75k/75nights the following year claim
2 x 25k the same day
Jan 7, 2017, 8:23 am
#29
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Charlotte NC USA
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, AA Exec Plat, Alaska 75k, IHG Diamond, Wyndham Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 863
I am assuming that the 25K Spire bonus do NOT count as elite qualifying points in their own right?
So for instance, if I qualify for Spire in 2017, but don't claim it until Jan 2018, those points aren't used as part of my 75K base points to requalify for Spire in 2019?
So for instance, if I qualify for Spire in 2017, but don't claim it until Jan 2018, those points aren't used as part of my 75K base points to requalify for Spire in 2019?
Jan 7, 2017, 9:19 am
#30
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Somewhere in Europe
Posts: 3,362
Yep - choice benefit points are NON qualifying for status.