Ambassador Renewal Now 40,000 Points
Feb 16, 2018, 7:55 am
#31
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 905
Feb 17, 2018, 12:16 pm
#32
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: Kettle Class
Posts: 796
I e-Mailed [email protected] and had no trouble getting IHG to agree to an Ambassador renewal at 24,000 points. I was asked to renew at the 40,000 points level, and promised that 16,000 points would be credited back post-renewal immediately. The renewal went as expected, and I received 16,000 points back the same day.
I haven't used Ambassador benefits much in the past year, but figure a weekend night in an IC for 24,000 points is well worth it!
I haven't used Ambassador benefits much in the past year, but figure a weekend night in an IC for 24,000 points is well worth it!
Feb 17, 2018, 5:32 pm
#33
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; IHG PlatAmb; Hilton Dia; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,320
So, yes, the price is increasing, but it doesn't seem like it's a "no-notice rip-off" if they are allowing people who are due for renewal in the the next few months to renew at the old rate. There's got to be a cut off point at some point, right? And people who aren't due for renewal until May have 4 months notice. Price increases suck, yes, but that doesn't make them "rip-offs" nor do they require full year notice.
Feb 18, 2018, 12:11 pm
#34
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,115
Why should somebody who is due for renewal in May be eligible for the old rate? Unlike people like myself who had a renewal date in January and was sent an email inviting me to renew for 24,000 points, these people never got that.
Feb 18, 2018, 5:48 pm
#35
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 905
So, yes, the price is increasing, but it doesn't seem like it's a "no-notice rip-off" if they are allowing people who are due for renewal in the the next few months to renew at the old rate. There's got to be a cut off point at some point, right? And people who aren't due for renewal until May have 4 months notice. Price increases suck, yes, but that doesn't make them "rip-offs" nor do they require full year notice.
It would have made more sense to write to members advising that as of April 01 the cost of renewal would be 40,000 but that anyone renewing before that date could do so for 24,000, ie the old rate.
They could have softened the blow of this by turning it into a one-off positive. But no, they make people jump through hoops just to get the old rate ( even those renewing in February and March).
Feb 18, 2018, 8:03 pm
#36
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: SFO
Programs: OZ Diamond/*G, IHG Diamond Amb, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,239
Well, ‘no notice’ to the extent that one day it was 24,000, the next it was 40,000; ‘Rip-off ‘ in that this was a 67% increase, not merely a tinkering.
It would have made more sense to write to members advising that as of April 01 the cost of renewal would be 40,000 but that anyone renewing before that date could do so for 24,000, ie the old rate.
They could have softened the blow of this by turning it into a one-off positive. But no, they make people jump through hoops just to get the old rate ( even those renewing in February and March).
Feb 18, 2018, 9:54 pm
#37
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; IHG PlatAmb; Hilton Dia; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,320
Well, ‘no notice’ to the extent that one day it was 24,000, the next it was 40,000; ‘Rip-off ‘ in that this was a 67% increase, not merely a tinkering.
It would have made more sense to write to members advising that as of April 01 the cost of renewal would be 40,000 but that anyone renewing before that date could do so for 24,000, ie the old rate.
They could have softened the blow of this by turning it into a one-off positive. But no, they make people jump through hoops just to get the old rate ( even those renewing in February and March).
It's not a rip off if it's worth 40000 points to people. Not as cheap does not equal rip off.
if it's truly a "ripoff", then perhaps well see a thinning of the Ambassador ranks. Which might actually make the status worth more.
How many other hotel chains allow you to buy status and bogo night for 40000 points (where points are super easy to get)?
I get it. You wish the price didn't go up. Same. But the sense of entitlement and accusation of ripoff isn't a good look. When you run a loyalty program, you can do things differently.
Feb 19, 2018, 11:35 am
#38
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: PHX
Programs: AA ExPlat, United Gold, IHG Amb Plat, HHonors Diamond(Aspire), Bonvoy LT Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 453
It was a 2 minute phone conversation for me. Not that big of a hoop.
It's not a rip off if it's worth 40000 points to people. Not as cheap does not equal rip off.
if it's truly a "ripoff", then perhaps well see a thinning of the Ambassador ranks. Which might actually make the status worth more.
How many other hotel chains allow you to buy status and bogo night for 40000 points (where points are super easy to get)?
I get it. You wish the price didn't go up. Same. But the sense of entitlement and accusation of ripoff isn't a good look. When you run a loyalty program, you can do things differently.
It's not a rip off if it's worth 40000 points to people. Not as cheap does not equal rip off.
if it's truly a "ripoff", then perhaps well see a thinning of the Ambassador ranks. Which might actually make the status worth more.
How many other hotel chains allow you to buy status and bogo night for 40000 points (where points are super easy to get)?
I get it. You wish the price didn't go up. Same. But the sense of entitlement and accusation of ripoff isn't a good look. When you run a loyalty program, you can do things differently.
I will probably renew again this year but not feeling all that enthusiastic about it.
Feb 19, 2018, 12:24 pm
#39
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; IHG PlatAmb; Hilton Dia; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,320
Not an entitlement issue for me at all... it just makes me reevaluate Ambassador status. I haven't had much success booking BOGO's as my recent experiences have resulted in the rack rate for the paid night increasing almost to the point where using the BOGO is more expensive than paying for 2 nights... and that's if there is even any availability. For 40000 pts, I can get a night in a decent IC anyway. Room upgrades are a huge hit and miss.... I've had everything from a fantastic suite upgrade in Hong Kong to a better view of a parking lot in other locations. I generally like IC clubs to the point where I will normally book a room with club access, and AMB doesn't get you that anyway. So that leaves what? Fruit in my room and tacky luggage tags?
I will probably renew again this year but not feeling all that enthusiastic about it.
I will probably renew again this year but not feeling all that enthusiastic about it.
If you don't find the program valuable, that doesn't make the price increase a rip-off. It just doesn't work for you. The term "rip-off" means "a fraud or a swindle." You just dont like it. If it was truly a "rip-off", you wouldn't renew -- even "unenthusiastically."
Feb 19, 2018, 1:49 pm
#40
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: PHX
Programs: AA ExPlat, United Gold, IHG Amb Plat, HHonors Diamond(Aspire), Bonvoy LT Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 453
It's a business card case/wallet now, not luggage tags. I enjoy guaranteed late check-out and a one category room upgrade, and fruit and water actually gets valued to me at a couple of bucks per stay. But you dont. So I guess the program isn't valuable to you (PS the Ambassador rate might be higher than the BAR, but I've never seen it come close to being the "rack rate." You must have some interesting experiences. I've also never not had availability on my first choice dates and properties in 5 or so years.)
If you don't find the program valuable, that doesn't make the price increase a rip-off. It just doesn't work for you. The term "rip-off" means "a fraud or a swindle." You just dont like it. If it was truly a "rip-off", you wouldn't renew -- even "unenthusiastically."
If you don't find the program valuable, that doesn't make the price increase a rip-off. It just doesn't work for you. The term "rip-off" means "a fraud or a swindle." You just dont like it. If it was truly a "rip-off", you wouldn't renew -- even "unenthusiastically."
Feb 19, 2018, 5:16 pm
#41
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; IHG PlatAmb; Hilton Dia; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,320
I'm not a "big fan", that's a distinct question from whether it's a "rip off".
What I'm not a fan of is customers making accusations of bad faith simply because they don't like a change. When you call every price change a ripoff, you make it harder to get people to listen when there's an actual deceptive practice.
Sounds like you don't find the program useful at any price, which wasn't the topic of this thread. But if you're financially in a position to usually book rooms with club access, 16000 points seems like chump change.
Feb 19, 2018, 6:57 pm
#42
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: PHX
Programs: AA ExPlat, United Gold, IHG Amb Plat, HHonors Diamond(Aspire), Bonvoy LT Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 453
Well you were responding to my comment.
I'm not a "big fan", that's a distinct question from whether it's a "rip off".
What I'm not a fan of is customers making accusations of bad faith simply because they don't like a change. When you call every price change a ripoff, you make it harder to get people to listen when there's an actual deceptive practice.
Sounds like you don't find the program useful at any price, which wasn't the topic of this thread. But if you're financially in a position to usually book rooms with club access, 16000 points seems like chump change.
I'm not a "big fan", that's a distinct question from whether it's a "rip off".
What I'm not a fan of is customers making accusations of bad faith simply because they don't like a change. When you call every price change a ripoff, you make it harder to get people to listen when there's an actual deceptive practice.
Sounds like you don't find the program useful at any price, which wasn't the topic of this thread. But if you're financially in a position to usually book rooms with club access, 16000 points seems like chump change.
Feb 19, 2018, 7:30 pm
#43
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; IHG PlatAmb; Hilton Dia; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,320
Oh well.. I tried to explain that for me it's just a value proposition for me if spending $$ or miles for AMB is worth and I certainly never said that it isn't useful at any price and I never accused IHG of deceptive practices. Overall I like IHG and IC's in particular and will continue to patronize their hotels. I don't know why you find the need to attack me when I'm just stating my position. Enjoy your new wallet and your fruit baskets.
Feb 19, 2018, 11:52 pm
#44
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 905
It was a 2 minute phone conversation for me. Not that big of a hoop.
It's not a rip off if it's worth 40000 points to people. Not as cheap does not equal rip off.
if it's truly a "ripoff", then perhaps well see a thinning of the Ambassador ranks. Which might actually make the status worth more.
How many other hotel chains allow you to buy status and bogo night for 40000 points (where points are super easy to get)?
I get it. You wish the price didn't go up. Same. But the sense of entitlement and accusation of ripoff isn't a good look. When you run a loyalty program, you can do things differently.
It's not a rip off if it's worth 40000 points to people. Not as cheap does not equal rip off.
if it's truly a "ripoff", then perhaps well see a thinning of the Ambassador ranks. Which might actually make the status worth more.
How many other hotel chains allow you to buy status and bogo night for 40000 points (where points are super easy to get)?
I get it. You wish the price didn't go up. Same. But the sense of entitlement and accusation of ripoff isn't a good look. When you run a loyalty program, you can do things differently.
While you may feel differently about it , to characterise others as having a sense of entitlement is, at best, unhelpful.
Feb 20, 2018, 4:14 am
#45
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; IHG PlatAmb; Hilton Dia; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,320
No, It is not a question of entitlement, not even remotely. The term rip-off is most commonly used to describe something that is grossly over-priced ( and not so commonly in respect of fraud or swindle, as you selectively define it). To increase the points requirement by 67%, in the absence of any increase in benefits, is to my mind a 'rip-off'.
While you may feel differently about it , to characterise others as having a sense of entitlement is, at best, unhelpful.
I guess we'll just have to disagree about whether labeling it a rip off is, at best, unhelpful.