Ambassador Renewal Now 40,000 Points
Jan 23, 2018, 8:49 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Planet Earth
Programs: IHG Diamond Amb, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Gold, Hertz PC, AA Plat Pro
Posts: 148
Ambassador Renewal Now 40,000 Points
Noticed today that the points option for Ambassador renewal is now at 40,000 points. Really wish they'd let us renew more than 2 months ahead, I'm only 8 days shy of renewal!
Jan 23, 2018, 9:09 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: WAW
Programs: A3(*G), Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,534
Wow, looks like I renewed just in time. 24K for renewal and 5K points will be given in the welcome pack, plus I already received 5K for completing it as a task on Accelerate. So it only cost me 14K to renew. For me, AMB is not worth it at 40K points.
Jan 23, 2018, 9:39 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: MD/DC
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, TK Gold
Posts: 1,536
Wow! That is quite a price increase - but not surprising considering how cheap one could obtain 24K points.Changes the math for the next renewal for sure.
Jan 23, 2018, 12:09 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Planet Earth
Programs: IHG Diamond Amb, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Gold, Hertz PC, AA Plat Pro
Posts: 148
Jan 23, 2018, 1:03 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: PHX
Programs: AA ExPlat, United Gold, IHG Amb Plat, HHonors Diamond(Aspire), Bonvoy LT Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 453
That pretty much cinches my decision not to renew Ambassador. It seems like the BOGO rates at the IC's where I stay are always inflated to the point of not being worth using, even if the rate is available. Since I normally book club anyway (as it's not an Ambassador benefit), I'm not sure getting this just for the nominal room upgrade is really worth it.
Jan 23, 2018, 1:24 pm
#9
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
But then an increase from 32k to 40k is just covering the cheaper cost of points these days , eg
o 2years ago, cheapest typically P+C at us$70/10k (us$7/1k) so 32k points value couls be said to be us$224 (but p+c now no longer that higher us$7/1k)
o In last 18months the P+C has variable discounted P+C rates, even to be P+C of 15k/20k per night.
IHGers can now obtain via P+C points at just us$5.5/1k , SO .... 32k is now usd176 and 40k is usd220 , so same net Ambassdor purhase cost usd224 v usd220
o 2years ago, cheapest typically P+C at us$70/10k (us$7/1k) so 32k points value couls be said to be us$224 (but p+c now no longer that higher us$7/1k)
o In last 18months the P+C has variable discounted P+C rates, even to be P+C of 15k/20k per night.
IHGers can now obtain via P+C points at just us$5.5/1k , SO .... 32k is now usd176 and 40k is usd220 , so same net Ambassdor purhase cost usd224 v usd220
Jan 23, 2018, 1:28 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, IHG Spire Ambassador, MR Gold, HH Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 76
Add me to the list of those that will have to think about it. More than anything I enjoy the BOGO because it makes me take a fun weekend away somewhere (just can't let it go to waste!)
Jan 23, 2018, 4:42 pm
#11
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: IHG spire ambassador, SPG/Marriott Gold(new plat), Virgin Atlantic
Posts: 150
Likewise...
To me the biggest perk was guaranteed room upgrade & 4 pm check out, and that was worth 24k ( = equivalent of one decent hotel points stay ) but I don't think can justify 40k ( = one nice hotel points stay). Also, with Westin joining Marriott their gold status gets 4pm checkout at all hotels, so I really think will be moving all my "upper end" stays over there and just use IHG for when need a holiday inn express on the side off interstate etc
To me the biggest perk was guaranteed room upgrade & 4 pm check out, and that was worth 24k ( = equivalent of one decent hotel points stay ) but I don't think can justify 40k ( = one nice hotel points stay). Also, with Westin joining Marriott their gold status gets 4pm checkout at all hotels, so I really think will be moving all my "upper end" stays over there and just use IHG for when need a holiday inn express on the side off interstate etc
Jan 23, 2018, 10:30 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Asia
Programs: IHG Spire, Accor Gold
Posts: 311
But then an increase from 32k to 40k is just covering the cheaper cost of points these days , eg
o 2years ago, cheapest typically P+C at us$70/10k (us$7/1k) so 32k points value couls be said to be us$224 (but p+c now no longer that higher us$7/1k)
o In last 18months the P+C has variable discounted P+C rates, even to be P+C of 15k/20k per night.
IHGers can now obtain via P+C points at just us$5.5/1k , SO .... 32k is now usd176 and 40k is usd220 , so same net Ambassdor purhase cost usd224 v usd220
o 2years ago, cheapest typically P+C at us$70/10k (us$7/1k) so 32k points value couls be said to be us$224 (but p+c now no longer that higher us$7/1k)
o In last 18months the P+C has variable discounted P+C rates, even to be P+C of 15k/20k per night.
IHGers can now obtain via P+C points at just us$5.5/1k , SO .... 32k is now usd176 and 40k is usd220 , so same net Ambassdor purhase cost usd224 v usd220
Also, the cash cost for Renewal is still showing as us$150, so what used to be us$150 against us$168 (or 11% cheaper) is now us$150 against us$280 / us$220 (or 46% / 32% cheaper). With the 5k point certificate being removed last year are the other benefits worth the increased cost difference when Renewing with points.
Jan 24, 2018, 9:47 am
#15
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: London
Programs: IHG Spire Amb, BA Gold, Hyatt
Posts: 131
I just got an email about 10 days ago saying to renew at just 24,000 points but hadn't gotten a chance to do it yet. Of course, today when I tried to renew online it was for the new and overpriced 40,000 points, so I called to complain. They did let me renew for 24,000 thankfully but I complained to them that doing this without any type of notice is really not the right attitude to show to some of their best customers. This just shows a total lack of customer service and an inability to appreciate customer loyalty at all. With this big bump in points cost for Ambassador renewal and the recent increase in cost for points nights at so many hotels, I doubt I'll renew next year. Shame since I've been really loyal to IHG for a decade.