extra person charge for ambassador and club room with breakfast charge
Feb 22, 2018, 2:28 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Netherlands
Programs: SQ S, IHG Diamond/Amb, Accor S
Posts: 703
extra person charge for ambassador and club room with breakfast charge
I have booked a weekend in the Intercontinental Malta using the Ambassador Certificate. Since the date of the stay is far out I am checking the rates regularly, so that I can rebook in case the rate drops.
Right now the rate is not only 40 Euros higher than when I booked it, all of a sudden there is an Extra Person Charge for the 2nd adult: "20.00 EUR per extra adult starting with the 2nd adult (not included in price)". Not all rates have this surcharge, e.g. it doesn't apply to my company's corporate rate. But it does apply to the Ambassador Certificate rate. Does that make sense? Aren't ambassadors supposed to be charged Single Rate for Double Room Occupancy?
Another thing that strikes me, unrelated to the Ambassador Certificate rate, is that there is a "Best Flexible With Breakfast" rate for an Intercontinental Club Room or Suite. It's another 30 Euros extra. Does that make sense? Isn't breakfast already included for a club room?
I am wondering whether these are just IT glitches or whether IHG / the hotel is trying to make same extra money by ripping off ignorant customers....
Right now the rate is not only 40 Euros higher than when I booked it, all of a sudden there is an Extra Person Charge for the 2nd adult: "20.00 EUR per extra adult starting with the 2nd adult (not included in price)". Not all rates have this surcharge, e.g. it doesn't apply to my company's corporate rate. But it does apply to the Ambassador Certificate rate. Does that make sense? Aren't ambassadors supposed to be charged Single Rate for Double Room Occupancy?
Another thing that strikes me, unrelated to the Ambassador Certificate rate, is that there is a "Best Flexible With Breakfast" rate for an Intercontinental Club Room or Suite. It's another 30 Euros extra. Does that make sense? Isn't breakfast already included for a club room?
I am wondering whether these are just IT glitches or whether IHG / the hotel is trying to make same extra money by ripping off ignorant customers....
Feb 22, 2018, 3:30 pm
#2
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
Individual hotel I.T Booking Systems that fillin your room 'description / t+c' details are set per room and can't/don't account/change based on guests elite status with the chain. Your description is exactly whar a non-status gues booking tht room will see.
Feb 22, 2018, 5:32 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 89
Yes, just book for one person and add the second at check-in if needed.
I've seen breakfast rates offered for club / executive rooms at many hotels, not just IHG. I just assume they're not being discriminatory enough in what rates apply to which rooms but in practice it's already included as long as you have lounge access, regardless of what rate you booked.
I've seen breakfast rates offered for club / executive rooms at many hotels, not just IHG. I just assume they're not being discriminatory enough in what rates apply to which rooms but in practice it's already included as long as you have lounge access, regardless of what rate you booked.
Feb 22, 2018, 5:38 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: BRU
Programs: A3 *G & FB G
Posts: 639
It is the first time I booked with the Ambassador Weekened Certificate and I thought it is normal.
I booked for 2 nights with my girlfriend at an IC and €20 is added to my bill as "extra charge for a person".
Should I cancel the booking and rebook for one person and just show up with 2?
I booked for 2 nights with my girlfriend at an IC and €20 is added to my bill as "extra charge for a person".
Should I cancel the booking and rebook for one person and just show up with 2?
Feb 23, 2018, 2:17 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Netherlands
Programs: SQ S, IHG Diamond/Amb, Accor S
Posts: 703
There were several other rates without the extra person charge, including my corporate rate. So the surcharge is rate specific. As the Ambassador Certificate rate is for ambassadors only it should be easy to define that this is a rate without the surcharge. As for the Best Flexible With Breakfast rate for a club room - that is unrelated to the elite status.
Feb 23, 2018, 2:26 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Netherlands
Programs: SQ S, IHG Diamond/Amb, Accor S
Posts: 703
I just looked again, for the same dates, and the extra person charge has suddenly vanished. For all room and rate types. Everything else has remained unchanged. It's magic...
Feb 23, 2018, 2:28 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Netherlands
Programs: SQ S, IHG Diamond/Amb, Accor S
Posts: 703
It is the first time I booked with the Ambassador Weekened Certificate and I thought it is normal.
I booked for 2 nights with my girlfriend at an IC and €20 is added to my bill as "extra charge for a person".
Should I cancel the booking and rebook for one person and just show up with 2?
I booked for 2 nights with my girlfriend at an IC and €20 is added to my bill as "extra charge for a person".
Should I cancel the booking and rebook for one person and just show up with 2?
Feb 23, 2018, 6:35 pm
#9
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 182
I still get "Extra Persons Charge: 20.00 EUR " for IC Berlin unfortunately.
The IT problem has still not been resolved and goes unnoticed by many guests of IC Berlin.
Feb 24, 2018, 3:32 am
#10
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: BRU
Programs: A3 *G & FB G
Posts: 639
Book ALWAYS for 1 person in IC Berlin, except you have energy and time. After modifying your booking by reservation department (room assignment) you will ALWAYS see in your IHG mobile application that your rate increases automatically by the amount of the 2nd-person-fee. On top of that the app is still showing the field for "Extra Person Charge". The guest service agent at check out will not have any idea that the base rate was modified automatically after room assignment. I noticed that after several stays and after a chat with the old club manager Nicolas I got everything back.
The IT problem has still not been resolved and goes unnoticed by many guests of IC Berlin.
The IT problem has still not been resolved and goes unnoticed by many guests of IC Berlin.
So what do you recommend? Do I book for 1 person and show up at the desk with both of us or before going to the hotel I contact them and if they add it the final bill I talk with them?
Feb 24, 2018, 5:03 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 182
In future just book for 1 person. That is what Hotel Manager Sebastian told me.
They won't add anything after showing up with an extra person due to ambassador status. The IT problem with modified base rate after room assignment only appears when booking for 2 and only in IC Berlin.
I would not contact the hotel unless you are requesting a twin bed. They will not give you a better room just because they see in reservation confirmation "2 people".
They won't add anything after showing up with an extra person due to ambassador status. The IT problem with modified base rate after room assignment only appears when booking for 2 and only in IC Berlin.
I would not contact the hotel unless you are requesting a twin bed. They will not give you a better room just because they see in reservation confirmation "2 people".
Feb 24, 2018, 7:15 am
#12
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: BRU
Programs: A3 *G & FB G
Posts: 639
In future just book for 1 person. That is what Hotel Manager Sebastian told me.
They won't add anything after showing up with an extra person due to ambassador status. The IT problem with modified base rate after room assignment only appears when booking for 2 and only in IC Berlin.
I would not contact the hotel unless you are requesting a twin bed. They will not give you a better room just because they see in reservation confirmation "2 people".
They won't add anything after showing up with an extra person due to ambassador status. The IT problem with modified base rate after room assignment only appears when booking for 2 and only in IC Berlin.
I would not contact the hotel unless you are requesting a twin bed. They will not give you a better room just because they see in reservation confirmation "2 people".
Just wondering what they exactly mean, so cancelling is free or charge or not?
It seems unclear to me...
"
Canceling your reservation before 6:00 PM (local hotel time) on Friday, 13 April, 2018 will result in no charge. Canceling your reservation after 6:00 PM (local hotel time) on 13 April, 2018, or failing to show, will result in a charge equal to the first night's stay per room to your credit card. Taxes may apply. Failing to call or show before check-out time after the first night of a reservation will result in cancellation of the remainder of your reservation. *Cancellation policy for hotels in Germany: There will be a deduction from this charge for expenses saved by the hotel (generally 10% of the booking price and 20% for accommodation with breakfast).
*Cancellation policy for hotels in Germany: There will be a deduction from this charge for expenses saved by the hotel (generally 10% of the booking price and 20% for accommodation with breakfast)."
*Cancellation policy for hotels in Germany: There will be a deduction from this charge for expenses saved by the hotel (generally 10% of the booking price and 20% for accommodation with breakfast)."
Last edited by unusualtravelblog; Feb 24, 2018 at 7:21 am
Feb 24, 2018, 8:04 am
#13
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 182
Yes, it is free of charge until deadline.
This " * " is a standard sentence that is added to each rate of every german hotel and IT will not differentiate if advance purchase rate or flexible rate is selected.
Nevertheless, this sentence retains its generality, because you get 10 (20) % back of the charge (0,00EUR) due on cancellation. They won't charge you anything, unless there is a system glitch due to spontaneous cancellation one day before arrival (then you may complain).
The sentence is actually meant to tell you that you get back 10 or 20% even at an early bird rate.
This " * " is a standard sentence that is added to each rate of every german hotel and IT will not differentiate if advance purchase rate or flexible rate is selected.
Nevertheless, this sentence retains its generality, because you get 10 (20) % back of the charge (0,00EUR) due on cancellation. They won't charge you anything, unless there is a system glitch due to spontaneous cancellation one day before arrival (then you may complain).
The sentence is actually meant to tell you that you get back 10 or 20% even at an early bird rate.
Feb 24, 2018, 3:46 pm
#15
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
Club rooms should always be charged and include 2ppn in base room club rooms rate whether booked for 1ppn/2ppn initially. An extra $$ per night would then be appled to 3rd person in room to have club access too.