"Downgraded RA's" -- Please Post the Facts
Jun 12, 2009, 6:11 am
#436
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM), France and TravelBuzz!
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Paris, France, AF F+ Rouge pour toujours, Flying Blue whatever, LH FTL, HHonors Gold, formerly proud SCC Executive, now IC Ambassador, BA down to nobody, Grand Voyageur Le Club
Posts: 12,403
I recently received the dreaded downgrade letter (end of May) for a RA status ending at the end of July. At the time, I had something like (since the beginning of my Ambassador membership year, with 0 nights in the two previous months) :
- a total of 48 paid nights,
- out of which 32 nights were at 7 different ICs,
- and 16 nights at various CPs and HIs.
Currently at 50, going to 52 over the week-end. I guess I'll give a call when I am around 55 and hope for the best
.
- a total of 48 paid nights,
- out of which 32 nights were at 7 different ICs,
- and 16 nights at various CPs and HIs.
Currently at 50, going to 52 over the week-end. I guess I'll give a call when I am around 55 and hope for the best
.
Jun 19, 2009, 12:09 pm
#437
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Atlanta (ATL)
Programs: LH HON, BA Gold, EK Gold, SPG Plat
Posts: 1,590
Same here, with 63 nights in total, 20 nights at 12 different IC's and over 180k points in 11 months..... Maybe time to look for a different programm.
Update
I spoke with a supervisor at the Ambassador line and apparantly the rules have changed as of May 31st. There is no more guarantee that 15 or 20 nights at 5 or 10 different IC's will give you RA status. As of June 1st, IC (as per the supervisor) is looking at a minimum of 60 nights in PC properties AND one will have to be in the top 1% of number of nights in IC's among all PC members within the past 12 months.
I don't know how much of that is true, but if so, then only super RA's will still qualify.
Update
I spoke with a supervisor at the Ambassador line and apparantly the rules have changed as of May 31st. There is no more guarantee that 15 or 20 nights at 5 or 10 different IC's will give you RA status. As of June 1st, IC (as per the supervisor) is looking at a minimum of 60 nights in PC properties AND one will have to be in the top 1% of number of nights in IC's among all PC members within the past 12 months.
I don't know how much of that is true, but if so, then only super RA's will still qualify.
Last edited by berlinflyer; Jun 19, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Jun 19, 2009, 1:11 pm
#438
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Living in SIN™
Programs: TK/SQ Gold, QR Plat, Marriott/Accor Plat, IC Dia Amb, HH Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 6,706
Same here, with 63 nights in total, 20 nights at 12 different IC's and over 180k points in 11 months..... Maybe time to look for a different programm.
Update
I spoke with a supervisor at the Ambassador line and apparantly the rules have changed as of May 31st. There is no more guarantee that 15 or 20 nights at 5 or 10 different IC's will give you RA status. As of June 1st, IC (as per the supervisor) is looking at a minimum of 60 nights in PC properties AND one will have to be in the top 1% of number of nights in IC's among all PC members within the past 12 months.
I don't know how much of that is true, but if so, then only super RA's will still qualify.
Update
I spoke with a supervisor at the Ambassador line and apparantly the rules have changed as of May 31st. There is no more guarantee that 15 or 20 nights at 5 or 10 different IC's will give you RA status. As of June 1st, IC (as per the supervisor) is looking at a minimum of 60 nights in PC properties AND one will have to be in the top 1% of number of nights in IC's among all PC members within the past 12 months.
I don't know how much of that is true, but if so, then only super RA's will still qualify.
Jun 19, 2009, 1:27 pm
#439
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: DFW
Programs: AA Lifetime Platinum, Hyatt Plat Hilton Gold, SPG Gold, Club Carl Gold, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,002
berlinflyer -- please let us know how this turns out. If 63 nights isn't enough to requalify as RA, then most of us will be looking for new programs.
Jun 20, 2009, 8:21 am
#441
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SZG, Austria
Programs: LH(OS) HON, IC RA
Posts: 33,194
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/inter...st-2009-a.html
Jun 30, 2009, 5:24 am
#442
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Austria (Vbg)
Programs: LX SEN, BA Gfl/GGL, IC Dia, HH Dia, Hyatt LT GLOB
Posts: 1,585
My RA-membership is running till 31st August and I just got my "downgrade letter" yesterday. However, it seems my future confirmed reservations that were made last Friday and are due till the end of August were not taken into account. So I just sent them an email and politely asked if they could review my acount once again in due time.
Just some stats:
Had 39 nights so far till now, the four reservations mentioned above boosts 9 further nights so this would add up to 48 nights in my membership year. Another stay is coming up too, so I will most likely end up with 50 nights. And with the exemption of 2 nights, all stays and nights were/are directly at Intercontinental Hotels; so over 95% of nights are lodged at the top hotel category within the IHG group. And all reservations were made for higher categories, so above basic rooms (Club Level, Suites).
Therefore I hope this is taken into consideration too. If approximately 50 nights spent nearly entirely at IC hotels is not enough to maintain the membership level in these times, I'm puzzled. Or is this a misinterpretation?
But anyway, we'll see... Maybe it's time to move back to FS and MO where I was mainly staying before but switched due to my girlfriend (she has been RA before).
Just some stats:
Had 39 nights so far till now, the four reservations mentioned above boosts 9 further nights so this would add up to 48 nights in my membership year. Another stay is coming up too, so I will most likely end up with 50 nights. And with the exemption of 2 nights, all stays and nights were/are directly at Intercontinental Hotels; so over 95% of nights are lodged at the top hotel category within the IHG group. And all reservations were made for higher categories, so above basic rooms (Club Level, Suites).
Therefore I hope this is taken into consideration too. If approximately 50 nights spent nearly entirely at IC hotels is not enough to maintain the membership level in these times, I'm puzzled. Or is this a misinterpretation?
But anyway, we'll see... Maybe it's time to move back to FS and MO where I was mainly staying before but switched due to my girlfriend (she has been RA before).
Jun 30, 2009, 5:30 am
#443
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Moscow
Programs: DL GM and so on
Posts: 1,200
Sep 26, 2009, 4:27 am
#446
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Living in SIN™
Programs: TK/SQ Gold, QR Plat, Marriott/Accor Plat, IC Dia Amb, HH Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 6,706
Having requalified for RA every year for the last 4 years, I've finally been downgraded to Plat Ambassador today with only 28 qualifying IHG nights in the last 12 months Oct08-Sep09, 17 of them at 7 different ICs. Looks like I'll finally have to take out one of those undated referral certificates in the vault.
Sep 26, 2009, 7:48 am
#448
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: SPG Plat, PC Plat, AA ExPlat, LT Gold
Posts: 1,896
Yeah, I've got a few of those in reserve, just in case I ever need it. Luckily this morning I just logged in and see an email back from Amb services giving me the "one time exception". ^
Sep 26, 2009, 8:06 am
#449
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: NYC
Posts: 556
Sep 26, 2009, 8:11 am
#450
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: UK
Programs: Bonvoy Gold, AA Plat, Volare Premier, VS Silver, National Emerald Elite, Hertz President Circle
Posts: 2,526
Yes, I am kidding! Well done! ^^