gleff

No upgrade at IC Barclay? Is that a first??

pranu

WOW!

Not even an upgrade to a Junior Suite?????

GordonGordon

Me too! My sister and brother-in-law visit HKG very often. I book them 2-3 reward night stays per year by using my PC account points and always with my sister's name added to the reservation. I usually do the check in and then disappear, and always get upgraded to junior suite (once even full size suite) with full RA privileges.

Last year I booked a reward night on the 2nd day of chinese new year and invited all my friends to watch comfortably from the suite the firework display at Victoria Harbor. Hotel delivered a bottle of champagne as gift for chinese new year celebration as well. Unforgettable experience!

i cannot imagine someone walk in there with an attitude like I own the hotel or like I am the most important guest there. If I were the front desk staff and even had room available for upgrade, I would just simply tell him reward nights are not eligible for upgrade and would be very happy to see his facing turning red like this ->

I also wonder if hotel does blacklist difficult customers

nicolas75

Here is the written answer I received from IC Bangkok regarding this matter :
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Mr. XXX,

Greetings from InterContinental Bangkok,

Regarding to your email we are pleased to offer for 02 options as following details;

1st option: You have to pay for Deluxe room rate at THB 6,300+10% Service charge and 7% Tax per each room/night (Total 06 nights)

Then, room will be upgrading from Deluxe to Club room inclusive of breakfast and all club benefits as Royal Ambassador Membership condition.

Hotel will return the priority club point to your account for further visit.

2nd option: You to pay for surcharge at THB 3,200+10% Service charge and 7% Tax by using redemption point for deluxe room for room upgrading to Club room and entitle to club benefits as well.

Should you need further information or assistance please do not hesitate to contact me at all time.

Best regards,

Worachead (Mr.)

Reservation Supervisor

InterContinental Bangkok Thailand

T : +66 2 656 0444

F : +66 2 254 9988

[email protected]

http://www.ihg.com



INTERCONTINENTAL BANGKOK

973 Ploenchit Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand

Tel: [+66] 02 656 0444


--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: XXX
Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2008 8:51 PM
To: InterContinental Bangkok
Subject: This mail concern my reservations #XXX



Dear Madam, dear Sir,

I will stay in your hotel on points from 6th to 12th February 2008.

I was told that, despite being Royal Ambassador #XXX:

- I will not get access at the InterContinental club lounge,

- but I was also told that if I had paid for part of my stay, I would have gotten a room upgrade with club access.

Would you please tell me if this information is correct or not.

If this correct, would it be possible to pay my first night (1 king bed deluxe, t THB 6,300) and get back the 5,000 points corresponding to this night.

Best regards

aku

I stayed there last week, and my experience was different from that of spunk_tokyo. My first night was a PB night, the second was paid and upgraded with Club access. In response to my e-mail request before arrival, I received the following:When I arrived, the desk person confirmed that I would not get Club access or any RA benefits the first night. It was only after some discussion that they agreed to let me stay in the same room both nights.

Based on my and other people's experiences, it seems the rule is: If you ask ahead of time, you won't get the benefits on award stays. If you don't ask, you'll get the benefits--maybe.

spunk_tokyo

Well, I did ask, sent email to IC BKK asking their policy upgrade, didn't receive any reply, but was upgraded to club room on check-in, full RA benefits on 2 rooms on PB stay.

EdV

IC Tahiti: 2 out of 2 award nights
-Upgrade: Yes, to Over Water Bungalow
-Complementary Minibar: Yes (had to be removed at checkout)
-Club lounge access: Isn't one

IC Moorea: 2 out of 4 award nights. 1st 2 nights paid (BOGO used)
-Upgrade: Yes, to OWB, horizon view (highest category)
-Complementary Minibar: Yes (already taken off at checkout, including food)
-Club lounge access: Isn't one
-Early checkin honored at 11am

IC Thalasso: 5 out of 7 award night. 3rd and 4th nights paid (BOGO used)
-Upgrade: Yes, kind of. Non paid nights were upgraded to same category as paid nights - Sapphire level for those who know. No need to change rooms
-Complementary Minibar: Yes, mostly. Got most of it removed at checkout after being told by clerk wasn't supposed to. He left $20 out of ~$300 on the bill. No arguing from me
-Club lounge access: Isn't one
-Late checkout honored

IC Tahiti: 1 out of 1 award night
-Upgrade: Yes, to best suite in house
-Complimentary Minibar: Yes (already removed from bill)
-Club lounge: Isn't one
-Late checkout: YES, until deparing flight - 6pm!

GordonGordon

For IC Tahiti at Papeete, last time I only got upgraded to Paranomic room even on paid night (booked the cheapest garden view room). The garden rooms are on first loor, lagoon view rooms are on 2nd floor and paranomic rooms are on top floor, so indeed I got double upgrade already as RA. I guess you had to be very... very lucky to get O/W bungalow on reward nights Have they changed their upgrade policy?

EdV

I'm not sure they changed their policy but I still firmly believe that by initiating a conversation with them (via email) ahead of time as I normally do (especially on points) I was able to secure a much better upgrade. Plus, January is still the slow season there - when did you go?

mapu

Seems like I really had bad luck...

GordonGordon

That explained. I was there during highest season in August!

McCoy

IC Boston - any RA experience on reward nights?

Appreciate any help.

spurg

Does "The Intercontinental Grand New Delhi, India" Honor RA benefits on an award stay?

And do you have to pay VAT tax and Luxury tax on award stay? I ma asking because they are showin up on my reservation page.

IAN-UK

They will upgrade you, but charge you tax on the rack rate of the upgraded room, wheth er your stay is paid in $$ or in points. That has always been their policy and they claim it is a legal requirement. From your booking confirmation it looks as though the policy has not changed, And as it has been spelled out to you there, you can't claim you did not know. However, you might take it up with the Ambassador help desk.

There are similar replies to you duplicate post in another thread.

ges123

Does this apply to all IC's? I am looking to book the Amstel in Amsterdam on an award stay and called the IC reservation desk (800) and asked whether I would have to pay taxes and she said no. Confused!