IC Ambassador worth it?

[eric2011]

Unless they've changed the rules, that doesn't square with how they've applied them in the past.

Remember this is a loyalty programme.....We are expected to be loyal to them and not them to us

 

[SandyS]

If you book an Ambassador BOGO and the hotel forget to ask for it, can you reuse it? Or is that stay (certificate) linked to your account?

 

[straitman]

If you book an Ambassador BOGO and the hotel forget to ask for it, can you reuse it? Or is that stay (certificate) linked to your account?

Not sure about the Ambassador BOGOs but I have reused the old Priority Privilege BOGOs on a few occasions.

I suspect there is no link.

 

[eric2011]

If you book an Ambassador BOGO and the hotel forget to ask for it, can you reuse it? Or is that stay (certificate) linked to your account?

YES, reuse it. I do this on a regular basis. The voucher number is not registered to your account. I have used the same voucher at IC WLG and twice at IC SYD in the same year. I have made a post somewhere here where I have said what I do every time I am checking in with a voucher but I can't find the post. Maybe a search would find it.

Don't give it up easily

 

[SandyS]

Thanks. I will reuse it then. It's the first time I haven't been asked for it at check in and at the end of a long flight, I'd completely forgotten about the voucher too.

 

[straitman]

Thanks. I will reuse it then. It's the first time I haven't been asked for it at check in and at the end of a long flight, I'd completely forgotten about the voucher too.

Always leave the voucher in a bag and only find it if asked.

 

[Vim Fuego]

I forgot a voucher once at the Melbourne IC and they made me post it to them when I got back to Perth

 

[SandyS]

What about an extra 25% discount Dining Rewards certificate? They had to resend package and then about 5 months later, the original package arrived.

 

[eric2011]

What about an extra 25% discount Dining Rewards certificate? They had to resend package and then about 5 months later, the original package arrived.

If you've got the voucher in your hand I would use it with confidence. Wouldn't try to use the replacement and the original at the same venue at the same time though

 

[trixydoza]

Few days back received the 10% rebate for a stay booked prior to the renewal of my Ambassador membership. It did of course take some prompting via e-mail.

 

[Rick93]

Yep, having made my previous post - that Ambassador Service Centre stated, that no Rebate if booking made PRIOR to Renewal ....

I too got a surprize lot of points added to my account ...

These could only be from the booking I made prior to Renewing my AMB Membership.

Wonder why they have done this ???

 

[trixydoza]

Wonder why they have done this ???

I would say that pointing out that "You will receive 10% of redeemed points back on all Reward Night redemptions for 12 months" doesn't necessarily exclude previously initiated redemptions may have helped to change their thinking. Some people just give in too easily.

 

[doczim]

Am I correct that Ambassador benefits are granted regardless of your IHG Reward club status? I will be unlikely to get to platinum for IHG falling 5-10 stays short but my renewal for Ambassador just came through. I'm more than happy with the benefits that I get from Ambassador so happy to renews but then thought maybe I need to be Platinum also? Appreciate comments

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Am I correct that Ambassador benefits are granted regardless of your IHG Reward club status?

Yes, but only in Intercontinental Hotels, not any of the other brands.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Am I correct that Ambassador benefits are granted regardless of your IHG Reward club status? I will be unlikely to get to platinum for IHG falling 5-10 stays short but my renewal for Ambassador just came through. I'm more than happy with the benefits that I get from Ambassador so happy to renews but then thought maybe I need to be Platinum also? Appreciate comments

No need to be Platinum also. As an Ambassador you will be made Gold with IHG Rewards automatically.

From the T & C's:
Upon purchase of InterContinental Ambassador status, IHG[SUP]®[/SUP] Rewards Club members who have not achieved Gold Elite status will be automatically upgraded to the Gold Elite membership level. A non IHG[SUP]®[/SUP] Rewards Club member who purchases InterContinental Ambassador status will automatically be enrolled in IHG[SUP]®[/SUP] Rewards Club at the Gold Elite membership level.

In my experience, if you only fall a couple of stays short for requalifying, they may give you complimentary platinum anyway (they did for me last year).

+ what Swanning_it said...

JV

 

[doczim]

Thanks swanning_it and Jacques. I credit my points to Airline(virgin)is there a conventional wisdom for if this is a good option or is earning to IHG better? Ive never early taken much notice of the earn rate to be honest so any views would b good.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Thanks swanning_it and Jacques. I credit my points to Airline(virgin)is there a conventional wisdom for if this is a good option or is earning to IHG better? Ive never early taken much notice of the earn rate to be honest so any views would b good.

I guess we are all different, with different needs, wants, experiences, etc. So each of us will have a different answer to that question. For my part, I currently have enough points with QF to cover my RTW trips for the next couple of years but the cost of hotels in some cities is a challenge (Rome, London, Milan and ....). So I credit to IHG. When the hotel is within my budget I pay; when it is beyond my budget I use points. Works for me.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Thanks swanning_it and Jacques. I credit my points to Airline(virgin)is there a conventional wisdom for if this is a good option or is earning to IHG better? Ive never early taken much notice of the earn rate to be honest so any views would b good.

As JV said, different strokes for different folks, but I tend to credit airline, car and CC points to the airlines and hotel points to the hotel chain.......unless of course there is some 'enticing" deal to sway me otherwise. I must admit though, the next big holiday is going to be Europe so I guess you could say I'm "saving" for it. SQ suite for the trip over and EY suite coming back and a combination of Hilton and IHG for accommodation. I just have to hope they don't shift the goalposts on me before I get close enough to kick!

 

[andye]

Thanks swanning_it and Jacques. I credit my points to Airline(virgin)is there a conventional wisdom for if this is a good option or is earning to IHG better? Ive never early taken much notice of the earn rate to be honest so any views would b good.

I didn't used to bother with hotel loyalty as I could get 11 MR points per $ in interesting hotels with the old hotelclub/amex portal. Since that portal's demise, I joined IHG (initially via the Velocity comp uograde) and have found it suits me well(variety of cheap and higher-end international options domestically and internationally) and , despite not travelling as much on many on here, have managed to rack up quite a few points particularly with the regular bonus promotions. Have taken Ambassador and Dining Rewards more recently and will see how they enhance the experience. I did the sums and found crediting to hotel rather than airline suited me better

 

[Jacques Vert]

I guess we are all different, with different needs, wants, experiences, etc. So each of us will have a different answer to that question. For my part, I currently have enough points with QF to cover my RTW trips for the next couple of years but the cost of hotels in some cities is a challenge (Rome, London, Milan and ....). So I credit to IHG. When the hotel is within my budget I pay; when it is beyond my budget I use points. Works for me.

For clarity, I should say I was referring to my IHG stays.

Similar to Swanning_it, I credit my airline and CC points to the airlines and my hotel stays at IHG, Hilton and Marriott, to each of those chains' loyalty programs.

For Accor Le Club, I have just switched crediting points from the hotel programme to QF as I found that since a change of job status I was not staying at their hotels as often and my points were expiring. At least with Hilton, you can keep your points by making a small purchase of points if needs be. Also, Marriott expire after 24 months rather than 12 with Accor.

IHG points used not expire but now, as I understand it, IHG points expire 12 months after your status drops to club (assuming you have no activity on your account) however never really sure until you have been in that position.

JV