Thanks, that’s good to know. Quite interesting as I just got Platinum a few days ago by stacking Explorer and China.
Perhaps it is still possible for new members to get Platinum before the changes fully kick in. Successful lab rat here.
Not to be negative, but I'd expect you'll find yourself back at the Gold level in 2026. Maybe Accor's system/s will allow it to stick for a while; possibly the full year, but this is unlikely unless there is a conflict of terms with the China or master program that they haven't been able to address. I have been through those terms and don't see anything to that effect. Ideally, the China and master ALL program terms would reference the maximum number of bonus nights from all sources that contribute to status attainment, but they also make no other guarantees. In any case, hopefully you have plans to travel and extract the value from your investment in ALL Platinum sooner, rather than later.
Accor is looking to make money, not friends, and most of the changes to the Explorer+ program which took effect on October 1st seem more obviously linked to an increase in income, or protection against loss than they are for the benefit of subscribers. Level-up 'hacks' like this one with the China program, which bloggers and Fb groups helped to become surprisingly mainstream in the last 18 months or so would surely have been in focus, and are clearly targeted in the revised terms which limit the stacking of bonus nights. I will admit though it was fun watching aspirational travellers - young & old - jumping through hoops, translations and chinese apps to get signed up, just so they could secure lounge access for a Bali trip, or their dream weekend stay at Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour
I think I've said it before in this thread... but it's going to be interesting for many, come January 2026... but the dust won't really settle on the changes until Jan 2027 when any courtesy extensions for Jan-Sep A+ members (if
they stick to 31/12) are finished.
Cheers,
Matt.
