Accor Fast Track to Silver/Gold/Platinum

[sudoer]

Thanks. I'll chase it up. Don't think I've been getting the double points

I've had similar experiences with quite a few hotels only crediting for one room, but ALL support have generally been excellent in taking the details, contacting the hotel to verify the invoice, and adding the missing points within 1-2 days. Just have your folio/tax invoice ready.

Edit: Unfortunately it's only possible to claim 6 months back, so hopefully your stays have been recent...

 

[jase05]

I'd be interested to know if you've spent much time as Accor Plat, and whether you noticed a significant boost in status benefits when moving up to Diamond?

It sounds like you're achieving it easily which is great, but would you say it's worth 'going for' over Plat if you were $1k short? Where would you draw the line?

Long term Platinum member and have just reached my 1 year anniversary as a Diamond and with just under 900 status credits to go I will retain it for another year. For the first couple of months I never really noticed a huge difference but I’m not sure if it’s a coincidence or not but have a perfect record with being upgraded to a Suite at the Sofitel Adelaide and nearly always get a 1 or 2 room category upgrade at others. Haven’t noticed a huge change and this will be our first time as a Diamond overseas so looking forward to seeing how it goes as we have nearly always been treated well as a Platinum especially in SEA

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Maintaining all those status levels for $3750/year is virtually impossible unless based in some SE Asia countries and staying at low-end properties where the status benefits are probably quite poor. It would also require spending 192 nights per year in hotels - don't assume these Fast Tracks, double elite nights, and lowered targets are going to stick around next year.

I think what I was arguing for are those who travel globally regularly so are in multiple regions (i.e. Europe, the Americas, APAC) where there is not one single chain where holding status suits their needs. If you can find those cheapo hotels and apply a fast track then in theory it could work. Also I suppose with Accor one could spend slightly more since it's only 35 nights at Marriott to get Platinum status, provided they have a credit card that gives them complimentary elite nights every year.

If you really wanted all four of them, you'd be better off opening an Aspire Amex (US$450) for Hilton Diamond, a Bonvoy Brilliant Amex for Bonvoy Platinum (US$650), Intercontinental Ambassador (US$200) for IHG One Platinum, and go for Accor Plat on spend or cheap Accor Plus nights. In my opinion - and probably the opinion of 99% of AFF - going for all four programs is unnecessary and excessive.

Don't forget AmEx Platinum which gives you Hilton and Marriott Gold and Accor+Silver off the bat! Whilst not ideal status levels, for those jumping into the game of elite status, it's not a bad start!

To start, IHG One Platinum from Ambassador is the most useless of the bunch as it doesn't include breakfast, which needs Diamond / 70 stays, or lounge access which need 40 nights for that "reward". Even after the revamp IHG looks the least appealing unless you are very committed to them and go for Diamond.

I agree that different hotel elites statuses may not be as appealing. For my money, I'd say Marriott is at the top, since you actually get treated well as an elite (i.e. upgrades and late check-outs). The one thing Marriott has which I don't think many other hotel programs have is lifetime elite status. Checking the Marriott site, 600 qualifying nights and 10 years of being Platinum will net you lifetime Marriott Platinum. In that respect, if you do travel to the Americas often, it may make sense staying with Marriott just to hit that status level.

Marriott Platinum has decent benefits at the moment, although apparently there are rumours of that diluting soon, and there are few properties in Australia making the status less valuable for local stays.

Big issue with Marriott in Australia is there aren't many locations and to the extent that they do have locations, they are pricey. Certainly worthy of my free night voucher from AmEx but otherwise wouldn't be setting foot in one! In North America anywhere you go you're guaranteed to have at least a Courtyard, often times a Four Points or even Sheraton. Again, not a problem if you travel regularly to the Americas, but strictly within AU, not so appealing.

Accor Platinum is obviously a strong option in Australia given their unparalleled coverage both in cities and rural/remote areas, and breakfast/lounge access. Unless you're staying in Ibis Styles or on dirt cheap Accor Plus rates, most Aussies would probably hit Platinum on spend rather than nights by spending >$150 inc tax per night on average.

Agree with you on the locations. Unparalleled in that regard. We'll see about brekkie and lounge access when I become Platinum later this year. As for staying at Ibis or on dirt cheap Accor Plus rates, I feel so seen right now!

For me, the sweet spot for status is Hilton Diamond and Accor Plat. Fairly consistent benefits and each of their strengths in coverage complement each other. The redemption sides of the programs aren't the best, but that's less of a priority for me compared with the status benefits.

Except for breakfast in North America at Hiltons where you get a $15/day credit! The other thing I found as a Hilton Gold (maybe it's different as a Platinum) is there wasn't much strong upgrade action going on there. Perhaps it's the hotels I stay at (i.e. HGI or Doubletree) perhaps it's something else.

-RooFlyer88

 

[daft009]

I've had similar experiences with quite a few hotels only crediting for one room, but ALL support have generally been excellent in taking the details, contacting the hotel to verify the invoice, and adding the missing points within 1-2 days. Just have your folio/tax invoice ready.

Edit: Unfortunately it's only possible to claim 6 months back, so hopefully your stays have been recent...

thanks for this. 1 recent stay had only 1 room credited for 3 nights. finally email came through yesterday credting the missing points.
Hotel in Frankfurt in August. During the big ACHEMA exhbition so a simple hotel was 300 euros/night

Now thats catapulted me to Gold... maybe I can make it to Platinum by Xmas

 

[SYD]

Looks like a form of this is back again. Just need to do the sums on firing this off as “Silver” or pay for Ibis Business to get “Gold” then register?

Accor ALL Fast Tack Offer “Sprint to Silver. Go for Gold. Progress to Platinum“ Returns For 2023

Accor has launched a fast-track offer for ALL members in Australasia that must book once with Flight Centre to earn bonus status nights.

loyaltylobby.com

Edit: or does it matter? ie are Fastrack nights based on status at registration or at time of qualifying stay??

 

[sudoer]

Accor ALL Fast Tack Offer “Sprint to Silver. Go for Gold. Progress to Platinum“ Returns For 2023

Accor has launched a fast-track offer for ALL members in Australasia that must book once with Flight Centre to earn bonus status nights.

loyaltylobby.com

Edit: or does it matter? ie are Fastrack nights based on status at registration or at time of qualifying stay??

It's based on status at time of stay. If starting from nothing, you can hypothetically stack all 3 fast tracks to earn a total of 22 nights. But the big issue is the FCTG requirement, unless you have access to a corporate FCTG booking portal?

I think the AFF hivemind established last FCTG fast track that Accor had properly locked it down and were enforcing the T&C.

 

[SYD]

It's based on status at time of stay. If starting from nothing, you can hypothetically stack all 3 fast tracks to earn a total of 22 nights.

So if I stayed once as Silver, I could get 5 bonus nights. Then pay for Gold, stay again and get a further 7 bonus nights?

But the big issue is the FCTG requirement, unless you have access to a corporate FCTG booking portal?

I think the AFF hivemind established last FCTG fast track that Accor had properly locked it down and were enforcing the T&C.

As it is, the comments suggest (as does the article) this isn’t active yet.

Hopefully a generic offer is coming soon.

 

[sudoer]

So if I stayed once as Silver, I could get 5 bonus nights. Then pay for Gold, stay again and get a further 7 bonus nights?

Correct, that's how previous Fast Tracks over the last few years have worked.

 

[SYD]

Correct, that's how previous Fast Tracks over the last few years have worked.

Handy. Another reason to hold off buying Ibis Biz until actually needed!

 

[daft009]

Hmm, so I'm currently gold with last year's fast track (started as silver with A+)

Have a 1wk stay coming up in April. Should I register for one of these fast track?

 

[jase05]

Hmm, so I'm currently gold with last year's fast track (started as silver with A+)

Have a 1wk stay coming up in April. Should I register for one of these fast track?

As mentioned above, they will most likely check your FCTG credentials so I’d wait until a generic status offer comes along

 

[daft009]

As mentioned above, they will most likely check your FCTG credentials so I’d wait until a generic status offer comes along

Oops thanks. Missed that line

 

[MARTINE]

As mentioned above, they will most likely check your FCTG credentials so I’d wait until a generic status offer comes along

Looks good
Even if currently offered via FCTG the dates are all out 2020 so makes for clumsy read!

 

[Brizz]

Handy. Another reason to hold off buying Ibis Biz until actually needed

I purchased IBIS Biz just yesterday as I have a stay coming up shortly - did you know that can you select other countries to lower the cost?

For example the UK is 65 pounds (€73) and Italy is even better at €60

I went through the booking process - got to the payment page but did not pay and received an email from Accor saying that they had changed my communication address to Italy.

I checked my account and it was still based in Oz - the next time I went to the Biz signup page it automatically located me in Italy and the payment required was only €60.

So - that's what I paid...Gold status instantly, and the additional Biz discount applied at IBIS for my next booking.

Once I paid - I simply went into my account and reset my communication address back to Australia.

 

[SYD]

I purchased IBIS Biz just yesterday as I have a stay coming up shortly - did you know that can you select other countries to lower the cost?

For example the UK is 65 pounds (€73) and Italy is even better at €60

I went through the booking process - got to the payment page but did not pay and received an email from Accor saying that they had changed my communication address to Italy.

I checked my account and it was still based in Oz - the next time I went to the Biz signup page it automatically located me in Italy and the payment required was only €60.

So - that's what I paid...Gold status instantly, and the additional Biz discount applied at IBIS for my next booking.

Once I paid - I simply went into my account and reset my communication address back to Australia.

I think I heard that before but played around with that last time I paid but I don’t recall it being that different! Handy to know.

How did you change the country to get the different rate?

Also, what did you enter for the question:

“I am a business traveler subject to VAT”​

That toggles the default fee from €90 to €75 but I’ve never quite understood who can take the cheaper rate? I’ve always selected “No” to be on the safe side.

 

[ellen10]

I am hoping I can take advantage of the fast track for a second year.

 

[PineappleSkip]

I am a business traveler subject to VAT”​

That toggles the default fee from €90 to €75 but I’ve never quite understood who can take the cheaper rate? I’ve always selected “No” to be on the safe side.

Safe call unless your business has a domicile in EU or you sell digital goods into EU - and thus have to register for VAT in EU. If you answer yes I think they'd be asking for your VAT number next.

Just looking at the T&Cs and it looks like you can quote an Aust VAT (i.e. GST) number if you are registered here.

cheers skip

 

[Brizz]

How did you change the country to get the different rate?

The country field is a drop down....



And I said 'No' to VAT

If I say yes then it wants business details....

 

[SYD]

The country field is a drop down....

View attachment 313923

And I said 'No' to VAT

If I say yes then it wants business details....

Interesting that Eastern Europe, central/South Americas and the Caribbean get the discounted signup.

 

[thatsthatmattressman]

Do Australian and Asian hotels participate in all aspects of the card benefits ie room discount, dining discount.

I show this as the non participating list.. can someone post a screenshot of the discount being applied please?

https://ibis.accor.com/business/ibis-business-card/assets/hotels-exceptions.pdf