Accor Plus Membership Discussion

[http_x92]

Already an existing Accor Plus member so it looks like another year of Gold with 40 nights credited in total. Now to figure out the other 20 nights to get Platinum...

Ibis budget runs maybe...? Cheap red hot rooms?

 

[Daver6]

Already an existing Accor Plus member so it looks like another year of Gold with 40 nights credited in total. Now to figure out the other 20 nights to get Platinum...

Ibis budget runs maybe...? Cheap red hot rooms?

Even at $100/night, is platinum really worth $2k? Actually I suppose it could be if you make good use of the two SNUs and intend to stay a bunch of nights in hotels next year where the lounge and free breakfast is available.

 

[http_x92]

Even at $100/night, is platinum really worth $2k? Actually I suppose it could be if you make good use of the two SNUs and intend to stay a bunch of nights in hotels next year where the lounge and free breakfast is available.

Yeah true, I probably will weigh it with the 50% off breakfast (and dining in general) at 3+ star Accor hotels to see if it is worth a mattress run.

 

[ellen10]

Thanks everyone, you learn something every day

 

[aikman]

Does the dining benefit work on buffets?

 

[wandersen]

I always a qualify on spend rather than nights so unfortunately 20 nights makes no difference to me. I’d prefer a “spend” credit instead!

 

[Lynda2475]

Last year I got Gold on spend in under 10 nights.

This year I have already stayed 15 night and only 60% there due to 8 of those being at Peppers properties that have a poor earn rate despite the price tag.

With these bonus 20 nights, i will retain gold now with no further spend, which is great since all upcoming stays are with IHG, Hilton or independents.

 

[funnymummy]

Does the dining benefit work on buffets?

Hello
Yes the discount does work on buffets. We have experience at Sofitel Brisbane and multiple breakfasts

 

[MikeG]

I just finished a year of Accor Plus membership and ALL Gold status. Not for me.

Pros:
- "free" night's accommodation
- discounted rates

Cons:
- contrary to the benefits claimed, I was not successful in utilising:
a) early check-in
b) late check-out
c) free upgrade
- VIP queues for Gold and above were nice except no priority was given (at the Pullman Brisbane, so what's the point?

I also hold Diamond status with IHG Ambassador which is far more effective and cheaper, so I think I'll stick with that.

M

 

[sudoer]

I also hold Diamond status with IHG Ambassador which is far more effective and cheaper

Fair enough, but also worth pointing out that IHG Diamond Ambassador and Accor Plus Gold are not exactly apples and apples.

I think a lot of the positive experiences at IHG properties would be more from holding Diamond than Ambassador, and similarly if you were Accor Plat (or Diamond) you'd very consistently be successful with early check-in, late check-out, and usually decent upgrades too - going off my own experience and those in the Accor elite treatment thread.

The problem with Accor Gold is that it's given out like candy (e.g. Anyone holding QFF Silver or better was eligible last year, and Ibis business subscription also come with it for $147 AUD per year) and as the saying goes - if everyone has status no one has status. It'll probably get worse now that Accor Plus members will start the year with 20 status nights, making Gold reachable for them after just 10 nights.

There is a really significant jump in how properties treat you once you jump from Gold to Plat though.

 

[Daver6]

Fair enough, but also worth pointing out that IHG Diamond Ambassador and Accor Plus Gold are not exactly apples and apples.

I think a lot of the positive experiences at IHG properties would be more from holding Diamond than Ambassador, and similarly if you were Accor Plat (or Diamond) you'd very consistently be successful with early check-in, late check-out, and usually decent upgrades too - going off my own experience and those in the Accor elite treatment thread.

The problem with Accor Gold is that it's given out like candy (e.g. Anyone holding QFF Silver or better was eligible last year, and Ibis business subscription also come with it for $147 AUD per year) and as the saying goes - if everyone has status no one has status. It'll probably get worse now that Accor Plus members will start the year with 20 status nights, making Gold reachable for them after just 10 nights.

There is a really significant jump in how properties treat you once you jump from Gold to Plat though.

Totally agree here. There is really not much difference between silver and gold with ALL.

 

[sudoer]

There is really not much difference between silver and gold with ALL.

In my experience it was a different colour label on the gift boxes with an extra yoghurt slice inside, and some extra ALL bonus points.



Platinum though? Welcome gifts of wine/beer/fruit/chocolates, calls from the property a few days out to confirm arrival time (almost guaranteed early check-in), rarely get a 2pm or 3pm check-out request denied, good upgrades (sometimes suites), breakfast benefit, SNUs, etc. Plat really is the sweet spot in the program.

 

[oz_mark]

I also hold Diamond status with IHG Ambassador which is far more effective and cheaper, so I think I'll stick with that.

If that is what suits your particular circumstances then go for it. I always thing that one should find the chain/program they like and go with that.

The problem with Accor Gold is that it's given out like candy (e.g. Anyone holding QFF Silver or better was eligible last year, and Ibis business subscription also come with it for $147 AUD per year) and as the saying goes - if everyone has status no one has status. It'll probably get worse now that Accor Plus members will start the year with 20 status nights, making Gold reachable for them after just 10 nights.

There is a really significant jump in how properties treat you once you jump from Gold to Plat though.

All programs have the issue that the lower rungs often don't mean much, while there are meaningful benefits higher up. One does need to understand the program to know where the useful benefits are in the program.

N.B. Ibis business subscription is no more, and the replacement ALL Plus Ibis gives you 10 Status Nights (so Silver really). The ALL Plus Voyageur gives you 20 status nights.(ALL - Accor Live Limitless - Frequent traveller cards)

Accor Plus will be rebranded into ALL Plus in due course.

 

[sudoer]

All programs have the issue that the lower rungs often don't mean much, while there are meaningful benefits higher up.

Absolutely, but I also think that having two practically meaningless tiers above 'Bronze' is silly, and someone who gets to Gold on nights would expect more than they actually get, and end up very disillusioned.

Most other programs either include free breakfast or a published late check-out with similar qualification requirements, and Accor is incredibly stingy with upgrades for Golds - Hilton, Marriott, and Hyatt you'll usually get at least a one-cat upgrade excl suites (I can't comment on the others below)

 

[Daver6]

Does Accor really have any aspirational properties? Well actually I guess the answer is they do. Ie, Raffles etc. The problem with ALL is points only equate to dollars off a stay rather than nights. So where you can get amazing value out of HH points at somewhere like the Conrad Maldives, no such beast exists/is possible with ALL. That's the biggest let down of ALL IMHO

Absolutely, but I also think that having two practically meaningless tiers above 'Bronze' is silly, and someone who gets to Gold on nights would expect more than they actually get, and end up very disillusioned.

Not unique to ALL. Bonvoy is probably even worse at gold. You don't even get a welcome drink! I think the welcome drink for ALL silver is a nice touch.

At least HH gold gets your a free breakfast (continental but frequently full breakfast).

 

[sudoer]

Not unique to ALL. Bonvoy is probably even worse at gold. You don't even get a welcome drink! I think the welcome drink for ALL silver is a nice touch.

You do get a $4-8 worth of welcome points though, which some may prefer. And the qualification threshold for Bonvoy Gold is just 25 nights now.

I agree the welcome drink is decent for ALL Silvers.

 

[kpro]

I wouldn't even call ALL Platinum particularly amazing. Late checkout is not guaranteed and complimentary breakfast is in Asia Pacific only. Upgrades on check in are only required to the next room category and upgrade awards require you to book a specific, higher tier rate.

Advantages for me are the number of properties particularly within Australia, as well as some of the experiences you can book with points.

Looking at only the loyalty program, I would personally prefer Marriott or Hyatt.

 

[sudoer]

I wouldn't even call ALL Platinum particularly amazing. Late checkout is not guaranteed and complimentary breakfast is in Asia Pacific only. Upgrades on check in are only required to the next room category and upgrade awards require you to book a specific, higher tier rate.

Advantages for me are the number of properties particularly within Australia, as well as some of the experiences you can book with points.

Looking at only the loyalty program, I would personally prefer Marriott or Hyatt.

You make a good point about Platinum being nowhere near as appealing outside Asia Pacific.

 

[MikeG]

All programs have the issue that the lower rungs often don't mean much, while there are meaningful benefits higher up. One does need to understand the program to know where the useful benefits are in the program.

My main issue is they claim to have certain benefits at ALL Gold but in fact, I never found that I could use those benefits because they were almost always denied.

I did get drink vouchers once or twice, but they were not much use to me...

 

[MikeG]

Accor is incredibly stingy with upgrades for Golds

On my first check-in at Crown Plaza Melbourne with IHG Diamond got me upgraded to a suite. That really sets a benchmark for the ALL program I had. I do realise ALL Gold <> IHG Diamond, but when I was IHG Gold I still got a better experience than with ALL Gold.

I hope to get up to ALL Gold again as there are some places that I travel without IHG properties, but I'm hesitant to purchase Accor Plus because I know it will be money wasted.

M