IC Ambassador worth it?

[Deleted member 29185]

IHG points expire 12 months after your status drops to club (assuming you have no activity on your account)

Is this right? I must admit to thinking it dropped after 12 months of inactivity. All the better if it's 12 months after status drop.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Is this right? I must admit to thinking it dropped after 12 months of inactivity. All the better if it's 12 months after status drop.

This is what I read on another blog. On checking the T & C's:

Expiration of points. Points do not expire unless your account becomes inactive for any period of twelve (12) months or longer. To maintain the points in your account, you must have at least one earn or redeem transaction posted to your account every twelve (12) months. If you do not keep your account active for any period of twelve (12) months or more, all of your points may expire which means your points will be removed from your account and are no longer able to be redeemed. Points in your account do not expire for all current Elite members, although all of your points may expire twelve (12) months after your account moves to Club level from an Elite level without earn or redeem activity. (Emphasis added.)

So that leaves a couple of "if's, but's and maybe's". For example, what does "may" expire mean?

However, it would seem that as long as you maintain Gold or above (which all Ambassadors do), your points do not expire.

JV

 

[Deleted member 29185]

However, it would seem that as long as you maintain Gold or above (which all Ambassadors do), your points do not expire.

Many thanks! I was not aware of that. Hopefully they keep gifting me platinum!

 

[Rick93]

Can never work all this stuff out ...

Noted cheap air fares on DEATHSTAR last Friday ( 'The Frenzy' ).

Fiji in February '16.

Staying five nights (including weekend) at the Intercontinental Golf Resort.

So, an AMB Weekend Voucher booking, plus 3 x nights on Reward Points.

The Rewards nights were booked at the lowest room category - as they do ...

Today, I was expecting to see my AMB Voucher booking upgraded a notch or two ...

What I found, was the AMB Voucher booking unchanged, and the Rewards nights upgraded to a 'One Bedroom Plunge Executive Suite' !!

Hopefully, as the time draws near, they will upgrade my AMB Weekend nights to something 'nicer' as well ...

What have others experienced over there ??

 

[diningdecadence]

Hi folks,

was directed this way after asking about a hotel for my wedding night in SYD.

would someone be able to confirm if the following are correct please?
1. if i join ambassador IC Syd will give a step upgrade - does that mean opera house view room = harbour suite? (and nowhere to go from harbour suite, putting aside Hawkeye's awesome upgrade)
2. ambassador gets 1 comp night as part of membership. could i use this to book 1. above, and get 2nd night free in same room? or do they bump you to a base room?

the wedding coincides with mardi gras on the same weekend so i'm trying to get all my ducks lined up!

cheers

 

[eric2011]

Hi folks,

was directed this way after asking about a hotel for my wedding night in SYD.

would someone be able to confirm if the following are correct please?
1. if i join ambassador IC Syd will give a step upgrade - does that mean opera house view room = harbour suite? (and nowhere to go from harbour suite, putting aside Hawkeye's awesome upgrade)
2. ambassador gets 1 comp night as part of membership. could i use this to book 1. above, and get 2nd night free in same room? or do they bump you to a base room?

the wedding coincides with mardi gras on the same weekend so i'm trying to get all my ducks lined up!

cheers

1. You will get an upgrade one step above what you book i.e. book a city side room you will get an eastern harbour room etc. Book a city side club room and you will get a eastern harbour club room. Book the best class room you won't get a upgrade to a suite
2. The AMB free weekend night will get you a free weekend night and a paid night. Both nights are in the room class you book. You will get a room upgrade on this as well.

This is the normal outcome but can always vary depending on the occupancy of the hotel

 

[diningdecadence]

thanks for the quick response Eric

if i book more than 1 room for the same timeframe do they extend the amb privileges to the 2nd/3rd room?

and also to confirm - an upgrade isn't necessarily an upgrade to include club access - so should book a club room if want to guarantee it?

 

[eric2011]

thanks for the quick response Eric

if i book more than 1 room for the same timeframe do they extend the amb privileges to the 2nd/3rd room?

and also to confirm - an upgrade isn't necessarily an upgrade to include club access - so should book a club room if want to guarantee it?

I believe you will get an upgrade on all the rooms you book as an ambassador

If you book a normal room you will receive an upgrade to the next higher normal room. You won't get an upgrade to club even if you have booked the highest normal room.
If you want club then you have to book club and you will receive an upgrade to the next higher club room

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Yes that is the one ridiculous component of IC program - if you want Club access you must book club room - or as I do in NKG seek out the manager and explain when you previously stayed at SPG or Hilton properties as a premium guest you always got access to Exec Lounge and that if IC don't grant same well you'll back off to their competitors next time - that works plenty times.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

explain when you previously stayed at SPG or Hilton properties as a premium guest you always got access to Exec Lounge and that if IC don't grant same well you'll back off to their competitors next time - that works plenty times.

pity they don't formalise that. If I had to list just one thing that stopped me booking IHG over HH, comp lounge and breakfast would be it!

 

[Myrna]

I have bought an ambassador membership - currently I am gold. Is it worth it to pay the dining membership and get upgraded to platinum? I have 2 nights in IC in Tokyo next March. I know I will get room upgrade to one level. But, if I am platinum, will I get a better upgrade? Or, does IC treat gold ambassador and platinum ambassador the same?

Off the topic: IC does not give free breakfast like Hilton gold or Hyatt diamond! So am thinking maybe IC is not that worthwhile. Stayed at IC in Madrid a few months ago for 3 nights and the room was very ordinary - overlooking into firestairs and bed only double and not king.

 

[TheRealTMA]

I have bought an ambassador membership - currently I am gold. Is it worth it to pay the dining membership and get upgraded to platinum? I have 2 nights in IC in Tokyo next March. I know I will get room upgrade to one level. But, if I am platinum, will I get a better upgrade? Or, does IC treat gold ambassador and platinum ambassador the same?

Off the topic: IC does not give free breakfast like Hilton gold or Hyatt diamond! So am thinking maybe IC is not that worthwhile. Stayed at IC in Madrid a few months ago for 3 nights and the room was very ordinary - overlooking into firestairs and bed only double and not king.

From our experience, platinum IHG is useless. Ambassadors are essentially all equal and far above mere minerals.

 

[Myrna]

Thanks, TheRealTMA, for your reply. If all ambassadors are treated the same, then I will not bother with trying to get platinum by buying the dining membership.

From our experience, platinum IHG is useless. Ambassadors are essentially all equal and far above mere minerals.

 

[jackthomas]

Sorry to reactivate this dormant thread but I didn't want to start a new one...I've just taken the plunge and purchased IC Ambassador... I'm obviously not expecting to receive the same kind of upgrades/benefits that I do from my Hilton/Hyatt Diamond but some IC properties do look very nice..

Any tips for a total IHG novice and ways to maximise benefits... Most stays will be Domestic/NZ, then the occasional Asia and Europe trip (but much fewer of these)

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Sorry to reactivate this dormant thread but I didn't want to start a new one...I've just taken the plunge and purchased IC Ambassador... I'm obviously not expecting to receive the same kind of upgrades/benefits that I do from my Hilton/Hyatt Diamond but some IC properties do look very nice..

Any tips for a total IHG novice and ways to maximise benefits... Most stays will be Domestic/NZ, then the occasional Asia and Europe trip (but much fewer of these)

IMHO, it's actually a pretty decent scheme for Intercontinental. Ambassador is nothing with the other IHG brands, but Intercon itself seems to be pretty reasonable.

 

[jackthomas]

IMHO, it's actually a pretty decent scheme for Intercontinental. Ambassador is nothing with the other IHG brands, but Intercon itself seems to be pretty reasonable.

Sounds good to me. I can't imagine myself staying in any other IHG hotel other than IC, unless its a last resort after Hilton, Hyatt, SPG etc.
I will say though, what is it with the ridiculous IC Prices in Aus/Sydney...Wowza!

 

[TheRealTMA]

Sounds good to me. I can't imagine myself staying in any other IHG hotel other than IC, unless its a last resort after Hilton, Hyatt, SPG etc.
I will say though, what is it with the ridiculous IC Prices in Aus/Sydney...Wowza!

LOL. Try the Langham in Melbourne. Hyatt Melbourne is even more economical...

 

[dairyfloss]

After your free weekend night, and a few reasonable upgrades, you'll be happy with the investment. I just renew ambassador on the points each year, now. Treatment in Asia has always been pretty favourable, for me, whereas Australia and NZ properties simply offer the bare minimum. At least that is well documented, and so you can book and know what to expect when in Oceania.

As ever, YMMV!

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[jackthomas]

LOL. Try the Langham in Melbourne. Hyatt Melbourne is even more economical...

Funnily enough, always been happy with rates @ both Melbourne Hyatt's. Routinely under $300 PN most of the time when I stay.
Still very excited about dipping my feet in a new program, particularly IC Double Bay.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Funnily enough, always been happy with rates @ both Melbourne Hyatt's. Routinely under $300 PN most of the time when I stay.
Still very excited about dipping my feet in a new program, particularly IC Double Bay.

Sorry, badly phrased. Hyatt rates are good and their rewards program for upgrades is excellent, much better than IC. The Langham is much more expensive and their loyalty program is practically non existent. IC Ambassador is probably good if you like ICs...