Points & Cash.

[Rick93]

Has this feature changed recently ?

I didn't think it worked this way ...

I elected a 'Points & Cash' payment for a few nights at Crowne Plaza Narita Airport Japan.

I had $AUD65. / night taken from my credit card, and I 'thought' I was paying 10,000 points / night as well ...

I had 3 x nights payment ( total $AUD195. ) clearly deducted from my credit card, and it showed as 'IHG Rewards Atlanta'.

Upon check out at the hotel, they ask for FULL PAYMENT for the three nights I thought I've already paid for.

After 20 minutes of trying to explain ( including showing the hotel staff my mobile phone credit card statement for the payments to IHG ), I had to make the full payment, as my airport bus was now waiting ...

So, later, when I logged into the full IHG site, I find that my Rewards account was actually CREDITED with 10,000 points for each of the three nights.

I have a stack of points, and wanted to use them in an effective manner .... not 'buy' more points - which is what has effectively occurred.

Is this how it was supposed to work ???

I thought I was paying 10,000 points & $AUD65. / night ??

 

[samh004]

I was under the impression that points + cash works by buying points that are immediately used. If you then cancel the booking, you get the total points back, but not the cash as they have been converted and cannot go back.

 

[JohnK]

I thought I was paying 10,000 points & $AUD65. / night ??

The amount you pay is used to buy 10,000 points on your behalf.

 

[burmans]

The amount you pay is used to buy 10,000 points on your behalf.

This is true but only half the story, yes you are effectively buying the points but in a points plus cash reward those points are applied to your reward, you normally would only get the points back if you cancel (commonly described as the points plus cash "trick"). You shouldn't have had to pay again!

 

[Rick93]

So it seems, that I've effectively acquired 10,000 points for $AUD65. ( x 3 )

Isn't that considered 'a good deal' ? ( normally, 10,000 points is worth $US70. )

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Something very odd about that experience. If you're saying you got 10000 for AU$65, then it has worked in your favour. If you're saying you got 10000 for AU65x3 (AU$195), then it's not so flash.

I'm not sure if their P+P rate changes, but I've recently seen US75 per 10000 and US45 for 5000 which currently is roughly AU$100/10000 or AU$60/5000. I just chose 4 nights @ P+P of 15000+US$45, simply because it was easier. I could have manufactured at the cheaper rate and used that, but I simply couldn't be bothered, but the way it worked for me was they sold me the additional 20000 points and charged me US$180 and then did a point redemption for the full 20k/night. The reservation confirmation just shows a point redemption booking for 4 nights @ 20k per night totally 80k for the stay ... nothing at all about the pay component. As far as I'm concerned, that's the accommodation paid. I'll be somewhat annoyed if I get hit up for the full cost at check out.

Seems to me, that IHG has actually gone backward with their IT system. They were bad before, they're now shocking. My last group of stays I had to chase points that weren't awarded. The Book Direct promo is a fiasco and they admit there are problems with that one, this latest booking I've had to chase points that didn't return following a cancellation ... in fact I don't have any stays or bookings this year that haven't required intervention by phoning IHG. No wonder their elite program is so cough, they wouldn't be able to introduce more benefits without it making them look more incompetent.

 

[JohnK]

I don't understand how IHG or anyone else allows these type of anomalies on their websites.

One bed from 1,329.63THB per night or 15,000 points + 1,709.40THB!

Seriously?