Points + pay = no earn on cash part?

[NZflygirl]

Hi,

I thought points + pay you still earned points on the cash component.

We paid cash for the 1st two nights (not enough points for whole thing).

Anyway I used points to book the next 2 nights at IC and then of course realised there would be no ambassador benefits (email from hotel) and was told we would have to move rooms mid stay - pain in the backside. So I cancelled and rebooked with points + cash hoping we would receive an ambassador upgrade and be able to stay in the same room the whole stay and receive a few points on the cash component. On the confirmed page it says I'll earn no points. Chose the 30k + $60/night. If had chosen then 25k + $ would I also earn nothing on the cash component?

I feel like I'm paying for the ambassador benefit which I've already paid for. The upgraded room would be ~ $50/night and the rest would go on a bottle of wine and fruit. What's the point?!

Just noticed I still have the right number of points remaining in my account, so did I just BUY more points with the cash component? At an awful rate of $60 for 5k????

That doesn't make any sense to me

Should I just be paying cash at IC's and using points on other brands? I wanted to bring down the cost of the IC stay and still receive benefits for the Ambassador benefits I paid for earlier in the year (still yet to receive the pack despite chasing them up).

So confused

 

[JohnK]

Points + pay is essentially an award booking.

Be careful of consecutive nights of revenue bookings with award bookings as all nights may be treated as award nights.

 

[thatsthatmattressman]

To reconfirm what JohnK said yes and to your point you are essentially buying points (if you were to cancel the booking they would refund you in points).

 

[NZflygirl]

Stink! I was hoping that if I paid with points + cash I could receive Ambassador benefits because part was paid in cash.

So it seems only full cash bookings can receive Ambassador benefits.

And points + cash is only good if you don't have enough points or you do some math and it's a good rate to buy points? Or use points bought in a sale.
Painful lesson
Should have asked first before I switched it from all points booking to points + cash.

I'd already received confirmation from the hotel of the upgrade for Ambassador when I made the booking for the paid stay. I had never really looked into this part of IHG. I'm liking this programme less and less! However some locations and hotels are useful.

 

[thatsthatmattressman]

Oh I wouldn’t say you won’t receive ambassador benefits... only the stingiest hitela in the world would deny you these benefits. Even on points only bookings I typically get ambassador benefits...

 

[NZflygirl]

Oh I wouldn’t say you won’t receive ambassador benefits... only the stingiest hitela in the world would deny you these benefits. Even on points only bookings I typically get ambassador benefits...

First 2 nights are cash. That's been upgraded. 2nd 2 nights I used points. Was emailed those nights we'll have to move back to a lower room. Hence I decided to cancel the points only booking and try points + pay thinking there's a cash component so maybe we can stay in the same room the whole stay. But instead the cash component just bought more points at a terrible rate making it an award stay still so I'm expecting zero Ambassador benefits.

Maybe it's hotel specific? This is Perth. I've never stayed there before. Just giving it a whirl. Normally go Hilton or SPG in Perth.

 

[oz_mark]

Maybe it's hotel specific? This is Perth. I've never stayed there before. Just giving it a whirl. Normally go Hilton or SPG in Perth.

Perth is pretty much by the book.

pros - they give you what you are entitled to
cons - they don't give you any more

 

[NZflygirl]

Perth is pretty much by the book.

pros - they give you what you are entitled to
cons - they don't give you any more

Where is the crying emoji?!?!

I’ve never used points at an IC before. I’ll have to do some snooping through the threads to see which ones allow Ambassador benefits on points stays.

Thanks.

Edit: for the hotels that do allow Ambassador benefits on award stays I’m guessing there’s no difference whether points + pay or full points used for the stay to receive Ambassador benefits?

 

[thatsthatmattressman]

Yes I remember Perth and also Adelaide (I booked two rooms and they emailed me saying you only get ambassador bennies on one room) being real sticklers. the rest I couldn’t say is scientific.. do your best and don’t waste too much time on it ..if in doubt go cheaper and plan a nicer dinner out!

 

[samh004]

Even on points only bookings I typically get ambassador benefits...

In Singapore I wasn't given the upgrade but I did get the welcome gift, water, fruit platter and a late checkout. Other destinations I have got far less. It's annoying that Ambassador doesn't extend to points bookings as a rule.

 

[JFi]

In Singapore I wasn't given the upgrade but I did get the welcome gift, water, fruit platter and a late checkout. Other destinations I have got far less. It's annoying that Ambassador doesn't extend to points bookings as a rule.

As per the terms
"When staying on Reward Nights and on Best Price Guaranteed Free Nights, all Ambassador and Royal Ambassador Privileges apply with the exception of upgrades, Club Lounge access (Royal Ambassadors), Mini bar beverages (Royal Ambassadors), free Pay-TV film per stay, 24-hour guaranteed room availability (Royal Ambassador) and 8:00 am early check-in (Royal Ambassador - where a cost is applicable)."

So based on that, if you're not Royal Ambassador, you only lose out on an upgrade and movie is my interpretation. Depending on the benefit you didn't get, if you got less, maybe it's worth complaining? Not sure if you get anything but nothing to lose I guess. If I didn't get late checkout and I had plans around being able to stay in my room until 4pm, I would definitely bring that up on the spot.

 

[NZflygirl]

Yes I remember Perth and also Adelaide (I booked two rooms and they emailed me saying you only get ambassador bennies on one room) being real sticklers. the rest I couldn’t say is scientific.. do your best and don’t waste too much time on it ..if in doubt go cheaper and plan a nicer dinner out!

True. Oh well I guess I get to see a little bit more of the hotel! Will help me decide whether I add it to the list of places I'd stay in future or not.

In Singapore I wasn't given the upgrade but I did get the welcome gift, water, fruit platter and a late checkout. Other destinations I have got far less. It's annoying that Ambassador doesn't extend to points bookings as a rule.

I agree, I'd rather they took away the fruit platter and wine etc and kept the upgrade.

As per the terms
"When staying on Reward Nights and on Best Price Guaranteed Free Nights, all Ambassador and Royal Ambassador Privileges apply with the exception of upgrades, Club Lounge access (Royal Ambassadors), Mini bar beverages (Royal Ambassadors), free Pay-TV film per stay, 24-hour guaranteed room availability (Royal Ambassador) and 8:00 am early check-in (Royal Ambassador - where a cost is applicable)."

So based on that, if you're not Royal Ambassador, you only lose out on an upgrade and movie is my interpretation. Depending on the benefit you didn't get, if you got less, maybe it's worth complaining? Not sure if you get anything but nothing to lose I guess. If I didn't get late checkout and I had plans around being able to stay in my room until 4pm, I would definitely bring that up on the spot.

I think those are the T&C I've been looking for.

 

[JFi]

I think those are the T&C I've been looking for.

I've never used points on IC yet so I'm not sure how it works in practice but it might not be much use in your case because it does say reward nights get no room upgrade? Anyway, if you still require, the terms are here Terms and Conditions Hope it helps.

 

[thatsthatmattressman]

Yes the T's and C's are always there to fall back on but really at IC's it is at the property's discretion on the goodies they give out ...the more you spend the more likely to get something in return (particularly repeat visitors).

I've never used points on IC yet so I'm not sure how it works in practice but it might not be much use in your case because it does say reward nights get no room upgrade? Anyway, if you still require, the terms are here Terms and Conditions Hope it helps.

 

[JFi]

Yes the T's and C's are always there to fall back on but really at IC's it is at the property's discretion on the goodies they give out ...the more you spend the more likely to get something in return (particularly repeat visitors).

Guess that rules me out as I don't stay often enough anywhere haha
On a separate note, I stayed at IC Tokyo Bay and selected "Anniversary" as the occasion within the app. Got a little towel with IC Tokyo Bay branding packaged nicely and a small Congratulations note waiting in the room. A nice touch. Didn't think anyone paid attention to those options lol

 

[jpp42]

I was quite pleased with a nice upgrade to a corner deluxe room at IC Wellington recently, booked on points only 48h in advance (points bookings weren't previously available and I was able to cancel my room at the Rydges once I saw the award availability open up). I'm only IHG Spire, not Ambassador at all, and the hotel was quite full so this was a surprise. It was only 35,000 points (for the totally free option), which I guess is okay given Crowne Plaza Auckland was 40,000.