IHG Rewards Club adds an extra Accelerate promotion target

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• ChrisC says:

  14 Jun14 June 10:20

  I had a great TAP deal in February – LHR-LIS-BOS-LIS-LGW in J for £750 return (and given £156 of that was APD it was a really great fare). Thought they were pretty good on the whole except service was slow to start – almost an hour for the first drinks run on the LIS-BOS leg.

  But be aware. When I checked in at LHR they wanted to see my ESTA despite my protestations it’s an electronic system so cue me spending 5 minutes logging into my ESTA ‘account’ on my phone to show them a number that is in effect meaningless.

  Also I got SSSS (first time ever) at LIS and they wanted to see details of my return flight so again had to use my phone to call up the booking.

  So whilst I have no hesitation in recommending TAP be prepared for these idiosyncracies.

  • Optimus Prime says:

    14 Jun14 June 11:52

    I always bring printouts for every booking and ESTA/visa. Wouldn’t be the first time I see someone else’s phone freezing up when trying to scan their boarding pass…

  • xcalx says:

    14 Jun14 June 13:11

    I had similar on my last trip on IB MAD-SJU and SJU-MAD-LHR-LBA it seemed every step of the trip I was pulled out for extra this and that.

  • Rui N. says:

    14 Jun14 June 14:22

    Technically, when you go to the US you should have always at hand (meaning paper) the details of your return trip. It might be uncommon, but border officers ocasionally ask for proof of return trip, e.g.
    And with what’s going on over there, even outside the airport you can be asked to prove that you are legally in the country and are planning to go out (CBP can stop you if you are near 100 miles of a border, which an international airport complies with).
    If you, for example, travel between NY and DC by bus, it wouldn’t be too surprising to see CBP checking the immigration status of everyone (happened to a work colleague of mine that was on holiday there).
    I’ve also always been asked to show that I had an ESTA, but that might have been just me, apparently. In any case, not bringing all the material you need for immigration purposes is just asking for trouble.

    • Lumma says:

      14 Jun14 June 15:08

      You don’t need to have a ESTA to be in the country. You can enter at land borders without one. (Although I’d imagine there would be many British citizens in Mexico or Canada without one)

      • Lumma says:

        14 Jun14 June 15:09

        *wouldn’t

      • Rui N. says:

        14 Jun14 June 20:08

        You don’t need an ESTA by air as well. Just need to have a visa.

    • Funtime says:

      14 Jun14 June 22:14

      I’ve done all 50 States and never once been asked to display an Esta or the green visa waiver that predated it for direct flights from the UK and others, whilst remaining in the US. Not sure if the waiver is still paper for land border crossing.

      Been asked several times for my passport with appropriate entry stamp when out in the sticks near the Mexican border but never an Esta.

      Big Bend in Texas springs to mind, Rio Grande is but a mere paddle across to Mexico but never risk it, you’ll be back on the next flight home.

      • Liz says:

        15 Jun15 June 04:24

        On our last day of this years road trip and are now up to 36 states visited! It’s been a blast. All checked in for our flight home tomorrow and next years outbound flight is already booked on 241.

  • marcw says:

    14 Jun14 June 14:27

    I’ve flown a few times to the USA with different carriers. United asked for my return ticket. BA asked to see my ESTA, AA wanted to see return trip (I did check in on the self-check in kiosk, where the lady serving them does not see details of my booking) + ESTA. I’va travelled a few times when they did not ask specifically for any documentation.

    • Martin Valt says:

      14 Jun14 June 16:59

      About eighteen months I was asked by an immigration officer at JFK to “prove” how I could afford to pay for my (pre-paid with hard copy evidence in my hand) five nights at Crowne Plaza Times Square (which was around $160/night to best of my recollection). I was at a bit of a loss as to how I might convincingly do this whilst standing at his desk, particularly given that he wouldn’t permit me to switch my phone on.

    • Lady London says:

      14 Jun14 June 23:19

      Whenever I’ve offered to show my ESTA BA checkin has said don’t bother we can see it here anyway.

      I will still keep carrying a printed ESTA, return ticket details and first night’s hotel accommodation printout. Becuase they day I don’t carry them is the day I will get a US Immigration Official wanting all of them.

• Michael says:

  14 Jun14 June 10:52

  Can the IHG cards be managed on App?

  • TGLoyalty says:

    14 Jun14 June 12:00

    No but mobile website seems to be ok

• Susan says:

  14 Jun14 June 12:20

  Accelerate still not letting me register – same as last time. Hello Hilton.

  • AG says:

    14 Jun14 June 15:44

    Same, it’s not even clear, it just says has an exclamation point and a link to “see our hotel offers” …

    Really silly! I have also booked all my upcoming work travel this year with Hilton as a consequence.

    • @mkcol says:

      14 Jun14 June 23:49

      Phew! Thought it was just me.
      Silly IHG.

• Jim says:

  14 Jun14 June 12:30

  OT:
  Have Priority Pass from my Platinum Card so that will let me and my wife in to airport lounge tomorrow.

  Have discovered that my sister and brother in law will be at the airport at the same time.

  Can I use my as-yet-unused Lounge Passes from my Gold Card to let them in to join us in the lounge?

  If not – if I get a supplementary for my wife on my platinum and if it’s approved immediately, do you think I could get the priority pass for first platinum sup info from Amex over the phone before 4.30am tomorrow morning?

  Cheers

  • Alex M says:

    14 Jun14 June 12:58

    Just use Lounge Passes – from experience reception staff can’t care less about what card is used as long as cardholder is present. And don’t ask them whether you can do it, just tell them – These two people go on this card, I and my wife go on this card. simples.

    • VJ says:

      14 Jun14 June 15:57

      Can you use both free lounges passed on Gold Amex at same time not get charged extra.

• Lee says:

  14 Jun14 June 13:47

  OT – related to IHG
  I am new to IHG, thinking of IHG credit card. For Free Night voucher, is there any restriction to use it? As read on an American blog that mentioned the biggest change with the new card is that the free night certificate can only be used at hotels that cost 40,000 points or less per night. Thanks, as trying to find some alternative to AMEX.

  • Optimus Prime says:

    14 Jun14 June 13:55

    Can be used on any IHG hotel as long as they have reward rooms available. Doesn’t matter if points per night is 40k or 70k.

    • Lee says:

      14 Jun14 June 14:01

      Thanks OP, I guess that just apply to US version voucher then.
      On IHG web, it states:
      *Anniversary Free Night is valid at IHG® Hotels with a current point redemption level of 40,000 points or less, and must be redeemed, and stay must be completed, within 12 months from date of issue. Below is a list of hotels whose redemption threshold is higher than 40,000 points.

      • TGLoyalty says:

        14 Jun14 June 14:09

        yep not relevant to the UK voucher. Used it at 70k properties both times so far

  • Lady London says:

    14 Jun14 June 23:27

    Same credit card or charge card always has different offerings and conditions according to each country of issue.

    For example, cost of Amex Plat is very different according to country. But most people only have a financial track record in one country. so it’s not practical to apply for a card in another country just because it’s cheaper. Also benefits are completely different across countries for same card.

    To give an example, Amex cards issued in Asia Pacific (such as Australia), the USA and Germany (as from 1st August for Germany), no longer give a priority pass card that can be used at some airports around the world, in a small list of restaurants at the airport. This was particularly helpful where lounge access with Priority Pass was difficult or impossible at particular airports. And whereas in the UK, the Priority Pass that is issued with Amex Plat will admit 2 people to an airport lounge, in other countries such as Germany it only admits 1 person.

    These things only apply to Priority Passes issued due to having an Amex Plat and not to Prioirty Pass purchased from PP themselves.

• xcalx says:

  14 Jun14 June 13:55

  IHG Used the free night voucher X 2 from the cheap Leeds Met stays at the Intercontinental San Juan, both went through without CC charge but the online invoices show $106 ( not even close to the room rate) and we both received 1060 points and stay credit. Nice little bonus re the accelerate target.

• Wongster says:

  14 Jun14 June 14:44

  Hi folks, I’m thinking of cancelling my Amex Plat. However I have an upcoming FHR reservation. Would I lose my FHR benefits if I cancel my Amex Plat before my trip? Just wondering if any of yous had gone through this before and know what would happen. Thanks!

  • Matthew says:

    14 Jun14 June 14:50

    IIRC your Plat card has to be used at check in/check out as they are not pre paid rates to receive the benefits….

    • Wongster says:

      14 Jun14 June 14:56

      Oh, will they check though, as last time at a particular hotel in Dublin, they didn’t ask to see my Plat card. I paid with a different Amex

      • Matthew says:

        14 Jun14 June 14:58

        To be fair I’ve only done it once and they asked for it but doesn’t necessarily mean that’s the rule. Take a chance maybe and just claim you forgot it?!

      • Darren says:

        14 Jun14 June 15:22

        I just handed it over rather than try another Amex, but I think it’s required.

  • Rob says:

    14 Jun14 June 15:52

    The hotel may insist you pay on an Amex but any Amex will do. FHR rules even say ‘any Amex’.

    • illuminatus says:

      14 Jun14 June 21:48

      +1, I always used BA Amex or Lloyds Amex upon ckeckin to a FHR booking

• Pid says:

  14 Jun14 June 16:07

  OT – Advice required on Marriott Travel Packages

  Prior to the changes last summer I made 3 separate reward bookings to cover a 7 day booking, I could not make one booking as the same room type was not available for one of the nights. I attempted to add my travel package but as they could not make it into one reservation they were unable to do so. The customer services rep spoke to the hotel and once availability opened up, which was post the changes in Aug, Customer Services were able to combine all bookings into one. Customer Services confirmed the vacation had been booked and they had attached the travel package.

  This week I received an email stating that I had insufficient points for the booking. Having spoken to Customer Services they now state that they are unable to add the travel package as the hotel is a higher category than the certificate I have. The points they are quoting are also at the new higher rates, which is significantly higher than the points required for my initial booking. I have logged a complaint but it will take 3 working days for them to come back to me and I fly a week on Sunday so time is running tight.

  Despite the travel package being added after the changes in Aug it was logged against a point booking that had been made before the changes and the Customer Service Agent confirmed by email it was booked. What are my chances of getting them to honor it?

  If I do decide to transfer MR points to pay for the booking if they do not let me use the travel package, should I not be paying the lower rate when I booked the room, rather than the higher rate quoted now?

  How long is the average transfer time from Amex to Marriott?

  Any advice is welcome!

  • Rooster says:

    14 Jun14 June 16:38

    Amex to Marriot is usually within 3 working days.

    Don’t expect them to be helpful at all or give any compensation/points.

    • Pid says:

      14 Jun14 June 16:47

      useful to know thanks. Trouble is if they take the full 3 working days to get back to me then I will have missed the transfer window. So have to make the decision as to whether to go early.

      I can only do that though if they honor the points per room from when I originally booked the room and not the higher rate they are quoting now.

      • TGLoyalty says:

        14 Jun14 June 19:51

        They should honour the rate when it was booked have you called the uk customer service?

        Also if your very is the wrong type you can get it converted. There is a guide on flyertalk with the exact language to use. Worked a great for me and very was upgraded and confirmed against a booking within 20 mins.

        • TGLoyalty says:

          14 Jun14 June 19:51

          *cert not very. Bloody iPhone.

      • Lady London says:

        14 Jun14 June 22:52

        I’d tell them I would revert to the original booking strucure if they were not going to be helpful and honour the rates at the time the original booking was made.

        But first I’d ask nicely. It may be that they don’t realise the intervening rate changes should not really be applied to your booking in the circumstances and a nicely stated request has a good chance of getting it sorted.

  • Pid says:

    14 Jun14 June 23:29

    Spoke to a different agent in the US this time and he spent a lot of time with one of the back room specialists looking into the history to see if they could resolve it. They said it looks like when the agent merged my 3 bookings into one it changed it to a higher rate, which should not have happened.

    They could not fix it but have raised it up to their senior specialist. Recommended that I call again on Mon to see if there is progress.

    Lady London – I agree if they do that then I can afford it on MR points, although I would then be stuck with a travel package which I may not have time to use!

    fingers crossed.

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