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Have used the complementary night last weekend, the points have been posted a few days ago but the night is still showing as available on my account. Has this happened to anyone before and were they able to redeeem it? If we book another stay (at a different hotel) and it gets cancelled in advance that’s not too bad, but the worst case scenario would obviously be if we were to be charged for both nights at check out. Thoughts?
Mine is still showing after being used at a Kimpson before Christmas, and it’s been reported by many others here as well.
But I haven’t seen anyone who has successfully used it twice, altho I don’t see why not if you can book it.The first rule of the club – we don’t talk about it!
Mine is still showing after being used at a Kimpson before Christmas, and it’s been reported by many others here as well.
But I haven’t seen anyone who has successfully used it twice, altho I don’t see why not if you can book it.Since my comment wouldn’t be accepted here, hopefully, a lawyer on here or our regular poster who used to work in this sort of area will be able to advise you why “I don’t see why not” is a risky approach. Alternatively, in case I’m wrong, they could explain why it’s OK.
The first rule of the club – we don’t talk about it!
I think you may overestimate how bright some are! It’s been mentioned here probably half a dozen times in recent weeks. All one is waiting for is the outraged post from someone who was actually asked to pay for the hotel night to which they knew they weren’t entitled.
I agree. It’s risky now that it has been mentioned so many times.
It makes some sense that you can book it many times; it’s a cancellable rate after all. I’ve had two live bookings at that rate in my account simultaneously. Anyone expecting to use it more than once is taking an obvious risk that it’s not honoured at checkout — because it shouldn’t be.
Show me in the Terms & Conditions where it makes clear it is valid once once?
If it’s in your account then it’s at least a unilateral gratuitous promise.Show me in the Terms & Conditions where it makes clear it is valid once once?
If it’s in your account then it’s at least a unilateral gratuitous promise.
“Complimentary Weekend Night
23. The complimentary weekend night may be redeemed up to 12 months from the date on which the certificate is issued, cannot be extended and is redeemable once only in conjunction with a minimum two-night paid stay when booking the Ambassador Complimentary Weekend Night’ rate at InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants and participating Regent Hotels & Resorts. It is not valid to be used on any other rates.”For what it’s worth, others on here who know much than I do about this have reported that while you can see an unused voucher, the hotel can’t so they are unable to take it as payment. Obviously, it’s up to you how you do things but you should at least be prepared to pay the full price at the time of your stay or later if it is picked up in some audit/reconciliation process given they know all your details.
Mine is still showing after being used at a Kimpson before Christmas, and it’s been reported by many others here as well.
But I haven’t seen anyone who has successfully used it twice, altho I don’t see why not if you can book it.It’s possible, but just because it still shows it doesn’t mean it is valid.
Must be more like if it’s still showing a few months later.
Some hotels don’t credit the certificate of the account properly.
I think what happened here is that Kimpton management weren’t told that they had to redeem the certificate from the guest’s account as well as removing the 2nd night charge. As it has to be done manually, it still appears as unused. It’s pretty irrelevant now as sadly the Ambassador free night can now only be used at ICs at weekends once more. As a few people have said above though, if you’re rumbled and asked to pay for both nights at checkout, you can’t really complain.
OH and I joined Ambassador during the pandemic and used our free nights at a couple of really nice Kimptons mid-week – now it’s not possible to do this I’m finding it actually not that easy to find a date to use the certificate! Either there’s no IC where we’re going, or we’re not there at a weekend, or rates are stupid (e.g. nearly 800 euros pn for a standard room at the IC Lyons in September)! Also without Kimpton, there are far fewer opportunities to use it in the UK.
@NorthernLass
You should go to IC Lyon in Spring. Rates were £250ish across number of weekends 3-4 months ago.@meta, it’s definitely on the list! Might have to be 2024 though as we are pretty booked out for this year – all those vouchers expiring in September!
After I’d used my 2022 one in Amsterdam it sat on my account for a number of months before mysteriously disappearing. There may be some sort of reconciliation done since I assume IHG pays something to the hotel.
Show me in the Terms & Conditions where it makes clear it is valid once once?
If it’s in your account then it’s at least a unilateral gratuitous promise.
“Complimentary Weekend Night
23. The complimentary weekend night may be redeemed up to 12 months from the date on which the certificate is issued, cannot be extended and is redeemable once only in conjunction with a minimum two-night paid stay when booking the Ambassador Complimentary Weekend Night’ rate at InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants and participating Regent Hotels & Resorts. It is not valid to be used on any other rates.”
For what it’s worth, others on here who know much than I do about this have reported that while you can see an unused voucher, the hotel can’t so they are unable to take it as payment. Obviously, it’s up to you how you do things but you should at least be prepared to pay the full price at the time of your stay or later if it is picked up in some audit/reconciliation process given they know all your details.That’s interesting because the T&Cs I read do not contain the ‘..once only..’ qualification.
2. Upon purchase and renewal of InterContinental® Ambassador status, an Ambassador ‘Complimentary Weekend Night’ is awarded. Each Complimentary Weekend Night is valid for 12 months from the date of issue and is redeemable in conjunction with a minimum two-night weekend stay when booking the ‘Ambassador Complimentary Weekend Night’ rate at any InterContinental Hotels & Resorts property globally, excluding InterContinental Alliance Resorts (not valid at any other IHG® hotel brands). The Complimentary Weekend Night is valid for one complimentary room night on the second night of a paid ‘Ambassador Complimentary Weekend Night’ booking and may only be booked online (www.intercontinental.com/AMBWeekend). The Complimentary Weekend Night is not valid on any other rates or for suite bookings. Advance reservations are required and when joining the Ambassador programme in hotel, the Weekend Night cannot be redeemed for the current stay. Rooms on the ‘Ambassador Complimentary Weekend Night’ rate are subject to availability. One Complimentary Weekend Night may be used per stay. Complimentary Weekend Nights are valid only for the member who has InterContinental Ambassador status, and are not transferable. Sale or barter of the Complimentary Weekend Night will render it void. The Complimentary Weekend Night is valid for room and tax only. Reward Nights do not apply in conjunction with the Complimentary Weekend Night. Complimentary Weekend Nights cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion or free night offer.
https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental/content/gb/en/ambassador/free-weekend-certificate
It’s quite clear that it’s supposed to give you one, singular opportunity to use it. There would normally be no need to specify that it can only be used once, as it’s supposed to be removed from your account when it’s been redeemed. This is an anomaly due to it having been accepted at Kimptons/Regents during the pandemic.
It’s quite clear that it’s supposed to give you one, singular opportunity to use it. There would normally be no need to specify that it can only be used once, as it’s supposed to be removed from your account when it’s been redeemed. This is an anomaly due to it having been accepted at Kimptons/Regents during the pandemic.
Mine is still showing after an IC stay 2 weeks ago. I have another IC stay early February with the AMB rate booked. If it’s accepted fine, if not it won’t be an issue as it’s an acceptable rate anyway.
It’s quite clear that it’s supposed to give you one, singular opportunity to use it. There would normally be no need to specify that it can only be used once, as it’s supposed to be removed from your account when it’s been redeemed. This is an anomaly due to it having been accepted at Kimptons/Regents during the pandemic.
If you had read the T&Cs that I highlight above, it’s not clear in the slightest that it can only be used once. In fact it is quite ambiguous, particularly if it remains in your account.
It’s quite clear that it’s supposed to give you one, singular opportunity to use it. There would normally be no need to specify that it can only be used once, as it’s supposed to be removed from your account when it’s been redeemed. This is an anomaly due to it having been accepted at Kimptons/Regents during the pandemic.
If you had read the T&Cs that I highlight above, it’s not clear in the slightest that it can only be used once. In fact it is quite ambiguous, particularly if it remains in your account.
@RonnieB you are only reading the abbreviated terms. Those are headed with a link to the full ones that in paras 23 and 24 each specify that the voucher is single use only.Conceded 🙂
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