CC free night no longer ‘book by’?

[DTR]

Hi all
From memory IHG CC free nights always used to be ‘book by’ expiry date, but could be used into the following year. However I’ve just been trying to use my last voucher – extended until 31st Dec this year thanks to covid – and it tells me it is not valid for any booking beyond the end of the year when I try to do so.
Any ideas? Is this a change that I missed?
Thanks

[NorthernLass]

I think when they were extended they became “use by”, but I can’t remember if this is a known error and you would be able to book further out by contacting IHG?

[elguiri]

I have the same issue, but rather than try and talk to IHG I just decided to use it and a BA 241 for a brief weekend in Zurich this year, staying at the ‘La Réserve Eden au Lac Zurich’. If it wasn’t for the 241 I would have used it at one of the other high value properties in UK. Life’s too short to listen to hold music all day…

[DTR]

Thanks both. I may try and call them – interested to hear if others have had success this way. I need the hotel either way next year and would rather use the voucher than pay £300 (even with some hold music!)