Diamond Status (with lounge Access)

[JPJOULE]

I have STAYS booked at InterContinentals in Edinburgh and Malta on points. Can I expect access to club lounges? Breakfasts are free? please advise.

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

Access to club lounges only via a club room rate or having chosen it as a milestone benefit.

Yes breakfast as long as you chose it as your Diamond welcome amenity.

[NorthernLass]

There’s no lounge at The George anyway!

[AnotherUser]

Depending how long your stays are, you could consider paying for Ambassador status. You still wouldn’t get lounge access, but would hopefully get room upgrades, late checkout, etc

[NorthernLass]

You get breakfast and upgrade with Diamond, it’s only worth buying Ambassador if you’re going to make good use of the other benefits.

[danimal]

It’s worth buying Ambassador as it will extend your Diamond by a year.

[Cx]

Other than the breakfast amenity, is there any value for holding diamond status notwithstanding the bonus points?

[NorthernLass]

Better upgrades. But it’s mainly the breakfast – for some people this won’t be a huge deal but I’m a big breakfast fan and this gives us tremendous value, especially at the top end (IC, Kimpton etc).

[danimal]

The $200 ambassador fee is paid for by the free night and 15000 points it gives you.

Free breakfast and upgrades is a great benefit. Especially with the cost of living in LA! 5 days at $50 per day for 2 people is at least a $250 saving.

[NorthernLass]

You don’t get the 15k points any more.

[danimal]

Oh. I got them 2 weeks ago.

[NorthernLass]

Was that for joining or renewing?

[Pangolin]

NorthernLass wrote:

You don’t get the 15k points any more.

You still get them for renewals.

[AnotherUser]

I thought Ambassador was more likely to get you updraded than Diamond alone? I got a nice upgrade for my first stay at an intercontinental with Ambassador, though I may have been lucky 🙂

I bought Ambassador to extend Diamond anyway, but the other benefits are a bonus!

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

AMB gets you upgrade at ICs but not guaranteed at other IHG brands.

[danimal]

NorthernLass wrote:

Was that for joining or renewing?

Renewing but membership had lapsed