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Forums Hotel loyalty schemes IHG One Rewards Renewing Diamond through points purchase

  • NorthernLass 10,518 posts

    Interesting – I think Rob assumed otherwise in his recent article.


    @LittleNick
    – I don’t know of anything similar to the railcard rate for other chains. Hilton flexible rates are often not much more than the advance purchase, though.

    meta 1,732 posts

    @southlondonphil I don’t think IHG IT would cope with the complication of tracking how many points each member has at the time of purchase of elite qualifying points. It would mean that they are asking members to go over their elite qualifying points to qualify. At best of
    times IHG T&C are ambiguous and make no sense.

    MKB 82 posts

    My purchase from 17 December, for which I received email confirmation with correct details, and which has been charged to my credit card, has not been actioned yet? Anyone else?

    The purchase screen said to allow 3 days, which has passed.

    Grant C00per 1 post

    My purchase from 17 December, for which I received email confirmation with correct details, and which has been charged to my credit card, has not been actioned yet? Anyone else?

    The purchase screen said to allow 3 days, which has passed.

    Mine posted almost instantly so I would chase it up if I was you.

    MKB 82 posts

    My purchase from 17 December, for which I received email confirmation with correct details, and which has been charged to my credit card, has not been actioned yet? Anyone else?

    The purchase screen said to allow 3 days, which has passed.

    Mine posted almost instantly so I would chase it up if I was you.

    Thanks. Will do.

    DJ 138 posts

    Hi all,

    I would like some sense check on whether or not to renew Diamond Elite status by purchasing the elite qualifying points.

    I have the standard offer of $980 for 115k points.

    For 2025, I have the following booked:
    – 2 nights of IC Park Lane
    – 2 nights of CP somewhere
    – 2 nights of IC Athens

    Based on the above, and that I might have couple more nights to CP and HI, would it still make sense to get Diamond?

    Or perhaps the Ambassador membership is better in my scenario?

    Thanks

    Swiss Jim 309 posts

    Remember Diamond doesn’t get you lounge access with IHG. Only nights do. Gets you breakfast though. Breakfast at Park Lane (dated experience) and Athens (about a month ago) good. But the maths doesn’t work in my opinion. Just pay for (better) breakfast elsewhere. Other benefits not really guaranteed.

    BA Flyer IHG Stayer 3,103 posts

    AMB doesn’t get you breakfast or lounge access even at ICs.

    Of course it comes with platinum IHG status so extra bonus points on paid stays and a welecome drink or points.

    Using this offer does get you 115k points to spend. Not sure of the pence per point value of them though and there is the issue of are you able to use them?

    But to be frank with that level of planned nights – 6 in a year – I wouldn’t spend any £ on this offer or on AMB – as I don’t see you gaining any benefits from the spend to get them.

    BBbetter 1,253 posts

    $980 is roughly £780.
    You get points worth £460.
    Therefore you are paying £320 for diamond.

    Assuming you stay as a couple, 8 nights * 2 people * average £15 per breakfast, it’ll cost you £240.
    You are still worse off £80 purely on breakfast.

    But if you are paying cash for the stays, you’ll earn more points as diamond. Also a slightly small chance of better upgrades or atleast an upgrade compared to none for platinum.

    Many suggest going for a cheaper breakfast outside the hotel. That might work for some, not for me personally. For us a leisure trip starts with a leisurely breakfast at the hotel. Spending time researching the best breakfast option, only to find it full or forced to take up a table in a corner that others avoid.

    The one other thing many miss is – you won’t get this offer to retain diamond again, once you downgrade to platinum. If you don’t plan on staying at IHG long term anyway, that’s not a problem.

    RonnieB 374 posts

    $980 is roughly £780.
    You get points worth £460.
    Therefore you are paying £320 for diamond.

    The one other thing many miss is – you won’t get this offer to retain diamond again, once you downgrade to platinum. If you don’t plan on staying at IHG long term anyway, that’s not a problem.

    While that might be true, you might get a better offer to get back to Diamond whilst Platinum. For me, the free Radisson VIP plus existing Hilton Diamond means it’s not worth it, esp since IHG have gone to dynamic pricing for reward nights.

    Pangolin 194 posts

    The one other thing many miss is – you won’t get this offer to retain diamond again, once you downgrade to platinum. If you don’t plan on staying at IHG long term anyway, that’s not a problem.

    While that might be true, you might get a better offer to get back to Diamond whilst Platinum. For me, the free Radisson VIP plus existing Hilton Diamond means it’s not worth it, esp since IHG have gone to dynamic pricing for reward nights.

    Same for me (matched to Radisson VIP but w/ Marriott Platinum status which I want to keep).

    I’ve had Diamond since mid-2022 and the lounge pass from Jan 2023.
    What made IHG worthwhile for me was the lounge pass for ICs and CPs, much more than the breakfast amenity (which was only needed in HI), and I’m losing the lounge access anyway on Dec 31.

    BBbetter 1,253 posts

    $980 is roughly £780.
    You get points worth £460.
    Therefore you are paying £320 for diamond.

    The one other thing many miss is – you won’t get this offer to retain diamond again, once you downgrade to platinum. If you don’t plan on staying at IHG long term anyway, that’s not a problem.

    While that might be true, you might get a better offer to get back to Diamond whilst Platinum.

    You mean like a status challenge?
    I doubt IHG would extend buying status points to platinum members. They haven’t even extended the offer to many diamond members who might be interested in retaining diamond.

    meta 1,732 posts

    It will depend on how many people take up this offer, I think IHG is worried they won’t have enough Diamonds and will be possibly offering something else in the new year. I’ve had Diamond challenges before like stay 10 nights within 2-3 months to get Diamond, etc.

    Swiss Jim 309 posts

    It will depend on how many people take up this offer, I think IHG is worried they won’t have enough Diamonds and will be possibly offering something else in the new year. I’ve had Diamond challenges before like stay 10 nights within 2-3 months to get Diamond, etc.

    I’d be surprised if I wasn’t offered something. There again when I trigger it in a few days time I’ll have 2 years lounge access at IHG and already have Hilton top tier for next two. Why would I want IHG Diamond? Tempt me with something silly (like ITA) then yes, but purchasing overpriced points? Not for me…

    Pangolin 194 posts

    It will depend on how many people take up this offer, I think IHG is worried they won’t have enough Diamonds and will be possibly offering something else in the new year. I’ve had Diamond challenges before like stay 10 nights within 2-3 months to get Diamond, etc.

    I’d be surprised if I wasn’t offered something. There again when I trigger it in a few days time I’ll have 2 years lounge access at IHG and already have Hilton top tier for next two. Why would I want IHG Diamond? Tempt me with something silly (like ITA) then yes, but purchasing overpriced points? Not for me…

    Maybe they are gonna do a Radisson.. tempt everyone to buy points with a promo and then unveil a massive devaluation!

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