Using Ambassador free night

[Alan TJ]

I tried to book a weekend in a club room at the Bucharest Intercontinental using my free Ambassador night. I couldn’t do this on the website so tired via chat.

I was quoted 100E per night for Club access, which I thought was a bit pricey. It then got worse when the agent explained this was per person, making usung the Ambassador night pretty pointless.

Does anyone know if I could get a better deal by contacting the hotel direct.

[NorthernLass]

You might get a better deal direct or at check in but it’s not guaranteed. HFPers who have stayed at this hotel might know!

In general though, it’s common for ICs to make all categories of rooms available for Ambassador bookings but it’s not guaranteed (and they might be sold out in a particular category after all). I’ve noticed hotels getting quite stingy towards Ambassadors since the pandemic ended, e.g. racking up the pricing way beyond the normal flexible rate and reducing the availability of nights where you can use the 2nd night free cert.

Individual hotels CAN book your Ambassador weekend from their end, so if you think it’s worth it, you could ask if they could book you into a club room, or if you could have club access in lieu of the Ambassador upgrade. Properties differ in how amenable they are but I’ve found they are usually willing to meet you somewhere in the middle!

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

I just did a dummy booking for this hotel via the AMB booking link and a normal booking via the app.

Club access rates appear for normal bookings but not using the AMB Rate.

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

NorthernLass wrote:

I’ve noticed hotels getting quite stingy towards Ambassadors since the pandemic ended, e.g. racking up the pricing way beyond the normal flexible rate and reducing the availability of nights where you can use the 2nd night free cert.

On the search I just did for 12-14 May in Bucharest the AMB nightly rate for a king classic is €287 a night,

The BFR is € 278

There a €9 difference – hardly racking up the price

And come settling the bill it’s 287 V 556. A saving of € 260.

Not to be sneezed at.

For a King Classic at the IC SFO for the same weekend it’s $255 for AMb rate and $ 247 BFR. An $ 8 difference.

Again hardly a huge markup. And you can do the maths yourself comparing the total bill.

When looking at the value of the cert people need to compare the 1 night you are paying at a marginally higher rate against 2 nights at the BFR.

[Colin MacKinnon]

I’m thinking of using one of mine for the IC Kiev next month – I don’t suppose anyone has any recent experience?

[Alan TJ]

Colin MacKinnon wrote:

I’m thinking of using one of mine for the IC Kiev next month – I don’t suppose anyone has any recent experience?

NB I went back to IHG and the price I was given before was wrong.

It should have been 100 Euro per room per night not per person, better but still not a great deal

Price For 2 nights (Euro) Base with Amb free night

Base 538 278

Inc Lounge 666 478

[Alan TJ]

Colin MacKinnon wrote:

I’m thinking of using one of mine for the IC Kiev next month – I don’t suppose anyone has any recent experience?

I am contacting the hotel direct to see if they will let me apply the free night to a Club room. Will let you know if I am sucessful.

[memesweeper]

I’ve found the only two weekends this year I might need the free weekend night I can’t use it – hotel not offering the AMB rate that weekend. As I’d checked several times the year before joining on AMB free weekend rates I’m pretty miffed that IHG seem to have restricted the usefulness of the voucher only on the one year I might actually need it.

As @rob says, a benefit isn’t useful if it’s not guaranteed, and the weekend free night benefit is now most definitely in that camp. 😕

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

@memesweeper

Bit hard to comment without knowing which hotel and when you want to use the voucher.

AMB BOGOF rooms are restricted in numbers and yes there can be blackout dates

[memesweeper]

My preferred dates/locations were Estoril (I booked with points and paid for suite upgrade instead, so now moot) and IC Amstel 20 – 22 Oct (nothing booked instead yet, probably end up in a Marriott chain hotel instead and use an SNA).

I might be doing a trip to Berlin, Dubai or Venice so it’s not impossible I might squeeze a booking in, but as it stands, it hasn’t been/isn’t available when I need it. When I bought Ambassador I figured it was always available if rooms were available for cash. The IC in Amsterdam is absolutely ludicrous for cash so getting a “nearly free” night is a big win.