Accor A|Club

[JohnK]

Reading through this thread and the website Accor A|Club appears to be one of the poorer value loyalty programs.

Am I correct in assuming that 2,000 A|Club points is the equivalent to a USD60 voucher? As an entry level member it would require a spend of 1,000 Euros to earn 2,000 A|Club points.

I have 3 stays at Novotels around Christmas/New Year which will cost ~AUD395 which would give me ~490 A|Club points. The room rates are exactly the same at HotelClub and if I book with them I will receive ~1975 bonus Amex MR points which to me would be much better value than ~490 A|Club points.

Am I missing something in my calculations? Am I missing out on any additional benefits by not credititng to A|Club? I cannot see myself reaching Silver status anytime soon.

 

[serfty]

If you're staying at the hotels, 'tis better to glean what you can if there is no other way.

I try to stay at Hilton Family hotels but use Accor as plan B. I don't see myself earning status with A|club.

If I can get to 4000 A|club points they can at least be transferred to Qantas at 1:1.

 

[JohnK]

If I can get to 4000 A|club points they can at least be transferred to Qantas at 1:1.

Good point although it could take many years before I reached 4,000 A|Club points. Only staying at Novotels in TPE and HKG as they are very close to airport.

 

[Rick93]

My latest encounter with A - Club.....

Had Sofitel Privilege - got an A - Club Plat. card.

Used card a few times in 2008 / 2009.

Got email from A - Club last month, taking my Plat. card off me, and down grading me to SILVER.

Silver card arrived in mail. Asked to destroy Plat. card. I did so.

About a week later, another email. Sorry, error. Please be advised, you have retained your Plat. card. A new card will be sent to you.

Two weeks later, a new Plat. card arrives in mail..... same number as original Plat. card.

Purpose of this exercise ???

 

[albatross710]

Purpose of this exercise ???

A response to the worldwide consumer backlash they had in those interim two weeks perhaps?

 

[Rick93]

I'm just posting this quickly, as I haven't got time to research the other ' A - Club ' threads....

I was credited with 500 A- club points on 3 December 2009, as a ' BONUS PROMOTION '.

I don't recall an email that mentioned this.

Did everyone get this 500 ??

Was it as ' compensation ' for some great stuff up ( or one of many ) ??

GORDO

 

[Mal]

I was credited with 500 A- club points on 3 December 2009, as a ' BONUS PROMOTION '.

I have one posted in June (only one stay, 3 nights have been logged since joining)

XX Jun 2009 XX Jun 2009 Bonus Promotion 0 1,000

So not sure what it is either.

 

[serfty]

None for me - I only received my 500 Join up bonus over a year ago.

I have had 5 stays since (only one credited automatically).

 

[Rick93]

This 500 I received wasn't for a stay.

I had a look in MY ACCOUNT, and it says it's a ' Promotion Bonus '.

As I posted before, they canceled my Plat card, issued a Sliver, then retracted the Silver, and gave me my old Plat. card back again.

I did recently stay at the Menzies in Sydney, on a $99. special promo. I flashed my card, but because it was prepaid via Advantage Plus online, I'm not holding my breathe for any points there....

GORDO

 

[oz_mark]

The way A-club post bonus points it's hard to know which stay anything posting as 'Bonus Promotion' belongs to. Having said that, there have been various promotions such as a 500 point online booking bonus around September.

 

[WA flyer]

I stayed at the Mercure in Bali for 6 nights in November. As I had recently joined A-club Plat via the Westpac Krisflyer, I did not yet have a card but gave the number. I received no up-grade or goodies.

After two attempts I have been credited 977 points for the stay and 977 extra "points accelerator" and been told my card is on it's way!

 

[albatross710]

Great to see your card is on its way. I joined back in July and just received email to say 'card is on its way'. Must have been a flaw in their system somewhere.

 

[Pvcmenace]

Just received my new 'cards' got 2 in seperate envelopes on the same day.
Go figure!

 

[WA flyer]

Great to see your card is on its way. I joined back in July and just received email to say 'card is on its way'. Must have been a flaw in their system somewhere.

I believe they send it after your first stay after enrolling with them.

I been searching for hotels in South Africa for the World Cup in June/July but Accor don't seem to have much in that part of Africa.

 

[albatross710]

I believe they send it after your first stay after enrolling with them.

I been searching for hotels in South Africa for the World Cup in June/July but Accor don't seem to have much in that part of Africa.

Card did arrive just after a recent stay but I had had 2 other stays since joining.

Not to worry as I had the number on the original email.

 

[WA flyer]

The number didn't work for me. No upgrade and had to chase the points, still i'll try with the card in a couple of weeks time in Bali.

 

[S.A]

I've been an A-club member for just under a year - 3 stays so far - had to chase points every time.

The upload facility works, but there's no way of telling until points hit your account.

Advantage plus seems ok for the food discounts.

 

[WA flyer]

The number didn't work for me. No upgrade and had to chase the points, still i'll try with the card in a couple of weeks time in Bali.

My new card worked fine.
Presented the card at check-in but the hotel was fully booked that night and was told to ask again in the morning, which I did.
We were upgraded to a huge room and found the points had been credited just a few days after we left

 

[mtbsafari]

I am new to AFF, and to be honest didn't read this entire thread because of it's sheer size. Apologies in advance if this post covers old ground. I hope it will be useful to someone.

I was a member of Advantage Plus a few years back and found it useful, staying mostly at Sofitel Melbourne. I changed jobs and we had great corporate rates with Hilton and Hyatt so I let the Advantage Plus membership lapse.

I recently started my own business and went searching for a Loyalty Program. I rejoined Advantage Plus but subsequently found the benefits have been significantly scaled back. Still, they offered 1 "free night", so I could "recoup" my membership fee on the first stay.

Unfortunately, the promise is bulls**t. The first time I tried to use my card I discovered that you could only use the "free night" voucher at some properties, and at others there was a surcharge. I think at Sofitel in Melbourne, the surcharge is around $100. So the whole stay of 3 nights really wasn't any better than the rate I could get at other premium hotels. I ended up booking at the Crown Metropol, who have some really good rates at the moment.

Anyways, I immediately (within 2 days of getting my card) went back to Accor telling them I wanted out. I told them their offer was misleading. I exercised restraint on what I really thought of them. They have twice told me that the membership would be cancelled and my money returned. Well the membership is cancelled, but more than a month after I am waiting on a call from the guy who "will call" me, and my money.

Big recommendation here. If you are thinking about joining Accor Advantage consider whether you will ever save money or get a better travel experience. Unless they have hotels in unique places that you want to visit, I think you will find better deals and better properties.

Geoff

 

[Dr Bob]

Have been an Advantage Plus member for 3 years now & no real complaints but do think the gap between members rates & other last minute discount rates is getting smaller. Have had no trouble booking free nights 1 at the Sofitel Metropole Hanoi 2 years ago at great rates saving over US$600 on 5 nights. 2 more at Sofitel Melbourne 1 standard room mid week (members rate $220) no surcharge & the other as part of a 2 night club room stay weekend at $100 surcharge - for what I'm getting good value.
With the "free" Aclub card I never got any points credited for the 1st year - told the cards were not linked - but am getting points this year. Have been told to go to the Aclub website where I can claim last years points - haven't tried yet but will later.