Accor Plus Membership Discussion

[MJ_/\_]

Hi Everyone - new here and new to the travel points and loyalty thingymajig.My kids finished school last year and the wife and I now have more time and money to travel (yay) and I've just realised there is this whole gamified world of travel hacks I had no real idea existed that I am now starting to get my head around.

I think I have settled on Accor as the hotel chain to focus on and the Accor Plus Explorer membership as step#1... but, I have questions that I hope someone can help talk me through.

1. Is there any advantage to getting the Accor Plus Explorer membership before Jan 1st 2025? We don't have too much travel planned for the rest of this year (some of those red hot offers look tempting though), but are starting to plan a month in Japan next year (love Japan) and I'm thinking that we really need those 20 status nights to apply to 2025 as I don't think I'd be able to hit Platinum this year (which would be the aim, but could possibly get there towards the end of our Japan trip)... are there any advantages to having the membership date in the 2nd half of the year (there was a little discussion earlier on this thread, but I didn't really get the reasoning). Do they have good sign up promos later in the year?

2. Just checking, but I don't think you can stack the 20 free nights from Accor Plus and also the 20 free nights from ALL PLUS Voyageur - can you? Any tips for getting additional status nights cheap? I see a fast track thread that I'll read in more detail, but nothing on at the moment? would there normally be more of those later in the year?

3. Any other tips a newbie with zero status anywhere should be aware of?

Thanks heaps

 

[Port Power]

Hi Everyone - new here and new to the travel points and loyalty thingymajig.My kids finished school last year and the wife and I now have more time and money to travel (yay) and I've just realised there is this whole gamified world of travel hacks I had no real idea existed that I am now starting to get my head around.

I think I have settled on Accor as the hotel chain to focus on and the Accor Plus Explorer membership as step#1... but, I have questions that I hope someone can help talk me through.

1. Is there any advantage to getting the Accor Plus Explorer membership before Jan 1st 2025? We don't have too much travel planned for the rest of this year (some of those red hot offers look tempting though), but are starting to plan a month in Japan next year (love Japan) and I'm thinking that we really need those 20 status nights to apply to 2025 as I don't think I'd be able to hit Platinum this year (which would be the aim, but could possibly get there towards the end of our Japan trip)... are there any advantages to having the membership date in the 2nd half of the year (there was a little discussion earlier on this thread, but I didn't really get the reasoning). Do they have good sign up promos later in the year?

2. Just checking, but I don't think you can stack the 20 free nights from Accor Plus and also the 20 free nights from ALL PLUS Voyageur - can you? Any tips for getting additional status nights cheap? I see a fast track thread that I'll read in more detail, but nothing on at the moment? would there normally be more of those later in the year?

3. Any other tips a newbie with zero status anywhere should be aware of?

Thanks heaps

Following an email, I just renewed online to take advantage of a small discount. Then there was a promotion to fast track to Gold if I stayed two nights somewhere. As I have several bookings in Melbourne when I visit Mum, plus a red hot deal at Pullman Sydney Airport, that will be covered. The Explorer has no value for me, but certainly Accor ALL does for the relatively small amount of hotel nights I pay for myself. I am now using points for the Melbourne hotels, which is the bonus worth having. Plus discounted breakfast and dinner prices.

 

[aikman]

Hi Everyone - new here and new to the travel points and loyalty thingymajig.My kids finished school last year and the wife and I now have more time and money to travel (yay) and I've just realised there is this whole gamified world of travel hacks I had no real idea existed that I am now starting to get my head around.

I think I have settled on Accor as the hotel chain to focus on and the Accor Plus Explorer membership as step#1... but, I have questions that I hope someone can help talk me through.

1. Is there any advantage to getting the Accor Plus Explorer membership before Jan 1st 2025? We don't have too much travel planned for the rest of this year (some of those red hot offers look tempting though), but are starting to plan a month in Japan next year (love Japan) and I'm thinking that we really need those 20 status nights to apply to 2025 as I don't think I'd be able to hit Platinum this year (which would be the aim, but could possibly get there towards the end of our Japan trip)... are there any advantages to having the membership date in the 2nd half of the year (there was a little discussion earlier on this thread, but I didn't really get the reasoning). Do they have good sign up promos later in the year?

2. Just checking, but I don't think you can stack the 20 free nights from Accor Plus and also the 20 free nights from ALL PLUS Voyageur - can you? Any tips for getting additional status nights cheap? I see a fast track thread that I'll read in more detail, but nothing on at the moment? would there normally be more of those later in the year?

3. Any other tips a newbie with zero status anywhere should be aware of?

Thanks heaps

An anniversary date in the "ber" months is better because you effectively only need to earn status every second year to maintain your status.

You cannot combine Plus and Voyageur.

Japan is not one of Accor's strengths. I would not join specifically for a Japan trip. You will have much better choices in Japan by not limiting yourself to Accor.

Last year they gave away 20 + 20 bonus status nights. This year it was 20 + 30 (now over). Who knows what promo will come up next year.

Use a VPN and sign up from an Asian country. Big savings to be had not just on sign up but every year on renewal.

 

[MJ_/\_]

Japan is not one of Accor's strengths. I would not join specifically for a Japan trip. You will have much better choices in Japan by not limiting yourself to Accor.

I've scoped out where we'd likely be going to on this trip and while there are a few gaps, it actually has a few good stops at places where others don't... but yeah, there are a lot of areas there is just nothing (I was reading that they are in the process of buying up a heap of hotels in Japan to add to that soon though)... I might have to research some of those old promos and keep watching for a bit I guess. Thanks.

 

[PineappleSkip]

I was reading that they are in the process of buying up a heap of hotels in Japan

Posibly you're referring to the launch of numerous Mercure and Grand Mercure hotels in April, which doubled Accor's Japan footprint from doodley squat to not much. They are projected to rapidly expand their Asia Pacific room offering along with the other big chains, but I haven't noticed Japan figuring big in that.

cheers skip

 

[MJ_/\_]

Posibly you're referring to the...

Quite possibly! Although one of the places I'm looking at is the Grand Mercure Lake Biwa Resort, so nice to see it is a recent addition.

 

[sudoer]

Japan is not one of Accor's strengths. I would not join specifically for a Japan trip. You will have much better choices in Japan by not limiting yourself to Accor.

Really depends where someone's going - I quite like the Pullman Tokyo and Swissotel Osaka, they are quite well located. I find the Accor Plus rates aren't too bad compared to similar grade international chains, and the recognition is quite good when staying as an Accor Plus Platinum.

I've heard the new Mercure Hibiya isn't bad also.

 

[MJ_/\_]

Another question.... how does the Business Explorer membership work?

1. Is the card in an individual name, or the company name?
2. How does the 20 status credits work? as long as the rooms are booked through the business card, it all adds up - what if there is more than 1 employee, do they all have their own Accor limitless accounts and status flows through? or...

 

[RooFlyer]

An anniversary date in the "ber" months is better because you effectively only need to earn status every second year to maintain your status.

I've just taken advantage of the 30 night 'fast track' offer and am now gold. App tells me I am gold until 31/12/25 and have until 31/12/24 to earn enough for Platinum, which is my target. I have a lot of Accor stays booked for Europe this December and mid next year. Some in Asia/Pacific too, so the dining etc credit will get some exercise.

A 'traveller' AccorPlus subscription now, plus a couple of booked nights in October will get me to Platinum. Might be September depending on another interstate trip.

* I guess my Plat anniversary will then be 31/12/25?

* When will my AccorPlus re-subscription be due? Is it calendar year for every one or 12 months from first subscription?

* If I don't renew my AccorPlus subscription next year, I guess nothing happens to status?

 

[Traveler999]

Really depends where someone's going - I quite like the Pullman Tokyo and Swissotel Osaka, they are quite well located. I find the Accor Plus rates aren't too bad compared to similar grade international chains, and the recognition is quite good when staying as an Accor Plus Platinum.

I've heard the new Mercure Hibiya isn't bad also.

Spent 3 nights at Hibiya last month with lounge access and paid breakfast. Breakfast good but had to pay a surcharge for eggs Benedict! (only a couple of dollars though). Rooms small and lights in bathroom are apalling. I could barley see to shave and a woman would have no chance doing makeup. Lounge was nice, plenty of seats with softdrinks and coffee machine all day. Did not go to nighttime drinks. Drinks both soft and hard replaced daily in room fridge, from memory 1xbeer, 2x orange juice, 2x soda water and maybe a coke. Location good for various trains. control of lights from the bed was infuriating as each side controlled different lights. I would stay again as I was solo and on the private sale rate.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Do you need to be dining with a member to use the member for a day certificates?

My Accor+ has just lapsed and with it three M4Ds. Seems a shame.

Likewise my plans for this weekend are such that one or two would be useful.

These things got me thinking that a thread to share or exchange these might be worthwhile.

 

[sudoer]

Do you need to be dining with a member to use the member for a day certificates?

No you don't.

 

[RooFlyer]

Apologies for bumping, but I'm still seeking clarification on the following. There is a soon-to-expire deal on joining Accor Plus Explorer which I will take up now if no negatives. Otherwise it can wait & no bonus.

I've been on the chat with Accor+ but as usual not a totally clear outcome.

My current Gold status is good to 31/12/2025. I have until 31/12/2024 to make Platinum which I will do in October (Accor+ bonus 20 nights sometime plus a few nights stayed in October).

* I guess my Plat anniversary will then be 31/12/25?

* If I join today, is my AccorPlus re-subscription in a year? ie the Accor and Accor+ cycles work independently? Any advantage in joining Accor+ later in the year?

* If I'm logged in when joining Accor+, so the e-mails are the same, do I retain my existing Accor #, just with + benefits?

Edited.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Join Accor Plus after you attain Plat IMO.

Your Accor plus membership will run for the month in which you subscribe, plus 12 months. So subscribe today and you’ll have it to 31 July 2025

Your Accor plus number will change. And it’s a PITA in my experience.

You’ll still get the various benefits, but often you’ll have to whip out you membership card (virtual). This is because for Accor+ benefits the hotel or restaurant has some kind of charge back arrangement to Accor+ so will want your membership number.

 

[RooFlyer]

So, my Accor # will be replaced by a new Accor+ number? And that's what I will make reservations under? And Accor status will port across?

Apols for being dense (yeah, yeah ) but using the Accor+ chat was obviously a mistake ...

 

[Captain Halliday]

So, my Accor # will be replaced by a new Accor+ number? And that's what I will make reservations under? And Accor status will port across?

Apols for being dense (yeah, yeah ) but using the Accor+ chat was obviously a mistake ...

Yes. In my case it was just the last digit that changed. And when my Accor Plus expire last month it changed back to the previous number.

I've also heard reports of the last digit changing as people progress through the status too.

The new number will reflect pretty quickly in your Accor account and on the Accor App.

 

[sudoer]

I've also heard reports of the last digit changing as people progress through the status too.

When I recently dropped from Platinum to Gold, my number changed from

xx_xx_ 6 xx_xx_X 1 to..
xx_xx_ 5 xx_xx_X 3

When I joined Accor Plus a few years back the 4th, 5th and 6th digits in the membership number changed also.

Classic French engineering.

 

[sudoer]

By the way I'm pretty sure the 7th number always changes with status level, it's somehow connected to the below. I have seen myself listed as "D6" on many Accor breakfast guest lists.

 

[33kft]

On this topic, has anyone else noticed how Accor hotel staff often confuse Accor Plus and the status level? I can't tell you how many times I have heard something like "And just to let you know, you can use your Gold membership to get a discount at the restaurant".

 

[RooFlyer]

Going from Silver to Gold, no change in my number (ending in 1 in both cases). They are French ...