Best use of Accor Points?

[PLANT]

Hi all,

So reached Plat Status and what is the best use of points earnt?
To spend on future room bookings?

 

[RooFlyer]

Well done on the plat. Most hotels do look after the plats with upgrades on check-in, but not guaranteed of course.

I use my points for room bookings when I'm feeling parsimonious; you can probably transfer into other schemes, but why bother?

 

[24601]

I just reached Accor gold this week myself. I'd say use points for room bookings. It isn't clear to me whether there is any disadvantage to using points before I reach Platinum. Ie, if I use 2000 now does that put me back 2000 further away from the next tier? The Accor FAQ are not at all clear to me. I guess the value of using points for rooms depends on the current exchange rate as everything is converted into Euro?

 

[yohy?!]

Using points does not affect status (they are still counted towards requalification as they are earnt).

Room vouchers are in EUR and exchange at the rate on the day to local currency.

 

[JohnK]

Any good tips for ~34,000 Accor points? Should be ~45,000 points by mid-November.

Not convinced Qantas or VA are a good idea to transfer points.

 

[RooFlyer]

See above for me.

 

[serfty]

Any good tips for ~34,000 Accor points? Should be ~45,000 points by mid-November.

Not convinced Qantas or VA are a good idea to transfer points.

Check out other airline options.

Otherwise they are worth ~€680 in Accor bookings.

 

[JohnK]

Check out other airline options.

Otherwise they are worth ~€680 in Accor bookings.

Can't use them on cheap Accor hotels on sale rates most times I have tried.

I know Mileage Plus is poor. KrisFlyer surcharges way too high. Don't know much about other programs.

Interested in experiences with other programs and promotions that come up from time to time.

 

[RooFlyer]

For me, I pay cash/card when there is a cheap rate on and save my points for when either there isn't a cheap rate available, I'm feeling 'short' or want to splurge a bit. But other programs can occasionally yield value.

 

[JohnK]

For me, I pay cash/card when there is a cheap rate on and save my points for when either there isn't a cheap rate available, I'm feeling 'short' or want to splurge a bit. But other programs can occasionally yield value.

I stay at Ibis, Ibis Styles and Mercure in Thailand. Can't use points to offset room rate most of the time at these hotels.

 

[M@rcoPolo]

2,000 Accor points = 40 Euros = approx A$60 so that's about 3cents per points... in my view quite good value when used to offset hotel bookings, not so much when transferred to airline programs, especially after devaluation in doing so!

Quite easy to use them when booking online - they can be applied immediately to reduce the room rate - although they generally cannot be used against cheapest discounted room rates.

 

[dajop]

I stay at Ibis, Ibis Styles and Mercure in Thailand. Can't use points to offset room rate most of the time at these hotels.

I understand the restriction that may prevent use at these hotels is the rate. The minimum spend is 2000 pts = 40 euros ~ 60 AUD or just under. If the room rate is less than that then you can't use points. If more it should be OK.

 

[JohnK]

I understand the restriction that may prevent use at these hotels is the rate. The minimum spend is 2000 pts = 40 euros ~ 60 AUD or just under. If the room rate is less than that then you can't use points. If more it should be OK.

Multiple nights during sales. Message appears. Possible to use for flexible rates which I don't need.

Have zero interest in staying in Accor hotels with $150+/night room rates. I just paid ~AUD190 for 2 nights in Mercure Pattaya Beach resort and that is ~AUD60 more than an equivalent non chain hotel. The 10,000 bonus points was the only reason we stayed there. Would be nice to use the discount in any Accor hotel on any room rate without current restrictions.

 

[dajop]

Possible to use for flexible rates which I don't need.

I've seen it available to use, at an Ibis in BKK (for example) on "HOT DEAL" , "ADVANCE SAVER" and "SPECIAL OFFER WITH BREAKFAST" rates, not just the FLEXIBLE RATE". It may depend on hotel?

On the app it gives me a choice of, for example "BOOK FOR 78.72 SGD" .... or "Or with your 2000 points book for 17.56 SGD", for the cheapest rate, a "HOT DEAL"

 

[JohnK]

I understand the restriction that may prevent use at these hotels is the rate. The minimum spend is 2000 pts = 40 euros ~ 60 AUD or just under. If the room rate is less than that then you can't use points. If more it should be OK.

Ibis Styles Chiang Mai $54/night and Mercure Chiang Mai $78/night and wanting to book 3 nights and not offered yo use points. I suspect with these 2 properties they don't participate in the loyalty program allowing use of points.

 

[burmans]

I think to Iberia and then onto BA is a reasonable option (twice as many points as direct to BA).

 

[calgarychris]

I think to Iberia and then onto BA is a reasonable option (twice as many points as direct to BA).

I'm of the same opinion - this is the option I'm looking at (although I'm getting error messages with Iberia's website and through avios.com so I might not try it!)

 

[Firsttime4me2]

Hi, I have been lurking for a while and finally joined, thanks for all the great information provided so far.

I reached Platinum earlier this year and am enjoying the benefits very much. My status has been extended to Dec 2017 (as per the new t&c's). Since I am unsure if I will be able to maintain this status into 2018, I have decided to pay for all my stays until then (Dec 2017) and bank my points + bonus plat rewards points. At which point, if I fail to maintain platinum and my status drops in 2018 I will have a bank of points to use before I become loyal to a scheme in which I can maintain an elite status.

Just as an aside, does anyone know if status steps down by one level each subsequent year that it is not maintained, or does it drop all the way to whatever status has been achieved.

Thanks again, looking forward to participating more often.

 

[puppysparkes]

Hi, I have been lurking for a while and finally joined, thanks for all the great information provided so far.

I reached Platinum earlier this year and am enjoying the benefits very much. My status has been extended to Dec 2017 (as per the new t&c's). Since I am unsure if I will be able to maintain this status into 2018, I have decided to pay for all my stays until then (Dec 2017) and bank my points + bonus plat rewards points. At which point, if I fail to maintain platinum and my status drops in 2018 I will have a bank of points to use before I become loyal to a scheme in which I can maintain an elite status.

Just as an aside, does anyone know if status steps down by one level each subsequent year that it is not maintained, or does it drop all the way to whatever status has been achieved.

Thanks again, looking forward to participating more often.

Excellent question. I always thought it was a soft landing to the next level down. However, according to 7.7 of the t&c's it states "If Members no longer fulfill the conditions, they are given access to the Status level corresponding to their activity calculated over the past 365 days"

Now I know this it's a tad frustrating. 5 years of loyalty for zip. I wonder if it's similar with other hotel loyalty programs?

Oh well it's a good opportunity to explore options.

 

[dajop]

Ibis Styles Chiang Mai $54/night and Mercure Chiang Mai $78/night and wanting to book 3 nights and not offered yo use points. I suspect with these 2 properties they don't participate in the loyalty program allowing use of points.

It's all quite bizarre .... just checked these two properties, and it wouldn't allow the Ibis on any rate (flexible or discounted), yet it would allow points to be used at Mercure on an advance saver rate of $72.65/night (SGD, including tax etc) ... or around $69 AUD/night.