From 1 Jan, only elite qualifying points count for status

[oz_mark]

I know it has been mentioned in another thread, but thought it worth pulling out into its own thread. Basically, what we have at the moment is this comment:

Beginning January 1, 2013, for purposes of determining Elite Status, Priority Club points are classified as either Elite Qualifying Points or Non-Elite Qualifying Points. See full program Terms & Conditions for more information.

https://secure.priorityclub.com/hotels/us/en/global/offers/membership_levels/benefits

Not so much in the T&C's as of this writing that defines which points are which...(although I did noet my last Ambassador survey points did not seem to get added to my yearly total.....)

 

[Hvr]

So now this is two hotel chains making it harder to requalify next year. I wonder why is this occurring? Do they really expect business to increase enough to cover the decreasing numbers of elites which will inevitably occur?

Do they not realise that mattress runs actually do occur for the last one or two nights? And that now it is a few more nights they may not actually be worth booking for an even harder to obtain status?

 

[Must...Fly!]

Well there goes all my elite hotel status!

Whatever, as good as it is, price is still my number 1 discriminator - although some inclusions are nice, Hilton is the only consistent one for me

 

[whatmeworry]

I think I will be using my le hotel platinum status to get a status match at PC!

 

[serfty]

PC "gave" me Platinum elite status for nearly three years and over 300000 points with about 15 paid stays - it will expire after this year as, aside from status based additional points, no other benefit been has been guaranteed - or, in general, granted.

For me it has not been worth chasing. 70% of those points were converted to Airline programmes.

If this lack of guaranteed benefits changes I'll review.

In the mean time I plan to keep that 5K in my account and use C&P going forward ...

FWIW Over the last few years, I have been offered by two separate members of this forum Ambassador referrals gratis, but since I really would not be able to get any ongoing beneficent of it I graciously declined. [Of course, I had not stayed an an Intercontinental Hotel since last century.]

 

[markis10]

If this lack of guaranteed benefits changes I'll review

I expect they will follow the lead taken by China hotels:

The upgraded Priority Club[SUP]®[/SUP] Rewards in-hotel benefits are a reminder of your distinctive status wherever you go. Not only are the privileges you’ll be enjoying exclusive to Priority Club Rewards members, they have been upgraded across the board for an even more rewarding experience!

Beginning 1 November 2012, InterContinental Hotels Group presents additional exclusive in-hotel benefits for our Priority Club[SUP]®[/SUP] Rewards members. Worldwide members may enjoy a higher level of benefits at our hotels in Greater China. Enjoy upgrades and exclusive offers and experience a whole new level of recognition!



New Benefits:

Benefits in addition to basic Priority Club® Rewards
● Club Member:
-Welcome drink

● Gold Member:
-Welcome drink
-15% off difference in room rates to upgrade to Club Floor or suites (Club Lounge access when upgrading to Club Floor)
-Free in-room Internet access (available from 1 January 2013)

● Platinum Member:
-Welcome drink
-Free upgrade to next room category
-30% off difference in room rates to upgrade to Club Floor or suites (Club Lounge access when upgrading to Club Floor)
-In-room amenity
-Free in-room Internet access (available from 1 January 2013)

The little things like upgrades are nice, however the real value to me is the pointsbreaks nights effectively giving me a room for $35 and the ability to parlay different schemes into low rates, $150 a night for a weekend in Sydney with club access while getting 15% back on total spend weekend after next for instance.

 

[oz_mark]

and the T&Cs that go with it:

Points for Elite Status – For purposes of determining Elite Status, Priority Club points are classified as either Elite Qualifying Points or Non-Elite Qualifying Points. Base points earned from Qualifying Rates paid for hotel stays, points collected from partner transactions, PCR Bonus Points Packages and Meeting Rewards are considered Elite Qualifying Points and counted towards membership elite status. A Qualifying Rate includes the following: non-discounted rate, standard corporate rate, worldwide sales negotiated rate, national/regional/local government rate and specified leisure rates as confirmed by the IHG HOLIDEX[SUP]®[/SUP] Plus reservation system. All other point earning transactions, including promotional points, points vouchers, points purchase, points transfers, and points deposits, will be considered Non-Elite Qualifying Points and will not be counted towards elite status.

 

[whatmeworry]

So from stays it would require $5000 of hotel spends to get to platinum?

I wonder if it would be worthwhile for some to get platinum this year (not long to go) for the mooted upgraded of the PC program.

 

[JohnK]

Oh well. Not such a big loss.

It should give me an opportunity to save some money and choose hotel(s) based on price and not brand.

 

[docjames]

Good thing I reached platinum this year, but requalification in 2013 looks dubious.

 

[Bundy Bear]

If you have made a few stays this year but not enough to retain platinum then I would be buying the points to retain platinum before the end of the year. Priority Club had a nice promotion last month where you could buy points with an up to 50% bonus which I did.

 

[kpc]

Good thing I reached platinum this year, but requalification in 2013 looks dubious.

Same here. Got a nice upgrade as PC Plat to an executive floor room with club access (had pool table) at Crowne Plaza Santiago last month on a 6 nite stay:mrgreen:

 

[PLANT]

Is there anything better than Plat Elite....currently work racking up the points

 

[Rick93]

Is the question now, "what are Qualifying Points" ...

I just had a few thousand points transfer across from eRewards ( for doing silly surveys !! )

They have come up as 'Qualifying', and have reduced the total points required to maintain Plat. AMB for 2014 ...

Is this a 'glitch' or will all transferred in points count towards status ?

 

[vitagen]

I read online that purchased points still works in 2013, I bought the 60k inc bonuses and it actually doesnt!! NOT HAPPY!

 

[TonyHancock]

Is the question now, "what are Qualifying Points" ...

I just had a few thousand points transfer across from eRewards ( for doing silly surveys !! )

They have come up as 'Qualifying', and have reduced the total points required to maintain Plat. AMB for 2014 ...

Is this a 'glitch' or will all transferred in points count towards status ?

I have only had one stay with IHG YTD and I can't make head nor tail of the points. I also transferred points from e-rewards and they counted towards regaining Platinum elite status.

 

[JohnK]

The points earning makes no sense to me when I look at my account. I have 4 lots of PC points post this year and no combination makes up the Qualifying amount of PC points listed on website.

Oh well. Not such a big loss.

It should give me an opportunity to save some money and choose hotel(s) based on price and not brand.

Boy was I wrong.

Treated like a king in HI Chiang Mai with a suite upgrade and lounge access.

I don't really like Chiang Mai (too far away from everything and extremely boring if visiting more than once) but will more than likely go back again in April and the HI Chiang Mai is ~AUD50/night but now without status.

 

[dmw144]

I think they changed it late last week - people had reports of it working last wedneday but last thursday mine didnt count as qualifying points when i bought 20k to make sure i would qualify... VERY annoying

 

[eric2011]

I read online that purchased points still works in 2013, I bought the 60k inc bonuses and it actually doesnt!! NOT HAPPY!

Depends where you buy them. If you buy them from Priority Club then you dont get them however if you buy them from points.com you do. Worked for me earlier this week

 

[oz_mark]

Depends where you buy them. If you buy them from Priority Club then you dont get them however if you buy them from points.com you do. Worked for me earlier this week

I thought Priority Club sold them through points.com, so you would be getting them through points.com in any case?