How to maximise points

[Stargazer]

As a newbie doing my first stay at a Sofitel in Fiji. If I book on the Accor website I think that as a loyalty member I receive a 5% discount. Is this correct. Could you also advise if I make a booking on a third party website then even as a loyalty member i can’t access the 5% discount.

secondly, i have linked my Qantas frequent flyer number to my Accor loyalty card. Qantas is offering 3 points per dollar spend. Is this offer only if I book with Qantas or does it extend to booking on the Accor website. How does this work. Does it apply automatically once I log into Accor and make the booking. Any advice appreciated.

 

[Captain Halliday]

… if I make a booking on a third party website then even as a loyalty member i can’t access the 5% discount.

No.

Is this offer only if I book with Qantas

Edit: No, it has to be booked via Accor and your accounts must be linked.

 

[gaz0303]

Make sure you have registered for any special Accor promos..like stay 4 nights for x bonus. Check pricing on the app. Sometimes a discount for booking on that. 3rd party bookings won’t get points/loyalty or discount. Sorry I can’t help with booking via Qantas. Not sure of the specifics with the tie up. I always book through Accor and get QF points within a few days of Accor points coming through.

 

[thatsthatmattressman]

No.

Yes.

Last question’s answer ain’t right .. you have linked your accounts so you must book through Accor.com to get both Accor points and QF miles

 

[thatsthatmattressman]

The 3 points per dollar offer about which the OP is enquiring is a QF offer. To get the 3 points per dollar you have to book via QF unless I’ve missed something in the terms *or unless the OP is referring to another offer.

*Edit to add last sentence

Oh yes .. I see .. you are correct if it relates to some offer .. i thought the OP was referring to the Qantas/Accor hookup where one staying at an Accor property receives this (if booked at accor.com)

 

[Captain Halliday]

Oh yes .. I see .. you are correct if it relates to some offer .. i thought the OP was referring to the Qantas/Accor hookup where one staying at an Accor property receives this (if booked at accor.com)
View attachment 306434

This could be what the OP is asking about. We probably need more information to assist.

 

[Stargazer]

secondly, i have linked my Qantas frequent flyer number to my Accor loyalty card. Qantas is offering 3 points per dollar spend. Is this offer only if I book with Qantas or does it extend to booking on the Accor website. How does this work. Does it apply automatically once I log into Accor and make the booking. Any advice appreciated.

there seems to be some confusion as to the point I was making in my post. I am interested in the offer of 3 points per dollar spend that Qantas offers for booking Accor hotels on the Qantas website. I was wondering if anyone knows whether the three points per dollar spend is also offered if I book direct with Accor. Does anyone have experience of this.

 

[Captain Halliday]

there seems to be some confusion as to the point I was making in my post. I am interested in the offer of 3 points per dollar spend that Qantas offers for booking Accor hotels on the Qantas website. I was wondering if anyone knows whether the three points per dollar spend is also offered if I book direct with Accor. Does anyone have experience of this.

Yes, that’s the offer for which @thatsthatmattressman posted a screenshot and applies when you book via Accor.

Will edit/delete relevant post from earlier to avoid confusing any other readers of this thread.

 

[funnymummy]

I don’t know about that when booking on QF page. But I didn’t think you got Accor points or status when booking on third party sites. Without that i wouldn’t keep my accor status. And by booking on Accor site I get QF and Accor points.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

As a newbie doing my first stay at a Sofitel in Fiji. If I book on the Accor website I think that as a loyalty member I receive a 5% discount. Is this correct. Could you also advise if I make a booking on a third party website then even as a loyalty member i can’t access the 5% discount.

In general whatever price you see on an OTA be it Expedia or Qantas Hotels is the price you pay. This may or may not be cheaper than booking direct with the hotel. Aside from using cash to pay for a hotel night, another instrument I use fairly regularly are hotel loyalty points purchased at a discount. For instance, I’m now staying at the Comfort Inn near Wollongong which worked out to 10,000 Choice points/night which in turn were purchased for $50 USD. Not a bad price for a hotel that would easily cost north of $150 AUD/night. Obviously you’ll have to do your homework here to see whether any of this makes sense for you but could be a neat trick to get premium stays at bargain basement prices. Plus since you have to book direct with the hotel to redeem award nights you get things like elite status recognition and of course elite night credit towards status. The last thing I’ll point out and something that may make sense if you find yourself staying at one chain based out of habit or price (or some combination of both) is the chain’s paid membership programs. Accor has Accor+ which as a member entitles you to savings of 10% (and often more) at hotels in APAC. This also gives you a free night stay at most hotels in APAC plus 25% off dining at Accor hotel restaurants in APAC. Cost of Accor+ varies on which membership you get (it can be as little as $249 AUD/year for the basic membership with no “free” night stay to free if you hold a AmEx Platinum card). Accor isn’t the only hotel offering this program, Marriott has a similar program and I reckon other chains have similar programs too.

But I didn’t think you got Accor points or status when booking on third party sites.

From my experience that varies from property to property and isn’t so much a hotel or chain specific thing. For instance, booking a Marriott in Montreal through a third party I was flatly told during check in no stay credits and no status benefits. Meanwhile I booked the Hilton in Ponce, Puerto Rico through AmEx travel and it was no problemo earning the night stay credit which turned out to be crucial for earning Hilton Gold during their status match promotion.

-RooFlyer88

 

[Stargazer]

Hi Kangarooflyer88. thank you for the detailed reply. Could I ask for clarification. I has a brief look at the choice programme but couldn’t find information on purchasing choice points. You mentioned 10,000 choice points per night purchased for US50. Or have I misread your post and these points were earned as part of the loyalty programme (ie you stayed at choice properties and earned the points through your stays).

 

[SYD]

Hi Kangarooflyer88. thank you for the detailed reply. Could I ask for clarification. I has a brief look at the choice programme but couldn’t find information on purchasing choice points. You mentioned 10,000 choice points per night purchased for US50. Or have I misread your post and these points were earned as part of the loyalty programme (ie you stayed at choice properties and earned the points through your stays).

Each (or most) Hotel chains allow you to purchase top up points that can be redeemed for future stays. Normally, these can be poor value unless there’s a promo (or you’re just a few points short of redeeming for a stay). The current USD-AUD exchange rate doesn’t help at the moment.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Each (or most) Hotel chains allow you to purchase top up points that can be redeemed for future stays. Normally, these can be poor value unless there’s a promo (or your just a few points short of redeeming for a stay). The current USD-AUD exchange rate doesn’t help at the moment.

That is correct. I only ever buy points during promotions which for most hotels is once or twice a year. A decent promo is when you can buy points for half off so a double points promotion for instance. In addition the perennial US Travel Association daily getaway promotion provides very good value indeed for buying points across a number of hotel partners like Choice.

But as you point out if you buy points you better well have a plan for using them economically. For me spending $50 USD a night to stay at the Comfort Inn Towradgi Beach or $105 USD a night to stay at the Holiday Inn Express in downtown Toronto can be quite valuable when compared to the going rate of said properties.

Your mileage may vary so be sure to get the most mileage out of the points!

-RooFlyer88