PC Hotels - Award night costs increase

[Dave Noble]

The costs for hotel stays have increased in some cases

The new points table is at Priority Club Rewards Hotel Reservations | Reward Nights

Notable changes are that some HIs now cost 25,000 points ( same as Crowne Plaza ) rather than 15,000 and that some ICs are now 40,000 points

They also now run some special offers for stays at 5000 points, details of these can be found at Priority Club Rewards Hotel Reservations | PointBreaks | Oceania


Here is a list of changes for some of the locations in Australia/New Zealand ( note CPs remain unchanged at 25,000 )

In Sydney area,
IC is now 40,000 points
HI Rooty Hill is on special at 5000
The other HIs are 25000

In Melbourne
HI at the airport stays at 15,000
The HI in the city is 25,000

In Brisbane area
HI Surfers Paradise stays at 15000
HI Brisbane is 25,000

In Perth area
The HIs are now 25,000
The IC is 40,000

In Darwin area
The HIs are now 25,000

In Christchurch
HI City Centre stays at 15000
HI On Avon is 25,000

In Wellington
HI stays at 15,000
IC on special at 5,000

Dave

 

[StevePER]

That's very disappointing - I'm glad I burnt all my points recently. It's a shame they did it without any warning.

 

[QF WP]

Some interesting posts at the main FT thread discussing the changes

 

[turtlemichael]

I don't want to be an apologist for anyone, hotel or airline, who increases the burn cost but would point out the following:

1. There has apparently been no increase in burn rates since 2002.
2. There have been big improvement in earn rates since 2002 because:
- there are a large number of specials and earning bonuses.
- there have been very large increases in hotel rates in many places around the world.
3. The fact that Priority Club calculates in US dollars is a bonus to many including Aussies. The Aussie dollar improving from around US$0.50 in 2002 to near US$0.80 now means a 60% increase in points earned for stays in Australia and indeed in many other parts of the world.

My guess is that Australian are better off now than they were in 2002, all things being considered. When the AUD starts to fall then it won't look so good :shock:

 

[markis10]

Strange changes from my point of view, would class HI Brisbane as my last choice to redeem points in comparison to the properties on the Gold COast (especially as the HI Gold Coast lets you book suites for 15K), so I am not to fussed about the change locally. The 5K specials look good IMHO, just not to fussed about Rooty Hill as a destination at this stage!

 

[Tiki]

WTF? No warning? Yes I know about the T&C but the airlines (UA anyway) gave several months warning when they put up their redemptions.

I was planning to use 20k points for a HIX in London, now a HIX is the same as a CP? They are insane! :evil:

I'm not real happy about Tahiti going up to 40K either, but at least that trip (Bora Bora) isn't until 2010.

 

[JohnK]

The 5K specials look good IMHO, just not to fussed about Rooty Hill as a destination at this stage!

Why anyone would want to live in Rooty Hill let alone stay in HI there is beyond my comprehension.

 

[Shano]

I stay at the Rooty Hill HI about 4 times a year and I can categorically state that it is NOT a destination I would choose for an award stay - even at 5,000 points - and even when bingo or karaoke is on at the adjoining RSL.

 

[Dave Noble]

I stay at the Rooty Hill HI about 4 times a year and I can categorically state that it is NOT a destination I would choose for an award stay - even at 5,000 points - and even when bingo or karaoke is on at the adjoining RSL.

But if you are going to Rooty Hill anyway, wouldn't 5,000 points be better than paying cash depending on room rate?

Dave

 

[Shano]

Are all business trips so my employer pays the bills

 

[Dave Noble]

WTF? No warning? Yes I know about the T&C but the airlines (UA anyway) gave several months warning when they put up their redemptions.

Im in 2 minds over this; on the one hand, it would have been nice to know but on the other, I don't expect hotel to announce price increases in advance for regular rooms

Also , comparing with UA... UA awards miles based on distance travelled and as fares increase, the cost of earning the awards implicitly normally increases so announcing changes outside of this makes sense. With PC , earnings are based on $ spent and so the number of nights required to earn an award may well have decreased as room rates are (ime) higher than a couple of years ago

Dave

 

[oz_mark]

WTF? No warning? Yes I know about the T&C but the airlines (UA anyway) gave several months warning when they put up their redemptions.

As the Hilton and Langham chains have found recently, just because the T&C say something doesn't make it legal. Unfortunately, they were based in Victoria, while PC is not, so probably little chance of getting the unfair clauses changed.

 

[StevePER]

Just booked three nights at the Intercontinental Buenos Aires for 15,000 points. I'm not as disappointed with the changes anymore. The 5,000 point award nights are excellent value - it will be interesting to see how often they change the hotels.

Steve

 

[Dave Noble]

I haven't been adversely affected yet; I have still managed to get 3 nights at a HI in Madison for 15k per night, though the changes will make be look carefully on when to use awards and when to pay

Im not going to leave ICH over this; I find the room rates are reasonable, recognition of platinum status is decent in Oz and finding award availability is, ime, pretty decent

Dave

 

[QF WP]

I have similar thoughts to Dave Noble. Just because there has been a devaluation for stays at some hotels around the world, doesn't mean I'm going to stay at them. I tend to earn on HI and CP and burn on CP stays.

Alas, I cancelled 2 nights @ CP Royal Pines as my daughter's birth prevented us from staying. I haven't checked to see what the points level is under the new regime - it might pain me too much :shock:

 

[Dave Noble]

Alas, I cancelled 2 nights @ CP Royal Pines as my daughter's birth prevented us from staying. I haven't checked to see what the points level is under the new regime - it might pain me too much

CP rates have stayed at 25,000

Dave