Priority Privilege Club fails with its promises

[Lizzi]

I've just had my own experience of the ridiculous call centre staff telling lies in order to sell the product, and then not including the promised extra vouchers on top of the lies about what discounts are included in the card. Now they're telling me different things each time I ring up to cancel my membership, about whether I need to send the membership package back or not. Lesson learned!

 

[markis10]

I've just had my own experience of the ridiculous call centre staff telling lies in order to sell the product, and then not including the promised extra vouchers on top of the lies about what discounts are included in the card. Now they're telling me different things each time I ring up to cancel my membership, about whether I need to send the membership package back or not. Lesson learned!

Pity they do that, the program sells itself for someone with more than 4 nights planned at any local IHG hotel.

 

[Lizzi]

Yeah. I specifically was interested in international travel this year, since I won't be doing a lot of domestic stays but will be overseas for about three months, and the woman who was selling it told me straight faced (voiced?) that all the benefits and discounts are applicable worldwide. When I tried to book online and sent an email querying this the next day, I was met with an unequivocal "no", at which point I started the schmozzle of a cancellation discussion... If I was doing more domestic travel, it would be worthwhile, but since I specifically bought it for its (fallacious) worldwide benefit, it's not much use to me.

 

[markis10]

Yeah. I specifically was interested in international travel this year, since I won't be doing a lot of domestic stays but will be overseas for about three months, and the woman who was selling it told me straight faced (voiced?) that all the benefits and discounts are applicable worldwide. When I tried to book online and sent an email querying this the next day, I was met with an unequivocal "no", at which point I started the schmozzle of a cancellation discussion... If I was doing more domestic travel, it would be worthwhile, but since I specifically bought it for its (fallacious) worldwide benefit, it's not much use to me.

Where overseas specifically, as participating Asian properties are common, and I have found the ten percent off to work in some interesting locales....

 

[Lizzi]

I'm travelling to the UK and Europe, China and USA. They said it would work in NZ, Vanuatu and somewhere else that I'm not travelling to this year

 

[markis10]

Works in China and HKG
Participating Hotels - Priority Privilege China - Guaranteed savings on selected accommodation rates, along with exclusive dining discounts.

 

[basso]

Works in China and HKG Participating Hotels - Priority Privilege China - Guaranteed savings on selected accommodation rates, along with exclusive dining discounts.

It's hardly an extensive range of hotels in China...Are you failing to grasp the point that it doesn't work where lizzi wants to use it?

 

[markis10]

It's hardly an extensive range of hotels in China...Are you failing to grasp the point that it doesn't work where lizzi wants to use it?

Not at all, just pointing out there is an opportunity to use it in countries where the Op was told only NZ and vanuatu were eligible overseas! and the discounts are not limited to those hotels as I also posted earlier.

They said it would work in NZ, Vanuatu and somewhere else that I'm not travelling to this year

 

[Lizzi]

Thanks!
Unfortunately the masses of miscommunications have left me wanting to be out of it. Maybe next year

 

[Lizzi]

It's hardly an extensive range of hotels in China...Are you failing to grasp the point that it doesn't work where lizzi wants to use it?

No worries, Basso - it's useful information which I didn't have before. I just wish the company could manage to get their information straight and tell me the same (hopefully correct) thing each time I ask them something.

 

[QF WP]

I had similar issues 2 years ago with PP and opted not to renew - but had never had problems with using the vouchers. Then they rang me again trying to tempt me back. "Sorry, not using it as I'm not staying in IHG hotels when travelling" didn't seem to compute with them - they countered with "but if you travel, then you could dine at our properties with your clients".... :shock:.

They...just...didn't...get...it :evil:

Then one day when I was in Sydney, they tried again - I reiterated my points. Got a call back by a more senior manager, trying to sell me with a "personalised" offer to some exclusive card within PP because I was a "long-standing" PP member (IIRC, 7 years at that stage). Interested, so I eventually told him to email it all to me for me to consider.

"Ahh, what's that - you don't have email access?????????????" was my next comment

That was the last straw. I lost it. Hung up on him when he refused to confirm his ability to email me the details. Any "large" business that at least doesn't have access to emailing clients what is requested (or pointing to a website) doesn't make me comfortable.

Haven't heard back this year

 

[anat0l]

Works in China and HKG
Participating Hotels - Priority Privilege China - Guaranteed savings on selected accommodation rates, along with exclusive dining discounts.

Are you sure PP Australia/NZ/South Pacific can be used in China and Hong Kong (and other PP participating countries)?

I can see that if I were to sign up for PP in China, it would apply to a number of other countries as well (at least, the 10% off accommodation benefit and some dining benefit of sorts). But if I go to the Australian / New Zealand / South Pacific PP website and sign up, there is no indication (unless it is quite well buried) that I can use any benefit at other PP countries.

Certainly, when I was ever approached to purchase a subscription for PP, I had never been told about the ability to use it in other PP countries, despite my explaining that I do at least go to the Philippines and occasionally Hong Kong. Would've possibly been a great sale closer if they did. Unless the rules have changed since I last was in the programme.

You have some experience with this?

 

[markis10]

Are you sure PP Australia/NZ/South Pacific can be used in China and Hong Kong (and other PP participating countries)?

I can see that if I were to sign up for PP in China, it would apply to a number of other countries as well (at least, the 10% off accommodation benefit and some dining benefit of sorts). But if I go to the Australian / New Zealand / South Pacific PP website and sign up, there is no indication (unless it is quite well buried) that I can use any benefit at other PP countries.

Certainly, when I was ever approached to purchase a subscription for PP, I had never been told about the ability to use it in other PP countries, despite my explaining that I do at least go to the Philippines and occasionally Hong Kong. Would've possibly been a great sale closer if they did. Unless the rules have changed since I last was in the programme.

You have some experience with this?

Do I have some experience LOL, been a member from when it was SPHC Pacifc privilege.

The booking page lists all the countries you can book using the benefits:

 

[anat0l]

Do I have some experience LOL, been a member from when it was SPHC Pacifc privilege.

The booking page lists all the countries you can book using the benefits:

I mean have you ever booked in another country other than Australia, New Zealand or South Pacific nations, and then used your Australian PP subscription?

It's also odd that Thailand appears as a choice in the list you highlighted, but if you go to the PP home page, it doesn't appear in the list of participating countries. Japan also appears as a participating country on the home page but isn't in your list you highlighted (even if it appears the only Japanese property participating is the ANA Crowne Plaza Fukuoka).

Mind, I'm sure the PP website is sorely out of date from what I've seen, so it wouldn't surprise me to see inconsistencies. Again, though, the ability to use PP throughout the PP network was never pitched to me.

 

[markis10]

I mean have you ever booked in another country other than Australia, New Zealand or South Pacific nations, and then used your Australian PP subscription?

It's also odd that Thailand appears as a choice in the list you highlighted, but if you go to the PP home page, it doesn't appear in the list of participating countries. Japan also appears as a participating country on the home page but isn't in your list you highlighted (even if it appears the only Japanese property participating is the ANA Crowne Plaza Fukuoka).

Mind, I'm sure the PP website is sorely out of date from what I've seen, so it wouldn't surprise me to see inconsistencies. Again, though, the ability to use PP throughout the PP network was never pitched to me.

The PP home page only shows countries where all the hotels play the game, booked Singapore, China and Thailand before no issues.

 

[bass_ke]

and I have found the ten percent off to work in some interesting locales....

Please do tell! By pm if need be

 

[markis10]

Please do tell! By pm if need be

Just do a normal booking at one of the properties then modify the search!

 

[Jama]

On the double dipping issue just to give my 2c, I think it should be allowed. Otherwise membership is devalued. For example, $100 dining voucher and pp dining benefit can't both be used. So if you spend $200 which is pretty easy these days the $100 voucher is a valueless piece of paper because you would get the same benefit from the pp membership. Take the $100 voucher off as a benefit and would you still be a member ? This would be a tipping point for many I imagine.

Im interested in the mythical Foundation Membership. They tell you about your wonderful new level that you wouldn't want to lose by not renewing. But, the benefits stated sound absolutely no different to what the pp membership offers everyone. I have supposedly had it for 2 years but no reference to it in the welcome letter or anywhere else. It is bothersome to have them selling a Foundation Member level when there is absolutely nothing in writing and no mention of this mythical enhancement in the T&C's. And it is unknown to any hotel in the chain.

This is PP's written description of what Foundation Membership is. Try and contain yourself. A foundation membership is a membership level based on the benefits you receive as part of your membership.

 

[Austman]

For example, $100 dining voucher and pp dining benefit can't both be used. So if you spend $200 which is pretty easy these days the $100 voucher is a valueless piece of paper because you would get the same benefit from the pp membership.

But the $100 certificate can be used against drinks as well as food and for any number of diners. The standard PP discount of 50% is only off food for 2 diners.

 

[Jama]

Its still not worth $100. I would estimate food is going to cost at a minimum $80 per person, $160 for 2 so the voucher is worth no more than $20 at best because $80 is what you'll pay with standard dining benefits. Even in a group the saving depends on spend. The more you spend the less you actually save so you need to closely control what everyone eats to get the most out of the voucher. 3 people based on the above amount still works out to $20 value for the voucher.

I still think either offer benefits or don't. I don't agree with offering things that cancel each other out so you simply perceive your getting a lot more when in fact its just a ploy. I am sure others are happy just to save the $20 extra and feel like they are getting a $100 bonus.