IHG Rewards Club announced already two months ago (read more here) status and Ambassador extensions for members in Greater China (China + Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
IHG promised lower qualification thresholds for members elsewhere (read more here) that likely need to be readjusted considering that competitors (Hilton, Hyatt & Marriott) are extending by a year.
You can access IHG’s Ambassador program here.
READ MORE: IHG Rewards Club Rate & Bonus Points And Miles Promotions
Here’s a question that a reader sent us:
I was set to use my free weekend night in april but had to cancel because of travel restrictions due to Covid 19. It expires at the end of april so I will not be able to reschedule and use it. IHG has extended the expiry of credit card free anniversary nights but has said nothing about the weekend nights and has not replied to my emails.
Can you help clarify whether they will extend the expiry – surely the Ambassador members are valued IHG customers?
And here’s a statement from the IHG spokesperson:
Members of our InterContinental Ambassador programme (at 15 March 2020) have received a complimentary three-month extension to their membership. These members will also receive a three-month extension on unredeemed Weekend Night Certificates. The new date these certificates are valid until will be automatically reflected in members accounts in the coming weeks.
We continue to monitor the evolving situation and keep our cancellation policy and amendments to our loyalty programmes under constant review.
IHG’s Greater China Extensions:
IHG Rewards Club Elite & Ambassador Status Extensions Due To Coronavirus
Lower Qualification Thresholds:
IHG Rewards Club Revised 2020 Elite Qualifying Criteria
Conclusion
Three months-long extension for both Ambassador membership and the free night certificates is nice but likely inadequate considering how long this coronavirus is affecting travel.
IHG should soon come up with a proper status extension policy like what Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott have all already done.
I also had an issue with the Ambassador BOGO, but mine was not expiring, it would not be issued in time for my planned use in August. Since my member year ends in June/July, the 3 month extension brought my renewal to September/October. Having used my 2019 BOGO, I expected to renew by July and have a new one to use. I asked if I could renew on my normal year end so I’d get a new BOGO to use. IHG advanced me the BOGO for my August stay…though it now appears that stay, and trip (Shanghai) will not take place. (There were no award nights available at the IC Ruijin that weekend.) So I very much appreciated the proactive gesture which may have been partly due to the longevity of my membership which goes back to the Six Continents Club years as well as having been a RA for quite a few years until my retirement from business travel.
Hi David. I had used my 2019-2020 (June 2020 Ambassador) expiration weekend night last fall, and see my account has been extended to a Sept 2020 expiration and an Ambassador weekend night available in my account. Is this an extra weekend night? Seems rather generous!
I received this (UK)
I understand that you want to extend your anniversary free night. Don’t worry, due to the current situation, we are extending the expiration date of anniversary and free night certificates that are set to expire in 2020. Certificates expiring from March 1, 2020 can now be used through December 31, 2020. Certificates issued in 2020 will have an 18-month redemption time period. We will be reaching out to cardmembers directly with more information.