-
Last night I was repricing my 2025 bookings and noticed that the message
“Selected Rate not available”
appeared for all the searches I did for after 1/1/25 that otherwise have qualified for the rate.
Yet is working fine a couple of days ago when I was just pricing up some trips.
Got the aame whether I used the app or website
Anyone seeing this or can other users of the RC rate check?
I haven’t explored dates, but can confirm that for a set of bookings I monitor in Florida for Jan 2025 it recently started reporting the same thing.
Came here to say the same thing.
I have a booking at a HI in London over Easter 2025 that qualified for the rate that I booked last month, so it’s a change very recently.
long time lurker and first time poster
long time lurker and first time poster
Thank you for the useful data point & first post
Yeh it’s a shame isn’t it
I have had a look around to see if there are any other partner offers such as Hertz that might offer a code, but had no luck so far.
Don’t feel comfortable using a friend’s and family rate that some do
And it seems to be back and applicable to bookings again after 1st Jan 2025!
It is indeed, thanks for that. My newly updated spreadsheet has changed colour to tell me that some of my existing points bookings are now cheaper paying cash (at current prices anyway, will probably change multiple times over the coming months).
Great news! Just a word of warning, though, I recently cancelled one of these bookings and the hotel tried to argue that it was non-refundable. Fortunately I still had the original email confirmation showing the Ts and Cs – the hotel backed down and issued the refund, but only after I sent them a screenshot of the booking.
There are a couple of hotels I use regularly in the UK which always take the first night deposit at the time of booking, despite the terms clearly saying three days before arrival. Causes problems on a one night stay when the rate comes down and I amend the booking to less than they’ve charged. They claim the details they get from the IHG central reservation system show it as a pre-paid rate, even though they only take a one night deposit (and most hotels don’t even do that).
The email confirmation clearly says no cancellation fee up to three days before arrival, and they’ve always refunded the difference when challenged (and duly ignored my polite suggestion that they are incurring additional card processing fees for no reason).
I can’t see anything relating to a first night deposit, only that any deposit will be lost if you cancel after the cut off date?
There is nothing specific in the email confirmation about the deposit, but there is in point 5 of the detailed terms.
IHG® Hotels & Resorts | Railcard
1. The Railcard Offer (the “Offer”) is a discount of at least 20% off the Best Flexible Rate which is an unrestricted, non-qualified, non-discount rate at participating hotels.
2. The Offer is available to current, eligible members of Railcard (the “Eligible Member”). The eligible member will be required to show proof of partner membership at check-in.
3. There is no requirement to be an IHG® Rewards member to redeem this Offer. Membership of IHG® Rewards is free. See http://www.ihgrewardsclub.com for further information and to enrol.
4. Railcard Holders are able to make bookings via the following link http://www.ihg.com/Railcard at participating IHG® Hotels and Resorts.
5. Bookings must be made at least five (5) days in advance of arrival. Cancellation and no-show policy apply. One night deposit charged three days prior to arrival. Bookings must include a stay on at least one night from Thursday to Sunday.The wording in the online rate description when you book is somewhat vague:
DEPOSIT RULES A deposit of 1 night is due on or before xxx (xxx being three days before arrival).So plenty of scope for confusion!
Good spot! Also, I was just mulling over whether to rebook an expensive Rome stay and wasn’t sure if I might be on the hook for the full amount up front. If it’s only going to be 1 night’s deposit if they do charge it early I can live with that.
That’s great news and thanks for sharing.
I had been looking at using all sorts of rates such as my work corp leisure code and visa rates that didn’t have the same t&c or generous discount
I have had deposit taken by CP Birmingham city centre and CP Sheffield using the rate. Coincidentally I had to cancel both and gave it a few days before chasing the refund. Always sent them the cancellation confirmation email which has terms and conditions on there. Never had any issues once chaser email has been sent
Thanks again for sharing this
I’ve now rebooked my Rome stay, which is now £216 cheaper than the best flexible rate!
Am I correct in thinking the “buy x000 bonus points” offers aren’t available on the railcard rate
Does the Railcard rate still accrue points and nights for IHG Rewards? I only ask because of the non-qualified term above.
@RobH Correct, no buy bonus points, I think they only appear for the BFR.
@strickers Yes it earns points & night credits as normal. Not sure what the non-qualified reference relates to.Doesn’t appear to earn cashback via TCB, unless someone knows better and it’s my cookies causing problems. I’ve always found IHG to be suspect for third party rewards like that.
Doesn’t appear to earn cashback via TCB, unless someone knows better and it’s my cookies causing problems. I’ve always found IHG to be suspect for third party rewards like that.
Makes sense it won’t track as it’s effectively a discount code which almost never track on TCB etc
I have had no issues with any of my rail card bookings ever not getting the usual nights and points (qualifying and bonus) including when there are double nights and extra points offers.
Also qualifies for using Suite night upgrades.
Not sure about TCB. I do have a couple of IHG transactions listed as “pending” but it’s possible they relate to some BFR bookings. I’ll have to look at my spreadsheet later.
Missed this, thanks forbposting it’s back.
Mmm code doesn’t work at any London hotel on 6th January for me
Has to include at least one night Thu-Sun, Jan 6th is a Monday.
Ah thanks didn’t realise
Resurrecting this thread for a new twist.
On two separate Railcard rate bookings later this year, which I have previously amended several times to take advantage of lower prices, I can no longer make changes, getting the message ‘The requested stay dates are not valid for the rate plan.’
However I can happily make a new booking for the same dates using the same Corporate rate code as before.
The old booking confirmation details say ‘Rate Type: Partner Promotion’, while the new one says ‘Rate Type: Partner Promotion 20 Percent’.
So there is now a ‘new’ Railcard rate, using the same code as before and offering the same discount, but you cannot amend existing bookings as the ‘old’ rate is no longer valid.
@AndrewT. I have never amended bookings. When prices have dropped, I have always made a new booking before cancelling existing booking. I also have noticed this year that the word ‘railcard’ does not appear when booking. In the app I see it for a second before it changes to Corporate rate. When booking it still says Preferred Partner Rate 20% off. The actual bookings made this year say Partner Promotion 20% whereas last year’s bookings (including those booked in December) just state Partner Promotion. At the end of the day the discount is still the same (as of yesterday when made last booking). Let’s just hope it continues.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Popular articles this week:
