IHG Free Night Certificates Unlock Extra Award Space
I don’t think this is something I have seen before but I could be living under a rock. One of our Facebook group moderators, Kevin, noticed something interesting when recently searching for award space with IHG. He was looking for a “staycation” of sorts in Chicago to burn his soon to be expiring certificate. He was looking for last minute space around New Years, not an easy feat.
At first he was searching for points availability to see if he could tack on an extra night to his booking. That is if he could find space to add onto the free night. When he initially searched the Intercontinental Chicago nothing appeared for points bookings. Whether he looked for one night, or two.
But, when he searched under the Chase free night award rate it was somehow showing space available so he snatched it up. I am not sure if anyone else has run into this but it appears that maybe IHG free night certificates unlock extra award space. I guess it is plausible he found the space just as it became available but that timing seems unlucky.
If anyone else has noticed this happening let us know down in the comments. I would love to know if it was a one time glitch or actually a boost of the free night certs value. It would be pretty cool if they unlock extra award space.
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Several times I’ve seen “free night” space available when there is no availability using points.
I’ve definitely book free award nights that don’t show point availability but do show free award availability
I’ve booked a couple of times the past 3 years in which the certificate was able to grab an award night that was not available while searching using points.
Excellent – thanks for the d.p.
It’s true, in some cases (just tested it). On the flip side, sometimes rooms listed at 40K or fewer points are not bookable, at least on-line, with a free-night certificate.
Interesting – thanks for sharing
I’ve run into more instances of the flip side happening (i.e., showing point availability but not allowing free nights). But perhaps I have a little bit of rotten luck.
I was able to book the Kimpton Rowan in Palm Springs, CA for New Years Eve. That’s when my free night would otherwise expire. I was surprised that it was available. The points redemption would have been 67,000 for the same night.
Awesome – and surprising that it worked when the points rate was so high.
You mean you didn’t have to pay any extra points out of pocket to redeem a 67k per night award?
I was able to book about 10 days ago 2 free nite certificates at international miracle mile chicago for New Year’s eve and day. I to was very surprised it was available.
Awesome Richard – enjoy!
Following because I have no idea but would like to know!
Hopefully we can get some more DPs
That would be good if it does.
However, several years ago when there was some promotion where you got free night certificates if you completed X number of stays, the glitchy Manila IT decided to award me one additional certificate that I wasn’t entitled to – and shockingly it was never clawed back. That was very helpful because I managed to get a free extra night at the Hotel Indigo London Kensington – and in the highly desirable room 219 to boot.
Gotta love when bad IT works in your favor. I remember them giving me more points than I should have gotten from that postcard promo years ago.
That postcard promo was wonderful.
That was the best promotion ever.