V-Flyer

Accor Hotels (Sofitel, Pullman, Grand Mercure, Mercure, Novotel etc.) are offering Platinum status for new sign ups!

Details here
http://www.ausbt.com.au/free-platinum-s ... rcure-more

It took me a couple of goes to get my email address accepted, but otherwise seem to be signed up as advertised.

Thanks for bringing it to our attention.

Thanks for the tip, Sealink. y) y)

I got Accor Plat through the 'improved' Amex Plat, and have to say I am not overly impressed. My Marriott gold gets lots of usable perks like lounge entry and special rates. Other than a welcome drink, I can't see that Accor Plat actually get you much, but as Sealink's link says - it is for nothing so you might as well grab it.

Anyone else think it is up to much?

Nick

The main thing for me is really converting the double points earned to Avios.

I've held one of these for a few years now as Sofitel is my default when on business. They always offer a free drink voucher at check in, bottle of wine or spa products in the room and occasionally an upgrade which isn't a great incentive given the overall cost but I can generally rely on the facilities and service which is important if attending a conference. y) Presumably Accor will email all their current Platinum Card holders advising the minimum nights required to renew will not apply this year? :w

Can't wait for my card to arrive so I can swan it big-style round the nearest Ibis...

Is Accor new to the amex platinum? I've got the 1 year Hilton, Starwood, Club Carlson from my business amex from last December, but I wasn't aware of Accor before this...

Smid wrote:Is Accor new to the amex platinum? I've got the 1 year Hilton, Starwood, Club Carlson from my business amex from last December, but I wasn't aware of Accor before this...

Yes it was an addition earlier this year, you can apply on-line on amex.co.uk and you instantly receive an email from Accor confirming Platinum membership.

I used my Accor Platinum status last weekend at Sofitel Athens and was pleasantly surprised:

- Upgraded to Club Floor - very nice huge room with wonderful bathroom (huge walk in rain shower & separate full size bath)!
- Entry to club lounge with free drinks & well stocked buffet
- Invitation for drinks (for two) at the bar
- Free bottled water in room
- Welcome letter in room with tray of chocolates

Not bad considering we had booked the cheapest possible room for €79!

Hmmm.... thanks for that James. y)
We are going to use it in Oz and NZ due to the lack of Marriotts in some of the places we are visiting.
I don't expect much from the Ibis and the lower end properties though.

Nick

Nottingham Nick wrote:Hmmm.... thanks for that James. y)
We are going to use it in Oz and NZ due to the lack of Marriotts in some of the places we are visiting.
I don't expect much from the Ibis and the lower end properties though.

Nick

I stayed at my first Ibis ever last month.
It was the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in.

Thanks for that but it now appears to have gone

Vegascrazy wrote:Yes it was an addition earlier this year, you can apply on-line on amex.co.uk and you instantly receive an email from Accor confirming Platinum membership.

I used my Accor Platinum status last weekend at Sofitel Athens and was pleasantly surprised:

- Upgraded to Club Floor - very nice huge room with wonderful bathroom (huge walk in rain shower & separate full size bath)!
- Entry to club lounge with free drinks & well stocked buffet
- Invitation for drinks (for two) at the bar
- Free bottled water in room
- Welcome letter in room with tray of chocolates

Not bad considering we had booked the cheapest possible room for €79!

Well, I'm not sure of the concept of upgrading the likes of sofitel and novotel, because frankly the normal rooms in some of those (like the 49 quid one in Antwerp) was as big as the biggest hilton junior suite I'd ever been in. Perhaps I'd been upgraded but they didn't tell me and it was huge.

For me, having scoured the horror of LHR T4 when not upgraded to executive floor on a T4 Hilton gold (tried the expensive wetherspoons "Windsor castle" and the pub just by Virgin checkin T3), done starwoods nice (not sure if upgraded on gold, I wasn't told, and was reasonable) NY hotel, and seen that the US "executive lounge complimentary drinks except alcohol" policy on the 2 days in San Jose hilton executive floor, the only executive floor upgrade of a 12 day LA/SJ/SF Hilton run, I've lost a bit of faith in the upgrade policies of the 'prestige cards'.

To me the great consistent value is the breakfasts and wifi, its a dice roll on gold/plat benefits, some of them are superb: Budapest West end hilton giving executive lounges and junior suites, Antwerp and Glasgow executive lounges. Others not blinking an eye on upgrades, or effectively free coffee...

Accord plat, well, its at least something else to book, but like Club Carlson, points are not VS transferable, but hey VS's recent service is pushing me to BA...

In relation to lounge use if anyone toys with heading to Japan, the option of comp drinks is worth it's weight in gold. The Hilton option was to us...