Reader Wayne reports receiving an interesting postcard in the mail from IHG. The postcard indicates that as an IHG credit card holder and therefore IHG Platinum member, he is entitled to lounge access “where available”. Our first reaction on this is that it must be a mistake — lounge access is not a listed benefit even for top-tier Spire elite members on the IHG website. However, the card is not ambiguous and Wayne is not the only person to have received it. See this Flyertalk thread for more discussion.
While I would be very surprised if this turns out to be correct, I would not be totally shocked. Last fall, I stayed at the Intercontinental New York Barclay. At check in, I was told that I had an automatic 4pm late checkout due to my status (without having asked for anything). My key was automatically coded for it. At the time, I assumed this was property-specific, but I think IHG has long been behind in elite benefits and in need of an overhaul. Again, this seems like a mistake, but I am cautiously optimistic that there could be changes ahead. While you can get breakfast and/or lounge access at Hilton, Marriott, and Sheraton hotels just by holding the right credit card, IHG has long been lacking a breakfast benefit for any tier. Could this be it?
Have you received the post card? Anyone tried to use it yet?