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@Tomacat2 did you also see they are charging $150 for the privilege and keeping that fact hidden until almost the end of the sign-up process. Would put me off ever booking with them…

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@Cramond11 YES! I’ve booked a big trip to the U.S. this summer with Virgin and would really appreciate the voucher to help upgrade my flights.

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@joeg I think you have a valid reason for a claim and would escalate this issue and ask for it to be reconsidered. I had a couple of claims last year handled by AXA and the claims handlers did not have a clue how to process them correctly. I eventually got paid for my claims and also got some small amount of compensation for their lack of service.

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@rams If you click on the cancel button in the email, you get this message: You can still buy up to 5 years of AwardWallet Plus for $30 per year. Makes the increase a little more palatable.

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Thanks all. Skype looks like exactly what I need, for incoming US calls and SMS messages to a US number. I have signed up.

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@davefl thanks, I didn’t know Skype offered this service. Just had a look at it. Do you use it and find that it works well?

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I always hire a car when I go and it is no harder than driving anywhere else imo. In fact the hotels almost all offer free valet parking which is great. I generally would not take the car out if just going out and about locally and get ubers / careem. The drive from AUH to Dubai is almost all motorway driving. The petrol is vey cheap and every station I have been to has workers to fill the car (they don’t let you do it!). Loads of cameras so watch your speed if you do hire a car.

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@Magarathea I had this exact issue with the Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi – Yas Island. I had booked for the Grand Prix weekend on points but the booking was cancellable. About a month ago I went to cancel the booking and the T&C’s had changed the same as yours. I was also told they need to speak to the property and eventually the booking was cancelled after numerous calls and emails. I was Diamond Elite and found the support I got very poor from IHG and the property. I eventually got 35,000 IHG points as compensation for the issue after I threatened to take legal action. I actually do not think this was satisfactory and never received a proper apology. They stressed this was a one-off issue but doesn’t look like it. I copied below one of the emails I received from the property which doesn’t make much sense! They also own the hotel you mention see – https://www.yasplazahotels.com/.

Greetings from Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi Yas Island.

First of all, I would like to extend my apologies along with my colleague from IHG corporate office for the inconvenience caused to you in the past few days.

Please know that as a hotel management, we did not intend to alter the cancellation policy of your reservation. After reviewing your case, we found that your reservation with the Rewards Nights was made on December 14, 2022. During this time our website captured the standard cancellation policy for a Reward Night reservation in the UAE region which is the same day of arrival before 6:00 PM (local hotel time). However, due to the upcoming Abu Dhabi Grand Prix event, the hotel updated the cancellation policy to ensure that the reservations during the event are guaranteed. These changes overrode your booking as our IHG system and App is having direct interface with our operating system, but they were not done to cause you any inconvenience or to try any kind of manipulation .

Again, apologies for any inconvenience that happened and , I assure you that changing T&C of the booking was not intentionally done to your booking, but it is Terms & Conditions that have direct interface with IHG website and APP.

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@kmrhi it will trigger. I just did 2 of these for future bookings and both tracked within about 24-48 hours.

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I think you will be fine changing your number and I would not expect to have to pay for the extra cases. If they try charging you, I would ask for a manager. If you can call Cathay and have them add your BA number you will also be able to select the best economy seats for free (that sell for about $200 a pop).

Also, it won’t help for this booking but if you do this again you should make the booking as if you are doing it for another person and then re-enter your name and select your BA status instead and that will link your booking and give you the BA benefits.

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@Pointsamateur we just stayed in the Conrad Downtown a few weeks ago with 1 kid. I booked the regular deluxe suite and got upgraded to executive suite (over 700 sq ft) which was great. I thought the location was excellent and more relaxed and safer / less edgy than midtown (especially with kids). If you have status the $25 pp credit won’t go very far and there are not many eateries in the hotel, 1 restaurant and a roof top bar. Great bagel place right next door and loads of other places around. I have stayed at the Barclay and also liked it but with kids would do the Conrad Downtown again as loads of space (the standard room is a suite).

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very useful, thanks.