Before the final chapter of the Novotel Nara**** saga, I’d like to make an important digression.
To repent myself, and to set you on the path of truth.
Sadly, in pursuit of virtual chutzpah, the troubadours of the status scene don’t spell out the numbers clearly.
The usual case of a spoken defect — sorry, a doken spefect — whenever there’s hype to be had from “GHA will give back 50 bonus D$ for every stay of 2+ nights, which could lead to free stays”.
Sounds like a con.
Looks like a con.
Could it actually be a con?
Let’s take the example above, where we pulled off €164.74 worth of debauchery in points.
It’s hard to find a more tangible example without complicated formulas.
Since one Accor point equals two euro cents, all the numbers are clear and nicely turned out.
Compared with other programmes, it even looks like money rather than the ephemeral points of Statusland.
But here’s the catch: you can’t withdraw them back onto a card and spend them on beer!
Well, actually you can, if you hang around the black markets for points and miles. But it’s illegal, and a cancelled account with all its worldly goods is gone for good.
We can only spend our €164.74 of points to good effect within the Accor family.
Another digression. Strictly speaking, you can convert them into miles with various airlines. But the rate is poor by definition.
And so you spend your honestly earned €164.74 on Accor nights again.
In my example, that’s notionally the second block of five nights at €202.
Let’s add it up.
Paid: €606 in cash for 15 nights.
Returned in points for 10 nights under the promotion:
€329.48 €14.74 for 5 nights without the promotion = €344.22 €606 − €344.22 = €261.78
At €40.40 a night:
€261.78 ÷ €40.40 = 6 nights + €19.38 in points left over.
Total:
15 + 6 = 21 nights €606 ÷ 21 = €28.86 a night.
€28.86 — that’s the real cost of a night.
Not the €7.45 of my hyped-up example.
Yes, it’s still a great price — €11.54 cheaper.
Or, to be precise, a 28.56% saving.
Correct?
No!
You’ve been at the sums again, Grandad Archimedes.
Take your tablets!
