You used to be able to sign up for Le club Accorhotels instant top tier Platinum status at will almost anytime.
I last saw an opportunity at the end of 2013, though.
As a result my own Platinum status, which I didn’t renew, has expired. And I received the most blunt downgrade email ever — subject line: Your Platinum status has been downgraded.
There are two ways I know to get Platinum status back without actually staying with Accor.
- Become a shareholder
- Earn points with partners
Platinum status usually requires 60 nights or 25,000 points earned.
This status is far from the most rewarding, set your expectations accordingly. Earlier this year at the Sofitel London Heathrow, Platinum status meant an upgrade to a king bed.
Your experiences should be better than that since the program has improved its elite benefits and in addition to bonus points-earning, Platinums now get free internet, early checkin and late checkout subject to availability, and lounge access when the eligible hotel has that amenity.
And points from any source count towards status.
That means I can earn with any of their partners.
Interestingly there’s even one airline whose points transfer into Le Club Accorhotels. Transferring in 25,000 points would earn Platinum status from scratch.
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Accor Plat is a benefit for Amex Plat in the UK, not sure where else in Europe
Good luck getting points by patronizing any of those partners. I made a purchase at a Lenotre in Paris and they had no idea what I was talking about when I asked to have the purchase earn Accor points. During a call later with Accor, they said the only way to get points from a Lenotre purchase was by having them recorded by Lenotre at time of sale. (By the way, Accor owned Lenotre until 2011).
Finnair points transfer at the rate of 7:1 to Accor, so you’d need to transfer 175k Finnair points for Accor plat status. Worst possible use of those points.
TAM (Multiplus) points transfer 2:1 to Accor, and yes, those points count towards status. That’s how I became Accor Gold in 2011.
You can later transfer them 1:1 to Iberia, which might be a good deal.