Author Topic: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee (Read 438762 times)

Einstein · « **Reply #1920 on:** August 09, 2015, 02:36:31 AM »

Which hotel websites have the same cancellation policy as IHG, they keep denying me because of slightly different cancellation policys

Welder · « **Reply #1921 on:** August 09, 2015, 02:44:48 AM »

Quote from: Einstein on August 09, 2015, 02:36:31 AM

Which hotel websites have the same cancellation policy as IHG, they keep denying me because of slightly different cancellation policys

Sometimes Booking.com will match the hotels own cancelation policy. But IME, the way to go with IHG is with non-refundable fares.

MosheD · « **Reply #1922 on:** August 09, 2015, 05:41:27 PM »

I honestly have no clue how you guys do it

Im like 0-20
Its frikin impossible
Just tried 3 dif legit ones for this week and nothing, by the time they check website is updated

shiframeir · « **Reply #1923 on:** August 10, 2015, 01:35:56 AM »

Just got a BRG from SPG (just 20%, or in this case $100), bunch of their palo alto area hotels have discounts on hotels.com (e.g. the Sheraton Sunnyvale) and when not sold out, u can order on their website and send them the hotels.com info. went from 439 to 329 (still redic, but saving my client a nice amount and paying less than him

. sample date is Aug 12-13

Jimgotkp · « **Reply #1924 on:** August 10, 2015, 03:37:08 AM »

Quote from: shiframeir on August 10, 2015, 01:35:56 AM

Just got a BRG from SPG (just 20%, or in this case $100), bunch of their palo alto area hotels have discounts on hotels.com (e.g. the Sheraton Sunnyvale) and when not sold out, u can order on their website and send them the hotels.com info. went from 439 to 329 (still redic, but saving my client a nice amount and paying less than him . sample date is Aug 12-13

BRGs with SPG are pretty easy IME, especially nice that the CXL policy doesn't matter at all either. I don't mind Hyatt but it really depends on the agents that review the claim request. Never did a BRG claim with Hilton yet since it only seems to make sense on one-night reservations.

chayal101 · « **Reply #1925 on:** August 10, 2015, 11:26:25 PM »

So i have a BRG claim with IHG: the same price for a IHG non-refundable rate vs. a free cancellation rate...
Ofcourse, I can't book the best flexible rate as the cancellation date is a date early for the other site... That means that i haveto book the NOn-refundable rate which i really wouldn't want to do...
Anyone ever been successful with this scenario RECENTLY (not a year ago...)?
Also if i want to book the non-refundable rate can i use a gift card that has a balance of $5??

yakrot · « **Reply #1926 on:** August 11, 2015, 12:05:34 AM »

Quote from: chayal101 on August 10, 2015, 11:26:25 PM

So i have a BRG claim with IHG: the same price for a IHG non-refundable rate vs. a free cancellation rate...
Ofcourse, I can't book the best flexible rate as the cancellation date is a date early for the other site... That means that i haveto book the NOn-refundable rate which i really wouldn't want to do...
Anyone ever been successful with this scenario RECENTLY (not a year ago...)?
Also if i want to book the non-refundable rate can i use a gift card that has a balance of $5??

Did you read the thread at all? Someone literally just reported on this last week.

12HRS · « **Reply #1927 on:** August 11, 2015, 07:10:31 AM »

denied on a 3 day paid stay since there are now no more rooms for sale...wonder if a screenshot will help at all

Welder · « **Reply #1928 on:** August 11, 2015, 07:18:44 AM »

Quote from: yakrot on August 11, 2015, 12:05:34 AM

Did you read the thread at all? Someone literally just reported on this last week.

+1

Welder · « **Reply #1929 on:** August 11, 2015, 07:19:09 AM »

Quote from: 12HRS on August 11, 2015, 07:10:31 AM

denied on a 3 day paid stay since there are now no more rooms for sale...wonder if a screenshot will help at all

No. But doesn't hurt to try.

chayal101 · « **Reply #1930 on:** August 11, 2015, 01:48:13 PM »

How long is the turnaround time for a response for a IHG BRG claim?

jstu · « **Reply #1931 on:** August 11, 2015, 02:54:28 PM »

Quote from: Welder on August 05, 2015, 01:53:53 PM

Does anyone have a data point for calling the actual hotel and changing the card on file BEFORE they charge it? Will they consider that reason to cancel the free night?

They will invalidate the claim, otherwise it would be way too easy

Welder · « **Reply #1932 on:** August 11, 2015, 03:45:50 PM »

Quote from: jstu on August 11, 2015, 02:54:28 PM

They will invalidate the claim, otherwise it would be way too easy

Did you see this post?

Quote from: Welder on August 08, 2015, 02:06:22 PM

Just got the confirmation email confirming my free night and that they the adjusted my rate. This is after I called, a few days ago, and changed the card on file from a $1 GC to a real CC.

jstu · « **Reply #1933 on:** August 12, 2015, 01:06:57 AM »

I have had many claims denied for switching the card on file, they are very inconsistent in their ways and it depends who handles your claim.

srap · « **Reply #1934 on:** August 12, 2015, 03:46:24 AM »

What is the purpose of Amextravel.com listing a lowest rate guarantee?
Hotel “Lowest Rate Guaranteed” Terms and Conditions: If you book a qualifying prepaid hotel rate on amextravel.com and then find the same room, in the same hotel, for the same dates, the same number of children and adults, at a lower price online, before taxes and fees, we'll refund you the difference.

Is the only purpose of this to protect a nonrefundable rate after it was already paid on Amextravel?
The guarantee makes no sense to those who found a lower rate elsewhere before they were to book on Amextravel.

D93 · « **Reply #1935 on:** August 12, 2015, 03:57:38 AM »

Quote from: srap on August 12, 2015, 03:46:24 AM

What is the purpose of Amextravel.com listing a lowest rate guarantee?
Hotel “Lowest Rate Guaranteed” Terms and Conditions: If you book a qualifying prepaid hotel rate on amextravel.com and then find the same room, in the same hotel, for the same dates, the same number of children and adults, at a lower price online, before taxes and fees, we'll refund you the difference.

Is the only purpose of this to protect a nonrefundable rate after it was already paid on Amextravel?
The guarantee makes no sense to those who found a lower rate elsewhere before they were to book on Amextravel.

The purpose is to get you to book through AmexTravel and not through a different party.

abo456 · « **Reply #1936 on:** August 13, 2015, 01:03:48 AM »

Quote from: Welder on August 08, 2015, 02:06:22 PM

Just got the confirmation email confirming my free night and that they the adjusted my rate. This is after I called, a few days ago, and changed the card on file from a $1 GC to a real CC.

What happens if the claim for a non-refundable night does not get approved with the $1 VGC on the reservation? I imagine they wouldnt be happy and could block the name/address on your reservation from making future BRG claims. Any experiences when the $1 trick didnt work out?

Emkay · « **Reply #1937 on:** August 13, 2015, 02:46:05 AM »

Quote from: abo456 on August 13, 2015, 01:03:48 AM

What happens if the claim for a non-refundable night does not get approved with the $1 VGC on the reservation? I imagine they wouldnt be happy and could block the name/address on your reservation from making future BRG claims. Any experiences when the $1 trick didnt work out?

They don't block you. They just don't honor the BRG

Welder · « **Reply #1938 on:** August 13, 2015, 09:18:46 AM »

Just got my second, nonrefundable fare, BRG confirmation with IHG. Both of them were originally booked with a $1 GC and then switched to a real CC.

Here is the confirmation letter:

Quote

Dear Welder,

Greetings from the Best Price Guarantee Helpdesk, we are contacting you with regard to your reservation at the XXX on 00/00/2015 under confirmation number 000.

We are pleased to confirm the adjustment of your reservation to a free night. It is possible that when checking your reservation online you may no longer be able to view it or it may not show the adjusted rate which is caused by a limitation in the system; we apologize if this would cause you any confusion but rest assured that the hotel has contacted us to confirm that this adjustment has been made.

Please be advised that since the reservation has been booked under an advance purchase rate it is possible that the hotel has already collected the deposit for this reservation. For more assistance concerning charges made to your credit card please contact the hotel directly as our department is unable to access the local billing system of the hotel. Please be informed that the Free Night is subject to the hotel’s regular cancellation policy of the rate you have originally booked as described below.

A deposit is due at time of booking. Canceling your reservation or failing to arrive will result in forfeiture of your deposit. Taxes may apply.

As a reminder, please note the following:

1. The reservation is non-transferable and the name/s on the reservation must remain the same. The primary guest must be present during check-in.
2. This claim has been deemed valid for one adult and two children based on the reservation submitted to us. Please be advised that if the occupancy of the room exceeds the prescribed number the free night shall be forfeited.
3. Any changes to the reservation such as number of occupants, length of stay, dates of stay, type of room and such are not allowed and would mean the forfeiture of your free night.
4. A valid government issued ID is required upon check-in that matches the name found on the reservation for the free night to be honored. Once a valid claim has been made and approved by IHG for a specific date, no further claims by the same person or anyone in the same household will be accepted for the same date.
5. If an individual or members of the same household make multiple claims for two or more nights in the same seven (7) day period at the same IHG hotel or at different IHG hotels within fifty (50) miles of each other, the claims will be treated as, and limited to, one claim for one stay, even if booked through more than one reservation, and only the Best Price Guarantee claim for the first night will be honored.
6. Cancellation of the reservation shall mean the forfeiture of the free night and any applicable rate adjustment

IHG reserves the right to cancel a previously awarded free night and to cancel the lower prices for the rest of the nights of a multi-night reservation if it is found that a customer has violated or circumvented the Best Price Guarantee Terms & Conditions. Resale of rooms eligible for the Best Price Guarantee is strictly prohibited. In the event IHG believes that a room eligible for the Best Price Guarantee has been resold, or the Best Price Guarantee is otherwise being intentionally abused or manipulated to circumvent its intent, we reserve the right to cancel the previously-awarded free room night and to cancel the lower prices for the rest of the nights of a multi-night reservation, and to reject future Best Price Guarantee claims from any persons who participated in such actions.

We look forward to accommodating your upcoming reservation and if you need further assistance, please feel free to contact us.

Best Regards,

Miguel Locsin
Best Price Guarantee Helpdesk
IHG

Nothing there about changing payment methods.

abo456 · « **Reply #1939 on:** August 13, 2015, 10:01:12 AM »

Quote from: Emkay on August 13, 2015, 02:46:05 AM

They don't block you. They just don't honor the BRG

But you are expected to pay for the full price of the room on a non-refundable room if the BRG is not honored. My question is what happens when they charge the credit card on file and they can only charge $1? They would notice they arent able to charge the full price of the room. I can't imagine they would just let you go with only $1

Topic Wiki

Author Topic: Free hotels/Best rate guarantee (Read 438762 times)