On the Marriott boards, I read it posted that they will give you pts for your stay even if you use an Entertainment card.

I have used this card before, in Mexico, at an all-inclusive, and found the savings to be remarkable. (Yes, I know its 50% off the rack rate, but if the hotel, or all-inclusive resort, has a low rack rate, it works beautifully.) I would like to use this card again in Sept, in Thailand, but want to make sure I accummulate miles.

Has anyone had any experience applying miles to say AA, through auto transfer, after staying at, say, a Westin using Entertainment?

This is just an example. (I haven't been able to check for Marriott or Westin in the book yet.) I am flexible on where I stay and who gets the miles, dependent on if the place I stay is in the Entertainment book and if the FF club/partner, where I choose to give credit for my stay, will give me miles in spite of the Entertainment rate.

Any past experience or info would be appreciated. Thanx.

lisamcgu

[This message has been edited by lisamcgu (edited 08-17-2001).]

I do not know much about the Marriott program, but in the Hilton Honors, I have received credit booking under the airline (hotel on a bump) & priceline/hotwire res. I have received stay credit if I charge something to the room (ie. local/800 phone call). Marriott may give you the stay credit as they will have to give you the points for the incidentials & may credit the room cost. On Entertainment/50% UA hotel cert , more likely to get credit than priceline/hotwire stays. Maybe the FTers who know more can comment. Sorry I do not know more about this.

Thanx for your note of appreciation on the Marriott board. Unfortunately, I do not know about the Starwood program, so I would suggest you post your inquiry on the Starwood board and the AA board if you have not already done so.

However, you should be aware that not every Starwood and Marriott/Renaissance participates in the discount or offers it at all times. That being said, you should always ask the central reservations agent if the hotel participates and has an Entertainment discount rate even if the hotel is not so identified as participating in the Entertainment book/website. I have often received such a discount even though the hotel was not listed!

I suppose that you will receive flight miles from Marriott if you designate that you widh to receive them, even if you get an Entertainment rate, as the FF miles are calculated at 3 to the $, so I see no reason why you would not get them when they would have awarded you MR member points!

Moderators -- I applaud what you have done on this thread. The question presented is consonant with earning FF miles, so it should not be shut down. Moreover, if there was a question re Frequent Lodger points, I still think it should go here, as there is no general portal for such questions.

Hope this has been of help.

D2B (Who is now back at school and is crushed with work.)

Yes, I was really looking for what happens in practice. And, I thought it would be hard to find those who have used the Entertainment discount, so I appreciate the comparison to Priceline and Hotwire as a measuring stick.

As a further note, in a stay just last week at a Westin, on a room booked through Expedia, with my travelmate's, not even my credit card, we were offered an upgrade to a one-bdrm suite after I mentioned my status. (The person with me, not familiar with the benefits of being a FF, practically fell over) I don't know yet if the miles will post, although they seemed to have no problem inserting my FF # into the computer and it got me an upgrade!

And, earlier in the week, at a Fairmont, same scenario with the reservationist simply inserting my number in the computer upon check-in. And, on my way out, after my travelmate got a copy of the bill, with their name on it, I asked if I could have a copy as well, still with my number on it, but this time with just my name. Once again, no problem. Probably not necessary, but, now, if asked for a receipt with both my name and no. on it - whala!

[edited ... intermittent bolding gets me every time]

[This message has been edited by lisamcgu (edited 08-19-2001).]

I forgot to thank you for this!

I have used this card at Starwood hotels and gotten points and stay credit without fail. I would do a search on the starwood board and, if that does not provide a definitive answer, post the question there, and William (SW Lurker) will respond.

How does one obtain an "Entertainment Card"?

http://www.entertainment.com/

Back here in Montreal, the local 2002 Entertainment book is sold for $(CDN)25.00 which is about $(US)16.00. The card in it works the same way for all hotels (ie 50% off rack). Even the 15% discount on NWA works (but not at Continental it seems so far).
You may call directly the entertainment publisher here at (800)887-7045/514-745-7474, tell them you saw it in "FlyerTalk" (they'll send it to you but expect about $CDN 9.00 in shipping). If you are interested in the card only, I would believe the shipping to be free.

Anyways, I can get some cards from work, so I may provide for up to 8 cards at let say $US15.00 each shipping included (its fine to us as we would keep the coupons...) Email me if you want a card alone. Eric

[This message has been edited by YUL (edited 08-21-2001).]

[This message has been edited by YUL (edited 08-21-2001).]

Our Library sells the Entertainment Books (some 2002 editions are available), and can order any published edition. . .if you know anybody who travels . . . Let me know and I can obtain the price for various editions. The shipping on each book is $5.00 Also,the advise to always ask for the entertainment rate even if it is not listed is very good. We purchase several editions each year and have found different hotels are listed in different editions.

You will have more trouble with Hilton than any other program using the Entertainment rate. I do not remember EVER getting the points and the stay. Just the stay. With Marriott, we used to get points as well. I try to rag on Adam Burke every so often about it but to no avail. Hilton feels it is so generous in other ways it does not have to pay points for a deeply discounted stay. In fact, some time ago, Hilton only gave 500 points for a resort stay! That really used to irk me. Sometimes I had problems with Hyatt also.