Best Western Rewards - Denied points when reserving with Expedia

Hi all,

I found a situation, where the Hotel staff denied to accrue points to the BW program, because the reservation was made in the Expedia website.

Is this OK? If not, can they deny the miles to any airline program too?

Thanks

Yes, I believe it's in the Best Western Terms & Conditions that there are all sorts of third-party booking rates that don't earn anything.

It's may or may not be because of booking at Expedia per se, but if you book an Expedia "special rate", that is definitely a problem, because that is a rate they've negioated with the hotel or hotel program as a "no points/miles" rate.

Most hotel programs don't give points/miles for stays booked at most other third-party sites. If you haven't run into this before, you're probably just lucky.

The thing is, hotels have a limited amount that they want to "discount" rooms, and they view giving points/miles as a form of "discount". You can choose which discount you want (third-party special rate or points/miles), but you can't stack all the discounts you find on top of each other.

Hotels have to pay extra fees to third-party websites, comapred to stays booked on the hotel program's own website. So they have every incentive to disallow earning of miles/points on third-party bookings. (Some disallow all third-party bookings, some disallow all but their airline partners, and some simply disallow many third-party rates.)

Agreed,
Most if not all airlines will give you miles for booking 3rd party, but I do not know of any hotels that give you points on bookings through anything but there own website/phone/actual hotel.
They will however give you the status benefits.
Ex. Book a hyatt through expedia you will still get breakfast and a diamond amenity if you have diamond status.

Agreed,
Most if not all airlines will give you miles for booking 3rd party, but I do not know of any hotels that give you points on bookings through anything but there own website/phone/actual hotel.
They will however give you the status benefits.
Ex. Book a hyatt through expedia you will still get breakfast and a diamond amenity if you have diamond status.
I don't think it's completely universal like that either way. I think there are some programs (and this may even be one of them) which allow third-party bookings as long as they're for the same rates you can get through the hotel program's own website.

On the other hand, there are some programs (I think HHonors is one) which don't even necessarily give elite benefits on some third-party-booked stays, at the very least at blind-booking sites.

Meanwhile, I seem to recall that several hotel programs make an exception for the sites run by the airlines they parnter with, because at those sites the purpose of booking the hotel there is usually the convenience of booking air/hotel/car all at one site, and you probably get the same rates the hotel program's own site would give.

It's the sites that people use to try to save money over the hotel's own site's rates, not the sites they use just for convenience, that the hotels are most likely to disqualify (on earning and/or elite perks). And thus blind-bidding sites are the most "blacklisted" of all.

It's the sites that people use to try to save money over the hotel's own site's rates, not the sites they use just for convenience, that the hotels are most likely to disqualify (on earning and/or elite perks).
I was recently denied earnings to my Eurobonus account upon check-out at the BW Apollo Museumhotel in AMS, the room was booked through Hotels.com.

Goes for the same I guess?

My experience from the UK is that loyalty programmes generally won't give points for the room cost if booked via a third party site. You should however get points on any expenditure charged to the room.

Hi all,

I found a situation, where the Hotel staff denied to accrue points to the BW program, because the reservation was made in the Expedia website.

Is this OK? If not, can they deny the miles to any airline program too?

Thanks
What are the specific t&c for the specific room you booked? Rather than asking the broader question, the answer to which is "maybe yes, maybe no" would suggest you check your specific booking.

Best Western Hotels are not obligated to give you points on 3rd party reservations mainly: Expedia, hotwire, Priceline etc.

However some properties overlook it and give points. So its a hit and miss.

It's always best to consult the Terms and Conditions (https://goldcrownclub.bestwestern.com/members/terms.asp).

Best Western Rewards® General Terms and Conditions

These terms and conditions apply to the North American Best Western Rewards® and Best Western Speed Rewards® programs (North, Central and South America, Mexico, The Caribbean, Asia, the Middle East and South Africa).

...Effective February 28, 2008, all rate programs qualify for earning points, except Leisure Club (LC), House Plan (HP), Employee/Member (E), European Employee (EE), Preferred Net (DI/D2), Priceline (PL/PN), Travelocity Promotional (D3), Orbitz Promotional (44), Expedia (FIT), Net/FIT (FI), Travel Agent Discount (TA), Tours (Group Tour Operator), Group (OF/OG), Crew and Deeply Discounted Extended Stay and Hotel Negotiated (greater than 20 percent discount), GCCI (FX), Dynamic Net Tour (X2), Dynamic Vacation Packages (WB), Amenity Packages, Unit Card (UC), Site 59 (59) and other locally negotiated hotel discount rates for crew or extended stays for longer than one week.

JDiver, thanks for the pertinent section as I got to wondering about this issue, as well.

Although I have not stayed at a Choice or Wyndham affiliated property, I believe that at least one of these permits elite members to book thru any site they wish, including 3rd party sites, in order to earn points and stay credits.

Now with respect to BW, the above section does not appear to preclude earning points or in my case, FF miles, on what I would think are most rates, except deeply discounted special rates, that are offered on the 3rd party website.

Now, the reason why I commenced this search and came to this conclusion was as a result of the new BW Double Points promotion. There there was some verbiage stating that one must book via the BW site to earn the double points -- ergo, it appeared to me that given that proviso, one would be permitted by BW to earn the normal amount of points or FF miles, if one booked via a 3rd party website, so long as deeply discounted or opaque rates were not involved.

I am thinking of booking via Hotels.com due to their Stay 10 get 1 night free promotion, as it seems that I could earn both FF miles via BW Rewards, as well as have the stay count towards the Hotels.com promotion. Moreover, as Hotels.com is found on a number of shopping portal websites, it would seem that I may be able to further discount my rate for a BW hotel by booking via a shopping portal and thence thru to Hotels.com , in effect earning the often sought "Triple Dip" on the reservation and also still earn points or FF miles.

If anyone knows anything that would foil or supports this assumption, kindly please advise! :)

Thanks,

NJ

Although I have not stayed at a Choice or Wyndham affiliated property, I believe that at least one of these permits elite members to book thru any site they wish, including 3rd party sites, in order to earn points and stay credits.
No, neither does.

Wyndham does not have an elite program at all. So it can't be that one.

It's Choice you were probably thinking of, but it doesn't work that way. That misunderstanding comes from a misintretation of their old language "any booking channel". Booking channels means method of booking, not URL of booking. Booking channels include booking with Choice on the phone, Choice website, booking directly with the hotel, or booking with a (corporate) travel agent.

In their latest promo

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/choice-privileges/1380748-fall-2012-promotion-take-two-trips-earn-one-free-night-arr-8-30-11-14-12-a.html

Choice has finally clarified the language and gotten rid of the confusing-to-some "any booking channel" phrase. They now say:

Elite Diamond and Elite Platinum members can book through ChoiceHotels.com, 800.4CHOICE, direct at a hotel, or a travel management company

And, again, "travel management company" does not mean Expedia or Orbitz, it means a corportate travel agency.

No, neither does.

Wyndham does not have an elite program at all. So it can't be that one.

It's Choice you were probably thinking of, but it doesn't work that way. That misunderstanding comes from a misintretation of their old language "any booking channel". Booking channels means method of booking, not URL of booking. Booking channels include booking with Choice on the phone, Choice website, booking directly with the hotel, or booking with a (corporate) travel agent.

In their latest promo

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/choice-privileges/1380748-fall-2012-promotion-take-two-trips-earn-one-free-night-arr-8-30-11-14-12-a.html

Choice has finally clarified the language and gotten rid of the confusing-to-some "any booking channel" phrase. They now say:

Elite Diamond and Elite Platinum members can book through ChoiceHotels.com, 800.4CHOICE, direct at a hotel, or a travel management company

And, again, "travel management company" does not mean Expedia or Orbitz, it means a corportate travel agency.

Thanks very much SDS!

Still, it would appear that BW permits this from their language, of course, however, they could have made the same mistake that Choice initially had done.

I am thinking of booking via Hotels.com due to their Stay 10 get 1 night free promotion, as it seems that I could earn both FF miles via BW Rewards, as well as have the stay count towards the Hotels.com promotion. Moreover, as Hotels.com is found on a number of shopping portal websites, it would seem that I may be able to further discount my rate for a BW hotel by booking via a shopping portal and thence thru to Hotels.com , in effect earning the often sought "Triple Dip" on the reservation and also still earn points or FF miles.

If anyone knows anything that would foil or supports this assumption, kindly please advise! :)

Thanks,

NJ



Per T&Cs there wil no points and stay credits be given for 3rd party bookings. In reality, many BW hotels still give you points and stay credit. Some refuse.

Per T&Cs there wil no points and stay credits be given for 3rd party bookings. In reality, many BW hotels still give you points and stay credit. Some refuse.

THJ --

Where does it state that in the T & C?

THJ --

Where does it state that in the T & C?



JDiver was so kind to post in earlier, see here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18315808-post9.html)

JDiver was so kind to post in earlier, see here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18315808-post9.html)

As I had suspected, you have misread his post. It may very well be true that they do not give points or miles on 3rd party bookings but that paragraph pertains to certain rates that were offered and made thru certain 3rd party sites, but it is silent on whether all bookings made on such sites qualify.

For example, the references to Orbitz, Expedia, etc. are for their non-refundable "sale" rates, or opaque booking rates, not for standard or AAA or the like rates that can be found on such sites. The paragraph in question is silent on these rates.

In light of the double points promotion, it certainly leads one to believe that one may earn points and by extension air miles if you wish from 3rd party bookings, because it explicitly mentioned that one would not earn double points if booking via a website other than BW.com. Consequently, it leads one to the conclusion that if one cannot earn double points via a 3rd party website as they are not permitted with this promotion, one may actually be allowed to earn points/miles via a 3rd party website -- they just won't be multiplied as per the promotion.

Of course, they could have not been clear about this so one should contact BW to be sure that one can earn points/miles via a 3rd party website with standard rate bookings.

The reason one may wish to do this is a greater cashback return via a 3rd party website than via BW.com

Your doubts are very valid.

What I recently got:

From Best Western Oslo Airport
Your stay at our hotel for the 14.-15.August 2012, was booked and paid through Orbitz Worldwide. We do not award points for bookings made through agents. For awardable stays please book through bestwestern.com, or contact the hotel directly.

From the Best Western Scala in Frankfurt:
Leider können Sie für den gebuchten Aufenthalt keine Punkte sammeln. Bei BEST WESTERN können Punkte auf nahezu alle Zimmerraten gesammelt werden. Ausnahmen sind Gruppen- und Tagungsraten oder -pakete, Veranstalterraten, Langzeitappartements, Priceline oder andere Auktionsseiten, Mitarbeiter- oder Expedientenraten sowie Unit-basierte
Travel Cards (AC-/UC-Rate) und Sonderraten für Langzeitaufenthalte.
Bitte haben Sie dafür Verständnis.

Da Sie eine der oben genannten Raten (Drittanbieter ebookers bzw. Orbitz) gebucht haben, können für den Aufenthalt im Best Western Hotel Scala in keine Punkte gutgeschrieben werden,
Für weitere Informationen hierzu kontaktieren Sie hierzu das BEST WESTERN Rewards Team: bwr.service@bestwestern.com

Best Western in Rzeszow:
You have made a booking with a rate plan X2 (Net rate and dynamic tour program) therefore you had 20% discount off the best available rate. In this type of booking points are not awarded.


I did not write them back because I was of the opinion that it was true what they wrote (having the above mentioned T&Cs in mind).

Your doubts are very valid.

What I recently got:

From Best Western Oslo Airport


From the Best Western Scala in Frankfurt:


Best Western in Rzeszow:



I did not write them back because I was of the opinion that it was true what they wrote (having the above mentioned T&Cs in mind).

I would call BW C/S and complain along the lines that I have outlined above for if you did not book the type of rates explicitly noted as being impermissible for earning points, then other rates for bookings made on those websites should be awardable -- and if not, they should clean up their act with their terms and conditions, as well as their promotional language which seems to strongly indicate that 3rd party booking would earn points so long as they were not of the identified impermisible rate type.

Good luck!

I did indeed call the customer service and I was told the same: "no points for 3rd party bookings"

I would call BW C/S and complain along the lines that I have outlined above for if you did not book the type of rates explicitly noted as being impermissible for earning points, then other rates for bookings made on those websites should be awardable -- and if not, they should clean up their act with their terms and conditions, as well as their promotional language which seems to strongly indicate that 3rd party booking would earn points so long as they were not of the identified impermisible rate type.

Good luck!

They don't agree at all. A new case, which is even worse! The hotel gave me a stay credit and yet, BW refuses to give me the free night from the summer promotion (only two out of three nights count!):

Hello Mr. Tallest Hotel In Japan,

Thank you for being a valued Best Western Rewards member. We sincerely
appreciate your patronage and it is my pleasure to assist you.

I?m sorry, to count toward the promotion, the stay must qualify for
credit. Regarding your stay in Chula Vista, please note that when you
book your room through a third party booking source such as Orbitz and
pay them for the lodging rather than paying the hotel itself, the stay
will not be eligible for credit. As a courtesy, I have added 500 points
to your account in lieu of this stay.

Please note that according to our Terms and Conditions, credit added as
a courtesy will not accrue "nights" credit, nor will it be considered
when determining eligibility for a promotion.

We at Best Western are aware that every traveler has many choices
available when selecting accommodations. We are honored you chose Best
Western Rewards, and we will continue to do our best to be worthy of
your selection. If we can be of further assistance please let us know.

Sincerely,

Karen Mathe | Best Western Rewards
Best Western International | The World's Biggest Hotel Family®
P.O. Box 42007 | Phoenix | AZ | 85080
www.bestwesternrewards.com

NJ, I too would like to triple-dip via a cashback site + Hotels.com Welcome Rewards + the hotel chain's own program! I have found something almost as good: a double dip using VIA Canadian Railways' E-Boutique, which gives my VIA Preference points for click-thrus to the Websites of BW, Choice, Marriott, Starwood, Accor, Radisson, Holiday Inn/IC, hotels.com, & even Avis! One usually earns 1 VIA point per $, which is worth 10 cents in train travel on average!
l usually choose a participating cashback site instead of VIA only if the cashback is >= 8 to 10%.

NJ, I too would like to triple-dip via a cashback site + Hotels.com Welcome Rewards + the hotel chain's own program! I have found something almost as good: a double dip using VIA Canadian Railways' E-Boutique, which gives my VIA Preference points for click-thrus to the Websites of BW, Choice, Marriott, Starwood, Accor, Radisson, Holiday Inn/IC, hotels.com, & even Avis! One usually earns 1 VIA point per $, which is worth 10 cents in train travel on average!
l usually choose a participating cashback site instead of VIA only if the cashback is >= 8 to 10%.

WOW! Did not know that they had a website! I opted to play it safe and just do a BW via MrRebates as I calculated that it was not necessary for the stay to be booked via Hotels.com, as we already had 10 nights without it.

Brendan, have you used the cash towards train travel in Canada? It might be good for my purposes of Montreal to Quebec City!

NJ

It's always best to consult the Terms and Conditions (https://goldcrownclub.bestwestern.com/members/terms.asp).

Best Western Rewards® General Terms and Conditions

These terms and conditions apply to the North American Best Western Rewards® and Best Western Speed Rewards® programs (North, Central and South America, Mexico, The Caribbean, Asia, the Middle East and South Africa).

...Effective February 28, 2008, all rate programs qualify for earning points, except Leisure Club (LC), House Plan (HP), Employee/Member (E), European Employee (EE), Preferred Net (DI/D2), Priceline (PL/PN), Travelocity Promotional (D3), Orbitz Promotional (44), Expedia (FIT), Net/FIT (FI), Travel Agent Discount (TA), Tours (Group Tour Operator), Group (OF/OG), Crew and Deeply Discounted Extended Stay and Hotel Negotiated (greater than 20 percent discount), GCCI (FX), Dynamic Net Tour (X2), Dynamic Vacation Packages (WB), Amenity Packages, Unit Card (UC), Site 59 (59) and other locally negotiated hotel discount rates for crew or extended stays for longer than one week.

Another one to aff...I dont know if it is part of those above or not....

Through Kayak you can find some way below market deals that also likely do not qualify for points/rewards.

NJ, U could have also gone via Via Preference E-Boutique to BW.com to get rail points (not cash) instead of cash from Mrrebates.com .

What often helps is to mention in the BW Feedback (http://survey.medallia.com/?bwfeedless) that you did not get points and without points, you don't see a reason to stay in that particular hotel again. In most cases, I got a feedback "we will of course give you points for your stay".