Choice Privileges - Canceling award stay after deadline

I had a stay booked at the Comfort Inn and Suites in New Orleans for Friday and Saturday nights. Unfortunately, American Airlines left me high and dry on Friday in Minneapolis with a canceled flight. I called the hotel, trying to make sure that they wouldn't just cancel the entire reservation when I did show up on Friday. They said that they couldn't touch it, that I'd have to call Choice. I called Choice, merely to make sure that I'd have a place to stay when I finally arrived on Saturday. After all, the reservation clearly stated that no changes could be made within 72 hours of arrival, so I knew that the points for Friday night were lost.

I was wrong. When I explained the situation to the Choice agent, Cathy, she said that she'd see what she could do. In the end, she canceled my 2-night reservation, refunded the points, and made a new one-night reservation for Saturday night.

I'm the first to complain when things go wrong, so I thought I should be equally vocal when the rules are bent in my favor.

I had a stay booked at the Comfort Inn and Suites in New Orleans for Friday and Saturday nights. Unfortunately, American Airlines left me high and dry on Friday in Minneapolis with a canceled flight. I called the hotel, trying to make sure that they wouldn't just cancel the entire reservation when I did show up on Friday. They said that they couldn't touch it, that I'd have to call Choice. I called Choice, merely to make sure that I'd have a place to stay when I finally arrived on Saturday. After all, the reservation clearly stated that no changes could be made within 72 hours of arrival, so I knew that the points for Friday night were lost.

I was wrong. When I explained the situation to the Choice agent, Cathy, she said that she'd see what she could do. In the end, she canceled my 2-night reservation, refunded the points, and made a new one-night reservation for Saturday night.

I'm the first to complain when things go wrong, so I thought I should be equally vocal when the rules are bent in my favor.

Once the choice agent was able to cancel a reservation after the deadline. When it's not your fault (ie : flight delayed) there are generally quite helpful.

I was blessed to have one canceled without penalty (I was made whole) by calling the hotel directly, in the evening of the day of arrival. I had stayed there before, and the manager remembered our chit chat. I don't know how much that or being a Diamond helped. I just want to affirm that it can be done, in case anyone is told otherwise. The rest is up to you.