InterContinental Hotels: Priority Club & Inter-Continental Ambassador - IC : exra night charge for early check in ?

Hi
I just checked in at an IC in Middle-East and I was quite surprised when the front desk agent asked me for an extra night charge because I was checking in at 8am, justifying it by the fact that "check in time is 3pm".
I have never heard of that before - I can understand that if the hotel is full I have to wait but .... pay for an extra night ???
I asked to see the manager who accepted to "exceptionally" waive that fee however he claimed it was a policy of IC (even though it's the first time I hear about it)
I checked my reservation and nowhere it says there is a night extra charge for early checkin, and couldn't find this on IC website.
Is this something you know about ?
Thanks

Unless you are a Royal Ambassador , this seems perfectly reasonable

I would expect to be able to leave bags with the hotel and be able to do other things, but would not expect to check in at that time

The details of the hotel on the website does show the check in and check out times. Taking IC Dubai Festival city for example, http://www.priorityclub.com/hotels/us/en/dubai/dxbhb/hoteldetail shows check in time as 2pm

Checking in any time before the check in time should not be expected as a freebie and reasonable for the hotel to charge for it.

There is no need to show an early check in fee since the earliest check in time is listed especially when wanting to check in before check out time of the previous night

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Standard practice for all hotels, unless you have status that gives early check in privileges (like RA for ICs). If the hotel lets you checkin earlier it's a bonus

All depends on local custom. Particularly common among properties catering to business travelers arriving from the west of location. As with all extras, it's important to confirm with the property not the toll-free numberin advance whether there are extra charges associated with a special service.

Here, OP asked, learned there was a charge and either accepted or declined.

Be happy you were informed in advance of the extra charge for early check in.

Mel IC let me check in at 2am before. Was very thankful for that

IC Yokohama Bay wanted to charge half a night for a 1 hr (!) early check-in (Amb at the time) I escalated it to the manager on duty and after some sharp words he let me check in. ("So my room IS ready, but I cannot check in now - so you'd really want a Plat Amb wait an hour or pay half a night for 1 hr?")

I understand that they charge for really early check-in, but in my case it was just senseless.

I really like the RA guaranteed 8 am check-in - maybe even more than the 4 pm check-out.

IC Yokohama Bay wanted to charge half a night for a 1 hr (!) early check-in (Amb at the time) I escalated it to the manager on duty and after some sharp words he let me check in. ("So my room IS ready, but I cannot check in now - so you'd really want a Plat Amb wait an hour or pay half a night for 1 hr?")


So you were wanting a favour whilst acting like a DYKWIA ?

Dave

A few months ago when I was still a Plat Amb I flew into Hong Kong at "zero dark thirty" and, after customs, etc got to the hotel at about 0800 or 0900. The hotel (IC HK) knew what time we were getting there, as it was their driver that met us at the airport.

I thought I had catered for the early arrival by booking the previous night as well but I hadn't. My fault, not theirs.

They graciously allowed me to check in right away but said that my friends' room unfortunately wouldn't be ready until about 1000. They also gave me a double upgrade and gave my friends (no IHG status, although they joined PC on check in) a one tier upgrade as well.

I thanked them and let them know that I was aware they were doing us a HUGE favour by being so kind.

If they had chosen not to I would have understood. It was their kindness, not my right.

These situations are why one should email the hotel in advance, RA or No-A status.

If the property is has considerate management, they might grant early check-in even if you have no status at all and have never stayed in an IC in your life.

These situations are why one should email the hotel in advance, RA or No-A status.

If the property is has considerate management, they might grant early check-in even if you have no status at all and have never stayed in an IC in your life.

or , failing that, at least will be able to inform on what their early check in fee is if that is what they do so no unexpected surprises

Check-in times are published so I'm completely fine with them if they want to enforce that. In practice, I've found most hotels will allow me to check in early if I arrive early, but if they don't, that's the rule that I knew when I booked the hotel so I'll leave my bags and head out for awhile and come back after the check-in time. If I really want early check-in (e.g. to shower/nap after a redeye or long international flight), I'll e-mail or call them ahead of time to ask if they will grant early check-in. But if they don't want to allow it without charging an extra fee, that's just enforcing the check-in time, so I think it's acceptable.

So you were wanting a favour whilst acting like a DYKWIA ?

Dave

I think you're a bit harsh here. I can understand that a hotel will want to charge if you want to check in hours before the official check-in time (like in the early morning, meaning an additional room makeup will be necessary). Trying to charge for letting someone check in one hour in advance is just greedy and will do more harm than good.

If the room's not ready, then fine, I have to wait. If I'm told the room is ready but I have to pay to be allowed in one (!) hour in advance, I'd happily wait that hour and inform the hotel that I will choose a different hotel next time since I don't feel welcome. I might even use that one hour to find a different hotel nearby and cancel my reservation -- that's the kind of feeling this behavior provokes.

But the IC Yokohama is special anyway. They have many more room levels available than what is offered on the English website, so I once booked a room on the Japanese website one level below Club. They initially refused to upgrade me one level despite my Ambassador status saying "they never upgrade to Club". They actually didn't want to upgrade me at all because I was alrady in the highest level below Club (the also didn't offer a discount). Only after a few nasty words and some pleading did they make a "one time exception". IC Yokohama is at the bottom of my list of hotels I want to stay at by now.

HTB.

I think you're a bit harsh here. I can understand that a hotel will want to charge if you want to check in hours before the official check-in time (like in the early morning, meaning an additional room makeup will be necessary). Trying to charge for letting someone check in one hour in advance is just greedy and will do more harm than good.

I don't think it is harsh ; the person arrived early and , by his post, seems to have acted like he had some sort of entitlement to an early check in ( "escalated it to the manager on duty and after some sharp words he let me check in" ) . If it is before check in time , then any offer to allow a check in is an exception and nice when it happens, but no excuse to expect anything else or to start having a go at the manager

I think you're a bit harsh here. I can understand that a hotel will want to charge if you want to check in hours before the official check-in time (like in the early morning, meaning an additional room makeup will be necessary). Trying to charge for letting someone check in one hour in advance is just greedy and will do more harm than good.

Absolutely agree. Whilst the hotel may well be within their rights, it's just cheap behaviour. :td: If I were able to cancel my reservation with no penalty then I would also most certainly sit in their reception and try to arrange a room in a better establishment.

I think you're a bit harsh here. I can understand that a hotel will want to charge if you want to check in hours before the official check-in time (like in the early morning, meaning an additional room makeup will be necessary). Trying to charge for letting someone check in one hour in advance is just greedy and will do more harm than good. ............


HTB.

The individual wanted to checkin at 8:00 am when the normal check-in time is 3:00 pm. It was not 1 hour in advance. There is no indication that CaptainHero has RA status, so I have to agree with Dave Noble's comments.

I have a reservation for late September in Auckland and will be arriving at the CP at 10:00 am. They suggested that I bookt a room for the previous night to ensure that I can check-in at that hour - normal check-in is 2:00 pm and check-out is 11:00 am.

mxm135 :)

The individual wanted to checkin at 8:00 am when the normal check-in time is 3:00 pm. It was not 1 hour in advance
His response was to somebody who wanted to check in 1 hour in advance, and was asked for 1/2 a day's rate for it, this was not the OP.

His response was to somebody who wanted to check in 1 hour in advance, and was asked for 1/2 a day's rate for it, this was not the OP.

Thanks,

I missed that. I thought the reference was hypothetical, but found the post that was being addressed.

I agree that a 1-hour early arrival doesn't warrant a partial day's charge but I still agree with Dave Noble's comment due to the attitude issue.

mxm135 :)

While I agree that not allowing someone to check in an hour early is perhaps not the best move in order to retain customers, the fact is that when you book a room you enter into a contract and any deviation from that contract is at the sole discretion of the hotel. Of course, whether or not you choose to enter into another contract with the hotel in the future is up to you....

I don't think it is harsh ; the person arrived early and , by his post, seems to have acted like he had some sort of entitlement to an early check in ( "escalated it to the manager on duty and after some sharp words he let me check in" ) . If it is before check in time , then any offer to allow a check in is an exception and nice when it happens, but no excuse to expect anything else or to start having a go at the manager

I disagree. Good service is not about following the rules to the letter. And I do expect good service from a high end hotel (for details see my post). Bad service should be escalated to the manager. Not everything one is legally authorized to do should be done.

I have always undestood the published check-in time to be a guarantee that my room will be ready no later than this. I have never read it as "if you come early by even a little bit we will charge you an excessive amount".

HTB.

I disagree. Good service is not about following the rules to the letter. And I do expect good service from a high end hotel (for details see my post). Bad service should be escalated to the manager. Not everything one is legally authorized to do should be done.

I have always undestood the published check-in time to be a guarantee that my room will be ready no later than this. I have never read it as "if you come early by even a little bit we will charge you an excessive amount".

HTB.

Quite a few hotels have fees for early check in and I have stayed at hotels where it is something that can be booked as an extra; if a hotel has such fees then I would expect them to charge it

Any check in before the published check in time is not to be expected, though indeed it is nice when arriving early if a hotel will accommodate it

If a hotel says no, then that is life and there is no grounds for having a go at the hotel staff for it , nor is a consistent policy come under bad service imo

So you were wanting a favour whilst acting like a DYKWIA ?

Dave

I have checked out earlier than check out before. Do I get a refund?

This is a business, but it is the hospitality business. Either be hospitable or expect some guff.

I have also not had a room ready at check in time, for whatever reason. Did I get a refund?

They may have the right to charge. That doesn't make it right to charge.

I would say that, unless the hotel is full or is supposed to make business through day use (airport hotel), I do not expect a hotel to charge early check-in.
And of course, if the hotel charges early check-in, it must be clearly stated at check-in.

Charging a guest because he/she arrived one hour before official check-in time (which sometimes can be quite late) seems to me a complete non sense.

Fortunately, as a RA, it never happened to me (after a long flight, I really enjoy a shower/short nap/glass of water in my room).

I have checked out earlier than check out before. Do I get a refund?

generally noo, but depart 1 or more days earlier and there can be an early departure fee

You are not obligated to check in at the earliest check in time not check out at the latest time, but should not expect to be able to check in before check in time or after check out time


This is a business, but it is the hospitality business. Either be hospitable or expect some guff.


Why should any business be expected to provide extra services/facility for free and I think it is not acceptable to start having a go at the staff when it occurs, which was the key thing to me


I have also not had a room ready at check in time, for whatever reason. Did I get a refund?

Last time that happened to me, the hotel did offer a discount as compensation


They may have the right to charge. That doesn't make it right to charge.

I disagree. If a hotel wishes to , then that is fine; most ime hotels do not and many have made early check in available when I have arrived early and that is appreciated; that doesn't mean that I think that all hotels should do so; I'd rather have some provide extra than there to be a consistently applied policy at all hotels over this

You are not obligated to check in at the earliest check in time not check out at the latest time, but should not expect to be able to check in before check in time or after check out time

The OP did not expect to be able to check in early. He was told that he could check in early. But only against a disproportionate charge.

Why should any business be expected to provide extra services/facility for free and I think it is not acceptable to start having a go at the staff when it occurs, which was the key thing to me

I do expect to be able to check in a bit early if the room is already available and ready. That is because I expect good service. If the room is not ready then I'll leave my bags and start exploring.

I agree that the hotel isn't legally required to provide this for free. But that is not the question here, and the hotel will see whether this behavior will give them income in the long run. I would feel like taken for a ride and avoid that hotel in the future when possible. Hotel managers who don't see that the majority of people will feel that way are missing the big picture.

HTB.

So you were wanting a favour whilst acting like a DYKWIA ?

Dave

No, I was not acting like a DYKWIA - I simply asked the manager, if he really expects me me to sit around an hour while the room was ready and waiting for me. This being Japan, they find it very hard to say no, even harder to say no twice. I knew that, that's why I asked twice.

Come to think of it, I might have mentioned that in that time I can just nicely go over to the Sheraton... ;)

But anyway, as a result since then I stay at the IC Yoko a one-nighter only when I need the extra "stay" for a promo or similar. For the rest of the stay it's The Strings or the Tokyo Bay (both ICs)

Wow, i didnt expect to get so much heat in light of a policy that is clearly in disfavour of the consumer/guest.

So just to clarify.
I havent been rude to the staff. Maybe i'm a bit of a drama queen poster :) I just refused to pay an extra full night to be allowed to checkin at 8am. The funny thing is that the manager agreed that it was not a fair policy.
Once again, I understand that I'm not guaranteed a room if I turn up before the checkin time, and if there's no room ready it's fine. Being told that I have to pay a full night to just take a shower (and not get any servicing of my room by the way) just doesnt seem ethical for me.

I have done numerous early checkins (mostly Asia after red-eye flights from Europe), as early as 6am. I have never ever been asked for such thing (a full night charge). I have been asked in the past to pay a reasonable fee to *guarantee* an early checkin, which is fine especially when it is clearly published on the hotel website.
Maybe this shows how much of an uncultured traveller I am ... :(

Oh and also, that same hotel charges an early departure fee - almost a full night charge. Oh and I forgot, laundry service for ONE shirt is the equivalent of 7GBP (in a country where it costs 40p at the regular laundry shop). And so on. I guess ... They really are into every single money making scheme.
And now I'm in a mood where I could turn this post into the next level of rant against how bad the service is, how poor the internet is, how destroyed the rooms are, how stylish the duct tape that holds the wallpaper is ........ but I wont ... sort of :D

OK, so what hotel was this?

Wow, i didnt expect to get so much heat in light of a policy that is clearly in disfavour of the consumer/guest.

So just to clarify.
I havent been rude to the staff. Maybe i'm a bit of a drama queen poster :) I just refused to pay an extra full night to be allowed to checkin at 8am. The funny thing is that the manager agreed that it was not a fair policy.

I would disagree that it isn't fair. 8am check in is a benefit for RA members at ICs, otherwise, anyone checking in before checkout time, should def reasonably expect to pay for the night before


Once again, I understand that I'm not guaranteed a room if I turn up before the checkin time, and if there's no room ready it's fine. Being told that I have to pay a full night to just take a shower (and not get any servicing of my room by the way) just doesnt seem ethical for me.

So , what about 7am or 6am or 4am ... at what point before checkout time is it "ethical" for a hotel to expect a guest to pay for a room then?

I would disagree that it isn't fair. 8am check in is a benefit for RA members at ICs, otherwise, anyone checking in before checkout time, should def reasonably expect to pay for the night before



So , what about 7am or 6am or 4am ... at what point before checkout time is it "ethical" for a hotel to expect a guest to pay for a room then?

If you ordered cable TV on the 28th of the month and they wanted to charge you for a full month of cable, would you think that makes sense? Prorating? That would be fair. A full night's charge is a ripoff. Good customer service probably dictates something else.

Hotels can do a lot of things. They can overbook and walk a customer that may have paid months in advance. Any business that operates this way shouldn't expect customers to appreciate hard and fast rules while they seem to make them up as they go along.

Let's be frank. The hotel does not want everyone checking in at 3pm, surely?! Big queue, annoyed guests, stressed staff. It makes sense to let people check in as they arrive, within reason.

And as posted above, I don't remember ever being offered half a nights room rate as compensation when my room wasn't ready until 1 hour after stated check in time.

My sense of the way good hotels operate is that if you want to guarantee an early check in (that you don't get through a loyalty program, special rate, or other guaranteed perk such as AmEx FHR offers as the special benefit at some properties), you reserve the preceding day and note your anticipated arrival time in the reservation. If you arrive in the morning or early afternoon and the hotel can and does give you the room then, you don't pay anything additional, but they have done you an implicit favor. Otherwise, you really can't expect the room before the stated check in time.

However, IME when the room is not ready at check in time, the hotel tends to do nothing to compensate. I once had a reservation at an elegant R&C in the French countryside where it was obvious that the previous occupants of my room were phoned and told to leave when I arrived at the front desk at about 5 pm; I had to wait while they packed and checked out and while the maids prepared the room for me, but there was barely an apology, nor was I allowed to keep the room late on my departure day.

When a hotel obviously has rooms and still refuses access before official check in time, it goes onto my blacklist of places to avoid. I've had the worst experiences in this regard in four star hotels in Italy, where SOP seems to be to tell people to wait in the lobby since the room will/might be ready in 15-30 minutes, but it's not. Then at exactly check in time, all of the rooms are magically ready, all at the same time. Infuriating after a long flight!

So , what about 7am or 6am or 4am ... at what point before checkout time is it "ethical" for a hotel to expect a guest to pay for a room then?

After sun has rised ? :D
I dont want to pay for a night when the sun has been up for a while already :D

RA benefit is to have guaranteed checkin (if the room type not available, to have access to another room). I just want to be *allowed* in my room if it's ready, and not to have to stand outside the door of my available room until the clock ticks 3.00pm.

After sun has rised ? :D
I dont want to pay for a night when the sun has been up for a while already :D



Woo hoo! Free rooms all summer in the far North! :D

Woo hoo! Free rooms all summer in the far North! :D

We just need to wait for an IC to open there :D:D

(it remembers me a "night" in June at former InterContinental Grand Hôtel Stockholm, where you could have the feeling to be in the late afternoon at 11pm)

Like a few of the posters above, I've long understood check-in time simply as a guarantee that the room will be ready at that time. I frequently arrive earlier than that, and while I never EXPECT that a room will be available for me (other than as an RA @ ICs and a Platinum @ Fairmonts), I always ask. I've had pretty good success, and even where the room has not been ready, the hotel has often put a rush on housekeeping, or given me a time when it would be ready, or taken my cell phone number and called when it was. I think any good hotel should do the same, and I can think of only a few instances where the hotel has refused to allow checkins before its stated time, and those are hotels to which I did not return.

After sun has rised ? :D
I dont want to pay for a night when the sun has been up for a while already :D

RA benefit is to have guaranteed checkin (if the room type not available, to have access to another room). I just want to be *allowed* in my room if it's ready, and not to have to stand outside the door of my available room until the clock ticks 3.00pm.

Easily fixed; if going to arrive early in the day, pay for the previous night and then should get in immediately ; I don't see that there was anything wrong with them charging an early check in fee 7 hours before check in time

I have never seen anything that says the check in time published is just for the sake of having a published time and that anytime is ok

Easily fixed; if going to arrive early in the day, pay for the previous night and then should get in immediately ; I don't see that there was anything wrong with them charging an early check in fee 7 hours before check in time

I have never seen anything that says the check in time published is just for the sake of having a published time and that anytime is ok

+1
That is the best way to go and guarantees that a room is ready for you. Just let the hotel know that you will arrive the next morning.

Yes. Sure. And pay for it from my own pocket. On top of the premium economy upgrade i just paid from my own pocket too to fly overnight in a seat that doesnt require an amputation of my legs.
Travel policies aren't flexible. And spending hours to justify each out of policy expense requiring approval at VP level is ... well ... unpleasant.
I still have an audit open from last year about 20GBP worth of taxi charges ...

Anyway, I'm digressing, the point is that if the hotel behaved in a decent way (i.e. not adopting Don Corleone business model, i.e. make sure your life is miserable unless you are in my circle/elite) I would have much less headaches :)

+1
That is the best way to go and guarantees that a room is ready for you. Just let the hotel know that you will arrive the next morning.

Yes -- but the hole discussion was not about being guaranteed a room for early check-in, but whether it is customary to allow a guest into the room before the published check-in time if that room is already available. And most people were talking about approximately an hour or maybe a few hours.

HTB.

Yes. Sure. And pay for it from my own pocket. On top of the premium economy upgrade i just paid from my own pocket too to fly overnight in a seat that doesnt require an amputation of my legs.
Travel policies aren't flexible. And spending hours to justify each out of policy expense requiring approval at VP level is ... well ... unpleasant.
I still have an audit open from last year about 20GBP worth of taxi charges ...

Anyway, I'm digressing, the point is that if the hotel behaved in a decent way (i.e. not adopting Don Corleone business model, i.e. make sure your life is miserable unless you are in my circle/elite) I would have much less headaches :)

You could try flying during the day rather than fly overnight; more pleasant and no issue with hotel availability on arrival.

Travel policy may not be flexible, but

does the policy state that you have to travel overnight?
does the policy state that you cannot make hotel accommodation bookings in order to have room available on arrival?

As far as the hotel behaving decently, I still cannot see that they did not behave decently just that your expectations have not been managed

You could try flying during the day rather than fly overnight; more pleasant and no issue with hotel availability on arrival.


I see two slight problems with that

- not many daytime flights out there Europe->Japan

- if there's one, it's a waste of a perfectly good day sitting on the plane

(PS - define "daytime flight" LHR-NRT :) )

I see two slight problems with that

- not many daytime flights out there Europe->Japan

- if there's one, it's a waste of a perfectly good day sitting on the plane

(PS - define "daytime flight" LHR-NRT :) )

There are some locations which are difficult to do, I would agree, but the OP wasn't going to Japan ( unless Japan has moved significantly into the Middle East )

It isn't a waste of a good day imo; it is being up when its normal to be up and then, generally, arriving later in the day. Whether travelling on business or pleasure, I almost never take night flights unless there is no other option. With business travel it makes perfect sense to travel during work hours

Even if having to travel overnight, at no company I have worked at has had a policy covering having a hotel room booked for arrival time

I would disagree that it isn't fair. 8am check in is a benefit for RA members at ICs, otherwise, anyone checking in before checkout time, should def reasonably expect to pay for the night before


Indeed. I am an RA but at IHG properties that aren't IC, I write to them to enquire about early check-in fees and also be prepared to book from the night before if I really want to check in early. Otherwise I have no sense of entitlement to check in early at non-ICs and if they can't accommodate my request, I simply leave my bags with them and go out.

If a FS hotel lets guests check-in early, the guests might start using hotel services upon check-in, such as the restaurant, bar, laundry, minibar, pay tv etc.

For me, if I arrive early and the hotel doesn't let me check-in, then I just leave my bags and head out to find somewhere to eat. Why would I eat on site if i can find somewhere nicer and cheaper?

If a hotel lets guests check-in early, it also leaves a good impression too. It makes people remember that is a nice hotel - perfect advertising. Think about if they write their review on TA saying how nice the hotel is to let them check-in early.

What I think the hotel OP stayed at didn't do right is not to disclose the early check-in fee. Fees should really be disclosed in advance - I can understand that there are tons of fees to be charged in a hotel but still it should really be disclosed to guests so they can choose what they want to do.

What I think the hotel OP stayed at didn't do right is not to disclose the early check-in fee. Fees should really be disclosed in advance - I can understand that there are tons of fees to be charged in a hotel but still it should really be disclosed to guests so they can choose what they want to do.

It reads like they disclosed it when he arrived and requested to check in at 8am

Dave

I almost always get an early check-in and have never been asked to pay an extra night at any PC property. The hotel is not out anything, as that room could not be rented b/w 8am and 3pm and its just good customer service.

I almost always get an early check-in and have never been asked to pay an extra night at any PC property. The hotel is not out anything, as that room could not be rented b/w 8am and 3pm and its just good customer service.

A hotel that has an early check in fee would be out by the amount of the early check in fee; some hotels also have day rates for use of hotel room during the day

If you are doing it regularly, one could argue that they may be out lots of night costs since if they didnt allow check in before check in time, someone regularly arriving v early might well book that extra night

The main problem seems to be that rather than accept things offered that are not entitled to as a benefit and being happy when they occur, too many people seem to start expecting them

If you are doing it regularly, one could argue that they may be out lots of night costs since if they didnt allow check in before check in time, someone regularly arriving v early might well book that extra night

The main problem seems to be that rather than accept things offered that are not entitled to as a benefit and being happy when they occur, too many people seem to start expecting them

The funny thing about all this is that indeed many people will expect this kind of service instead of being nickeled and dimed for something that the hotel could give without monetary cost to the hotel. In consequence hotels will LOSE money if they decide to do so because customers will stay elsewhere next time.

Arguing that these customers weren't entitled to what they expected won't do the hotels any good.

HTB.

I can't help but comment that if a hotel can charge an extra fee for a reasonable but early check in, they they should give me a discount when I check out earlier than their check out time. It would be only fair, no?

I can't help but comment that if a hotel can charge an extra fee for a reasonable but early check in, they they should give me a discount when I check out earlier than their check out time. It would be only fair, no?

No. you have the option to stay until check out time, but you are not forced to stay unti check out time; if you choose to leave early then that's just your choice

The funny thing about all this is that indeed many people will expect this kind of service instead of being nickeled and dimed for something that the hotel could give without monetary cost to the hotel. In consequence hotels will LOSE money if they decide to do so because customers will stay elsewhere next time.

Arguing that these customers weren't entitled to what they expected won't do the hotels any good.

HTB.

How is it nickel and diming ( an awful term ) to charge people for use of the rooms at a place which is charging for use of rooms ? could argue that if I have an arrival at 00:01 , that I should be able to get an early check in for that day if there are rooms rather than be charged for that night. At what time does it become an expectation that one pays for that night's accommodation?

Great if can get checked in early, but no reason to expect it.

How is it nickel and diming ( an awful term ) to charge people for use of the rooms at a place which is charging for use of rooms ? could argue that if I have an arrival at 00:01 , that I should be able to get an early check in for that day if there are rooms rather than be charged for that night. At what time does it become an expectation that one pays for that night's accommodation?

Great if can get checked in early, but no reason to expect it.

I understand your point Dave, but your example is obviously at the "un-reasonable" end of the scale. But likewise, I think that the hotel that wants to charge a guest for trying to check-in an hour or so early is also at the un-reasonable end of the scale too.

How would you feel, Dave, if you checked in to your next hotel 5 minutes before check-in time, and they made you stand and wait for the clock to tick-tock for 5 minutes? Or they gave you the option to have your key 5 minutes early for a $50 charge? Do you not see that this is un-reasonable behaviour, just as your example of a guest trying to check in at 00:01 is un-reasonable.

Surely you'd agree that common-sense and a bit of flexibility in a service orientated industry like the hotel business are better than un-breakable and un-bendable rules?

I understand your point Dave, but your example is obviously at the "un-reasonable" end of the scale. But likewise, I think that the hotel that wants to charge a guest for trying to check-in an hour or so early is also at the un-reasonable end of the scale too.

How would you feel, Dave, if you checked in to your next hotel 5 minutes before check-in time, and they made you stand and wait for the clock to tick-tock for 5 minutes? Or they gave you the option to have your key 5 minutes early for a $50 charge? Do you not see that this is un-reasonable behaviour, just as your example of a guest trying to check in at 00:01 is un-reasonable.


If I turned up before check in time and was unable to check in , then I would accept it since I agreed to a set of terms when making the booking; when I arrived at an IC at 07:00 , I expected to have to wait an hour before I would be able to check in but was surprised and happy that they allowed me to check in at 07:00

Sometimes I arrive at hotels and cannot check in; I leave bags with the porter and come back when I can check in

An RA arriving at 01:00 is arriving equally early in time before allowed check in to someone else arriving at 08:00 ( where hotel has 3pm check in)

If it is reasonable to expect a check in at 08:00 ( as per OP ), then how would 01:00 as an RA be unreasonable?

Any exception to check in time is, to me, something to enjoy if granted but nothing to complain about if not

I have nothing against flexibility , but if a hotel has a policy for early check ins ( as OP's seemed to do ) I don't expect that the policy should not apply to me.