Starwood Preferred Guest - FT Gives and FT Takes Away

In part due to FlyerTalk, I learned of the Starwood 1000 point online booking bonus for stays booked in late May. So I booked a room in Houston for $99 for this Sunday.

A couple weeks ago I was reading about someone at the same hotel, and a much lower rate. So today I checked and found the $45.99 internet only rate. I called Plat desk hoping I could get the May on-line reservation with the current price, and keep the 1000 pt bonus. Couldn't do it.

Since I can't, in good conscience, ask my client to pay more than double for the same room, I changed the res, and forfeited the extra 500 Starpoints. I sure hate to do it, and wish I had never checked - but alas I did.

A person of integrity. You are hereby sentenced to serve on the FT board of directors for one year.

You could rationalize that, since the internet rate is usually nonrefundable(not sure if yous was), you are under no obligation to book it for your client because you'll be stuck with the bill if your trip is cancelled for any reason - whether it be personal or professional, your decision or their's.

And, $99 for a room in Houston is not so bad. It's certainly within what they are probably expecting to pay. I wouldn't have thought much of it, and I still consider myself pretty ethical and with good conscience.

You could always find a room at a Motel 6 for $29.99 if you really want to save them some $$$. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif