Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies - HELP! Flyertalkers under 21 using Priceline

My daughter wants to use Priceline to book a hotel room in San Antonio this weekend. The site says she must be over 21 and she is not. Anyone else have an experience with them over this issue? I am surprised that they have not been sued since 18 is considered an adult in the US for everything but drinking. Should she wing it or do the hotels check??? Also, since Amex bonus money is gone, what is the latest everyone is using? Thanks.

How could Priceline be sued? It's perfectly legal to discriminate against young people...

Somebody should turn it around. If they discriminated against the old, AARP would make mince meat out of them. If hotels these days will rent to teens (and they will), why on earth would Priceline limit sales to those over 21?

Karen,

Lots of the rental car companies discriminate for people under 25... so not sure Priceline is unique.

I am not sure why they put the 21 age limit there. I have never had anyone ask for an ID... but of course, I only wish I looked like I needed to be carded... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

William

You are right about the car rentals and that one I understand - poor driving records. If the hotels would not rent to under 21, I would understand Priceline's policy. We were kept up all night in Phoenix's Towne Place Hotel by HS kids partying there.

Originally posted by Karen2:
Somebody should turn it around. If they discriminated against the old, AARP would make mince meat out of them. If hotels these days will rent to teens (and they will), why on earth would Priceline limit sales to those over 21?

I think because in many states you can renounce a contact until you are 21...and because many under-21's are still dependent on their parents and so parents could sue for any distress that occurred.

Karen: Try the priceline board:
http://pub4.ezboard.com/bpricelineandexpediabidding

-David

There are some hotels that require you to be 21, especially LAS, RNO or ACY. That's probably why it's in there. I did not use priceline before I turned 21, but whenever I stayed at a hotel (alone), even in LAS, I was never carded.
I think a major credit card in the daugther's name might help a lot.

And, BTW, there are ways to rent a car in the U.S. starting from the age of 19 - major credit card required and, of course, a surcharge.
But everything can be done.

I used Priceline for hotels numerous times before turning 21 and never had any difficulty whatsoever.

As mentioned, the only issue would be in casinos, since some will not allow people under 21 to check in. In fact, I am sure that is why Priceline has the policy.

So unless you are bidding Las Vegas, I would just ignore the restriction.