Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies - Does PL "upgrade" the star-level of bids ?

Quick question as I am planning to bid on a 2* (preferred) and am concerned that the 2.5* category within the same zone may cost less. Could PL come back and say that they upgraded me to a 2.5*, even though I only bid on a 2*, or will they strictly search for 2* hotels only even if higher star hotels are available for less?

I recall reading something about this but can't find it now.

PL does sometimes "upgrade" from one star level to another.

Just out of curiosity, what zone are you bidding where you would prefer a 2-star to a 2.5-star? http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/eek.gif


Kathy

I bid for a three star in Fort Lauderdale and got a response telling me I was upgraded to a four star for my bid. Got the Renaissance Plantation.

Recently I bid for a 1* at the Orlando AP (MCO) & PL came back to me with a double upgrade to the 3* Marriott! Most of the time an Upgrade is a good thing! But there have been times I did not want an upgrade.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by bturner13:
But there have been times I did not want an upgrade.</font>

such as?

A couple reasons why you don't want an upgrade is a mis-rating, or if the rating is unfairly low/other hotels unfairly high.

In this case, I want the Homestead in Norwalk, but because it is not considered "full-service" compared to a normal hotel, it is rated as 2*. Nevermind that it looks pretty new, and has a full kitchen. The 2.5* hotels in the zone seem to go for less than I think I can get the 2* for.

Sometimes you don't want an upgrade because parking is free (or inexpensive) at the lower rated properties and costs a bundle at the higher rated ones!

Or, as said, the lower rated one might have a kitchen or suite layout, which is preferable to a standard hotel room because of personal preference or travelling with kids. (Think Amerisuites or Embassy Suites vs Hilton room or whatever....)

Or you might be bidding for a very specific location which would be different if you were upraded, even though it is in the same zone. I was bidding 3* in the hopes of getting the Hilton Sunrise. While I am happy with the Renaissance, it is much further away from my preferred location.

I just got an upgrade on a Priceline bid from a 2* to a 2.5* - the Summerfield Suites in downtown Seattle. In this case, I think it really is an upgrade.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by fly co to see the yanks:
such as?</font>

Last March I got my 4* bid in FLL upgraded to a Resort. Was aiming for the Hyattt Pier 66 and ended up at the Marriott Harbor Beach. Hyatt room was much nicer but I guess most people would say the Marriott is better since its right on the beach.

I can understand about not wanting "upgrades" in specific cases. For example, if you were bidding a 2.5-star and the zone included a Summerfield Suites that had that rating; Summerfield Suites can be superior to a lot of 3-star hotels.

But I'm not that impressed with Homestead (2-star). Very cheap and tacky. Well, the one I stayed at was anyway. The room was very small and had no desk; instead I had to sit on a bar stool at a high kitchen counter -- this is uncomfortable and NOT ergonomic at all! There was no one at the front desk at night. I would NOT be eager to stay at a Homestead again.


Kathy

One place you don't want a PL star upgrade is LAX. 2.5* (Hilton Garden Inn, Courtyard) are south of the airfield in El Segundo and offer free parking, Metro access, and lower room tax. 3* gets you a dumpy, $12-parking Century Blvd airport hotel. But you won't have a choice in the matter.

I got an upgrade I didn't want http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/frown.gif I bid downtown Sacramento 2.5* + was upgraded to the 3* Hyatt. I wanted 2.5* because there might be breakfast and the parking would be free.

I have actually chosen to not use Priceline a number of times because I didn't want them to "upgrade" me in some cities.

This is why in areas that you want a little more control, Hotwire represents a great option!

You can often identify the hotel beforehand, but even if you can't, you can often figure out what hotel it isn't, which is just as good when you're trying to avoid a specific property.

[This message has been edited by thereuare (edited 08-26-2003).]

I actually did just that, thereuare, and got the following on Hotwire: 2* $84, 2.5* $48. Comparing amenities on these suggest they are likely to be the same hotels which PL uses.

This confirms my apprehension about using PL similar to you, jabez.

I believe the following is Priceline's heirarchy for hotel ratings:
5 Star hotels
Resorts
4 Star hotels
Boutique hotels
3 Star hotels
2.5 Star hotels
2 Star Hotels
1 Star hotels

Although very unlikely, PL can upgrade a Boutique hotel bid to a 4 Star hotel, Resort, or even a 5 Star hotel, if they are in that zone!


[This message has been edited by bturner13 (edited 08-26-2003).]

[This message has been edited by bturner13 (edited 08-26-2003).]

[This message has been edited by bturner13 (edited 08-26-2003).]

A friend of mine recently decided to bid 2.5 stars in Bakersfield because he would have gotten the Residence Inn or Marriott Courtyard over the 3* Holiday Inn. He wound up being upgraded to the Holiday Inn. Live and learn....

He's right in many cases that the 2.5 Residence Inns, Courtyards, Summerfield Suites, etc are often newer, cleaner, etc than older, more "tired" 3 star properties.

It's unfortunate you can't select an option with Priceline to forego an upgrade. Sure, you may end up paying more for the 2.5 star than the 3 star, but like others have stated, you may wind up with continental breakfast and free parking with the 2.5 star.

[This message has been edited by BEAV (edited 09-01-2003).]

BEAV
I couldn't agree more.On the otherhand,it could mean that the 2 1/2 star properties weren't avalable to Priceline. Even then, I'd rather they come back with something like "We show no 2 1/2 star properties available with the parameters you choose,but we do show a three star.If you want to proceed..."

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by jabez:
BEAV
[snip] "We show no 2 1/2 star properties available with the parameters you choose,but we do show a three star.If you want to proceed..."</font>

Rather, I'd like to see PL offer checkboxes where you could require certain amenities. At the very least, be able to require free parking. I mean, why not be upgraded so long as you still get the amenities you really need? Especially in areas for which there's little info on betterbidding.com, where I don't know the going rates, I just bid the amount I want to spend, select 2* and let PL get me the best hotel that amount can buy.

zbenye
I like your idea. Doesn't Hotwire do that already?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by jabez:
I like your idea. Doesn't Hotwire do that already?</font>

Nope :-(