Hyatt Gold Passport - Priceline stays - the beginning of the end?

So I stayed at the Boston Financial District Hotel on May 14th at the Priceline
$40+taxes rate, and charged a significant amount to my room (well, it was my wife's birthday). When I called today to find out why the stay hadn't posted (3 other Hyatt stays I've had since the 14th had posted) I was told that the hotel had marked the stay as "ineligible" because it was booked through Priceline. :td:

So is this the beginning of a new Hyatt policy, or just a clerical error? :confused:

The Gold Passport agent I spoke to informed me quite confidently that only rooms booked on Hyatt.com counted as stays. This is bad news on the eve of FFN.

arodin - could you please tell us what you exactly charged to your room? As has been discussed numerous times here, many charges do not trigger a stay credit.

arodin - could you please tell us what you exactly charged to your room? As has been discussed numerous times here, many charges do not trigger a stay credit.

2 drinks and a meal.

2 drinks and a meal.

I wonder if the restaurant/bar is leased especially since this Hyatt is new to the chain (previously Swissotel) and maybe there were some maneuvers with the restaurant/bar. This makes me feel slightly better since you did not make a telephone call.

Was it in the restaurant or room service? Room service is supposed to trigger the credit.

When following the advice gleened from Flyertalk, all of my Hyatt priceline stays have posted. My last stay was about 5 days ago and it posted the day after checkout.

i had a stay at boston financial district too, and it didn't post... i will call and see what's up... i charged a phone call to get the credit... i wonder if that hotel is a no-go...

i had a stay at boston financial district too, and it didn't post... i will call and see what's up... i charged a phone call to get the credit... i wonder if that hotel is a no-go...

When was your stay? I stayed there in January and it posted and counted towards FFN. I have 2 stays coming up next month. Crossing my fingers...

For reference, my last PL stay here on April 5 was posted as a stay.

When was your stay? I stayed there in January and it posted and counted towards FFN. I have 2 stays coming up next month. Crossing my fingers...

may 10th (or 9th)... i had $1 phone call...

Generally Hyatt customer service agents are very good. You may have come across an ill-informed agent. Try again and note the incidental expenditure.

Any policy change is likely to be formally announced by Hyatt.

....The Gold Passport agent I spoke to informed me quite confidently that only rooms booked on Hyatt.com counted as stays. This is bad news on the eve of FFN.
I stayed at the Hyatt SFO last week, booked with Priceline. Did not get points (yet)! Wrote an e-mail - no answer (yet)!

I also have a priceline stay in Huntington Beach, CA next week at the Hyatt. Is there a way to get Freq. Flyer miles with my Hyatt card? Do you have to make a call from the room? Could not tell from the above posts.

Thanks

I stayed at the Hyatt SFO last week, booked with Priceline. Did not get points (yet)! Wrote an e-mail - no answer (yet)!

FWIW, I had a PLN stay at the Jersey City Hyatt and my meal charged to my room was credited towards my stay, which posted, as usual, one day after checkout which was on May 9, 2004.

I doubt very much that there was a general change in the way Hyatt treats these stays, if for no other reason than that we likely would have received advance announcement of same from Julia.

Still, her pronouncement re the Wine and Cigar promos was amended after the fact, BUT, that was for a bonus on top of one's stay, something very different from what has been accorded stay and credit for quite some time now.

Should there be a change, I would expect to receive advance notice of it, and if it was dropped on us like a bomb, then I would be extremely irate.

I would encourage all those who read this thread to make their comments known, as this may possibly be a trial balloon by Hyatt management. Although I do not whine about the witdrawal of certain perks when it is well known what the stance of the company is, this is quite different, as it would be a serious departure from what Hyatt had been doing for several years now.

However, the most likely cause was some unfamiliarity with respect to those stays by someone at the Hyatt downtown Boston property.

may 10th (or 9th)... i had $1 phone call...

Did the charge actually show up on your CC. Sometimes they will just wave a $1 charge since it is not worth their time to process it. Also are you sure you GP number was still on the receipt when you checked out?

One time in Vancouver on a PL stay I checked in, was given a room on the RC floor, and my diamond amenity. I made several incidental charges so that I would be sure to get the stay credit. When I got my bill before checkout I noticed that my GP number was not on it. I went down to the desk and the same girl who had checked me in was there. When I queried why my GP number had been removed, she said she had removed it because I was on an ineligible rate. I made her put it back in, which she was not to happy about.


Bottom line is making sure you have ELIGBLE charges to your room and your GP number is on the reservation correctly.

Is this really a policy change, or enforcement of the written rules? I know we have often been told that incidentals will trigger a stay, but is this described in the program? Is it written anywhere? I thought FFN specifically stated that PL stays will NOT count as a stay, and the incidentals were a "loophole."

I had that experience with Hyatt Regency Bethesda. when I checked out, the clerk removed my GP and the magic line of MasterCard charge xxxxxxxxx
did not show up. I made the clerk to add it back in. He was fully aware of what was going on, and claimed my PL stay would not get credit etc. Upon my insisting, he added back in anyway. However, the stay was still not posted. I had to contact Goldpassport later but luckily got that fixed at the CS level. Me think they can still remove the necessary codes even after your checking out.

it seems to me the issues are all depending on the management at individual properties. Some just dont like to give PL credits as they feel you are cheating them ... My thought is, if there is no PL, the properties involved probably would have more rooms go empty ... while PL would not get them full revenues, but it would get them revenues that are more than enough to cover the fixed costs ... so it still adds incremental value to the hotels. Why they are so against it ?

I think Julia's reply from another thread pretty much answers all the questions:


"A Priceline stay will count in the Faster Free Night Promotion and it would be eligible for airline miles only if there is an eligible charge on your folio that is paid for with a Master Card at check out. "


I would have posted the thread to be clicked on, but I don't know how. :o

Is this really a policy change, or enforcement of the written rules? I know we have often been told that incidentals will trigger a stay, but is this described in the program? Is it written anywhere? I thought FFN specifically stated that PL stays will NOT count as a stay, and the incidentals were a "loophole."


When you state, as Tinnub has posted to what I was alluding to above, that FFNs can be considered applicable on PLN stays if incidentals are charged, and in the past, despite what the rules have noted, you have consistenly been provided stay credit and FFN credit for such stays under the above noted circumstances, then it is a material change to a contract, because the custom of your doing buisness with that firm, etc., has shown by your history with that firm, that they had agreed to the modification of the rules of that contract, regardless of the terms therein.

Since, the changes to the contract necessarily occurred after the terms of those rules and they have been reinforced by Julia's statement, this is a modification to an agreement, and should not be viewed as a loophole, IMHO.

That said, I truly believe that we would be provided with ample notice of such a change, just like we were with respect to the material change to the Lounge access policy for Hyatts outside of North America.

I think Julia's reply from another thread pretty much answers all the questions:


"A Priceline stay will count in the Faster Free Night Promotion and it would be eligible for airline miles only if there is an eligible charge on your folio that is paid for with a Master Card at check out. "


I would have posted the thread to be clicked on, but I don't know how. :o



http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=134931&referrerid=17411

I think Julia's reply from another thread pretty much answers all the questions:


"A Priceline stay will count in the Faster Free Night Promotion and it would be eligible for airline miles only if there is an eligible charge on your folio that is paid for with a Master Card at check out. "


I would have posted the thread to be clicked on, but I don't know how. :o

Actually this reply from Julia was almost a year ago. I think that is why the poster was asking Julia if this will still be the case during the FFN promotion coming up. I'm with NJUPINTHEAIR that I believe Julia would probably warn us in advance on FT if Priceline stays no longer counted for stay + FFN credit because that would cause quite a stir on this forum I believe. BTW, my stay credit posted perfectly fine for a PL stay I had a week and a half ago (checking out on 5/15/04). I also have an upcoming PL stay this Sat. (5/29) so I can let you know if that one posts properly.

My apologies gregorygrady, the post is a year old and I did not look at the date. Thank you for pointing this out.

My apologies gregorygrady, the post is a year old and I did not look at the date. Thank you for pointing this out.


There is no problem with this, even if a year old. We have been earning stay and FFN credit on such stays since then, and that reinforces the view that until we hear otherwise, such stays should/will count for the upcoming promotion, etc.

To end such a course of conduct is entirely permissible, but one who has relied on this statement from Julia and Hyatt's willingness to count such stays with incidentals as sufficient for purposes of earning stay and FFN credit, since the date of Julia's post above, likely will have a very good argument that if there is, indeed, a change, then all those who detrimentally relied in making priceline bookings for the upcoming FFN promotion -- as I have -- should have those bookings count for such purposes because we were legitimately operating under a contract whose terms Hyatt agreed to change through its course of conduct.

However, as I have noted above, I do not think that this is the situation, as the other reasons that have been offered for the failure to post such stays seem to me to be more realistic an answer.

When you purchase the room through Priceline, you agree to certain conditions, including:

"Hotel rooms purchased through priceline are not eligible for frequent traveler points, upgrades, vouchers, or other discounts and incentives."

When each hotel signs their contract with Priceline to list their hotel on Priceline site, I'm sure that is part of the contract also. It seems to me that any Hyatt hotel is fully within their rights to not give any credit and not put your Gold Passport number on the folio if they wish. The contract you agreed to with Priceline has already laid that out.

Although each Hyatt hotel is independently owned and it may do what it wishes, Hyatt corporation, which manages each of these properties, and is the entity that administers the Rewards program, is not free to do what it wishes, as it has continued a course of business with you at variance with the Terms and Conditions it may have with respect to its Gold Passport Program.

Moreover, inasmuch as Julia has represented to us in writing that Priceline stays with incidentals earn FFN and stay credit, and she has never countermanded that statement, nor in the time that she wrote that statement one year ago, Hyatt has had FFN and other promotions come and go and each one of them has earned the GP member FFN and/or stay credit on Priceline rates, Hyatt's course of past conduct binds them to the altered contract that they have made with respect to each GP member who has uitilized Priceline.

That said, if Hyatt should withdraw such stays from FFN and Stay credit consideration, Hyatt being the classy operation that it is, I anticipate that they would be given fair warning of such change, so in the end, this is likely just an exercise in speculation, but it does border on being proactive, so it is not necessarily a waste of one's time.

Indeed, the prior posts, as well as posts following this one, would show Hyatt the depth of feeling behind any such change that they may contemplate on this matter.

Hyatt's course of past conduct binds them to the altered contract that they have made with respect to each GP member who has uitilized Priceline.

Yeah, I'd like to see you win that point in a court of law. When you go to Priceline, there are two over-riding factors that totally kill the entire basis of this point:

1) You are not making a contract with a Hyatt hotel, you are making a contract with Priceline to supply a room that could be at any chain of hotel as long as it meets the agreed criteria; and

2) As I pointed out in my previous post, Priceline's terms and conditions specifically exclude frequent traveler points, benefits, incentives, etc.

It's quite nice that Hyatt has never enforced that, but I don't see how a reasonable person would thank that the internet posting of a Hyatt Gold Passport CSR over rides the contract you agreed to with Priceline if and when one hotel or Gold Passport ever decides to enforce it. You have no contract with Julia, your contract is with Priceline. There are no damages since when you bid on the hotel you were not purchasing a hotel stay specifically from Hyatt and you had already agreed not to receive points, incentives, etc, regardless of what hotel you receive.

Call me crazy, but your statements are nothing more than self-serving (insert your own word here, I'm too nice to call it what I want to) masquarading as an interpretation of contract law trying to preserve a benefit you know you already contractually agreed not to receive when you bid through Priceline.

OK - people - settle down!!!

Let's not let a few presumably isolated incidents create this anxiety yet.

Perhaps there is some glitch in the system. Last year, I had a stay at a AAA rate not post and initially, Hyatt CSR claimed that the AAA rate booked through hyatt.com was not eligible. Julia straightened it out for me.

peteropny - co-moderator - Hyatt

NJUPINTHEAIR - I appreciate your leagal piunts of view, as I believe that is your profession. But don't almost all of these loyalty programs contain a statement indicating that the program can be changed at any time without notice?

The Priceline rules regarding points in the T&C are structured for a different purpose. When a merchant offers "points" or "miles" as a benefit to customers from a third party, they have an incremental expense associated to provide these points.

Priceline statement as to points does not preclude the hotel, car company or carrier from offering points/miles, it simple states the position that they will not provide nor be responsible or incur any expense associate with providing points or miles.

Again, what the hotel, carrier, etc do is totally withing their discretion as a benefit for their customer. They just cannot in turn bill Priceline for the incremental cost for providing this benefit.

In my opinion, Hyatt recognizess the additional revenues generated by providing GP points for incidental expenses on Priceline stays. Would I have dined at 727 Pine in Seattle if points would have not been earned? No. Would anybody have made that $3.50 phone call? or ordered that room service breakfast?

Yeah, I'd like to see you win that point in a court of law. When you go to Priceline, there are two over-riding factors that totally kill the entire basis of this point:

1) You are not making a contract with a Hyatt hotel, you are making a contract with Priceline to supply a room that could be at any chain of hotel as long as it meets the agreed criteria; and

2) As I pointed out in my previous post, Priceline's terms and conditions specifically exclude frequent traveler points, benefits, incentives, etc.

It's quite nice that Hyatt has never enforced that, but I don't see how a reasonable person would thank that the internet posting of a Hyatt Gold Passport CSR over rides the contract you agreed to with Priceline if and when one hotel or Gold Passport ever decides to enforce it. You have no contract with Julia, your contract is with Priceline. There are no damages since when you bid on the hotel you were not purchasing a hotel stay specifically from Hyatt and you had already agreed not to receive points, incentives, etc, regardless of what hotel you receive.

Call me crazy, but your statements are nothing more than self-serving (insert your own word here, I'm too nice to call it what I want to) masquarading as an interpretation of contract law trying to preserve a benefit you know you already contractually agreed not to receive when you bid through Priceline.


I'm not going to get into an argument with you as you are not worth much more of my time or patience to teach those whose minds are either too closed or too dense to understand.

Suffice it to say, however, that you lose the forest for the trees, because you focus your attention on a matter that is immaterial to the inquiry as to whether Hyatt's past course of conduct requires them to owe to me a duty to inform me of any material change as to their disposition concerning their rewarding of GP points, as well as FFN/Stay credit on such stays.

It is immaterial to this specific issue just what my "contract" may be with respect to Priceline, for the salient and substantive point is that I am neither seeking, nor expecting, anything from Priceline other than the room in the hotel that I had bought. Period.

What the hotel decides to do with me once I have arrived at their premises is not a matter that concerns Priceline, nor has Priceline specifically expressed any interest in that, other than to say that they expect me to be placed in a room fit for two individuals. Period.

Moreover, I have NEVER received GP points from Pricelline or Hyatt GP, on the base rate that I had paid to Priceline for my room, BUT I ALWAYS HAVE RECEIVED GP POINTS, STAY CREDIT AND FFN CREIDT FROM HYATT GP on rooms where I either have been on an award stay, or a Priceline or some other 3rd party stay, so long as I had some incidentals charged to my room.

Furthermore, I have never sought in the past, nor will in the future, credit for the room rate that I have booked via Priceline; I will only seek Hyatt GP points for those additional items charged to my room, which are quite separate and apart from what Priceline receives from me.

In addition, and to the best of my knowledge, every one of the major hotel chains awards some sort of point credit for incidentals charged to one's room on a reward or Priceline stay, and therefore, Hyatt's decision to also award stay credit should any incidentals charges appeaer on the bill, is just that much more of an incentive to stay at their properties, as opposed to their competition's hotels.

No, you have it quite wrong, my learned Beckles. Although I may have a contract with Priceline, it is simply immaterial to my contract and the course of conduct that I have maintained with Hyatt GP for several years now. Hyatt GP's longstanding decision to provide me with an Elite room assignment upon check in, a welcome amenity, GP points, stay credit and FFN credit for stays where I incur incidental charges, is quite simply immaterial to whether or not I booked that stay through either Priceline, or Hotwire, or through their reward desk, or even if I was given that room free of charge from my senile old auntie's GP account. Past treatment of these stays earned me such credit and nothing Hyatt GP has ever said or done since that time has alerted me to a change in their procedures, Priceline or no Priceline. Should Hyatt GP wish to modify that contract and change their course of conduct, then they must give me fair warning before doing so.

I need not invite you to any court hearing, as it has been laid plain for you above. I just hope that this time you can grasp the direction and nuance of my argument.

If you wish to continue to close your eyes to this explanation and continue to squak like a parrot about my contract with Priceline, well then, that is a matter purely of concern to you, but your continued doing so will expose you to be nothing more than a troll with respect to this issue.

To recapitulate: lI never have sought, nor will seek, GP points for the rate that I had paid to Priceline -- therefore, whatever arrangements I may have made with Priceline are immaterial to any inquiry as to my expectations from Hyatt GP and Hyatt GP's course of conduct has never been contingent on my contract with Priceline but only has been based upon my room charges, charges that I might add, that Priceline neither sees nor is ever aware of, or ever receives any money therefrom. Your argument centering upon my contract with Priceline is both weak and off point. Case Closed.

The Priceline rules regarding points in the T&C are structured for a different purpose. When a merchant offers "points" or "miles" as a benefit to customers from a third party, they have an incremental expense associated to provide these points.

Priceline statement as to points does not preclude the hotel, car company or carrier from offering points/miles, it simple states the position that they will not provide nor be responsible or incur any expense associate with providing points or miles.

Again, what the hotel, carrier, ect do is totally withing their discretion as a benefit for their customer. They just cannot in turn bill Priceline for the incremental cost for providing this benefit.

In my opinion, Hyatt recognizess the additional revenues generated by providing GP points for incidental expenses on Priceline stays. Would I have dined at 727 Pine in Seattle if points would have not been earned? No. Would anybody have made that $3.50 phone call? or ordered that room service breakfast?


MJ--

Did not read your post above, as I was formulating my response. You and I are on the same page and you are correct. That is why I am sure we would receive notice of any such change -- which all the other hotel chains did, by the way (i.e. SPG and Hilton) -- from Hyatt and Beckles is responding as a troll.

Should Hyatt GP wish to modify that contract and change their course of conduct, then they must give me fair warning before doing so.

Yeah, I must be a real idiot because I don't understand why GP would have to give you fair warning to enforce the contract you already agreed to with Priceline, and by extension the hotel they give you, that says you will not receive any frequent traveler benefits, points, incentives, etc. for the stay. Sorry to waste your time.

Did the charge actually show up on your CC. Sometimes they will just wave a $1 charge since it is not worth their time to process it. Also are you sure you GP number was still on the receipt when you checked out?

One time in Vancouver on a PL stay I checked in, was given a room on the RC floor, and my diamond amenity. I made several incidental charges so that I would be sure to get the stay credit. When I got my bill before checkout I noticed that my GP number was not on it. I went down to the desk and the same girl who had checked me in was there. When I queried why my GP number had been removed, she said she had removed it because I was on an ineligible rate. I made her put it back in, which she was not to happy about.


Bottom line is making sure you have ELIGBLE charges to your room and your GP number is on the reservation correctly.

Yes - My charges showed up on my CC account.
And Yes - My Hyatt # was on the bill.

No - I did not get points, and my stay is not shown at Hyatt's website.

Actually, I was not expecting points from Hyatt for Priceline bookings, so I guess Beckles is correct. It's up to the hotel!
BTW, I got points for my priceline stay at NYC Hyatt (42th street).

NJUPINTHEAIR - Great to share your input on this subject.

Hyatt and Julia have been superior in their proactive and informative approach to this board. Should there be any change in Hyatt procedure, I am sure that we will read it here well before it is enacted.

I chalk up this subject where a stay or points not be posted to a single error or oversight. Similar to when I ask or even reserve a GP2000 promo only to notice that it has not posted. Should the hotel remove a GP#, I would not ask them to put it back as it is likely that as you walk away, it will be removed again. Although a positive attitude would not hurt :)

I posted this in another thread and I believe it applies here as well - Expect nothing and when you get nothing you will not be disappointed :)

When I book Priceline I expect nothing but a place to stay. When my offer is accepted by a Hyatt, it is a wonderful bonus, which exceeds my expectations.

The precedent has been that GP members will receive stay credit and points even on a PL stay if they charge an incidental, and such points will only be on the incidental charges. The precedent has similarly been that if you charge no incidentals, then you will not get any points or stay credits. Despite what any arkain terms and conditions might say (and marketers well no consumers don't read these) (just like you might not read the instruction book before you use a gadget or software program), people are relying on these kinds of precedents in the industry. I think even manufacturers of goods are required to "anticipate" how people will use the product, as opposed to thinking evry person is going to read the manual, etc. Still I would be curious to know what the heck is going on if suddenly people are not getting the expected credit.

When you use Priceline Vacations and choose a Hyatt hotel (which is what you do), then you should not be penalized. Furthermore, even on Priceline bookings (whether known or not), we are currently encouraged to bill incidentals to the room which make the hotel make more money than it would otherwise if the room were empty. It's a win-win situation right now.

........Lawyer talk I don't understand............
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Lawyer talk........
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More lawyer talk............


Well I guess we know who to send after Hyatt the day they try to take away our Priceline stay credits. :)

I don't understand why GP would have to give you fair warning to enforce the contract you already agreed to with Priceline, and by extension the hotel they give you, that says you will not receive any frequent traveler benefits, points, incentives, etc. for the stay.

What Priceline's contract notes is that Priceline will not give you any points, miles, or credits. This is to protect Priceline should the hotel/airline/rental company decide of their own accord to not give you points, miles, or credits.

The hotel/airline/rental company is perfectly free to provide on a Priceline reservation any and all - or none - of the benefits they normally provide for a reservation booked directly with them. What Priceline's contract says is that if they don't, don't come crying to Priceline cause Priceline isn't going to take care of you. :)

Yeah, I must be a real idiot because I don't understand why GP would have to give you fair warning to enforce the contract you already agreed to with Priceline, and by extension the hotel they give you, that says you will not receive any frequent traveler benefits, points, incentives, etc. for the stay. Sorry to waste your time.


Well, just remember, you said it, @:-) not me. :p

Yes - My charges showed up on my CC account.
And Yes - My Hyatt # was on the bill.

No - I did not get points, and my stay is not shown at Hyatt's website.

Actually, I was not expecting points from Hyatt for Priceline bookings, so I guess Beckles is correct. It's up to the hotel!
BTW, I got points for my priceline stay at NYC Hyatt (42th street).

With all due respect, Beckles is not correct, and it is not up to the hotel, because Hyatt manages all the hotels, to the best of my knowledge, it does not own any.

Therefore, this has been a Hyatt decision, and unless they just changed policy, without any notice whatsoever, notwithstanding our learned friend who just can't understand the concept, every other chain hotel that has made such a change, gave fair warning that it was coming.

Given Hyatt's extra pro-active customer service, I would find it hard to believe that this was so.

I therefore encourage you to contact GP and advise that you did not get GP points on the incidentals, nor stay credit, nor any bonuses that you may have been entitled to receive.

What Priceline's contract notes is that Priceline will not give you any points, miles, or credits. This is to protect Priceline should the hotel/airline/rental company decide of their own accord to not give you points, miles, or credits.

The hotel/airline/rental company is perfectly free to provide on a Priceline reservation any and all - or none - of the benefits they normally provide for a reservation booked directly with them. What Priceline's contract says is that if they don't, don't come crying to Priceline cause Priceline isn't going to take care of you. :)

Exactly, Exactly, Exactly.

I encourage all of you to contact GP and ask to receive the points on your incidentals and stay credit.

There has been a split on whether you may be entitled to any GP bonuses at that particular hotel, but I never ask the hotel to put the bonuses in, as I always contact the GP personnel to do it.

I will know soon enough as I have two PLN and two FFN stays over this Memorial Day weekend.

I will report to you all on my results early next week.

Have a great holiday weekend --- even you, Beckles! ;)

Like the ugly American that we get to see on certain international trips, we have the ugly FlyerTalker. The guy who can never get enough for free. It's not enough that we're getting an amenity, breakfast and a nicer room on a $35 PL rate. Let's call GP and get the 2000 bonus points after we check out.

For the record, Beckles is seldom wrong.

Enough already. I would really be interested in people's experiences, not their opinions of each other or what some contract may or may not say. I am sure that both BECKLES and NJUP.. are nice FT members and may not be wrong very often.

To make some sense out of this situation, I can tell you from experience, that all of my Hyatt stays, even the most recent one, that I PL'd, posted with points for the phone call and room service/restaurant charges and I even received all bonuses. I have 3 more PL stays starting 6/1 (SFO Hyatt) 6/5 (Charlotte, NC) and 6/6 (Greenville, SC,) and I will let you know if there are any problems with any of those stays. All are PL.

With all due respect, Beckles is not correct, and it is not up to the hotel, because Hyatt manages all the hotels, to the best of my knowledge, it does not own any.

Therefore, this has been a Hyatt decision, and unless they just changed policy, without any notice whatsoever, notwithstanding our learned friend who just can't understand the concept, every other chain hotel that has made such a change, gave fair warning that it was coming.

Given Hyatt's extra pro-active customer service, I would find it hard to believe that this was so.

I therefore encourage you to contact GP and advise that you did not get GP points on the incidentals, nor stay credit, nor any bonuses that you may have been entitled to receive.

I did! I wrote Hyatt an e-mail a couple of days ago - no answer, no points and no stay on my account. End of story! :td:

i had a stay at boston financial district too, and it didn't post... i will call and see what's up... i charged a phone call to get the credit... i wonder if that hotel is a no-go...

just an update. this finally posted automatically without me having to call...

For the record, I have no problem with receiving credit for PL stays, I've done it myself a few times, what I don't understand is the sense of entitlement that one would be due "fair warning" for the enforcement of a term that was already agreed to. The way I see it, any non-eforcement of the terms was a gift in the past, and any enforcement of them in the future, with or without warning, is a non-event, since I'd still be getting what I agreed to purchase.

I would also add that there are actually several different benefits here that we are really talking about, and my expectation for what will ultimately happen to each is different.

1. Elite amenities - In particular, room upgrades and welcome amenity, I would expect that eventually these will be disallowed on Priceline stays.

2. Points on incidentals - I think these will probably stay, because as already pointed out they encourage hotel spending.

3. Stay credit - I think these will probably go to, Starwood and Hilton seem to be able to do this already (give points for incidentals but not make stay credits, though it's pretty hit or miss in my experience).

1. Elite amenities - In particular, room upgrades and welcome amenity, I would expect that eventually these will be disallowed on Priceline stays.


If the system were pure and there were no comped Diamonds, Priceline Diamonds, end of year fast track Diamonds I would think that a Diamond i.e. someone who actually paid for 25/50 should be entitled to the perks of Diamond even on a PL stay. But the system is not pure, and you get the feeling from reading through these threads on FT that ‘elite’ status has gotten extremely diluted.

Like the ugly American that we get to see on certain international trips, we have the ugly FlyerTalker. The guy who can never get enough for free. It's not enough that we're getting an amenity, breakfast and a nicer room on a $35 PL rate. Let's call GP and get the 2000 bonus points after we check out.

For the record, Beckles is seldom wrong.


No, the Ugly Hyatt Diamond is not the one who gets what the rules currently entitle him to obtaining, the Ugly Hyatt Diamond is one who principally earns his Hyatt Diamond status through Priceline stays.

Right, Hedoman? :rolleyes:

For the record, this time Beckles is wrong.

But, of course, if the weight of those who have discussed this matter were not enough, even you had to qualify your statement on this one. :p

For the record, I have no problem with receiving credit for PL stays, I've done it myself a few times, what I don't understand is the sense of entitlement that one would be due "fair warning" for the enforcement of a term that was already agreed to. The way I see it, any non-eforcement of the terms was a gift in the past, and any enforcement of them in the future, with or without warning, is a non-event, since I'd still be getting what I agreed to purchase.

I would also add that there are actually several different benefits here that we are really talking about, and my expectation for what will ultimately happen to each is different.

1. Elite amenities - In particular, room upgrades and welcome amenity, I would expect that eventually these will be disallowed on Priceline stays.

2. Points on incidentals - I think these will probably stay, because as already pointed out they encourage hotel spending.

3. Stay credit - I think these will probably go to, Starwood and Hilton seem to be able to do this already (give points for incidentals but not make stay credits, though it's pretty hit or miss in my experience).

You are truly lost. The agreement that one would not earn points on the rate paid is between you and Priceline, and guess what, you DO NOT EARN POINTS ON THE RATE PAID FOR THE HOTEL ROOM!

What a novel concept, but one that we have been stating over and over again. What Hyatt has decided to do for those that stay at its properties is permit them status recognition with welcome amenity, points earnings on incidentals, and because they have spent $$ -- no matter how small -- at the hotels, they also earn stay credit -- which triggers credit towards elite qualification for next year, as well as, FFN credit.

I have no problem with their changing the program, and it does not take a rocket scientist to come to the conclusion that such changes are probably forthcoming, what with: 1). the fact that all the other chains have removed stay credit from such stays, and some have removed status recognition, as well; and 2). Hyatt's latest change re lounge access outside of N.A, signals that they do change the program from time to time.

The latter, however, also supports the idea that Hyatt will give notice of any change, as has every other chain that made an alteration in their Priceline policy.

It is not merely as one would have as a customer service heads up, it also stems from the course of conduct in dealing with your guests on the matter -- and their expectations. You may wish to view it solely as a customer service initiative, but it does have its underpinnings in contract law, as well.

And, for the record, I tend to agree with your assumptions as to what may remain and what will go, but I think that it has more to do with the improving economy and the tightening of hotel occupancies more than anything else.

I would fully support a threshold spend limit on a Priceline stay -- and even a threshold on such stays -- for earning stay credit. I have always felt that when staying on such rates, be it award or Pln stays, that one ought to spend a decent amount -- and not some phone call -- to earn stay credit.

However, if PLN stays are to be eliminated, well then certain posters will no longer have input into this forum -- and that is not such a bad thing, either, is it? ;)

The reason that Starwood and Hilton, and the big airlines, have gotten away with such dillusion in benefits in so many ways, is that the American public just puts up with it. A few people might write whiny letters, but most of them will continue to patronize the companies that put forth the anti-consumer change. Even on Flyertalk, where people are exponentially more educated about these things, some people are more or less ok with dilusion. Also the Save Sky Miles thing apparently did not really hit Delta's bottom line to be a major event on the radar. Again you have 95% of the people who are "lazy plats," (an expression I first read on CO forum) that bearly even no the published benefits. They bearly even know and understand the rudimentary elements of the programs. Most of them get miles because their secretary or travel agent puts the number in the record for them.

If these providers had to really fear organized consumer boycotts due to dillusion, they would think twice about it. But people by and large will just take what they get, and then turn the tv channel to something else metaphorically.

You are truly lost. The agreement that one would not earn points on the rate paid is between you and Priceline, and guess what, you DO NOT EARN POINTS ON THE RATE PAID FOR THE HOTEL ROOM!

Priceline's Terms state more than you will not earn points, they state you will not get any program benefits.

You may be right that Priceline will give notice if and when they decide to stop doing that, but I still don't see what basis you have in saying they have some obligation to notify you before they make those changes. Just because other chains may have done that doesn't mean that Hyatt will.

BTW, as I remember it, when Hilton, Starwood, and Marriott updated their program T&C's on Priceline, they were actually just updating them to reflect the fact that their hotels for the most part were enforcing the prohibition on benefits for Priceline stays already, it was not a change of conditions at all and just additional clarification of what the official policy was, and in fact there was no "advance warning". Hilton, Starwood, and Marriott have been very stingy in general with Priceline stays for as long as I can remember, even before their T&C's were updated to better reflect that, though you'd occasionally get lucky with specific stays and/or properties.

Priceline's Terms state more than you will not earn points, they state you will not get any program benefits.

You may be right that Priceline will give notice if and when they decide to stop doing that, but I still don't see what basis you have in saying they have some obligation to notify you before they make those changes. Just because other chains may have done that doesn't mean that Hyatt will.

BTW, as I remember it, when Hilton, Starwood, and Marriott updated their program T&C's on Priceline, they were actually just updating them to reflect the fact that their hotels for the most part were enforcing the prohibition on benefits for Priceline stays already, it was not a change of conditions at all and just additional clarification of what the official policy was, and in fact there was no "advance warning". Hilton, Starwood, and Marriott have been very stingy in general with Priceline stays for as long as I can remember, even before their T&C's were updated to better reflect that, though you'd occasionally get lucky with specific stays and/or properties.

Actually, the Marriott Official Lurker has clarified that one should get perks and the welcome amenity on a Priceline stay and that the hotel will do its "best" concerning room upgrades and preferred room type, etc.

With respect to Hyatt -- and any other hotel chain -- your view is that they are providing you with a "gift" each time they decide to extend a benefit over and above the Priceline terms.

I do not have a quarrel with you on that issue if it was clearly stated as such and/or it was not repeated time and again, and/or it was not being provided to any other elite member, but just a few, and/or the chain was not aware that such "benefits" were being construed as something owing to such elites, and/or they did not state --- as Julia has in the above quote and probably others -- that one receives such a perk, without any sort of qualification.

The above is a pretty long laundry list that I could think of on the spur of hte moment any one of which, IMHO (and the more, that much stronger the argument) that a change from the above would require fair warning.

Look, I think Hyatt has been incredibly generous with its award program for road warriors, or leisure travellers, and that is why I think it has simply the best all around frequent guest program, taking into account the FFN promotion. With that, is a first class customer service operation. Would I be sad to see much modification to the program -- yes; is it inevitable -- yes; will it be a wholesale major change like Hilton -- no, I don't think so given its relationship to its customers.

But make no mistake about it, neither Hyatt, nor any other major multi-million dollar business makes "gifts" like the type we are talking about. When something is ensrhined as corporate policy, it no longer is a gift, but a benefit one comes to expect. Moreover, Hyatt's business decision to extend such benefits was no doubt a deliberative choice, as each of the executives of each of the chains, no full well what the others are doing, if for no other reason than that they read the applicable forums on this board!! After all, they have each in their own way copied the Marriott time-share pland, to some extent.

The only gift that I know of from Hyatt -- and it clearly labels it as such -- is your choice of gifts for loyalty that it provides for those who actually make the Diamond tier on stays or nights, alone, without any multiplier. My Hartmann picture frame was just such a gift. The benefits that Hyatt has been handing out on PLN and the like stays are just that, benefits for which -- it would make good business sense, and put you on the side of at a bare minimum, a colorable argument for the existence of a modified legal contract -- to give fair warning and notice that it intends to depart from the way it had been treating Priceline stays in the past.

The above, I think we can all agree upon. I hope ;)

:td: Lawyers

:td: Lawyers


Can't live with us and can't kill us :D :D

:td: Lawyers

Obviously, I hit a raw nerve above.

So, sorry!

I checked out of a priceline stay at the Grand Hyatt Washington on thursday, stay credit and points for incidentals have posted without any problems.

Keep in mind that Hyatt has major handicaps vs. the other chains that no longer credit Priceline stays. In North America, where Priceline is used extensively, there are only about 100 Hyatt properties, vs. 1000+/- for the other chains. Further, those other chains offer a wide range of price points. Rooms under $100/night can usually be found on the hotel sites in one brand or another, whereas Hyatts mostly go for well over $100.

Also, by having a range of brands the other chains are much less reliant on the convention trade than is Hyatt. Hyatts are mostly large, conference-oriented hotels that have low occupancy absent a convention. So Hyatt needs to fill rooms. And North American Hyatts tend to be dated, though I personally consider the 1970s atrium design timeless.

Finally, Hyatt lacks an affinity credit card, whereas Hilton has two.

For these reasons, Hyatt probably has good business reasons for doing what it does.

Priceline's Terms state more than you will not earn points, they state you will not get any program benefits.

You may be right that Priceline will give notice if and when they decide to stop doing that, but I still don't see what basis you have in saying they have some obligation to notify you before they make those changes. Just because other chains may have done that doesn't mean that Hyatt will.

BTW, as I remember it, when Hilton, Starwood, and Marriott updated their program T&C's on Priceline, they were actually just updating them to reflect the fact that their hotels for the most part were enforcing the prohibition on benefits for Priceline stays already, it was not a change of conditions at all and just additional clarification of what the official policy was, and in fact there was no "advance warning". Hilton, Starwood, and Marriott have been very stingy in general with Priceline stays for as long as I can remember, even before their T&C's were updated to better reflect that, though you'd occasionally get lucky with specific stays and/or properties.


PL does not prohibit the benefits - how could they. I think the wording was set together with some major chains to avoid disapointments, but it does not mean a chain cannot offer the benefits if they like!

:td: Lawyers

Lawyers! ^ ^

Everyone needs an advocate ... and may the best win! ;)

I checked out of a priceline stay at the Grand Hyatt Washington on thursday, stay credit and points for incidentals have posted without any problems.

... and you did not run into me. At any time were you at the GH Washington's 12th floor Regency Club from Monday to Wednesday?

Lawyers! ^ ^

Everyone needs an advocate ... and may the best win! ;)

How could I not agree with that ;).

I checked out of a priceline stay at the Grand Hyatt Washington on thursday, stay credit and points for incidentals have posted without any problems.


Well, the above appears to clinch it.

Thank you, Chad75! ^

... and you did not run into me. At any time were you at the GH Washington's 12th floor Regency Club from Monday to Wednesday?

Briefly on Tuesday, I didn't see you there though. This could be (a) because you weren't there at the time or (b) I don't know what you look like.

If I'd have known I would have tracked you down for a drink and an update for what was happening around town.

Briefly on Tuesday, I didn't see you there though. This could be (a) because you weren't there at the time or (b) I don't know what you look like.

If I'd have known I would have tracked you down for a drink and an update for what was happening around town.

That's too bad or I would have taken you out for dinner to Lauriol Plaza with a group of us on Tuesday night. Perhaps next time.

...Hyatt probably has good business reasons for doing what it does.

I'll add my input here. For what it's worth, I've switched ALL of my stays to Hyatt from Starwood where I have a choice because of Hyatt's apparent committment at the time to "go above and beyond" for their customers. Every programme has strengths and weaknesses, and right now, I love Hyatt for what they offer--including stay credit and elite benefits on the occassional Priceline stay when I give them even more revenue in extra charges--to the extent that I will reward them with my paid business whenever possible with regular paid stays. I, for one, vote with my wallet--and ultimately, I hope that Hyatt will continue to reward my business with the little extra appreciable ways that brought me over to Hyatt to begin with. I'm not saying that the $$ I spend at Hyatt entitles me to anything, but I am saying that what they've offered has earned them by business over their competitors--because Hyatt does in some places what their competitors do not. Hopefully, they see the intelligence in that!! :cool:

Much more eloquent that I could have written. Stay credit for Priceline stays and FFN are marketing decisions that made me a Hyatt regular, however I'm booking. Changed my preferences completely.

Actually this reply from Julia was almost a year ago. I think that is why the poster was asking Julia if this will still be the case during the FFN promotion coming up. I'm with NJUPINTHEAIR that I believe Julia would probably warn us in advance on FT if Priceline stays no longer counted for stay + FFN credit because that would cause quite a stir on this forum I believe. BTW, my stay credit posted perfectly fine for a PL stay I had a week and a half ago (checking out on 5/15/04). I also have an upcoming PL stay this Sat. (5/29) so I can let you know if that one posts properly.

To update everybody as I promised, I just checked out of the Hyatt Newporter yesterday (on a PL stay) and the GP points and stay credit have already shown up on my account today. Too bad Memorial Day weekend couldn't be the first weekend in June then these could've counted towards FFN, but ya can't win them all, right? :) Anyways, I think people are getting all worked up about nothing in this thread because in the past 3 months I've had 6 stays/12 nights at Hyatt (of those there were 3 PL stays/3 PL nights) and all 3 of the PL stays have been credited just fine to my Hyatt GP account within 2 or 3 days of checkout.

OK - I'm going to lock this thread since hardly anything has been posted for a few days other than bickering. We can start a new thread when we have any significant new information.

peteropny - co-moderator Hyatt