Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies - Help! Put wrong date in Priceline

I booked the crown metropolitan hotel in Tokyo last week on Priceline, but mistakenly put myself checking in one day early. I realized my mistake now, and don't travel till December 29th. Anyone have any clue if I can get the ~$110 back? Please help!


Mark

From the PL website:


Once hotel rooms are purchased through priceline.com, they cannot be cancelled or changed by priceline or the hotel that accepts your offer and no refunds will be given.

Our hotel partners allow you to save up to 40% or more off the lowest published rates with priceline because we've promised that our customers are guaranteed buyers. This is the agreement that keeps this great service available and the reason we ask you to carefully review all the details of your offer and make any necessary changes before you click "Buy My Hotel Rooms Now" on our website.

Although you may want to give PL a call and see what they say: 1-800-774-2354

aloha

Several people have reported getting one-time exemptions in similar cases. You have a good argument with Japan and the different time zones causing you to make an error.

I think you have a good chance, and as WillTravel mentioned, claim ignorance on the time zone differences.

I'll also note that if you're not successful you may want to call the hotel the day of check-in and have them electronically check you in to a room. It's rare, but some hotels have been known to try to cancel an entire stay if the guest doesn't check-in on the first nite of the stay.

I have done this three times. :o

Call Priceline. Ignore the many prompts that will tell you "no refunds or changes any time". Persist until you speak to a live operator. In my experience they will grant you a "one-time" exception, where they will allow you to cancel the reservation (minus the Priceline fee). The way it works is that they will send you a cancellation form. You have to then bid again for the same number of nights in the same zone at the same star rating for the new, correct dates. If you are successful and have your bid accepted, you will then enter your new reservation # into the cancellation form, email it back, and they'll cancel the old reservation. Be persistent, they should let you do it.

Alternatively, call the hotel directly and explain your predicament. I had a Hampton Inn here in the USA change the date of a stay for me for no charge when I screwed up a Priceline reservation once.

I have done this three times. :o

Call Priceline. Ignore the many prompts that will tell you "no refunds or changes any time". Persist until you speak to a live operator. In my experience they will grant you a "one-time" exception, where they will allow you to cancel the reservation (minus the Priceline fee). The way it works is that they will send you a cancellation form. You have to then bid again for the same number of nights in the same zone at the same star rating for the new, correct dates. If you are successful and have your bid accepted, you will then enter your new reservation # into the cancellation form, email it back, and they'll cancel the old reservation. Be persistent, they should let you do it.

Alternatively, call the hotel directly and explain your predicament. I had a Hampton Inn here in the USA change the date of a stay for me for no charge when I screwed up a Priceline reservation once.OK I screwed up on the dates once - was off by a month and did not realize it until I tried to check-in. :eek:
But to do it 3 times. I think you need to hire a proof reader to assist you in your pl bookings @:-)

You will have a better chance if you call the hotel directly.

I would disagree with the last poster. On a normal reservation, sure, but on a PL reservation, I'd contact PL first, and only try the hotel as a last, desperate measure.

I've done the same thing ... missing it by one date.

Priceline was great at helping. As long as your request is legitamate, I see no problem. If it was a mistake, they'll strive to keep your biz.

Good luck!

Heyta, What was PL's response?

Curiously Suspended in the Fog,

mrspilot

They said they would make a one time exemption and let me rebook it for the same price or more (not try to rebid lower). I managed to get united to change my tickets for free though, to get me out there one day earlier ;) So I guess I won in the end. They did it at no charge too on V fare tickets...



--Mark

heyta, That's EXCELLENT! ^ Although you didn't ultimately benefit from PL's willingness to make changes, the point is that PL Customer Service did attempt to remedy the situation to your satisfaction.

Basking in the Glow of PL Responsiveness in the Fog,

mrspilot

I booked the crown metropolitan hotel in Tokyo last week on Priceline, but mistakenly put myself checking in one day early. I realized my mistake now, and don't travel till December 29th. Anyone have any clue if I can get the ~$110 back? Please help!


Mark

Misquoted a price in USD instead of SGD the other day for a car rental. Was inspired after reading the thread and called priceline up. It did take quite a while before I got a live body, but she was pretty helpful. Got the cancellation and refund within 2 min. But I had to pay a cancellation fee of $30. Small price to pay for my folly.

Well done ! Priceline

Boy are you lucky. I made a mistake on a trip to Florida. . . looked at at 2003 calendar and they said tough cookie. . . no way Jose. . . too bad. . . and rules are rules.

Glad things worked out better for you than me

I wish that Priceline would bring up a final confirmation screen, repeating the buid details, before committing to execute the bid attempt.

When I first began to use PL, I would hurry through the date screen, which comes up befroe the credit card info screen. I once entered a wrong date - but was (thankfully) rejected. Now I make it a point to stop and double-double check the dates and amounts before proceeding.

I wish that Priceline would bring up a final confirmation screen, repeating the buid details, before committing to execute the bid attempt.

They do. Every time. they're even nice enough to put the day of the week in next to the dates, so you can be sure you got it right.

They do. Every time. they're even nice enough to put the day of the week in next to the dates, so you can be sure you got it right.Sorry, my wording wasn't precise - I intended to recommend a SECOND confirmation screen (since several screens can be displayed between the current confirmation screen and the final screen (where you enter your credit card supplemental code number annd then click on "Buy My Hoitel Room".). I know that it seems redundant, but actually that's why I'm proposing it - redundacy :)

You will have a better chance if you call the hotel directly.

What exactly can a hotel do to cancel a PL reservation? Do they refund your money or simply change the dates for you?

aloha

What exactly can a hotel do to cancel a PL reservation? Do they refund your money or simply change the dates for you?

aloha

In my experience - the hotel is only good if you want to change names :D

On more than 1 occasion - I have been able to add another name to my reservation directly with the hotel. Given the fact I wasn't even there - it was as if I was able to give my hotel room to someone else since I had already bid and wasn't able to stay.

-Chris

In my experience - the hotel is only good if you want to change names :D

On more than 1 occasion - I have been able to add another name to my reservation directly with the hotel. Given the fact I wasn't even there - it was as if I was able to give my hotel room to someone else since I had already bid and wasn't able to stay.

-Chris

Thanks Chris for your comment.

So anyone want a hotel in Coon Rapids Minnesota (40 mins outside of MSP)? :D

aloha