Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies - HOTWIRE problem!

Hello everyone!

I have an issue with a HOTWIRE reservation that I would appreciate your input for.

I went online to reserve a room in NYC and found one with a nice selection of amenities and a great price of $163. So I go ahead and want to book it, when I find out that I can not access my account! My password was denied again, and again, and again.... . I then said that I wanted password help and I received an e-mail telling me to click on the hyperlink and decide on a new password. I enter the password once, twice, yes - even three times and it is rejected at all times. I even change the password twice and make sure that I am extremely careful when typing, yet nothing works.

Of course, by this time I am stressing because I want to book a hotel that I don't even know the name of, and I can't even log into my account. So my dad says that we should quickly open up another account. So I open up an account under my dads name and quickly enter the same lodging information. The same hotel now has a price of $188.

Now, of course I know that it is impossible for me to know whether that was actually the same hotel, but it had the same amenities, same reviews (!!!), same location, and same customer favorite icon!

So we book the hotel, already being worked up so much by not having booked the other rate. Both my dad and I, however, decide that since hotwire can see that we attempted to log into my account (the first account used) that they would honor the price we originally saw. The price is now down to $164 but we have already purchased it for $188.

What am I supposed to do? I am very frustrated because it is a $60 difference and that is A LOT of money! I am really nervous about this...

All advice is greatly appreciated!

I don't think there is much you can do, you agreed to the price.

This link explains HOTWIRE PRICE CHANGES THROUGHOUT THE DAY (http://www.betterbidding.com/show.php/act/ST/f/172/t/3650).

I agree - you did agree to the price and I'm afraid that you are stuck.

What you should of done is called Hotwire when you were having the difficulties and see if they could of helped. For the future, their tel # is: 1-866-HOTWIRE or 1-920-330-9418 if you are outside the USA.

What am I supposed to do? I am very frustrated because it is a $60 difference and that is A LOT of money! I am really nervous about this...All advice is greatly appreciated!

ua 882, Since you let the horse out of the barn already, the best advice I could offer is looking ahead to your next bid. Inventory changes frequently as does the price so I don't think asking for a former price is even appropriate whether it be hotel, airfare or car rental rates. We've all been struck by technology glitches (usually user error in my case!) which is when I either pick up the phone to talk to the vendor to ask for help or access the live chat help when one is available, explaining you want to lock in a great deal you've seen.

I know this doesn't help now that you're out $60 but consider it cheap wisdom. You still got a great deal on accommodations while staying at a nice hotel.

Pearls of Wisdom in the Fog,

mrspilot

Although this transaction is now a "done deal", I would still contact Hotwire and ask for any explanation they can offer with regard to the account accessibility problems you encountered. While at the same time telling them how these problems cost you an extra $60 in the long run. My encounters with Hotwire Customer Service have been positive ones. Light years ahead of Priceline's. Although there's probably nothing they can or will do about the $60, they need to hear about WHY it cost you the extra $60.

Is my old school math fuzzy? I only see a maximum $25.00 price difference. What did I miss?

Is my old school math fuzzy? I only see a maximum $25.00 price difference. What did I miss?

Probably this was for a 2 or 3 night stay.

I have been quite happy with Hotwire CS - when I booked a hotel and after calling the hotel I discovered it did not have one of the ammenities displayed on Hotwire, I called Hotwire and was immediately offered a refund. MUCH better than PL.

I sent the thread to a friend who works for Hotwire. I will let you know what I find out!

UA 882...check your PM's.