MilesBuzz! - Hilton Mexico City for $0 per night!

Few weeks ago United Airlines had a computer glitch witht thier website which caused it to sell hundreds of giveaway tickets to Europe.

Just a few moments ago, I was browsing/shopping for hotels in the travelocity.com website. I was extremly surprised to see that the Hilton Mexico is offering $0 per night along with some $130 per night rooms during the month of August. I immediately click "Book Now" to see if it works and it did! I have 4 pages of detaily and clearly written confirmation (Hilton's confirmation # + Travelocity's reservation #) confirming a rate of $0 for two with a King size bed standard room. I also have an e-mail confirmation which states the exact same thing. This is incredible. I am pretty sure it's another computer glitch, but hey, it's not my fault and it's perfectly legal. Just thought you guys might want to check that out yourselves. Go to www.travelocity.com (http://www.travelocity.com) and see for yourself. It may still be available.

Tried it, but kept getting $160/nt.

$190/night here. No other rates available. Tried numerous dates in August.

Of course, $0 per night means 0 hhonors base points! Will get credit for a stay or any other bonuses...

Nice catch, though!

At least hscottm can see it. I have opened a second window and I can still see the rate now. The problem may be:

1) You must be a registered member of travelocity

2) Search hotel, using the 'by airport' option (2nd option), type in MEX (airport code of Mexico)

3) Preference set at: "All Hilton brands"

4) Number of people: 2 Number of room: 1

5) Click "Search Now" at the bottom of search page.

6) There should be only one option b/c there is only one Hilton property in Mexico City and click "select" when you see the hotel. The price range given on the right hand side of the screen is inaccurate. Once you click "select" you should see 4 types of rooms: 2 choices are 2 doubles for $130 per night while 2 other choices are at $0 per night with one King size bed and another, bed size unspecified. The type of rate is: Corporate Rate except one of the Doubles at $130 is Best Available Rate.

Hope this helps.

It works!! You have to hit the 2nd select to get it!!! Also have to guarantee with a credit card. Definitely make a copy of this if you go for it.

THANK YOU,
This will allow me to achieve diamond status.
I have booked 12 stays in august at $0 per stay.

This is truly a sad state of affiars. First, thanks to the original poster for the heads up. After several tries, I was finally able to book my reservation. The question is what will I do for free stuff? Well, except for the $41 in taxes that did show up. Perhaps I should've booked more than 3 nights, but I really couldn't justify a reason for the trip in the first place. How's this, I'm planning a mileage run???

Perhaps I'll see some of you there.

This actually shows up as early as June, but it down in the 5th and 6th options then. I don't have any reason for wanting to go to Mexico City or I would take them up on this. Now if it was CANCUN, that would be a different story.
Cindi

how far is the airport from the city and what is there to do there?

forgot to ask- how much tax came up per night?

I got it! $0 for one night in August. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Under the "Reservations" tab it lists my one reservation three times. The first lists my Hilton confirmation # with a "-01", the second lists the Hilton same confirmation # without the "01", and the third says "Confirmation Code - Not yet confirmed".

You have the option to delete any of the three reservations. I learned by doing so, the reservation gets cancelled.

So.....if you leave all three alone, your one reservation is kept. I called both Travelocity, and Hilton HHonors directly, and everything is booked and confirmed for $0!

Thx for catching this Guava

tax is 17% per night but %17 of 0 is 0!!!
it is 250 per night stay as well. N o points awarded becuase it is $0 but I 'll take the nights toward diamond

why did kiranarise have $41 in taxes then?

I meant to say 250 miles per night. I have no idea why he had taxes added I did not.

I just booked 2 rooms for 5 nights. I will spend Halloween in Mexico. I checked dates clear into Dec. Be persistent. I had to click a dozen times before it took. And who cares if I pay tax or not. Thanks for the tip

I wonder if Hilton will honor these prices. Will they let people stay for free, will they refuse to let people stay for free or will they solve it the United Way(paying people not to stay)? If only I know when I will have time off from work this summer I would have book a week or two in Mexico.

thanks for sharing this with everyone Guava.

I now got the rate to come up. However, when I click to confirm I keep getting the following error message:

09521102 EndTransaction FAILED RETRY - SABRE error: WAITING FOR DC RESPONSE .... RETRY IN 03 SECONDS

i'm getting it too now... got one out of every 2 nights in june.. so 15 stays, was hoping to get a few more to guarantee diamond status... but oh well hopefully i'll get the 7500 ual miles!

well, I booked 30 nights in august. August 1st to 31st. Can't say I'm really going to go, just interested to see how they handle this. Maybe I'll fly down, check in, fly home. Then fly back and check out at the end of the month... Or I could probably check out over the phone.

This is crazy. I just a week for myself, and a week for my parents!!! Think I will get a Gold upgrade??? HEHE.. I really don't think this will work. BUT I have a a confirmation code. (2 actually)

Thanks for the tip! I booked 29 nights in July. I don't think it will work....it will be interesting to see how they handle this. I have no desire to go to Mexico City, but I may fly there, check in, and then go home. Maybe I can check out over the phone.

Just booked July 1- 7th. I am considering getting married there this summer. We are trying to find a good vacation spot, and nothing is as good as free...

I can guarantee Hilton is not going to honor the $0 rate.

When I used to work for a major luxury hotel chain, we routinely had $0 rates that appeared on-line, due to systems problems. I spoke with the company that handled our reservations database and they told me that travel agents would never book a $0 rate, because it is prohibited in their contract. I explained that regular customers booked online and would believe a $0 rate, but the idiots at the unnamed reservations service would not listen and started lecturing to me about the structure of their antiquated database. So the $0 rates remained, and no one at the company seemed to care.

What I will tell you is that customers were charged rack rate at check-in, and under no circumstances did the hotel chain honor the rates, or make any effort to fix the problem.

Just telling you the hotel perspective (I am no longer employed in the industry), and wish you all good luck. I agree that whatever is published should be honored, but I think the burden will be on Travelocity, because supposedly as a "travel agent", it is not allowed to sell illegitimate rates.

my confirmed res just got cancelled. I call Travelocity and am on hold with them right now. I've since re booked that res. and two more. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif Let the games begin So far I have 90 nights booked there.

I have been on the phone with Travelocity and Hilton..no way this is going to be honored! what a waste off time..i'll keep trying anyway, but it won't work..i'm sure..if it does..I'll be happy GOLD VIP with no room!

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MRKEY

I got one weekend then I tried for another and I get:

09521102 EndTransaction FAILED RETRY - SABRE error: WAITING FOR DC RESPONSE .... RETRY IN 04 SECONDS

I wonder if they are trying to fix it??

I retried acouple of times and somehow they have me booked 6 times (with confirmation numbers for 3) on July 28.

das - we hope your prediction is wrong. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/eek.gif

I have just spoken to a Hilton rep and she confirmed my dates and the rate. I also have a fax from hilton confirming said reserv. I don't think it will be possible for them to weasle out.

I got the rate but only recieved an error message when I tried to confirm

Honestly, as others posters have pointed out, Hilton can't just scratch confirmed reservations as they like. Each legally confrimed reservation is the same as a contract. There are laws which protect consumers' rights in this respect. With so many people having confirmed reservations already (lots of Americans and Canadians), if Hilton intends not to respect the contract, I can guarantee you that they will eat lots of lawsuits if not a mega-combined one. Chances are they will lose at almost 100% of chance. It's plain simple and straight forward, Hilton must respect their contracts. I just don't see otherwise, not according to the laws in the USA and Canada or even Mexico for that matter. Why do you think United settle their case outside of the court, b/c they know they won't win. They had a better chance of limiting their losses by making deals with the affected customers rather than going to court which predictably they will lose and risk to pay much more and cause lots of negative impressions/feelings against the airline.

Let's look at this way.

Airlines tickets are paid at time of reservation, with credit card charged. Hotel stays are paid at time of check-out, credit card serves no purpose until check-out. They haven't taken any money from you yet. And try to explain this to the front desk before you leave... and wait for them to get police called. They will consider this as someone refusing to pay a product after it's consumed. (eg, similar to restaurant).

This might only work if the stay is prepaid like Priceline and no money is required at check out. However, it will be the individual hotel with a real human processing your check-out charge. Do you think that human will say... let's see, room rate of $0 so your credit card is charged $0, without thinking? Computer does but not Hilton employees.

Don't waste your time.

I was very specific with the Hilton agent. i told her of the glitch and the price, asked if indeed I had a confirmed reservation @$0.00? She took a few minutes,checked with a supervisor and told me indeed I did. Furthermore, I asked who was responsible for the price and she said it was travelocity.com. IE, they would have to pay Hilton for the rooms. I know have Hilton verbal and written confirmation, as well as travelocity written confirmation. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

MoreMiles
regardless of when payment is made, I have entered into a contract with Hilton to provide me with accomodations in Mexico City at a rate of 0.00 If they choose to provide me accomodations and give me money, that is there progative, however the contract stands.
Furthermore, as I have said I have confirmed this with a Hilton agent, and have documentation.

Give me a break all of you. The nicest thing I can say is: Do you seriously expect Hilton to honor a $0 rate? I wouldn't, and I hope they don't.

How long do you think it will be until people hear from either travelocity or hilton, or both? Hmmm..I wonder if this will get the same type of press that the united thing did, coming so soon after the UA thing.

It looks like some folks had some fun for awhile with this exercise but don't expect the hotel to honor the $0 rate. Do a search for "scrivener's error" on these boards.

I wish you all good luck, however I disagree with Guava's post. At least in the US, a valid contract requires "consideration" (i.e. money, property, or services) from both parties to a contract. That is why you sometimes hear of contracts with a selling price of $1. IMHO, there is no consideration on the part of the FT'ers here, so there is no legally enforceable contract. Hopefully, Travelocity/Hilton will honors these reservations anyway.

No rooms availiable any weekend this fall.
$0 Rates must have filled hotel up.

Come on guys - use that thing between your ears - even you americans. Dont you think that the honorable Mr Burke might just have tipped his employer. And I can tell you that Travelocity have software that flags them up. Forget being the litigious americans you are and think rationally for a second - something for nothing - would you believe it from a car salesmen -- wait forget that i saw the adverts last week in LA - You do.

Jon 'nothing down and 20 dollars a lifetime' Garside

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LH Gold, BMI Gold, BA Silver, Hilton Diamond

Originally posted by Guava:
Honestly, as others posters have pointed out, Hilton can't just scratch confirmed reservations as they like. Each legally confrimed reservation is the same as a contract. There are laws which protect consumers' rights in this respect. With so many people having confirmed reservations already (lots of Americans and Canadians), if Hilton intends not to respect the contract, I can guarantee you that they will eat lots of lawsuits if not a mega-combined one. Chances are they will lose at almost 100% of chance. It's plain simple and straight forward, Hilton must respect their contracts. I just don't see otherwise, not according to the laws in the USA and Canada or even Mexico for that matter. Why do you think United settle their case outside of the court, b/c they know they won't win. They had a better chance of limiting their losses by making deals with the affected customers rather than going to court which predictably they will lose and risk to pay much more and cause lots of negative impressions/feelings against the airline.



Originally posted by mtacchi:
MoreMiles
regardless of when payment is made, I have entered into a contract with Hilton to provide me with accomodations in Mexico City at a rate of 0.00 If they choose to provide me accomodations and give me money, that is there progative, however the contract stands.
Furthermore, as I have said I have confirmed this with a Hilton agent, and have documentation.

G and M, are you guys serious?!
G, for the benefit of the other visitors to this board, please confirm that you are not admitted to practice law in any of the following jurisdictions: any state of the United States, any province of Canada, or Mexico.


Originally posted by jongar:
Come on guys - use that thing between your ears - even you americans. Dont you think that the honorable Mr Burke might just have tipped his employer. And I can tell you that Travelocity have software that flags them up. Forget being the litigious americans you are and think rationally for a second - something for nothing - would you believe it from a car salesmen -- wait forget that i saw the adverts last week in LA - You do.

Jon 'nothing down and 20 dollars a lifetime' Garside

jongar: Please note that the litigious posters are not American (at least they do not live in the USA).

I agree its outragious,however I took the time to explain the entire situation to a Hilton Rep, she checked with a supervisor, and then confirmed it to me. What more do you want. I was not sneaky, or trying to get away with it, I told her the price, that it must be a mistake, she laughed, and then confirmed the price.

I'm not quite sure why the holier-than-thou members of this board are becoming so outraged and defensive at the thought of a free hotel stay, due to a server mix up.

Maybe someone can explain to me why I should care about the stupid mistake of a corporate giant who has gone out of their way to put profits over people, time and time again. The same giant who has paved the way for the Americanization of the entire planet. Where Hilton goes, McDonalds soon follows.

As soon as the preachers of this board are willing to remove their heads from their backsides long enough to see the light of day, they might realize that Corporate America never did any of them a favor.

Justice, nah.
Poetic, yep.

Cheers (from a Yank)

I'm not saying that there IS a contract...but it's an interesting question, whether consideration is present. It could be argued that consideration is present in the giving of the credit card information. Since this is something that the booker of the rooms did not have to do, and is, in theory a detriment to them (they've lost some privacy, they've given out financial information)and even a benefit to hilton, in the form of obtaining the private information and authorization, there MAY be consideration present on both sides. Interesting question. I don't think it would ever come to a lawsuit, but the partys' percieved answer to the quesion may still determine, at least in part, the outcome.

It would be interesting to see if personal information could be construed as consideration even when that obviously wasn't Travelocity or Hilton's intent. I could see it if information was explicitly solicited. In this case I think you'd need an awfully sympathetic judge. FWIW, I'm not suggesting that anyone here would really sue over this!

Corporate America might have never done you any favors, but that is a strong point, not a weak one.

Of course, we could go to a system of bribes and backroom deals that plague certain countries to get what we want, but I prefer treating companies as I would want to be treated. When I am treated favorably unexpectedly then I take it in stride just as when I am treated as one of the herd.

I give my business to those who treat me well and don't to those who treat me badly. I would hope that you would expect a business to do the same the opposite direction.

While it is Travelocity and Hilton's mistake, why is it okay for us to take advantage of them? Sure, it's fun to try to stay a night for nothing, but what about those who booked a month? Aside from the initial abuse of the mistake, this is throwing it out the window after having set it on fire.

What goes around comes around...

My humble opinion,

drewman

Are you not the least bit uncomfortable by wanting something of value for nothing when you must know full well that some clerk working in a computer department made a typo?

well, personally, I don't plan to even go. What I do want is a call from Hilton. I plan to drop the issue if they extend my Platinum memebership a few more years. Worth a try, work an angle. I really wouldn't expect them to honor that, but it is fun to see what happens.

It is sort of odd that the offer is still available today. I would think that it would be pulled a lot faster (United pulled the Paris thing in an hour).

Village Idiot,

I had the same plan. I'm perfectly willing to go and can get there for nothing so I will use it, but I could be convinced to give it up for a few years of Diamond Status. As to if I care about getting something for nothing, Yep, I care. And I want it. I had to pay $400 for a forty minute flight today full fare. I think that is as ridiculous as a $0 hotel stay. It all evens out in the end

Originally posted by drewman:
Of course, we could go to a system of bribes and backroom deals that plague certain countries to get what we want, but I prefer treating companies as I would want to be treated.

First of all, this mysterious backroom system of which you speak wouldn't be the same one that's run this country, as well as it's corporations for the past 200 years, would it? Please don't play the dumb (or ugly, for that matter) American card here and pretend that our government (and it's corporations) are any different or better than any other when it comes to bribes, payoffs and back room deals. You have heard the term "lobbyist", I assume?!

That being said, I'm still looking for a qualified response why I should give a **** about staying one night, or even 29 nights, for free at the Mexico City Hilton.

"It's just not right to do" or "Jesus will be mad" doesn't quite cut it for me. And yes, I do have a conscience. However, my logic tends to outweigh it in matters such as these.

Thank you, Conrad Hilton. I'll raise a cerveza in your honor from the terrace of a cafe which overlooks the Hilton property.

Salud!

Because certain other people are corrupt then we should act that way too?

Because one company screwed us over, we should screw another company that had nothing to do with the first and think it all washes out in the end?

I find it far more rewarding to maximize my rewards within the system rather than without and yes I believe that everyone that tries to get a room for $0 a night knows that it is a mistake and is trying to take advantage of that mistake and then wants to be 'paid off' with elite status they haven't earned?

Good luck in life, sounds like those around you will need it...

drewman

The interesting thing for me is the question of what would happen in reverse. If I make a reservation, then by ACCIDENT don't remember that I made it, make a new one at a different place, or don't end up taking the trip, do you think they'll still charge me for the night, even though it was clearly an ACCIDENT on my part? I think so. I know so. It's happened.

Aren't we missing something here? This is the Mexico City AIRPORT we're talking about. Do you really want to spend a week with a choice of:
a) poisoning your liver all day in the hotel bar to escape the 100 degree sun
b) going outside to watch jets fly overhead, with all conversation being drowned out
c) taking a rickety bus for an hour each way to the city through one of the world's smoggiest valleys
d) spending a fortune in cab fares to and from the kidnapping capital of the world
e) renting a car to get to overpriced restaurants and be greeted by banditos on your way back

An interesting thread to be sure. I was with the do-gooders and thinking along the lines of doing the ethical thing on this until I read the last post by aflyer. He's right. Hilton is the first chain to beat me over the head with their GD fine print, rules, restrictions, etc. More than once I have had a knock down, drag-out fight over exactly what the rules say, in order to get proper points for a stay or to get some meager upgrade benefits. Why not beat them over the head once in a while with something that benefits US?

Originally posted by aflyer:
I'm not saying that there IS a contract...but it's an interesting question, whether consideration is present. It could be argued that consideration is present in the giving of the credit card information. Since this is something that the booker of the rooms did not have to do, and is, in theory a detriment to them (they've lost some privacy, they've given out financial information)and even a benefit to hilton, in the form of obtaining the private information and authorization, there MAY be consideration present on both sides. Interesting question. I don't think it would ever come to a lawsuit, but the partys' percieved answer to the quesion may still determine, at least in part, the outcome.


What a load of crap!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

Just because you may talk the talk of an attorney, or even walk the walk, and be licensed to practice law, you would be laughed out of court.

Haven't you ever heard of unitlateral mistake??? Moreover, just what kind of benefit were you expecting for a "bargain rate" of $0.00??


This is not even remotely like the United situation, for no one could ever argue that they truly believed that they were just giving away rooms for $0.00, when other rooms of the same type were clearly listed ON THE WEBSITE for some consideration=MONEY!!

In the United case, they saw ONLY one price for the ticket, and at least it cost
SOMETHING!!!!

Finally, I DARE any of YOU to try this little stunt of yours in MEXICO of all places!!!, where the whim of the Police and the Judiciary are legend. If you had not guessed, they do not take too kindly to Gringos who are trying to get something for nothing. If you do attempt it, I think it will be a very costly move on your part and you may not be posting things on this board for a long time. But hey,its your "vacation."

Aflyer, your attempt at rationalizing this by the above post and your later post, which argues that you would have been charged had you forgotten about a reservation, misses the point, for you were expected to PAY something for that reservation. Your attempt to justify your taking advantage of the situation reminds me of a recent post that you authored.

You should follow your own advice, you may actually learn something from it. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

aflyer
Member
Posts: 247
From:California
Registered: May 99
posted 03-10-2001 09:15 PM
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I can't believe this. I really can't. Egos.

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FEELS DIFFERENTLY WHEN THE SHOE IS ON THE OTHER FOOT, DOESN'T IT? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif :



[This message has been edited by DOC 2 BE (edited 03-12-2001).]

Originally posted by biff:
Aren't we missing something here? This is the Mexico City AIRPORT we're talking about. Do you really want to spend a week with a choice of:
a) poisoning your liver all day in the hotel bar to escape the 100 degree sun
b) going outside to watch jets fly overhead, with all conversation being drowned out
c) taking a rickety bus for an hour each way to the city through one of the world's smoggiest valleys
d) spending a fortune in cab fares to and from the kidnapping capital of the world
e) renting a car to get to overpriced restaurants and be greeted by banditos on your way back


These silly people plan to check in and out over the phone instead of being their physically... and still hope to get FF or HH points.

If I were you, I would not give them your real credit card number. They will definitely take advantage of that... and it will be a lot of hassles trying to dispute this with your bank.

It does not matter who you confirm this reservation with. Did you check with the hotel directly and get a written confirmation faxed from that hotel manager? It's very easy for the 800# central reservation desk to agree with whatever you say because it is not their hotel. Most hotels are owned privately under a franchise agreement. The income goes to that owner and they pay a fee to Hilton for the use of their logo and reservation service.

So call the hotel directly and then come back to post your results. Let us know how much luck you had once you understand how hotel industry works.

The situation here is different from United ticket all together. No product or e-ticket was issued to you at time of booking. Try to argue this to a judge about how they cannot change their mind... change what? Nothing was sold to you yet.

Originally posted by drewman:
Because certain other people are corrupt then we should act that way too?

Because one company screwed us over, we should screw another company that had nothing to do with the first and think it all washes out in the end?

I find it far more rewarding to maximize my rewards within the system rather than without and yes I believe that everyone that tries to get a room for $0 a night knows that it is a mistake and is trying to take advantage of that mistake and then wants to be 'paid off' with elite status they haven't earned?

Good luck in life, sounds like those around you will need it...

drewman




drewman, thank you for your posts. I share your sentiments exactly.

The last time I checked, I didn't live in a communist state but rather a free market one. Corporations succeed and fail. Some get rich while others go bankrupt. At the end of the day, any one with a pension or retirement account is a beneficial shareholder of these companies (although the past year has been truly depressing for any shareholder). For those that succeed, stock prices go up and investors benefit (although I recognize that success may be at the cost of laying off unskilled and/or higher cost labor). For those that fail (perhaps because management didn't do anything about an inefficient and unproductive work force or because management just stinked), people get laid off and investors/shareholders lose money. In a growing economy, the net effect is that workers and investors (sometimes the same individual) benefit. Sure, managers and CEOs may make a tidy sum relative to the lowest paid worker in whatever scenario, but in this country, you, me, or the next person has the same opportunity to be that CEO through hard work and a dose of luck. If you don't want to work for a big corporation, you can work for yourself. I have no problem with companies trying to maximize profits, just as I really admire non-profit entities and the work they do. I also have no problem with the government taking some of that profit back in taxes. Over the long run, (we are all dead, but also) good companies will succeed and bad companies will fail (however you want to define it). Because companies try to maximize profits, that is no justification for individuals to try to keep some of it for themselves through unlawful means.

Before you know it, folks will be arguing that it's OK to add a few extra deductions on your tax return or to file a larger than actual claim to your insurance company. It's definitely tempting, but that's an argument I will never buy. Honest folks already get slammed by the cost of fraud, but rather than join the cheaters I rather hope that the cheaters will join me.


And with regard to biff's comments, I agree that staying at an airport hotel is no fun. But the rest of Mexico City (along with the country) is a great place to viusit.

Please don't say I haven't earned my status. I saw my parents 4 times last year and we live 2 miles from one another. I am an extremely loyal customer of both Hilton and Starwood (I.E. My Diamond and Platinum status.)

And as for the lives of those around us, my actual plan was to try to get status for my Brother and a good friend of mine, both who travel a lot but have never bothered to enroll in programs. I don't really need it personally because I will re qualify for Diamond at the end of the month.

Doc 2 Be,

I think your missing the point. I will show up in Mexico with my CONFIRMED Hilton Reservation, on Hilton letter head, faxed from Hilton. According to the HILTON agent, the rate is not there concern, it is the problem of Travelocity.com. They are the ones who will owe Hilton the bucks.

Additionally, anyone can still book rooms at this rate. A fellow flyer just booked a week for himself, promptly called Hilton, had it confirmed and a fax sent.

As to if I expect to stay for free, you better believe it. I will, at very least end up with a weeks worth of Neutrogena products.

dupe

[This message has been edited by fallinasleep (edited 03-12-2001).]

Please don't say I haven't earned my status. I saw my parents 4 times last year and we live 2 miles from one another. I am an extremely loyal customer of both Hilton and Starwood (I.E. My Diamond and Platinum status.)

And as for the lives of those around us, my actual plan was to try to get status for my Brother and a good friend of mine, both who travel a lot but have never bothered to enroll in programs. I don't really need it personally because I will re qualify for Diamond at the end of the month.

Originally posted by Atomic:
First of all, this mysterious backroom system of which you speak wouldn't be the same one that's run this country, as well as it's corporations for the past 200 years, would it? Please don't play the dumb (or ugly, for that matter) American card here and pretend that our government (and it's corporations) are any different or better than any other when it comes to bribes, payoffs and back room deals. You have heard the term "lobbyist", I assume?!

That being said, I'm still looking for a qualified response why I should give a **** about staying one night, or even 29 nights, for free at the Mexico City Hilton.

"It's just not right to do" or "Jesus will be mad" doesn't quite cut it for me. And yes, I do have a conscience. However, my logic tends to outweigh it in matters such as these.

Thank you, Conrad Hilton. I'll raise a cerveza in your honor from the terrace of a cafe which overlooks the Hilton property.

Salud!



To avoid any perceived ambiguity, my post was a response to the "legal" arguments made in the first two messages I quoted and was not related to the morality of the situation.

On the legal issues, I agree with DOC 2 BE's message. Also, let me just say that you do not want to pull something like this off in Mexico (forget about the Bill of Rights and civil liberties). Finally, UA reversed course midway through the "US-Paris for $28" situation for PR reasons, not legal.

Mtacci,

I wish you all the best, but you are going to be mightily disappointed. The hotel is no doubt privately owned, and if you refuse to pay, you will be hauled off to jail, of that, I am certain.

You want to sue Travelocity, good luck getting an attorney who will take it on a contingency fee. If not, then you will have to shell out a lot more than it will cost you at the hotel had you paid for your room. And, in the end, you would still lose.

Fianlly, what kind of press and sympathy do you think you would get from most "normal" people, who pay at least SOMETHING for their hotel stays? I doubt that you will garner much sympathy, rather derision.

The free week's worth of Neutrogena products will be necessary for the time you will spend in the Mexican jail cell that you are going to get.

I had a similar thing happen to me with Travelocity and Concorde hotels. It was not Travelocity's error, but Concorde's. You may wish to read my post on the United board. It worked out well for me as I was reasonable with my negotiations, and I agreed to pay something. You are, I fear, deluding yourself, and others.

But I do wish you the best of luck!!

Originally posted by NYC1:
Finally, UA reversed course midway through the "US-Paris for $28" situation for PR reasons, not legal.

One could also add that UA reversed course because they reacted poorly to the computer snafu and began charging passenger credit cards without authorizaation. Had they responded in a timely manner, they could have easily "gotten away" with much less in my opinion. But they were disorganized and their "spokesman" began making poorly worded remarks that were not seen as consumer friendly.

Originally posted by DOC 2 BE:

Finally, I DARE any of YOU to try this little stunt of yours in MEXICO of all places!!!, where the whim of the Police and the Judiciary are legend. If you had not guessed, they do not take too kindly to Gringos who are trying to get something for nothing.


I agree totally. Not trying to be discriminatory here, but lots of misunderstanings with foreign travellers were treated unfairly by their local system. The potential cost of getting your family to bail you out with lawyer involvement will probably high enough stop you from taking any vacation for many many years.

I live in Canada and have seen numerous situations like this. This is a reference of a very well known news here locally. http://cbc.ca/cgi-bin/templates/view.cgi?category=Canada&story=/news/1999/04/07/can_mexico990407

That tourist didn't believe he did anything wrong. Mexican police didn't buy that and jail him... that's a big misunderstanding!

Do you want the same thing happening to you?

(edited for reference link and quote addition)

[This message has been edited by MoreMiles (edited 03-12-2001).]

MoreMiles --

I agree. And, you referred to misunderstandings, how do you think the local authorities are going to react to someone trying to get something for nothing??

Lets face it, corruption is found everywhere, but it certainly is a major problem in Mexico, where an American motorist wound up dying because he had been in a car accident with a Mexican official who decllined to release him from Mexican custody until his family secured an outrageous bail bond. By the time they di so, it was too late.

Does anyone on this board really want to chance this, and/or be the poster child for the Ugly American/Canadian??

Loretta G and Ayatollah, care to chance your luck? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Someone asked why I have taxes on my reservation. I don't know. It didn't come up as 17%, it came up as a dollar amount of $17 per night. So, that's $42, my typo. I found different restrictions for different nights. One stated $15 charge for extra person, the date I ended up selecting had no extra person charge, so I quess the rules vary per date.

Why are there so many personal attacks flying around here?

[This message has been edited by aflyer (edited 03-12-2001).]

See Below.

[This message has been edited by DOC 2 BE (edited 03-12-2001).]

Duplicate. Sorry.

[This message has been edited by aflyer (edited 03-12-2001).]

This will be my last post EVER responding to this guy. I will ignore, skip over, and pretend he doesn't exist...but who the heck IS this guy? Anyone else wonder what we did to deserve this?

BTW, I'd do this via email, but he's not brave enough to post one.

Can't attack my reply to your earlier posts on page 2 of this thread, so you must attack the messenger. How unfortunate.

And, you don't need to resort to lying about the number and timing of my posts. If you can't overcome their logic, which obviously you can't as you have resorted to a personal attack, and you seem to be further inflamed that others agree with me, then perhaps you should enlist the aid of your doppelganger, Loretta G, to assist you. You two do make a nice pair.

Truth hurts, don't it?


[Aflyer decided to erase the comments he made about me immediately above, and instead replaced it with his bland imitation of Rodney King's "Why can't we all get along" speech.]




[This message has been edited by DOC 2 BE (edited 03-12-2001).]

Originally posted by aflyer:
Anyone else wonder what we did to deserve this?

BTW I'd do this via email, but he's not brave enough to post one.
---------------------------------------------

OK big shot, post your HOME e-mail account, not some Hotmail account, and I'll be glad to mail you. Until then, stop WHINING! After all, you should be familiar with that term as you like to bandy it about in regard to others.

If you were to never reply to one of my posts, that would be too soon. I notice that you removed your earlier post about me, above. Afraid that others might read your vitriol? Why, if you are so in the right?

You started this, with your "chioce" comments, and obviously you can't stand the heat, so you chicken out. Fine. Post your home e-mail, then you will hear from me.

---------------------------------------------
DOC 2 BE
FT Evangelist
Posts: 783
From:Hoboken, NJ , USA
Registered: Mar 2000
posted 03-12-2001 07:52 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by aflyer:
Please stop your whining. Can't you see that you're the ONLY one that's not TIRED OF IT?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oh that is not whining. The following is truly whining.


aflyer
Member
Posts: 249
From:California
Registered: May 99
posted 03-12-2001 02:54 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The interesting thing for me is the question of what would happen in reverse. If I make a reservation, then by ACCIDENT don't remember that I made it, make a new one at a different place, or don't end up taking the trip, do you think they'll still charge me for the night, even though it was clearly an ACCIDENT on my part? I think so. I know so. It's happened.

Originally posted by aflyer:
Why are there so many personal attacks flying around here?

[This message has been edited by aflyer (edited 03-12-2001).]

Perhaps because the above was not your original message of this post. Instead, what you erased, you coward, was a personal attack on me, reminiscent of your good buddy and soulmate, Loretta "G" (is for Gutter). But then, you don't have the nerve to show what you originally posted about me, do you?

If you did, then perhaps that would explain what YOU did to have deserved my enmity.

I hope these words are not too difficult for you to comprehend. If they are, just let me know, and I will reprint them in a simpler manner, so that even the likes of you might understand my meaning.

Please cool it a little folks. Speaking as someone who has always acted with decorum on these boards .... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

The thread is getting well away from a very neat deal found by GUAVA. My hunch is if the rooms had priced at even ONE cent you'd have far better grounds to claim a "contract" existed. And Biff's humourous posting about the delights of a week at a Mexico City airport hotel are worth taking on board. I hope it works, or that Hilton makes you some kind of offer to sort it out. The 500+ post UA thread has contact details of many media folks, one of whom would probably run with this for a story - worth a try. THEN you'll see some action to buy you off methinks.

And finally, I endorse the wise comments of many above about Mexico NOT being the place to expect to check out and pay zippo. I was at a hotel in Merida Mexico once and forgot my pre-paid voucher for the few nights - left it one my desk at home. Travel Agent faxed it to me from Sydney. Gave it to desk on check out. "QUE? - Eess not ze vocher Senor." "Yes, but it is a fax of it, with my name on it, the confirmation number, details of your ground agent, and price pre-paid, etc so surely it is acceptable?". Two large Bellmen then picked up our suitcases and took them out back. "Pay $US700 now or we keep the bags - we aren't kidding buster". I paid the cash, and argued when I got back to SYD. This is Mexico folks, not Minneapolis! I went to see "TRAFFIC" at the movies last night about corruption in high places in Mexico police and military. Phew. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

(DOC 2 BE .. please email me.)
------------------
~ Glen ~



[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 03-12-2001).]

Just got off the phone. Travelocity did not confirm the reservation. The reason being that the room is not available at that rate. The Hilton in Mexico City does not show any rooms for the rate of $0 for any nights. I pointed out that it is still listed on the Tavelocity site. The Girl said to keep trying but to not expect any confirmation without a $ amount.

This is the most surreal thread, ever.

Oz--can I speak frankly?

Frankly, I've been pretty ticked off at you lately, in that we've lost a lot of really GOOD people, and because of past behavior on your part. However, your first line of your post above almost made me smile. I appreciated your poking fun at yourself, and the implied honesty. I think we need to give credit where credit is due, and I appreciated that post. Please keep it up.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Originally posted by aflyer:
Oz--can I speak frankly?

Frankly, I've been pretty ticked off at you lately, in that we've lost a lot of really GOOD people, and because of past behavior on your part. However, your first line of your post above almost made me smile. I appreciated your poking fun at yourself, and the implied honesty. I think we need to give credit where credit is due, and I appreciated that post. Please keep it up.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

What is the matter Aflyer? You still have not amended you original posts, above, to read what they originally said. Afraid that others might think less of you if you were to show them what they really said?? Where is YOUR honesty, implied or otherwise?

And your statement "give credit where credit is due." How ironic, as it is that very issue that had started this conflagration which you sloughed off as a mere child's issue of egos and whining.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum57/HTML/001399.html

Well, you have placed yourself squarely in the glorious company of Loretta G (is for Gutter) on this one. I hope you are happy, I know that I am.

OZ http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cool.gif Let's let them respond..give them a chance to offer something....for sure we have nothing to loose (except our time)...and Hilton is pretty fair as long as it is somewhat reasonable....call and fax and they will do their best...don't bother Travel##$#&..they won't help! After all it was a 'mistake' and it appears to be their 'error' ...never the less I'll wait and see what happens.

------------------
MRKEY


[This message has been edited by MRKEY (edited 03-12-2001).]

OK, most of you guys really suck. LARGE. All you have had to say is negative stuff. Why don't you book yourself a room and see what happens, join the lottery. Have a little fun and lets see where it goes.

I would NEVER checkin the room without confirming and signing something showing the room rate, therefore don't plan on spending a large part of my summer in a Mexican Prison.

I HAVE CALLED HILTON SEVERAL times, each time they have confirmed the reservation, price and said to me that the reservation stood.

I am more than happy to keep waiting for someone to contact me, I'm sure they will.

Whoever put forward the media suggetion, that was a great, we should look into it.

Good Luck everyone. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Village Idiot,

You are proving my point about others around you. It's not enough to take advantage of another's mistake - you have to mislead others close to you into doing the same thing.

If the desk clerk decides to make trouble for you and your family, then it won't just be you in trouble - will it? Instead, the whole family gets to experience it first hand.

So if you do get away with it, luck is with you (and you are getting away with something). If you don't, please remember to have enough money or credit card to pay the hotel bill.

Kind regards,

drewman

FWIW, I remember having a free stay at the Budapest Hilton.

Admittedly, it was a targeted offer. But I ended up spending money on meals and things, so the hotel had some income from me.

Could it just be possible that Hilton MEX had the same idea in mind in a slow business period?

Originally posted by Roger:
FWIW, I remember having a free stay at the Budapest Hilton.

Admittedly, it was a targeted offer. But I ended up spending money on meals and things, so the hotel had some income from me.

Could it just be possible that Hilton MEX had the same idea in mind in a slow business period?

Slow business period for several months? I dont think so http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I only checked certain dates in May and August. May was around $130, August was $0 and $130.

Didn't book, though. I need to be there in May!

opus17 - I needed a good laugh! I have to agree that this thread is truly surreal...

If the thrashing has ended, I'd like to say something. There is a lot of hostility regarding the validity of the reservation and some quasi unPC comments about Mexico & its law enforcment. (not that the later doesn't have some merit)

I found this site just after the UA computer problem & immediately went to book my flights. However, the problem had been solved. What that taught me was to keep my eye on this board almost daily "just in case".

Now, a great many of the negative comments towards those who did make a Hilton reservation (I was one)seem almost identical to the ones from people re: UA. Hmmm. It may be a glitch or it may be honored. We don't know and we won't know until the first person checks in for her/his stay. (Please post your situation because I'd definitely like a heads up)

My point is that many people who did not get on the UA train seemed angry beyond reason posting things like "it'll never happen, they won't let you board, or you're an idiot & a crook". Well, it did happen, they let them board & UA turned out to be the crook by charging without authorization.

Personally, I was home alone this weekend bored with the Sci Fi channel & got a huge kick out of finding the rate & booking the room. If nothing comes from it, it was 15 minutes of harmless amusement for someone semi obcessed with "free stuff" & ff miles.

Now, if it turns out that Hilton honors the reservation at that rate, wouldn't some of those same folks waving the banner of contempt feel a little silly for not taking advantage of the deal? In turn, when the first person posts it was a no go, they will get to feel smug & justified. The bottom line is wait and see,while keeping the unproductive & negative comments where they belong, away from this board.

Dear Kira, Mtacci, et al.,

I am in a somewhat unique position in that I had a somewhat similar occurrence happen to me -- See my post re my hotel on the United board.

I did not think that the United people would get their tix for that rate, but I am very glad that they did so.

On the other hand, I clearly distinquish a bargain basement price, like my hotel in Copenhagen and the United tix, from that with the Hilton situatiion -- I just think that it is wrong for one to expect, much less get, a room for $0.

I have news for you, as one who usually uses Travelocity to check rates, the $0 room rates are not all that unusual for various hotels. I have seen them before, and no doubt will see them again.

More power to you if you are able to get something for nothing. That is where I draw the line. You have a different take on it, so be it. For me, I am all to happy to get what is due me from the hotel re FF perks, etc., but I do not, and would not, expect something for nothing.

I choose not to try to book such rates because of my own views, others may have a different view. I do not expect that you will be successful, but if you are, that is fine with me with regard to the hotel.


I bear only certain people ill will on these boards, and that is for their behavior vis a vis me. It is not with regard to your or Mtacci's actions. If you might recall, I had corresponded with you before in an amicable manner, and I hope to do so again.

As the French would say:

Chacun a son gout. To each his own.

PS -- I am glad Mtacci, that you have alternative plans, because I do not want to see you behind bars in a Mexican jail.

I believe that I was having an ethical discussion with the members of the board. I'm sorry is anyone misconstrued my stating my beliefs as an attack on them.

You are missing the point. The point here is not that people are upset that they didn't get 'in' on the deal and are badmouthing those who did. The focus seems to be on whether one should take advantage of it.

The UA deal seems slightly different in that some amount of money was required which made it in the realm of possibility that it was a teaser fare of some sort. The fact that months of a $0 rate makes that possiblity fall almost to nothing especially when coupled with a $130 fare right next to it.

As for being unPC for telling the truth - it is amazing how sensitive we have become. Living right over the border from Tijuana I will tell you that every word spoken here I have heard time and time again. To get out of jail down there you must bribe several different people or you will wait a long time for trial. If you act like you own the place and are foreign you are asking for trouble.

Think back to the off-duty soldier who was detained for weeks for accidently driving over the border and having a disassembled gun in the back of his jeep.

Conditions have improved, but it is a foreign country and being American there isn't always an advantage.

Having said all that, if the Hilton property was on U.S. soil, it still isn't right to do what some are proposing to do.

I think this will be my last post for this topic. Good luck to all.

drewman

I'd simply encourage EVERYONE to share their widely divergent views with civility and respect! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

No need to be so sensitive either! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Miles, points, & travel is what's important to us here, right?

As much as I greatly value the input from the "involved" parties here, I'll again urge restraint, tough as it is sometimes!

Why not just agree to put the episode behind each of you and move forward as it were - in the best interests of all those involved as well as viewing! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Just to reiterate, it's only an internet BB folks - not a UN debate on world peace or someone violating someone elses' spouse or something so critical being debated here!

Let's try to overcome the hurt feelings - or at least ignore them! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

We can ALL make our respective individual judgements and I'd again submit, as a frequent flaming victim myself, who has had many false and outrageous claims about me posted here in the past that "reputations" of folks here are very much "in tact," IMHO! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

PLEASE! We needn't LOVE everyone to contribute and enjoy it!

Yet it is much more fun for almost everyone when we behave in a manner consistent with real consideration for each others feelings! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I don't plan to "drag anyone down with me" This is simply a
game for me with Travelocity and Hilton. I enjoy a friendly debate and
to see where this will lead. I have no delusions of months of free
stays. I wouldn't take it if they agreed to give it to me (little thing
called work gets in the way). I just wanted to book enough rooms to
raise their eyebrows and prompt a phone call and have some fun with it.
Nothing more.

For whatever its worth, some of you might want to call or fax the hotel in Mexico City directly and confirm your reservation before spending the time and money to fly to Mexico.

According to the Hilton site, the telephone number is 52-5-133-0505. The hotel fax line is 52-5-133-0500. From the US, dial 011 before these numbers.

Hope it works out for those who booked. Zero rate certainly is low, (!) but $5 is nearly as low, and MANY on these boards, (myself included) have stayed recently, and will stay soon, for $5 a night at the (Hilton) Doubletree Seattle SEATAC, so there are plenty of genuine Hilton property bargains, and it can still be booked for that rate right now by anyone on FT. Very nice, large modern Hotel, and they give you HH buffet breakfast vouchers as well for Golds and above! (Not to mention a bag of those superb Choc chip cookies on check-in!)

------------------
~ Glen ~

ok Oz, you're going to need to dumb it down for me a little for me...

Maybe draw me a picture with some crayons http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Are you saying Double tree is actually offering hotel rooms for $5 per night?

How much is parking? $120 per night?

I stayed at the Doubletree at SEATAC last night for $13 (I bid before people discovered they could get it as low as $5). It's through a link offering $20 added to your bid for using an Amex card (see Sheryl's Priceline board, and the link is under Bonus Money Opportunities). Parking is $10 a day.
http://pub4.ezboard.com/bpricelineandexpediabidding

I am staying there this time next week (Wed 21st) - if anyone is around in SEA and wants to catch up for a drink on Wed, please email me. For anyone in Seattle shortly, the link to this $5 Hilton property deal is at:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum94/HTML/003530.html


(And no knowledge of the Spanish language is needed at any time there!)

------------------
~ Glen ~

Seems to me we cannot compare a priceline room to Travelocity. There was no bidding. $5 or $13 won bids are actually $25 and $33 bids when AMEX bonus included.

So not sure how these could possibly compare to the $0 situation.

Plus, you paid for the room at time of winning bid... and charged to your credit card. These rooms are guaranteed but nothing will be charged (if anything is charged) until the day of the reservation.

Just my two cents.

William

First posted by drewman:
Good luck in life, sounds like those around you will need it...

Later posted by drewman:
I believe that I was having an ethical discussion with the members of the board. I'm sorry is anyone misconstrued my stating my beliefs as an attack on them.

Though your holier-than-thou attitude could easily be "misconstrued" as a personal attack by most, I for one must thank you for providing the fodder for a hilarious dinner conversation with friends.

The general consensus by the night's end was that we can never have too many upstanding preachers to shove your beliefs down our communal throats. (Just ask Jim Jones!) http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Cheers.

Since you addressed me directly,

Aside from the laughter at my expense, what was the result of the discussion of the ethics of the matter around your dinner table? Did anyone have an opposing viewpoint that you yelled down much as you seem to be trying to do to me?

drewman

Here we go again....
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

At the risk of getting sued for plagarism, what DOC posted at 9.39am above makes VERY good sense folks. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

------------------
~ Glen ~

Originally posted by drewman:
Since you addressed me directly,

Aside from the laughter at my expense, what was the result of the discussion of the ethics of the matter around your dinner table? Did anyone have an opposing viewpoint that you yelled down much as you seem to be trying to do to me?

drewman


To answer your question, the result of the discussion was that I have inspired 6 friends to join me for a week in Mexico City, and Hilton now has 6 future guests which they didn't have a few days ago. (All us unethical types tend to hang out together. I'm sure you've seen us hanging out in gutters, on corners and in bars, haven't you?)

Regarding your opposing viewpoint which I've "yelled down" http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif, as I stated in an earlier post, we all came to the general consensus that your point is valid, though misguided.

FWIW, we went to a friend's home after dinner to read this thread, and especially your posts. We were all laughing with you, not at you. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Viva Mexico!
Cheers.

No personal offense taken here. I value others ideas as it keeps me thinking.

BTW, us 'ethicial' types are the ones in gutters and bars and such broke and forlorn because we can't get in on the 'good' deals http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

drewman

I like this thread, It teaters on the edge but doesn't cross the line. Cooler heads can prevail.

I say Toe-may-toe, you say Toe-mat-toe.... Who freakin cares, lets just not take it personally.

That's my 0.02 cents, wait, I'm Candain so thats about 0.015 cents worth I guess.

[This message has been edited by Village Idiot (edited 03-14-2001).]

whoops

[This message has been edited by Village Idiot (edited 03-15-2001).]

Dup.

[This message has been edited by Village Idiot (edited 03-15-2001).]

trip.

[This message has been edited by Village Idiot (edited 03-15-2001).]

Is this a dup record?

[This message has been edited by Village Idiot (edited 03-15-2001).]

This must be a record now... Sorry. the next one is the only one I meant to post.


[This message has been edited by Village Idiot (edited 03-15-2001).]

I guess one of the best things about being an Idiot is making my own words. Most people call people from Canada, Canadians.

Obviously I don't suffer from this affliction. I'm able to think outside the box, way outside the box. Or maybe I should just buy a spell checker?

Has anyone in this thread checked their BP lateky?

Has anyone in this thread checked their BP lately?

Village Idiot... 8 posts in a row? Trying to boost up the number of your posts, eh?

UPDATE:

Travelocity claims no reservation exists,

Hilton says Resv. still valid (and confirmed) for the stay.

Jane Costello from Wall Street Journal has contacted me and asked to get involved. (She was also involved in the UA $23 to Europe thing.

I will keep everyone informed,


Marc

UPDATE:

Travelocity claims no reservation exists,

Hilton says Resv. still valid (and confirmed) for the stay.

Jane Costello from Wall Street Journal has contacted me and asked to get involved. (She was also involved in the UA $23 to Europe thing.

I will keep everyone informed,


Marc

UPDATE:

Travelocity claims no reservation exists,

Hilton says Resv. still valid (and confirmed) for the stay.

Jane Costello from Wall Street Journal has contacted me and asked to get involved. (She was also involved in the UA $23 to Europe thing.

I will keep everyone informed,


Marc

UPDATE:

Travelocity claims no reservation exists,

Hilton says Resv. still valid (and confirmed) for the stay.

Jane Costello from Wall Street Journal has contacted me and asked to get involved. (She was also involved in the UA $23 to Europe thing.

I will keep everyone informed,


Marc

UPDATE:

Travelocity claims no reservation exists,

Hilton says Resv. still valid (and confirmed) for the stay.

Jane Costello from Wall Street Journal has contacted me and asked to get involved. (She was also involved in the UA $23 to Europe thing.

I will keep everyone informed,


Marc

UPDATE:

Travelocity claims no reservation exists,

Hilton says Resv. still valid (and confirmed) for the stay.

Jane Costello from Wall Street Journal has contacted me and asked to get involved. (She was also involved in the UA $23 to Europe thing.

I will keep everyone informed,


Marc

UPDATE:

Travelocity claims no reservation exists,

Hilton says Resv. still valid (and confirmed) for the stay.

Jane Costello from Wall Street Journal has contacted me and asked to get involved. (She was also involved in the UA $23 to Europe thing.

I will keep everyone informed,


Marc

UPDATE:

Travelocity claims no reservation exists,

Hilton says Resv. still valid (and confirmed) for the stay.

Jane Costello from Wall Street Journal has contacted me and asked to get involved. (She was also involved in the UA $23 to Europe thing.

I will keep everyone informed,


Marc

No, I don't think it will help his post count.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum72/HTML/000246.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

dup

[This message has been edited by cactuspete (edited 03-16-2001).]

dup - BB glitch

[This message has been edited by cactuspete (edited 03-16-2001).]

I commend all of those who have received free stays courtesy of Travelocity.com. If the guilt is killing you I'm sure they will allow you to pay the regular rate. Most companies, The Gap I know for one, will honor muck-ups, regardless of whose to blame, be it Hilton or Travelocity. Travelocity sure has gotten some publicity out of it.

I commend all of those who have received free stays courtesy of Travelocity.com. If the guilt is killing you I'm sure they will allow you to pay the regular rate. Most companies, The Gap I know for one, will honor muck-ups, regardless of whose to blame, be it Hilton or Travelocity. Travelocity sure has gotten some publicity out of it.

I commend all of those who have received free stays courtesy of Travelocity.com. If the guilt is killing you I'm sure they will allow you to pay the regular rate. Most companies, The Gap I know for one, will honor muck-ups, regardless of whose to blame, be it Hilton or Travelocity. Travelocity sure has gotten some publicity out of it.

I admit I'm new but seriously..

I don't know whats going on but things aren't posting right?? I sent the above posts yesterday. Once. And it did't post till today?

What's wrong with my glasses... I'm see double, triple, or 10x of same post repeated over and over and over and over....

Yes, this is getting very surreal.

I would not mind a vacation in Mexico City. I've been 20 times for business as a gringo with almost zero espanol and have done fine.

Yes, it is a bit polluted.
Yes, there is crime, but there is crime in Salt Lake City if you go to the wrong neighborhoods. (choosing SLC since I am moving there in May!)
Cabs are cheap there and it has a lot of interesting pre-colonial history.

Ok, this is getting really weird. My husband was at home today, and received a call from Travelocity. The guy from Travelocity was calling to confirm the reservation. He said that the hotel had confirmed the reservation, but Travelocity wanted to make sure that I really wanted to stay for 1 month (July 1-29) because people didn't usually stay more than 1 week. NO mention of the $0.00 price. The guy at Travelocity left a phone number for me to call back.

Note---just hit sumbit one time- it will post soon...no need to wait for it to show up fast..it will work! I did it last week..and had to erase all my multiple posts...STU aka MRKEY

------------------
MRKEY

If the rate was $1 or $.01 I'd think you'd have more leeway than $0. In the USA you'd definitely have trouble citing a contract with no 'consideration' from your side. Don't know how Mexcian contract law is.

Today I bid and got a hotel at Priceline for $1 a night. There are probably nearly a hundred people on Priceline who've done the same with various other hotels. But as others have said, that is not in the same ballpark as what happened here.

I'd say anyone who expects to just show up at the hotel and get the rate honored is going to get a rude awakening. I'd also be interested in seeing if people who got the deal get calls from Travelocity, Hilton, or the hotel itself, and if not, I'd call the hotel and ask the GM. He might offer some coupons or bonus points as an apology for the obvious mistake.

Just my $.02.

"...Today I bid and got a hotel at Priceline for $1 a night..."

Any details you wish to share? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Or you could email me! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Travelocity called and gave me a number to reach Hilton if I would like to book directly. She said this was the first they had heard of the glitch. She also said she would just cancel my reservation and Hilton would be glad to book me the room for $130.00 a night. I told her to not cancel my reservation. I think they are trying to cut loses. I realize we most likely will not get free rooms but I will not be tricked out of them.

Travelocity called and gave me a number to reach Hilton if I would like to book directly. She said this was the first they had heard of the glitch. She also said she would just cancel my reservation and Hilton would be glad to book me the room for $130.00 a night. I told her to not cancel my reservation. I think they are trying to cut loses. I realize we most likely will not get free rooms but I will not be tricked out of them. I want to be delt with honestly.

Travelocity called and gave me a number to reach Hilton if I would like to book directly. She said this was the first they had heard of the glitch. She also said she would just cancel my reservation and Hilton would be glad to book me the room for $130.00 a night. I told her to not cancel my reservation. I think they are trying to cut loses. I realize we most likely will not get free rooms but I will not be tricked out of them. I want travelocity to deal with us honestly. They left this offer on the board for 4 days. That is not a glitch.

09521102 EndTransaction FAILED RETRY - SABRE error: WAITING FOR DC RESPONSE .... RETRY IN 03 SECONDS

This means that Travelocity is using the SABRE computer reservations system. DC means that the confirmation for the $0 rate was coming directly from Hilton.

The travel agency is never responsible for misquoting a rate that is published incorrectly in a computer reservations system. It is always either Sabre, the company that loads rates into Sabre, or the Hotel/Airline itself. It's the same as if an ATM machine gave you $1000 that isn't in your account. Someone will get it back from you.

You won't get the $0 rate, I promise you that.

Donn

starr runner

This is simply not true. Travelocity DID know at least a week ago - a supervisor I spoke to promised to look in to it and said he had notified headquarters - who already KNEW. Two days later all Hiltons I tried to book on Travel showed no avail. - their way of dealing with a glitch is to take all hotels off line - okay -but for 3 days so far?

No one a travel. stands behind anything they say - when I have more energy I will post a separate thread on this in OMNI.

Originally posted by DOC 2 BE:
Finally, I DARE any of YOU to try this little stunt of yours in MEXICO of all places!!!, where the whim of the Police and the Judiciary are legend. If you had not guessed, they do not take too kindly to Gringos who are trying to get something for nothing. If you do attempt it, I think it will be a very costly move on your part and you may not be posting things on this board for a long time. But hey,its your "vacation."


I like to see those who are going to Mexico expecting a free stay try the same thing in Beijing. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Whoever going to Mexico is getting a free stay; one in a Mexican jail.

Originally posted by mtacchi:
OK, most of you guys really suck. LARGE. All you have had to say is negative stuff. Why don't you book yourself a room and see what happens, join the lottery. Have a little fun and lets see where it goes.

I would NEVER checkin the room without confirming and signing something showing the room rate, therefore don't plan on spending a large part of my summer in a Mexican Prison.

I HAVE CALLED HILTON SEVERAL times, each time they have confirmed the reservation, price and said to me that the reservation stood.

I am more than happy to keep waiting for someone to contact me, I'm sure they will.

Whoever put forward the media suggetion, that was a great, we should look into it.

Good Luck everyone. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif



You need to call the hotel and not central reservations. Hotels operate totally different from airlines. As previously mentioned, some hotels are not owned by Hilton at all.

The hotel will have the final say in any situation.

Have you ever try getting a no-show charge removed because a flight was cancelled? Central reservation will tell you the hotel will have the final say.

doc,

No secret to the $1 hotel. Lotsa people got it and its due to bonus money. See Sheryl's Priceline bboard, the Atlanta area. Homestead Marietta 2* for $1/night. I posted there along with several others about the deal. It seems that Homestead's regular priceline rate in many cities is under $20 so with the bonus $1 is all you need.

Thanks pitflyer! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

What's the latest news on this deal?
Anybody hear from Hilton Rez or the actual hotel?

Latest twist on this story:

I decided to cancel my two $0 reservations for 6/1 and 6/19. When I went to Travelocity's web site, it said the reservations were already cancelled.

I called Travelocity to find out how that had happened. They gave me the cancellation codes and said on May 31st someone using my name had phoned in and cancelled.

Of course it had to be the hotel general manager who called in: he had my reservation information and had called me previously to try to persuade me to cancel.

Biff,your post reminded me of my "upcoming trip to Mexico city" on 6/25 for 3 nights...alas...checking on Travelocity my reservation was cancelled also...oh well ,guess I'm not going to Mexico...

wow this is an interesting thread! I had a VERY similar experience last year, looking for New Years hotels in the NYC area...I was booking in June b/c I knew the New Years Eve would cause hotels to fill up...

Upon checking Hilton's OWN website, I got a rate that was XXX dollars for night 1 and 0 DOLLARS for nights two and three...I booked it (of course!), got email confirmation, and left it at that...

of course I printed out ALL info from Hiltons website showing the ) price for those nights, inlcuding other rooms and other rates for different days...I NEVER checked on the status of the reservation after that...

Upon checkin at Hilton, I again was not told of my rate, nor did I ask. Upon checkout, I received a bill for XXX PER NIGHT, instead of the XXX rate for the first night and 0 rate for the subsequent nights...I politely spoke with the manager, explained the rate which I had booked (showed printout confirmation) and that I was never notified of any rate change...

This is where credit card company protection kicks in- I explained that I would not have authorized so much to be charged to my card, nor made the reservation with the hotel, and I hoped that it could be fixed so I didnt have to dispute the entire charge...he said he would talk to "his boss" and give me a final answer in a few days...I thanked him and returned home.

A few days later, the charges were corrected, and I paid the XXX rate for the first night and 0 RATE for nights two and three....I did not even have to file a credit card dispute!

While my situation is SIMILAR to this glitch, I did pay XXX dollars consideration for the first night, which made the reservation much more legitimate...perhaps it was a "buy one, stay 2 free" special, rather than an entire $0 stay...But they DID honor it, and if they hadnt I would have disputed it w/ the credit card company and won.

Has the Hilton Mexico manager been calling anyone else asking them to cancel?? Did anyone book the rate just to earn points/miles and doesnt want to go?? I will be HAPPY to checkin for them and stay there!

I booked three nights in July at Vancouver Metrotown for the $0/night through the Hilton website. I came across the rate when I was looking for rooms for my parents' vacation.
I e-mailed the hotel this week asking them to notify me whether or not they will honor the reservation since I have had it for over a month and nobody has contacted me to discuss the rate. I haven't heard back from them.

Decided to post in the Mexico thread since the Vancouver Metrotown $0 thread quickly became a useless "the list" thread and there has been virtually no discussion of what has happened with the people who had May reservations at the $0 night rate.

Anybody out there who had a confirmed $0/night reservation in Vancouver care to comment?

satori, although i didnt get a chance to book the $0 rate at Vancouver, my situation above was very similar...

A hint for the next time someone discovers a "0" rate is to try to see if the system will give yout a "real rate" for ONE DAY of the stay, and have the rest of the stay be $0...You will have a much better chance of getting the rate than an entire $0 stay...

There was an article about the $24 United flights to Paris where an attorney commented that unless the price was CLEARLY an error, they have to honor it. A $0 rate is clearly an error by ANYONES definition, but the $24 flight rate was not clearly an error, it simply looked like a "great deal".

A paid rate for one night and 0 rate for subsequent nights looks much more like a "good deal" rather than a clear error.

Satori, in response to your inquiry, the Hotel called me after I booked the $0 rate. They offered a rate of $109 CDN/night, plus an upgrade. I was in Vancouver for two nights, so we compromised at one free night and the second night at $109.

My suggestion would be to contact their reservation's office rather than just wait.