MilesBuzz! - BIS vs. BIB - Why do airlines and hotels disagree?

Why is it that airlines care only about BIS (butt-in-seat) miles while hotels couldn't care less about BIB (butt-in-bed) points - just who pays the bill? That is to say, airlines will only give miles if you're actually flying the miles, but hotels will give the stay points to whomever pays the bill.

I wonder why there is a difference in philosophy? I also wonder why I wonder about these things. :)

hotels will give the stay points to whomever pays the bill.

That's simply not true, provided you do not misrepresent yourself at check-in. In all the hotel loyalty programs I'm a member of, one has to be a registered guest to earn points/miles/credit.

That's simply not true, provided you do not misrepresent yourself at check-in. In all the hotel loyalty programs I'm a member of, one has to be a registered guest to earn points/miles/credit.
Yes, one has to be a registered guest, but AFAIK you can often earn points for other rooms besides the one you stay in. For instance, if Mom and Dad get a second room for the kiddies, whichever of them pays the bill can get credit for both rooms. The OP's point is that in a comparable situation, if Mom or Dad buys the kiddies' plane tickets, he/she can't get miles for their seats.

However, now I'm wondering: does the second room count as a stay and/or nights toward elite status?

However, now I'm wondering: does the second room count as a stay and/or nights toward elite status?

No, it does not (at least in the programs I'm an active member of). You can only get extra points, but not extra stay/night credit.

And the point you were making about a second room, it would've been valid if both types of loyalty programs (airlines and hotels) used the same parameter for miles/points earning. But with airlines, you earn miles based on distance flown, and no matter how many seats you pay for, the distance flown is not affected. With hotels you earn points based on $$ you spend, and paying for an extra room just adds $$, thus increasing your points earned. Even then, AFAIK, not all programs allow points to be earned for second (or third, or fourth) room.

No, it does not (at least in the programs I'm an active member of). You can only get extra points, but not extra stay/night credit.What I thought.

And the point you were making about a second room, it would've been valid if both types of loyalty programs (airlines and hotels) used the same parameter for miles/points earning. But with airlines, you earn miles based on distance flown, and no matter how many seats you pay for, the distance flown is not affected. With hotels you earn points based on $$ you spend, and paying for an extra room just adds $$, thus increasing your points earned. Even then, AFAIK, not all programs allow points to be earned for second (or third, or fourth) room.Generally what I was thinking also - but some non-US airlines base credit at least in part on what you spend also. Plus, most airlines give more credit for higher fares/classes of service. If I get extra miles for buying a $2,000 F seat when economy fare is $500, shouldn't I get the same miles for buying four small seats? I spend the same $$, I fly the same miles.

I know, it's a stretch, it doesn't work that way and I don't expect it to for the foreseeable future, but some logician or lawyer could run with this...

I've wondered about this many times myself. A further point is that most hotel programs will give you credit for booking a guaranteed reservation and being a no show. That is, as long as you pay for the room, you get the credit, whether you stayed there or not. I don't know of any airline program that allows something similar.

most hotel programs will give you credit for booking a guaranteed reservation and being a no show. That is, as long as you pay for the room, you get the credit, whether you stayed there or not.

Only if the computer system screws up (which is known to happen). Program rules specifically prohibit that.

It's been pretty well established that travel industry factions all play by different rules, and that's the way it is...

Want miles for the second seat? Get a FF account for your briefcase/cello -- and maybe it'll gift you an award ticket some day...
'Some' hotels will allow merging account points *for a stay-award*; If you stumble onto something extra that works for you, then game on.

I use the his-&-hers method for all hotels; 2 rooms --> 2accounts. 1 room --> flip for it :D

Learn their rules, play their games.

>> The ONLY game that lets you claim 100% credit by paying for the other guy: taxes.
/.

For instance, if Mom and Dad get a second room for the kiddies, whichever of them pays the bill can get credit for both rooms.

Unless things have changed recently, there are still a couple of hotel chains out they refused to give me credits for the second room.

Only if the computer system screws up (which is known to happen). Program rules specifically prohibit that.

Not with Hilton HHonors, at least. I've called the service center and told them what happened on several occasions. They asked me to get a copy of my bill and fax it to them and they would credit the stay - and they did.

AA doesn't care about BIS for lifetime gold or plat -- points from any source work (e.g. xfers from hotel accts and affinity credit card accts). SPG doesn't care about BIB as long as your name is on the res and the person who stays in the room is an authorized user (e.g. use an award stay for your daughter and her misc charges turn into SPG points for you).

Not with Hilton HHonors, at least. I've called the service center and told them what happened on several occasions. They asked me to get a copy of my bill and fax it to them and they would credit the stay - and they did.

From the Hilton HHonors Terms and Conditions (http://hhonors.hilton.com/en/hhonors/terms.jhtml):

"No point or stay credit, airline frequent flyer mileage credit or credit toward tier status will be awarded for "no show" situations when a member has made a reservation guaranteed with a credit card but then does not check in to the hotel--irrespective of whether or not the member's credit card is charged for any portion of the reserved stay per the hotel's "no show" policy."

Just because an employee broke the rules for you, does not mean that the program allows it.

From the Hilton HHonors Terms and Conditions (http://hhonors.hilton.com/en/hhonors/terms.jhtml):

"No point or stay credit, airline frequent flyer mileage credit or credit toward tier status will be awarded for "no show" situations when a member has made a reservation guaranteed with a credit card but then does not check in to the hotel--irrespective of whether or not the member's credit card is charged for any portion of the reserved stay per the hotel's "no show" policy."

Just because an employee broke the rules for you, does not mean that the program allows it.

You are obviously correct. I haven't done it for several years now and I wonder if this rule was put in since that time.

Something else to consider is that, with the exception of lap infants, a family of four on an airline requires the purchase of four seats. A family of four in a hotel room requires just one room (unless it's really small, but then you probably wouldn't stay there).

That is, paying for a second room is pretty rare, so whether a hotel awards you points or not is not all that relevant to airlines.