Hilton HHonors - Missed wakeup call - Should I be compensated?

I am staying at the DoubleTree El Pardo Hotel in Lima and am here an extra day because the hotel never gave me a wake up call as I expressly asked for at check in. As a result I have missed my flight, had to stay an additional day and pay a $120 cancellation fee. The hotel is comping my extra night and my meals in the hotel restaraunt. This is the first time I have not recieved a wake up call in a four star hotel!

Any suggestions on whom to contact? I would like to get some points or a voucher for a future stay, its just inexcusable not to provide a wake up call (the rooms do not have clock radios, I know now why people carry travel alarms). I am Hilton Gold VIP and the assistant manager was apologetic, and noted they were treating me so well because of my status.

One of the things I never leave home without is my "Travel Companion" which has an alarm clock, flashlight, smoke detector and motion sensor all in one. I've had hotels miss wake-up calls more than once, and learned my lesson - it's ultimately up to me to get myself up in time to get to where I need to go.

Yes, the Doubletree erred. Even four-star hotels make mistakes. They know this and have comped you your extra room night and meals. I'd consider this adequate compensation for a missed phone call. When you get home, go shopping for a travel alarm clock. Hope you enjoyed your trip otherwise!

You should contact your local dollar store and spend a dollar and get a battery powered alarm clock, or set the clock radio in the room. If it's that important you wake up at a certain time you should take responsibility for it and not blame the hotel that it didn't happen.

It happens, the call doesn't get made, or it comes at the wrong time, whatever. A travel alarm is something every traveller should carry and not rely on somebody making $3.00 per hour, who will continue working if they make the call or not, to get you to your plane on time.

I agree with the other two posts in part. Although they have comped you an additional night, that does not realize your loss over the $120 cancelation fee, since you had wanted to be somwhere else. You have not stated whether that fee was for a missed flight or hotel.

In any event, all they may give you is another night's stay at that hotel. I would contact HHonors, to see if they can do anything, but I would omit the comped night and food from your story.

Next time book through Biztravel.com. They pay you if Doubletree misses a wake up call.

I can't belive that the room doesn't have a radio clock? What kind of 4 star hotel is it even the Sh&ty Holiday Inns have radio clocks.

ALso if you have a cell phone you can use it as an alarm clock

I would use Planetfeedback.com to register a complaint

------------------
Al

I would never trust a hotel wake-up call to get me up for anything important, dguruswamy. If that's the first time you've been missed (even at a 4 star hotel), either you don't travel as much as some of us, or you've been very lucky. But I do sympathize. You can try writing Hilton Customer Service about maybe getting a voucher as compensation for your cancellation fee. Good luck.

ClassicalGal, is the "Travel Companion" you mention the same thing this person is asking about in General Travel Talk?

Sharper Image's travel companion? (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum94/HTML/004003.html)

It sounds interesting, although I really don't want one more thingy to haul around. I have a box full of travel alarms, but now use my mobile phone as an alarm, pocket watch, etc etc. In the US, of course...

We were talking about Lima, Peru, and not the one in Ohio, weren't we? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

The Double Tree in Nashville missed my wake up call in January, but I use the wake up service only as a back-up. When I went downstairs I mentioned it to the desk person (who was physically making the calls himself-not the computer we normally get) he began to argue with me. I just left it at that, but if I had missed my flight, I would have been much more upset and my expectations of "justice" would have been very different.

[This message has been edited by Dudemon (edited 03-04-2001).]

If you have internet access in your hotel room, set your own wakeup calls through http://www.iping.com

I often use this as a backup and have it set up to call my cell phone.

I use the "appt/alarm/reminder" feature on
my cellphone as an alarm clock.

-doug

Originally posted by GG:

ClassicalGal, is the "Travel Companion" you mention the same thing this person is asking about in General Travel Talk?

Sharper Image's travel companion? (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum94/HTML/004003.html)

It sounds interesting, although I really don't want one more thingy to haul around. I have a box full of travel alarms, but now use my mobile phone as an alarm, pocket watch, etc etc. In the US, of course...

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

Yes, it's the same thing. I carry it, but I am still in the 20th century and don't have a cell phone, beeper, pager, etc. I'm a leisure traveler, not a business traveler, and the TC is the only electronic thingy I lug around.

I was not entirely clear in my last post (now I'm back stateside):

1) The room did not have an clock/radio alarm (they had music available through some other system).

2) The wake-up call was for 5AM. Both American and Continental have flights leaving at 8AM that require check in by 6:30AM so this is a normal request (their free shuttle leaves at 4AM) and they know the consequences of a guest missing their flight (when I signed for the free night the code 10 = no wake up call as requested).

3) I had to pay Continental Airlines $120 to change my ticket (was a change fee not a cancellation fee) and spend over two hours and many phone calls to get a departure the next day (originally Continental told me Monday was the earliest they could get me on and the flight I missed was on Friday) and another hour going to the ticket office to get reticketed. Missing a flight internationally is not like missing a flight in the United States. You have to get yourself confirmed on another flight AND reticketed.. standing by is an option but if you miss the flight you've wasted 3+ hours (checking in, clearing immigration, waiting, plus transportation to/from the hotel) The hotel offered to consider reimbursing me for the fee, but my employer will pick it up.

4) The Doubletree in Lima has ***** on all their brochures and on the hotel sign (whoever rates in Latin America is very liberal as most hotels I stay in have *****)

5) I work for a major international financial institution and I'm HHonors Gold. They let me know they knew both and they would do whatever was necassery to satisfy me.

In the end they tried their best to make ammends, I just want a voucher or some HHonors points for the $120.

[This message has been edited by dguruswamy (edited 03-04-2001).]

DG --

As I said, I don't disagree with you. I think the comp night should be viewed as compensation for your aggravation, NOT your inconvenience and their failures for not having gotten you home on time.

My $10 digital watch has a high-pitched alarm. This always wakes me up. I only use the hotel wake-up as a backup. Also, I often find that the in-room alarm clocks are sometimes tricky to set. I do not rely on alarm clocks that I am not personally familiar with. I have found hotel alarm clocks to have the volume cut off, tuned to an empty radio band, or have confusing AM/PM settings. Only rely on your own alarm devices!

See also:
http://www.mrwakeup.com/
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum94/HTML/000476.html

Hi all,

Just a quick question for you……

Recently stayed at a Hilton here in the UK (wont say which one) and didn’t get my wake up call. Now the thing is, as I was staying there for 2 days. My business partner and I got chatting to the staff and got friendly with them. I didn’t want to kick up a fuss as the staffs were great overall, and to be honest it wasn’t a major thing that we didn’t wake up early.

However, I was wondering, what would happen if I was flying somewhere and missed my flight because a wake up call wasn’t give? Would the hotel have to book you onto the next flight? Anyone had any experiences of this?

Thoughts welcomed.

Most hotels make it very clear that they are NOT responsible for failing to give you a wake up call when requested. You should always set the alarm clock as a back-up. @:-)

Never rely on the wakeup call either from the front desk or the automated system. I always set both the alarm clock and my cell phone.

I too never rely on the hotel for a wake-up call. I set the room alarm and/or my cell phone alarm.

Even if you dont carry an alarm clock with you, many cellphones have an alarm feature. I rely on that most often rather than the hotel wake up service or the alarm clock.

Most hotels make it very clear that they are NOT responsible for failing to give you a wake up call when requested. You should always set the alarm clock as a back-up. @:-)


I do normally set the alarm on my mobile phone- its my way of life these days.

I would argue the point where you say most hotels make it clear that they are not responsible for failing to give wake up calls....where does it say that? In the rooms? On the receipt?.......

I also use my cell phone as primary alarm. If it is critical that I am up a certain time, I also ask for a wake up call or set the room clock alarm as a backup.

I do normally set the alarm on my mobile phone- its my way of life these days.

I would argue the point where you say most hotels make it clear that they are not responsible for failing to give wake up calls....where does it say that? In the rooms? On the receipt?.......

I would agree with this argument. A hotel should not be offering a service unless it is prepared to fulfill your request. I've never seen a sign that said, "We'll take your wake-up call request but can't promise you that we'll actually make the call."

Having said that, if you miss your flight because the hotel forgot the wake-up call, I can't imagine the hotel would be on the hook for a new flight.

Bottom line is, if you need to be up at a certain time, use a back-up system.

Mike

I think that it has all been said. In essence, you are responsible for the consequences of your late sleep-in. What is the hotel did phone you, and you ignored/did not hear the call. Would you then claim that they should have a louder phone system?

In my view you would be entitled to an apology but certainly no more.

The only time a hotel has missed a wake up call was in the UK (not trying to bash UK hotels, just a coincidence…). I was staying at a Hilton in London and flying out of LGW in the morning. Had to really rush and was very concerned the whole trip to LGW on the cab to Victoria station and on the train. Made it to LGW with just over an hour to spare and made my flight. Hardly a huge deal, but it could have been much worse. Thankfully I tend to pad my schedules a lot when heading to airports.

As to the responsibility, I think it was definitely on me. Not that the hotel shouldn’t try to provide reliable service to its customers, but in this situation the traveler does need to provide a backup. There are just too many variables.

I would argue the point where you say most hotels make it clear that they are not responsible for failing to give wake up calls....where does it say that? In the rooms? On the receipt?.......
Nearly all hotels have a binder on the desk listing all the services that they offer. You can usually find such language in there. In any event, hotels offer this service as a courtesy, so why not just leave it at that? Do you really need to have a sign posted next to the phone advising you of such a disclaimer? If people start complaining, then hotels will simply stop offering such a service. Would that make you feel better?

I once could not set up a back up system (long story but invevitably it was the only time I didn't in my life), had an early morning flight and a hotel of another major chain - won't say which - missed my wake up call.

Service was outstanding. They comped the night, the food and paid for the international flight.

I agree saying they are responsible is a bit pushing it but on the other hand it's just a question of what service you intend to offer.

Never rely on the wakeup call either from the front desk or the automated system. I always set both the alarm clock and my cell phone.
I do practice what Mike said. On top, I also set my own watch alarm. This back up approach saved me from being late to business meetings more than once.

I usually set my cell phone as a back-up, especially for early morning flights.

Actually in Vienna a few weeks ago I got in at 3:15am from a formal ball & had to get up at 5:00am (talked to the night desk guy on the phone & he confirmed to make train/flight 5am). I know, less than 2 hours sleep, but hey sleep is sleep...

I set the cell as a back-up alarm, but I was so out of it when the first wake-up call came (I was face planted into the bed) I did the pick-up/immediately drop the phone back down -and that either triggered the system to call me again or the front desk guy, instead of setting an automated call, took it upon himself to make the call & realized I was out of it.

Because about 30seconds later the phone rang, & he was on the line saying "Ms. Adcock, you must get up NOW to make your flight". Bless his heart! Glad he was pro-active because who knows if I would have heard the cell phone that time.

Cheers.

PS - Edited to add, I wouldn't expect compensation for a missed wake-up call because of the personal responsibility part. I had a hotel of a dif chain a few years ago miss a wake-up & I was late to a biz mtg; ever since then I do the cell or sports watch back-up alarm. In that particular instance I was staying at the hotel for 9 days. I let them know I wasn't thrilled about the missed call, but I didn't ask for anything. They sent up some fresh fruit/wine anyway. But it was a lesson learned for me. And a dif time at a UK Hilton I thought I missed the wake-up call, but my sister said I'd slept through it.

Too many variables and possibility for failure - mistaking am for pm on clock/radios that you are not familiar with how to set, alarms on tv systems ditto plus power glitches, staff - well we all know how people are (specially uk hiltons) etc....
Set your mobile fone and put it on vibrate on a hard surface away from the bed - works even if you stay out till late, drinkin n dancin in exotic european cities then crash out...(!)

In the 20 plus years of traveling, I never used wakeup call...Dont trust hotel alarm clocks... So, I always use my own alarm..Now, I use my cell phone

Ever since my father was so sick for so long, I never like waking up to a phone call

PS - no kidding on the am/pm thing. I thought I was setting something for an aft nap on the automated system & ended up getting woken up 3 hours early the next morning! I've traveled for a gazillion years & always used wake-up calls which 99.9999% of the time work. Now I just do back up as well. Cheers.

[QUOTE=Morrissey]Nearly all hotels have a binder on the desk listing all the services that they offer. You can usually find such language in there. In any event, hotels QUOTE]

Not once have I seen such language at any hotel.

[QUOTE=Morrissey]Nearly all hotels have a binder on the desk listing all the services that they offer. You can usually find such language in there. In any event, hotels QUOTE]

Not once have I seen such language at any hotel.
So, not only did you look through the binder at every single hotel you've ever stayed at in your entire life, you also looked purposely for this language and made a point to remember that it wasn't there? :confused:

[QUOTE=Morrissey]Nearly all hotels have a binder on the desk listing all the services that they offer. You can usually find such language in there. In any event, hotels QUOTE]

Not once have I seen such language at any hotel.

Most of the hotels where I've bothered to check the binder of services, have some wording that wake up calls are not guaranteed.

Personally I bring my own alarm clock (battery operated) and/or use my cell phone alarm if I need to wake up at a particular time. I don't trust hotel supplied alarm clocks having seen the effects of am/pm mixups and overnight power outages.

[QUOTE=ohmark]
So, not only did you look through the binder at every single hotel you've ever stayed at in your entire life, you also looked purposely for this language and made a point to remember that it wasn't there? :confused:

If I had seen it, I would have remembered it.

On the other hand, you posted "Nearly all hotels have a binder on the desk listing all the services that they offer. You can usually find such language in there." To paraphrase you, "So, you've stayed at nearly all hotels in the world, read the binder at each one, and made a point to remember that nearly all of them usually contained such language?" :rolleyes:

Guys, guys...quit the nit-picking. Just post what your policy is (ie, do you wait for wake-up calls or use a back-up plan)...Cheers.

I had two rooms booked at a Hampton, and had idential wake up calls for both rooms. They called one room, but not the other, and I was about an hour late to a trade show I was displaying at. I invoked the Hampton Guarantee on this, the only time I've done so. I've since gone to backup plans. :)

I must be a lucky man...never used the wake up call and never used the back-up plan (cell phone alarm clock, etc..)

When I go to bed, I must have some sort of internal clock, because the last thing I look at upon falling asleep is the alarm clock. It must set something in my body, as I ALWAYS wake up 5-10 minutes earlier than the anticipated awakening...

When I go to bed, I must have some sort of internal clock, because the last thing I look at upon falling asleep is the alarm clock. It must set something in my body, as I ALWAYS wake up 5-10 minutes earlier than the anticipated awakening...

I can do this about 80% of the time, unless I've very tired. (However, the more important waking up on time is, the more likely I'll wake up every couple of hours to make sure I didn't oversleep)

I must be a lucky man...never used the wake up call and never used the back-up plan (cell phone alarm clock, etc..)

When I go to bed, I must have some sort of internal clock, because the last thing I look at upon falling asleep is the alarm clock. It must set something in my body, as I ALWAYS wake up 5-10 minutes earlier than the anticipated awakening...

I USED to think that too. And it worked well for many years (except I usually wake up 30 minutes earlier than I need to). Until that day that it didn't work and I overslept and paid the price. Since then I take the precaution of alarm - which I've only needed a few times. But with my schedule missing a flight can sometimes cause a whole lot of trouble so I'd rather be prepared.

I stayed at the Boston Back bay hilton last night and did not receive my requested 7:00 am wakeup call. This has caused me to miss a meeting and I'll now have to stay an additional 3 nights at the hotel as I cannot reschedule untill mon morning.
I have called the front office manager and asked for these nights to be comped and she says she will get back to me.
My question is. Am I right in expecting them to comp these nights.
I am a diamond member and have stayed at this same hotel many times in the past.

I know this does not help answer the specific comp question, but I always call back about 15 minutes after I call for my first wake up call, and talk to a different person to schedule a "followup" 10 minutes after the first wake up call. On average, I would say about 20% of those "first" calls, never come.

I know this does not help answer the specific comp question, but I always call back about 15 minutes after I call for my first wake up call, and talk to a different person to schedule a "followup" 10 minutes after the first wake up call. On average, I would say about 20% of those "first" calls, never come.

I am a DIAMOND member as well and greatly rely on my wake up calls to get me up on time. I've gievn up, trying to figure out how to set those clock radios. I agree with your number of 20% missed wake-up calls. When I miss a wake-up call it has a profound impact on my day - i/e. missed flight or late to a meeting. I've never been compensated when I complain to the front desk. I always get the same answer..."Gee, I don't know why you didn't get your wake-up cal Mr. Boeing727, our records show we had you down for 6:00am, etc.."

Anyway, this is an extremely difficult problem to solve because the front desk always swears the call was made. What can you do???

Comped three nights because they didn't place a wakeup call to you? If I was in your place I would also assume some accountability on myself. Although I use wakeup calls on most of my trips, I consider them a courtesy not a guaranteed part of the hotel stay which I am paying for. If it is that important ot make a meeting use a backup just in case such as the alarm clock normaly located in the rooms. I would expect an apology and perhaps a small token such as offering you the additional rates at a rate below the current available rate and I would consider anything more than this very generous. But that's just me.

Wirelessly posted (My IV to the Net: BlackBerry7250/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

Yes definately you should receive compensation!

A BIG "We are sorry".

As unfortunate as your situation is I think 3 nights comped would be very very "generous" as an apology. I personally think a bit much.

It will be great if you get it.

As others have said and will say, I use a backup plan of the alarm clock and/or my BB alarm to wake me up.

It only took me once for a wake up call not working (and being late to a meeting) for me to make sure I had alternative wake up methods.

The responsibility to get up in time for your appointment is yours.
In a perfect world the desk would have called you. The world is not perfect.;)
If you cannot set the provided alarm clock after all this time.....bring your own small travel alarm. I carry a small alarm as a regular travel item and use it as a back up when the wake up time is important.
I would never rely on a desk clerk to call me if it were important.

That really is a bummer. Sleeping in, missing meetings, and having to stay longer. But...

Didn't the room have an alarm clock by the bed?

I use the alarm clock on my cell phone. If it's important, I set my 2nd cell phone as a back up. Travel clocks are other people's choice.

I think asking for any compensation is pushing the limits.

Missed wake-up calls are a pet peeve for me, so take this for what it's worth. Wake-up calls are a basic service that the hotel provides. If it misses a wake-up call, it has failed you. Yes, it's better to set an alarm clock as well, but I view these situations as 100% the hotel's fault and 0% the OP's. The hotel said it would deliver the service, and it didn't.

Having said that, I think asking for three free nights is excessive. I think the hotel should comp you the first night and give you a decent rate on the other three.

Mike

I am sorry but you are wimps who likes to blame others. Of course I understand the importance of waking up on time, but I never rely on only one possibility.
If the wake up is sooo important to you then I suggest you start using the alarm mode on your watch or your cell phone! How do you know anyway if the phone call has not been made or you just did not hear it?!?
So quit blaming others and organize yourself. By the way, alarm clocks comes in very small sizes nowaday.
Just my humble opinion
W

It's relatively easy to avoid "Type A" errors, where the hotel does not wake you up: backup alarm etc.

The question is how do you prevent "Type B" errors, where the hotel wakes you up X hours too early and ruins your day? It recently happened to me ("Sorry, Sir. Wrong room"). Very annoying.

The question is how do you prevent "Type B" errors, where the hotel wakes you up X hours too early and ruins your day? It recently happened to me ("Sorry, Sir. Wrong room"). Very annoying.

You don't. I was awakened in error at 5:30 AM at the W Union Square last year. Although I was annoyed, I did not ask for compensation. Nevertheless, the W left a note of apology under my door and offered on their own initiative to give me 5,000 SPG points for their error. When the points had not posted within 7 days, I contacted SPG Customer Care and the hotel immediately had the points posted manually with an additional 1,000 SPG points for not being more prompt. Now that is great customer care. :)

I stayed at the Boston Back bay hilton last night and did not receive my requested 7:00 am wakeup call. This has caused me to miss a meeting and I'll now have to stay an additional 3 nights at the hotel as I cannot reschedule untill mon morning.
I have called the front office manager and asked for these nights to be comped and she says she will get back to me.
My question is. Am I right in expecting them to comp these nights.
I am a diamond member and have stayed at this same hotel many times in the past.

Are you kidding? It's your responsibility to wake up, not the responsibility of the hotel.

I've had hotels from low end to high end miss wake up calls. I now prefer the automated systems that most hotels have (call, enter your wake up call, press 1 to confirm) since they rarely fail. The couple of times they missed a wake up call and I mention it to the hotel all I've gotten is 'Sorry about that, don't know how that happened' which is probably the truth. I *always* set the bedside alarm too.. and if for some reason I can't figure that out, or if I have a really important meeting/flight, set my cell phone alarm.

I think its pretty generous to get anything other than a sorry for a missed wake up call, but at the Las Vegas DO another FTer also got a free night out of a few missed wake up calls, but in her case I think it was a pattern.. not just one...

Sounds like they already compensated you more than I would have, with that free night.

Are you kidding? It's your responsibility to wake up, not the responsibility of the hotel.

He is certainly not kidding. I am in general very much in favour of hotels. However, if a hotel accepts responsibility for a certain service they are obligated to perform. And this is clearly breach of contract. I travel around the world a lot in totally different time zones. And if I instruct the hotel to get a wake up call at 7 am local time and they accept this, they are responsible for this. I don't want to play around with alarm clocks; if I check in into a full service hotel, a wake up call is the minimum I can expect. If they do not deliver, they are responsible for forseeable detriment effects - whatever these may be.

Advice first:

I'd look for a BMG cert or whatever would get you a free night anywhere in HH-land you want. That seems fair to me.

Scolding second:

Shame on you for trusting them. No system is foolproof; I travel with a very small but loud alarm clock. I regularly stay at a semi-decent hotel in the UK that does not offer alarm clocks in the rooms. It is not a given thing everywhere in the world. I ask for a wakeup call if I absolutely have to get up at a certain time and also set the room alarm (checking to see that the time is correctly am or pm) if there is one and set my own alarm.

I don't know if this is myth, but I read that American Indians used pre-bed water as an alarm. You know, 2 glasses to get up at 5, 3 glasses to get up at 4, etc. Of course, if you're groggy and inclined to go back to bed after using the toilet, that doesn't work.

He is certainly not kidding. I am in general very much in favour of hotels. However, if a hotel accepts responsibility for a certain service they are obligated to perform. And this is clearly breach of contract. I travel around the world a lot in totally different time zones. And if I instruct the hotel to get a wake up call at 7 am local time and they accept this, they are responsible for this. I don't want to play around with alarm clocks; if I check in into a full service hotel, a wake up call is the minimum I can expect. If they do not deliver, they are responsible for forseeable detriment effects - whatever these may be.

The hotel could have called and you might have slept through the phone call.

If it was a meeting, I would have been stressed and not miss it.

I agree with the flying lawyer...it is your responsibility...we are not in high school anymore, where your mother wakes you up for school...

Not only shouldn't you trust a hotel's wakeup call system, but don't trust their alarm clocks either. A few years ago I was staying at the BWI ES. A power failure at night reset the room's alarm clock, and my morning wakeup call never came. The first (and only) time I've ever missed a flight in my 1 million plus miles of flying. Had to cancel my entire trip because of it, and all ES gave me was a voucher for a free dinner during my next stay (like that was going to happen!).

Lesson learned, though. I now always set my cell-phone alarm in addition to one of the two above options.

-FlyerBeek

I'm sorry, but I travel quite a bit and it would have N-E-V-E-R dawned on me to ask for a compensation because I didn't get my wake up call. Unfortunately, it is a total toss up whether or not I will get the call. Unless, of course as someone else mentioned, it is an automated system and then there is a pretty good bet that you will receive your automated call (so long as you enter the information correctly!).

If this meeting was an important as you state it was (important enough for you to stay another 3 days to reschedule), I can't imagine that you put all your eggs in that oh-so fragile basket! Are you a seasoned traveler? If so, I think you made a terrible assumption that everything you ask for is going to come out as planned.

If I had a meeting like this, I think I would have three back up plans! Not put the responsibility on SOMEONE else...yikes, I don't even know if I could sleep if I did that! Everyone seems to have a cell phone these days. And I don't know about yours, but my alarm is about the easiest alarm I've ever had to set, phone, alarm clock, watch, you name it.

Always, always, always, have a plan B. Especially when you travel.

If you got comped one night, you were very, very lucky. And I'm sorry to say, and others may disagree, I would imagine that the staff were all saying the same thing as you left the desk angry...."if it was that important, wake your own self up!" Sorry. It is the responsibility of the hotels to get the folios correct too, but how often do we have to correct a folio? And, it is hhonors.com responsibility to post the points--how often do we have to get on them? Nothing is a given and nothing is 100%.

The good thing is I doubt you will ever depend on a wake up call again. Lesson learned...albeit the hard way. Sorry you had to miss your meeting.

Dawn