Best Western Rewards - Can one make award reservations online?

From what I looked at, it seems like one has to call the service center - is that right? Or did I miss something?

Can one make awards in others names? and is there a way to see how many points are needed for one night a particular hotel?

Thanks.

Kohoutek booked a March stay online with Best Western. Was able to compare points required with a quoted rate.

Kohoutek booked a March stay online with Best Western. Was able to compare points required with a quoted rate.

how do you do it? I am not able to see any link.

Stand by, UA. I'll go check out BW site...

Okay, log in, in "Home", it's "Find a Hotel".

Kohoutek

I just did it for the first time. You make the reservation first - using points. Then you acquire the appropriate certificate.

After you've made the award reservation, click on "rewards program" at top of page, then click on "spend points", "free night rewards", and finally click on the correct number of points. It produces a certificate that you can email, snail mail or print.

I just did it for the first time. You make the reservation first - using points. Then you acquire the appropriate certificate.

After you've made the award reservation, click on "rewards program" at top of page, then click on "spend points", "free night rewards", and finally click on the correct number of points. It produces a certificate that you can email, snail mail or print.

Seems unusual way to do so.

Seems unusual way to do so.

Took me a while to figure out. It would be nice to receive a message after booking the reservation that tells you what to do next. I found the 2nd step while looking for directions on what the mext step might be.

Still, other programs have their quirks too. I still have to call the DD when I make Hilton award reservations for anyone but myself.

Kohoutek booked a March stay online with Best Western. Was able to compare points required with a quoted rate.

Stand by, UA. I'll go check out BW site...

Okay, log in, in "Home", it's "Find a Hotel".

Kohoutek

I like the Best Western website. It's easy to toggle between rates and points, and to make an online reservation. My March reward stay, booked online (12K points), went without a hitch. The points were not deducted at the time of the reservation, unlike other chains. I did have a printout to show my rez at check-in. As I recall, this was a requirement.

Received an online survey later for 250 points. :)

I like the Best Western website. It's easy to toggle between rates and points, and to make an online reservation. My March reward stay, booked online (12K points), went without a hitch. The points were not deducted at the time of the reservation, unlike other chains. I did have a printout to show my rez at check-in. As I recall, this was a requirement.

Received an online survey later for 250 points. :)

You are correct. The points are deducted when you acquire the certificate. Most programs these days require the points in your account when you make the reservation - I know Hilton is now that way. My award nights are usually more last minute.

Still, other programs have their quirks too. I still have to call the DD when I make Hilton award reservations for anyone but myself.

exactly it is so annoying.

I've used points a few times in the US and once in Ireland. Every time, I booked the reservation on the website but did not request the "certificate". At check-in, the clerk has always been able to request it on my behalf with no problem. They've indicated, though, that they can't always do that. Not sure why. But it's always worked out fine for me.

Is there a way (any more) to see online how many points a given hotel requires (if you don't have enough points)?

I can't seem to get a points search to come up no matter what I try (even though I'm logged in), and I'm guessing that's because I don't have enough points at the moment? (I only have 300 right now.) People say there's an easy way to toggle between points & paying, but I can't find it, so I presume it doesn't show up if you don't have enough points for any stay? (I can get to the page that shows the certficates, but I can't get a hotel search to show points amounts. Btw, if I try to search for a hotel from the rewards page, even if I type in the name of the city correctly, it throws me to a page where it says it can't figure out my city, and gives me a list of a zillion cities to choose from, and by the time I answer that, I'm at a regular search page.

In the past, I remember a list of hotels (separate from the normal reservation search) that showed how many points each was, but they've rearranged things, and I can't find that either.

(I did finally find a printed guide once I got home that showed the point requirements for the hotels I was interested in. But it's frustrating that I couldn't do it online.)

Is there a way (any more) to see online how many points a given hotel requires (if you don't have enough points)?

I can't seem to get a points search to come up no matter what I try (even though I'm logged in), and I'm guessing that's because I don't have enough points at the moment? (I only have 300 right now.) People say there's an easy way to toggle between points & paying, but I can't find it, so I presume it doesn't show up if you don't have enough points for any stay? (I can get to the page that shows the certficates, but I can't get a hotel search to show points amounts. Btw, if I try to search for a hotel from the rewards page, even if I type in the name of the city correctly, it throws me to a page where it says it can't figure out my city, and gives me a list of a zillion cities to choose from, and by the time I answer that, I'm at a regular search page.

In the past, I remember a list of hotels (separate from the normal reservation search) that showed how many points each was, but they've rearranged things, and I can't find that either.

(I did finally find a printed guide once I got home that showed the point requirements for the hotels I was interested in. But it's frustrating that I couldn't do it online.)


The little tick box for "search by points" only appears when you're logged into your account. Could that be the problem?

The little tick box for "search by points" only appears when you're logged into your account. Could that be the problem?
No, I was definitely logged in, every page showed my account number, "Welcome (my name)", plus "My Profile", "My Reervations", and "My Account" links in the top right, instead of the login area.

But still I could find a trace of "search by points" anywhere.

And I even tried two different browsers (IE in addition to the Mozilla-based browser I normally use), just in case they're browser-challanged, but same (lack of) results in both.

I should mention my online account has for a long time had another problem (and it's just possible these two problems share the same cause): When not logged in, I see airline awards from the typical US companies, but as soon as I log in, it only shows me Aeroplan, Continental, Southwest, and US Airways. When I called to compalin about that, instead of fixing it, they just offered to let me redeem over the phone!

I've used points a few times in the US and once in Ireland. Every time, I booked the reservation on the website but did not request the "certificate". At check-in, the clerk has always been able to request it on my behalf with no problem. They've indicated, though, that they can't always do that. Not sure why. But it's always worked out fine for me.

I printed my cert for Friday's stay and it wasn't requested at check-in. Later my room number appeared on a chalkboard at reception. They are used to printing them off for guests and were concerned when my account didn't show sufficient points. Beware if you bring your own cert. You might get double-dipped.