Reserve Room Cash - Rebook with Points?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 59
Reserve Room Cash - Rebook with Points?
I only have Choice points as I got the 40,000 point offer on the Visa. I want to book a room in Atlantic City on a weekend that I am sure will be sold-out prior to 50 days before the night which is when I could use the points. If I reserve at the $ rate now. Then call back 49 days before the checkin date and cancel the reservation - will I immediately be able to rebook the room using points? I know there would be at least one room available.
#2
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Quebec and Ontario, Canada
Programs: AC*E50, SPG/Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,917
I only have Choice points as I got the 40,000 point offer on the Visa. I want to book a room in Atlantic City on a weekend that I am sure will be sold-out prior to 50 days before the night which is when I could use the points. If I reserve at the $ rate now. Then call back 49 days before the checkin date and cancel the reservation - will I immediately be able to rebook the room using points? I know there would be at least one room available.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Freeload Univ. Where are you sitting?
Posts: 14,818
This has been rumored to be an effective technique with Choice, but I never tried it. I have heard anecdotal evidence that it sometimes works.
I have actually called Choice to see if I could do it, and the CSR told me it was OK. At the time, I was a Diamond, and it turned out I didn't need to do it, but a phone call will cost you nothing and you might get away with it. If it works, we'd sure all like to heard about it
I have actually called Choice to see if I could do it, and the CSR told me it was OK. At the time, I was a Diamond, and it turned out I didn't need to do it, but a phone call will cost you nothing and you might get away with it. If it works, we'd sure all like to heard about it
#5
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 2,506
Are you sure that it is limited? I haven't seen that limitation, except obviously when 'standard' rooms are sold out online as well.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
I only have Choice points as I got the 40,000 point offer on the Visa. I want to book a room in Atlantic City on a weekend that I am sure will be sold-out prior to 50 days before the night which is when I could use the points. If I reserve at the $ rate now. Then call back 49 days before the checkin date and cancel the reservation - will I immediately be able to rebook the room using points? I know there would be at least one room available.
#7
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Quebec and Ontario, Canada
Programs: AC*E50, SPG/Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,917
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
#9
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Quebec and Ontario, Canada
Programs: AC*E50, SPG/Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,917
But for last minutes stays I don't think you can have room if there is no award room anymore... Maybe if you call them...
#10
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 2,506
-One Queen
-One King
-Two Doubles
-One King City View
-One King w/ sitting area
-One King Suite
Some hotels will only list the one queen rooms as available for reward bookings. Some may expand it to the two doubles and/or one king. Some will go so far as to offer everything except the suite, and there are others that offer every room type available.
It varies by hotel, so if a hotel only releases the one queen rooms for reward stays and that room type is sold out on a given night, you could see every other room type listed under Best Available Rate for a paid stay, but no reward nights available. If someone cancels a reservation for a one queen room, then reward nights will become available again.
#11
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: MSP/BUF/BNA/LFT
Programs: AA Plat, Priority Club Gold, Choice Privileges Gold
Posts: 1,224
I just tried this and it did not work - Made reservation in Tokyo, cancelled at 60 days out to rebook with points and the room has never come back into the inventory....had to rearrange my plans
#12
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: CGN
Programs: ALL MAJOR FFP AND FSP
Posts: 321
maybe it's not possible on the website but it is possible with the CSR? Just some idea. similar to changing flights without cancelling and reissuing tickets (for certain changes of course)...
ideas?
#13
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: ORD, MDW or MKE
Programs: American and Southwest. Hilton and Marriott hotels primarily.
Posts: 6,459
That probably will not work. As I understand the problem - there are rooms available, just no award rooms available.
If there are no award rooms available, calling CSR will not make one become available.
If there are no award rooms available, calling CSR will not make one become available.