Orbitz BRG lacks the competition
Dec 7, 2009, 6:19 pm
#1
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Orbitz BRG lacks the competition
Recently, Orbitz introduced a BRG offering a $ 50 coupon towards a future hotel booking if you find a lower hotel rate somewhere else. Apparently, the coupon only applies to future reservations of 3 nights or more. At the same time, Orbitz offers coupons like ORBITZOT50 ($ 50 off, 3 nights or more) to the general public, basically giving you the same benefits. So, what is the point of the BRG coupon in the first place? The competition does a much better job with similar policies: Travelocity requires only 2 nights, and Expedia requires only 1 night.
Dec 7, 2009, 7:41 pm
#2
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I was wondering what the T&C's would be of the new Orbitz BRG 50 coupon. Travelocity does a similar one but it is a 2 night surprise minimum when you get the coupon. Not too impressive. Thanks for posting the details.
Dec 8, 2009, 9:48 am
#5
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Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,421
Too bad. I guess this falls into the "largely worthless BRG" camp. It seems like the majority of such guarantees fall into that catgory.
Dec 8, 2009, 10:59 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2002
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It appears to be valid for hotel-only bookings as well (even though it might not be worth much as discussed on this thread)
Originally Posted by ORBITZ
Orbitz Low Price Guarantee
Look for our hotel and car rates backed by our Low Price Guarantee. We're so confident they're the lowest online, we're willing to put money on it.
Hotel Low Price Guarantee Terms and Conditions:
If you book a qualifying prepaid hotel rate on the Orbitz Web site, and then find the same room, in the same hotel, for the same dates, at a lower price online, before taxes and fees, we'll refund the difference and give you a $50 discount on a future hotel or vacation package booking. Just submit your claim to Orbitz before the hotel's cancellation fees apply. Qualifying rates are marked with a "Low Price Guarantee" label.
If your claim is approved, Orbitz will refund the difference to the credit card you used to make your hotel reservation in approximately 7 - 10 business days. You'll receive the $50 coupon via e-mail.
Remember to make a printout or take a screen shot of the page with the lower rate, in case a customer service representative has questions. Expect a response to your claim within 72 hours. Please read General Terms below for full details.
In addition to the Low Price Guarantee, customers who book a prepaid hotel rate are also covered by Orbitz Price Assurance. If another Orbitz customer books the same itinerary for at least $5 less than the hotel booked on Orbitz.com, Orbitz will refund the difference up to $500 per reservation automatically.
Look for our hotel and car rates backed by our Low Price Guarantee. We're so confident they're the lowest online, we're willing to put money on it.
Hotel Low Price Guarantee Terms and Conditions:
If you book a qualifying prepaid hotel rate on the Orbitz Web site, and then find the same room, in the same hotel, for the same dates, at a lower price online, before taxes and fees, we'll refund the difference and give you a $50 discount on a future hotel or vacation package booking. Just submit your claim to Orbitz before the hotel's cancellation fees apply. Qualifying rates are marked with a "Low Price Guarantee" label.
If your claim is approved, Orbitz will refund the difference to the credit card you used to make your hotel reservation in approximately 7 - 10 business days. You'll receive the $50 coupon via e-mail.
Remember to make a printout or take a screen shot of the page with the lower rate, in case a customer service representative has questions. Expect a response to your claim within 72 hours. Please read General Terms below for full details.
In addition to the Low Price Guarantee, customers who book a prepaid hotel rate are also covered by Orbitz Price Assurance. If another Orbitz customer books the same itinerary for at least $5 less than the hotel booked on Orbitz.com, Orbitz will refund the difference up to $500 per reservation automatically.
Dec 8, 2009, 11:07 am
#7
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Dec 8, 2009, 11:09 am
#8
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Dec 8, 2009, 11:10 am
#9
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Dec 8, 2009, 2:02 pm
#10
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Dec 8, 2009, 5:12 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2009
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You're right - worthless. Expedia's not making it easy anymore either. I got 3 BRGs in Nov and I was on the phone for an average of 45 mins each shot. They list some rooms fictitiously too, so they won't match up. For example: I booked a Grande Superior room at the Majestic Grande in BKK on Expedia. It was $15-20 cheaper on a # of other sites. I pointed this out and Expedia said they were different, because my room had 3 beds. 24 sq/m and 3 beds ! Come on ! They wouldn't match, but they gave me the coupon, 'cause I kept complaining. BTW I e-mailed the hotel and they have no such room. I'm not going through another sphincter-pull for the $15 though. On Orbitz, AFFORB40 works on 3 nights until the end of Jan. wj
Dec 9, 2009, 9:14 am
#12
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