When is the cancelation cutoff exactly?
Aug 15, 2017, 5:45 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Programs: Marriott Silver
Posts: 47
When is the cancelation cutoff exactly?
I feel there must be a thread covering this but I can't find it.
I found a decent non-refundable price at the Fairfield Manhattan/Times Square and I booked it this morning. Looking again tonight I found a good rate on Trivago at the New York Marriott Marquis and submitted a LNF request. But I don't want to cancel my existing reservation until Marriott approves my LNF change.
My Fairfield rate says "Changes to your reservation are not permitted. Please note that you may cancel your reservation for no charge until August 16, 2017." What time on the 16th do I need to cancel by? Is it 11:59 Hotel time? I can't seem to find anything other than the date.
I found a decent non-refundable price at the Fairfield Manhattan/Times Square and I booked it this morning. Looking again tonight I found a good rate on Trivago at the New York Marriott Marquis and submitted a LNF request. But I don't want to cancel my existing reservation until Marriott approves my LNF change.
My Fairfield rate says "Changes to your reservation are not permitted. Please note that you may cancel your reservation for no charge until August 16, 2017." What time on the 16th do I need to cancel by? Is it 11:59 Hotel time? I can't seem to find anything other than the date.
Aug 15, 2017, 7:47 pm
#2
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My Fairfield rate says "Changes to your reservation are not permitted. Please note that you may cancel your reservation for no charge until August 16, 2017." What time on the 16th do I need to cancel by? Is it 11:59 Hotel time? I can't seem to find anything other than the date.
Aug 15, 2017, 7:58 pm
#3
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I would literally interpret "until August 16th" to mean no later than 11:59 pm August 15th.
Aug 15, 2017, 8:16 pm
#4
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The words "after this deadline", IMO, create some ambiguity. If it says "until August 16th" but then states that the penalty applies "after this deadline" - would it be reasonable to interpret that as, I get charged if I cancel on August 17th or later?
Aug 15, 2017, 8:31 pm
#5
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I don't see any ambiguity.
Not in my mind.
Not in my mind.
Aug 15, 2017, 9:22 pm
#6
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I'm not sure that Marriott's policy is such but your literal interpretation is correct. If one could also cancel without penalty on August 16th then it should say "through August 16th" instead of "until August 16th".
Aug 16, 2017, 5:38 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2004
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What I'm saying is, if you first say that the deadline is August 16th, but then say that the penalty applies if you cancel "after this deadline", doesn't that imply that the penalty applies beginning on August 17th?
I'm just saying that I think there is a lack of clarity in the language used by Marriott. It would be helpful if it said something like, you have until 4 PM on August 16th (or whatever time they want). That would eliminate any potential confusion.
I'm just saying that I think there is a lack of clarity in the language used by Marriott. It would be helpful if it said something like, you have until 4 PM on August 16th (or whatever time they want). That would eliminate any potential confusion.
Aug 16, 2017, 6:09 am
#8
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What I'm saying is, if you first say that the deadline is August 16th, but then say that the penalty applies if you cancel "after this deadline", doesn't that imply that the penalty applies beginning on August 17th?
I'm just saying that I think there is a lack of clarity in the language used by Marriott. It would be helpful if it said something like, you have until 4 PM on August 16th (or whatever time they want). That would eliminate any potential confusion.
I'm just saying that I think there is a lack of clarity in the language used by Marriott. It would be helpful if it said something like, you have until 4 PM on August 16th (or whatever time they want). That would eliminate any potential confusion.
Aug 16, 2017, 7:06 am
#9
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If it says you may cancel until the 16th, I've canceled online in the evening on that date and not been charged. In this case it was a free cancel period until 3 days before the stay.
Aug 16, 2017, 4:24 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2012
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Posts: 342
Hilton is similarly ambiguous with their cancellation language. They say 24 (or now 48 or 72) hours before arrival. So what is arrival? I tend to arrive between 7 PM and midnight for my stays.
They should pick one- 11:59 pm, check-in time for the property, 6 pm, etc.
They should pick one- 11:59 pm, check-in time for the property, 6 pm, etc.
Aug 16, 2017, 5:50 pm
#11
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From what I've heard & here's my take on it. If your ressie is for arrival on Thurs, you need to cancel by 11:59pm on Tuesday (for the 24 hour one).
Cheers.
Cheers.
Aug 16, 2017, 8:29 pm
#12
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,699
I cancelled Tuesday mid-day, got the usual "maybe fee" warning, got a cancellation email stating the points would be returned to my account. I think I'm within my right to do so.
Marriott really needs to clarify this instead of a perpetual guessing game each time. It isn't hard to do.
Aug 16, 2017, 9:06 pm
#13
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Aug 16, 2017, 9:58 pm
#14
Join Date: May 2002
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I have a reservation at a Marriott property (Courtyard) on August 19. Here's the cancellation policy for my reservation:
There's a lot to be said for unambiguous wording.
Cancelling Your Reservation
You may cancel your reservation for no charge until August 16, 2017 (2 day[s] before arrival).
Please note that we will assess a fee of 113.12 USD if you must cancel after this deadline.
If you have made a prepayment, we will retain all or part of your prepayment. If not, we will charge your credit card.
This fee equals 1 night of your room charge plus tax (for the first night of your reservation).
Then, I have a reservation at a Starwood property (Four Points) beginning August 19. Here's the cancellation policy for my reservation:You may cancel your reservation for no charge until August 16, 2017 (2 day[s] before arrival).
Please note that we will assess a fee of 113.12 USD if you must cancel after this deadline.
If you have made a prepayment, we will retain all or part of your prepayment. If not, we will charge your credit card.
This fee equals 1 night of your room charge plus tax (for the first night of your reservation).
Cancellation Policy:
If you cancel after 6:00 PM hotel time on Thu, 17 Aug 2017, the forfeiture amount will be 50 percent of a 1 night stay. There may be additional applicable charges and taxes.
How hard would it be for Marriott to specify the time of the cancellation decline, such as "6:00 PM hotel time"?If you cancel after 6:00 PM hotel time on Thu, 17 Aug 2017, the forfeiture amount will be 50 percent of a 1 night stay. There may be additional applicable charges and taxes.
There's a lot to be said for unambiguous wording.
Aug 16, 2017, 11:50 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2002
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Posts: 3,305
When is the cancelation cutoff exactly?
It's sort of like a religious mystery. You won't really find out for sure until it's too late. 