Jan 4, 2014, 4:05 am
Last edit by: Starwood Lurker
BRG Wiki on Flyertalk
• You cannot BRG against a rate on a Starwood Website/App (hot escapes, promos, Gov. Rate etc.). It has to be a 3rd party website/App.
• Cancellation policy has no bearing on a BRG claim
• There's no need to reserve with SPG first.
• If you find a rate lower than the advertised SPG.com rate, then submit a BRG claim form. If it is approved, you will then have 24 hours to book on a Starwood Branded Website (SPG.com, Westin.com etc.) and reply to your pending approval email from BRG with the confirmation number.
• Make sure to book a flexible rate on SPG.com. This will allow you to then cancel this booking if you find a lower Starwood rate later (like the hot escapes etc.) or if your travel plans change.
• To save time, you can also book a flexible rate first on SPG.com, and then submit your BRG claim. This saves effort when filling in the BRG form, as well as the need to book within 24 hours of receiving the email from SPG. If your claim is not approved, simply cancel the flexible reservation.
• If your comparable rate includes extras like breakfast or parking, make sure there is a room available on spg.com that includes the exact amenities. If there is the same room type with the same amenities on SPG.com, they will compare and if lower on third party, the claim may be approved for the room type and with the amenities. If there is the same room type available but no/different amenities offered, the claim may still be approved, but the rate will be room only.
• Room types must be the same for a BRG. If you are trying to submit a BRG against an existing reservation, you will need to select “I have a Starwood reservation” on the first page and then select “My BRG claim is against the rate on this reservation” on the second page of the claim form. If you are looking at a different room type and rate than what you have booked on the Starwood site, you will still select “I have a Starwood reservation” on the first page and then enter the room type and rate you are seeing on the Starwood Website/App in the fields provided on the claim form. If you do not have an existing reservation booked with Starwood, you will fill out the claim form by selecting “I do not have a Starwood reservation” and proceed as normal.
• If you have an approved and finalized claim and you find an even cheaper rate later, then you may submit a new BRG claim that is not connected to any existing reservation. If this BRG claim is approved, you will need to make a new flexible reservation on SPG.com. Once the process is completed, you will then email the BRG desk to cancel your first reservation (which is flexible, although you can't cancel online).
• If you find availability for the room type you want on a third party website/app but there is no availability for that room type or no availability for any room type on the Starwood Website, then this may be an approved claim if it meets all other terms and conditions. You will need to make sure that you specify the room type you actually want on the Starwood Website section and enter 0 in the rate and currency. This will ensure that the processing associates know that the room type you want is not available on the Starwood Website. You may also add additional comments near the end of the claim form indicating that there is no availability on the Starwood Website to help clarify.
Differing currencies
• "The Best Rate Guarantee department will approve a claim if there is a difference of 2.5% or greater where the currencies are different or a difference of 1% or greater if the currencies are the same."
Link to T&C
https://www.starwoodhotels.com/bestrate/terms.html
Should you take points or the discounted rate?
2,000 Starpoints is worth approximately $40-50. So take points unless the 10% discount is more than $40-$50.
Generally, for 1 or 2 night stays you'll take points, and for longer stays you'll want the discount.
How to add a SNA to a BRG reservation
• Log into your SPG account
• Click on your stays to view our your current reservation
• Look for your BRG reservation and click on "send confirmation" link for the BRG reservation
• reload the page and you should be able to now select "apply SNA to this stay" link
• You cannot BRG against a rate on a Starwood Website/App (hot escapes, promos, Gov. Rate etc.). It has to be a 3rd party website/App.
• Cancellation policy has no bearing on a BRG claim
• There's no need to reserve with SPG first.
• If you find a rate lower than the advertised SPG.com rate, then submit a BRG claim form. If it is approved, you will then have 24 hours to book on a Starwood Branded Website (SPG.com, Westin.com etc.) and reply to your pending approval email from BRG with the confirmation number.
• Make sure to book a flexible rate on SPG.com. This will allow you to then cancel this booking if you find a lower Starwood rate later (like the hot escapes etc.) or if your travel plans change.
• To save time, you can also book a flexible rate first on SPG.com, and then submit your BRG claim. This saves effort when filling in the BRG form, as well as the need to book within 24 hours of receiving the email from SPG. If your claim is not approved, simply cancel the flexible reservation.
• If your comparable rate includes extras like breakfast or parking, make sure there is a room available on spg.com that includes the exact amenities. If there is the same room type with the same amenities on SPG.com, they will compare and if lower on third party, the claim may be approved for the room type and with the amenities. If there is the same room type available but no/different amenities offered, the claim may still be approved, but the rate will be room only.
• Room types must be the same for a BRG. If you are trying to submit a BRG against an existing reservation, you will need to select “I have a Starwood reservation” on the first page and then select “My BRG claim is against the rate on this reservation” on the second page of the claim form. If you are looking at a different room type and rate than what you have booked on the Starwood site, you will still select “I have a Starwood reservation” on the first page and then enter the room type and rate you are seeing on the Starwood Website/App in the fields provided on the claim form. If you do not have an existing reservation booked with Starwood, you will fill out the claim form by selecting “I do not have a Starwood reservation” and proceed as normal.
• If you have an approved and finalized claim and you find an even cheaper rate later, then you may submit a new BRG claim that is not connected to any existing reservation. If this BRG claim is approved, you will need to make a new flexible reservation on SPG.com. Once the process is completed, you will then email the BRG desk to cancel your first reservation (which is flexible, although you can't cancel online).
• If you find availability for the room type you want on a third party website/app but there is no availability for that room type or no availability for any room type on the Starwood Website, then this may be an approved claim if it meets all other terms and conditions. You will need to make sure that you specify the room type you actually want on the Starwood Website section and enter 0 in the rate and currency. This will ensure that the processing associates know that the room type you want is not available on the Starwood Website. You may also add additional comments near the end of the claim form indicating that there is no availability on the Starwood Website to help clarify.
Differing currencies
• "The Best Rate Guarantee department will approve a claim if there is a difference of 2.5% or greater where the currencies are different or a difference of 1% or greater if the currencies are the same."
Link to T&C
https://www.starwoodhotels.com/bestrate/terms.html
Should you take points or the discounted rate?
2,000 Starpoints is worth approximately $40-50. So take points unless the 10% discount is more than $40-$50.
Generally, for 1 or 2 night stays you'll take points, and for longer stays you'll want the discount.
How to add a SNA to a BRG reservation
• Log into your SPG account
• Click on your stays to view our your current reservation
• Look for your BRG reservation and click on "send confirmation" link for the BRG reservation
• reload the page and you should be able to now select "apply SNA to this stay" link
Best rate guarantee (BRG) - success, failure & discussion 2012-on [Master Thread]
Oct 24, 2014, 8:54 pm
#2146
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: CEB - primary/YVR -secondary
Programs: AC*Super Elite (100K) / PR*Elite / AY*Platinum (OWE) / SPG*Bonvoy Titanium (LTT)
Posts: 2,273
The first thing i do when i recieve the brg approved email is look at the actual confirmed rate. The actual confirmed rate on the email is the rate i show to the hotel and is also the rate the hotel will charge me.
Should there be any discrepancies upon reading the email, then i can easily contact the brg team to have it rectified prior to my arrival - with an email document showing the correct brg rate.
Personally if this happened to me, id let it go and look at this as a lesson to always double check all important info on the email.
Should there be any discrepancies upon reading the email, then i can easily contact the brg team to have it rectified prior to my arrival - with an email document showing the correct brg rate.
Personally if this happened to me, id let it go and look at this as a lesson to always double check all important info on the email.
Oct 25, 2014, 12:54 am
#2147
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,487
Approved rate is not based what you submit but what BRG finds when they check. You submitted €120 rate yet BRG team found €150, inclusive of taxes, rate and approved that. Nothing unusual here. IMHO, HHQX888 is being unreasonable.
Yes, I noticed that my approved BRG rates differs from rate submitted sometimes. Nevertheless, I am happy if my BRG claim is approved. I don't really care about the last penny.
Oct 25, 2014, 12:57 am
#2148
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry | SQ Silver
Posts: 6,820
Oct 25, 2014, 2:57 pm
#2149
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 573
After supervisor review the claim, I have answer that in my case BRG staffs make two mistakes :
1. not standard reply with email 'claim approved'
2. second staff inform me on my phone call that 120EUR is correct rate, she don't look excatly in full correspondence with BRG department.
Correct rate 120EUR was send to LM Malta, with explanation that it was mistake of BRG departament.
1. not standard reply with email 'claim approved'
2. second staff inform me on my phone call that 120EUR is correct rate, she don't look excatly in full correspondence with BRG department.
Correct rate 120EUR was send to LM Malta, with explanation that it was mistake of BRG departament.
Oct 30, 2014, 8:48 am
#2150
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Georgia
Programs: Delta, SPG
Posts: 157
I got confirmed on my BRG rate, but it still hasn't shown up on SPG 8 days later. Starting to wonder if my account is jinxed. Anyhow, here is a good site to use: http://www.hotelscombined.com/
Oct 30, 2014, 10:02 am
#2151
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry | SQ Silver
Posts: 6,820
I got confirmed on my BRG rate, but it still hasn't shown up on SPG 8 days later. Starting to wonder if my account is jinxed. Anyhow, here is a good site to use: http://www.hotelscombined.com/
Oct 30, 2014, 12:00 pm
#2152
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CDG
Programs: SK Gold, AF Gold, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,730
Hotel Name: Westin Warsaw, Poland
Arrival Date : December 31, 2014
Departure Date : January 04, 2015
Room Type On Reservation: Classic
Rate On Reservation : 53 EUR
Competing Website : Gala Hotels
Competing rate : 50 EUR incl. breakfast
Actual Confirmed Rate: 50 EUR incl. breakfast
BRG Reward : points
Arrival Date : December 31, 2014
Departure Date : January 04, 2015
Room Type On Reservation: Classic
Rate On Reservation : 53 EUR
Competing Website : Gala Hotels
Competing rate : 50 EUR incl. breakfast
Actual Confirmed Rate: 50 EUR incl. breakfast
BRG Reward : points
Nov 1, 2014, 7:36 am
#2154
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: KSA
Programs: Marriott AMB, Skywards Gold
Posts: 3,738
This is a first. Had a BRG claim approved (without making a reservation), went on spg.com to make a reservation but the hotel is now sold out. I emailed the BRG team about the situation and still waiting on a response.
Only problem is that check in is today.
Only problem is that check in is today.
Nov 2, 2014, 5:40 pm
#2155
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 337
Hotel: Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel & Casino
Arrival Date: May 22, 2015
Departure Date: May 26, 2015
Room Type: 1 Traditional Room
Rate on SPG reservation: $209
Competing side: Amoma.com
Competing rate: $177.60
Actual confirmed rate: $159.84 USD per night plus tax and service charge ($177.60 less 10%)
Arrival Date: May 22, 2015
Departure Date: May 26, 2015
Room Type: 1 Traditional Room
Rate on SPG reservation: $209
Competing side: Amoma.com
Competing rate: $177.60
Actual confirmed rate: $159.84 USD per night plus tax and service charge ($177.60 less 10%)
Nov 2, 2014, 8:57 pm
#2156
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Guangzhou
Programs: SPG
Posts: 1,021
Hi haibane,
If the stay has not credited to your account, you can send your hotel folio to Program Services via email at [email protected] or by fax at 519-633-8557.
Best Regards,
Christina Zhou
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
If the stay has not credited to your account, you can send your hotel folio to Program Services via email at [email protected] or by fax at 519-633-8557.
Best Regards,
Christina Zhou
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
Nov 3, 2014, 4:31 pm
#2157
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SIN
Programs: SPG Plat
Posts: 14
Hi, could someone explain the cancellation policy to me please?
"Thank you for your reply regarding your approved Best Rate Guarantee claim for the W Singapore - Sentosa Cove.
The cancellation policy will remain the same as when you originally booked the reservation; therefore, your pre-paid reservation is non-refundable, except the difference of your approved Best Rate."
If my original booking states that the forfeiture amount is S$ 441, and my new approved BRG rate is S$ 367, does that mean that if I were to cancel, there would be a charge of (S$ 441 less S$ 367)?
"Thank you for your reply regarding your approved Best Rate Guarantee claim for the W Singapore - Sentosa Cove.
The cancellation policy will remain the same as when you originally booked the reservation; therefore, your pre-paid reservation is non-refundable, except the difference of your approved Best Rate."
If my original booking states that the forfeiture amount is S$ 441, and my new approved BRG rate is S$ 367, does that mean that if I were to cancel, there would be a charge of (S$ 441 less S$ 367)?
Nov 3, 2014, 4:34 pm
#2158
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CDG
Programs: SK Gold, AF Gold, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,730
No, the refund would be S$ 441 less S$367.
Nov 4, 2014, 7:56 am
#2159
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 89
hi all, apologies if this question has been asked before.
i've been granted BRG for st regis singapore SGD480 --> 320 (quoted).
So in the email instructions, i was told to book a reservation, and I did. I booked the non-refundable rate of 480. Now, i've scoured the net and found out that most people book the refundable rate for the BRG team to adjust after they've been approved.
In my case, would the difference be refunded to my card? (The charge has been posted on the CC already). Or I'm misplayed the game and not gonna get the adjusted rate.
Thanks
i've been granted BRG for st regis singapore SGD480 --> 320 (quoted).
So in the email instructions, i was told to book a reservation, and I did. I booked the non-refundable rate of 480. Now, i've scoured the net and found out that most people book the refundable rate for the BRG team to adjust after they've been approved.
In my case, would the difference be refunded to my card? (The charge has been posted on the CC already). Or I'm misplayed the game and not gonna get the adjusted rate.
Thanks
Nov 4, 2014, 9:09 am
#2160
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 326
Usually when a hotel is sold out and there is a successful BRG the hotel will email you a reservation directly. Hotel reservation dept has to make it for you.
On a same day reservation/arrival I'm not sure what happens - hopefully they can do it for you!
Maybe you'll even get a great upgrade! But just in case they really are sold out and the Platinum guarantee doesn't work then I'd have a look at this thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...ld-member.html