Originally Posted by
TravelingJoel
The easy way to know, if you are booking online, is whether you select any one of the "special rate" radio buttons (AAA, Senior, Govt, Corporate / promotional code). If you do, you are requesting rates that you may need to provide proof of eligibility. If you go another step further and enter a 3 digit code into the "Corporate / promotional code" box, you are even more likely to be challenged, as you are now in clarkef's example. (assuming it's either a "random" set of digits trolling for cheap rates or a specific company's 3 digit code... there are plenty of "public" codes one can try, see the Sticky)
when you book a rate, pretty much every rate whether its a generic corp, aaa, govt or *insert company code here* you get to a point where rate rules is a pop up window
these will give the cx policy, the extras like b/f etc.. and it also says this rate requires Id or it will not state anything.. based on this patter it can be argued that not stating any ID requirement allows for anyone to use it where as requires ID would indicate you must have an ID to use the rate
example
corporate (generic rate mentioned by socrates above) shows the following for a hotel I just tried for a random weekday date in a large city
Holding Your Reservation
We will need a credit card number to reserve your room.
Canceling Your Reservation
You may cancel your reservation for no charge until 4:00 PM hotel time on January 29, 2009.
Please note that we will assess a fee of 238.40 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).
Modifying Your Reservation
Please note that a change in the length or dates of your reservation may result in a rate change
now using AAA
in addition to the above this is an added line
When You Check-in
Please be prepared to show proof of eligibility for your rate (such as a membership card, corporate or government identification card, or proof of your age).
now using corp code *xxx*
same as AAA
now using corp code *xxy*
that ID line is missing and is no where to be found anywhere in the reservation process.. no where
going back to what I said.. this would indicate that corp rate xxy is something that could be used by anyone or else they would have put in the ID requirement either in the rate rules or at least in the box under the rate rules that says the corp name such as
xxy rate, includes airport transportation
vs this rate
xxx rate, Self Parking $xx, company ID required