Originally Posted by
Dianne47
I don't think having a spouse use a free stay earned on points is "gaming the system." My husband checks in all the time on stays where points go into my account or the stay is on points - and vice versa. He takes my hotel frequent sleeper card (but never has had to show it) and his name is on the remarks or the actual reservation. I've never ever had a problem with any stay, and my last name isn't the same as his.
While it depends on the terms of the program, in some programs they clearly state that you can not get credit for the stay unless you are actually staying in the room. Because you and your husband work the system to get around that requirement (if you are staying at a chain that says you should not get credit) and you get points for his stay, doesn't mean it's always going to work.
The hotel apparently has made it clear that the OP has to be there. The OP has made it fairly clear (though without actually saying it) that they have no intention of being there.
Nobody should be shocked at the end of this all if it doesn't work as expected.