Originally Posted by
TheMan
Has anyone been told at the New Orleans Marriott that if they want an UPGRADE to a larger room(suite, etc) that regardless of availability it is never FREE. They tried to charge me 50% of the room value on top of the current rate of a standard room for an upgrade. The most that you get for a FREE upgrade is a room with a better view or concierge floor. My understanding of the rules for upgrade is "Based upon availability at check-in". No charge is mentioned. Am I wrong or how do they get away with it?
I had a great upgrade to the Presidential Suite at that hotel, but that was a few years ago.
I had a similar encounter with the Fairview Park Marriott (near DC) this past weekend, when I inquired about an upgrade from my 5th floor room. Was told a suite was available, but my room rate would be changed from $119 to $499 per night (the hotel was not sold out). I was told that an upgrade to a room on a higher floor (which was in my profile and my MR # was in the reservation, booked on Marriott.com) was also available, but would be $30 more be night, concierge level would be $50. The Front Desk Supervisor told me that all upgrades whether MR elite or not require a change to the room rate and there was no way for them to do a complimentary upgrade in the system. Since I was late for a rehearsal dinner and wasn't going to be in the room that much, I did not pursue it any further. I was going to do a little research to see if there were more changes to the T&Cs, or if this hotel was making excuses for not following policy.
Regards,
RIP...