I even paid extra for a late checkout of 5PM at Novotel Szczecin as I had an evening flight back from a crummy regional airport with no lounge or facilities (SZZ). I have Gold status but know from experience that doesn't mean a lot at Accor, so I figured if I paid hard cash there won't need to be any begging or refusals.

I mentioned the late checkout to the FD staff so that they wouldn't try turfing me out of my room around midday. However, I forgot that this was Accor. Even though the staff had originally acknowledged my late checkout, at 12PM housekeeping were banging on the door. I explained the situation to the maid (I speak Polish but these days Ukrainian is likely to be their native language) but half an hour later later there was a call from FD demanding to know (in quite strident terms) why I hadn't already vacated.

By this time I was pretty p****ed off so I went downstairs to show my receipt for the late checkout. The girl at the desk at first tried to claim that I hadn't informed anyone so it was actually my fault - it was almost like she was expecting me to apologise for the inconvenience. Only after I threatened to escalate the matter if my late checkout wasn't honoured did she grudgingly accept that I did in fact have the right to stay until 5PM. The expression on her face when she realised I really did have late checkout was like I'd cancelled her birthday party.

The FD staff had a major attitude problem the whole time I was there.