We call in most of the time too, but that precludes stacking Prest+Prem benefit, and having to wait for the statement credit, rather than getting it instantly applied

My experience is that chain hotels are easier to get the stacking at though.

I have been trying all morning to find something where I can do that for our xmas plans, but so far no luck for the better places.

The Portal is marking up stays by so much for many properties (I'm looking at independents in ski areas) that it defeats the point of booking through that channel/on line.

I guess if one really had to get rid of TYP it would be ok, but booking direct, and taking a 1c statement credit is quasi comparable to the prices I'm seeing on some names.

One example, numbers are approx as I closed the tabs

Molly Gibson Lodge , Aspen 1/4 - 1/8 , 4 nights

Booking Direct - $1266 (pay cash, earns 4kTYP)
TYP Portal - $1150ish (or 85k TYP which is supposed to be including the 4NF and 1.25 premier redemption value)
Concierge - $1000 (pay $1266 on check out, get $250ish statement credit later) earns 4k TYP (so one could effectively pay 96k TYP if desired later on)

There are a bunch all like that. I thought it was only an issue with non refundable rates....but I'm seeing it on other ones too.

The Premier uplift of 1.25 for hotels is getting (effectively) degraded down to 1.10 in some cases because of the higher rates Connexions/Expedia is showing for some properties.

Grrr.

I guess I'll be playing phone/email tag with the Concierge again