Originally Posted by Happy

This Spring I was able to use the GCs (physical and eGC) at Fairfield, Residence Inn and Springhills - surprisingly each property has had one person knows exactly what to do. At the Fairfield they even were able to just swipe the card processed as Visa versus doing the dance on the computer.

Last Fall I was able to use it at a new Aloft which the FD struggled but overnight a night manager forced the transaction to go thru, by charging 0.10 on the guaranteed AMEX, then charged the full amount to the GC, refunded the $0.10. Also I learn that if you intend to use GC, do NOT do online check in! I did online check in at this Aloft and the system immediately authorizes the full amount to the CC, and I still had to get the card keys from the FD - totally irritating,

On each stay I told the property about intention to use GC thru the chat service on the App. At check in I brought up the topic and offered to pay by the GC right there right then. I have found paying UPFRONT at check in with GC is the easiest way than wait till the night before check out. At check in unless you have late arrival, you usually arrive at a time that the manager / supervisor are still on duty, plus they have plenty of time to figure things out versus the night shift B team.

BUT informed the property ahead of time could not override system being set up to auto charge the guarantee CC - that happened at a Fairfield which system would automatically charge the first night of the stay to the guarantee card, AHEAD of checking in. At check in I brought up this and the FD said it was standard practice but they would use the GC and refund the amount to the AMEX. At first I thought it was a pre-authorization, but both the manager and the clerk said at the same time, "It is a charge not authorization." Sure enough, I saw a charge and a credit of the same amount. GC was processed properly at check in.