Embassy Suites Dallas Market Center
12/26-30
Hilton rate: $110 (non-refundable)
Priceline rate: $101.70 (non-refundable)
Adjusted rate: $76.28 (theoretically)
This was an odd one. I noticed that the claim form now includes an option to have your claim approved BEFORE booking. Being that this was a prepaid rate, I thought that was the best route. I entered all the information Wednesday night. I didn't hold out much hope; this was one of those Priceline "sale" rates that say "limited time only." But it showed up in my spare browser that has no Priceline cookies, and also in Trivago. The next morning, received an email saying I didn't tell them the cancellation conditions. Well, that's because there is no blank for that in the form. I mean, it's not as though the agent couldn't see that for herself. Anyhow, I confirmed PIA, nonrefundable. Then later I got an email saying they were honoring the request, but that since it was prepaid they needed to talk to me to book it, and they'd called twice that day, and to give them a two hour window to call back again when I could talk. So I gave them a time frame for last night; nobody called. I replied again and gave another window for this afternoon. Lo and behold: a callback! Very unusually for a PMG agent, she was 1) American, 2) articulate, 3) cooperative and helpful. I confirmed the reservation with her, she carefully read everything back to me, and then I bent her ear for a couple of minutes talking about all the frustration dealing with PMG. I even referred her to this thread. She said she was taking notes, because they were about to have a staff meeting specifically about PMG, and she would take my comments there. I mean, even if she's lying, the attempt to satisfy the customer was way above what one normally gets with PMG agents.
Having said all that, I received the confirmation . . . and it's for the regular rate. No discount. My card was also charged the full price. So I've sent another email asking them to correct it. Stay tuned.
I'll be interested to hear from others if the "in advance of reservation" claim form makes any difference on acceptances.