I've used Priceline 5 times for hotels, 4 of those were 4* and one was 3* (and that 3* was really a 4* and Priceline now rates that hotel 4*, so for all practical purposes, they were all 4*). I was never treated any differently than I have ever been when paying published rates, not one iota. But then, I have never made any requests whatsoever that were outside the scope of Priceline. My savings have ranged from 60% to 75% off the lowest available rate (and I'm obsessive about checking rates), and those lowest available rates were all $150+. Don't know how that could not justify the loss of affinity points, but different strokes for different folks I guess.