I did a search but couldn't find the thread, so here are my questions:

1. If I book a room under my name and add my friend's name to the reservation, can my friend check in? The thing is, my friend is going to arrive at the hotel much earlier than I will, so, it will make things a lot easier if my friend can check in using his credit card or pay cash etc but I will arrive later the evening. Is that allowed? I want to do this because I'm plat and he isn't. I know about the benefit-credit card rule but I can always change the credit card to my name once I arrive...

2. If I book a room under my friend's name, but he adds me to the reservation, he doesn't have AAA, but I do (again, he will check in first, and I will be there later the evening), can we still book the AAA rate?

Thanks