Originally Posted by
Efrem
Here's how Expedia replied to an e-mailed question on this:
This is consistent with what Starwood Lurker posted above. It boils down to this: if you pay a published rate, you get miles/points. If you get a special rate, you may have to forego them. Limiting the "special rate" category to opaque sites in my earlier post was too narrow. Some special rates, which don't earn miles, are transparent.
I love the sales pitch by expedia! The reality is that no hotel company is going to give points on wholesale rates. Oh, by the way every hotel company has a best rate guarantee these days...not sure what "rates" Expedia is negotiating...but you can get the same "special rate" on any other website. Of course, this only applies to major chains like Starwood, Hilton, Hyatt etc. I am sure that Expedia can bully the indepedent hotels into "special rates"