The question that comes to my mind is: How does one know that you are getting a rate that is deeply discounted or 30% off of whatever baseline rates are.

Case in point, I stayed at the IC in Istanbul last month. The room rate was US$160 and the total bill was $320 for one night with parking, food, taxes etc.

The stay posted a few days later with 0 points. A quick call to the ambassador desk and the helpful CS person told me that the rate did not qualify for points because according to the hotel it was too low even though I had booked a standard lowest rate on the website.

The CS rep apologized and credited me with a stay and the proper number of points.

Anyone else experience this?