Email ahead to request upgrade?
 

Hi,

I have a reservation coming up this week at the Novotel Munich Arnulfpark and I have just become Accor Platinum. I read in the FAQ that you should request upgrades as they are often not done automatically, but does it mean it is best to email in advance or request an upgrade at check-in when you arrive?

I believe Superior rooms at this hotel have complimentary drinks in the mini-bar and a Nespresso machine which would be nice perk.

Thanks for any help.

Andy

Since I got my Gold status, I started e-mailing hotels in advance with my requests, because sometimes they do not read the information you write in the reservation box on the website. Always had a positive experience with this, however, if I don't e-mail usually I don't get the upgrade (in the same hotels).

Yes
 

Emailing before your stay is always a good idea.

If you dont get a response then its always another good idea to ring them directly.

Even though European Hotels have a bad reputation in Accor for being tough to get Plat benifits it does help to email or call up.

Still in my case it was 50/50 to get an upgrade.

Also never be shy to mention it when checking in.
And if your determined you can check online before you check in
to see if they are selling rooms still.

Overall my success rate for upgrade has been about 90%..

Even during peak season if they say the next category is fully booked I will
ask how about another 1-2 levels up...

I will offer a supplimentry payment if they give me say 50-60% off the price difference.

Just to clear things up for example....

Room level 1 (you paid for) $100 USD
Room level 2 (full booked ) $150 USD
Room level 3 (Available with supplimentry) $250 USD

So I would pay maybe 50USD/night to upgrade from level 2-3.


We did this for a couple of hotels.
The best one was when we booked the luxury room at the Sofitel Grand hotel Amsterdam.

We booked the luxury room.
Junior suite was fully booked.
So we asked about the next room up available which was the Opera Suite(2-3 levels higher than Junior).

We negoiated it down to 150/170 Euro's per night extra.
(Remember This hotel is really exspensive even for Sofitels)

Thanks for the replies WoDeR and tris06. I sent them an email and they said they will try but can't promise anything. I guess I'll have to see what happens on the day.

Thanks again.

Just curious. What you wrote in the email? Bluntly asking for upgrade?

I recently booked two rooms, both in my name (plat) in an Accor hotel I usually go to when in Rome, where they usually upgrade me automatically (never send them an email). This time there was no upgrade and a fruit/etc. plate was in only one of the two rooms. That's fine with me, but the funny thing is that they had it, with the accompanying hello letter in the room in which they put my friends :)

I usually ask if possible. And add if there is the reason like special reason for your stay.

Also offer the supplementary because some hotels will follow by the word and will not upgrade you unless the room level above you is available even if the other more expensive rooms are available. Also some hotels like my stay at the mercure Eiffel tower didn't automatically upgrade me because they had separate privilege rooms with and with and without the view.

They were right we did want the view so we paid a supplementary to get the extra level up.

Asian hotels are more likely to put you up an extra level to give you that upgrade.

how many special reason for travel? birthday and anniversary I suppose? What other reason can be consider a special reason. Just curious.

I have tried every trick in the book but mostly get "we wish to remind you that upgrades are subject to availability at checkin but we have noted your request on your booking".

With Accor it's definitely Don't Ask Don't Get.

I always ask for room upgrade at front desk. Until now they always comply to my request.

I've received upgrades automatically without asking on almost all occasions, although they are all in the Asia Pacific region. The only exceptions were when I had already booked the top category room (needed to fit in the extra person when the room was booked), and when I was in Mercure Narita where I only needed the room for 8 hours and all I cared about was a shower and a bed.

On one occasion, I was given an upgrade for multiple categories, and on another occasion, I was given an upgrade to the adjacent higher-tier property as the originally booked property was overbooked.

Well I got the upgrade from Standard to Superior. I didn't have to ask at check-in either as it had already been done (although my reservation online still showed Standard room). Not sure if the email had any influence on that.

Also received a nice welcome gift of chocolates, fruit and jam in the room. :)

Excellent. ^
It sounds as though your experience will be worth reporting in the "elite experiences" thread, if you have time after your stay.

I'm working my way up, currently approaching Gold.

I have been upgraded in hotels in the past however my question is always.... How can I tell?

I could be just being told that at reception.

You can't tell in advance. But to make sure I always say "I assume my room has been upgraded?" at reception.

Scenario 1: yes you have. And I know through the room description when I enter the room that I have. When in doubt, as them to show you the lower room category.

Scenario 2: no you haven't - as our hotel is full.
I then open the Accor app to make sure that's true. If it isn't, I create a stink.

Scenario 3: yes you have. When I see the room I noticed I haven't. An example for this is when I'm upgraded from a deluxe room to a executive deluxe. No difference in room type, except for the lounge benefit. Which as a plat I get anyway.
So I then request a ROOM upgrade and not a benefits upgrade. In which case they normally concede and upgrade to a better room.

Does this answer your question?

Merry Christmas!