I booked a three nights stay at a Hotel in Germany, including breakfast. The total price is 420 EUR, which I have already partially paid by points. When trying to check-in online it is mandatory to approve a pre-authorization of 990 EUR. Without accepting that it seems to be impossible to check-in online. I understand that the pre-authorization includes some spend on incidentals, but blocking almost 1,000 Euro on my credit card if the accommodation including breakfast will cost me less than 400 Euro seems outrageous. Is this a tendency that anyone else has experienced? And is there a way to check-in online without accepting the pre-authorization? I would like to use online check-in to save some time at the reception desk and to request early check-in if available.

which hotel is it ?

Online checkin is requiring a pre-authorization. Or you don't do the online checkin, the room will be ready anyway and they have to give you the voucher for the drink at the same time as the card so you may check directly which amount could be blocked upon checkin instead of 1K with online checkin.
It is supposed to be covering minibar, breakfasts if you didn't take them as first, room service... but still, 1K is a lot.

While less seen in europe , this is something you might encounter in some very luxurious hotels around the world, cause the bills can add up very quickly , so they might block high amount (but nothing close to 200%)

Most usually take the original price of booking and add breakfast for each person per day . I think in your case it might be a hotel policy cause I have seen such unusual requirements from properties located in areas where customers are more likely to cause troubles

So as macaron95 said , just skip online check-in , if you use a credit card (and not a debit card) negotiate during physical check-in the amount to be blocked and then ensure they correctly release/cancel/confirm the pre-authorization at check-out , (keep all receipts until cleared by your bank) cause you might run into troubles during the next few days

Ludicrous. Just check in the old fashioned way (I actually never did an online check in with Accor as it saves no time and one always needs to haggle about upgrades or drinks vouchers).

Thanks all for your replies. I usually don't use the online check-in either, but thought it would be helpful to speed up the process at the reception desk as I may be in a bit of a hurry when I arrive. I also wanted to use it to inform the hotel about my early arrival, hoping they would have a room available before the 3pm check in time. I will reach out to the hotel by email instead.

BTW The hotel is the Mercure in Bad D�rkheim. So definitely not a luxurious hotel.

I live nearby.
It is a sort of resort hotel, since it has direct connection to the Salinarium Freibad. Them charging an exorbitant pre-auth does not surprise me somehow, it is a very old school German attitude there, that include being stingy. Be aware the rooms are old, dated and definitely show their age.

For Fairmont, it�s room rate plus tax and fees plus $100 a day for incidentals. Given how expensive Fairmont generally is, $100 a day usually isn�t that much. Some other chains/hotels seem to have similar formulas, and some seem to add a pre-defined amount as incidentals.

Is there any explanation on how the pre-auth amount is determined?

OLCI is not going to speed up your arrival, so as others said, do not do OLCI and discuss with front desk the amount to be pre-authorized. The 900EUR is indeed very shocking.
OLCI is totally useless. I never do it with Accor.

Those incidental precharge, I believe it usually certain amount times the night or 1 night room rate or some other amount.

Never experience 3x room rate amount for incidental though.

The unwritten rule says that pre-authorization should at least cover all non-prebooked breakfasts for all pax during the whole stay if the guest booked the room without breakfast or to cover room service if breakfast is booked/included in the rate.

Why wouldn't they do the same pre-authorization while checking in at the property?