I'm a frequent guest at Four Seasons - and don't hesitate to voice complaints. But what would be the point of my writing a letter to a hotel where I stayed once on an airline voucher - and will never stay again in a million years? I think the companies who are paying the freight should forward complaints on behalf of their customers.

When your primary airport is JAX - you don't have much choice about airlines - unless you're willing to fly a 2 stop flight on your "favorite" airline as opposed to a non-stop on an airline you use once in a blue moon (last year we flew Jacksonville/Chicago/Detroit/Jacksonville on 3 different airlines! - family wedding - not much reason to go to Detroit except for business or a family wedding).

I will say that we have very much enjoyed your One Pass program - we've received a lot of wonderful "free" flights as a result of our participation. Robyn

We checked in about 10 pm - and checked out at the crack of dawn. So it was difficult to see whatever dirt was there (the lighting wasn't very good). But when I did the laundry this morning - the socks I walked around in in the room looked disgusting.

I didn't want to sound like a JAP (Jewish American Princess) - so I'm glad you said it first. My idea of "roughing it" is usually something like a Hampton Inn.

FWIW - the well made martinis (generous pours) can dull the pain ;). Robyn

P.S. My computer - which had been acting funny in Los Angeles - gave up the ghost today. IBM/Lenovo is sending a bunch of new parts and a tech support guy Monday. In the meantime - I am using my husband's computer (right-handed - I am left-handed). Don't want to abuse the privilege (we hate sharing computers) - so if you don't hear from me in a timely fashion - I hope you'll understand. Robyn

What?! Are you serious?

The OP didn't choose the property. The OP didn't pay for the room. The OP was receiving accomodation provided by CO through a third party.

A very dissapointing accomodation provided by CO to its customers. CO selected a cheap, crappy hotel for its "beloved" PAXs.

The OP has just to write CO and tell you about the awful time they experienced at the accomodation that CO chose for them.

BTW, I had the same experience with CO, in IAH, 3 years ago. The hotel was so cheap they didn't even change linens (read hair, dust, etc).

I almost volunteered to give up a seat on a flight out of EWR last night that was oversold by one. I would have received a $400 voucher and, of course, the hotel and meal vouchers. I told the GA that I didn't want to volunteer without knowing the hotel and he said that was "good thinking," but that he wouldn't know until after the flight had gone.

I still can't believe I gave up the voucher, but I'd been away from home three weeks and couldn't deal with a Notel Motel. The GA used a couple who had volunteered even though only one seat was needed. They said if the hotel provided by CO wasn't acceptable they would find one on their own. They were excited about the $800 in vouchers.

A non-rev was also excited because it was the last flight of the night and he not only scored a seat, but it was in FC.

It seems like a "volunteer" should be able to count on a hotel that is in at least the same category as a Holiday Inn Express.

I thought that if the poster had the time to write about her experiences in this forum, that she should also complain to the hotel directly. Things don't change if no one knows about them. You can complain all you want here but it's not going to affect any change unless to complain directly to the company itself.

I assume that IAH has a long list of hotels that they use. Yes it would be nice if each property is inspected by someone from CO, but that isn't the case. Perhaps it is time for someone in IAH to take a visit to check out properties that CO issues vouchers for.

As I said, complain to the source: the hotel itself and CO.

I've been offered vouchers to give up seats before (can't recall which airlines). They had a lot of "fine print" which made them worth less to me than face value.

I recall on these flights that I was offered cash for hotels/meals - and that the cash offered wouldn't come close to paying for rooms/food (I am pretty sure these offers were in the NYC area - very expensive).

Another consideration is how you feel. If you miss your flight and don't get to your hotel until late at night - and then have to leave at the crack of dawn (which basically happened to us this last trip) - well I was wasted my day of arrival. Too tired to do all the things I usually do the day after I arrive. This is of course a personal thing. Some people are probably more resilient than I am. Robyn

A HIX is way better than some of the "hotels" used around IAH.

I volunteered last night at JAX and was friendly enough with the agents that they accepted my suggestion of the HGI at the airport for the stay.

As for the vouchers and the fine print, the "free ticket" vouchers are notoriously bad. The dollar value vouchers are much better. They can only be used for buying tickets - not upgrade co-pays, baggage fees or other "extras" - but beyond that they have very few restrictions at all. CO even allows for the saving of residual value should you not spend the whole thing. ^

I assumed CO was monitoring this board - and I was right. If I have any clout - it's with Continental - not the hotel. And if this hotel is going to change - it's going to be because of something CO does - not anything I might say.

One thing other people might keep in mind is if you have a serious complaint - and the time to write - you may get some compensation from an airline. We had a problem with a Delta international businessfirst flight last year. Wrote to the right people - and received 2 $100 vouchers. I figure this complaint might be worth 2 $25 vouchers if I find the time to find the right person and write a letter/email.

FWIW - things one says here do get around. The message I wrote about the FS LAX got "tweeted" around the hotel (found that out from a hotel employee). Kind of surprised me. Robyn

Overbooking at JAX in July? Who would have thunk it ;)? A couple of possible reasons are: 1) the big kingfish tournament was this weekend; and 2) the Stadium Course at the TPC will be closed most of this week for maintenance - so we had tons of golf tourists this weekend. How was the HGI? I know we have that little strip of motels right outside the airport - but - being local - I don't know anything about them (except I pass them on the way to the airport). OTOH - sometimes if people have a very early morning flight - they ask me to recommend a hotel near the airport.

Now that you mention the difference between "free tickets" and "dollar vouchers" - I'm pretty sure I was offered "free tickets" when asked to "volunteer".

I hope you enjoyed your trip to our part of the world. It is a little sleepy. But - after the traffic in Los Angeles - I'll take it :). Robyn

Exactly. You would think they would use that as a minimum standard.

FWIW, when I had a misconnect in IAH due to a MX issue, I asked for a car rental instead of a hotel because I could drive home. They said it was a no-go because of insurance issues (I had a feeling that this would be the case). I asked for a $75 voucher and they didn't blink an eye at it... the agent just had to get a red-coat to approve it. They were all totally cool with it, so I realized I let them off too easily. Next time it'll be $125 or so for my starting point in IAH, especially when my ride is going to be that pi$$ed to have to pick me up at 1030pm and have to drop me back off at 5am.

Note: The only reason why I started so low was because the only time I took an overnight bump at IAH it was 4 years ago on US. Along with the voucher, they put me up at The Marriott and the voucher said the contracted rate was $39! I figured CO wasn't paying much more than that to the Notel Motel down the road where they wanted to put me up.