An article on no-show diners
Mar 3, 2014 | 8:57 am
#16
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: DL PM, 1MM, DL SC, Kimpton Inner Circle
Posts: 2,416
That's fine with me, but the flip side is if I have a reservation -- even at a prime time like 8:00 p.m. on a Saturday -- then that table had better be ready at 8:00 p.m. sharp. No directing me to the bar for 20 minutes or more. Any delay of more than a few minutes should mean a small discount on my check. They can't have it both ways -- if I am expected to show up on time or face a penalty, then they must deliver that table on time or also face a penalty.
Mar 3, 2014 | 9:14 am
#17
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: United Arab Emirates & Arizona, USA
Programs: UA MM/1P, EK Ag, Marriott Life Ti, Hilton Dia, IC Dia, Hyatt Glob, Accor Pt
Posts: 4,721
Honestly, I think there's room for OpenTable improvement in this arena...I book the majority of my reservations through OT, so they clearly know that I have a 0% no-show rate. Wouldn't it save time if they simply communicated that to the restaurants where I make reservations? Or how about allowing me access to tables at more in-demand restaurants because I'm almost guaranteed to show up?
My company owns several upscale restaurants in the Middle East, and no-shows are especially endemic here. We have even had huge no-show rates for invitation-only, complimentary "VIP" events for which the customer RSVP'd. Talk about discourteous.
Mar 3, 2014 | 10:19 am
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Formerly HPN, but then DCA and IAD for a while, and now back to HPN!
Programs: Honestly, I've been out of the travel game so long that I'm not even sure. Maybe Marriott Gold?
Posts: 10,677
That's fine with me, but the flip side is if I have a reservation -- even at a prime time like 8:00 p.m. on a Saturday -- then that table had better be ready at 8:00 p.m. sharp. No directing me to the bar for 20 minutes or more. Any delay of more than a few minutes should mean a small discount on my check. They can't have it both ways -- if I am expected to show up on time or face a penalty, then they must deliver that table on time or also face a penalty.
Had this happen on Sat. night. They seemed happy to take the reservation, and equally happy to send us to the bar (where we got decidedly disinterested service) for a drink. The delay was not horribly long, but still felt a little "bait and switch"-ish.
Don't take a reservation if you can't honor it and I'll agree not to be a no-show.
Mar 3, 2014 | 11:03 am
#19
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Boston MA
Programs: Delta Platinum, Delta Million Miler,Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, Delta Sky Club
Posts: 665
That's fine with me, but the flip side is if I have a reservation -- even at a prime time like 8:00 p.m. on a Saturday -- then that table had better be ready at 8:00 p.m. sharp. No directing me to the bar for 20 minutes or more. Any delay of more than a few minutes should mean a small discount on my check. They can't have it both ways -- if I am expected to show up on time or face a penalty, then they must deliver that table on time or also face a penalty.
Mar 4, 2014 | 10:51 am
#20
Moderator: CommunityBuzz!, OMNI, OMNI/PR, and OMNI/Games & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: ORD (MDW stinks)
Programs: UAMM, AAMM & ExPlat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott lifetime Plat, IHG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 24,156
Go ahead & plan them and pick a proper venue to get things started. (proper venue not being a 5* but easy going, 'cheap' prices and casual setting).
Not everyone on FT looks at or even knows about the CommunityBuzz Forum on Flyertalk so you should expect that any attendance will be low to probably a no show. So plan on dining alone sometime, when starting a Do in an area that hasn't had a Do.
you do realize that if you don't show up on time you don't face a penalty?
20 minutes you should get something comped, like a free appetizer or drink. 5-10 mins wait at a later reservation time like 8pm on the busiest night at a very popular restaurant is to be expected, otherwise you are being unreasonable.
Not everyone on FT looks at or even knows about the CommunityBuzz Forum on Flyertalk so you should expect that any attendance will be low to probably a no show. So plan on dining alone sometime, when starting a Do in an area that hasn't had a Do.
That's fine with me, but the flip side is if I have a reservation -- even at a prime time like 8:00 p.m. on a Saturday -- then that table had better be ready at 8:00 p.m. sharp. No directing me to the bar for 20 minutes or more. Any delay of more than a few minutes should mean a small discount on my check. They can't have it both ways -- if I am expected to show up on time or face a penalty, then they must deliver that table on time or also face a penalty.
20 minutes you should get something comped, like a free appetizer or drink. 5-10 mins wait at a later reservation time like 8pm on the busiest night at a very popular restaurant is to be expected, otherwise you are being unreasonable.
Last edited by Sweet Willie; Mar 4, 2014 at 10:58 am
Mar 4, 2014 | 11:51 am
#21
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: DL PM, 1MM, DL SC, Kimpton Inner Circle
Posts: 2,416
I think we agree on this -- I said any delay of more than a few minutes should occasion something for the customer, not any delay at all. My point was that I don't mind committing to my reservation with my cc, but the commitment has to flow in both directions.