Charging a deposit on flexible rates
Aug 12, 2017, 10:14 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Houston TX
Programs: United Premier 1k, Hertz Presidents Circle, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 408
Charging a deposit on flexible rates
Ever since the new 48 hour cancellation policy most of the hotels are now wanting to charge half to my cc as a deposit. This is going to make my expense report a pain as each hotel is now going to have to be expensed twice. If I'm staying the next week or so I can just do it once but I can't float thousands of dollars for several months when I'm booking far out for conventions or other events. Most likely this will cause me to book last minute and could push me to a different chain based on current price. Very frustrating!
Aug 14, 2017, 12:25 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: GSO
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, National Car Rental Exec. Elite
Posts: 134
Ever since the new 48 hour cancellation policy most of the hotels are now wanting to charge half to my cc as a deposit. This is going to make my expense report a pain as each hotel is now going to have to be expensed twice. If I'm staying the next week or so I can just do it once but I can't float thousands of dollars for several months when I'm booking far out for conventions or other events. Most likely this will cause me to book last minute and could push me to a different chain based on current price. Very frustrating!
Aug 14, 2017, 3:08 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Houston TX
Programs: United Premier 1k, Hertz Presidents Circle, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 408
It only started about a week ago, these are not prepaid rates. It's not happening everywhere. I was looking at some rooms in Vegas for December and it was charging 50% as a deposit that posted to my card. However, my room at the Hilton ORD is not charging a deposit...
Aug 14, 2017, 9:50 pm
#5
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 3,360
These types of deposits are location-specific. They are done by hotels to stop people from making speculative reservations that hold inventory. Typically, you'll see this happen in locations with lots of leisure travelers. Places like Las Vegas and Orlando.
Aug 15, 2017, 6:04 am
#7
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Silver, M&M, HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,223
It does if you live outside of USA and use card in different currency. You may lose or gain on exchange rate and may be also charged exchange fees.
Aug 15, 2017, 6:32 am
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Exchange rates are not ordinarily a major issue unless the booking is a very long time in advance and for a fabulous amount of money. As to fees, I would never use a card with exchange fees for a non-US booking.
Aug 15, 2017, 7:46 am
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
It can be a pain to get a refund of the deposit when you cancel within the rules. Also, some hotels do not do a good job (deliberately?) of crediting advanced deposits to the final bill. Overall, if the hotel takes a deposit, you need to watch the bill and your credit card carefully. It adds an additional layer of hassle for the guest.
I've also seen hotels demand the deposit by check (so that you lose credit card consumer protection rules about disputes, plus it can be a hassle to mail the check to them and get it credited to the correct reservation) or only allow certain credit cards (not AmEx) for the deposit.
I've also seen hotels demand the deposit by check (so that you lose credit card consumer protection rules about disputes, plus it can be a hassle to mail the check to them and get it credited to the correct reservation) or only allow certain credit cards (not AmEx) for the deposit.
Aug 15, 2017, 8:25 am
#11
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
This is your issue right here...it's situational, not systemic...you're booking for big events that are going to sell out whole cities and properties want their $. The rules go out the window for these large events. Read the threads about Super Bowl bookings...
Aug 15, 2017, 8:07 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Houston TX
Programs: United Premier 1k, Hertz Presidents Circle, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 408
Neither were large conventions, prices and availability was not an issue. I'm well aware of what the superbowl does. I live in Houston and it jacked up all the prices for flights as well. There was zero F availability on UA from houston to newark the Monday after the game about a month out!
Aug 16, 2017, 9:12 am
#14
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 3,360
Neither were large conventions, prices and availability was not an issue. I'm well aware of what the superbowl does. I live in Houston and it jacked up all the prices for flights as well. There was zero F availability on UA from houston to newark the Monday after the game about a month out!