Mar 9, 2014, 4:07 am
Last edit by: bhatnasx
The Friends and Family rate is intended to be offered to travellers who are "friend and family members" of a Carlson employee. That could be a hotel employee, a travel agent (Carlson Wagonlit) or restaurant employee (TGIF) (TGIF sold to Sentinel Capital Partners as of July 2014).
When you book the rate, you are supposed to have the basic data on your friend available at check-in for the hotel to verify that you are indeed authorized to use that rate. Generally, if they ask, they ask for:
1) Employee Name
2) Work location
Please consider that, as per T&C, only employee name and location can be requested only at the check in time.
The new code is RHGRFNF
NOTE:
Booking a rate that you're not entitled to book may result in rate adjustments and Club Carlson account freezing.
In general, the rate is €80 per night in Europe.
*These stays post as "Ineligible" - non-qualifying, non-stay, non-points earning ... so, in sum, don't associate a F&F reservation with your Gold Points account, unless elite perks you hope to enjoy are worth the risk.
When you book the rate, you are supposed to have the basic data on your friend available at check-in for the hotel to verify that you are indeed authorized to use that rate. Generally, if they ask, they ask for:
1) Employee Name
2) Work location
Please consider that, as per T&C, only employee name and location can be requested only at the check in time.
The new code is RHGRFNF
NOTE:
Booking a rate that you're not entitled to book may result in rate adjustments and Club Carlson account freezing.
In general, the rate is €80 per night in Europe.
*These stays post as "Ineligible" - non-qualifying, non-stay, non-points earning ... so, in sum, don't associate a F&F reservation with your Gold Points account, unless elite perks you hope to enjoy are worth the risk.
Carlson Hotels (Radisson) Family & Friends Rate - 2009 - 2017 Thread
Aug 31, 2014, 9:38 am
#2011
Join Date: May 2000
Location: HFA
Posts: 1,712
What I think is wrong in your logic, though, is the assumption that those shared experiences inform us about individual hotels, with the implication that some would still be casual and others would systematically probe credentials. I thoroughly disagree with this interpretation and as mentioned, I have had no question asked at all in recent stays in hotels where others have reported the most thorough checks, while by contrast, I have been asked insistent questions in other hotels where other FTers had reported not to be asked anything.
Shuly
Aug 31, 2014, 10:04 am
#2012
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,042
I think we have enough negative experiences posted about Radisson Blu Zurich
Airport to conclude it is strict on use of FF rate.
Airport to conclude it is strict on use of FF rate.
Aug 31, 2014, 10:07 am
#2013
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,543
And to be honest, presumably the primary concern is mostly "are some hotels reasonably safe to use the FF rate if one does not really know any Carlson employee?" and as mentioned I think that the answer to that is simply "not any more". I'm not trying to be pedantic, I just genuinely believe that those checks can and do occur in any property by now.
Aug 31, 2014, 10:16 am
#2014
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,042
Did you have a real Carlson friend you could have used if asked? A friend that would have verified you?
Sep 10, 2014, 11:46 am
#2015
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 294
I need a name and email to use for this rate...please help!
hotel booked in Amsterdam and now they are bugging me but I leave tomorrow!
hotel booked in Amsterdam and now they are bugging me but I leave tomorrow!
Sep 10, 2014, 3:48 pm
#2016
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LHR
Programs: M&M,HH Gold,Accor Plat.,Priority Club Plat. Ambassador,Club Carlson Gold,Marriott Gold,GHA Plat.
Posts: 1,627
Sep 11, 2014, 1:45 am
#2017
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 9
as per carlson they have more than 107 000 people working for them. does all of them have work email?
doubt that. and yes, you shouldn't use the rate if you do not have friend or family member working for carlson
Sep 11, 2014, 2:30 am
#2018
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 11,852
My experience from the Scandinavian properties: If asked for name/details (which happens almost all the time by now) they ask for name and email address (despite what is written in the T&C). I provide it as I have a genuine friend with Radisson, so it is no problem to me.
To the OP who booked a room in Amsterdam: Cancel this booking and make a new ordinary booking; Yes, I know it will be more expensive but that is how it is. It will be quite embarrassing if asked at check-in (which is very likely when you have received the same inquiry by emai in advance) and no name/details can be provided or you provide name/details of a random person who - if checked - turns out not to know you...
To the OP who booked a room in Amsterdam: Cancel this booking and make a new ordinary booking; Yes, I know it will be more expensive but that is how it is. It will be quite embarrassing if asked at check-in (which is very likely when you have received the same inquiry by emai in advance) and no name/details can be provided or you provide name/details of a random person who - if checked - turns out not to know you...
Last edited by SK AAR; Sep 11, 2014 at 2:36 am
Sep 11, 2014, 3:11 am
#2019
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LHR
Programs: M&M,HH Gold,Accor Plat.,Priority Club Plat. Ambassador,Club Carlson Gold,Marriott Gold,GHA Plat.
Posts: 1,627
My experience from the Scandinavian properties: If asked for name/details (which happens almost all the time by now) they ask for name and email address (despite what is written in the T&C). I provide it as I have a genuine friend with Radisson, so it is no problem to me.
To the OP who booked a room in Amsterdam: Cancel this booking and make a new ordinary booking; Yes, I know it will be more expensive but that is how it is. It will be quite embarrassing if asked at check-in (which is very likely when you have received the same inquiry by emai in advance) and no name/details can be provided or you provide name/details of a random person who - if checked - turns out not to know you...
To the OP who booked a room in Amsterdam: Cancel this booking and make a new ordinary booking; Yes, I know it will be more expensive but that is how it is. It will be quite embarrassing if asked at check-in (which is very likely when you have received the same inquiry by emai in advance) and no name/details can be provided or you provide name/details of a random person who - if checked - turns out not to know you...
Not only embarassing, but above all, you'll be obliged to pay the ordinary rate which usually it's quite expensive. If the Carlson properties are too much expensive (due to the <24h booking) use kayak to find similar properties.
AVOID staying without necessary requirements.
Sep 16, 2014, 6:57 am
#2020
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Wesseling, NRW, Germany
Programs: UA *S , MR LT Titanium, HH Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,940
Any guess on this case? I have someone I know at a Radisson Hotel that would allow me to use the rate, however she currently is on maternity leave and as such will not have access to her eMail in any reasonable amount of time. However she holds a valid employment-contract with said hotel, including having badge and all other employee-stuff and access to the employee rate for her own travel.
My question is: Will I run into any problems with that, or will they just check in the eMail-address-book that the person really exists and then move on?
Thanks for any suggestions on this!
Greetings - Dirk
My question is: Will I run into any problems with that, or will they just check in the eMail-address-book that the person really exists and then move on?
Thanks for any suggestions on this!
Greetings - Dirk
Sep 16, 2014, 7:45 am
#2021
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: oneworld, * Alliance, Marriott Bonvoy, HHonors, WoH
Posts: 2,120
Any guess on this case? I have someone I know at a Radisson Hotel that would allow me to use the rate, however she currently is on maternity leave and as such will not have access to her eMail in any reasonable amount of time. However she holds a valid employment-contract with said hotel, including having badge and all other employee-stuff and access to the employee rate for her own travel.
My question is: Will I run into any problems with that, or will they just check in the eMail-address-book that the person really exists and then move on?
Thanks for any suggestions on this!
Greetings - Dirk
My question is: Will I run into any problems with that, or will they just check in the eMail-address-book that the person really exists and then move on?
Thanks for any suggestions on this!
Greetings - Dirk
Sep 16, 2014, 8:28 am
#2022
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: UA-1K, MM, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Titanium
Posts: 4,432
My son and his buddy just checked out of Radisson Saga in Iceland. Nobody asked for anything even though he had a name and contact info.
He liked the hotel. It was clean and comfortable and easy walking distance to town, bars, restaurants, etc. No plastic chairs in the room as reported by a blogger and staff were very friendly and helpful. For 80€ including breakfast it was a great value.
He liked the hotel. It was clean and comfortable and easy walking distance to town, bars, restaurants, etc. No plastic chairs in the room as reported by a blogger and staff were very friendly and helpful. For 80€ including breakfast it was a great value.
Sep 16, 2014, 8:21 pm
#2023
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: SYDNEY
Programs: *A Gold, HH dia,Hyatt plat,Sixt PLAT,QF , EY Gold
Posts: 1,890
I did a family and
Friends rate in AMS
No problems for two rooms over a year ago
Friends rate in AMS
No problems for two rooms over a year ago
Sep 17, 2014, 8:05 am
#2024
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Australia
Programs: QF, LM, AA,VA Silver, Qatar, Accor Gold, CC Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott B Plat
Posts: 535
I just did a F & F a few weeks ago at the Radisson in Fiji with no issues either.
Sep 24, 2014, 11:24 pm
#2025
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: YOW
Programs: UA, AA
Posts: 35
Stayed at Seattle Radisson Airport on F & F rate. Name not requested.
(Also, hotel has online check-in, once bar code sent to you online, room keys dispensed from the bar code reader at hotel. No need to interact with front desk.)
(Also, hotel has online check-in, once bar code sent to you online, room keys dispensed from the bar code reader at hotel. No need to interact with front desk.)