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
Jan 30, 2012, 3:50 pm
#841
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 827
FT is many things to many people, and if this - or any thread for that matter - offends anyone's sensibilities then may I respectfully suggest that you focus your attention to threads whose content are more to your liking.
Jan 31, 2012, 8:11 am
#842
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SDU, CPH
Programs: A3*G, FB Gold, EB
Posts: 109
Stayed at the Radisson Blu Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.
No questions asked ^
Upgraded to business room. Buffet breakfast included.
Very nice property, will most likely stay there again next time I'm in UAE.
No questions asked ^
Upgraded to business room. Buffet breakfast included.
Very nice property, will most likely stay there again next time I'm in UAE.
Feb 1, 2012, 12:45 pm
#843
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Houston
Programs: AA EXP; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, UA 1.56MM (fmr UA1K)
Posts: 5,770
This thread has potential use if only to simply confirm that all is still well, and to report and twists and turns that may come about along the way.
FT is many things to many people, and if this - or any thread for that matter - offends anyone's sensibilities then may I respectfully suggest that you focus your attention to threads whose content are more to your liking.
FT is many things to many people, and if this - or any thread for that matter - offends anyone's sensibilities then may I respectfully suggest that you focus your attention to threads whose content are more to your liking.
Feb 2, 2012, 11:17 am
#844
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Shanghai
Programs: BAEC (Gold), PC (Plat), HH (Gold), MR (Gold)
Posts: 2,729
Thats a pretty poor statement. That's like telling people to take another street, because the main one is filled with drug dealers and prostituites, and if you dont like that kind of stuff, just look the other way and keep quiet. When you adopt that attitude in life - it's a slippery slope downward, very quickly.
I am now going to take a leaf out of my own book and this will be my final post on the subject.
Feb 2, 2012, 11:53 am
#845
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Leeds UK
Programs: BD, AA, BA, CO Marriott Plat>gold, Hyatt Diamond>Plat,Hilton Gold SPG Gold PC Plat
Posts: 1,093
Back on topic
Two recent stays
Radisson Edwardian Mercer Street(Covent Garden area) London. No questions, free breakfast, movie and £15 credit at the bar. Delux room .Usually available Fridays and Sundays
Radisson Edwardian Providence Wharfe ( Canary Wharfe area ) London. Asked at check in for name and location of friend, seemed more out of interest than anything else. Again free breakfast, movie and £15 credit at the bar. Delux room. Good location for 02. Usually available Fri Sat Sun.
Cal
Two recent stays
Radisson Edwardian Mercer Street(Covent Garden area) London. No questions, free breakfast, movie and £15 credit at the bar. Delux room .Usually available Fridays and Sundays
Radisson Edwardian Providence Wharfe ( Canary Wharfe area ) London. Asked at check in for name and location of friend, seemed more out of interest than anything else. Again free breakfast, movie and £15 credit at the bar. Delux room. Good location for 02. Usually available Fri Sat Sun.
Cal
Feb 2, 2012, 7:01 pm
#846
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,211
Which makes me wonder why it's still even open. At this point, everybody knows the deal. There's no need for any additional postings - as they all, at this point, go against the spirit of ethics and using the deal in good faith when you are truley entitled to it. I'm surprised the mods havent closed it - unless this is which Flyertalk stands for - ways to scam/cheat deals to get the most out of it.
At the end of the day Carlson must know this discounted rate is being freely used/abused by many non F&F of Carlson employees but seem to be prepared to let it carry on. They are obviously doing pretty well out of it...I've used it a few times.
Feb 2, 2012, 8:42 pm
#847
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: BKK/SEL/YQG
Posts: 2,543
When we were there a few weeks ago, the pharmacy pretty much right next store was selling big boxes of cereal for 2$. A great way to cut down on breakfast charges (though I remember the hotel restaurant wasn't horribly expensive)
Feb 3, 2012, 12:18 pm
#848
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: ORD
Programs: UA, AA, Marriott, National, Sixt
Posts: 749
Was trying to book Radisson Blu Royal. When I clicked "Book" a popup appeared saying that a name & location would be required at check-in. The last post from Jan 26 suggested everything was OK at this hotel. Any suggestions? how have people gone around this in case they are called out???
Feb 7, 2012, 12:25 am
#849
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: CPH
Programs: M&M, BAEC
Posts: 111
The prices quoted to me from this offer seem a little too good to be true. €80 per night is near enough half the normal price. Surely there must be some catch?
Feb 7, 2012, 2:03 am
#850
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 827
I'd say quite the opposite. They are trying to stop it from carry on, and that has caused some users on here some distress, and now they feel they need this forum as a "does this hotel work" messageboard to continue on fraudulently using a discount they arent entitled to.
Feb 7, 2012, 2:05 am
#851
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 827
Was trying to book Radisson Blu Royal. When I clicked "Book" a popup appeared saying that a name & location would be required at check-in. The last post from Jan 26 suggested everything was OK at this hotel. Any suggestions? how have people gone around this in case they are called out???
Feb 7, 2012, 2:07 am
#852
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 827
This thread is of help to those who want to use the discount legitimately, however it's being littered by people asking to see if they run the risk of getting caught. I'm hardly bothering those who are entitled to this discount - just those who want a freebie they aren't entitled to.
Feb 7, 2012, 3:15 am
#853
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Little dot in Asia
Programs: AA-EP, TK-*G, HL-DM, HY-GLO, MR-LTP
Posts: 25,932
Feb 7, 2012, 4:42 am
#854
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: CPH
Programs: M&M, BAEC
Posts: 111
I have read a fair amount of posts in this thread, and I've also been taught that if an offer seems to good to be true, it generally is. And so far I can't really see a down side to this offer. This confuses me, as my logic suggests that there should be some downside. 
Feb 7, 2012, 4:48 am
#855
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: CBR
Programs: QF WP, AC*G
Posts: 1,223
There is a potential downside if the hotels start seriously cracking down on this and you are caught improperly using the rate. In that case, you are stuck finding new accommodation, possibly at a very high rate.