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
Feb 29, 2012, 4:57 pm
#886
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: WA, US
Programs: lots of little things
Posts: 705
I went to pick up a cruise brochure at my local Travel Leaders office ( a Division of Carlson).
My friend was good enough to staple her business card to the outside of the brochure.
Now I carry that with me when I travel. I always have my friends full contact info with me on that card to help the desk clerk.
Maybe this will help you too.
My friend was good enough to staple her business card to the outside of the brochure.
Now I carry that with me when I travel. I always have my friends full contact info with me on that card to help the desk clerk.
Maybe this will help you too.
I'll see about locating my friends as well.
Feb 29, 2012, 5:09 pm
#887
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,147
If our travel agent is with Carlson Wagonlit, that would make him a Carlson employee, right?
Mar 1, 2012, 6:15 pm
#889
Join Date: May 2008
Location: BOS/SIN
Programs: SQ
Posts: 2,704
Wow!! I'm impressed you managed to find availability for this rate here! I can't find anything for the good Paris properties whenever I look....
Mar 1, 2012, 7:34 pm
#890
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,147
Well I mean if he knows us we could legitimately ask him to be our friend and not worry about giving his email at a front desk...
Mar 2, 2012, 1:21 am
#891
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 2,348
Likewise, I checked yesterday, and there is no availability under this promo code for any of the Paris city hotels (not even Paris-Boulogne) for rest of this year.
Mar 2, 2012, 9:07 am
#892
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Houston
Programs: AA EXP; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, UA 1.56MM (fmr UA1K)
Posts: 5,770
I've seen the same thing for this year. I think that the Paris hotels that previously participated have cut the abuse by just cutting their participation in this rate.
Mar 2, 2012, 9:18 am
#893
Join Date: May 2008
Location: BOS/SIN
Programs: SQ
Posts: 2,704
They must've just stopped using the rate...
Getting those hotels for 80 a night would probably be the best deal in the industry
Getting those hotels for 80 a night would probably be the best deal in the industry
Mar 2, 2012, 11:37 am
#894
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: AA; The Peninsula
Posts: 209
I received an email from Park Plaza UK notifying me that F&F rate bookings were limited to 3 nights and that I would have to change my existing reservations.
The agent cited a Jan 2011 company memo regarding F&F. The terms posted online make no mention of such a limitation, nor does the reservations system prevent booking stays > 3 nights.
My reservations were booked months ago. I'm thinking about calling corporate but I don't really want to drag my friend into this (please don't msg me asking to use his name). Anyway, it seems wrong for them to change the rules.
Advice?
The agent cited a Jan 2011 company memo regarding F&F. The terms posted online make no mention of such a limitation, nor does the reservations system prevent booking stays > 3 nights.
My reservations were booked months ago. I'm thinking about calling corporate but I don't really want to drag my friend into this (please don't msg me asking to use his name). Anyway, it seems wrong for them to change the rules.
Advice?
Last edited by Peninsula; Mar 2, 2012 at 1:15 pm
Mar 2, 2012, 11:50 am
#895
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 1,736
I received an email from Park Plaza UK notifying me that F&F rate bookings were limited to 3 nights and that I would have to change my existing reservations.
The agent cited a Jan 2011 company memo regarding F&F. The terms posted online make no mention of such a limitation, nor does the reservations system prevent booking stays > 3 days.
My reservations were booked months ago. I'm thinking about calling corporate but I don't really want to drag my friend into this (please don't msg me asking to use his name). Anyway, it seems wrong for them to change the rules.
Advice?
The agent cited a Jan 2011 company memo regarding F&F. The terms posted online make no mention of such a limitation, nor does the reservations system prevent booking stays > 3 days.
My reservations were booked months ago. I'm thinking about calling corporate but I don't really want to drag my friend into this (please don't msg me asking to use his name). Anyway, it seems wrong for them to change the rules.
Advice?
Mar 2, 2012, 4:26 pm
#896
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: CGN
Programs: ALL MAJOR FFP AND FSP
Posts: 321
I received an email from Park Plaza UK notifying me that F&F rate bookings were limited to 3 nights and that I would have to change my existing reservations.
The agent cited a Jan 2011 company memo regarding F&F. The terms posted online make no mention of such a limitation, nor does the reservations system prevent booking stays > 3 nights.
My reservations were booked months ago. I'm thinking about calling corporate but I don't really want to drag my friend into this (please don't msg me asking to use his name). Anyway, it seems wrong for them to change the rules.
Advice?
The agent cited a Jan 2011 company memo regarding F&F. The terms posted online make no mention of such a limitation, nor does the reservations system prevent booking stays > 3 nights.
My reservations were booked months ago. I'm thinking about calling corporate but I don't really want to drag my friend into this (please don't msg me asking to use his name). Anyway, it seems wrong for them to change the rules.
Advice?
if there's more than yourself, you could try and split the reservation into 2 under different names each for 3 nights?
This should make everybody happy?
Mar 4, 2012, 5:32 pm
#897
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: YYJ
Programs: Aeroplan,Alaska,Airmiles
Posts: 265
I just stayed at the Radisson Blu Amsterdam, no questions asked. The room was nice and included breakfast. The rate did say that it also included 25% off bar and food but there was no mention of this at check in. I am not sure if it would have been adjusted naturally. Anyway, a great stay, Thanks Flyertalk!
Mar 5, 2012, 12:04 am
#898
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
I just stayed at the Radisson Blu Amsterdam, no questions asked. The room was nice and included breakfast. The rate did say that it also included 25% off bar and food but there was no mention of this at check in. I am not sure if it would have been adjusted naturally. Anyway, a great stay, Thanks Flyertalk!
But it looks like the above hotel has blocked out this rate for the rest of this month, next and through the summer anyway.
Mar 5, 2012, 4:32 am
#899
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Central Florida, US
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 634
We checked-in at the Radisson Plaza Santiago two nights ago with no questions or problems. There is a nice breakfast buffet, free wi-fi and our room is a small suite. There is no tax for foreign visitors, so I paid in US dollars using my US credit card and not only saved the taxes, but any currency conversion fee that the card might charge. One more thing - coupons for a free welcome drink of your choice. Not a bad deal for USD$80.
Mar 5, 2012, 6:47 pm
#900
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Posts: 487
I received an email from Park Plaza UK notifying me that F&F rate bookings were limited to 3 nights and that I would have to change my existing reservations.
The agent cited a Jan 2011 company memo regarding F&F. The terms posted online make no mention of such a limitation, nor does the reservations system prevent booking stays > 3 nights.
My reservations were booked months ago. I'm thinking about calling corporate but I don't really want to drag my friend into this (please don't msg me asking to use his name). Anyway, it seems wrong for them to change the rules.
Advice?
The agent cited a Jan 2011 company memo regarding F&F. The terms posted online make no mention of such a limitation, nor does the reservations system prevent booking stays > 3 nights.
My reservations were booked months ago. I'm thinking about calling corporate but I don't really want to drag my friend into this (please don't msg me asking to use his name). Anyway, it seems wrong for them to change the rules.
Advice?