Website typo on CA hotel price..will they honor it?
Jul 10, 2008, 11:19 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 5
Website typo on CA hotel price..will they honor it?
So I was looking for a decent hotel price in SFO when I found a typo...a $200/night room for $20/night at the Parc 55 near Market Street. I quickly booked a 4-night stay and got a confirmation number then printed every page that said $20/night. This hotel has nothing less than $200/night and includes breakfast buffet. Sweet! Now my dilemma....will they honor it? Seems like they should have to since I have the documentation. Anyone else ever experience something like this?
P.S. I found it at southwest.com and booked it for July 23-27. Still there as of Friday night. Doesn't work for any other dates around those dates so it must be some sort of pricing snafu.
P.S. I found it at southwest.com and booked it for July 23-27. Still there as of Friday night. Doesn't work for any other dates around those dates so it must be some sort of pricing snafu.
Last edited by traveljunkie405; Jul 11, 2008 at 10:08 pm Reason: More info about how/where booked
Jul 11, 2008, 12:36 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: weekdays:ATL; weekends:Elsewhere
Posts: 1,094
Will they honor it...Sometimes Yes, Sometimes No.
So I was looking for a decent hotel price in SFO when I found a typo...a $200/night room for $20/night at the Parc 55 near Market Street. I quickly booked a 4-night stay and got a confirmation number then printed every page that said $20/night. This hotel has nothing less than $200/night and includes breakfast buffet. Sweet! Now my dilemma....will they honor it? Seems like they should have to since I have the documentation. Anyone else ever experience something like this?
If you could provide a little more info you will probably get better advice.
It depends on what site you booked it on, wether directly with the hotel or through a third party site (travelocity, expedia, orbitz, etc). You probably have a better chance of it being honored if it was booked through a 3rd party site.
This is not the first time that a rate mistake like this has occurred, and it probably won't be the last, but there are no certain answers on wether or not it will be honored. For now, I would suggest that you just wait, do not contact the hotel, and just wait to see what happens.
Here is a thread regarding a similar "decimal point error" from the Le Parker Meridien hotel, which may provide some "reference" information for you.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=738287
Good Luck, and welcome to FlyerTalk!
Jul 11, 2008, 6:26 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: USA
Posts: 305
The short answer is that they may or may not honor it.
The good news is that, in my experience, the hotel is almost always willing to honor the rate. I'm averaging about 90%. Either way, I never raise a stink. If they honor it, great. If they don't, then so be it.
If they do honor it, I always try to give that hotel my future business.
The good news is that, in my experience, the hotel is almost always willing to honor the rate. I'm averaging about 90%. Either way, I never raise a stink. If they honor it, great. If they don't, then so be it.
If they do honor it, I always try to give that hotel my future business.
Jul 11, 2008, 11:00 am
#4
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Slightly to the left of center
Posts: 3,475
Welcome to FT and your first post!
Congrats on this great find.
As far as you are concerned, you found this amazing deal in a beautiful city which would go for well over $250 a night otherwise. But, with the downturn in the economy the hotel was perhaps offering a limited time sale - and you booked. Right...?
Congrats on this great find.
As far as you are concerned, you found this amazing deal in a beautiful city which would go for well over $250 a night otherwise. But, with the downturn in the economy the hotel was perhaps offering a limited time sale - and you booked. Right...?
Jul 11, 2008, 1:18 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: KOA
Programs: DL Gold/MM, HH Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Lifetime Gold
Posts: 2,280
If they don't honor it and you are not willing to pay the going rate, you should book a back-up reservation somewhere else that can be cancelled without penalty (assuming you arrive before the cancellation deadline). If they do honor it, cancel the back-up and enjoy your $20 room.
Jul 11, 2008, 8:15 pm
#8
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 415
Another interesting question is whether they SHOULD honor it.
I think they should, because this could go either way. Suppose the room normally goes for $200, but a computer glitch has it for $400. If someone is unaware that it is overpriced books it for $400 and shows up past the cancellation point, my guess is the hotel will hold them to the price committed to.
I think they should, because this could go either way. Suppose the room normally goes for $200, but a computer glitch has it for $400. If someone is unaware that it is overpriced books it for $400 and shows up past the cancellation point, my guess is the hotel will hold them to the price committed to.
Jul 11, 2008, 9:28 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: AC 75K, SPG P, CX SL
Posts: 548
Another interesting question is whether they SHOULD honor it.
I think they should, because this could go either way. Suppose the room normally goes for $200, but a computer glitch has it for $400. If someone is unaware that it is overpriced books it for $400 and shows up past the cancellation point, my guess is the hotel will hold them to the price committed to.
I think they should, because this could go either way. Suppose the room normally goes for $200, but a computer glitch has it for $400. If someone is unaware that it is overpriced books it for $400 and shows up past the cancellation point, my guess is the hotel will hold them to the price committed to.
They refunded the difference between what I paid and some average taken between the lowest offered that night. and the rack rate.
Classy of them if you ask me...
Jul 11, 2008, 11:59 pm
#10
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I can't tell from the OP's post, but it seems the odds would be higher if a card was charged for the full amount already, especially on a restrictive cancellation policy. In such a case it's more like a done deal, and harder and messier to back out of (though some places would still try).
If it's booked but not paid then it's shakier, especially if done with the hotel directly. I remember the pre-Internet days when a certain car-rent company named after a fort was notorious for saying one thing over the phone but another when you got to the counter.
If it's booked but not paid then it's shakier, especially if done with the hotel directly. I remember the pre-Internet days when a certain car-rent company named after a fort was notorious for saying one thing over the phone but another when you got to the counter.
Jul 12, 2008, 7:15 am
#12
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Welcome to FT and your first post!
Congrats on this great find.
As far as you are concerned, you found this amazing deal in a beautiful city which would go for well over $250 a night otherwise. But, with the downturn in the economy the hotel was perhaps offering a limited time sale - and you booked. Right...?
Congrats on this great find.
As far as you are concerned, you found this amazing deal in a beautiful city which would go for well over $250 a night otherwise. But, with the downturn in the economy the hotel was perhaps offering a limited time sale - and you booked. Right...?
