Is there any advantage/disadvantage to checking out with video checkout vs. at the front desk? Does it make it less likely that you will get FFN credit?

Also, are there any other checkout options I don't know about? Can you checkout by phone (either 1800-checkin or calling the hotel directly) or by Internet connection?

FF

I smell a �no show� mattress run for a FFN.

I was thinking about something similar, but not strictly a "no show". I have a trip planned where I am going home on a red eye flight and rather than fend for myself during the evening, I wouldn't mind having a hotel room for 1/2 a day as a "home base" for a little nap and maybe dinner. Yes, I'd of course also like to get an extra FFN credit in the process.

I'm not sure if I'd get FFN credit if I checked in at 3:00 PM and checked out at ~9:00 PM the same day, so I'd rather do it by phone (or whatever) the next morning, if possible.

FF

You will get credit for this as long as you charge to MC.

With nearly any hotel/chain, you can call the front desk on your day of departure to check out. I often do this when in a rush to catch a flight, and to avoid the line. They will fax your bill to you if you wish. Also if you don't do anything at all, 99.9% of the time, the hotel will just check you out automatically. Again the key is to either charge the room and/or some incidental to Master Card.

Just phone them in the morning. I have done this too and they have even mailed the bill to my home.

I have often to leave in the early morning. In order to avoid bad surprises (e.g. some agents need >15min to only change the address, e.g. from private to company or customer address), I regularly pay during the evening before ... No hassle in the morning. Everything is right on the receipt and if I have anything more during the night (e.g. minibar, room service), I'm 100% sure that the address on the receipt is already correct and it will be a short stop at the reception to pay the rest.

Fire_Fly, I'd suggest to do the same: pay after your lunch/dinner. Nobody will notice when you actually leave and you have the receipt.


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While I have yet to use it, I understand the concept of 1-800-CHECKIN.

If you used 1-800-CHECKIN to "check in" and then called the hotel the next morning to "check out", yet were never physically present at the hotel, do you still get stay credit?

When you use 1-800-CHECKIN, do they just generate your room key and stick it on a shelf? Or do they create a room key for you when you show up?

I've been getting some decent rates at my local Hyatt, so I just stop by one the way home, checkin and grab my key, then head home. Come morning, I stop by and checkout and head on my way.

Thanks for the responses, everyone!

It looks like I've got nothing to worry about, whether I check out right when I leave or whether I check out by phone.

The more I stay at Hyatts the more I like them, particularly their promotions and customer service.

FF

Actually, there is no need to check out. On my last few stays at major chains, I was automatically "checked out" by the front desk. I assume the maids told them the room was empty.

Not a real shock as most places now run the charge before they slip the bill under your door.

As best I can tell, using 1-800-CHECKIN is similar to when a hotel pre-blocks and pre-assigns your room. Your key packet is waiting for you when you get there, but you still (usually) have to show a credit card, initial the rate, etc. In fact, I haven't bothered to use 1-800-CHECKIN at SFO HR recently because they always have a room pre-blocked and assigned for me anyway. (but then again, I always fill in my exact room preferences in the comment field, so maybe that's why it usually works well there.)

There is often a lot of debate around here if you should need to show CC at the checkin desk after using 1-800-CHECKIN, but I haven't seen that debate flare up recently. Either way, the hotel does know if you've physically showed up.

So, I'm not really sure, but I don't think you are fully checked in until you physically arrive at the hotel and get your key packet. Now, you'll still probably be charged, but not sure if you will receive a stay and night credit or not.

-David

Every time I have used 1-800-CHECKIN, they have required the credit card upon arrival. You are not "checked-in" until then.

I recently executed a phanton check-in by prepaying the Hyatt.com rate. I used 1-800-CHECKIN as well. When my travel plans changed, I called the hotel to explain on the night of check-in. Somebody at the front desk agreed to check me out and FAX a copy of the bill for backup.

This worked for FFN because it was a Hyatt.com prepay on Mastercard. I understand that all hotels may not cooperate in this manner.

Why do you need to check-out? I haven't checked out of a hotel in the past 5 years UNLESS I know that there is something on my bill that I have to argue with the front desk about (~10% of the time). I just leave my keys in my room and my credit card gets charged. At least 70% of the time the hotel leaves the bill under the door these days anyway. I don't understand why everybody seems to think that you must check-out once you checkin. Yeah, it is the courteous thing to do since a maid might be waiting to clean your roon until 2pm rather than being able to clean it at 8am, but is it worth driving all the way back to a hotel to check-out physically? I don't understand. The very most effort I would put into it is to call them, definitely no reason to make a special trip though just to checkout.

I check out at the front desk for several reasons:

1) There are usually charges (phone calls, breakfast, minibar) which are not on the bill slipped under the door. I need the final bill to be reimbursed fully by my company.

2) I confirm bonuses that I am entitled to (GP, UA, etc.) It is often not enough to ask for this at checkin.

3) It rarely takes me more than 2 minutes to check out at the front desk. If I have to call for a copy of the bill, it requires considerably more time and effort on my part. If I didn't get the bonus credit, it would also take a lot of effort on my part to get it posted.

4) Checking out clears the room for maid service, and a guest who may be arriving early. It is considerate. And technically, I suppose you could be charged if you don't officially check out at the published time.

Some folks must have a zero-ed out bill to turn in to corporate accounting for reimbursement. Depends on company policy, I guess.

-David