Award games- Andaz Maui
Jan 27, 2018, 1:40 pm
#1
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: RIP
Posts: 506
Award games- Andaz Maui
Wanted to book 4 award nights at Andaz Maui, but all showed non available. Despite showing queens available for cash but they had some view in the description. This is what looks to be the standard room when checking a handful dates Also if I checked for 10 (not less) nights queen beds was available for points. Plan was to book this, and call in to amend, but not enough points on acct.
After some games checking wrong hotel, it was said no awards possible. After checking two systems. Agent called hotel, and still no awards. She also claimed the last room for revenue was sold during the process. Eventually she agreed 10 nights were possible. But I didnt have enough points. Not possible to overdraft with more than 1K. No option to issue some temp goodwill points to deduct later. Had to cancel a future 7 night at PH Maldives, but with the risk of room disappearing she managed to hold a new res there. Cancelled original MLE, booked 10 nights Maui, amended to 4 nights, and finally booked the held res at MLE.
Score!
After some games checking wrong hotel, it was said no awards possible. After checking two systems. Agent called hotel, and still no awards. She also claimed the last room for revenue was sold during the process. Eventually she agreed 10 nights were possible. But I didnt have enough points. Not possible to overdraft with more than 1K. No option to issue some temp goodwill points to deduct later. Had to cancel a future 7 night at PH Maldives, but with the risk of room disappearing she managed to hold a new res there. Cancelled original MLE, booked 10 nights Maui, amended to 4 nights, and finally booked the held res at MLE.
Score!
Jan 27, 2018, 1:51 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: USA & UK -- AA EXP 3.5MM, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Avis President's Club
Posts: 6,411
Eventually she agreed 10 nights were possible. But I didnt have enough points. Not possible to overdraft with more than 1K. No option to issue some temp goodwill points to deduct later. Had to cancel a future 7 night at PH Maldives, but with the risk of room disappearing she managed to hold a new res there. Cancelled original MLE, booked 10 nights Maui, amended to 4 nights, and finally booked the held res at MLE.
Score!
Score!
Jan 27, 2018, 2:13 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,046
But Hyatt is hardly unique in having hotels that impose minimum stay restrictions, play games with standard room inventory, etc. I know people have their heart's set on specific hotels sometimes, but the only way to have this behaviour change is: 1. the hotel chain paying more to popular hotels (yeah right!) or 2. moving your business to other hotels that don't play such games.
Jan 27, 2018, 2:57 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2007
Location: WAS
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, WN A+, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Amb, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,126
Love the Andaz Maui, but it's ridiculous. I've stayed 6-7 times with some paid stays and some points. They have availability for 10 nights, but not 4 during the same time. Reached out and hotel told me to contact Hyatt. Contact My Hyatt Concierge and they said no awards available. This is where SPG has Hyatt beat - fewer games and ability to work around hotel-specific restrictions.
Last edited by Duke777; Jan 27, 2018 at 4:31 pm
Jan 27, 2018, 6:12 pm
#6
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,453
Jan 28, 2018, 6:32 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,967
It’s a nice property but nothing truly amazing given the price. The public spaces are impressive, but rooms kind of meh. The award and upgrade games keep me away. Yet another reason why SPG/Marriott are going to get my 5+ nights this year. Too many Hyatt hotels give the bare minimum to globalists.
Jan 28, 2018, 10:02 pm
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,453
Can there be any explanation for that other than it allows them to offer the base "garden view" room for sale without technically violating the requirement that it made be available for awards as well? By imposing a 10 day minimum for an award, they maximize the likelihood the room will be booked at a cash rate, rather than for points.
Shame shame shame.
Shame shame shame.
Jan 29, 2018, 6:35 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,482
Jan 29, 2018, 6:38 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,482
Jan 29, 2018, 6:48 am
#13
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: RIP
Posts: 506
Not going to work. I've tried this with a different Hyatt resort and could not change booking to less than minimum. If 10 is the minimum, you can book 12 and change to 10. But you cannot change to less than 10 unless hotel approves it. Which is not likely as they were the one who instituted 10 night minimum to begin with.
Jan 29, 2018, 6:53 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,482
You've got better Hyatt agent than I do and I supposedly have PL agent.
Jan 29, 2018, 7:19 am
#15
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 930
A couple of years ago I was able to book a four night award stay in a Garden View room. The room, being dark, facing bushes, and on the ground floor, truly put a damper on my stay. Contrast that to when the hotel first opened and I was automatically upgraded to the Pool Suite using my credit card free nights and points. Times have changed.