Programs that guarantee late checkout?
 

The main reason I typically book FHR reservations is the guaranteed 4:00 PM late checkout. That is an incredible benefit when departing on a red eye flight. I know a number of other programs offer the possibility of a late checkout, but do any others guarantee one like FHR?

Many thanks.

Some Virtuoso properties do or at least did. Also Peninsula comes to my mind which has flexible check-in and check-out times (without any program).

Peninsula offers up to 6 am check-in and 10pm check-out; however, one must book directly with them to get this benefit.

Not a program, but Ritz Paris will guarantee early check-in and late check-out if you book direct and provide them with your travel details at least 2 (or 3?) days prior to arrival. There are many properties that offer this, particularly in Europe, but the Ritz is the first that comes to mind (along with Peninsula, but others already mentioned that).

Properties under the IHG Luxury program (Regent, InterContinental, select Kimptons) are guaranteed 2PM check-out. Also, I think it's always worth checking with your TA first if they can request a guaranteed late check-out for you in advance. Hotels will be happy to accommodate the request if they have a good relationship with the TA + you will get priority on other perks with a TA booking.

Ritz Paris offers it also via Virtuoso.

If you book with a Peninsula Pen Club agent you can also take advantage of this (and get other benefits like $100 credit, etc,) But it must be requested and approved. Unfortunately when I tried it out at the Pen Chicago in November they failed to honor my 10:30am check in time… and by some 4 hours. They did however give me a loner (lower category) “courtesy room” . If you are booking a room or suite that has only a limited supply (as was mine), I imagine having an issue is more likely.

That's very strange. I've been told that for most hotels at this level - Peninsula, Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, Aman, etc - they always keep the room empty for 1 complete day in between guests, in order to have it properly cleaned. I've stayed at the Peninsula Chicago many times, and this is what a hotel staff member there personally told me. If the room is empty for one day, then you should've been able to get the 10:30am check-in time. Not sure what went wrong there.

Raffles used to do it for their top tier (unpublished, invitation only) loyalty level, but I don't know what their current policy is. IIRC the benefit was a 24 hour check in/out, of course with advanced notice for an early arrival.

I've never heard of this before and it would also be economic madness. Why should a hotel do that? It doesn't take an eternity to clean a room. I can also confirm that a number of my rooms were occupied seamlessly before and after me.

I also haven't really heard of this. Otherwise, early check in and late check out would always be available since they would keep the room empty the day before and day after my stay.

Maybe the hotel worker was being extravagant; I dunno. However, I know that the Peninsula Chicago does it, because he proudly told me that was the case. We even had a brief discussion about this very topic. Also, think about it - how is the Peninsula brand able to offer 6am/10pm check-in / check-out on a regular basis, at all of its 12 properties across the world, when this is such a valuable commodity? There is no way they can offer that on a consistent, regular basis unless they either a) have an entire army of super fast, efficient cleaners, or b) are able to keep the rooms unoccupied for a day in-between guests.

I haven't stayed at the other brands all that much, but from my experience with three of the brands I mentioned above - Peninsula, Four Seasons, and Mandarin Oriental - I've never been denied a 8am-10am check-in, ever. 🤷‍♂️

Advance planning, communication, less than 100% AOCC and luck. They don't keep rooms empty, but will offer a holding room when the original booked room cannot be provided
PENClub has top top priority for this. And yes sometimes requests for PenTime are not granted with plenty of communication to that effect

I wonder if that wasn't during covid. I know some hotels would leave rooms empty between clients so the virus would "die" on its own

Capella, the ultra-luxury brand I most frequent, seems to price things deliberately so they remain below 100% occupancy even at peak times, which creates capacity at least for standard rooms to offer early check in and late check out on a frequent basis. Clearly this doesn’t work if you want a specific higher category, where they will sell all the rooms of that type.

Maybe that’s what they meant rather than every room is kept empty between guests which I agree would be madness?