cfischer

yes, book the Marriott.com rate first. Then make a 2nd booking on Marriott.com using TZO. Then file a claim.
Done it many times, works well, no issues.

flyoff

Cfischer thank you for the advice. Marriott rejected my initial claim as they said they couldn't verify the rate even though I provided both booking references and price on the claim template.

I replied telling them they had not read the claim correctly. The second response from Marriott didn't look positive as I had used a Marriott member rate. They replaced the rate with a higher standard rate and then agreed they would accept the claim.

Great result but disappointing Marriott didn't read my initial claim correctly and were pedantic on the review.

cfischer

??????

Looks like you booked the wrong rate ... you cannot use Marriott member rates to compare.
They way you make these types of claims is to book both rates with the exact same booking conditions then use the function 'booked on Marriott' and provide the 2nd confirmation number.

This is by far the easiest way to LNF if you book the correct rates and yes, if the TZO rate is refundable then you must book the refundable rate even if they have a lower ADV rate as well.

guruboy

Sorry, since I'm sure this is a repeat question, but is this basically a price match system?

It seems that it's a no brainer to use this since Booking.com is almost always cheaper than Marriott direct. Am I missing something?

YoungBubbie

I wish Booking.com was always cheaper as it would make it a lot easier. In all my reservations I have only been able to use them once.

With that said, the LNF rate will be 25% less than the competing site. I have found if you can LNF, it beats any code you use on Marriott.com.

jm1991

As long as it's not an advanced purchase I belive. Though I have yet to find a basic room lower than marriott, I have found more expensive rooms such as larger rooms, corner rooms, city view rooms lower on booking.com than marriott

With the 25% off it usually comes out still being lower than the cheapest room on marriott but have a better room type and a higher chance of getting upgraded to an even better room

shonamac

Does one use the standard Marriott LNF form for claims regarding Renaissance hotels? What is the best procedure to follow if there is no response to a claim within the stipulated 24-hour window?

guruboy

Thanks for the responses.

I was able to successfully submit two claims for an upcoming trip using [alternate site].

Courtyard Tokyo Station
Nov 22-24, 26-27
Economy Double

cfischer

yes, some form for every hotel covered by the guarantee.
VERY unusual to NOT get a response within 24 hrs. I'd say that is 1/30 for me. I usually wait for 30 hrs then I send an Email ...

chicaloca453

I know at least one hotel that actually patrols opposing sites multiple times a day to make sure there are no LNF opportunities out there. This is a hotel that was once very LNFable but there were so many that they went on a mission. That same hotel also would treat platinum guests with LNF worse than those paying regular rates (latter got better upgrades). I have not seen an LNF for this property in 6 months.

Generally I've actually seen many Marriotts that used to be good LNF options no longer have them out there. Two years ago this program was invaluable, but properties are getting smarter and more aggressive.

On another note does anyone know if the LNF team works all night? I have never noticed getting responses after 1 a.m. Eastern until the following morning after 8:30 or so. I'm approaching 24 hours for a couple of claims and have yet to hear anything. The claims were submitted at approximately 6 am central and I usually hear back from those later in the day. Now it's half past 2 and I'm still waiting.

paul00

In the past I have received a response from the LNF team at 2am Eastern Time.

sdsearch

Isn't it the hotel itself which puts out rates to third-party sites (directly or indirectly) that end up being LNFable? (If not the hotel, then who?) So isn't it patrolling itself?

Or what do you mean by patrolling? Are they simply making sure there are no lower third-party rates, or are they just making sure that terms or room descriptions are so different that they don't match enough to qualify for LNF?

nacho

I know 1 too!

Yes they do that, but then they don't want to give you another 25% discount on that rate

I think they had our names in their system, since you have to make a ressie with Marriott before filing, they know you reserve a room there so they can watch you.

This is what happened: Found a lower rate from x.com, made a ressie with Marriott, filed a claim, then the rate disappeared and my claim is denied. This has happened so many times that it's not a coincidence any more.

sdsearch

Well, they've been doing this part time for years now. So are you saying they've expanded to 24/7/365? Ie, the workaround used to be to book and file the LNF claim on a Saturday (hotel time), that gives more than 24 hours before the weekday management comes in and does that patrolling. I remember several weekends last year (maybe even early this year?) where I booked and claimed several LNFs for the same hotel, only to have the rate disappear on Monday morning. (And the rate would disappear after any number of weekend LNF bookings I made at that hotel, whether just one or several.)

I also remember a year or two ago when I'd see LNFable rates at some hotels go up like clockwork at 5 pm and disappear like clockwork around 8 am or whenever the following morning, and again only stay up for more than 24 hours over the weekend. This was obviously to discourage LNFing (or even discount rate booking in the first place) by people who are booking from work. (I was in the same time zone as the hotel so I can't say whether it was 5 pm my time or 5 pm the hotel's time.)

I haven't stayed (paid) in Marriott Rewards properties over the summer, due to no promo. This fall I'm simply seeing an unavailability of LNFable rates (at least at all the sites that used to have them) in the areas where I used to get them repeatedly as recently as the first few months of this year. So I've not had a chance to see those rates go away recently, I just don't see them appear in the first place.

nacho

Yes, I have done weekday, weekend, morning and night - you name it.

It's more difficult to score Marriott LNFs, and I got some very good deals with Hilton's BRG, especially saving $50 for 1 night stay is a winner.