joakgarp

So almost the best way to find a lower 3rd rate is to go for the local ones. Problem is they denied my japanese site and wrote:

"The limitations of translation technology prevent me from being able to navigate the comparison source and verify any rate being offered. Our department is located in the United States and we make every attempt to translate websites and mobile applications as needed for the purposes of review. I regret that, in this case, I am unable to do so and I am sorry for any frustration this may cause".

I don't speak Japanese either but Google Chrome does. Anyone has any experience with a denial like this?
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htb

I have a similar problem right now: I directed them to ***.co.jp and they said they couldn't find the lower rate on ***.com

In the past they always found someone who could speak the local language -- at least they somehow managed to verify my claim. However, recently they simply seem to set the language to English and don't even try. Maybe too much pushback from the Japanese "member" hotels?

HTB.

joakgarp

It's strange. Google Chrome manages to translate everything (perhaps not with 100% gramma but readable) on my site so I wouldn't really say there is any real limitation in translation technology. Marriott LNF team sometimes do it a bit easy for the but I'm not in a rush.
It's not really a dead killer rate anyway and my hotel reservation is not until middle of august so the rate will probably go down in july. Just want to secure the best rate available atm.

One reason could be that japan hotel sites aren't following western website code so websites are always a bit dated and 90sh. The agent seems confused due to inexperience and denies.

YoungBubbie

It took almost 25 hours to get a response to my claim.

Luckily I booked a refundable rate. It was declined so I wrote back asking to check again.
Approaching another 24 hours and still no word.

htb

My claim took yet another turn:

I don't think the Autograph hotel in question will migrate reservations to the Marriott system as they have their own system. They either run them in parallel or migrate reservations from the Marriott system to their own system...

Let's see if the hotel feels it necessary to answer at all.

Where does this "need to see the reservation appear in the Marriott system" originate from? The reservation is visible on the website, I have a confirmation email -- but they always expect the reservation to pop up in their own system. For all I know the hotel could set apart a number of rooms only sold through a different channel.

HTB.

joakgarp

Yeah, you replied back on your denial? I sent them a reply back 15 hours ago and wrote basically it was easy to understand my japanese 3rd party, adviced them to use Google Chrome's translation tool and if not use my 1-2-3 steps how to read japanese haha. No reply yet so maybe that's good.. I hope for the best. Marriott's got plenty of important properties in Japan. Would be sad to rule the Japanese, non english supportive 3rd parties out.

Edit: Got a response now. Denied again.

nacho

I was battling with the LNF for an Autograph hotel in Japan 2 years ago......they went beyond their normal behaviour to deny my claims due to tax reasons (the third party site is tax inclusive and they refused to accept that). It was denial after denial so I gave up.

UKOK

Marriott Charleston
Marriott.com: $215
Trivago via Amoma: $161.24
LNF rate: $113.93 for 2 nights

LNF approved at the 14 hour mark.

YoungBubbie

They finally responded after 28 hours. This time approved.

Zurich35

I got an LNF approved and I am wondering if the program really works this way.

I booked a 7 night stay and the let’s assume the total was USD 1200. Not every night was USD 171.43. The rate for 3 nights was USD 100 per night and 4 nights were USD 225.

I found a competing total rate of USD 770 and the competing site did not did not break down the rate on a nightly basis.

My claim was approve the following way:
USD 770/7 = USD 110 as the average nightly rate.

As 3 nights were below the average nightly rate of USD 110, the booked rate of USD 100 remained for these nights and only the remaining 4 nights were discounted to the new rate of USD 82.50 (USD 110 -25%). My new total is now USD 630 (USD 100x3 + USD 82.50x4).
This is a total reduction of 18.2%

Is this how it works?

DaveMidknight

Yes, that is how Marriott LNF does the calculation. They calculated every night individually.

crimson12

Hi, not sure where to post it as there are multiple LNF threads but I hope this is the right one. I didn't see a post about what happens when room types don't match because of lack of availability.

I know typically for an LNF claim the room type has to match. An OTA has a standard room for $365. The Marriott website lists only suites and starts at $549. I don't need a suite but I would like to get the standard room for $365-25%.

In my experience with SPG, the room type had to match unless the OTA offered a room that simply wasn't available on spg.com. In that case you could book whatever room/rate you wanted on SPG.com and file a claim with evidence that the other OTA would offer room type 1 and spg.com only offered room type 2.

Will Marriott approve such a claim? Thanks in advance!

htb

I've been in that situation. Multiple times. Even though, no suites were involved.

Some agents simply overlook the fact that the room types don't match. Other agents were focussing on entirely on bed-type and would refuse a claim of two beds against one bed. Yet other agents simply would refuse to find any availability on the OTA.

Definite answer: YMMV.

HTB.

nacho

I don't think you'll be able to get it through - you are always welcome to try as long as you book a refundable rate. A standard vs. a suite is a big difference - unless the hotel is a all suite hotel - which I have done before, just notify the LNF agent that all rooms are suits in this hotel and I had no problem getting an approval.

Keyser