May 18, 2018, 7:24 am
Last edit by: SkiAdcock
Hat tip to joeags for this information:
More About Special Rates
AAA/CAA
Save on hotel rooms at 3,800+ Marriott brand hotels worldwide
Earn Marriott Rewards points in addition to discount
ID required at check-in (American, Canadian Automobile Association or any non-USA Automobile Club Affiliate)
Subject to availability at individual hotels
More About Special Rates
AAA/CAA
Save on hotel rooms at 3,800+ Marriott brand hotels worldwide
Earn Marriott Rewards points in addition to discount
ID required at check-in (American, Canadian Automobile Association or any non-USA Automobile Club Affiliate)
Subject to availability at individual hotels
Be prepared to show proof of AAA membership
Aug 9, 2007, 1:26 pm
#76
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: AMS
Programs: A number, but no status no more
Posts: 3,049
Here's a good one: Pay 145% extra with AAA rate
Hi all,
Here's a good one to keep in mind ... I'm looking to go to Brussels between Sept 6 and 8 ... so I searched for some nice Marriotts in town.
Without any codes or my MR number ... the Renaissance Brussels comes up with a EUR 89 per night rate.
Being an affiliated AAA member (the Swiss version of the AAA is member of "Show your card", entitling you to AAA rates in the US), I did a second search with the "AAA" option selected ... same hotel, same dates ... EUR 218, a 145% premium!
Lesson learned ... beware of the AAA rate outside the US!
Cheers,
GenevaFlyer
Here's a good one to keep in mind ... I'm looking to go to Brussels between Sept 6 and 8 ... so I searched for some nice Marriotts in town.
Without any codes or my MR number ... the Renaissance Brussels comes up with a EUR 89 per night rate.
Being an affiliated AAA member (the Swiss version of the AAA is member of "Show your card", entitling you to AAA rates in the US), I did a second search with the "AAA" option selected ... same hotel, same dates ... EUR 218, a 145% premium!
Lesson learned ... beware of the AAA rate outside the US!
Cheers,
GenevaFlyer
Aug 9, 2007, 1:34 pm
#78
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Berkeley, CA USA
Programs: Piggly Wiggly "Shop the Pig!" Preferred Shopper
Posts: 57,045
I think the lesson is broader than that: never assume any particular rate is the lowest rate -- check them all. And don't even get me started on reservation agents who claim that something is the "best available rate". It ususally goes something like this:
Me: what's the lowest rate for those dates?
Them: $x is the best available rate
Me: what about AAA -- is that a lower rate?
Them: yes, that's $(x-50).
Me: why didn't you mention that as the best available rate?
Them: you didn't mention your AAA membership.
Me: what's the lowest rate for those dates?
Them: $x is the best available rate
Me: what about AAA -- is that a lower rate?
Them: yes, that's $(x-50).
Me: why didn't you mention that as the best available rate?
Them: you didn't mention your AAA membership.
Aug 9, 2007, 1:39 pm
#79
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DCA / WAS
Programs: DL 2+ million/PM, YX, Marriott Plt, *wood gold, HHonors, CO Plt, UA, AA EXP, WN, AGR
Posts: 9,388
I've seen the same thing.
IIRC, if you specify a corporate number, the site will not present the cheapest discount outside of the corporate/group rate. You need to check with or without. It seems to be tied to the availability engine.
IIRC, if you specify a corporate number, the site will not present the cheapest discount outside of the corporate/group rate. You need to check with or without. It seems to be tied to the availability engine.
Aug 9, 2007, 1:39 pm
#80
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,698
No different from any rate "deal" i've been marketed/convienced to look at here in the States. Free "breakfast", $50 per night credit, free night, etc, won't be offered at a decent rate and will be at least twice my corporate rate for the same room. I'm surprized there isn't a little kicker with the AAA deal though (free parking)...
Aug 9, 2007, 4:57 pm
#84
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,727
I would guess that the AAA rate is some % off from the regular public nightly rate. And at any given time there may be other public "special" rates that will have an even larger % off rate. A number of times, I have seen the AAA rate be higher than a 2-for-breakfast weekend special rate at a hotel.
Though I have to admit, I don't often see the price difference to be as great as what the OP is seeing at this property.
Though I have to admit, I don't often see the price difference to be as great as what the OP is seeing at this property.
Aug 9, 2007, 4:57 pm
#85
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: ORD, MKE, MDW
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum, AAdvantage Gold, Air Canada Elite, Avis Pref Select, Hertz Gold,
Posts: 1,844
My biggest gripe is that the AAA rate is frequently something of a joke. The $220 room that goes down to $216 with AAA, etc. C'mon!!! Whatever happened to 10% discounts...or even 5%!
Aug 9, 2007, 8:19 pm
#86
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: New York USA
Posts: 2,933
Aug 9, 2007, 8:36 pm
#87
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Greener Pastures
Posts: 10,515
And don't even get me started on reservation agents who claim that something is the "best available rate". It ususally goes something like this:
Me: what's the lowest rate for those dates?
Them: $x is the best available rate
Me: what about AAA -- is that a lower rate?
Them: yes, that's $(x-50).
Me: why didn't you mention that as the best available rate?
Them: you didn't mention your AAA membership.
Me: what's the lowest rate for those dates?
Them: $x is the best available rate
Me: what about AAA -- is that a lower rate?
Them: yes, that's $(x-50).
Me: why didn't you mention that as the best available rate?
Them: you didn't mention your AAA membership.
Aug 9, 2007, 8:49 pm
#88
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Berkeley, CA USA
Programs: Piggly Wiggly "Shop the Pig!" Preferred Shopper
Posts: 57,045
Then call it the best unrestricted rate. There are so many AAA members -- 50,000,000! -- that I don't think it's comparable to a corporate rate.
Aug 9, 2007, 9:02 pm
#89
Join Date: Jul 2004
Programs: AA - Exec Plat, Marriott Platinum Premiere; Lifetime Platinum;
Posts: 484
dhuey, bhat is correct....if it's not available to everyone, then it's a restricted rate. regardless of the size of the participating audience does still not make it available to everyone
Aug 9, 2007, 9:12 pm
#90
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Berkeley, CA USA
Programs: Piggly Wiggly "Shop the Pig!" Preferred Shopper
Posts: 57,045
What if it's a rate available only to American adults? Would that pass muster? The AAA membership is a very large chunk of that population.