Mobile Check-in Discussion Thread
Aug 3, 2021, 7:58 am
#121
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: EDI/GLA
Programs: DL 2 MM Unobtainum | UA 1.1MM Gold | MR Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 2,269
Some properties are awesome and just issue you a mobile key without any interaction and some are just lackadaisical and make you jump through hoops on arrival. YMMV.
Aug 3, 2021, 10:49 am
#123
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: ARN
Programs: AC, SK, Marriott
Posts: 1,150
I use it regularly and it works pretty reliably now. I get upgraded rooms as titanium and often request a late checkout. For my current stay I checked in online on Saturday but didn't arrive at the hotel until Sunday morning as I stayed at a friends place after enjoying some adult beverages. No hassles with the room being cancelled, just walked straight to my room when I arrived.
Aug 3, 2021, 3:52 pm
#124
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Somewhere in the Mid-Atlantic
Programs: Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 619
I've tried it a few times in the past, but it almost never actually works (often it says I need to stop by the front desk to get my mobile key issued), and it seems like there's almost zero chance of getting an upgrade unless you check-in at the front desk.
What are other people's experiences? Does anyone use it regularly?
What are other people's experiences? Does anyone use it regularly?
Aug 4, 2021, 2:31 pm
#125
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA Silver, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 21,541
I used it three times recently (EWR, PHL, BWI). It truly only worked (mobile key issued) once. Regardless, I still had to stop by the front desk to get key cards for Mrs. Swede and the kids since they don't have the app. Requests for extra towels done in the app prior to arrival were successful.
Aug 5, 2021, 4:09 pm
#126
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: SBA
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 941
Still a little hit or miss, especially for the mobile key. I've successfully been issued the key a few times, then last stay at the Courtyard Paso Robles, CA they said they needed to actually see my credit card. It's the same card I've had a file for a few years.
Checked in last week to Sheraton Waikiki and the app said I would receive a mobile key. When I got there they said no mobile keys are supported.
Agree, the chat feature to ask about rooms or upgrades is a great one and very useful!
Checked in last week to Sheraton Waikiki and the app said I would receive a mobile key. When I got there they said no mobile keys are supported.
Agree, the chat feature to ask about rooms or upgrades is a great one and very useful!
Feb 28, 2022, 1:53 pm
#129
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: SBA
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 941
Many of them are supposed to. You should call the hotel in question and confirm. It's been about 50/50 for me over the past year...some of them did send the key and room number and it worked. One time they didn't because they said they needed a credit card on file, even though I have one on file. Another time they sent me the key but it didn't work.
Feb 28, 2022, 2:00 pm
#130
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SNA
Programs: Bonvoy LTTE/AMB, AmEx Plat, National EE, WN A-List, CLEAR+, Covid-19
Posts: 4,964
Also, it seems ex-SPG properties have a better success with this, as they had it (and it worked) pre-merger.
Mar 2, 2022, 4:57 pm
#131
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Anchorage, AK (ANC)
Programs: Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan MVP 75K
Posts: 71
I stayed at the Element - Seattle Airport, which is a new hotel, three different times this year and I was never sent a mobile key.
I also stayed at two different Luxury Collection properties (the Chatwal - New York and Palace Hotel - San Francisco) and neither of them gave me a mobile key.
I checked in using the app at all these hotels.
Last edited by BrandonAB; Mar 2, 2022 at 5:02 pm
Mar 3, 2022, 4:49 pm
#132
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: SBA
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 941
Checked in today with mobile app and the offer to receive a complimentary upgrade was there. Mobile key also offered (Westin, downtown LA).
Last edited by tstauck; Mar 3, 2022 at 4:49 pm Reason: typo
May 17, 2022, 9:01 am
#133
Join Date: May 2000
Location: WAS
Posts: 1,069
Newbie user here. I was wondering, if I make a reservation in my name and add an authorized guest, is there any way the authorized guest can check in and get a mobile key, or does the fact that mobile check in is limited to Bonvoy members mean that it's also limited to reservations tied to your own Bonvoy account?
(I apologize if this has been asked and answered before - I tried to run a search for "authorized" and was told there were no hits, which I find unlikely!)
(I apologize if this has been asked and answered before - I tried to run a search for "authorized" and was told there were no hits, which I find unlikely!)
May 17, 2022, 6:02 pm
#134
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Bangkok
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Titanium, BAEC Silver, TK Miles & Smiles Elite
Posts: 2,209
Newbie user here. I was wondering, if I make a reservation in my name and add an authorized guest, is there any way the authorized guest can check in and get a mobile key, or does the fact that mobile check in is limited to Bonvoy members mean that it's also limited to reservations tied to your own Bonvoy account?
(I apologize if this has been asked and answered before - I tried to run a search for "authorized" and was told there were no hits, which I find unlikely!)
(I apologize if this has been asked and answered before - I tried to run a search for "authorized" and was told there were no hits, which I find unlikely!)
May 22, 2022, 7:14 pm
#135
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Salt Lake City
Programs: Delta, Hertz, Hilton, Marriott
Posts: 4,921
I checked in online at the NY Marriott Marquis last weekend. They said they'd text me when the room was ready. We arrived at 7 pm. Still no text, so I went to the desk and she had me provide all the info again as if I hadn't checked in already. I'm just Gold, but she upgraded me to a great view room. The strange part was I received a text at 22:30 stating that my room was now ready even though we had been in our room for over three hours. We had a great stay and the hotel is still emaculate.