Oct 5, 2018, 3:54 pm
Last edit by: margarita girl
Marriott's Best Rate Guarantee Discussion Thread
This thread is about Marriott's BRG. If you don't know what BRG is - here's the Marriott BRG and here's the claim form.
If you're not satisfied with the outcome of your claim and wish for a second review you may reply back by email or call Marriott's BRG hotline 1-800-771-5665. A human is available at this number beginning at 9 am EST.
If you are new to this, and would like to ask fellow FTers questions regarding BRGs, then this thread is the place to start.
Hotel Name:
Date of stay:
Number of Guests:
Room Type:
Marriott Brand Website Rate:
Competing Rate:
Actual Approved Rate:
This thread is about Marriott's BRG. If you don't know what BRG is - here's the Marriott BRG and here's the claim form.
If you're not satisfied with the outcome of your claim and wish for a second review you may reply back by email or call Marriott's BRG hotline 1-800-771-5665. A human is available at this number beginning at 9 am EST.
If you are new to this, and would like to ask fellow FTers questions regarding BRGs, then this thread is the place to start.
Hotel Name:
Date of stay:
Number of Guests:
Room Type:
Marriott Brand Website Rate:
Competing Rate:
Actual Approved Rate:
Marriott BRG Best Rate Guarantee (formerly LNF) Success, failure & discussion thread
Nov 8, 2018, 8:56 am
#196
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 298
Before the merger the cheapest public rate was accepted. Not anymore.
Nov 8, 2018, 9:18 am
#197
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: NCL and LBA
Programs: BD*G, BAGold, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 3,269
Thanks for that info. The cheapest member rate doesn't include breakfast whereas the rate I am comparing to (which is still cheaper) does. Does this mean it is impossible to do a successful LNF and still get breakfast?
Nov 8, 2018, 10:13 am
#198
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 298
I would LNF against the cheapest rate w/breakfast and see what happens. (In the past MR would have accepted this)
Nov 8, 2018, 10:16 pm
#199
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,344
Do LNFs alter any ability to use SNAs on a particular reservation?
Thanks,
RM
Thanks,
RM
Nov 9, 2018, 12:13 am
#200
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: SPG Platinum, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 236
Nov 9, 2018, 4:50 pm
#201
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,344
Sorry for another question/post. We don't get elite benefits or points if we are successful with an LNF claim? I'm trying to figure out what the below question meant.
PS, I submitted an LNF claim 8 hours ago and have heard nothing. The reservation is next week so I'm not worried yet. Others are saying they hear back in an hour or less.
-RM
PS, I submitted an LNF claim 8 hours ago and have heard nothing. The reservation is next week so I'm not worried yet. Others are saying they hear back in an hour or less.
-RM
Nov 9, 2018, 5:04 pm
#202
In memoriam
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: MAN
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, IHG Spire, UA Silver, Dennis The Menace Fan Club
Posts: 1,457
You do get points and elite night credit on LNF stays but sometimes cheaper rates elsewhere don’t qualify for LNF, such as Priceline “name your price” or “secret” hotel deals (which frequently with a little delving can identify the property secretly offered). Then you have to consider whether the cheaper rate is worth taking against the points and benefits you’ll forego...
Nov 11, 2018, 1:40 am
#203
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: YVR
Posts: 1,082
Update: I called them and the lady had to speak to her supervisor but this hasn’t happened before to her. Her supervisor then escalated it to her manager and another department are trying to find out why the non -refundable rate plan was loaded for LNF instead of the flexible one.
She offered to put a note on my reservation that it’s flexible and my card shouldn’t be charged in 24 hours. I said this may not be enough so she offered to call the hotel and check with them. Seems the hotel had the LNF rate in the system and 48 hrs prior to arrival cancellation (flexible). The hotel even sent me an email with the new LNF rate and flexible cancellation terms.
So the whole thing seems to be an issue with the LNF system. They are still trying to sort it out and update the booking in my profile. It was superb customer service from the LNF team.
It was for Singapore Marriott South Beach and I got it down to 208SGD + taxes and service for a deluxe room over Chinese New Year.
She offered to put a note on my reservation that it’s flexible and my card shouldn’t be charged in 24 hours. I said this may not be enough so she offered to call the hotel and check with them. Seems the hotel had the LNF rate in the system and 48 hrs prior to arrival cancellation (flexible). The hotel even sent me an email with the new LNF rate and flexible cancellation terms.
So the whole thing seems to be an issue with the LNF system. They are still trying to sort it out and update the booking in my profile. It was superb customer service from the LNF team.
It was for Singapore Marriott South Beach and I got it down to 208SGD + taxes and service for a deluxe room over Chinese New Year.
Guess it's time to pick up the phone...
Nov 12, 2018, 6:26 am
#204
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: JFK, DCA, BUR, YVR
Programs: AC, AS, BA, DL, HH (D), MR (T/LTP), UA (*S), UScAAre (PLT/1,87MM), WN
Posts: 5,207
Hotel Name: Renaissance London Heathrow
Arrival Date: 24 October 2018
Departure Date: 25 October 2018
Number of Rooms: 1
Number of Guests: 1
Room Type: King Guestroom w/ Breakfast
Marriott Brand Website Rate: 94 GBP (a/i)
Competing Rate: 77.01 EUR (a/i)
Actual Approved Rate: 50.88 GBP w/ Breakfast
Comments: Took the discount. I was originally given the rate of 50 GBP without breakfast because I didn't book the breakfast rate. No such rate existed, so I escalated the matter, and they tacked on 88p, which was fine by me.
Arrival Date: 24 October 2018
Departure Date: 25 October 2018
Number of Rooms: 1
Number of Guests: 1
Room Type: King Guestroom w/ Breakfast
Marriott Brand Website Rate: 94 GBP (a/i)
Competing Rate: 77.01 EUR (a/i)
Actual Approved Rate: 50.88 GBP w/ Breakfast
Comments: Took the discount. I was originally given the rate of 50 GBP without breakfast because I didn't book the breakfast rate. No such rate existed, so I escalated the matter, and they tacked on 88p, which was fine by me.
Nov 12, 2018, 7:41 am
#205
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,511
Wow..........I used to do BRG's in Vegas 3-4 times / year at the Westin. Since the merger it doesn't seem like a chance.
The rates have seemed to be pumped up drastically in comparison to the last like 8 years...The Westin seems to be running at $250.00 / night etc. After the amenity fees etc., this is a ridiculous price for this hotel in Vegas? The cheapest SPG/MAR property now seems to be the courtyard but even with that you can get a much more better place for less.
Any other recommended sites for using the LNF/BRG. I have used Trivago for the longest time.
The rates have seemed to be pumped up drastically in comparison to the last like 8 years...The Westin seems to be running at $250.00 / night etc. After the amenity fees etc., this is a ridiculous price for this hotel in Vegas? The cheapest SPG/MAR property now seems to be the courtyard but even with that you can get a much more better place for less.
Any other recommended sites for using the LNF/BRG. I have used Trivago for the longest time.
Nov 12, 2018, 10:05 am
#206
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: JFK, DCA, BUR, YVR
Programs: AC, AS, BA, DL, HH (D), MR (T/LTP), UA (*S), UScAAre (PLT/1,87MM), WN
Posts: 5,207
Hotel Name: Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
Arrival Date: 19 November 2018
Departure Date: 20 November 2018
Number of Rooms: 1
Number of Guests: 1
Room Type: Guestroom with two Queen beds
Marriott Brand Website Rate: $170.00 (+ tax)
Competing Rate: $130.30 (+ tax)
Actual Approved Rate: $90.49 (+ tax)
Comments: Took the discount, which was a no brainier. I hate the fact that the SLS no longer exists, so I hope this is a decent stay.
Arrival Date: 19 November 2018
Departure Date: 20 November 2018
Number of Rooms: 1
Number of Guests: 1
Room Type: Guestroom with two Queen beds
Marriott Brand Website Rate: $170.00 (+ tax)
Competing Rate: $130.30 (+ tax)
Actual Approved Rate: $90.49 (+ tax)
Comments: Took the discount, which was a no brainier. I hate the fact that the SLS no longer exists, so I hope this is a decent stay.
Nov 13, 2018, 12:50 am
#207
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 26
Hotel Name: W Los Angeles – West Beverly Hills
Arrival Date: end of Oct 2018
Departure Date: end of Oct 2018
Number of Rooms: 1
Room Type: Wonderful room
Marriott Brand Website Rate: 313.03 USD
Competing Rate: 259.20 USD
Actual Approved Rate: 194.40 USD plus tax
Comments: Chose 25% off discount of competing rate. This the second claim - the first one was approved based on the same cancellation policy (refundable rate) which was more expensive. Make sure the competing rate and Marriott brand rate have the same cancellation policy.
Arrival Date: end of Oct 2018
Departure Date: end of Oct 2018
Number of Rooms: 1
Room Type: Wonderful room
Marriott Brand Website Rate: 313.03 USD
Competing Rate: 259.20 USD
Actual Approved Rate: 194.40 USD plus tax
Comments: Chose 25% off discount of competing rate. This the second claim - the first one was approved based on the same cancellation policy (refundable rate) which was more expensive. Make sure the competing rate and Marriott brand rate have the same cancellation policy.
Nov 13, 2018, 4:59 am
#208
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 902
It’s amazing how claims processing has improved dramatically since the merger. BRG with SPG was desperately becoming a dead-end. I now get replies within a few hours (not a few days or weeks...) and approval criteria are definitely more reasonable and honest (not obnoxiously inflexible as it had become before the merger).
Not all my claims are successful, but when they aren’t I understand and accept the reasons for the denials, unlike what went on at SPG’s BRG Dept before the merger where almost all claims were just denied outright on petty and unreasonable grounds.
Nov 13, 2018, 12:56 pm
#209
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,521
Moving forward, please limit yourself to one claim form submission per reservation. If you have a new comparison source or any new information regarding that specific claim, you may reply to our response to your initial claim.
Nov 13, 2018, 1:02 pm
#210
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,815
If I’m denied I just respond back to please check “this other” site as I found a lower rate there.
I always try try to have a back up site if possible for this reason.
I always try try to have a back up site if possible for this reason.