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
Feb 20, 2019, 11:29 pm
#511
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Seoul, KR
Programs: MAR Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 572
Actually as a long-term BRGer (I really miss BRG... not LNF) I usually just file a new claim
But it is good to learn at least LNF is not irrational like Hyatt's scam! Will try to do some ping pong if they reject based on the same reason.
Feb 20, 2019, 11:54 pm
#512
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: SPG Platinum, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 236
Feb 21, 2019, 1:31 am
#513
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 298
I have also had success with name similarities like "Harbour view" and "Sea view" when the property didn't distinguish on its MR site. Or "Park view" and "Garden view". Those went through alright.
You are right when you say that "standard" won't LNF/BRG against "standard with a view" since these two names are fairly dissimilar (and clearly state a difference).
Last edited by funkbandit; Feb 21, 2019 at 3:04 am Reason: typo
Feb 21, 2019, 2:05 am
#514
Join Date: May 2003
Location: LCY
Programs: SQ Krisflyer, QR Privilege Club, MB LT Plt (1K+ nights thx MB)
Posts: 1,038
I have had droves of successful BRG/LNF claims against OTA using standard room as naming convention.
What I have done in such cases to is to claim against the lowest category room making the argument that a standard room is equivalent with the lowest category room type.
Remember at the end of the day its a all about establishing a mapping between OTA room names and marriott.com room names.
That is when you book a room via an OTA you will be designated a room category in terms of marriott.com, hence by assigning a "standard room" to the lowest category available on marriott.com is actually the same as assigning the most unfavorable mapping between OTA room names to marriott.com room names with respect to you as a submitter of a BRG.
What I have done in such cases to is to claim against the lowest category room making the argument that a standard room is equivalent with the lowest category room type.
Remember at the end of the day its a all about establishing a mapping between OTA room names and marriott.com room names.
That is when you book a room via an OTA you will be designated a room category in terms of marriott.com, hence by assigning a "standard room" to the lowest category available on marriott.com is actually the same as assigning the most unfavorable mapping between OTA room names to marriott.com room names with respect to you as a submitter of a BRG.
Feb 21, 2019, 3:17 am
#515
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: MR Platinum, QRPC Platinum
Posts: 97
I think what I hate the most about Marriott's LNF is the lack of consistency. Here are two recent examples:
1) Submitted a LNF for myself and one for my friend (using his account). Both approved, one at $99, the other at $90. Exact same BRG, nothing has changed at the OTA.
2) Submitted a LNF for myself which was approved and then another for my friend 24 hrs later (using his account). His was denied even though absolutely nothing has changed in the OTA rate. Reason given: "The rate available on the comparison site did not have the same booking requirements as what you have booked with Marriott".
...
1) Submitted a LNF for myself and one for my friend (using his account). Both approved, one at $99, the other at $90. Exact same BRG, nothing has changed at the OTA.
2) Submitted a LNF for myself which was approved and then another for my friend 24 hrs later (using his account). His was denied even though absolutely nothing has changed in the OTA rate. Reason given: "The rate available on the comparison site did not have the same booking requirements as what you have booked with Marriott".
...
Last week I submit two claims within 5 minutes (same OTA, same property, between the two stays was only 1 week)
The first one get denyed the second one get approved (so it is clear the rate had be available for the first too)
Feb 21, 2019, 5:11 am
#516
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,055
I beg to differ. For example, if the superior room is the "standard room" you can LNF/BRG this room type against an OTA calling it "standard room".
I have also had success with name similarities like "Harbour view" and "Sea view" when the property didn't distinguish on its MR site. Or "Park view" and "Garden view". Those went through alright.
You are right when you say that "standard" won't LNF/BRG against "standard with a view" since these two names are fairly dissimilar (and clearly state a difference).
I have also had success with name similarities like "Harbour view" and "Sea view" when the property didn't distinguish on its MR site. Or "Park view" and "Garden view". Those went through alright.
You are right when you say that "standard" won't LNF/BRG against "standard with a view" since these two names are fairly dissimilar (and clearly state a difference).
Feb 21, 2019, 5:24 am
#517
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 298
please read my original post. It does not matter what the name is. What matters is whether the room offered on Marriott is the lowest room category the hotel offers ... then you can claim against a 'standard' room with a 3rd part even if the name does not sound similar at all. There are plenty of cases where the lowest room sold on Marriott.com is NOT the lowest room category in which case you are out of luck with LNF/BRG (I realize this was different w/ SPG).
No need to focus on "lowest category". Safe travels!
Feb 21, 2019, 6:48 am
#518
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 298
In an argument with the LNF/BRG team again:
I have booked a rate incl. breakfast and compared this to a lower rate incl. breakfast. Now the claim was approved but the breakfast benefit was removed. Is this correct?
Thanks.
I have booked a rate incl. breakfast and compared this to a lower rate incl. breakfast. Now the claim was approved but the breakfast benefit was removed. Is this correct?
Thanks.
Feb 21, 2019, 6:52 am
#519
Join Date: May 2003
Location: LCY
Programs: SQ Krisflyer, QR Privilege Club, MB LT Plt (1K+ nights thx MB)
Posts: 1,038
That is incorrect, the breakfast should be there.
Feb 22, 2019, 10:07 am
#521
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: KSA
Programs: Marriott AMB, Skywards Gold
Posts: 3,737
So I just had a claim got semi-approved. Yes, Semi-Approved.
What the BRG team did is that they checked day by day for the claim submitted (the claim was 13 nights), and approved the nights that were less on the competing website. However, the nights that were less on Marriott.com were not approved. This doesn't make any sense as the daily rate as a 13 night package would be different than on a nightly basis.
Has anyone experienced such a process?
What the BRG team did is that they checked day by day for the claim submitted (the claim was 13 nights), and approved the nights that were less on the competing website. However, the nights that were less on Marriott.com were not approved. This doesn't make any sense as the daily rate as a 13 night package would be different than on a nightly basis.
Has anyone experienced such a process?
Feb 22, 2019, 12:33 pm
#522
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: ZRH
Programs: QR Gold / M&M FTL / Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 655
yes... its ridiculous but Marriott...
I am wondering if the time lost by the lnf operator to calculate that is even worth it...
I am wondering if the time lost by the lnf operator to calculate that is even worth it...
Feb 22, 2019, 12:40 pm
#523
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Homeless
Programs: Hyatt Glob; Hilton Dia; Marriott AMB; Accor Dia; IHG Dia Amb; GHA Tit
Posts: 4,838
I think the only thing that should matter is the total rate for the entire stay, regardless how they decided to break it down by night.
Feb 22, 2019, 2:11 pm
#524
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,482
Feb 22, 2019, 2:42 pm
#525
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: KSA
Programs: Marriott AMB, Skywards Gold
Posts: 3,737
Here's the reply I recieved.
In cases of multi-night stays, we first review if the comparison rate total is less expensive than the Marriott reservation total (excluding taxes and fees unless they are included in the room rate). Should we find a comparison total is less expensive on a multi-night stay and the comparison source lists specific nightly rates, we then compare those specific nightly rates to the actual nightly rates offered by Marriott, adjusting the rates only for those nights in which the specific nightly comparison rate is less expensive than the Marriott rate. If a comparison source does not offer specific nightly rates but rather only a room total (for example, Booking.com), we calculate the average nightly comparison rate and again proceed to compare this rate to the actual nightly rates of the Marriott reservation.