KRSW

Since when did the cancellation window go from 48 hrs to 72 hrs?

It's amazing how quickly the cancellation policy has become very consumer un-friendly:
2015 - changed from day-of to 24 hrs
2017 - changed from 24 hrs to 48 hrs
2019(?) -- 72 hrs cancellations.

At this rate they might as well just flag all of the rates as pre-paid, non-refundable and call it done.

Perhaps your leisure travelers won't have a problem with this, but when traveling for business, a lot can happen in 3 days.

margarita girl

It would help if you identified the location. For example, Hawaii has been 72 hrs for years.

Happy

It is not a uniform number. It depends on the locations and individual hotels, during specific periods the hotels choose to set cancellation deadline.

I saw a 7 days cancellation for Marriott SkyCity in Hong Kong for any day in October even in the 2nd half when the first week of National Holidays are long gone and there are No events or conferences can be found on the calendars for either the Asian Expo (across street) and the Convention and Exhibition Center (far out in Wan Chai i.e. in the City an hour MTR ride away). Yet everyday in Sept the cancellation is 1 day before arrival.

EuropeanPete

Unfortunately you do need to really read the small print on "flexible" bookings nowadays. It's extremely un-customer friendly. I've been lucky so far, but have had a few lucky near misses.

neo_781

While its true some properties have had lengthy cancellation policies, I think the OP's point that the general trend is for the timeline to creep up for leisure travel is equally true.

My thoughts to the OP the hotels (and possibly corporate wide) will continue to expand as long as the economy is doing well and they are seeing no ill effects from this policy change. As soon as occupancy rates dip you will probably also see the cancellation policy ease a bit but I don't think we'll ever see a wholesale change to 6pm day of arrival again (or something equally as generous).

Maybe they'll add an elite benefit like Hyatt that if the hotel policy is 48 hours, Titanium's get 24 hour cancellation (or something like that).

aaupgrade

Since June 15, 2017. New Cancellation Policy Welcome to the party.

FWIW, I find most properties do not follow this 19 month old policy but instead a number of properties have a cancellation policy of 1 or 2 days before arrival.​​ In the case of my existing reservations, none have a 3 day before arrival cancellation policy.​​​​​ Of my upcoming reservations, 5 in Europe, 1 in the ME, 7 in Asia, and 3 in Australia all have cancellation policies of 1 day before arrival. Even 1 of my US reservations has 1 day before arrival cancellation policy and 3 others have 2 days before arrival. I'm sure there are properties following these 19 month old 3-day cancellation policy guidelines, but I guess I've just been very lucky in that the properties I frequent don't.

KRSW

I've spent a decent portion of the day researching rooms in multiple US cities and every property so far today is showing 3 days' notice. From Florida to NYC to Bumble-somewhere Pennsylvania, all of them are showing 3 days.
@neo_781's captured what I'm seeing -- Perhaps the policy has been in place for some time, BUT I've never encountered it before and certainly not every single property I search having it.

skunker

Check resorts and most are 7 days now.

aaupgrade

I must admit my Domestic US sampling is limited to FFI and CY during my 2 cross country trips between DC and Vail, so no major US city hotels this year. International props include MR, Ren, JW, Autograph Coll, and LC. I do plan on hitting San Francisco next year for a few day and when I was doing research I notice properties with 3 day cancellation policies, but those aren't booked yet so didn't include them in my previous post. It is what it is, and I'll just plan accordingly.

As far as your comment about making all rates advanced purchase, non-refundable rates, I don't think that is a good idea and I realize your were probably just venting. For 1, 2, or 3 day Cancellation policies generally one is only charged 1 night penalty, so that isn't quite as bad as booking a 4-night advanced purchase stay that is non-refundable in the unlikely event one does need to cancel.

Often1

As others note:
1. Economy on screech.
2. The policy is apparently not hurting business.

In addition, many large corporate contracts waive the policy and substitute either 24 hours or sometimes 4 or 6 PM local day of arrival. It's the one-off customer or smaller business which is paying this.

To be fair, if you are looking for a room and see a property as sold out, you move on. This policy will cause people to book once they know what they need and will leave last minute high-rate rooms available for people who want to book and use them. Not really different than most typical US domestic penalty air fares.

Mr. Vker

YES! The other day-looking at StR Maldives--non refundable allowed changes and cancelations in 24 hours-that's normal. Then click "standard rate" tab. Costs higher of course. They allowed cancelation until February 4th. I was looking on Feb 3rd. (For a stay in August.) Not exactly what you are saying, but these were no different than nonrefundable.

KRSW

I'm certainly not advocating for it, but I do wonder if the hotels will go to something like this in the future. When pricing out hotels today, I found a non-Marriott one which had a $400 Early Departure Fee, which I think is entirely counter-productive. At that point, I'll just keep my reservation and let the room sit empty, preventing the hotel from re-selling it at a higher last-minute rate.

CPRich

All I can find in that thread is a link to an August 2018 article that says:
How does that make it 72 hours since June 2017?

EDIT: I found the Marriott announcement that says
Still the 48 hours we're all familiar with, not the 72 OP is asking about. Maybe that's why "none have a 3 day before arrival cancellation policy"

CPRich

Interesting. I have 4 reservations I made last night that are 2 day cancellation

I just went back and picked 5 random dates over the next 6 months - all 2 days.

Kacee

I am seeing a 3 day policy for bookings in Los Angeles end of the month.

This is new. And obviously extremely customer unfriendly.