Rate error - seeking advice
#1
Original Poster


Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 390
Rate error - seeking advice
Seeing advice on a $0.01 per night booking:
As much as I want to get that good rate, I want to be realistic and avoid any potential headaches during check-in.
Will this rate be honored? Any advice?
- I booked a marriott property (Autograph collection) online with my corporate rate. Total was $150 per room per night.
- I had to change length of stay from 3 nights to 2 nights for both rooms, so I called and had the property make the change.
- Now, when I look at the confirmation online (clicking "View/Modify" under "Trips"), the rate for each night is 0.01 (taxes included) for a total stay of 0.02 for each room (local currency, USD).
- I subsequently called Marriott reservations to inquire about the rate to confirm my reservation and ask if that rate is valid and they confirmed the reservation at that rate.
As much as I want to get that good rate, I want to be realistic and avoid any potential headaches during check-in.
Will this rate be honored? Any advice?
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
Seeing advice on a $0.01 per night booking:
As much as I want to get that good rate, I want to be realistic and avoid any potential headaches during check-in.
Will this rate be honored? Any advice?
- I booked a marriott property (Autograph collection) online with my corporate rate. Total was $150 per room per night.
- I had to change length of stay from 3 nights to 2 nights for both rooms, so I called and had the property make the change.
- Now, when I look at the confirmation online (clicking "View/Modify" under "Trips"), the rate for each night is 0.01 (taxes included) for a total stay of 0.02 for each room (local currency, USD).
- I subsequently called Marriott reservations to inquire about the rate to confirm my reservation and ask if that rate is valid and they confirmed the reservation at that rate.
As much as I want to get that good rate, I want to be realistic and avoid any potential headaches during check-in.
Will this rate be honored? Any advice?
#3




Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 1,118
The general rule is if the rate is something a reasonable person would expect then the merchant is expected to honor it. If not, it should not be expected. Was there any verbiage announcing one cent sale or other notice about a special rate? $0.01/night rate is not reasonable and expect the property to reject it.
Why not do a new booking at the hotel for the same dates and then cancel your reservation for 0.01 per night?
#4




Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Programs: MR LT Titanium, IHG Plat.,UA Premier Silver, & PA/OH Turnpike Million Miler
Posts: 2,755
Call the property and ask them to correct the rate in their system. Also ask them to email you a confirmation directly and you should be all set. Otherwise, you risk showing up to either no rooms available or rack rate for the reservation. This needs to be a property specific correction not MR Reservations at this point. My two cents....
--Jon
--Jon
#5




Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Programs: MR LT Titanium, IHG Plat.,UA Premier Silver, & PA/OH Turnpike Million Miler
Posts: 2,755
--Jon
#6



Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Posts: 5,212
IME, the rate is probably still what the OP reserved. Ive had best rate guarantees that once adjusted, shows up as $0.01 per night online. However, the internal system will have the correct rate. Just confirm with the hotel.
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist



Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,814
Better get the rate adjusted or else you may have trouble meeting $20K spending.
Yeah, my guess is $0,01 is just a placeholder due to change made by property. Your reservation is still at correct rate.

Yeah, my guess is $0,01 is just a placeholder due to change made by property. Your reservation is still at correct rate.
#9
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
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All depends upon your risk tolerance level... They don't have to honor it and may either have no room available (remember, many properties load more rooms than they have) or they may insist upon rack rate which is much higher. I doubt any court will hold them liable when the rate is obviously a mistake rate. Now if they were promoting a One Cent sale, that would be different.
#10


Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 5,395
Ive had this as well when making changes through the property and for BRGs before. The rate isnt actually that low, its what it originally was or approved in the LNF claim. As long as you are OK with that you should be fine.
#11
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Since then, whenever they tell me my card has already been charged and there is nothing due, I always ask for details. I usually have to convince them that I still owe them money.
#12
Original Poster


Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 390
The general rule is if the rate is something a reasonable person would expect then the merchant is expected to honor it. If not, it should not be expected. Was there any verbiage announcing one cent sale or other notice about a special rate? $0.01/night rate is not reasonable and expect the property to reject it.
#13
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All depends upon your risk tolerance level... They don't have to honor it and may either have no room available (remember, many properties load more rooms than they have) or they may insist upon rack rate which is much higher. I doubt any court will hold them liable when the rate is obviously a mistake rate. Now if they were promoting a One Cent sale, that would be different.
YMMV. I've had some issues with $0.01 rates. At check-out, property told me my credit card had already been charged and they would email me the folio. I didn't question this and went on my merry way. A couple of days later, the hotel charged rack rate to my credit card with no notification, and they didn't even use the no forex fee card I had used to make the reservation. They charged a different credit card (with forex fees). It was a mess to sort out.
Since then, whenever they tell me my card has already been charged and there is nothing due, I always ask for details. I usually have to convince them that I still owe them money.
Since then, whenever they tell me my card has already been charged and there is nothing due, I always ask for details. I usually have to convince them that I still owe them money.
#15
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