Al Maha claims they're overbooked and want to cancel my reservation
Mar 25, 2019, 8:49 am
#16
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
If there isn't a comparable property in Dubai or the United Arab Emirates and the original poster was open to staying elsewhere I would offer Luxury Collection properties elsewhere and require daily breakfast and dinner as part of any negotiated compromise.
Regardless, I still believe the original poster should hold her or his ground.
Mar 25, 2019, 8:49 am
#17
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SLC/HEL/Anywhere with a Beach
Programs: Marriott Ambassador; AA EXP 3MM; AS MVP, Hilton Gold, CH-47/UH-60/C-23/C-130 VET
Posts: 5,234
Curious whether the other poster had reservation for the same dates...
Not surprising they would be sold out on these dates so explanation could be legit.
Not surprising they would be sold out on these dates so explanation could be legit.
Mar 25, 2019, 9:21 am
#18
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
Marriott's ultimate reservation guarantee doesn't limit rebooking to a Marriott property. So, I wouldn't settle for anything less than a comparable property.
If there isn't a comparable property in Dubai or the United Arab Emirates and the original poster was open to staying elsewhere I would offer Luxury Collection properties elsewhere and require daily breakfast and dinner as part of any negotiated compromise.
Regardless, I still believe the original poster should hold her or his ground.
If there isn't a comparable property in Dubai or the United Arab Emirates and the original poster was open to staying elsewhere I would offer Luxury Collection properties elsewhere and require daily breakfast and dinner as part of any negotiated compromise.
Regardless, I still believe the original poster should hold her or his ground.
Originally Posted by Marriott T&Cs
The Ultimate Reservation Guarantee is not offered at the following brands: Design Hotels, Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Grand Residence Club, and participating Vistana properties. Pursuant to section 4.1.c. if an Elite Member has a confirmed reservation, but is relocated from the property upon arrival, the Participating Property will pay the Ultimate Reservation Guarantee compensation in place on that date under the Program Rules. If an Elite Member receives Ultimate Reservation Guarantee compensation, then he/she is not eligible to receive additional Elite Benefits Guarantee compensation.
Mar 25, 2019, 9:38 am
#19
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
PS - perhaps we can tie this back to the St. Regis Aspen cancellation fee thread... perhaps OP should send an email to Al Maha saying OP's cancellation fee is $2000/night with 290 day advance notice and ask them to write a check... 
Mar 25, 2019, 9:49 am
#20
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
If this property hadn't previously played games and cheated then I'd agree with you, but as they say, fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
Mar 25, 2019, 9:51 am
#21
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
I believe it has been determined that the "Ultimate Reservation Guarantee" only applies to actual walking, not advanced cancellations. This was debated at length on another thread where someone's reservation was cancelled a day or two before arrival and not granted the ultimate reservation guarantee. Not sure how "rebooking at a comparable property" ties to this.
Mar 25, 2019, 10:04 am
#22
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
I am sure they are overbooked. That said, I am also highly confident that the overbooking was by choice - someone very rich decided to book a significant number of rooms at a very high rate.
Mar 25, 2019, 11:21 am
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,649
have you already bought your flight tickets????
if yes then you should tell them to put you up in another property in dubai & also refund you the points as no other property in the uae is comparable to the al maha....
if yes then you should tell them to put you up in another property in dubai & also refund you the points as no other property in the uae is comparable to the al maha....
Mar 25, 2019, 11:42 am
#25
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
A good negotiator might offer to stay at another Luxury Collection property, if the Al Maha paid the fees associated with changing the airline ticket and meals were included at the new hotel.
Mar 25, 2019, 12:42 pm
#26
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: Bonvoy :Ambassador , ALL :Diamond, Skywards :Silver, Krisflyer :Silver
Posts: 2,803
RC al Wadi is quite similar although there are no full board option.
And smaller area
I wonder if Al Maha plan to move OP there ... (obviously need to pay for lunch and dinner and activities to make it "comparable")
And smaller area
I wonder if Al Maha plan to move OP there ... (obviously need to pay for lunch and dinner and activities to make it "comparable")
Mar 25, 2019, 12:58 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,510
Exactly! I’d blame Marriott’s caca IT before I’d blame the property. Why should the properties be spared when members aren’t?
Mar 25, 2019, 12:59 pm
#28
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,369
If the RC has a lounge, access would make it more comparable to the all inclusive, although of course not totally solve the problem.
Mar 25, 2019, 1:28 pm
#29
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SLC/HEL/Anywhere with a Beach
Programs: Marriott Ambassador; AA EXP 3MM; AS MVP, Hilton Gold, CH-47/UH-60/C-23/C-130 VET
Posts: 5,234
I'd guess the property had a problem since we have two reports. Sales booked 10 rooms but forgot to block it in reservations or something similar.
Looks like this property used to be managed by Emirates. Is that still the case? Do they have any other properties in Dubai? Might be easier to sell them on moving you to another property managed by them.
Looks like this property used to be managed by Emirates. Is that still the case? Do they have any other properties in Dubai? Might be easier to sell them on moving you to another property managed by them.
Mar 25, 2019, 3:32 pm
#30
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA, AS
Posts: 2,393
If I wanted the stay I would pay for the points advance reservations now then contact the hotel letting them know that I wanted to keep my paid and confirmed reservations and they should look to cancel someone else.
It sounds to me like the hotel is playing games with you. They do not specifically say they will cancel your reservations, unless you by virtue of their trickery ask them to cancel. They say that they will be happy to help you book you somewhere else or cancel and if you do not reply they will cancel but the unspoken part seems to imply that you have another option -- telling them you want to keep your confirmed reservations. They do not specifically state that your reservation will be cancelled no matter what. It is clear they want you cancel by your choice, but they do not make clear what happens if you explicitly choose to confirm your reservation. I believe they are omitting the option to confirm your existing reservations for a reason. If they bully you into accepting a different hotel or cancelling by your choice that would be the best outcome for them, but what if your choice is the option they do not mention but do not explicitly deny - keeping the reservation?
It sounds to me like the hotel is playing games with you. They do not specifically say they will cancel your reservations, unless you by virtue of their trickery ask them to cancel. They say that they will be happy to help you book you somewhere else or cancel and if you do not reply they will cancel but the unspoken part seems to imply that you have another option -- telling them you want to keep your confirmed reservations. They do not specifically state that your reservation will be cancelled no matter what. It is clear they want you cancel by your choice, but they do not make clear what happens if you explicitly choose to confirm your reservation. I believe they are omitting the option to confirm your existing reservations for a reason. If they bully you into accepting a different hotel or cancelling by your choice that would be the best outcome for them, but what if your choice is the option they do not mention but do not explicitly deny - keeping the reservation?
