Al Maha claims they're overbooked and want to cancel my reservation
Mar 27, 2019, 7:03 am
#61
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
They said if you don't contact them or don't object they will cancel your reservation. There's not much they can do -- except walk you in accordance with the terms and conditions -- if you have a confirmed reservation and don't agree to be moved.
In your case with 3 separate, 1-night reservations, they would have to give you at least 270,000 points and US$600.
Mar 27, 2019, 7:34 am
#62
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,757
Pretty sure that it is the OP, not the hotel, that runs the risk of showing up out of his jurisdiction, in the middle of the desert, with a locked gate in his face and no immediate recourse. While I admire your sentiment, I am not sure I would call that “the upper hand”.
Mar 27, 2019, 9:01 am
#63
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Pretty sure that it is the OP, not the hotel, that runs the risk of showing up out of his jurisdiction, in the middle of the desert, with a locked gate in his face and no immediate recourse. While I admire your sentiment, I am not sure I would call that “the upper hand”.
Marriott itself has little sway in the UAE. Not as though it has much control over local investors,.
OP either gets this fixed before stepping on a plane or runs a serious risk.
Mar 27, 2019, 9:13 am
#64
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
Yeah, it's important to keep this in mind. I don't know how many people here have been to Al Maha, but it's literally in the middle of nowhere in the desert, at least an hour away from everywhere. There's nothing around it, or anywhere near. IIRC you can't even see civilization from the gate. It's not like playing this type of gamesmanship at a Marriott property in Bangkok where there are a dozen others, some within walking distance. If this is your plan, suggest that you bring a tent and sleeping bag.
Not only doesn't OP have the upper hand here, this is a classic case of not understanding the immediate consequences. E.g. being walked into the desert at some ridiculous time of day with no alternative in place and nobody helping out. Whether one has some cash and points tossed one's way at some future point has little to do with the unpleasant situation of having to hopefully find alternatives, shell out cash, and then spend a vacation fretting.
Marriott itself has little sway in the UAE. Not as though it has much control over local investors,.
OP either gets this fixed before stepping on a plane or runs a serious risk.
Marriott itself has little sway in the UAE. Not as though it has much control over local investors,.
OP either gets this fixed before stepping on a plane or runs a serious risk.
The reservation is for the end of December. Today is March 27. There is plenty of time to play hardball.
At the very minimum, if the original poster isn't a scammer, he is entitled to 270,000 points, $600 cash and "comparable" accommodation.
Mar 27, 2019, 9:38 am
#65
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
The idea that they would throw you out to the curb or not allow you onto the property if you had a confirmed reservation that was being walked to another property is laughable and really just fear-mongering.
The reservation is for the end of December. Today is March 27. There is plenty of time to play hardball.
At the very minimum, if the original poster isn't a scammer, he is entitled to 270,000 points, $600 cash and "comparable" accommodation.
The reservation is for the end of December. Today is March 27. There is plenty of time to play hardball.
At the very minimum, if the original poster isn't a scammer, he is entitled to 270,000 points, $600 cash and "comparable" accommodation.
If he plays hardball, whatever that is, the property may simply cancel the reservation and leave OP to deal with the issue himself.
This is where telephones and social skills will yield a better result.
Mar 27, 2019, 9:41 am
#66
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
Mar 27, 2019, 9:46 am
#67
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
Mar 27, 2019, 9:51 am
#68
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
As I've repeatedly said in this thread, I don't believe the property because of their prior bad acts.
I'm also encouraged that Marriott has previously cracked down on this property. If anything, this would be a more egregious violation. Properties can't just cancel award-redemption reservations because they want to take a cash booking. If they could then every property would do it and redeeming points would be worthless because there would be no consumer confidence.
Mar 27, 2019, 9:54 am
#69
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
Mar 27, 2019, 10:30 am
#70
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: 100,417
Under Marriott Bonvoy's terms and conditions you are entitled to 90,000 points and $200 in compensation per reservation as well as "comparable" accommodation if the hotel decides not to honor the reservation.
I would not voluntarily cancel the reservation. I also wouldn't appear too eager to settle and negotiate. You have the upper hand here, not the hotel.
I would not voluntarily cancel the reservation. I also wouldn't appear too eager to settle and negotiate. You have the upper hand here, not the hotel.
This applies only if you're actually walked, on the day of arrival.
Mar 27, 2019, 10:57 am
#71
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
Mar 27, 2019, 11:08 am
#72
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 902
It stops being a confirmed reservation once the hotel cancels it on their end. Whether OP is entitled to some compensation arising from that cancellation, and what form should that compensation take, is something for OP to agree with the property or, as a last resort, to be decided by an Emirati court of law.
Mar 27, 2019, 11:46 am
#73
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
I'm also encouraged that Marriott has previously cracked down on this property. If anything, this would be a more egregious violation. Properties can't just cancel award-redemption reservations because they want to take a cash booking. If they could then every property would do it and redeeming points would be worthless because there would be no consumer confidence.
Mar 27, 2019, 11:55 am
#74
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
Which goes back to the property is likely willing to make a customer service gesture as they care more about long term than our blockchain friends at the St. Regis but they are unlikely to write a check. So if OP can find alternative dates, they might be willing to give a credit, or if the owners/managers have another property in Dubai they own, they might be willing to do something there. My googling suggests the Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites is also owned by Emirates.
Asking for full board at the R-C seems very unlikely -- unless they own it.
Mar 27, 2019, 1:43 pm
#75
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
I feel like things have changed for the worse with MR even in the past few months since the episode to which you refer. I also feel like you have the luxury of perhaps a more privileged perspective - from your many posts it seems like you are in a position to write a lot of one-off demands and unique requests into your bookings (suite upgrade requirements, etc.) which normal travelers, needless to say, don't do. So maybe you have a connection which gives you more faith or something. But from down here on the ground I'd just not be very optimistic about MR's customer relations these days.