RichMSN

You know, people can argue T&C till they're blue in the face, but I wouldn't stay at a place where they treated Reward stays differently than their revenue stays.

You can be right and still be wrong.

Horace

There are many cases when Bonvoy Points don't provide the same options as cash. For example, Bonvoy Points usually only provide the cheapest room category, while there are often cash rates for higher categories with just a small price difference. At higher-end properties, there are sometimes upgraded options with additional Bonvoy Points or cash on top of Points, but these are usually quite pricey, if they're available at all.

This is an interesting thread. Technically, the hotel is doing nothing wrong. This is not a case of cheating on Elite benefits. This is not a failure to adhere to Aloft brand standards. And it's not a case of promising something and then not delivering. Yet it rubs people the wrong way.

If this Aloft hotel also offered room-only rates at Marriott.com, in addition to breakfast-inclusive rates, we wouldn't have this thread.

Enigma368

Yes, because the cost of the breakfast is the issue, not the general point that treating award stays separate to the cheapest cash stays is, in some peoples view, petty. Of course you know this..

MePlatPremier

myperks

dayone

Every reply should begin with this fact.

Enigma368

The point the OP is making is not that he should be entitled to a breakfast because of his status, it is that is unusual and petty for a hotel to offer one thing as standard on the cheapest paid rates and not offer it on award stays. I don't know of any hotel I have stayed at where award stays were treated less favorably than the cheapest, most basic paid rates that the hotel offers. We can certainly agree to disagree on whether this is petty but at least acknowledge the point the OP is actually making - the cost of the breakfast or whether he can afford it is irrelevant to his point and this thread.

MePlatPremier

myperks

ftrichard

All right. I'll change my position.

It *is* exactly the same and Marriott corporate should come down like a ton of bricks on this Aloft for its discriminatory practices that humiliatingly treat award stays like second class citizens.

storewanderer

How about Priceline or Hotwire guests? Do they get free breakfast? I bet they don't...

Your complaining about this is why hotels can't easily exceed brand standards. This hotel opts to comp breakfast for all who pay rack rate. They do not advertise breakfast as a benefit as a standard amenity nor is it a brand specific/required benefit. For whatever reason this hotel has decided to go "above and beyond" for its rack rate paying guests, regardless of status. Leave it alone. Did your rate confirmation say breakfast included? Nope, so that means it wasn't included with your rate type. Is it lousy? Yes. Does it feel like they do not value your loyalty as a no status customer? Yes. They get paid less for your points redemption and they are giving you less in return, than a rack rate paying customer. Next time, I suggest redeeming your points at a hotel that does not engage in this sort of practice.

There are times properties go above and beyond for loyalty customers (particularly those with status) too... of course then people complain that the hotels that follow minimum standards don't go "above and beyond" like that other hotel. So then the hotels that exceed standards get slapped by corporate into only following minimum standards.

If you don't get what you are entitled to, by all means, complain. However you booked a brand that does not include breakfast. You booked a rate type that does not include breakfast. Leave it alone. Move on.

gbdbld

I just checked priceline express deals for this hotel, it does indeed shows "free breakfast" for one of the amenities. So it looks like reward night is the ONLY type of booking that does not get free breakfast. For the same night, it's $71 for priceline express deals vs. $108 on marriott.com. It just seems strange that they would go above and beyond for even opaque bookings.

EuropeanPete

myperks

Enigma368

Just curious; if this or another hotel was offering free parking for all guests except for those on award stays or corporate rates, would the people who are siding with the hotel here still side with the hotel? If so, fair enough, at least you are being consistent in your view on this.

I personally would see that as a bit weird but as with the breakfast, perfectly legal for the hotel to do.