Mattress run - 1 night without staying?
Dec 18, 2019, 5:59 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 187
Mattress run - 1 night without staying?
I'm one night off hitting Gold this year but won't be able to squeeze in a hotel visit before the end of the month. I know it's just Gold but I've only ever been able to hit Silver in the past.
I was wondering about the prospect of booking an inexpensive Cat 1 hotel for one night and using mobile check-in/check-out without actually staying? Unfortunately the hotels near me are way too expensive to justify it, so it would have to be somewhere cheap and not nearby.
Has anyone ever done this? What is the chance of this actually working if I don't physically show up at the hotel, but do a mobile check in?
I was wondering about the prospect of booking an inexpensive Cat 1 hotel for one night and using mobile check-in/check-out without actually staying? Unfortunately the hotels near me are way too expensive to justify it, so it would have to be somewhere cheap and not nearby.
Has anyone ever done this? What is the chance of this actually working if I don't physically show up at the hotel, but do a mobile check in?
Dec 18, 2019, 7:15 pm
#4
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: 100,404
Dec 18, 2019, 7:33 pm
#5
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Programs: MR LT Titanium, IHG Plat.,UA Premier Silver, & PA/OH Turnpike Million Miler
Posts: 2,317
Remember award nights also count. Is there a nearby hotel that is a low category (e.g. small amount of points)? If there is you can just go check in and leave. You don't actually have to spend the night. That said Gold doesn't really get you much. Of course it is your personal decision on if it is worth it to you.
--Jon
--Jon
Dec 19, 2019, 4:15 am
#7
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador, Melia Platinum, SIXT Platinum, Accor Silver, Lufthansa FTL
Posts: 381
Dec 19, 2019, 4:27 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Dayton, OH/CVG
Programs: DA Diamond(1 MM), Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador/Charter Ambassador, Hyatt Glob, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 882
Remember award nights also count. Is there a nearby hotel that is a low category (e.g. small amount of points)? If there is you can just go check in and leave. You don't actually have to spend the night. That said Gold doesn't really get you much. Of course it is your personal decision on if it is worth it to you.
--Jon
--Jon
Dec 19, 2019, 4:40 am
#10
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Marriott Bonvoy
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Englandshire
Programs: SPG LT Plat, BA G, BD*LG, MG Blue+ ...
Posts: 16,032
A mobile check in when you're required to stop by at the front desk to collect a keycard and/or present your ID is not likely to credit if you don't show in person. I don't think we've had a definitive answer yet about what happens if you do mobile check in and load the digital key to your app but then don't use it to activate the doorlock.
Last edited by Oxon Flyer; Dec 19, 2019 at 4:50 am
Dec 19, 2019, 7:38 am
#12
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: TVC
Programs: AA EXP/LT PLT., Marriott LT GLD
Posts: 504
I have called the front desk directly and explained the circumstances. They were happy to check me in and out over the phone and then essentially double sell the same room. YMMV, and it was a 4 Points by ORD where the front desk clerk was already familiar with the mattress run concept.
Dec 19, 2019, 7:48 am
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Nobody here can tell you that at any given property, what you want to do will ultimately work. If it does not, it will be too late to fix.
Your profile does not show your location, but presuming that there is a property nearby, simply drive over, check into your room and then leave. No need to mess up the sheets or anything like that (unless you want to). There is no requirement that you sleep on the bed, run the hot water or whatever.
Your profile does not show your location, but presuming that there is a property nearby, simply drive over, check into your room and then leave. No need to mess up the sheets or anything like that (unless you want to). There is no requirement that you sleep on the bed, run the hot water or whatever.
Dec 19, 2019, 9:22 am
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 187
Ah ok. Not sure it's worth if it it's not likely to work. I was thinking of something like SpringHill Suites by Marriott Deadwood SD, where rooms can be had just before Christmas for ~$40. I'm nowhere near South Dakota though.
It would be nice to make gold for the extra points but there is only so much I'm willing to pay in an unused hotel night for that perk. The hotels where I'll be travelling are more like $150-$200 on the low end.
It would be nice to make gold for the extra points but there is only so much I'm willing to pay in an unused hotel night for that perk. The hotels where I'll be travelling are more like $150-$200 on the low end.
Dec 19, 2019, 9:28 am
#15
Join Date: May 2012
Location: DCA, lived MCI, SEA/PDX,BUF (born/raised)
Programs: Marriott (Silver/Gold), IHG, Carlson, Best Western, Choice( Gold), AS (MVP), WN, UA
Posts: 8,730
Remember award nights also count. Is there a nearby hotel that is a low category (e.g. small amount of points)? If there is you can just go check in and leave. You don't actually have to spend the night. That said Gold doesn't really get you much. Of course it is your personal decision on if it is worth it to you.
--Jon
--Jon
ahotel a few blocks away.....I walked there check in got key
left hotel
went back next am to check out