LAX2DCA

Hotel Name: AC Hotel New York Times Square
Date of stay: February 17-21, 2022
Number of Guests: 2
Room Type: 2 double, high floor
Marriott Brand Website Rate: $887.26 total
Competing Rate: $785.54 total on hotels.com
Actual Approved Rate: $604.06 total

Had an almost identical rate at the Cambria Chelsea for my upcoming trip, but the BRG rate with 25% off at the AC was hard to argue with (along with obtaining Marriott points). And the bathroom at the AC looks way better. Location is a toss up since I don't like Times Square, but it's central, and it seems like this hotel is on a quieter street.

FlyingFromNY

Is there a "dummy's guide" to BRG? I'm on the Marriott website and there are four different rates being offered "special rates" "standard rates" "prepay and save" "deals and packages". The lowest rate by far is under "deals and packages", is that the only rate I can compare against when finding a competing offer on a 3rd party site?

Zurich35

I double checked and my phone number is a consecutive string of numbers without any spaces. That is how it is in my profile and that is also how it is displayed on the claim form.
The issue seems to be resolved in the meantime. I was able to submit a new claim successfully without any issues.

LAX2DCA

I've actually been wondering this myself. I've been matching the standard member rate for each of my stays since I am not booking anything non-refundable. But I am not sure if Marriott would match a non-refundable rate or a package rate that is better than the standard member rate.

BRGenius

If you have booked a flexible rate (any rate that you can cancel w/out penalty more than 24 hours after booking) and are comparing it to a non-refundable rate, AND Marriott is also offering a non-refundable rate that is the same or lower than what you are comparing to, your claim will be denied for different cancellation policies.

If you have a room-only rate booked, and are comparing it to a lower package rate, your claim will be approved but you don't receive any package amenities as they were not originally included in the rate you booked.

If you have booked a flexible rate (any rate that you can cancel w/out penalty more than 24 hours after booking) and are comparing it to a non-refundable rate, AND Marriott is also offering a non-refundable rate BUT it is more expensive than the non-refundable comparison, your claim can be approved if you are willing to accept non-refundable terms. This should be offered by the BRG agent when that is the situation.

Many pre-pay and save rates are not truly non-refundable, and are cheaper than the Standard Rate. They usually say 'non-refundable if canceled less than one day before arrival.' These rates are still considered flexible (refundable). Truly non-refundable rates cannot be canceled more than 24 hours after booking without penalty The pre-pay aspect of an otherwise refundable rate is not a factor even if the comparison does not require prepayment.

In general, the most important thing to keep in mind for comparisons is the lowest rate available for the room type booked and whether it is refundable or not. As seen in paragraph 3 above, there are loopholes/exceptions to this that prove the rule.

Two bonus items to keep in mind: Your screenshots will not be used as proof and your Loyalty status is irrelevant to the outcome. There are no exceptions made.

mgkelly

Ive been going round in circles for ages...probably being a bit stupid here but where is the Wiki page? I havent done a BRG for a while and wanted to read the FT details which has always helped in the past.

Specifically I cant recall if I can do a like for like comparions e.g flexible vs flexible even if there is a cheaper pre-pay rate available

noeatbutgo

Yes you can.

cubeman

BRG'd a priceline and Expedia rate for $992 and I booked at $1450 (per day). Next day it was corrected and they responded they couldn't find the booking. oh well.

BRGenius

To quote myself: "Many pre-pay and save rates are not truly non-refundable, and are cheaper than the Standard Rate. They usually say 'non-refundable if canceled less than one day before arrival.' These rates are still considered flexible (refundable). Truly non-refundable rates cannot be canceled more than 24 hours after booking without penalty The pre-pay aspect of an otherwise refundable rate is not a factor even if the comparison does not require prepayment."

yule_boy

Hotel Name: San Diego Marriott Mission Valley
Date of stay: March 2022, 3 nights
Number of Guests: 2
Room Type: 1 King, City View, Balcony
Marriott Brand Website Rate: $563.01 ($187.67/night)
Competing Rate: $476.00 ($158.67/night)
Actual Approved Rate: $357.00 ($119.00/night)

At first my claim was denied saying the competing rate was $300+. I think they might have been looking at the wrong hotel (Marriott Marquis?). I replied back to the email but hadn't heard back after 8 hours so I called in to ask them to look into it further. The very helpful agent said they would and about an hour later it was approved!

lAzyTraveler

Hotel Name: Courtyard San Diego Airport/Liberty Station
Date of stay: February 2022 - 4 nights
Number of Guests: 2
Room Type: Guest room, 1 King, Sofa bed
Marriott Brand Website Rate: $748
Competing Rate: $648 on Orbitz
Actual Approved Rate: $485.63

Booked a standard room for $166 per night excluding tax, and I got the new rate of $107/night. The cancellation policy of the competing rate was 2 days prior to cancel (the original rate was 1 day before), but the claim was accepted.

aolj

Hotel Name: The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Autograph Collection
Date of stay: May 18 - May 21
Number of Guests: 1
Room Type: City Room - 2 Queen Beds
Marriott Brand Website Rate:
May 18 - $300
May 19 - $300
May 20 - $690
Competing Rate: $343.61 average rate
Actual Approved Rate: Only the third night was given, $257.71.

BRGenius

As long as a rate is cancellable more than 24 hours after booking, it is considered flexible and slight variations of when you can cancel without penalty (1 day before vs 3 days before, as an example) are irrelevant.

libuser

Hotel Name: JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa
Date of stay: Sep 7 - Sep 14
Number of Guests: 2
Room Type: 1 King Bed, Ocean View, Deluxe
Marriott Brand Website Rate: $215 with $50 daily credit
Competing Rate: $109.99 with no credit
Actual Approved Rate: $82.49 per night with no credit
Plan to pay an additional $100 to their club in addition to using a suite upgrade to the entire stay. Given that its a hurricane season it would be an easy upgrade.
Note: Cheapest rate included the $50 daily credit so thats what I booked so even though the rates were different they matched the lower price. I lost the $50 daily credit but I don't mind the lower price

chewiegranolabar

Hotel Name: JW Marriott Anaheim Resort
Date of stay: Jun 2 - Jun 5
Number of Guests: 4
Room Type: Room, 2 Queen Beds, Non Smoking
Marriott Brand Website Rate: 1,662.30
Competing Rate: $1233
Actual Approved Rate: $949

Does BRG work on weekends? I booked the non refundable rate on Bonvoy and have 24 hours to cancel. Will be canceling if I don't get a BRG response.

edited to update - BRG approved on Sunday, around 12 hours since I sent in!