Award in Eugene
May 25, 2011 | 9:26 pm
#16
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: RDU
Programs: Airlines: DL-Silver, UA-Silver Hotels: MR-LTT
Posts: 368
May 26, 2011 | 9:24 pm
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: Amtrak S+, Kimpton IC
Posts: 298
My original point of this thread was to try and gauge others' experience in non-availability of award nights
May 27, 2011 | 12:05 am
#18
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 43
When I am unsure of availability, I call the hotel directly. I've also escalated to the supervisors of the phone CSR, but find they are limited to what the hotel tells them.
May 27, 2011 | 9:07 am
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: Amtrak S+, Kimpton IC
Posts: 298
I haven't experienced hotel black-outs nor have I lost out on booking a room using rewards to a paying customer.
When I am unsure of availability, I call the hotel directly. I've also escalated to the supervisors of the phone CSR, but find they are limited to what the hotel tells them.
When I am unsure of availability, I call the hotel directly. I've also escalated to the supervisors of the phone CSR, but find they are limited to what the hotel tells them.
May 27, 2011 | 3:17 pm
#20
Moderator: Chase Ultimate Rewards
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 2P, MR LT Plat, IHG Plat, BW Dia, HH Au, Avis PC
Posts: 5,664
One thing to consider is there may be a length-of-stay requirement (2 or 3 or even 5 consecutive nights)... have you looked at a longer stay and then see if there's availability?
May 27, 2011 | 4:15 pm
#21
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 43
Incidentally, I was planning on staying at the same hotel in August. I just called up the hotel to ask my questions as well as yours.
You are correct that the hotel is booked out for November weekends. There are University of Oregon football games (18-20 and 25-27) as someone pointed out, as well as "some sporting event" on the other weekends (4-6 and 11-13). In addition, they just built a new arena.
It seems that you probably don't have a chance to book this hotel. Here is what the hotel agent told me that you can try: call the hotel the day of at about 4pm, when the cancellations usually come in. Make a reservation under cash to secure it (hotel can not reserve using points) then call Marriott line to switch pay to rewards reservation. The agent said that there is a possibility that the hotel may be sold out for points as there is a cap of how many people can stay with points. He did confirm that there are no black-out dates. Hope this helps...
May 27, 2011 | 6:18 pm
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: Amtrak S+, Kimpton IC
Posts: 298
Incidentally, I was planning on staying at the same hotel in August. I just called up the hotel to ask my questions as well as yours.
You are correct that the hotel is booked out for November weekends. There are University of Oregon football games (18-20 and 25-27) as someone pointed out, as well as "some sporting event" on the other weekends (4-6 and 11-13). In addition, they just built a new arena.
It seems that you probably don't have a chance to book this hotel. Here is what the hotel agent told me that you can try: call the hotel the day of at about 4pm, when the cancellations usually come in. Make a reservation under cash to secure it (hotel can not reserve using points) then call Marriott line to switch pay to rewards reservation. The agent said that there is a possibility that the hotel may be sold out for points as there is a cap of how many people can stay with points. He did confirm that there are no black-out dates. Hope this helps...
Thanks!
May 27, 2011 | 6:54 pm
#23
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 74,109
Or you can do the obvious & easy thing given we're talking only 2 miles here 
Book Springfield & if you're worried about drinking & driving, take a cab for crikey's sake. If you're using an award that's free. A cab for 2 miles is cheap. Geesh.
OVMV.
Cheers.
Book Springfield & if you're worried about drinking & driving, take a cab for crikey's sake. If you're using an award that's free. A cab for 2 miles is cheap. Geesh.
OVMV.
Cheers.