cancellation policy question
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, MR Gold, HH Gold
Posts: 926
cancellation policy question
Hi all - I'm trying to find a hotel with a day of arrival cancellation policy and cannot. We have a 40 minute connection in DFW so there's always the chance we won't make it to the hotel at our destination that evening. Everything is 1 and 2 days prior to arrival and obviously with air travel, you just can't make that guarantee. I've never encountered this before - is this something new with Marriott? I'd hate to stay at another chain, but it looks like I may have to.
Last edited by lovely15; Jan 7, 13 at 12:47 pm Reason: clarity

#2
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Waxahachie, TX
Programs: WN 3 Million Miler, MR Lifetime Titanium, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, AA Silver, United never again
Posts: 504
Is there a specific date? I just checked the Fairfield Inn, Springhill Suites and Courtyards in the area and they all show a 6 pm DOA cancellation policy.
Call the Gold line and ask for help.
Call the Gold line and ask for help.

#3
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: Marriott platinum
Posts: 296
What is the location?
Hawaii has always had cancellation penalties if you don't cancel several days (or a couple of weeks) in advance. It really depends on the local market. You might find that other hotels in the area have the same cancellation policy as Marriott.
Edited to add..
I assume you are connecting in DFW, not wanting to stay the night there?
Hawaii has always had cancellation penalties if you don't cancel several days (or a couple of weeks) in advance. It really depends on the local market. You might find that other hotels in the area have the same cancellation policy as Marriott.
Edited to add..
I assume you are connecting in DFW, not wanting to stay the night there?

#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, MR Gold, HH Gold
Posts: 926
I'm specifically looking at Temecula, CA early next month. There isn't anything going there as far as I can tell, either, that would account for this. Actually I've stayed there before and can't remember it being anything but day of arrival. Ah well, maybe it's just a temporary thing. Still, frustrating.
Last edited by lovely15; Jan 7, 13 at 1:40 pm

#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 49,415
If you are talking about overnighting at DFW because you're worried about missing a connection, that's exactly why airport hotels have longer cancellation periods. It's one thing to have a couple of rooms cancelled, but if it becomes the norm, it's a good way to go out of business.
FT above has provided you two places which appear to be relatively acommodating.
FT above has provided you two places which appear to be relatively acommodating.

#6
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP, United 1K, Marriott/SPG Plat.
Posts: 372
Hi all - I'm trying to find a hotel with a day of arrival cancellation policy and cannot. We have a 40 minute connection in DFW so there's always the chance we won't make it to the hotel at our destination that evening. Everything is 1 and 2 days prior to arrival and obviously with air travel, you just can't make that guarantee. I've never encountered this before - is this something new with Marriott? I'd hate to stay at another chain, but it looks like I may have to.
For instance TownePlace San Diego Carlsbad/Vista which is showing 22 miles from Temecula has a 4pm day of arrival cancellation allowance.

#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, MR Gold, HH Gold
Posts: 926
Yeah, I realize that. There were a few more I checked that had the same thing (I think Riverside, can't remember, because the location wasn't ideal), so I wasn't sure if it was the location or not. I've stayed in Temecula before without policies like this.

#8
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 3,338
May be easier to just not make a reservation until you know you will be there? I've used the i-phone app to do this once while sitting on the tarmac. There's also the Hotel Tonight app, which sometimes has Marriott properties.

#9
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: MCO, DCA, IAD
Programs: UA GS 1MM, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,124
But for airport hotels if you call them after the cancelation window and tell them flight got delayed or cancelled I'm sure they would understand. I've had that happen before and they allowed me to cancel.

#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Some place in this wonderful world (usually at 39,000 ft in seat 1C)
Programs: CO Gold Elite / NW Gold Elite
Posts: 13,747
Hi all - I'm trying to find a hotel with a day of arrival cancellation policy and cannot. We have a 40 minute connection in DFW so there's always the chance we won't make it to the hotel at our destination that evening. Everything is 1 and 2 days prior to arrival and obviously with air travel, you just can't make that guarantee. I've never encountered this before - is this something new with Marriott? I'd hate to stay at another chain, but it looks like I may have to.

#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR/SPG LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus
Posts: 28,097
I think most hotels will be OK with a late cancellation due to flight delays/cancellations, especially if you are showing up the next night for the stay.
Is the hotel sold out? If you're really, really worried, make the reservation now, cancel it the day before and book it when you board your connecting flight. This minimizes the missed-flight cancellation problem, and mostly protects your against a sell out (if it's sold out the day before, don't cancel and take the risk. And there's the small risk is sells out between 4p day before and your flight).
But, again, most hotels understand flight cancellations. And it looks like <$100/night. Not nothing, but not a huge risk.
Is the hotel sold out? If you're really, really worried, make the reservation now, cancel it the day before and book it when you board your connecting flight. This minimizes the missed-flight cancellation problem, and mostly protects your against a sell out (if it's sold out the day before, don't cancel and take the risk. And there's the small risk is sells out between 4p day before and your flight).
But, again, most hotels understand flight cancellations. And it looks like <$100/night. Not nothing, but not a huge risk.

#12
Join Date: May 2007
Location: NC
Programs: Marriott LT Plat, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 2,881
If Temecula historically has NOT had a 24-48 hour cancel policy, and for your dates it DOES, logic says something is going on in the area....
Also seems that if you wait, you may not get a room!
I would make the reservation.
When flight delays have prevented me from reaching my final destination, I have called CS and explained As long as I still showed for the remainder of the res (which I did), never an issue.
Of course, it also helps if (in your example) you stay at a Marriott property in DFW!
Also seems that if you wait, you may not get a room!
I would make the reservation.
When flight delays have prevented me from reaching my final destination, I have called CS and explained As long as I still showed for the remainder of the res (which I did), never an issue.
Of course, it also helps if (in your example) you stay at a Marriott property in DFW!

#13
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 68,378
If Temecula historically has NOT had a 24-48 hour cancel policy, and for your dates it DOES, logic says something is going on in the area....
Also seems that if you wait, you may not get a room!
I would make the reservation.
When flight delays have prevented me from reaching my final destination, I have called CS and explained As long as I still showed for the remainder of the res (which I did), never an issue.
Of course, it also helps if (in your example) you stay at a Marriott property in DFW!
Also seems that if you wait, you may not get a room!
I would make the reservation.
When flight delays have prevented me from reaching my final destination, I have called CS and explained As long as I still showed for the remainder of the res (which I did), never an issue.
Of course, it also helps if (in your example) you stay at a Marriott property in DFW!
Also OP - what are the dates of your Temecula stay? IIRC there are some festivals that occur there (including a large music one), so you might be running into one of those.
Cheers.

#14
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: Marriott LT Tit; Hyatt Explorist; Hilton CC Gold; IHG CC Plt; Hertz (MR) 5 star
Posts: 5,536
Here's two alternate strategies:
1) Book nights 2 and after in Temecula. Book night one at an airport hotel - I assume you're flying into ONT or another airport not too close to Temecula. Then just rent the car the next morning to drive to Temecula.
2) Same as above except book night 1 in Temecula at a hotel that allows you to cancel same day.
Hope this helps.
1) Book nights 2 and after in Temecula. Book night one at an airport hotel - I assume you're flying into ONT or another airport not too close to Temecula. Then just rent the car the next morning to drive to Temecula.
2) Same as above except book night 1 in Temecula at a hotel that allows you to cancel same day.
Hope this helps.
