Change payment at checkout
 

I was checking into a Courtyard last week and something was different. I was told to give them my gift card at checkout, which I usually don't do at this property because they always swipe it at check-in.

I actually prefer to do it this "new" way now (with gift card at checkout instead) since the gift card was used to cover my incidentals (meals) as well. When I use my gift card at check-in they don't cover it and charge it to my CC.

My question is, if I do this from now on and just give them my CC instead at check-in, will they give me problems if I checkout and tell them to charge it to my gift card? Do I have to tell them that I will be paying with a gift card at checkout?

Thanks.

Usually I am asked at check-out if I wish to leave the charges on the CC on file. So it's my guess you will be able to substitute a gift card. You should have been able to do that when giving the GC at check-in, present a GC with sufficient balance to cover the incidentals when checking-out. Some have reported having problems trying to use a GC if they are in a rush to catch a plane, so plan plenty of time.

The CC at check-in allows you to just walk out and not stop at the front desk when it's time to leave. The CC will even remain "on file" if paying by GC so if there are any late charges, they will have a means to process it.

If I'm paying for a stay myself, I usually check in using my corporate card (no limit) but then stop at the front desk the last day and give them my Marriott Premier Visa. For some reason, I'd rather the hold be on the company card. There has never been an issue switching cards.

With that said, if you are at any hotel where you have not previously used a Gift Card, it would probably be a good idea to let them know at check-in that you will be switching to the Gift Card before leaving. I've had some issues with the Gift Cards in the past, and it's easier for those issues to be addressed during your stay rather than having the issues pop up as you are trying to leave. Even when everything has supposedly been ironed out at earlier, issues have still come up.

I have never had a problem swapping payment at check-out. A lot of the hotels I stayed out would charge my card anytime my bill got over $1000 though, and it was charged to the card on file. Whenever I issued the card for payment at checkout it sometimes made a messy experience with the hotel bill because of all of the refunds.

an actual charge, or only an interim hold???????

It is an actual charge that went through. I have encountered it with SPG as well. They told me that the FD goes through the accounts and charges any folio that has over 1k in charges because it is deemed a "high risk". Some hotels will not do it, but I have still experienced it many times. It makes for a really long folio when you do, as all the charges are shown as settled, reimbursed, and then settled again on a new account.

When I check in as various Marriotts, sometimes they swipe my card (it seems like a norm in Hong Kong because other hotels do too), and sometimes they don't.

So I always get my CC ready at check-in. I don't know why they have to swipe my CC even though I have already got 1 in my profile.

It's not a problem to swap with paying with GC, I normally ask for it at check-in so they have time to sort out the payment (I'm not based in the US where GC is commonly used).

I don't have any problems switching CC's at checkout either.
If I expect I will switch CC's I do mention it at check-in and ask to place a note on my reservation.

I never experienced any problems, the reason I ask for this note nowadays is because once I had a hotel where they mentioned it was better to have a note in the reservation to stop the hotel from processing the payment before I had the possibility to give them my other CC details.

you can change your method of payment at any time for any reason...no issues for the front desk team at all

Typically it's a security issue. Most systems will note if the number was entered or swiped. If there is a dispute, the merchant has a better position if the physical card was swiped thus indicating someone had the card. So if you say you were never there and you have not lost the card, something is wrong.

I always present the card used at booking. Some will swipe and others will just confirm the name and number.

Sometimes gift cards can take a long time. I once had a Marriott accidentally pull the full value out of the gift card, when only a fraction was needed for the stay. They needed overnight to correct that (because only the manager coming in the next morning could do that). Luckily this was a 3-night stay for me, so I had plenty time since I'd done it at check-in. But I'd hate to have waited until check-out to do the gift card and then have something like that happen.

I've also run into cases (more often than the above) where the person I first talk to at the front desk doesn't know how to handle payment from a gifrt card, and needs to find another (more experineced) person to show them how to do it. If I'm short on time when checking out (as I usually am) but have more time when checking in (as I usually do), that's another reason I prefer to do it at check-in.

Finally, if Marriott isn't the only hotel program that you use gift cards in, be aware that some other hotel programs cannot accept gift cards at all at checkout, only at checkin (because in those programs the gift card processing takes hours). So I find it simpler to have one procedure that works at all hotel programs, rather than having to rememmber "I can do this at Marriott but I can't do it at hotel program X".

Oh yes, I had serious issue at CY Berlin back in Sept. I was checking in and I told them that I'd like to pay with my GC. They said, 'yes you can as long as you let us have the card'. I said, 'but there is USD 850 in my card.' They said, 'sorry then you have to pay with credit card since we cannot do anything until the manager is here and he's not in during the weekends'.

Fortunately I check-out on a Monday so I could pay with my GC. I complained to Marriott and I haven't heard from them since.

I experienced problems using GC at this property initially. It took them two other tries when I returned for my business travel each week but I think they got it now (all of them :)). I was just surprised that the other frontdesk staff told me to give it to them when I checkout (which works for me). They also made mistakes before (overcharge my GC) but it's usually quickly corrected on the spot. This is one reason why I have my email open during my check-in to make sure they charge the correct amount.

I actually had the same situation where they asked to hold my GC ($1100 USD). I let them have it since I already have my card registered online in case any issues arise.

is there a reason you've never IDed the CY in question???????????

No reason. Didn't think it mattered for this general question. Just never mentioned it. It's the Courtyard Burlington Harbor and the staff there are great. Very friendly service and attentive to the guests' needs.