Word of caution using LNF rates. The properties seem to very much dislike these rates. Upgrades not given and certainly if your original rate included breakfast at a resort then the LNF will take it away. Adding Bfst for two to the LNF rate could wipe out the savings and leave you as an "undesired" guest.

MY EXPERIENCE on LNF stays

USA JW Marriott: given absolutely worst room
USA Renaissance: no upgrade
China Renaissance: slightly upgrade room when normally given a suite
Carribbean marriott resort: no upgrade. Bfst inclusive rate not honored on LNF
USA courtyard: no difference
Marriott USA: I have one more upcoming stay in boston late summer. Will see how that goes.

Bottom line: I don't think I will bother with LNF rates again. It certainly seems to wipe out any goodwill that comes with being a platinum guest.

I thought a LNF rate had to be like/like, so don't see why breakfast would be excluded. LNF is just a price adjustment.

Others have reported nice upgrades & elite recognition when they've been on LNF rates, so not sure if you're just having a string of bad luck. And depending on how cheap one gets a room, not getting an upgrade isn't the end of the world (but that's just my take).

Cheers.

My LNF experience does not comport with OP's.

Sorry Allvest, but your experiences are not typical of what I have experienced and your failure to name the properties is a hindrance to giving any real insight to those you claim to want to help.

As Sharon stated above, if the Marriott rate included breakfast then you would not have been able to match it let alone undercut it if the other site did not also include it.

If it did and all that was stated was Look No Further Rate on your reservation then the fault for that lies with you, not the rate adjustor nor the property. You should have specifically notified the rate adjustor that you need an e-mail or additional language on the reservation that states that breakfast was included. Your failure to do so is your problem and yours alone as you cannot expect a hotel to provide you with breakfast just on your say so if the reservation does not state it or no longer states it -- you have to go the extra mile in that instance to ensure that all your perks associated with your rate still show up under the new reservation.

I suspect that your failure to obtain upgrades was property and time dependent-- as I have noted it would be helpful to others if you had named them and don't know why you and others fail to do so when griping about a particular hotel, after all we are not mind readers -- and also probably due to your demeanor with respect to your request of other perks, as well, for after all not many of us hold such exalted titles and elite credentials and wish to advertise them.

Until now, I have only stayed with Marriott on LNF rate (or free night promo cert)...across Asia and Europe...From my experience, I think it depends on individual hotels, personnel who you will meet etc...

I had a 3nights LNF stay at Renaissance Naples last summer, and was upgraded from the standard room to Presidential Suite before arrival (after emailing the hotel), thumbs up...Upon arrival, the check-in staff looks confused and we were brought to the suite where the living room is locked, went down to the reception and asked about it, the staff spoke in Italian and giggled before respond to me, well, I felt quite uncomfortable about that. We did get the living room of the presidential suite unlocked, and no issue for the rest of the nights.

All in all, I think it's always wise to look up for LNF, and if you're treated badly, leave a notes with Marriott and they will handle it=)

Asked the property about upgrade and they are 100 percent. So that would explain the lack of upgrade.

Bfst rate was indeed LNF matched but dropped the Bfst. Asking LNF to fix it now.

Always easy to blame the customer but I do a hundred plus bookings a year (between airlines and hotels) and it's a minefield put there even for veteran travelers like myself.

I am just posting my experience. Not looking for sympathy or lectures. I do know how to travel, thank you.

always treated well on LNF rates. Upgrades, breakfast, no issues whatsoever. Sorry OP, looks like you are a very small minority. You got to know how to deal w/ LNF rates which include BF; these are tricky but you can ask the LNF team to make a note in the reservation.

However you were making definitive statements in your OP such as properties dislike them and upgrades not given, etc. Since others have posted that they've not had the same experiences, it seems more to be a YMMV w/ LNF.

BTW - you know the drill. If you post your experiences and make definitive statements, then of course other FTers get to comment on them

Cheers.

FT is a discussion board, not a posting board. You post and others comment.

As a general rule, if I regularly experience service anomalies, I buy a mirror.

I generally say nothing. I don't do the dykwia routine and it might be to my detriment on occasion. I also generally take my business to where I feel appreciated and avoid properties who view premium guests as a nuisance rather than an opportunity to shine.

I have absolutely no idea what the OP is posting. EVERY stay I've had, except Reward Nights, has been an LNF. Every hotel has been great in giving me an upgrade, breakfast, club floor, whatever and been happy to do it without asking. They've treated me exceptionally well and always recognized my status, not my rate. Renaissance Chicago Downtown, JW Marriott Camelback Resort, Renaissance Las Vegas, JW Marriott Las Vegas, JW Marriott Miami, Renaissance Times Square...just to name a few.

That's nice to know. Maybe I ran into a string of bad luck or high occupancies.

Well I just had my first issue with using a LNF rate. Was staying at the Marriott San Antonio North west. I found a LNF rate. I checked in early and asked for an upgrade as it wasn't offered. Was told all the balcony rooms were full (at 1pm on a Monday). I told her I would wait and she said none would be available. Fast forward to later when I come back to hotel. I asked the FD about moving to a balcony room. He asked for my name and looked me up. Magically there were no rooms available. I then inquired and he stated that they reserve those for people that are at a higher rate. I asked him to repeat that. I then asked him if gold would get upgraded before me and he said yes as my rate was too low.

There is a laundry list of other reasons why I wouldn't recommend this hotel but I wanted to add my 2 cents.

-A

That hotel is operated by Columbia Sussex, so you're lucky if your room has a bed. (Yes, really.)

I recently had a LNF approved which had breakfast, and noted the reservation did not mention breakfast afterwards. I replied to the initial LNF email and had the following reply: