Is it me or the hotel??
 

I am staying at the Courtyard in LA (near LAX). I have booked 2 rooms with 4 guests each. (My husband and I are here with our kids and some of their friends for a football game).

I reserved the rooms with an AAA rate that said "AAA Hot Deals with Breakfast, includes breakfast for 2 guests daily". When I checked in I was told that breakfast wasn't included, but if I happened to print out my reservation and could show it to the clerk, then she would add breakfast to our room. I was irritated, but we went to our rooms and I then returned with my Marriott app open, that clearly showed breakfast was included.

So, this morning I went down for breakfast. I was told breakfast included either one hot item (such as french toast or a breakfast sandwich) or 2 items from the grab and go (such as a bagel and fruit or fruit and yogurt). Both also gave a drink.

So, I hope I explain the next part well. 4 of us went up and ordered 2 breakfasts. (2 bagels, 2 cinnamon buns and 2 drinks). The staff member said she would have to charge us for the 2 cinnamon buns, because it was for 4 people. We told her she just explained that breakfast included either 1 hot item or 2 cold items and she said the breakfast was for 2 people, not 4.

So, technically she was right (our room rate was breakfast for 2 guests). But we didn't order more food than was allowed per guest. So we sent 2 of the kids away and left 2 people at the counter and said each guest left wanted a bagel and cinnamon roll and then she acquiesced.

So, I guess my question is: I am being petty for being irritated? Because I was. I was mad from the night before and then this just ticked me off more. I usually avoid Courtyards, but I chose it for the free parking (because we had multiple cars coming for our group). I would have booked the rate even if breakfast wasn't included, but I was happy it was.

Anyway, I'm over it now. And tomorrow I will make sure one person goes up to the counter if they want the bagels/rolls. Now it just remains if I crossed the line and behaved inappropriately (because if I did, I want to know!) I know I am trying to save money because this trip has been kind of expensive for the weekend (I paid for the game tickets, the hotel, the meals this weekend, etc) and maybe in my attempt to budget I went too far.

Thanks

The number of people who eat one "meal" should make no difference. So if you have some children who each take a bite of the bagel what are they going to do? Charge you for multiple meals?

The combination of the check-in staff not knowing that breakfast is included and then this bizarre rule would irritate me a lot. I'm irritated just hearing about it.

I'd speak with the manager, if you can find one.

The property is entirely correct. If the benefit is 10 eggs for one person, that does not mean 1 egg each for 10 people. The benefit is exactly what the benefit says it is. If you want more, you pay.

But it was grab and go, so you could grab and then feed to as many peopel as you want.

I think it was incredibly petty and small-minded of the property, and would tell them that I would not be returning to this property because of this.

The Courtyard LAX quotes the rate to include "Breakfast rate, includes breakfast for 2 adults and children 12 and under." Sounds like 4 breakfasts per room if there's kids involved.

It's no wonder that the FD reps are confused; I picked a random night next week to book a room at that property and they are offering no less than 33 different rates with various amenities attached.

duplicate

Yet another reason to avoid Courtyards.

I be a bit upset about not getting the breakfast info first and having to bring proof to get the breakfast.

I don't think you made it any easier on yourself by having 4 people at the register/staff checkout. While the staff should recognize 4 items = 2 breakfasts, he/she saw 4 people, 4 items = 1 item per person = charge for 2 breakfasts that aren't covered on the voucher/coupon/etc.

(Bolding mine)

The last words I quoted of your post are what counts. In fact, you could remove the word "technically". The hotel was in the right.

Are you being petty? Not really. I would've tried to get the same thing out of breakfast that you did.

But I wouldn't have just showed up expecting it. I would've tried to schmooze the front desk a little up front - during check in or at some point before breakfast. Of course, that's entirely my opinion so take it for what it's worth.

So if a movie theatre offered a package called "snacks for "2 and defined that as 2 drinks, 2 popcorns and 2 candy bars, and I get in line and order 2 drinks, 2 popcorns and 2 candy bars but there's 3 people in line with me they can refuse to give me the food? (Because I've actually bought that package!)

I don't get this? If the benefit is 10 eggs or two grab and go items, I should get 10 eggs or two cold grab and go items. Do the terms and conditions say I can't give 9 eggs or one cold item to some else. I don't think so.

And even if I'm in line with my family of ten, what difference does it make. I still get 10 eggs or two grab and go items. The OP didn't get more. The OP got what was described as the benefit and then the hotel tried to charge her her more for the benefit because she was in line with others who might eat part of her two cold items.

Please show me where it says that the guest has to eat all of the "benefit" or pay additional if someone else eats part of the "benefit"! I can't believe someone is trying to defend the hotel in this instance. If I were the manager I'd get out of this PR disaster as quickly as possible.

This is a contentious issue on FlyerTalk. See here:

NOT ALLOWED to share breakfast amenity!!? (Answer: Same room only)

The next thing I can imagine is that some unwitting guest will save a little piece of a bagel for his/her dog and get charged for two breakfasts.

I completely disagree.

If I get a free drinks coupon as a elite and give the free drink to my companion, I would be highly incensed if they tried to then charge me for the drink.

Give me my promised food and let me eat it or share it or throw it away.

Should an employer take back your wages if you give them to a charity? He was paying you, not some dogooder! Of course, that's ludicrous--just like this is.

Situations like this are the reason that many of us avoid CY's whenever possible.

Absolutely. Although this is a new one.

There is just a nationwide arrogance at this brand that I don't understand. Perhaps their management fee or bonus structure is setup in such a manner that every employee feels empowered to be as difficult as possible...

^+1

Unless you are stuck in Altoona where CY is your only Marriott choice and you are one night short on the Getaway Bonus, which is what happened to me last week. Or you want to use a Cat 5 cert in Montreal, which also happened to me last week. Or you need to be in Lewisville, TX, where the FI is horrible and the TPS only offers half points, which is what's happening to me next week.

And therein is the problem; there always seems to be a reason to wind up in a CY, no matter how hard one tries to avoid them.

Folks, let's not turn a property/situation specific thread into a general CY brand bashing thread. There are already plenty of those ;)

Cheers.

Is it me or the hotel??
 

Go to Denny's

There's a courtyard in Altoona? I always had to stay in ankeny and take a ridiculously overpriced and late cab

It's not like it's the days of the buffet, where someone could load up on items and take it back to their rooms. It's grab and go or the single plate of stuff. I guess if someone did want to order the eggs and bacon, and then share it, they could. But, it's not really the hotel's business.

The El Segundo Courtyard is not a very good one. It's renovated, and in a good location, but the front desk staff is as clueless as can be.

It is you.

+1 No one said you can't share your meal (since it's not a buffet), if they actually do, I will definitely have a word with the manager.

Good news: Yes, there is an Altoona CY at the Convention Center.

Bad news: It's in Altoona, PA, not Altoona IA.

I mentioned something similar happened to me at a Courtyard in Paris. I had around 10 stays booked, each confirmation clearly stated Breakfast included, with 2000 bonus points.

I had to fight on every check-in to get the breakfast (they said it wasn't included). None of the bonus points were posting, despite promises from the front desk.

I eventually got sick of it, and cancelled the last 3 stays. On the day I cancelled - all the bonus points posted (coincidence??) :)

I changed to a Novotel Suites hotel, which was half the price, closer to the office and generally a nicer hotel. I'll miss out on the MegaBonus though...

Lol. When visiting Des Moines customers we sometimes like to hit the horse track up... I was hoping they built a CY there.

Altoona PA has a convention center?

Yes, although it has nothing to do w/ the OP's OP (realize someone else sidetracked the thread).

Cheers.

Actually Sharon, there is a (physical) connection. The formal name of the venue is the Blair County Convention Center, and the CY Altoona is physically connected to the convention center. There are no other hotels on the center property.

My apologies. I didn't realize Altoona PA was near the CY LAX, which is what the OP was discussing in the OP ;) :p :D

Cheers.

My take is the OP's comments were more about whether CYs had a policy with this particular rate than it being about a specific property. Even if that were assumed to be the topic, the Altoona CY would not be pertinent. as nobody would eat breakfast in the Altoona CY when Tom and Joe's is right across from City Hall, down the street from the Mishler and (Dave's) The Dream is just down Logan Blvd a couple miles, in the 'Burg, near Kopp's and "The Shops." ;)

Sorry, once a 'Toid, always a 'Toid. (Sorry if that's a reference only SCEflyer understands, but trust me, it's not offensive.)

:D:D