My Rate Got Changed!
 

This is an odd one...

I've got a one-night stay at the Irvine Marriott this coming Sunday. I don't remember what my rate was, but it was some kind of discount ~$150. I logged in today to see if I've gotten any kind of room upgrade yet, and was shocked to see not only that I've still got the accursed "quality room" but also that my room preferences were dumped and my rate was changed to the corporate rate of $219!

I did some quick searching and have now changed my own reservation to the Entertainment rate of $115 (cheaper than what I had originally anyway), and I printed out the confirmation page just in case I have problems at check-in.

Has anyone else had something bizarre like this happen? I'm glad I caught it now, a few days before check-in, rather than having a real eye-opener at the front desk!

They cannot do that.You reserved with a CC right?Do you printout or save a copy of the original ressie?If this was a true reservation and not a hold(which I do not think you can even do)then they have to honor your original rate.If not a call to coprerate is in order.
The reservation secured with a credit card is a bond-they cannot change the rate willy nilly like that.

Have you elected to get an email confirmations whenever you make a reservation? This way it is easy to see and prove if they have changed your rate on the way.

When I make a reservation, I am emailed a confirmation and that has the rate that I reserved the room at. I also reserve rooms frequently on the internet. When I do this, the confirmation page on the computer is saved (via screenshot) and I ensure I get my room at the rate that was guaranteed. I have never had a problem getting the rate I was quoted.

Since when can you see whether you were given a room upgrade online?

Many properties do the upgrade before you appear at the front desk to check in. When they do an early upgrade and you log on to the Marriott website to check your reservation, you will see the upgrade.

I've had rate problems a couple of times at the Ihilani in Hawaii. I have a confirmation with one rate and they show a rate perhaps $50 a night more. Each time I have to dig out the confirmation, they go in a back room for 10 minutes with it, and then reluctantly give me the correct rate. Without a printed confirmation I would have most likely been out of luck.

I almost always make my Marriott Reservations online. Although I do get e-mail confirmations, I immediately delete them because I've NEVER had a problem with a rate or any other aspect of a reservation before.

Ohmark exaplined exactly how I check for upgrades online. This way I at least know if they've bumped me to the concierge level, and I can also check what room types are still available in order to politely push for an upgrade at the front desk if they try to "stiff" me.

On this particular stay, everything was in order by the time I checked in. My rate was in fact the Entertainment discount rate, and I was upgraded to a room right across the hall from the concierge lounge. The property must have recently completed a renovation, because the room looked brand new with the stylish Marriott design scheme including flat-screen TV and white comforter. Now if only they had upgraded the soundproofing at the same time...