Am I Expecting Too Much as a PLT
Mar 10, 2015, 11:53 am
#46
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BDU
Programs: DL:MM, Marriott:LTT
Posts: 8,779
One issue is there aren't boxes to check for the things many of us actually care about in room selection. Where is the "Away from the Ice Machine" checkbox? What about the "Not a Room With a Connecting Door" box? Or the "Away from the People Watching Porn At a High Volume" choice? Or the "Not Next to the CL Where People Thinking It's Rude to Talk on a Cell Phone in the CL Move to Scream Into Their iPhone" box? Or the "Heck, No, Not the Roll-In Shower" choice?
Mar 10, 2015, 12:17 pm
#47
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: DAL, DFW
Programs: WN A-List; Hyatt Diamond; Marriott Gold; National Executive
Posts: 164
So I get the "pay for what you need" and totally agree. I'm not saying i deserve an upgrade. However, direct quote from their web site is:
"Room Upgrade
For Platinum Elite members the best way is up! Based on room availability at check-in and limited to a Member's personal guestroom, we’ll do our best to upgrade your room. Upgrades may include rooms with desirable views, rooms on high floors, corner rooms, rooms with special amenities, rooms on Executive Floors, or suites, subject to availability identified by each hotel. See terms and conditions for details."
While it does not say space available guaranteed upgrades like other chains, they do say they will "do their best to upgrade rooms" and the fact that they do not even try when space is available is the unfortunate part. One shouldn't have to ask or push for a benefit that a company provides them for their loyalty. Further, this is the only hotel chain that is this stringent. Perhaps I'm expecting too much, but their competitors have set those expectations. As soon as my travel will allow, I will not be staying with them anymore.
"Room Upgrade
For Platinum Elite members the best way is up! Based on room availability at check-in and limited to a Member's personal guestroom, we’ll do our best to upgrade your room. Upgrades may include rooms with desirable views, rooms on high floors, corner rooms, rooms with special amenities, rooms on Executive Floors, or suites, subject to availability identified by each hotel. See terms and conditions for details."
While it does not say space available guaranteed upgrades like other chains, they do say they will "do their best to upgrade rooms" and the fact that they do not even try when space is available is the unfortunate part. One shouldn't have to ask or push for a benefit that a company provides them for their loyalty. Further, this is the only hotel chain that is this stringent. Perhaps I'm expecting too much, but their competitors have set those expectations. As soon as my travel will allow, I will not be staying with them anymore.
Room Upgrade
For Gold Elite members the best way is up! Based on room availability at check-in and limited to a Member's personal guestroom, we’ll do our best to upgrade your room. Upgrades may include rooms with desirable views, rooms on high floors, corner rooms, rooms with special amenities, rooms on Executive Floors, or suites, subject to availability identified by each hotel. See terms and conditions for details.
Mar 10, 2015, 1:24 pm
#48
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,698
One issue is there aren't boxes to check for the things many of us actually care about in room selection. Where is the "Away from the Ice Machine" checkbox? What about the "Not a Room With a Connecting Door" box? Or the "Away from the People Watching Porn At a High Volume" choice? Or the "Not Next to the CL Where People Thinking It's Rude to Talk on a Cell Phone in the CL Move to Scream Into Their iPhone" box? Or the "Heck, No, Not the Roll-In Shower" choice?
"Neighboring Rooms Without Doors that Slam Shut at High Velocity", "An HVAC System that isn't Pre Programmed to Limit High/low Temperatures and Shut Off in the MIddle of the Night" or "You're Empty Tonight so why are all the Guests Clustered Next to each Other?"
The automatic upgrades are simply marketing promises...
Mar 10, 2015, 1:36 pm
#49
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rockin' the Bakken
Programs: Several
Posts: 978
Just a lowly silver here, but I think it very much depends upon the check-in agent at the desk as well. I was recently at a Courtyard, and the agent went out of his way to inform me that they had assigned me "one of the quietest rooms available".
Come to find out that my room was directly across from the access door to the indoor pool. I could here people from the pool quite well from my room. Not exactly what was advertised by the agent. Just anecdotal evidence of how a "better" room might not be all that great, or the agent flat out lied.
Come to find out that my room was directly across from the access door to the indoor pool. I could here people from the pool quite well from my room. Not exactly what was advertised by the agent. Just anecdotal evidence of how a "better" room might not be all that great, or the agent flat out lied.
Mar 10, 2015, 1:49 pm
#50
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: ua 1k, hh diamond, spg PLT, marriott PLT
Posts: 617
The original question is "Am I expecting too much as a Plat" The almost universal answer form FT seems to be - Yes, at a CY, you are. That's why I was joking about snowflakes. A RC or a large full service Ren or Marriott might care, a CY, probably not. They don't run on the margins that allows for elite coordinators or other staff who figure out the best room for elites or reach out to them in advance of a stay.
However, now they are migrating that brand to be a quality business hotel in urban areas as well. they are taking over other hotels and marketing them a notch below Marriotts but still quality business hotels. There are nicer rooms. There are many different size rooms. There are high floors. Yet they don't care to place PLTs in the more desirable rooms.
In your example, I agree. At an old suburban CY a room is a room is a room. Yet that is not the case at many CYs in urban settings. This does not make me a "special snowflake".
Mar 10, 2015, 4:22 pm
#51
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,698
Just a lowly silver here, but I think it very much depends upon the check-in agent at the desk as well. I was recently at a Courtyard, and the agent went out of his way to inform me that they had assigned me "one of the quietest rooms available".
Come to find out that my room was directly across from the access door to the indoor pool. I could here people from the pool quite well from my room. Not exactly what was advertised by the agent. Just anecdotal evidence of how a "better" room might not be all that great, or the agent flat out lied.
Come to find out that my room was directly across from the access door to the indoor pool. I could here people from the pool quite well from my room. Not exactly what was advertised by the agent. Just anecdotal evidence of how a "better" room might not be all that great, or the agent flat out lied.
Mar 10, 2015, 6:34 pm
#52
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rockin' the Bakken
Programs: Several
Posts: 978
Of course, it's very, very subjective and what is perceived as "quiet" to the Front Desk who has never spent the night in any room can be very different in practice. Several times I've asked for the very last room in a hallway at a high floor FS only to be directly across from a door hiding an employees elevator and the door slams all night & morning delivering room service. Sometimes you're cool & sometimes you're lame....
My examples with the CY mentioned above was opposite of that; I thought I'd have a quiet room when in reality it was far from it however the desk also mentioned something in relation to the room so I guess they upped my expectations of the room while Hilton usually surprises me (without letting me know they upgraded me).
I don't have any complaints about my experience, but I do think it's very subjective unless you have some type of upgrade confirmation that it's a suite, etc. The language when it comes to being given an "upgrade" has started to include "better view, higher floor, etc" which is really dependent upon the property itself. In my opinion, at most properties people may never know they were technically upgraded by the hotel. While the hotel might consider a specific room an upgrade, many of us here would disagree.
Mar 15, 2015, 9:27 pm
#53
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: NYC
Programs: Hyatt Dia, Marriott Plat, AA Plat, United Sil, Delta, Hertz PC, National ExecEl
Posts: 26
I stay at CY's more than I like to... to be honest I hate CYs.
The only expectations I have at CYs are for a room where the HVAC doesn't go bonkers at 3 AM, 4 AM and 5 AM and makes a really loud noise (i imagine something like a rotary motor with a metal rod that somehow got jammed in it) that lasts anywhere from 30 seconds to 3 minutes. Yes this happened to me.
And the other expectation being a higher floor than ground. Default choice on profile. That's it really. I can deal with the elevator noise (bing bing) and the doors slamming, and sometimes the carpets in the ground floor halls have this weird smell.
ok, sorry rant over.
Bottom line, I've bucketed CYs as the category where I only stay if I don't have a choice, or need to get some nights for a promotion.
The only expectations I have at CYs are for a room where the HVAC doesn't go bonkers at 3 AM, 4 AM and 5 AM and makes a really loud noise (i imagine something like a rotary motor with a metal rod that somehow got jammed in it) that lasts anywhere from 30 seconds to 3 minutes. Yes this happened to me.
And the other expectation being a higher floor than ground. Default choice on profile. That's it really. I can deal with the elevator noise (bing bing) and the doors slamming, and sometimes the carpets in the ground floor halls have this weird smell.
ok, sorry rant over.
Bottom line, I've bucketed CYs as the category where I only stay if I don't have a choice, or need to get some nights for a promotion.
Mar 19, 2015, 11:12 pm
#54
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 5,825
You guys will be proud of me.
Checked in to a Courtyard this week. Mobile check in, they knew exactly when I would arrive.
Get to the front desk, they hand me the keys. I ask "is this one of your quieter rooms?"
Oh, you would like a quiet room? Let me check if we have anything on the other side of the hotel.
They had put me in to a room on the side of the hotel facing the freeway. Fortunately, they moved me to the other side. I was happy with the room and my stay.
Exercising my rights as a special snowflake!
Checked in to a Courtyard this week. Mobile check in, they knew exactly when I would arrive.
Get to the front desk, they hand me the keys. I ask "is this one of your quieter rooms?"
Oh, you would like a quiet room? Let me check if we have anything on the other side of the hotel.
They had put me in to a room on the side of the hotel facing the freeway. Fortunately, they moved me to the other side. I was happy with the room and my stay.
Exercising my rights as a special snowflake!
Mar 20, 2015, 2:19 am
#55
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 481
Do you know that no two snowflakes are alike? That means you are unique, one of a kind
I love snowflakes.
I love snowflakes.
Mar 21, 2015, 9:39 am
#56
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Williamsburg, VA
Programs: DL DM, Bonvoy LTT, HH Diam, UA Silver, USAF million miler ;)
Posts: 1,596
I have found that a call in advance nearly always nets me something, be it a room away from the freeway or something special for Mrs. Orca and me on vacation (for those I start really early).
But like others report here, if I show up cold, I RARELY get any love without asking.
It may be that the second observation is what makes the first one more likely, I don't know, but it is sort of disappointing when (like last week) I get none of the special requests on file with the hotel as a Plat without making a fuss at the desk.
But like others report here, if I show up cold, I RARELY get any love without asking.
It may be that the second observation is what makes the first one more likely, I don't know, but it is sort of disappointing when (like last week) I get none of the special requests on file with the hotel as a Plat without making a fuss at the desk.
Mar 21, 2015, 10:42 am
#57
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 233
Most front desk clerks don't know all the details of each room. They've likely stayed once or twice in the hotel.
A better room to me is having a great a/c and super water pressure and temperature. That room might be facing the highway or next to the pool and be a bit noisier.
A better room for a clerk might be the freeway room that has the city skyline vs. a parking lot that's rarely used.
If you aren't happy, let the front desk know in a nice manner. Try and ask about your preferences when checking in or before you arrive (email for me please) and not after you get to your room.
A better room to me is having a great a/c and super water pressure and temperature. That room might be facing the highway or next to the pool and be a bit noisier.
A better room for a clerk might be the freeway room that has the city skyline vs. a parking lot that's rarely used.
If you aren't happy, let the front desk know in a nice manner. Try and ask about your preferences when checking in or before you arrive (email for me please) and not after you get to your room.
Mar 27, 2015, 9:57 pm
#58
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 5,825
Contrast
I checked in to a Hilton Garden Inn this week as a Diamond. I guess the status has not yet expired, although I did not re-qualify in 2014 (for 2015).
Can we agree that a Hilton Garden Inn is in the same ballpark as a Courtyard?
I also did mobile check in, so they knew when I would arrive.
At the front desk, they ask: We have you checked in to a room with a view, but would you prefer a room on the other side of the hotel which is quieter? Yes, thanks for asking.
Not an upgrade, but at least offered me a choice in the category I booked.
Included in the room key folder were two coupons for a drink at the bar (well / low end beer), and a coupon for breakfast the next morning (not sure why this was there?).
Room was adequate (comfortable bed, quiet). Breakfast was actually quite good - above my expectations.
This HGI was in a completely different city than the CY's I have experienced recently. Perhaps that has something to do with it? Or perhaps HGI's just offer better elite benefits than a CY?
Don't worry! I am back in a Marriott property this week!
Can we agree that a Hilton Garden Inn is in the same ballpark as a Courtyard?
I also did mobile check in, so they knew when I would arrive.
At the front desk, they ask: We have you checked in to a room with a view, but would you prefer a room on the other side of the hotel which is quieter? Yes, thanks for asking.
Not an upgrade, but at least offered me a choice in the category I booked.
Included in the room key folder were two coupons for a drink at the bar (well / low end beer), and a coupon for breakfast the next morning (not sure why this was there?).
Room was adequate (comfortable bed, quiet). Breakfast was actually quite good - above my expectations.
This HGI was in a completely different city than the CY's I have experienced recently. Perhaps that has something to do with it? Or perhaps HGI's just offer better elite benefits than a CY?
Don't worry! I am back in a Marriott property this week!
Mar 28, 2015, 4:04 pm
#59
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 378
I checked in to a Hilton Garden Inn this week as a Diamond. I guess the status has not yet expired, although I did not re-qualify in 2014 (for 2015).
Can we agree that a Hilton Garden Inn is in the same ballpark as a Courtyard?
I also did mobile check in, so they knew when I would arrive.
At the front desk, they ask: We have you checked in to a room with a view, but would you prefer a room on the other side of the hotel which is quieter? Yes, thanks for asking.
Not an upgrade, but at least offered me a choice in the category I booked.
Included in the room key folder were two coupons for a drink at the bar (well / low end beer), and a coupon for breakfast the next morning (not sure why this was there?).
Room was adequate (comfortable bed, quiet). Breakfast was actually quite good - above my expectations.
This HGI was in a completely different city than the CY's I have experienced recently. Perhaps that has something to do with it? Or perhaps HGI's just offer better elite benefits than a CY?
Don't worry! I am back in a Marriott property this week!
Can we agree that a Hilton Garden Inn is in the same ballpark as a Courtyard?
I also did mobile check in, so they knew when I would arrive.
At the front desk, they ask: We have you checked in to a room with a view, but would you prefer a room on the other side of the hotel which is quieter? Yes, thanks for asking.
Not an upgrade, but at least offered me a choice in the category I booked.
Included in the room key folder were two coupons for a drink at the bar (well / low end beer), and a coupon for breakfast the next morning (not sure why this was there?).
Room was adequate (comfortable bed, quiet). Breakfast was actually quite good - above my expectations.
This HGI was in a completely different city than the CY's I have experienced recently. Perhaps that has something to do with it? Or perhaps HGI's just offer better elite benefits than a CY?
Don't worry! I am back in a Marriott property this week!
With Marriott, your free breakfast is shared with 200 "distinguished guests" in the concierge lounge fighting for the last free bottle of water or dessert item on the plate. And the only upgrade you'll get is if the hotel is empty, or you are a frequent guest at the hotel.
I'm usually loyal to Marriott or SPG...unless there is a newer HGI around.
Mar 28, 2015, 4:24 pm
#60
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,909
HGI gives a delicious cooked-to-order free breakfast x2 for Gold and above. And if they have suites available, it's pretty easy to get them for Gold and above.
With Marriott, your free breakfast is shared with 200 "distinguished guests" in the concierge lounge fighting for the last free bottle of water or dessert item on the plate. And the only upgrade you'll get is if the hotel is empty, or you are a frequent guest at the hotel.
I'm usually loyal to Marriott or SPG...unless there is a newer HGI around.
With Marriott, your free breakfast is shared with 200 "distinguished guests" in the concierge lounge fighting for the last free bottle of water or dessert item on the plate. And the only upgrade you'll get is if the hotel is empty, or you are a frequent guest at the hotel.
I'm usually loyal to Marriott or SPG...unless there is a newer HGI around.