Marriott's Look No Further-Best Rate Guaranteed Master Thread
Sep 7, 2018, 12:55 am
#631
Join Date: Jul 2018
Programs: Starriott Plat Premier
Posts: 258
Ok thanks everyone for the pointers. Guess the 24 hours seen in the T&Cs made better sense now for them "to lock" the current rates on their Website vs. Competitors and not be affected by price changes.
There goes my chance for 10,000 points since had 2 separate reservations.
There goes my chance for 10,000 points since had 2 separate reservations.
Sep 7, 2018, 4:54 am
#632
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,815
Ok thanks everyone for the pointers. Guess the 24 hours seen in the T&Cs made better sense now for them "to lock" the current rates on their Website vs. Competitors and not be affected by price changes.
There goes my chance for 10,000 points since had 2 separate reservations.
There goes my chance for 10,000 points since had 2 separate reservations.
I keep on checking and if I find a lower rate, file a claim and if accepted I then will cancel my original reservation.
Sep 7, 2018, 3:03 pm
#633
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,521
Some of the sites I use for LNF are tax inclusive. Invariably, I get the following response "There is no supporting documentation as to specifically which taxes are included and therefore I cannot remove taxes from the rate." In some places, especially Asia, taxes can be 15-20%. If LNF is refusing to subtract the taxes from the rate, that leaves me with a net discount of 5-10% instead of 25%.
I've sent in screenshots to no avail. Has anyone ever succeeded in convincing the LNF team that "all in pricing" means taxes included?
I've sent in screenshots to no avail. Has anyone ever succeeded in convincing the LNF team that "all in pricing" means taxes included?
Sep 7, 2018, 9:15 pm
#634
Moderator: Alaska Mileage Plan
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,318
Some of the sites I use for LNF are tax inclusive. Invariably, I get the following response "There is no supporting documentation as to specifically which taxes are included and therefore I cannot remove taxes from the rate." In some places, especially Asia, taxes can be 15-20%. If LNF is refusing to subtract the taxes from the rate, that leaves me with a net discount of 5-10% instead of 25%.
I've sent in screenshots to no avail. Has anyone ever succeeded in convincing the LNF team that "all in pricing" means taxes included?
I've sent in screenshots to no avail. Has anyone ever succeeded in convincing the LNF team that "all in pricing" means taxes included?
I'm awaiting a reply.
Sep 8, 2018, 2:05 am
#635
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,048
I'm fighting that battle now. It took three attempts to get my LNF/BRG claim approved for the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani. Now I'm fighting about the taxes and resort fee. In my initial claim, I noted the lower rate was all-inclusive. I subsequently provided a link and a screen snip highlighting "No hidden charges - All prices include government taxes and hotel service fees." I even provided what the pretax/pre-fee rate should be and included a gross-up calculation.
I'm awaiting a reply.
I'm awaiting a reply.
Sep 8, 2018, 2:35 am
#636
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: UA*G(1K), PC Diamond Amb, Marriott Titanium, Accor Platinum
Posts: 4,671
This entire "comparing the price before 'taxes and fees'" is disingenuous anyway. If they guarantee the cheapest place to book is on their own site, they should compare the final price, not some price stripped of "service charge" (which is really nothing else than room charge in disguise anyway) and taxes.
Does someone know what the argument for excluding taxes in the comparison is? Are taxes different depending through which channel you do the booking?
HTB.
Does someone know what the argument for excluding taxes in the comparison is? Are taxes different depending through which channel you do the booking?
HTB.
Sep 8, 2018, 9:21 am
#637
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,048
This entire "comparing the price before 'taxes and fees'" is disingenuous anyway. If they guarantee the cheapest place to book is on their own site, they should compare the final price, not some price stripped of "service charge" (which is really nothing else than room charge in disguise anyway) and taxes.
Does someone know what the argument for excluding taxes in the comparison is? Are taxes different depending through which channel you do the booking?
HTB.
Does someone know what the argument for excluding taxes in the comparison is? Are taxes different depending through which channel you do the booking?
HTB.
Sep 8, 2018, 11:06 am
#638
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,521
I have reviewed your claim again and am unable to offer any further discount at this time. The comparison site does not list what taxes are included with the rate and shows no specific amount of tax being charged. Due to this I cannot remove any taxes from the given rate.
Sep 8, 2018, 12:56 pm
#639
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,095
It's been like that when I was filing a claim for a hotel in Tokyo.
The only way you can win this is if the tax inclusive rate at OTA is cheaper than the tax exclusive rate at Marriott.
The only way you can win this is if the tax inclusive rate at OTA is cheaper than the tax exclusive rate at Marriott.
Sep 11, 2018, 8:51 am
#640
Join Date: Jul 2018
Programs: Starriott Plat Premier
Posts: 258
The idea, of course, is that Marriott isn't going to try to compete with price changes in the future. Their real guarantee is that you can't find a lower rate anywhere else RIGHT NOW. Your chance is Zero.
Why doesn't their rejection letter mention this? Probably just laziness and selecting the wrong form-letter reply, or they saw more than one reason (legit or not).
Why doesn't their rejection letter mention this? Probably just laziness and selecting the wrong form-letter reply, or they saw more than one reason (legit or not).
Just to update that my case has a semi-approved. Meaning that while i did not get the option of 5000 points or 20% discount, the LNF agent managed to get the property to amend my pre-paid booking and match the current lower rate.
The difference of rates will be refunded to me once my stay has been completed.
Sep 11, 2018, 9:11 am
#641
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,521
Oct 5, 2018, 3:56 pm
#642
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,727
Given the age of this thread and the merging of Marriott and Starwood, another thread has been started: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...on-thread.html