Oct 5, 2018, 3:54 pm
Last edit by: margarita girl
Marriott's Best Rate Guarantee Discussion Thread
This thread is about Marriott's BRG. If you don't know what BRG is - here's the Marriott BRG and here's the claim form.
If you're not satisfied with the outcome of your claim and wish for a second review you may reply back by email or call Marriott's BRG hotline 1-800-771-5665. A human is available at this number beginning at 9 am EST.
If you are new to this, and would like to ask fellow FTers questions regarding BRGs, then this thread is the place to start.
Hotel Name:
Date of stay:
Number of Guests:
Room Type:
Marriott Brand Website Rate:
Competing Rate:
Actual Approved Rate:
This thread is about Marriott's BRG. If you don't know what BRG is - here's the Marriott BRG and here's the claim form.
If you're not satisfied with the outcome of your claim and wish for a second review you may reply back by email or call Marriott's BRG hotline 1-800-771-5665. A human is available at this number beginning at 9 am EST.
If you are new to this, and would like to ask fellow FTers questions regarding BRGs, then this thread is the place to start.
Hotel Name:
Date of stay:
Number of Guests:
Room Type:
Marriott Brand Website Rate:
Competing Rate:
Actual Approved Rate:
Marriott BRG Best Rate Guarantee (formerly LNF) Success, failure & discussion thread
Sep 17, 2018, 9:30 am
#61
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 31,977
I must have > 100 LNF claims and I have never seen this, ever. In fact non-refundable bookings have become refundable but never the other way.
Sep 17, 2018, 9:33 am
#62
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 31,977
there is a separate thread where you can post success stories. When posting there you will allow folks to ping you via IM for info how you found it. As others mentioned, Marriott does not want us to post comp sites here ... that has been the rule for many years now.
Sep 18, 2018, 8:46 am
#63
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,173
Nice found! My rate last year was 200 SD/Night inc taxes for five nights beginning of september last year but I think the agent messed up the calculation in taxes that time to my advantage. So it is possible to score a good LNF-rate but you need to search good.
The Marriott team usually did mistakes from time to time due to their rotation in staff all the time. Not sure if they still do mistakes so much these days since I moved all my stays to SPG. The SPG-staff of course never did any mistakes to my advantage but they rarely changed their staff
There's a rule from Marriott to not leave or write where you found the rate so don't do that here please. We want to keep the LNF as it is as long as possible now in its current state (or better -> the good old way of SPG Brg).
So is it the norm for non-refundable LNFs to switch to flexible cancellation terms if approved?
Sep 19, 2018, 5:14 am
#64
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,475
Does LNF allow submission without a reservation when subject property is sold out on Marriott channels? Starwood BRG allows it as an exception since it is not possible to make reservation before BRG submission. I cannot find any reference to sold out situation in LNF T&C.
Sep 19, 2018, 5:23 am
#65
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,510
Does LNF allow submission without a reservation when subject property is sold out on Marriott channels? Starwood BRG allows it as an exception since it is not possible to make reservation before BRG submission. I cannot find any reference to sold out situation in LNF T&C.
Sep 19, 2018, 9:27 am
#66
Join Date: Jul 2018
Programs: Starriott Plat Premier
Posts: 258
Anyone kind enough to offer (or PM me) some advice of getting a LNF rate for W Kuala Lumpur for early Jan 2019?
So far all the OTA sites I found are either higher or sold out.
Thanks
So far all the OTA sites I found are either higher or sold out.
Thanks
Sep 19, 2018, 1:35 pm
#67
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 37
LNF Response Times
Last Sunday I booked a stay in Dubai for September 28th to September 29th through Marriott.com. I noticed that the same room was offered at a lower rate (with same T&Cs) at a 3rd party booking site, so I submitted a LNF claim with this Comparison Rate. After submitting the claim I received an automated email stating that they've been experiencing more inquiries than usual and would respond as soon as possible. Since then, four days have past and I still haven't received a response. In the mean time, the Comparison Rate has first increased, surpassing the reserved rate, and currently is again below my reserved rate. Also, the Marriott rate has dropped below my rate (and is even lower than the Comparison Rate). What are the odds that my claim will be processed in time, let alone be approved? What's the best action to take now:
.
- Call them to inquire about my claim. Again, what are the odds that they will process my claim in time?
- Submit a new claim referring to the new Comparision Rate I found on the 3rd party booking site / Marriott. I guess this has the possibility of them denying my claim as it was submitted > 24 hours after placing my reservation?
- Cancel my initial reservation and rebook at the lower rate at Marriott.com?
.
Sep 20, 2018, 7:34 am
#68
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: IHG Spire Ambassador, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Platinum, SPG Gold
Posts: 413
Any good hotels to scout for LNF opportunities in Dubai / Istanbul ? (Mar 2019)
(besides StR IST , already have BRG approved)
Appreciated !
(besides StR IST , already have BRG approved)
Appreciated !
Sep 20, 2018, 7:40 am
#69
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,510
I submitted a claim yesterday which was denied. I wrote back with screenshots explaining that they compared the wrong room type. This is the response I got back:
Sounds like it could have been written by the BRG team in India. "We are professionals, we know what we are doing, so we're right. Claim denied." 
I am happy to respond to your additional message regarding Marriott's Look No Further(SM) Best Rate Guarantee.
I regret that the outcome of your claim submission was not what you anticipated and that I am unable to approve your claim for Marriott's Look No Further(SM) Best Rate Guarantee. Marriott's Look No Further (SM) Guarantee is governed by the program terms and conditions; these are available for review in an easily accessible public forum via our website, Marriott.com. Please visit the following web page to learn more:
http://www.marriott.com/hotel-rates/travel.mi
Just as every claim that we receive is bound by these terms and conditions, as are we in reviewing said comparisons. Should a claim fail to meet with even one of the terms or conditions, we have no choice but to summarily deny the claim.
I regret that the outcome of your claim submission was not what you anticipated and that I am unable to approve your claim for Marriott's Look No Further(SM) Best Rate Guarantee. Marriott's Look No Further (SM) Guarantee is governed by the program terms and conditions; these are available for review in an easily accessible public forum via our website, Marriott.com. Please visit the following web page to learn more:
http://www.marriott.com/hotel-rates/travel.mi
Just as every claim that we receive is bound by these terms and conditions, as are we in reviewing said comparisons. Should a claim fail to meet with even one of the terms or conditions, we have no choice but to summarily deny the claim.
Sep 20, 2018, 7:50 am
#70
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: SPG Platinum, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 235
I submitted a claim yesterday which was denied. I wrote back with screenshots explaining that they compared the wrong room type. This is the response I got back:
Sounds like it could have been written by the BRG team in India. "We are professionals, we know what we are doing, so we're right. Claim denied."
Sounds like it could have been written by the BRG team in India. "We are professionals, we know what we are doing, so we're right. Claim denied."
Sep 20, 2018, 8:39 am
#71
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,173
So does anyone know is non-refundable LNFs stay non-refundable if approved? Or do they change to flexible?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Sep 20, 2018, 8:43 am
#72
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Gold, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,713
Isn't the challenge with repeat efforts that you're usually then over the 24 hour limit and so if you made a Marriott booking it will no longer be eligible for LNF? This is what has been tripping me up - presumably not a problem if you're able to find a flex rate for BRG? I continually get the response "we're unable to see your rate" when I can see it pretty clearly and I've now given up.
Sep 20, 2018, 8:52 am
#73
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: SPG Platinum, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 235
Isn't the challenge with repeat efforts that you're usually then over the 24 hour limit and so if you made a Marriott booking it will no longer be eligible for LNF? This is what has been tripping me up - presumably not a problem if you're able to find a flex rate for BRG? I continually get the response "we're unable to see your rate" when I can see it pretty clearly and I've now given up.
If it's a non refundable rate just cancel and rebook. Most Marriott hotel have a 24h time frame for you to cancel, I will only book these type of non refundable rate.
Sep 20, 2018, 9:13 am
#74
Join Date: May 2003
Location: LCY
Programs: SQ Krisflyer, QR Privilege Club, MB LT Plt (1K+ nights thx MB)
Posts: 1,038
I got a very strange rejection based on that I had other already approved LNF claims in the same city at other hotels within the same week. And no I was not claiming the 5K points.
They quoted this part of the T&C:
"Claims made against only a portion of your entire scheduled stay will not be honored. Multiple claims for a stay consisting of two or more nights in the same week at the same Marriott hotel or Marriott hotels in the same geographic location (e.g. city) may be treated as one claim for one stay, even if booked through more than one reservation."
My understanding is that this is to stop people for getting 5K points by jumping hotels.
In fact this means that you cannot claim LNF rate within the same city unless your stays are more than one week apart ... I hate when these people try to pretend to be lawyers ...
They quoted this part of the T&C:
"Claims made against only a portion of your entire scheduled stay will not be honored. Multiple claims for a stay consisting of two or more nights in the same week at the same Marriott hotel or Marriott hotels in the same geographic location (e.g. city) may be treated as one claim for one stay, even if booked through more than one reservation."
My understanding is that this is to stop people for getting 5K points by jumping hotels.
In fact this means that you cannot claim LNF rate within the same city unless your stays are more than one week apart ... I hate when these people try to pretend to be lawyers ...
Sep 21, 2018, 10:33 am
#75
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: UK
Programs: Bonvoy Gold, AA Plat, Volare Premier, VS Silver, National Emerald Elite, Hertz President Circle
Posts: 2,526
Just had another claim rejected on the basis the competitor's rate I filed no longer exists. In the claim I gave them the precise link (and explained as well how to get it with amoma via hotelscombined). I clicked on the link that I sent them and the rate is still there. What would you do?