i dont get it.. if you think they are too expensive, dont use them.

DUH !!! no kidding if I was getting a bonus back on how much money I saved my company I probably would do more hotwire or priceline.

So nice to pick a point that applies to so few travelers.:rolleyes:

FWIW, my company will not let us use PL or HW to book.

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Hotwire Never has been Cheaper for Me
 

I have never once found Hotwire to be cheaper (after accounting for total net cost for the room) than booking directly with my preferred hotel. Bidding with Priceline might get a lower cost, but you won't get future rooms for free from earned points, so it would have to be substantially cheaper. Of course, YMMV.

Do Priceline and Hotwire apply to international hotels?

PL does, do not know about HW.

|I have always had problems with hotwire and priceline with hotel switching. I understand that they do not do this anymore (this was years ago), but I would rather have a certain level of certainty in my booking and how it was done. I regularly buy cheap fares that do not accrue full miles (but they have to be significantly cheaper.)

That's it exactly -there is no Benefit in kind for NOT being part of a reward programme with my company either, plus, it can work out cheaper if you want something like a suite, as an IC Platinum RA member, I get upgraded wherever I stay (within the IC hotels group) and it pays dividends every time.

The other benefit is the guaranteed room availability which has saved me from staying miles away from a last-minute meeting. But I do accept that frequent traveller programmes are not worth it unless you stay fairly frequently at hotels.

As I am a director in the organization I work for, I don't have a budget enforced for my hotel/flights, so price isn't really an issue. But I suppose if you can get exactly the same room for a cheaper price, then you may as well go for the cheaper option, as I keep telling people "further down" the line of command; they need to economize!

Happy Travelling.