Points Programs Are To Expensive
Dec 30, 2006 | 1:33 pm
#17
Moderator: CommunityBuzz!, OMNI, OMNI/PR, and OMNI/Games & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: ORD (MDW stinks)
Programs: UAMM, AAMM & ExPlat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott lifetime Plat, IHG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 24,155
So nice to pick a point that applies to so few travelers.
FWIW, my company will not let us use PL or HW to book.
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Dec 30, 2006 | 4:33 pm
#18
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Mid-Atlantic
Programs: AA Plat, UA Silver, DL Silver, Marriott Titanium, etc.
Posts: 4,214
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.
Dec 30, 2006 | 11:45 pm
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .60 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 17,987
Do Priceline and Hotwire apply to international hotels?
Dec 31, 2006 | 1:16 pm
#20
Moderator: CommunityBuzz!, OMNI, OMNI/PR, and OMNI/Games & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: ORD (MDW stinks)
Programs: UAMM, AAMM & ExPlat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott lifetime Plat, IHG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 24,155
Dec 31, 2006 | 2:39 pm
#21
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: C6 - AKL
Programs: AA-1MM
Posts: 336
|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.)
Dec 31, 2006 | 6:11 pm
#22
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: UK
Programs: BA Blue, IC Spire Ambassador
Posts: 5,415
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.
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.
well my employer would never give a bonus back to the employee so there is no incentive to use discounters (on the employee's part).
and when I travel on my dime I will use priceline but usually not hotwire because hotwire is always more expensive than PL.
also it is not ALL about the points...
and when I travel on my dime I will use priceline but usually not hotwire because hotwire is always more expensive than PL.
also it is not ALL about the points...