Number of points for award night changes according to date?
Oct 14, 2015, 11:59 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LHR
Programs: M&M,HH Gold,Accor Plat.,Priority Club Plat. Ambassador,Club Carlson Gold,Marriott Gold,GHA Plat.
Posts: 1,627
Number of points for award night changes according to date?
Is it normal that the number of points required for a award night change according to the date?
e.g. normal price 70.000 pts but on specific nights it rises to 105.000?
In particular I can confirm that on that specific date and hotel, the standard points rate was 70.000 pts, but recently it grew up to 105.000!
Shouldn't be a fixed rate, based on hotel category? (this is what I recall).
thanks
e.g. normal price 70.000 pts but on specific nights it rises to 105.000?
In particular I can confirm that on that specific date and hotel, the standard points rate was 70.000 pts, but recently it grew up to 105.000!
Shouldn't be a fixed rate, based on hotel category? (this is what I recall).
thanks
Oct 15, 2015, 5:29 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: AGH
Posts: 5,961
105.000 is the "premium award", 70.000 the "standard award" category. Standard usually means standard room, no breakfast included, the premium means business class room and breakfast included. Depends very much on the property, look up the rate terms and conditions.
Why just the premium award is available? Probably the hotel is sold out on the standard rooms that night or the maximum number of standard awards for that particular night is already gone.
Why just the premium award is available? Probably the hotel is sold out on the standard rooms that night or the maximum number of standard awards for that particular night is already gone.
Oct 15, 2015, 2:49 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LHR
Programs: M&M,HH Gold,Accor Plat.,Priority Club Plat. Ambassador,Club Carlson Gold,Marriott Gold,GHA Plat.
Posts: 1,627
105.000 is the "premium award", 70.000 the "standard award" category. Standard usually means standard room, no breakfast included, the premium means business class room and breakfast included. Depends very much on the property, look up the rate terms and conditions.
Why just the premium award is available? Probably the hotel is sold out on the standard rooms that night or the maximum number of standard awards for that particular night is already gone.
Why just the premium award is available? Probably the hotel is sold out on the standard rooms that night or the maximum number of standard awards for that particular night is already gone.
Oct 15, 2015, 4:23 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: AGH
Posts: 5,961
No, same concept as on airlines. They do allocate a number of rooms available for awards a night, lets say 4 standard rooms and 1 business class room. As soon as 4 people book a standard award they will not open up more standard rooms because the awards were "sold out". They might open up more award space if they see the booking situation allows it closer to the date you're looking for.
Just because you still can book a room for cash doesn't mean you get it as award same like you cannot get a award flight just because there is a seat sold. The 70k for the standard award which means you are looking at a high tier hotel (perhaps even during some nice event or travel season) which might be a place others will appreciate as well and just have been quick enough to book before you did.
You can try to call the property and ask them to open up standard award for you but I doubt you will be successful.
Just because you still can book a room for cash doesn't mean you get it as award same like you cannot get a award flight just because there is a seat sold. The 70k for the standard award which means you are looking at a high tier hotel (perhaps even during some nice event or travel season) which might be a place others will appreciate as well and just have been quick enough to book before you did.
You can try to call the property and ask them to open up standard award for you but I doubt you will be successful.
Oct 16, 2015, 4:19 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LHR
Programs: M&M,HH Gold,Accor Plat.,Priority Club Plat. Ambassador,Club Carlson Gold,Marriott Gold,GHA Plat.
Posts: 1,627
No, same concept as on airlines. They do allocate a number of rooms available for awards a night, lets say 4 standard rooms and 1 business class room. As soon as 4 people book a standard award they will not open up more standard rooms because the awards were "sold out". They might open up more award space if they see the booking situation allows it closer to the date you're looking for.
Just because you still can book a room for cash doesn't mean you get it as award same like you cannot get a award flight just because there is a seat sold. The 70k for the standard award which means you are looking at a high tier hotel (perhaps even during some nice event or travel season) which might be a place others will appreciate as well and just have been quick enough to book before you did.
You can try to call the property and ask them to open up standard award for you but I doubt you will be successful.
Just because you still can book a room for cash doesn't mean you get it as award same like you cannot get a award flight just because there is a seat sold. The 70k for the standard award which means you are looking at a high tier hotel (perhaps even during some nice event or travel season) which might be a place others will appreciate as well and just have been quick enough to book before you did.
You can try to call the property and ask them to open up standard award for you but I doubt you will be successful.
....otherwise hotels could easily have the temptation to give availability for 1 standard room/night, then 1 business class room/night, then what else? maybe a suite? for how many points? 200.000 ?
Even if I follow your reasoning and partially agree on that, I'm not sure that this is the right path for this property, I mean in accordance with CC T&C.
Maybe I'm wrong, but it sounds weird.
Oct 16, 2015, 5:29 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Belfast
Posts: 398
Yep, I follow your reasoning, but since CC program states "no black out dates", it means that i should have the possibility to book a room everytime I want (except in fully booked hotels), for the standard award rate...
....otherwise hotels could easily have the temptation to give availability for 1 standard room/night, then 1 business class room/night, then what else? maybe a suite? for how many points? 200.000 ?
Even if I follow your reasoning and partially agree on that, I'm not sure that this is the right path for this property, I mean in accordance with CC T&C.
Maybe I'm wrong, but it sounds weird.
....otherwise hotels could easily have the temptation to give availability for 1 standard room/night, then 1 business class room/night, then what else? maybe a suite? for how many points? 200.000 ?
Even if I follow your reasoning and partially agree on that, I'm not sure that this is the right path for this property, I mean in accordance with CC T&C.
Maybe I'm wrong, but it sounds weird.
Oct 16, 2015, 7:46 am
#7
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: AGH
Posts: 5,961
Indeed, "no black out dates" means that even during special events or holidays like let's say Christmas they will allocate some room contingent as awards - but still there is a restriction on how many rooms.
In many other chain programs they allow the hotels to block out dates which are very popular. I got fantastic deals at Radisson during tradeshow weeks, public holidays or huge events in the city using the award room to save 400€ to 500€ per night.
Not sure how it is controlled though, i.E. how many rooms a hotel of a specific size needs to allocate and if it will be audited but you can call Club Carlson and ask them to investigate at the hotel, I heard sometimes they managed to open up a room.
In many other chain programs they allow the hotels to block out dates which are very popular. I got fantastic deals at Radisson during tradeshow weeks, public holidays or huge events in the city using the award room to save 400€ to 500€ per night.
Not sure how it is controlled though, i.E. how many rooms a hotel of a specific size needs to allocate and if it will be audited but you can call Club Carlson and ask them to investigate at the hotel, I heard sometimes they managed to open up a room.
Oct 16, 2015, 11:34 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LHR
Programs: M&M,HH Gold,Accor Plat.,Priority Club Plat. Ambassador,Club Carlson Gold,Marriott Gold,GHA Plat.
Posts: 1,627
Indeed, "no black out dates" means that even during special events or holidays like let's say Christmas they will allocate some room contingent as awards - but still there is a restriction on how many rooms.
In many other chain programs they allow the hotels to block out dates which are very popular. I got fantastic deals at Radisson during tradeshow weeks, public holidays or huge events in the city using the award room to save 400€ to 500€ per night.
Not sure how it is controlled though, i.E. how many rooms a hotel of a specific size needs to allocate and if it will be audited but you can call Club Carlson and ask them to investigate at the hotel, I heard sometimes they managed to open up a room.
In many other chain programs they allow the hotels to block out dates which are very popular. I got fantastic deals at Radisson during tradeshow weeks, public holidays or huge events in the city using the award room to save 400€ to 500€ per night.
Not sure how it is controlled though, i.E. how many rooms a hotel of a specific size needs to allocate and if it will be audited but you can call Club Carlson and ask them to investigate at the hotel, I heard sometimes they managed to open up a room.
my concerns are about the fact that the hotel management could be tempted to reduce the number of standard awards in order to get higher revenues. e.g. I know that e.g. a 70.000 pts standard award correspond to 89-109€ credited to the hotel by CC. A 105.000 pts award would result in a higher compensation.
Anyway I'll contact CC to have a chance for a standard room!
