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Guest checking in prior to elite member

Guest checking in prior to elite member

Old Apr 24, 2019, 6:00 am
  #1  
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Guest checking in prior to elite member

I have a stay coming up in Abu Dhabi. I will arrive late evening, but my partner who lives in Abu Dhabi will check in before me. I believe hotel rules in general require the elite member to physically check in before lounge access can be given, so in theory my partner would not be able to access the lounge, thus leaving her somewhat perplexed. Has anybody had the same scenario of the other registered guest checking in first and either being granted or not being granted lounge access? Would it be worthwhile to contact my Ambassador?

Last edited by sabdhabi; Apr 24, 2019 at 6:07 am
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Old Apr 24, 2019, 6:29 am
  #2  
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It depends a lot on hotel and situation I guess.

I have had my mother arrive for a seperate room booked in my name where I arrived later, and she got all my Platinum (pre August 18) perks even if I had not arrived yet. She even got a much nicer upgrade than me. I had called, though, to get a note in the booking that she would be arriving before me for one of the two rooms I had booked
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Old Apr 24, 2019, 6:31 am
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I'd reach out to the hotel directly. Explain the situation and go from there. With the current state of affairs for Marriott Corporate customer (dis)service, I'd not rely upon them to do anything.
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Old Apr 24, 2019, 6:35 am
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Maybe it depends on the hotel, but typically lounge access is coded into the room key card. While I don't recall testing this by having someone else check in first, I would certainly hope you wouldn't have to get new key cards when you arrive at the hotel. Perhaps have your partner ask at check in if lounge access is on the card or if you'll need to get new cards? This will result in either 1) desk clerk ensuring access is keyed in or 2) explaining you will need new cards. If 2, then she can ask if it's possible, as a one time exception, to key the access because you'll be arriving late and don't want to stop for new keys. Worth a try.
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Old Apr 24, 2019, 6:40 am
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Call the property directly during the local business day and ask what arrangements need to be made. Chances are that the answer will be yes, but that if you do not eventually check in, the rack rate for a lounge access room will apply. If the answer is no, nothing to be done.
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Old Apr 24, 2019, 6:55 am
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Originally Posted by sabdhabi
............, thus leaving her somewhat perplexed.
I'm perplexed.

Can't you alleviate her being perplexed by explaining the rules to her prior to her checking in.
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Old Apr 24, 2019, 8:04 am
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Isn't the greater issue here that of checking in with a partner in the UAE than of elite membership? Understood that most hotels look the other way, but I wouldn't personally do anything that shines a light on the matter.
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Old Apr 24, 2019, 8:09 am
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If the person is a local, does he/she really need to arrive early? I understand that lounge access would mean free food (and drinks?), but it that really worth the hsssle?
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Old Apr 24, 2019, 8:29 am
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Often my partner and I arrive at different times. I just call the property and ask them to add his name to the reservation and advise he will be arriving sooner. I have never had a problem with him getting checked-in beforehand with lounge access and upgrades too. Usually, as of late, I am upgraded before my reservation date as a Titanium anyways.

James in Capetown.
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Old Apr 24, 2019, 8:41 am
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Originally Posted by arlflyer
Isn't the greater issue here that of checking in with a partner in the UAE than of elite membership? Understood that most hotels look the other way, but I wouldn't personally do anything that shines a light on the matter.
Weve stayed at this particular hotel three times, and never had any problems, as with other Marriott properties in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Originally Posted by MSPeconomist
If the person is a local, does he/she really need to arrive early? I understand that lounge access would mean free food (and drinks?), but it that really worth the hsssle?
Shes not a local. My flight arrives shortly before midnight, so I wouldnt want her hanging around until then.
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Old Apr 24, 2019, 8:47 am
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Originally Posted by sabdhabi
We’ve stayed at this particular hotel three times, and never had any problems, as with other Marriott properties in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Yes, understand letter vs. practice, have been a beneficiary thereof myself. Still, just was pointing out that maybe I'd be judicious in how much attention I would wish to draw through certain requests.


Originally Posted by sabdhabi
She’s not a local. My flight arrives shortly before midnight, so I wouldn’t want her hanging around until then.
"Liv[ing] in Abu Dhabi" (your first post) is a strange definition of not being a local. Do you just mean she isn't an Emirati? She is still locally-based, which is the point that people are raising here.
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Old Apr 24, 2019, 10:38 am
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I've done this several times and only had an issue once.where the hotel (a Sacramento area Marriott) was very aggressive, said they would upgrade the room when I arrived at the hotel and would re-key the key for lounge access when I arrived. Every other time, there has never been a problem. I normally have my guest added to the room through my ambassador but also have increasingly been using the chat function in the app to communicate with the hotel which is another option.
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Old Apr 24, 2019, 12:18 pm
  #13  
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Originally Posted by sabdhabi
I have a stay coming up in Abu Dhabi. I will arrive late evening, but my partner who lives in Abu Dhabi will check in before me. I believe hotel rules in general require the elite member to physically check in before lounge access can be given, so in theory my partner would not be able to access the lounge, thus leaving her somewhat perplexed. Has anybody had the same scenario of the other registered guest checking in first and either being granted or not being granted lounge access? Would it be worthwhile to contact my Ambassador?
If your partner is of the opposite sex, be careful as some UAE hotels are strict and don't allow unmarried couples of opposite genders to share a single room.

I've had reservations at hotels and had my father or brother arrive before me. It was never a problem, but I always alerted the hotel ahead of time using the Marriott mobile application that it would happen. The other person always received my elite status benefits.
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Old Apr 24, 2019, 4:12 pm
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Originally Posted by itravelalot
If your partner is of the opposite sex, be careful as some UAE hotels are strict and don't allow unmarried couples of opposite genders to share a single room.

I've had reservations at hotels and had my father or brother arrive before me. It was never a problem, but I always alerted the hotel ahead of time using the Marriott mobile application that it would happen. The other person always received my elite status benefits.
I'm from UAE visted most SPG and Marriott hotels plus other chains, this information is wrong.
Just let them know and they well let any one in the room without any problems.
Some hotels well not give access to the lounge until you come!
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Old Apr 24, 2019, 4:50 pm
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don't count on it. I had a note in a recent reservation that my wife will be checking earlier than me as I was flying into town t-con that day. Turned out after some MX delays I arrived at 11 p.m. to find my wife waiting in the lobby because they refused to give her a room key. Same address, same last name, note added to reservation ... the monkeys at check-in didn't care. Needless to say I won't be going back to this property, but having a note added to the reservation may not yield anything.
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