Best rate guarantee - successes and failures 2008 on [Master Thread]
Jun 6, 2010, 7:05 pm
#451
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, AA Plat
Posts: 1,138
The last time I submitted my claim, it went beyond 48 hours, and by that time it was within 24 hours of my stay - I had almost written it off but I received a phone call from the BRG department apologizing for the delay and letting me know that they will approve the claim and allot the points even though the competing rate was no longer available. Terrific customer service! ^
Jun 6, 2010, 7:11 pm
#452
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,140
BRG filed yesterday 12:03.
BRG accepted today 14:31.
BRG accepted today 14:31.
Jun 7, 2010, 8:15 am
#453
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 326
The last time I submitted my claim, it went beyond 48 hours, and by that time it was within 24 hours of my stay - I had almost written it off but I received a phone call from the BRG department apologizing for the delay and letting me know that they will approve the claim and allot the points even though the competing rate was no longer available. Terrific customer service! ^
Jun 9, 2010, 5:58 am
#454
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 297
Does having a rate matched lock you into a prepaid rate that's not cancelable?
I am looking at the Istanbul Atakoy online for 200 Euro or so.... I found elsewhere for $210, if I ask for a price match can I still cancel it at a later date till a day before arrival?
Would prefer cash and points, but that's not available as all cheapest rooms are taken, only superior room which they offer for 11k points which I don't currently have...
Thanks
I am looking at the Istanbul Atakoy online for 200 Euro or so.... I found elsewhere for $210, if I ask for a price match can I still cancel it at a later date till a day before arrival?
Would prefer cash and points, but that's not available as all cheapest rooms are taken, only superior room which they offer for 11k points which I don't currently have...
Thanks
Jun 9, 2010, 1:46 pm
#455
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,140
No. I always get the BRG, then book a refundable room. They update the rate, but I've never had them change the cancellation conditions. I suppose they could change it, but they just never have for me.
Jun 9, 2010, 5:50 pm
#456
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium/LTG, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,921
BRG approved ^
Hotel: W New York (541 Lexington Ave)
Arrival Date: 11-Aug-10
Departure Date: 13-Aug-10
Room Type: Wonderful
Competing Website: easytobook.com
Competing Rate: $252 ++
SPG Rate: $349 ++
Took the 10% off $252 = $226.80 ++ pn.
Now do I risk staying in a shoe-box sized room ~200sqf (given the lack of PLT upgrades here).
Hotel: W New York (541 Lexington Ave)
Arrival Date: 11-Aug-10
Departure Date: 13-Aug-10
Room Type: Wonderful
Competing Website: easytobook.com
Competing Rate: $252 ++
SPG Rate: $349 ++
Took the 10% off $252 = $226.80 ++ pn.
Now do I risk staying in a shoe-box sized room ~200sqf (given the lack of PLT upgrades here).
Last edited by alanslegal; Jun 9, 2010 at 9:35 pm
Jun 9, 2010, 6:04 pm
#457
Join Date: Jun 2002
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Celebrity Cruises Elite Plus
Posts: 1,259
BRG approved ^
Hotel: W New York
Arrival Date: 11-Aug-10
Departure Date: 13-Aug-10
Room Type: Wonderful
Competing Website: easytobook.com
Competing Rate: $252 ++
SPG Rate: $349 ++
Took the 10% off $252 = $226.80 ++ pn.
Now do I risk staying in a shoe-box sized room ~200sqf (given the lack of PLT upgrades here).
Hotel: W New York
Arrival Date: 11-Aug-10
Departure Date: 13-Aug-10
Room Type: Wonderful
Competing Website: easytobook.com
Competing Rate: $252 ++
SPG Rate: $349 ++
Took the 10% off $252 = $226.80 ++ pn.
Now do I risk staying in a shoe-box sized room ~200sqf (given the lack of PLT upgrades here).
Jun 9, 2010, 9:36 pm
#458
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium/LTG, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,921
Jun 10, 2010, 10:01 am
#459
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 297
Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit
Not successful, what a bummer.
June 16-17
SPG price: 6,800 baht + taxes (8,000 total = $246)
GTAhotels.com price: $158 incl. breakfast
Didn't go through because of breakfast, does that make sense?
"As the competing rate that you have provided includes breakfast, it is considered a package rate and as a result I am also not able to approve this claim for you. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you.
The Best Rate Guarantee does not apply to rates that include additional services or amenities that are not provided by the hotel. These rates, called packaged rates, include extras that are paid for by a third-party, in this case gtahotels.com. Common examples of packaged rates are those that include breakfast or parking where this is actually paid for by a voucher or by a separate charge to the third-party."
June 16-17
SPG price: 6,800 baht + taxes (8,000 total = $246)
GTAhotels.com price: $158 incl. breakfast
Didn't go through because of breakfast, does that make sense?
"As the competing rate that you have provided includes breakfast, it is considered a package rate and as a result I am also not able to approve this claim for you. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you.
The Best Rate Guarantee does not apply to rates that include additional services or amenities that are not provided by the hotel. These rates, called packaged rates, include extras that are paid for by a third-party, in this case gtahotels.com. Common examples of packaged rates are those that include breakfast or parking where this is actually paid for by a voucher or by a separate charge to the third-party."
Jun 10, 2010, 10:11 am
#460
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Programs: SPG Plat
Posts: 5
2 out of 3 claims success 
1) Hotel Name: le meridien chiang mai, Thailand
Arrival Date: 06-26-2010
Departure Date: 06-27-2010
Number of Adults: 2
Room Type: deluxe
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate: 2400 baht
Company room provider: Hotels.com
Competing rate: 1802.24 baht
BRG reward: 2000 points
It was my first claim and it approved within a day.
and after that (the rate in hotels.com still 1802.24BHT while spg was 2400BHT) I send another claim in the same hotel with the different arrival date. At first I was quit upset bcoz it took me abt 48 hrs to wait for their response and I was pretty sure that it will be success like the first one. But turn out it was denied and the reason is that the rate in spg website was changed from 2400 to 1800 (I think they keep me waiting for 48hrs to adjust the rate in their website to deny my claim).
another success
2) Hotel Name: Sheraton Hua Hin resort and spa, Thailand
Arrival Date: 07-15-2010
Departure Date: 07-16-2010
Number of Adults: 2
Number of Rooms: 1
Room Type: Garden view
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate: 3300 BAHT
Company room provider: Orbitz.com
Competing rate: 3047.05 BAHT
BRG Reward: 2000 points
1) Hotel Name: le meridien chiang mai, Thailand
Arrival Date: 06-26-2010
Departure Date: 06-27-2010
Number of Adults: 2
Room Type: deluxe
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate: 2400 baht
Company room provider: Hotels.com
Competing rate: 1802.24 baht
BRG reward: 2000 points
It was my first claim and it approved within a day.
and after that (the rate in hotels.com still 1802.24BHT while spg was 2400BHT) I send another claim in the same hotel with the different arrival date. At first I was quit upset bcoz it took me abt 48 hrs to wait for their response and I was pretty sure that it will be success like the first one. But turn out it was denied and the reason is that the rate in spg website was changed from 2400 to 1800 (I think they keep me waiting for 48hrs to adjust the rate in their website to deny my claim).
another success
2) Hotel Name: Sheraton Hua Hin resort and spa, Thailand
Arrival Date: 07-15-2010
Departure Date: 07-16-2010
Number of Adults: 2
Number of Rooms: 1
Room Type: Garden view
Starwood Brand Web Site Room Rate: 3300 BAHT
Company room provider: Orbitz.com
Competing rate: 3047.05 BAHT
BRG Reward: 2000 points
Jun 10, 2010, 10:39 am
#461
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, AA Plat
Posts: 1,138
Jun 10, 2010, 10:46 am
#462
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Lafayette, CO, USA
Programs: SPG Lifetime Plat, AA Gold, UA Gold, DL Silver, HH Gold, Vail Epic
Posts: 9,096
And you can't expect a successful BRG claim against the 7,400 baht (+ taxes) rate on SPG.com which DOES include breakfast because that rate on SPG also includes "free" HSIA. (FWIW, the a la carte price for HSIA is 530 baht/day.)
You might could get a successful claim for the Grand Deluxe or the Grand Suite, though. By definition of the room description (regardless of the rate description), both of those room types include breakfast, butler service, evening cocktails, and HSIA.
Grand Deluxe: SPG.com: 9769 baht incl tax (US$300). gtahotels.com: $272.
Last edited by sc flier; Jun 10, 2010 at 10:53 am
Jun 10, 2010, 10:47 am
#463
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,140
Only because that's what the rules say.
That doesn't always do it either, because they make a distinction between hotel-provided breakfast and third-party-provided breakfast.
That doesn't always do it either, because they make a distinction between hotel-provided breakfast and third-party-provided breakfast.
Jun 10, 2010, 10:52 am
#464
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, AA Plat
Posts: 1,138
Jun 10, 2010, 10:59 am
#465
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,140