New 14 day cancellation policy for awards? (Now clarified by SPG - it's not the case)
Jul 21, 2007, 8:46 pm
#31
Join Date: Oct 2004
Programs: Darth Vader of AMEX, A ladys best friend of Hilton, Pt78 of SPG, *G ,*S, ANA VIP
Posts: 3,933
well
if you dont show up, why in earth should the hotel be able to bill you the rackrate ?
they should take the points for the one night and thats it.
i guess this will be covered through amex insurance, but its just ridiculous if they take the points + cash.
dp
they should take the points for the one night and thats it.
i guess this will be covered through amex insurance, but its just ridiculous if they take the points + cash.
dp
Jul 21, 2007, 8:54 pm
#32
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: Bonvoy Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, Hertz Gold
Posts: 1,388
I hope this is not true for every hotel.
Jul 21, 2007, 9:04 pm
#33
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Calgary
Programs: AC, AA, SPG
Posts: 776
I'm not going to get excited about this until William let's us know if it's just a bug or not. I have a feeling the phone agents are right and the web is wrong, it's just not worth getting worked up over until we know for sure.
Jul 21, 2007, 10:02 pm
#34
Join Date: Apr 2004
Programs: Marriott LT Titanium, AA 1MM, UA 1MM
Posts: 369
This would definitely be bad news. Would it mean that we couldn't book awards within 14 days?
Jul 21, 2007, 10:03 pm
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SF CA USA. I love large faceless corporations. And they cherish me in return (sometimes). ;)
Programs: UA Premier Gold/disappointed 1MM, HH Gold, IHG Plat, MB Gold, BW Diam Sel
Posts: 17,575
I have an existing award reservation (booked about a week ago, i.e., before the unveiling of the new spg.com) on which the cancel policy is just one day prior. Hopefully, the new cancel policy (if such there really is) will NOT apply retroactively. @:-)
In any case, though, I sincerely hope that 14 days is NOT the new systemwide SPG award cancel policy, given the draconian penalties that can apply!
In any case, though, I sincerely hope that 14 days is NOT the new systemwide SPG award cancel policy, given the draconian penalties that can apply!
Jul 21, 2007, 10:21 pm
#36
Join Date: Nov 2002
Programs: MTD pass holder
Posts: 1,142
For the last five years I have directed most of my business to Starwood. If this 14 days is the new policy Hilton will get my future business.
Jul 22, 2007, 2:05 am
#37
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Fear not about the "new cancel policy" being stuck to previously made reservations, but no harm with being prepared with printouts and saved emails/screenshots showing the standing cancellation terms for award reservation you made before the "14 days prior" went into play.
Jul 22, 2007, 5:36 am
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2003
Location: AA Plat / UA NOTHING / Alaska 75K / Hyatt Diamond / SPG LT Plat / Marriott Gold / Priority Club Plat / Hertz Pres
Posts: 24,709
Jul 22, 2007, 6:48 am
#39
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: MIA, DRS
Programs: LH SEN, BA GOLD, SPG PLATINUM, MR GOLD, AX CENTURION, etc.
Posts: 110
If this is true, it is just another reason to transfer my Starpoints to my pref. airline FF-Programs ...
I still hope that it is just a system error.
I still hope that it is just a system error.
Jul 22, 2007, 7:20 am
#40
Join Date: Jun 2004
Programs: No More Loyalty
Posts: 608
Let's hope the 14 day thing isn't true.
But I'm still shocked to learn that a property supposedly can charge a cash penalty (of their own choosing, apparently) on a stay paid with points. There's something wrong with that whole concept. The points they agreed to take in the first place makes them whole regardless if I stay or not.
Isn't it akin to a property on a cash stay trying to take your car if you are a no show? What's the connection between one and the other?
But I'm still shocked to learn that a property supposedly can charge a cash penalty (of their own choosing, apparently) on a stay paid with points. There's something wrong with that whole concept. The points they agreed to take in the first place makes them whole regardless if I stay or not.
Isn't it akin to a property on a cash stay trying to take your car if you are a no show? What's the connection between one and the other?
Jul 22, 2007, 7:58 am
#41
Join Date: Oct 2004
Programs: Darth Vader of AMEX, A ladys best friend of Hilton, Pt78 of SPG, *G ,*S, ANA VIP
Posts: 3,933
william
i know it is a weekend, but i tought that a lurker like william would join us on weekends too on FT 
so maybe we wait until tommoro and william will confirmt that it is a mistake.
dp
so maybe we wait until tommoro and william will confirmt that it is a mistake.
dp
Jul 22, 2007, 9:55 am
#42
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Toronto (YYZ)
Posts: 6,279
What I'd like to know is if I book an award for a stay and I show up and there are no rooms available can I charge Starwood the rate of my choice as in compensation for being walked?
More and more the hotel industry has been taking on the same tactics as the airlines. Charging more for award booking, cancellation fees etc...
Sounds like we frequent guests should start to lobby for a "guest stay of rights bill" Oh how the tides would turn if that room was not ready by 4pm and the hotel had to pay out compensation.
The knife cuts both ways.
More and more the hotel industry has been taking on the same tactics as the airlines. Charging more for award booking, cancellation fees etc...
Sounds like we frequent guests should start to lobby for a "guest stay of rights bill" Oh how the tides would turn if that room was not ready by 4pm and the hotel had to pay out compensation.
The knife cuts both ways.
Jul 22, 2007, 12:53 pm
#43
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: SLC, UT
Programs: SPG Plat, HH Diamond, AA LT Gold, SouthWest Comp Pass
Posts: 185
I just called in and questioned the policy with an SPG agent. I was told that if I booked the hotel though her, the cancellation policy was 6pm day of arrival, but if I booked it online through spg.com I would be subject to the 14 day cancellation policy. So two different policies at the same hotel. The only difference being how they are booked. This is crazy!!!
I had her go speak to a supervisor and she came back and confirmed it. She did say the issue "may" be temporary, but couldn't confirm it as a bug nor as an official policy change.
Lets hope it is just a bug. I can't call in for all my redemptions...
I had her go speak to a supervisor and she came back and confirmed it. She did say the issue "may" be temporary, but couldn't confirm it as a bug nor as an official policy change.
Lets hope it is just a bug. I can't call in for all my redemptions...
Jul 22, 2007, 12:57 pm
#44
Join Date: Nov 2002
Programs: MTD pass holder
Posts: 1,142
I hope the 14 day rule is a mistake, and if it is not that Starwood rethinks and changes it. If not how about this approach. I book an award room 30 days in advance and concurrently book 3 or 4 revenue rooms that have no cancellation penalty. This might be done in someone else’s name. On day 15 if there is any question about my planned use of the award room I cancel it. On day 13 I cancel all of the revenue rooms which should make them available for award reservations. On day 13 I also make a new award reservation that does not have the 14 day restriction. I am not suggesting that I wood do this, but thought it could be discussed.
Jul 22, 2007, 1:40 pm
#45
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Calgary
Programs: AC, AA, SPG
Posts: 776
- If the hotel oversold it's standard rooms by 3 or more this would not work. Those rooms don't instantly appear back into standard inventory.
- If you rebook at 13 days you would be past the 14 day penalty so now you are stuck no matter what, no cancellation possible.
Until we hear from William or SPG why not just call to book an award, then you have the normal cancellation policy! Again, it's too early to get excited about this.
- If you rebook at 13 days you would be past the 14 day penalty so now you are stuck no matter what, no cancellation possible.
Until we hear from William or SPG why not just call to book an award, then you have the normal cancellation policy! Again, it's too early to get excited about this.