Ever turn down a discount?
 

Just checked into a hotel paying a rate of around $119. In conversation I mentioned I was doing work for the local government office and the hotel person said "oh, you qualify for our govt rate which is $77". I thanked her and took the discount. In hindsight, taking the discount doesn't help me at all. My company pays my expenses, I don't get any % for saving the company and I lose out a little bit on my 2% cashback for my credit card and I think get fewer hotel points due to a lower price.

Have you guys ever turned down a discount for the reason I mentioned (losing a % of cashback or getting less points/miles?

Yes, incurred personal cost/reducing personal savings for the good of the corp.

Hotels: Never been offered a lower rate at the hotel, but prior to arrival booked rates that were lower than the corporate rate. (This can be a more involved discussion as some corporations need to hit occupancy goals to keep corporate rates).

Airlines: Drove to further airports to save (corporate) money on flights that connected through the same airport that I'd preferred to originate from.

You may even find a way to tactfully mention to your boss how you saved the your company $40+/night (don't forget taxes).

yup.
I refuse coupons that I have applied to rentals because later I saw that I wont get miles if i have coupons...
so in that case yes...
In the case of getting the higher rate, be sure that your boss sees who charges more vs less... so it will be in your plus to save $$, especially in today's environment...

Never quite been in that position.. but I can say with confidence that I wouldn't allow my company to overpay by $42 a night so that I could pocket 84 cents. I do know that many on this board would do it for a nickel, however.

Never. If I can save the company money, and it doesn't hurt me, it's best for all.

Off to the TB forum.

Just the last week I booked a trip through corporate travel website. The next day my co-worker was booking the same trip, and the price (for the same booking class) went down $300. I called the agency and asked to check if the ticket had no-cost 24-hours cancellation. The travel agent then rebooked the ticket and it saved money to the company. Would I do it if the cheaper fare opened up in a lower booking class that would qualify for less miles? Probably not...

bargains
 

Absolutely. I once received a coupon for a discount on travel in North America on NWA. The prices looked reasonable to me. I called the number and the agent found schedules that worked for me. At the last minute I inquired how much the trip would cost without the coupon. About $80 less!

It's unbelievable to me that someone would think that saving money for their company isn't good for them. I would hate to have a job (or employee) like that.

Penny wise pound foolish to do that.

I always try to get the lowest priced cost for travel - within reason. I'm not going to take the 3 hr layover to save the company $100. But if I am offered a discount, you bet I'll take it, even if it means fewer points/miles/cashback.

At some point you will inevitably have that $2000 flight or $500/night hotel room or the $500 dinner. If you have a history of being frugal, a 1 time extravagance will most likely be looked at, just as that, a one off. But if you're constantly racking up the most expensive hotel/airline options, you'll most likely be scrutinized.

There needs to be a balance.. can't live for the points, as loyalty programs are a perk, not an entitlement.

Saving $$$ is project one.. loyalty points are project number two.

Shouldn't do everything for the sake of collecting points or saving money neither.

There has to be a balance, and a willingness to adjust personal prohibitions and habits to making a better life for yourself and others.

For example, why drive accross town, just to save a few bucks, when its' more convenient within the vicinity?

Like Acien said, it's all about balance. That being said there are still people that will drive across town for gas thats 5 cents cheaper.

I think that some loyalty programs are designed to do just that: motivate employees to go for more expensive options in order to maximize gain to the detriment of the employer/customer who is paying.

When it comes to travel for work, all I ask for is "reasonable". Don't make me endure stupid connections and I will do my best to keep the expenses low. Make me stay to a hotel that is far away and otherwise inconvenient and I will not take the lower rate if offered. Employment is a partnership that works best when both parties are happy.

yeah when the rate excludes breakfast

In your case, no I would not turn that down (there's a thread in another forum about corporate rates that are sometimes offered when they ask who you are visiting, I always accept those).

Would I stay at a Best Western that has bullet proof glass all around the check in counter to save the company $40 a night? Not a chance. But I would never turn down a discount offered at checkin because I would rather have the two extra points or whatever at the end of the trip.

Keeping my travel budget low can mean the difference between making one or two more trips that year or not, I'd always go for the extra trips.