vanishing Go Fast awards
Jul 13, 2015, 1:53 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: BOS
Programs: UA Silver, DL, AA
Posts: 164
vanishing Go Fast awards
Is it me or are Go Fast awards disappearing at Wyndham properties almost across the board?
When the new program was first announced, there were lots of options for booking hotels at the Go Fast rate.
I signed up for Wyndham's recent promotion and earned enough miles to book one hotel night at the Go Fast rate. But now when I search, I can't find places offering the points-and-cash option, even at ones that were available before. Even if I book months in advance, I'm finding no availability.
I just did a search for a November weeknight in Los Angeles and of 84 hotels, NOT ONE shows Go Fast as an option.
Am I doing something wrong or have Wyndham hotels wholesale opted out of the Go Fast program?
When the new program was first announced, there were lots of options for booking hotels at the Go Fast rate.
I signed up for Wyndham's recent promotion and earned enough miles to book one hotel night at the Go Fast rate. But now when I search, I can't find places offering the points-and-cash option, even at ones that were available before. Even if I book months in advance, I'm finding no availability.
I just did a search for a November weeknight in Los Angeles and of 84 hotels, NOT ONE shows Go Fast as an option.
Am I doing something wrong or have Wyndham hotels wholesale opted out of the Go Fast program?
Jul 13, 2015, 4:38 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: MN, USA
Posts: 246
Is it me or are Go Fast awards disappearing at Wyndham properties almost across the board?
When the new program was first announced, there were lots of options for booking hotels at the Go Fast rate.
I signed up for Wyndham's recent promotion and earned enough miles to book one hotel night at the Go Fast rate. But now when I search, I can't find places offering the points-and-cash option, even at ones that were available before. Even if I book months in advance, I'm finding no availability.
I just did a search for a November weeknight in Los Angeles and of 84 hotels, NOT ONE shows Go Fast as an option.
Am I doing something wrong or have Wyndham hotels wholesale opted out of the Go Fast program?
When the new program was first announced, there were lots of options for booking hotels at the Go Fast rate.
I signed up for Wyndham's recent promotion and earned enough miles to book one hotel night at the Go Fast rate. But now when I search, I can't find places offering the points-and-cash option, even at ones that were available before. Even if I book months in advance, I'm finding no availability.
I just did a search for a November weeknight in Los Angeles and of 84 hotels, NOT ONE shows Go Fast as an option.
Am I doing something wrong or have Wyndham hotels wholesale opted out of the Go Fast program?
Jul 14, 2015, 9:57 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: BOS
Programs: UA Silver, DL, AA
Posts: 164
This is extremely disappointing.
I like Wyndham's move to develop its membership rewards program, and I think it's a good strategy to get people to book directly rather than through third-party travel sites.
But this points-and-cash pillar of the program seems to be crumbling, with the vast majority of properties opting out.
I made an effort to earn Wyndham points on my last hotel stay, and now it seems that my incentive for doing so has gone down.
I like Wyndham's move to develop its membership rewards program, and I think it's a good strategy to get people to book directly rather than through third-party travel sites.
But this points-and-cash pillar of the program seems to be crumbling, with the vast majority of properties opting out.
I made an effort to earn Wyndham points on my last hotel stay, and now it seems that my incentive for doing so has gone down.
Jul 16, 2015, 11:27 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Florida
Programs: IHG, American airlines , BA club and others
Posts: 81
I've noticed the same thing. I was looking at a few properties that were showing GoFast rate just a few weeks ago. Well, now, they are not available. This program is very unstable.
Jul 20, 2015, 8:53 am
#8
Company Representative - Wyndham Rewards
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: Wyndham Rewards
Posts: 395
Please keep in mind, not all Wyndham Rewards Hotels participate in the go fast Award Program. They have the option to opt in or out at any time.
Is it me or are Go Fast awards disappearing at Wyndham properties almost across the board?
When the new program was first announced, there were lots of options for booking hotels at the Go Fast rate.
I signed up for Wyndham's recent promotion and earned enough miles to book one hotel night at the Go Fast rate. But now when I search, I can't find places offering the points-and-cash option, even at ones that were available before. Even if I book months in advance, I'm finding no availability.
I just did a search for a November weeknight in Los Angeles and of 84 hotels, NOT ONE shows Go Fast as an option.
Am I doing something wrong or have Wyndham hotels wholesale opted out of the Go Fast program?
When the new program was first announced, there were lots of options for booking hotels at the Go Fast rate.
I signed up for Wyndham's recent promotion and earned enough miles to book one hotel night at the Go Fast rate. But now when I search, I can't find places offering the points-and-cash option, even at ones that were available before. Even if I book months in advance, I'm finding no availability.
I just did a search for a November weeknight in Los Angeles and of 84 hotels, NOT ONE shows Go Fast as an option.
Am I doing something wrong or have Wyndham hotels wholesale opted out of the Go Fast program?
Jul 20, 2015, 4:57 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 4
I think the issue is that the vast majority are opting out, making the whole 3,000 point thing a waste. I know I am a new Wyndham Rewards customer and even have the Wyndham card, and I'm already discouraged by the lack of point options and very low value. I was literally looking for another hotel card right now as I'm not sure how much true value there will be for me long term.
Found a hotel in St. Louis, the go fast option was 3k points and $75 a night. Or, I could just pay and it is $88. Wow, saves me $13, gee thanks. One area l had 29 hotels come up and only 2 had the go fast option. My top four choices are unavailable for go free. Sigh.
Anyone know how quickly the points expire, it may take me a while to use them all at this rate! Now checking other chains for my trips.
EDIT - If I use my card from time to time it will generate points, will that keep my account active and keep points from expiring?
Found a hotel in St. Louis, the go fast option was 3k points and $75 a night. Or, I could just pay and it is $88. Wow, saves me $13, gee thanks. One area l had 29 hotels come up and only 2 had the go fast option. My top four choices are unavailable for go free. Sigh.
Anyone know how quickly the points expire, it may take me a while to use them all at this rate! Now checking other chains for my trips.
EDIT - If I use my card from time to time it will generate points, will that keep my account active and keep points from expiring?
Last edited by SlowDown; Jul 20, 2015 at 5:50 pm
Jul 21, 2015, 7:36 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Florida
Programs: IHG, American airlines , BA club and others
Posts: 81
@SlowDown Unless they changed the policy, Wyndham points expire after 18 months of inactivity and 4 years overall. So, there is no way to save the points once they sit around for 4 years, but if you use your card occasionally, you should be fine up untill that point.
I don't know how many Wyndham points you have at the moment, but IMO they are best used for expensive properties, not those that go for $88 per night. It's not that it's wrong to burn them on those, you'll just get a much better return elsewhere. Doctor of Credit blog has put together a list of some very nice hotels that currently go for 15,000 points per night http://www.doctorofcredit.com/best-w...-a-free-night/ I hope it's OK to link to it? If not, Mods, feel free to remove it. It's not my blog an I have no incentive to link to the post.
Anyway, if your vacation plans match up, those places are where you would want to burn your points. I'm going to stay at Wyndham Grand Rio Mar in Puerto Rico in March. We got a Jr. Suite that goes for $439 per night for only 15,000 points. There are some beachfront properties in Florida as well. You need to be flexible, as some hotels pull availability now and again. It's an odd program, for sure, but there are sweet spots. I hope you can leverage your points for something nice. How this helps!
I don't know how many Wyndham points you have at the moment, but IMO they are best used for expensive properties, not those that go for $88 per night. It's not that it's wrong to burn them on those, you'll just get a much better return elsewhere. Doctor of Credit blog has put together a list of some very nice hotels that currently go for 15,000 points per night http://www.doctorofcredit.com/best-w...-a-free-night/ I hope it's OK to link to it? If not, Mods, feel free to remove it. It's not my blog an I have no incentive to link to the post.
Anyway, if your vacation plans match up, those places are where you would want to burn your points. I'm going to stay at Wyndham Grand Rio Mar in Puerto Rico in March. We got a Jr. Suite that goes for $439 per night for only 15,000 points. There are some beachfront properties in Florida as well. You need to be flexible, as some hotels pull availability now and again. It's an odd program, for sure, but there are sweet spots. I hope you can leverage your points for something nice. How this helps!
Jul 22, 2015, 5:42 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 4
@SlowDown Unless they changed the policy, Wyndham points expire after 18 months of inactivity and 4 years overall. So, there is no way to save the points once they sit around for 4 years, but if you use your card occasionally, you should be fine up untill that point.
I don't know how many Wyndham points you have at the moment, but IMO they are best used for expensive properties, not those that go for $88 per night. It's not that it's wrong to burn them on those, you'll just get a much better return elsewhere. Doctor of Credit blog has put together a list of some very nice hotels that currently go for 15,000 points per night http://www.doctorofcredit.com/best-w...-a-free-night/ I hope it's OK to link to it? If not, Mods, feel free to remove it. It's not my blog an I have no incentive to link to the post.
Anyway, if your vacation plans match up, those places are where you would want to burn your points. I'm going to stay at Wyndham Grand Rio Mar in Puerto Rico in March. We got a Jr. Suite that goes for $439 per night for only 15,000 points. There are some beachfront properties in Florida as well. You need to be flexible, as some hotels pull availability now and again. It's an odd program, for sure, but there are sweet spots. I hope you can leverage your points for something nice. How this helps!
I don't know how many Wyndham points you have at the moment, but IMO they are best used for expensive properties, not those that go for $88 per night. It's not that it's wrong to burn them on those, you'll just get a much better return elsewhere. Doctor of Credit blog has put together a list of some very nice hotels that currently go for 15,000 points per night http://www.doctorofcredit.com/best-w...-a-free-night/ I hope it's OK to link to it? If not, Mods, feel free to remove it. It's not my blog an I have no incentive to link to the post.
Anyway, if your vacation plans match up, those places are where you would want to burn your points. I'm going to stay at Wyndham Grand Rio Mar in Puerto Rico in March. We got a Jr. Suite that goes for $439 per night for only 15,000 points. There are some beachfront properties in Florida as well. You need to be flexible, as some hotels pull availability now and again. It's an odd program, for sure, but there are sweet spots. I hope you can leverage your points for something nice. How this helps!
I was not considering using points for an $88 property by any means, it was just a hotel that was high up in a search I did and I could not believe how little value the points had at that location and it made me laugh that they even offered it!
I am searching the properties for a few good places to use my points at, I'm no world traveler unfortunately but there are still plenty of neat places I'd like to go see and a free stay will help me afford the trip more easily for sure. Still learning, but I also now have two other hotel cards to hit my spend on, Wyndham will be the lowest in importance for me now though still a good option.
I did get over 9,000 points so far with my fist two days stay, and I'll have more coming when the card posts its points. Not bad for a small stay!
Aug 20, 2015, 11:14 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: BOS
Programs: UA Silver, DL, AA
Posts: 164
I take back everything I said about vanishing availability.
I'm finding good rewards availability largely across the board at many of the properties I'm trying to stay at (including over the Labor Day holiday weekend).
I'm not sure what I was doing wrong at the time I made this original post... maybe it was just a temporary website glitch at the time I was looking. It seems if properties are opting out of the program, it's not that many.
I'm back to being a big fan of the new Wyndham Rewards program.
I'm finding good rewards availability largely across the board at many of the properties I'm trying to stay at (including over the Labor Day holiday weekend).
I'm not sure what I was doing wrong at the time I made this original post... maybe it was just a temporary website glitch at the time I was looking. It seems if properties are opting out of the program, it's not that many.
I'm back to being a big fan of the new Wyndham Rewards program.
Aug 20, 2015, 2:08 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Champaign, IL
Programs: Total Rewards Diamond, Wyndham Diamond, Marriott Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 564
I can only really find the 15,000 point redemption option. The Cash + points is maybe available on 1 out of 20 or 30 hotels.
Some of the cash + points options are ridiculous too. Example -- normal price $100 -- Cash + Points price -- $85 + 3,000 points.
EDIT: Whoah! Holy Cow. I just searched Chicago and you are right! Last night all this stuff wasn't there!
Some of the cash + points options are ridiculous too. Example -- normal price $100 -- Cash + Points price -- $85 + 3,000 points.
EDIT: Whoah! Holy Cow. I just searched Chicago and you are right! Last night all this stuff wasn't there!
Last edited by pwd847; Aug 20, 2015 at 2:14 pm
Aug 21, 2015, 9:12 am
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: BOS
Programs: UA Silver, DL, AA
Posts: 164
I really appreciate having the option to pay outright and earn points when I want, and use a small amount of points and pay that co-pay when I want. Wyndham is giving choices and if one option seems so much better than the other, you're free to take it.