3 Reasons Not To Rely On Your Airline For A Hotel Room When Stranded Overnight [Roundup]

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About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Comments

  1. I thought that in order to get credit card flight delay coverage for a hotel room you have to document that the airline did not offer a free room. So if they offer a bad hotel room I can’t rely on my credit card. Am I wrong?

  2. Paying with a card that offers coverage is one thing, collecting from the “insurance” coverage is almost impossible. IMO these “insurance” providers are being inundated with claims and are asking for a mound of evidence and documentation, and when provided with said materials deny almost all claims. Just my personal experience (AA and Mastercard) and observation since the travel industry recovery. What we need are EURO style traveler rights to force the airline industry to treat its customers like human beings, not cattle.

  3. @Jeff, I did not need to provide proof to Chase Sapphire that an airline did or didn’t offer me a hotel room when my flight was cancelled. They never asked.

  4. The experience I read about involve first allowing the airline to provide the accommodation and provide a letter regarding the reason for the delay. Good luck with either.

    Failure to meet the requirements of the credit card benefit means no benefit. So it is a catch 22.

    I have had to abandon two credit card chase sapphire reserve claims due to total frustration and providing documents multiple times or not being able to get the documentation in English. It is a complete scam just like the airline bookings right now.

    I am not going to stand in line with the plebes. I was trained that when a flight is going south, immediately book a hotel and a car because both are going to be gone in 30 minutes. Then start identifying your flight options or what your next meal is.

    But, under all circumstances, first get where you are trying to be or go back home. Then fight it out. I will admit there is some value in hanging around for a bit to watch people yell at the staff.

  5. Thanks for the reminder regarding credit card coverage. Just had a terrible experience trying to get home being on hold for hours before the airline finally issued a room voucher. Though, contrary to what one of the commentators mentioned it was in a great hotel (maybe not the best room, but a good room). Ironically, a hotel I frequently stayed in before COVID and where a number of employees immediately recognized me, face covering and all!

  6. Gary, you know the credit card rules very well, you should be embarrassed by putting on that video IMPLYING that the second guy flying from deleware has a credit card insurance claim for travel delay when you good and well that flight crew delay staff issues are a non covered in the contract with credit card.

    Now, everyone here be aware, if delayed for a COVERED CONTRACT REASON, if you have your ticket on the CSR or RC visa, you can get your free hotel from the airline separately AND still if a overnight is involved you can still have your 500$ shopping for “necessities”. But do all that “”shopping” before your rebooked flight the next am.

  7. Flying is fraught with annoyances. If your flight is cancelled, get rebooked on another one. If that flight is not until the next day, find yourself a hotel room for the night. Don’t expect ANYONE else to take care of you, take care of yourself.

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