I haven’t needed a LaGuardia airport overnight in a decade. Usually I find myself out by JFK. The Marriott is pretty close and seemed likely to be decent enough.
Recently I shared that this hotel and others were pricing for a lot less on Citi’s travel website than booking direct. I booked the night through Citi, even though that meant I wasn’t entitled to Marriott benefits during the stay.
- This is a ‘third party booking channel’ that doesn’t qualify for elite benefits or Bonvoy points.
- But I didn’t feel like I’d be giving up that much on a one-night airport stay anyway, so I preferred not to spend extra mone on those benefits.
- Still, just because the benefits weren’t guaranteed didn’t mean I wouldn’t receive them?
Sometimes those of us who know the rules can come out behind versus those who are clueless and just ask for things they aren’t formally entitled to. Since we know what to expect, we don’t ask outside that lane.
When I checked into the hotel, though, I simple asked the front desk clear, “do you have my Marriott Platinum number on file?”
- He said he did not
- But he happily entered it
- He told me about the club lounge and asked if I wanted the bonus points as my check-in amenity?
I considered booking the higher rate because lounge access might give me a free bottle of water. Then I realized I could buy the bottle of water with the room rate savings, and have money left over! Well, I went to visit the club lounge, which had a fairly sad buffet out in the evening. The door was open and the lounge was unstaffed, I suppose anyone could have gone in whether they formally had access or not. And there was a wall of bottled water to take as you wish.
There’s the way that the progam is supposed to work in theory – the rules say you aren’t entitled to benefits on third party bookings. But is the average member supposed to even know what this means? Does every hotel guest checking in even remember how their booking was made, or know what tool was used if it was made by an assistant?
David Flueck, who has run the program and who leaves Marriott next month after 22 combined years there and with Starwood before it promised when Bonvoy launched that third party bookings would continue to earn points and benefits. That lasted only a few months. But much of what the program promises doesn’t get delivered on-property. So is it any surprise that sometimes what the program say shouldn’t happen does?
My point is that you don’t have to say, “look I know I’m not entitled to this but…” Just ask as though it’s only natural to assume what you’re requesting is reasonable. The worst they can say is no! (Don’t argue if they do.) You might even save money on the rate, and earn 12 Citi points per dollar on the booking with a Strata Elite card to boot.
As long as Gary gets his free brecky, that’s all that matters… the rest of y’all can go Bonvoyourselves!
@Gene… what’s your hot take here?
Its BS — you STILL PAY THE HOTEL and are LOYAL to the brand — but bc you didnt buy it from them — you get NOTHING — NO MORE MARRIOTT —
@Don — It sure does feel like that: “You get nothing! You lose! Good day, sir!”
When I book using a Delta Stays or United Chase credit I either call or email the hotel beforehand and ask that they add my membership number to the reservation. They are always happy to do so. This often triggers a loyalty benefit without me even asking.
With IHG I often get a welcome amenity and/or upgrade out of it. With Hilton recently they recognized my Gold status and upgraded me to a club floor and gave me the breakfast buffet to boot. This was also a one night stay at an airport hotel in Amsterdam.