The Wall Street Journal‘s Middle Seat Blog reports that in response to criticisms on Flyertalk, Starwood will no longer charge a customer who no shows (or cancels past the deadline) an award night the hotel’s rack rate. Instead, they’ll charge the hotel’s prevailing rate.
I still wish they would just forfeit the award points that would otherwise have been used for the stay, but at least this is less egregious than their previous practice.
My cancellation rate for my next Starwood “free night” stay is $1,600.
Please ambulance driver, let’s stop by the hotel first so I can check-in!
I had the Platinum desk call and beg the hotel to just take the award night instead and it worked, however, that should be standard policy. Give me a break Starwood!