Call Ahead or Wait until Check In in Frequent Guest Programs Forum

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mozart1999	Call Ahead or Wait until Check In	Lead	[-]
Posts: 28 08/13/03 3:37 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tags : None I want to know more about others experiences in this matter. Is it better to call ahead and add Your Frequent Number and Your preferences and to try and get an Up-grade if You are something of an elite member in the program. Or just wait and try it at Check In. Those this change if You are going to check in late ? Is it good to try to Check In early by Phone ? Thank You.
ErinH1	Re: Call Ahead or Wait until Check In	#1	[-]
Posts: 330 08/14/03 1:23 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Most of my stays are with Hyatt and, yes, I always call ahead to add my GP number to the reservation. I've been told that Hyatts receive a list each night of Diamond members who are checking in the following day. I also call the 1-800-checkin number to checkin early via the phone on day of arrival. I don't know if other chains have this feature, but it works well with Hyatts. Details are taken care of ahead of time and then when you actually show up, everything is pretty much ready and waiting for you. I always receive nice rooms with Hyatt, no Priceline attitude at all.
pofuc	my 2 cents...	#2	[-]
Posts: 315 08/14/03 11:16 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I am a Platinum member with Starwood, and I always call at least 2 days in advance to add my number. The way I see it, they can't block out a nice room for you if they don't know you are coming, so it is always good to let them know ahead of time. If you try to do it at check-in, there is a chance all the preferred rooms would have been taken. This is especially true during high seasons, or when you know you will be arriving real late.
MajorSavings	Re: my 2 cents...	#3	[-]
Posts: 44 08/15/03 10:02 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	My opinion is it's always better to call ahead if you are an elite member of that hotel chain's rewards program. First of all, if you give it to them ahead of time, you will make sure they have time in advance to see if they can give you any of the better perks of the program (room upgrades, welcome amenities, etc) based on availability of rooms during your stay. Second, at most full-service hotels, they usually have different staff handling reservations. They will take your information, and they tend to be better informed and empowered to take care of you than someone at the front desk. Third, if you are high enough in elite status, when you arrive, they will be more polite in greeting you, regardless of whether you'll get any perks or not (without having to ask). If you wave your elite card around at the front desk at checkin and demand perks, you're only making yourself look like a greedy guest and in all likelihood, causing that front desk agent to treat future Priceline guests with some degree of contempt. Furthermore, (my own opinion here) more often than not the people at the front desk could care less about your elite status and will not go out of their way to help you. Major$aving$
emaij	just called starwood	#4	[-]
Posts: 136 09/10/03 3:35 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	and they told me that i couldn't add my starwood number for my upcoming westin stay because it was pl booked.
nho9504	always call ahead to add your frequent guest number	#5	[-]
Posts: 105 09/19/03 11:12 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Starwood has become very unfriendly towards all guests from internet bookings, not just priceline, but expedia, travelocity, etc. Now they would only give credit (status, points or miles) for bookings made directly on Starwood's own website. That has driven some people to turn to Hyatt which by far is the best chain (in terms of customer service) out there. It doesn't discriminate guests because of lower rates booked thru other channels. It is the only chain has 1-800-checkin that allows goldpassport members check in early. Its reservation agents cheerfully add your GP number to your reservation thru priceline. I always add my GP number right after I won my bid. Always use the 1-800-checkin too. There was only one time the front desk somehow did not give me the same room I got thru telephone check-in. On another occasion, the phone check-in agent gave me wrong info. I asked for North Tower at Hyatt Orange County and was told I got it - Upon check-in, the front desk agent told me only one room is at North Tower, the other room is at South Tower. After checking the South Tower room which was not as dreadful as people described, I decided to take it and ask the front desk agent to transfer the North Tower room to South Tower. The front desk agent actually found me a King suite at North Tower and gave it to me for no charge because my preference on my GP is for two beds. As long as you incurred some incidentals (sometimes a $1.00 telephone call would do), even your priceline stays would earn you credits toward status, and the very generous Faster Free Night promotion. Customer service is superb - from hotel staff to corporate staff - all are very helpful and courteous. All in all, it is much better to add your frequent guest number to your reservation ahead of time. That way, the front desk would have known your profile on the day of your arrival and most likely would have accommodate your preferences ahead of time. It makes the check-in process a lot quicker and much more pleasant.
aaroncolorado	Any updates to the information listed above in this forum being that it is almost 7 years old!	#6	[-]
Posts: 2 05/30/10 6:11 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Good information posted above but I was wondering if anyone has any new experiences, good or bad, regarding this topic. Have any the hotel programs become stinger or more generous over the years? And what if I am not an elite hotel member? Is it sill beneficial to have my guest number entered into the system?
dmhpt	BOTH!	#7	[-]
Posts: 165 10/06/10 5:19 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I always call ahead with my bed request and ask them to add my loyalty number to the reservation at that time. At check-in, I present my credit card and loyalty program card together and ask for the specific room I want. (View of downtown, mountains etc.) They are often more gracious when staring at the loyalty program card especially when it is Elite status. The best loyalty program out there for Priceline customers in my opinion is Omni. Their Select Guest perks are available to anyone from the first day you register and they are great. I have never been "Pricelined" at any of their hotels and I have stayed in many. (Always on Priceline bids!) All your stays count regardless of how you booked them.

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Call Ahead or Wait until Check In

Call Ahead or Wait until Check In