Use it or lose it hotel bookings

[pn1]

I wonder who also has, with every good intention, made a non refundable online hotel booking and (perhaps having a seniors' moment) put in the wrong dates?

I made a booking for my forthcoming visit to Hong Kong and quite by chance over last weekend realised I'd put the dates in (for the same number of nights!) from a future holiday in a different part of the world.

I contacted the hotel booking web site and they endeavoured to help. They contacted the hotel concerned and ask if there was any way the dates of the booking could be changed but the response was plain and simple. No way. You booked a non refundable rate and rules are rules.

Fair enough.

I had checked beforehand that there was a room available on the actual dates required.

So I booked another nearby hotel.

Room at the original hotel will remain empty for the three nights I have booked by mistake and the one good thing is that I will earn "reward points" for the stay!

Readers in Melbourne may remember an early radio talkback personality, Norman Banks, who occasionally said sometimes you have to write "debit experience" on the cheque butt and move on.

His wise words of 50 years ago applied to me today.

 

[BacchusMarsh]

Room at the original hotel will remain empty for the three nights I have booked and the one good thing is that I will earn "reward points" for the stay!

Are you sure about that? Sometimes you have to actually check in...

 

[straitman]

I contacted the hotel booking web site and they endeavoured to help. They contacted the hotel concerned and ask if there was any way the dates of the booking could be changed but the response was plain and simple. No way. You booked a non refundable rate and rules are rules.

I would try again and contact the hotel directly. Is it part of a chain and do you have status with that chain?

My experience is that if you are fairly proactive after your booking and it was a mistake that they will normally accommodate the cancellation as the good will is worth it to them.

 

[JohnK]

I've done this a few times where I've booked the wrong date or changed my mind about the trip.

The Consolidators are useless. "Oh sorry, can't do anything about it." I have changed plans again as I hate throwing money away.

 

[Himeno]

When booking hotels for my trip last year, one of the hotel booking sites was playing up and reset the date between screens and it confirmed the default date setting instead of what I had selected. I quickly contacted the hotel and they fixed it.

 

[dajop]

I would try again and contact the hotel directly. Is it part of a chain and do you have status with that chain?

My experience is that if you are fairly proactive after your booking and it was a mistake that they will normally accommodate the cancellation as the good will is worth it to them.

I suspect it does depend on amount of time elapsed from booking to when mistake realised . if it is an hour or two then they may be more inclined to help than if it was a month or two ....

 

[JohnK]

I suspect it does depend on amount of time elapsed from booking to when mistake realised . if it is an hour or two then they may be more inclined to help than if it was a month or two ....

Sometimes one doesn't realise the mistake for weeks. Booked the HI Express Kowloon Bay for the same day about a week apart. Didn't notice until a few weeks later. Luckily was able to change one of the bookings online to a later date.

 

[Captain Halliday]

I wonder who also has, with every good intention, made a non refundable online hotel booking and (perhaps having a seniors' moment) put in the wrong dates?

I made a booking for my forthcoming visit to Hong Kong and quite by chance over last weekend realised I'd put the dates in (for the same number of nights!) from a future holiday in a different part of the world.

I contacted the hotel booking web site and they endeavoured to help. They contacted the hotel concerned and ask if there was any way the dates of the booking could be changed but the response was plain and simple. No way. You booked a non refundable rate and rules are rules.

Fair enough.

I had checked beforehand that there was a room available on the actual dates required.

So I booked another nearby hotel.

Room at the original hotel will remain empty for the three nights I have booked by mistake and the one good thing is that I will earn "reward points" for the stay!

Readers in Melbourne may remember an early radio talkback personality, Norman Banks, who occasionally said sometimes you have to write "debit experience" on the cheque butt and move on.

His wise words of 50 years ago applied to me today.

While the hotel is technically correct I'd try HUCA.

It might just be you were unlucky and scored a CSR who got out of the wrong side of the bed.

 

[moa999]

And you might also have more luck changing the dates versus getting a refund

 

[pn1]

I realised I had made the mistake and only wanted to change the dates but the hotel concerned (Park, Hong Kong) advised that rules were rules and zero tolerance was applied to everyone.

The good will angle made no difference.

Because I know I made the mistake (confusing the dates of two holidays) I felt I had to cop the out of pocket loss (around $A600).

The hotel was adamant. Zero tolerance. No exceptions. Ever.

It was politely pointed out I accepted the conditions; no refunds or changes.

The actual change, no doubt, could be made with a few key stokes on the hotel computer? And I could have paid any difference.

I guess you have to admire an establishment that is consistent in the application of its policies?

 

[straitman]

I guess you have to admire an establishment that is consistent in the application of its policies?

Or avoid it in future (and tell them) which is what I would do.

Iy's not as if you are a serial booking changer at their place. It was simply an error. Even Qantas and some other airlines accept that.

 

[Danger]

I've done this with Hilton more than once. I've learned the hard way that after you make a reservation at a particular hotel and return to the home screen, the city location will be pre-populated but the dates will have reverted to the current date. Hilton has always been able to assist.

I realised I had made the mistake and only wanted to change the dates but the hotel concerned (Park, Hong Kong) advised that rules were rules and zero tolerance was applied to everyone.

The good will angle made no difference.

Because I know I made the mistake (confusing the dates of two holidays) I felt I had to cop the out of pocket loss (around $A600).

The hotel was adamant. Zero tolerance. No exceptions. Ever.

It was politely pointed out I accepted the conditions; no refunds or changes.

The actual change, no doubt, could be made with a few key stokes on the hotel computer? And I could have paid any difference.

I guess you have to admire an establishment that is consistent in the application of its policies?

If you don't have any luck after calling again I would make sure the hotel doesn't profit from re-selling your room when you don't show up on the first of those three nights. On the day of arrival I would phone and say you've been delayed, won't be there until tomorrow. Do the same thing the next day. And then the next. Fine, the hotel is within it's prerogative to hold you to your bargain but the hotel shouldn't double-dip by selling your room again after you don't show no the first night.

 

[get me outta here]

A bit of T&Cs advice please. I prepaid a place that said I had to book 2 weeks in advance of the stay. Now they say can only take bookings 4 months in advance - not stated in the T&Cs. Is this a valid reason to expect a refund? It is inconvenient for me to wait another 2-3 months to lock in airfare dates.

 

[Spongbob]

A bit of T&Cs advice please. I prepaid a place that said I had to book 2 weeks in advance of the stay. Now they say can only take bookings 4 months in advance - not stated in the T&Cs. Is this a valid reason to expect a refund? It is inconvenient for me to wait another 2-3 months to lock in airfare dates.

I am a bit confused: do you mean you have booked but not yet paid, or both booked and paid for the accommodation?

If I was treated by the hotel like the way you described during the booking process, I don't think they would be guest friendly. I would look for alternative accommodation.

 

[get me outta here]

It is a minor contractual isseue - I mean I have paid without having dates fixed - a really special low deal. They just did not tell me it could only be 4 months out to book the dates.