Booking Free Nights

[Umpqua98]

Hello, just joined this forum a few days ago. My wife and I are platinum members with HICV and get 5 free nights each year, but can't book the rooms more than 60 days out. We were recently told by a salesman at HICV that there is a way to get around this. He told us that if we book during the Open Access period and use Point Shield, we can call a counselor 60 days or less before our reservation, and have the counselor cancel the reservation and immediately re-book it using our free nights. This would cost us the $51 for Point Shield, but we would get the reservation fee and points refunded. I am a bit skeptical about this workaround or loophole to the 60 day rule for booking the free nights and am wondering if this is true.

Thanks!

 

[Rdub79]

So I was also told this last year at an update also. And I tried it this year in March at Scottsdale. When I called in to cancel the reservation and then rebook with free nights the customer service rep told me that he couldn’t guarantee that the inventory would show back up in the system and allow him to rebook it. So it would be a huge risk. The only way this would really work is if the inventory is still available to book with points 60 days out.

 

[Bmatrose]

plus they wont refund your booking fee so it would actually cost you the additional $64

 

[Tank]

Bad advice from a sales rep

This has been circulating around the gossip circles, and I have no doughy it has worked on a few.
Not everyone gets the same treatment.

It’s just the way it works

 

[Umpqua98]

So I was also told this last year at an update also. And I tried it this year in March at Scottsdale. When I called in to cancel the reservation and then rebook with free nights the customer service rep told me that he couldn’t guarantee that the inventory would show back up in the system and allow him to rebook it. So it would be a huge risk. The only way this would really work is if the inventory is still available to book with points 60 days out.

Rdub79. I may call and try this in July for a 3 night reservation I have in early September, but doubt if anything will come of my call.

plus they wont refund your booking fee so it would actually cost you the additional $64

Bmatrose, they do need to refund the $64 reservation fee if you book with PointShield. The 1st few sentences on the $51 PointShield screen that pops up state this: "You may cancel your reservation within 24 hours of confirmation and receive 100% of your Points and a reservation fee refund. After the 24-hour grace period you will forfeit all reservation fees paid and Points per chart below unless POINTShield has been included in your reservation."

Bad advice from a sales rep

Oh No Tank! Say it ain't so!!


Thanks all, I appreciate the replies!

 

[golfman]

After the 24-hour grace period you will forfeit all reservation fees paid and Points per chart below unless POINTShield has been included in your reservation."

Bmatrose is correct in what he stated. If you cancel within 24 hours of "Making" the reservation you get all fees returned. If you cancel after the 24 hours of "Making" the reservation you lose both the cost of making the reservation($64) and the point shield fee($51). This sales rep is wrong in stating that this will work, I've tried.

 

[Umpqua98]

Bmatrose is correct in what he stated. If you cancel within 24 hours of "Making" the reservation you get all fees returned. If you cancel after the 24 hours of "Making" the reservation you lose both the cost of making the reservation($64) and the point shield fee($51). This sales rep is wrong in stating that this will work, I've tried.

Looks like you and Bmatrose are correct about losing the reservation fee even if you have PointShield. I just looked at the PointShield portion of the membership guide and it says nothing about refunding the reservation fee. I think the text in the booking window is misleading, but oh well. Really not a big deal for me because cancellations for me should be few and far between. I am a professional planner (really...it's what I do for a living until I retire in 3 years) and hate changing my plans!