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1) of 2)
Yes, it's real, I have seen it and touched it....soon to have a copy of it!
My airline has a hotel (lots of choices, lots of cities) "vendor list" ...complete w/discouted rates. While we all know this is mainly for crew use, I'm sure many properties will extend "something" more than the "Industry Discount" when diplomatically addressed.
IMO, worth checking w/crews you know. Often I ask were they stay, rates, 24 hour shuttle, etc??? Have made some gr8 hook-ups this way http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif
2) of 2) So we have used, Government rates (my wife is a state employee), AARP rates (again my lovely wife), Industry rates for being an airline employee (ie ..Sleep Inn or Holiday Inn express in PHX)....but nobody has ever volunteered (until last week) ...using a Sam Club Card discount ...YES, it blew the other discounts away w/Choice hotels...we just stayed in Sea-Tac for $35.19/night, free shuttle, yada yada yada http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emotic...on_biggrin.gif
BTW, Choice Hotels have been having a special, stay 2 stays (non-consecutive) get a 3rd stay free, we find the hotels in this chain to be decent, and very low priced.
DNA
Your input, ideas, experiences are more than welcome, please share http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif
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I didn't realize that all airlines didn't publish a list. We have a "crew hotel" list that shows the prices we contract with, whether it allows for leisure bookings and any blackout dates for those bookings, and whether it is okay to book for dependents travelling without the employee. An extremely useful tool that they publish monthly to keep up with any changes.
I knew Costco offered some discounts but I hadn't realized that Sam's Club offered the same. I'll look into that. I do find that calling the hotel directly usually nets a good price BUT sometimes trying there and, if they don't have an industry rate, calling the 800 number can net you a better rate.
Always check online rates as well because sometimes they are better than the industry rate. Those kinds of deals usually require prepayment, however, and are often nonrefundable so be careful!
Thanks for the tips!
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Thank you too! http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emotic...on_biggrin.gif
I've been both on my company and it's mainline parent's websites... only a few listings on one, nothing on the other .... I'm liking your company more and more!
I'm about 50/50 for getting a better price directly from the hotel ...many are independently owned, although in chains, and gouge the phone price over the online price.
My biggest hotel pet peeve right now is looking at that/any chain's internet price, then calling the central reservation number only to be told they can't compete w/their own internet pricing and I'd have to book it online http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif (Shear STUPIDITY)
As a chain, we are really liking Choice Hotels 1.877.4choice for several reasons
1) Cancellation policy is often very ameniable...4-7 PM day of arrival
2) We often fly at night and are able to make reservations right at the point of being cleared off standby and handed seats ...easy to remember number, multiple properties at most locations. esp airports
Quick story, we were handed seats (see vent post), made reservations as we were on a night flight to SEA a few weeks ago....plane developed a "hydraulic problem" right at boarding ...we called, canceled the res...they called the hotel and we were refunded our first night.... when most hotels would have kept it! http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif
3) Courteous informative agents, often able to answer questions about amentities, and when not able, call the hotel directly for you!
4) Website is very user friendly, and offeres/mentions/guarantees that those are the lowest prices available (remember to say "Sam's Club" )
5) ...and as mentioned above ...free nights! http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emotic...on_biggrin.gif
Still looking for more info/suggestions on hotel discounts please http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emotic...on_biggrin.gif
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My two cents http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif
<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
Automobile Club (AAA) There's a fee to join, but the savings you can rack up, more than make up for it. Discounts at hotels, car rentals and theme parks, not to mention it's not a bad number to have when your engine overheats in the middle of the Arizona desert. http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emotic...on_redface.gif
Cheap eats-Restaurants near universities offer lots of options for the frugal traveler; you do however have to endure the music. http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/list]
Thanks DNA, I had no idea about "the list" or Sam's Club
Keep'em flying
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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MRSDS1DONNA:
I didn't realize that all airlines didn't publish a list. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I am quite surprised by that too. On day 3 of my training for my airline we were told of all the privileges, the discounts on various places, crew hotels, where to find them, etc. We have a entire website devoted to our travel privileges, and information on all discounts we are eligible for. As I always say, "it is a tough job, but someone has to do it" http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emotic...on_biggrin.gif
We were trained on: "work hard, play hard".
http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emotic...on_biggrin.gif http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/aircraft/Plane1.gif
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DNA,
You really haven't got the hang of this internet booking concept ...
"My biggest hotel pet peeve right now is looking at that/any chain's internet price, then calling the central reservation number only to be told they can't compete w/their own internet pricing and I'd have to book it online (Shear STUPIDITY)"
the whole idea is for punters to learn that they do not call the Reservations numbers for these types of bookings and must always book them online leaving the Res agents free to made other non-online bookings at higher rates ( E-commerce .. not stupidity I'm afraid ).
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Disagree (although I do understand the concept) ...it's STPIDITY to piss the more intellegent customer off. That hotel has nothing that I won't find elsewhere ..ie, a nice bed and a clean bathroom at a decent location.
However, there is one thing that the pissant hotel will NEVER have....and that is my $$$.
I also have some commentary on airline pricing, but it will have to wait....got to go search a plane, move some equipment around and ticket some pax. http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emotic...on_biggrin.gif
(and yes, I am very aware of "free market pricing" and the microeconomics of our industry)
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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DNA:
Disagree (although I do understand the concept) ...it's STPIDITY to piss the more intellegent customer off. That hotel has nothing that I won't find elsewhere ..ie, a nice bed and a clean bathroom at a decent location.
However, there is one thing that the pissant hotel will NEVER have....and that is my $$$. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
The airline industry does the same thing now. The best fares are on the internet. Those great fares encourage people to use the internet. If you called the airline res, you cannot get the same deals that are on the internet. I am sure that every airline is the same with the best fares on the internet.
I am not saying it is fair. it is just the way it is now http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif
To say in your words that it is a "pissant hotel", do you work for a "pissant airline" that has the best fares online that you cannot get on the phone?!! http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif
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Hmmm this thread has made an interesting turn overnight.
I believe it was back in the early 90's when I first heard of charging customers to talk to a person. At that time I changed banks, but unfortunately that was the wave of the future.
Those of you that belong to hotel priority clubs will remember the heyday of bonus points for on-line booking and I know those of you in reservations will remember when airlines first began offering extra frequent flier miles to book over the net. With the travel industry in trouble it was only a matter of time that discounting for net/charging a fee for booking a room/ticket over the phone became the norm. Now we've moved into self check-in and kiosks.
Where will it end? All I know is I'm definitely not flying on a computerized plane.
I can't understand those PA announcements from the flight deck now. http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emotic...on_biggrin.gif
http://www.stopstart.btinternet.co.uk/nc/comp1.gif
Keep'em flying
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Yes ...in a way...I do work for 'pissant' airline (althought is has many many good qualities, pricing is not one of them. http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif )
Two examples: ...a pax has her mom in the hospital (suddenly) and must go to STL ...my work computer says the best immediate fare is $1049 .... so we tell her to check online where it is $310. This lady is over a barrel so to speak...she does not have time to check OAL's.. or even change terminals...she has to get there!
However...after seeing other's fare, and our wide pricing model, $740 difference, will she ever fly us again?
A price should be a price...if the Airlines want to supply/demand price...then they should set 'x' number of seats aside at a price, then 'y' number seats aside ..and it should/could be first come first serve... a huge discrepency like that should not be available from a single company. Sure, run out of a class, or the majority of a class of seats, raise the price...no problem ....but if you offer it on Expedia at one price, the company's website at another...and yet a third price at the ticket counter or on a phone reservation...THIS CREATES NEGATIVE GOOD WILL with the discerning customer, it is just plain bad business ...imho
Also, my company offers a fare between two cities ...call them X and Y for $239. However, if the same pax wants to go from X to Z, w/a connect in Y, it's $129 (like this for 3 cities) ... this is not only bizzare pricing...but BS to the pax that feels he/she is getting ripped off, again, negative goodwill ... translating to less revenue and less repeat business.
I know we are in a business that has evolved to the way things work now are considered "the Natural Order of things!" .... if it works, why mess w/it? I am not naive ...and while I do have the experience and education to run a 25-50 million dollar company, I wouldn't pretend for a second to be able to positively affect our industry, or such sizeable companies, (nor want to try)
I know at my station (and this would apply to about 50-60 more like mine just w/my company) I could increase wealth maximization through dozens of both quantitative and qualitative means ...resulting in millions of dollars of net profit.
The point here is one of those means would be customer satisfation and retention...instead of the increasing occurance of seeing my company book/ticket just one connect from my station (because it is the only way out) and then seeing the pax book two additional connects to get to their destination on OAL's, even though we fly there http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif
(often that is the case because of lower prices on OAL's, as well as customer dissatifaction, both avoidable and undesirable!)
I'd be curious...If you had to pay for it, how many here would travel w/their company?
No reflection on the quality of my company, but I simply would not based on price http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif (I know for a fact I could find lower fares, both through reservations and online w/OAL's, finding the pricing intregrety I am asking for is another story!)
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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DNA:
A price should be a price...if the Airlines want to supply/demand price...then they should set 'x' number of seats aside at a price, then 'y' number seats aside ..and it should/could be first come first serve...
I'd be curious...If you had to pay for it, how many here would travel w/their company?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
First--- The reason we, at my airline, have "discounted" seats, is that we are going to give you a discount if you promise to fly us on a future date. That helps us in the long road for many reasons.
Second--- Yes, I would fly my airline, even our last minute walk up fares are fair http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif
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I can see why you might be frustrated but I have to say that I don't mind having the internet offer lower fares than a rez agent. Our website doesn't even use sabre so it saves my company quite a lot of money to have people book online. Passengers willing to do the work themselves SHOULD receive a discount if you ask me. Plus, those lower prices are often offered to dump excess seats. Good business.
Personally, I like to book things online - depending on the product. There are certain things I won't book online because of the complexity. I won't book concert tickets, for example. I think my airline's "simple" over the phone fares are good and easy for a passenger to understand. The online fares are as complex as the old system used to be and I always caution passengers to read the rules carefully before authorizing payment.
Would I fly my airline if I had to pay regular fares? In a heartbeat. I have actually purchased tickets on my own airline before when I wanted to get somewhere and the company is now offering employees/dependants a 20% discount off of positive space tickets (even webspecials) for those times you absolutely have to be there.
The system can be confusing in some instances but the old way wasn't necessarily better. The price is the price system was far more expensive for the travelling public and those tickets were totally unchangeable. Don't you remember how expensive everything was before deregulation?
