-
I don’t amennd bookings either. I start afresh and go via TCB as a previous transaction may not transfer over from a changed booking.
What is corporate discount code for railcard?
786996886
Good to hear the Railcard Partner Rate lives to fight another day! Although it will eternally be on my folios, having been entered mistakenly by an FD operative in the past as my company. It greets me every time I check out, like an old friend 🙂
Earlier this week I booked a room for 1 night in June at a HI in UK using the Railcard rate. It states quite clearly free cancellation until 3 days before. However the full amount was taken from my Amex card on day of booking. Never had this before. Has anyone else using this rate been charged at time of booking?
Earlier this week I booked a room for 1 night in June at a HI in UK using the Railcard rate. It states quite clearly free cancellation until 3 days before. However the full amount was taken from my Amex card on day of booking. Never had this before. Has anyone else using this rate been charged at time of booking?
The rate terms do state deposit required, and I’m pretty sure I’ve had a card charged in advance (sometimes maybe once it’s 3 days before). Deposit hasn’t always been taken though – maybe only certain hotels do.
Rate is still cancellable/refundable though up to 3 days before.Yes it’s a weird one. The terms say the deposit for the first night is due ‘on or before’ three days prior to the stay.
More and more hotels are taking it in advance because it appears on the IHG system as a prepayment rate, which it isn’t in the normal sense.
As noted it is still fully refundable up to three days prior.
Always keep your confirmation email, or screenshot the booking. I cancelled one of these a few months ago, the hotel refused to accept it was refundable until I produced the original booking confirmation showing that it was a such a rate.
@NorthernLass – good advice. I always keep screen shots and copies of bookings just in case. Have had this issue in South Africa (not IHG) where hotel would not respond to emails and eventually had to do credit card charge back.
@AndrewT – it is weird. I booked and stayed 2 nights last December with Railcard rate at HI Nuremberg and was not charged until check out.I also booked special cyber rate for last December in Switzerland which had no free cancellation and again was not charged until check out.
I wondered if whether this was because I’m no longer Diamond. However, I have a number of hotels booked using this rate in March and April in US, Cyprus, Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan and have not yet been charged. So just England!
Yes agreed. I’ve been using the Railcard rate in Europe and the US quite widely and never been charged in advance outside the UK.
Started happening here 12-18 months ago, but as noted above some hotels do and some don’t.
I’ve had mixed experience too, from nothing taken in advance, just the 1st night deposit or the fully amount of the booking. Also had challenges getting refunds when cancelled but as per the previous messages, once the hotel is shown that the rate is refundable, they’ve actioned it promptly.
Good advice to keep copies of the booking info.CP at Liverpool airport annoying me with this at the moment. Booked in aug last year for May bank holiday but have since cancelled it using Railcard rate. They took full payment not long after booking and two weeks after I cancelled they haven’t refunded.
Diamond desk involved although not sure how much difference it will make.
CP at Liverpool airport annoying me with this at the moment. Booked in aug last year for May bank holiday but have since cancelled it using Railcard rate. They took full payment not long after booking and two weeks after I cancelled they haven’t refunded.
Diamond desk involved although not sure how much difference it will make.
if you have the booking email showing the refundable rate etc then just dispute it with your credit card company. quicker, easier and more irritating for the hotel so they may think twice in future about withholding the funds on a cancellable booking
Got email today 14 days after cancelling to say the refund has been processed and will be back on my account in five days. Hopefully that’s the end of it.
First time iv had an issue with this rate. CP Birmingham and Sheffield both been a lot easier to deal previously with when cancelling outside of cancellation period and costs have been taken.
Recently checked in to the HI in Yerevan. For the first time ever I was asked for proof of my “Corporate Rate”. Eventually found my Railcard in the Trainline app and noticed it was expiring at the end of March (which was during my stay). The Manager checking me in said thank you when I showed it to him and no more questions were asked!
Did they know what it was?!
@NorthernLass – I don’t think they had a clue – but they ticked the box! However I’m not sure what would have happened if I had not produced something that looked “official”.
The hotel was full for most of my stay. Staff were all very friendly and I was given points, an upgrade and free breakfast, so not complaining.
I’d imagine they would have charged you the rack rate for your stay. I doubt they’d have turned you away though.
The T&Cs for my next RC booking say this in the confirmation email say –
‘Must be an IHG One Rewards member to book and present proof of partner membership at check in. IHG One Rewards points will be earned for this stay.’
So always best to have your proof. I imagine they were looking for something that said ‘rail card’ and your name and expiry date just as if you were using a corporate rate they’d look at your work ID card for the name of the company and your name.
Though in all my stays using the card I’ve never had to present it but I don’t want there to be one where I can’t pull it out of my wallet (I have the physical card)
CP at Liverpool airport annoying me with this at the moment. Booked in aug last year for May bank holiday but have since cancelled it using Railcard rate. They took full payment not long after booking and two weeks after I cancelled they haven’t refunded.
Diamond desk involved although not sure how much difference it will make.
Same hotel. Happened to me three times. Each time I sent the hotel an email directly after about a week.
My chasing it prompted them to refund. Owned and managed by Kewgreen
This happened to me, different hotel. I had to send them my original booking confirmation before they would back down.
@BAFIHGS – yes. Totally agree with what you say.
My daughter booked a travel industry rate recently for us to stay at HGI Hatton Cross. Although I was named as second person in booking and she had sent proof of her eligibility, when I tried to check in and pay, I was not allowed to do so until she arrived and produced her staff id.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Popular articles this week:
