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Simple ways travelers can identify misleading hotel upgrades

Simple ways travelers can identify misleading hotel upgrades
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Gary Leff Chief Financial Officer | View from the Wing

Many years ago, when Sheraton began placing post-it notes on key packets at check-in stating “You’ve been upgraded!”, a realization emerged: if a hotel has to inform you of an upgrade through a standardized process, then the upgrade might not be genuine. A user by the name of "sailthesummerwind" shared this insight on Hilton's forum.

Travelers who are entitled to upgrades should not accept “nothing is available” from the check-in desk as the final answer. Instead, they can verify room availability by making a new reservation for their stay duration using the hotel's mobile app. If an upgrade-eligible room is listed for sale, it indicates availability. In cases where the hotel claims the room is “not clean yet,” guests should have the option to wait for housekeeping.

A discussion arose about wall-mounted bulk toiletries versus non-wall-mounted ones. One user recounted instances where housekeeping failed to refill bottles, leaving them empty even after a week. This sparked debate over whether it is better for there to be no bottle at all or an empty one.

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Another user noted that Titanium status was displayed as ‘Platinum Premier,’ which was previously a Marriott Rewards level above Platinum. The question posed was whether 'Platinum premier elite' is now synonymous with 'Ambassador.'

In another topic, Andrew (@AndrewK8EL) tweeted on July 27, 2024: “Not allowed, and what is so good about live FM radio that you’d need to do this anyway?” in response to someone listening to FM radio on an airplane.

Additionally, news surfaced about Thailand's new digital nomad visa offering up to five-year validity with 180-day stays per visit and no tax on foreign-source income. Qatar Airways Student Club announced a status tier upgrade upon graduation. Finally, there was mention of exploring inside the old abandoned Athens airport.

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