Icarus

On a lark, I started out with a $60 bid for the 4* Westin, which, of course, was promptly rejected. I added 3* and changed my bid to $40, aiming for the Radisson, and it was accepted. The lowest reported (recent) successful bids for this property were $39-$40. I didn't bother with the two available free rebid zones. Radisson's online rate for my date was $129. Radisson Hotel Providence Harbour (Providence Downtown) 220 India Street Providence, Rhode Island 02903 401-272-5577 Your Offer Price: $40.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $40.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $12.61 Total Charges: $52.61 Check-In Date: Sun, Apr 1, 2007 Check-In Time: After 03:00 PM Check-Out Date: Mon, Apr 2, 2007 Check-Out Time: 11:00 AM

I tried several times with bids of $46 and $51, using Danvers-Peabody as a free rebid zone. (I knew that the only reported 3* in that zone, the Sheraton Ferncroft, was sold out for my dates.) After an unsuccessful $51 bid, I succeeded with a $53 bid (the consensus historically successful bid amount). Marriott's online rate for my dates was $109, and I avoided the other 3* in the Peabody-Salem zone, the Sheraton Colonial ($79 for my dates). Marriott Peabody (Peabody-Salem) 8a Centennial Dr Peabody, Massachusetts 01960 978-977-9700 Your Offer Price: $53.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $106.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $19.29 Total Charges: $125.29 Check-In Date: Fri, Mar 30, 2007 Check-In Time: After 04:00 PM Check-Out Date: Sun, Apr 1, 2007 Check-Out Time: 12:00 PM

The amenities shown were: * Complimentary Breakfast * Business Center

Booked three days prior to stay; $43.95 all in. (I tried 2* @ $29 on priceline.com first without success, knowing that Hotwire was offering a 2* @ $33.)

My apologies for omitting the date in the thread title: Saturday, January 15, 2005. Thanks for the advice. I'm glad that you agree that this practice falls short of Priceline's value proposition that its guests will be treated the same as any other guest. I'll post updates on the progress of my complaints.

On 1/15/05, the Louisville Embassy Suites (East) quoted a similar policy: "All priceline.com reservations are booked as Smoking King" (exact words of the front-desk clerk; I asked that she repeat it). The price of the "dubious upsell" to an equivalent nonsmoking room was $10. I concur with the sentiments posted above: If this practice becomes widespread, it will have an impact on Priceline's revenues. I've been a Priceline customer since their launch, and this is the first time I've encountered this sharp practice. As for the Louisville Embassy Suites: Sure, I readily admit that I was a leisure traveler freeloading on a cut-rate rate this weekend. But the next time I'm heading to Louisville on business, guess which property I'm instructing my travel department to bypass when booking my lodging?

Caveat emptor! I tried to snag the 3* Hyatt Downtown, starting at $41. Incremental bids using free rebids were unsuccessful, so as a last resort I included East (knowing that there would be inventory) and bid $51 to ensure that the bid would be accepted. This was a bit of an overbid -- the going rate seems to be $47 -- but it was my last shot at a 3* (already within 72 hours). At check-in, I was told that the property's policy is that "all priceline.com reservations are booked as Smoking King." They will "upgrade" priceline customers to a nonsmoking room for $10. (Note: This was neither a sold-out nor a late check-in situation; equivalent nonsmoking rooms were available only upon payment of the additional fee.) I declined this generous offer and am drafting my complaints to priceline and Embassy Suites corporate. See this thread for a discussion of this "dubious upsell" practice: Priceline Non-Smoking