loulady Posted July 5, 2008 Report Share Posted July 5, 2008 I am not sure if this is the proper place to be placing this so move it if need be.Yesterday, I bid on a *2 1/2 Fresno Airport and had it rejected. I noticed after the first bid that it came back with the *3 also checked. I was very sure I had only checked *2 1/2, but thought I could have accidently checked the other one, so I logged out before using a free rebid to try again. I was again rejected, but it was also rechecked from the *2/12 to include the *3 that I had not checked. I emailed Priceline and got this response.Thank you for taking the time to send us an e-mail. We apologize for thedelay in responding to your message and understand that you would like to know the reason as while placing the request for your trip to Fresno you selected a 2 1/2 star level and when you received the status of request it came back with three star level as marked too.When you request a certain star level, we always search for a higher star level first. This is to ensure that you receive the best accommodation possible at the price you name. In order to resubmit, you may decrease the hotel quality level (star rating), add an area or areas, and/or change the check-in and/or check-out dates of your stay. Without changing one of these items, your request will be considered a duplicate by our system and will not be processed. You may also change your offer price; however, please note that simply changing your price does not constitute a new request.We thank you for the opportunity to assist you and hope this informationis helpful to you.Sincerely,Aswind P.Customer Service Specialist :) So, if I am reading this right, if I bid on a *2 hotel, then all the categories above that will come checked and all future bids will be forfited for those star levels? I always thought you could up your star level later if you decided to up your bid. This did not hold true in this instance as the *3 was already checked for me. Is this something new with Priceline? Link to comment
powerplantop Posted July 5, 2008 Report Share Posted July 5, 2008 So, if I am reading this right, if I bid on a *2 hotel, then all the categories above that will come checked and all future bids will be forfited for those star levels?You are correct.I always thought you could up your star level later if you decided to up your bid. This did not hold true in this instance as the *3 was already checked for me. Is this something new with Priceline?Been that way as long as I can remember.If you look thru the post on this site you will see people being upgraded to a property that they did not want. Link to comment
loulady Posted July 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2008 Yes, I knew you could be upgraded, and I was prepared for that. What I did not realize was that they automatically checked all the categories above your lowest bid first to see if there was an available hotel for your bid price, which is what this email is essentially saying, and that they also block out those upper categories from future bids. I don't ever remember that happening before. Link to comment
dahammer Posted July 5, 2008 Report Share Posted July 5, 2008 you are selecting the minimum acceptable star level, NOT the maximum star level. Link to comment
loulady Posted July 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2008 So, let me see if I am understanding this right. You bid for a *2, Priceline actually checks the highest star level available for that area for availability for your price bid and if so, you get that hotel? They don't start with checking your bid against the *2 hotels with availability for your bid price? DUH... I guess that somehow just escaped me all this time. Call me dense!!!!I have always won a bid in the category I bid in and have never been upgraded, although I knew it was a possibility. I just did not know they started the search in the highest star level when you placed a bid. Link to comment
thereuare Posted July 5, 2008 Report Share Posted July 5, 2008 All of the above is correct, but...You can often bid for a higher star level by using a re-bid zones (Priceline Re-Bidding Explained). So in your example, if you bid for a 2* hotel in the Airport zone, you can then try for a 3* hotel by closing the brower, re-accessing priceline (hopefully thur our PRICELINE link :) ), and then selecting 3* Airport and one of the re-bid zones avaialble at the 3* level.If you're not familiar with re-bidding you're strongly encouraged to ask questions and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board before proceeding.Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
powerplantop Posted July 6, 2008 Report Share Posted July 6, 2008 So, let me see if I am understanding this right. You bid for a *2, Priceline actually checks the highest star level available for that area for availability for your price bid and if so, you get that hotel? They don't start with checking your bid against the *2 hotels with availability for your bid price? DUH... I guess that somehow just escaped me all this time. Call me dense!!!!I have always won a bid in the category I bid in and have never been upgraded, although I knew it was a possibility. I just did not know they started the search in the highest star level when you placed a bid.You understand corectly. For me sometimes I do not want to be upgraded. Some areas the 2.5* properties give free parking and internet and the 3* properties charge for them. So getting an upgrade will cost me $$$. As thereuare posted ask for advice before adding rebid zones. Link to comment
loulady Posted July 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2008 Thanks so much for clarifying this for me. I think I have it straight now.I do think I have the rebids down pat and am not at all confused on them. I have been bidding and winning Priceline bids for a few years now and have had no problems with the rebids. This site is a much friendlier way to do my research and has helped me in submitting my bids the last couple of months. I am happy to have found you guys :) .BTW, my bids are submitted though this site. Do you wish me to post my losing bids as well, or wait until I have sucess with my endeavor in Fresno? Link to comment
thereuare Posted July 7, 2008 Report Share Posted July 7, 2008 BTW, my bids are submitted though this site.Thanks for using our PRICELINE links :)Do you wish me to post my losing bids as well, or wait until I have sucess with my endeavor in Fresno?If you're bidding "realistic" numbers you can feel free to post your failed bids as well... often another user who knows an area well may tell you of a special event happening for those dates which explains the reason for the rejected bids OR may offer another non-PRICELINE or non-HOTWIRE alternative which is a good deal. If you do post a failed bid, keep all posts for the same stay in the same threads... if/when a win is received we'll then just edit the topic title of the thread to reflect the details of the win (this enables current and future readers to see the 'saga' which lead to the eventual purchase)I am happy to have found you guys :) .We're happy you found us too! :o Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
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