Priceline Hotel: 4* Orange County (Newport Beach-Huntington Beach) Hyatt Newport Beach

[sco2607]

I just helped a friend book a hotel in Orange County (Newport beach) and she chose the 3 1/2 star hoping

it would be Marriott Bayview as listed on the pinned list. But when she booked it they said that they were

"automaticaly upgrading her to a 4 *" and gave her the Newport Beach - Hyatt. I have not seen priceline

do this before "by automatically changing star levels on you." She didn't want the Hyatt that is why she bid

at a 3 1/2 star. Do you have any advice or explanation for this?

Is there any way to get out of this reservation since we didn't select the 4* and they awarded it anyway?

[yellowdog]

1. Start with posting the date(s) for the stay and price paid/night before tax/fee.

2. Please provide a follow-up for your prior Flagstaff thread (post in that thread what you decided for that stay), then reply to this thread.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Yellowdog.

[sco2607]

My friend booked it on her own so I with give what information I think.

April 19-25. Selected Orange County (Newport Beach-Hunington Beach). Selected 3 1/2 * and bid at $65

and was rejected. Priceline said she could pay $85 and they would give her another bid so she did it.

She got a response saying we have automatically upgraded you to a 4* and gave her the Newport

Beach Hyatt.

I didn't not realize priceline does this but in googling the problem others have complained of it as well.

The biggest problem I have with it is that the 3 1/2 star was available to select. If they weren't going to

give her a hotel in that category why was it showing available? This gave her a false sense of hoping she

could get the Marriott Bayview.

Any suggestions?

[AaronJB]

Upgrading happens on occasion; while being upgraded to a higher star level is often looked upon as a positive, in some situations it's unfortunately a negative. With the service, you have to be willing to accept any hotel at the star rating you bid on or a higher rating if there is a higher rating than what you've bid upon. Sorry to hear that your friend is disappointed with the result.

Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[sco2607]

Yeah. I understand. This is my first experience with Priceline upgrading. And YES it is normally a positive. I was just disappointed that for the 3 1/2 * in this area it is typically the Marriott and they showed a 3 1/2* available but upon bidding didn't give it.

Thanks for all your help.