Consistency of Priceline's star ratings across the name-your-own-p

[Jasmine]

I understand that just because a hotel appears on Priceline's non-opaque side doesn't mean it is available to be won using the name-your-own-price feature but is it a safe assumption that if a hotel is available under both categories, it would have the same star rating?

[thereuare]

It should be the case, but if it doesn't work out that way, you won't have any recourse as the official position is that each service has their own criteria.

I think the biggest issue in this regard is each leg of their service not updating hotels at the same time when there are upgrades/downgrades. I do know of one instance where a hotel was downgraded in the retail division but was still won at the higher star level thru the 'name your own price' service... complaints to priceline making them aware of the inconistency didn't resolve the issue. A few weeks later the hotel was also downgraded in the name your own price service.