Advice on navigating US/Loews booking process

[Sugarglider]

I have a current booking as a package for 4 nights and I want to reduce that booking to 2 nights (the first 2 nights of the current package) but that would be a room only booking.
After talking to several US booking agents they say that package bookings and room only bookings are separate depts and they can't co-ordinate. So I can cancel the package for a $100 fee but the room nights still cannot be booked by the room only dept. because the hotel is full for the 2 nights I want the room only dept has no flexibility - even though I already have a room and just want it for 2 nights less. They are saying they would have to another room free to transfer me into.
When I asked for manager who may be able to override this separation, I was told "no point because what I want is not possible".
does anyone have advice for me about how I may be able to find someone with enough senority or permission to be flexible?

 

[damo]

When are your dates?
Are there room only reservations available on the website www.loewshotels.com?

Unfortunately this is how the software does the reservations at loews. To change your dates, the old dates are cancelled and the new ones are rebooked. So if there is no availability for your new dates, you can be out of luck. My suggestion is just to keep watching for new openings for those nights online.

 

[Sugarglider]

When are your dates?
Are there room only reservations available on the website www.loewshotels.com?

Unfortunately this is how the software does the reservations at loews. To change your dates, the old dates are cancelled and the new ones are rebooked. So if there is no availability for your new dates, you can be out of luck. My suggestion is just to keep watching for new openings for those nights online.

I am going at the end of October and yes you understand my situation. Other hotels would just reduce the booking by 2 nights. Talking to Disney booking agent they are able to do both packages and room only - so they can cancel and rebook the other immediately. But apparently not Universal. I am just wondering if I am asking in the wrong way or if there is some method for dealing with these separated booking depts. Thanks

 

[damo]

The difference is that Disney owns their own hotels so they can do whatever they want. Universal doesn't own their hotels. The packages are booked through a booking agency that is difference from Loews. Loews only deals with their rooms and not with tickets at all.

Unfortunately the penalties for changes when you buy a package is one of the reasons that we don't recommend booking a package. When you just book room only, you can cancel up to five days before you check in without penalty.

You may be better off to just keep your package the way it is.

 

[Sugarglider]

The difference is that Disney owns their own hotels so they can do whatever they want. Universal doesn't own their hotels. The packages are booked through a booking agency that is difference from Loews. Loews only deals with their rooms and not with tickets at all.

Unfortunately the penalties for changes when you buy a package is one of the reasons that we don't recommend booking a package. When you just book room only, you can cancel up to five days before you check in without penalty.

You may be better off to just keep your package the way it is.

thank you for your speedy answers! and explaining the situation. WAY better than Universal agents who were saying "I can't do that. you have to ring this number" and the next person saying "I can't so that. ring that number" "but they told me to ring you! - "Sorry ma'am but we can't do that."

And a bit more digging around shows another thing I am not used to - they have no room only/full rate room available, but they are still selling packages that have a discounted room rate! yes for the same dates. Unlike Disney who have limited numbers of the discount packages and eventually only sell full price room only. Oh - well - the competition forces everyone to be slightly different

 

[damo]

thank you for your speedy answers! and explaining the situation. WAY better than Universal agents who were saying "I can't do that. you have to ring this number" and the next person saying "I can't so that. ring that number" "but they told me to ring you! - "Sorry ma'am but we can't do that."

And a bit more digging around shows another thing I am not used to - they have no room only/full rate room available, but they are still selling packages that have a discounted room rate! yes for the same dates. Unlike Disney who have limited numbers of the discount packages and eventually only sell full price room only. Oh - well - the competition forces everyone to be slightly different

Universal's travel agency---whom you booked your package through, called Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations, uses rooms from Loews in their packages. They also book these packages with rooms from many, many other hotels as well. This is similar to 3rd party agencies like Expedia and Travelocity. I'm not seeing any availability on the Universal Orlando Vacations website that is different from the Loews site, ie none for Oct. 28-30 but limited at PBH for Oct. 28-31.

Loews sells many more room only deals than Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations sells packages. The deals are just much better when you book directly through Loews with just a room and then purchase tickets at a discount through somewhere like Undercover Tourist or take advantage of the amazing annual pass deals.

Again, you have to remember that Universal does not own, nor run, their onsite hotels and Universal Orlando Vacations is simply a travel agency dealing with vacation packages that include hotels and tickets. Universal Orlando Vacations and Loews are not one and the same, so you can't expect them to operate like Disney who owns their hotels.

The last weekend in October has probably been booked up for quite a while. The Universal Halloween celebrations are hugely popular.

 

[Rileygirl]

Damo- can I hijack you for a moment? (sorry op!)

I want to book two nights at RPR in march, room only, does it make a difference (ie cheaper) to book through lowes then the number on the universal website? I was hoping for an AAA discount. I think it makes no difference which way I go, but I have never tried booking through lowes directly before....and your comments made me wonder.

TIA

~A

 

[damo]

Damo- can I hijack you for a moment? (sorry op!)

I want to book two nights at RPR in march, room only, does it make a difference (ie cheaper) to book through lowes then the number on the universal website? I was hoping for an AAA discount. I think it makes no difference which way I go, but I have never tried booking through lowes directly before....and your comments made me wonder.

TIA

~A

When you are booking rooms only, you are booking through Loews whether directly on their site or by phone. You can't book using the AAA rate if you book online through Loews, so definitely give them a call.

1-888-464-3617

 

[Rileygirl]

thank you Damo! Much appreciated