Fam of 5 and Loews Card

[gopherit]

If I have read all the "Loews-Posts" correctly, it seems it doesn't really offer much advantage for those of us who are pretty locked-in to getting a Deluxe 2Q room, eh. So in other words - we should just take whatever "best rate" we can get (i.e., APH) and ta' heck with room upgrades?

If I'm wrong, please correct me... and what the hey, if I'm right, confirm it!

 

[AlexandNessa]

OK, if I were you, here's what I'd do. I would book a few stays at AAA/Super Saver and give them your Loews # when you book your Deluxe room. This will definitely qualify your stays. It only takes 6 qualifying nights for you to reach Gold. Then, after you reach Gold, you just book a std room, and with Loews gold, you automatically get upgraded to a Deluxe room (at HRH/PBH) at the time of reservation. Just make sure you're paying the qualifying rate and you're not going during a black out period.

So, don't count yourself out. It may not help you when you're Blue, but once you're Gold, it will definitely help.

Plus, you'll get your late check-outs and LF gift, etc.

 

[gopherit]

I am already Gold. We stayed last time on an APH rate and they did let it count towards our "status", though of course we were denied the other "perks".

I am currently stumped as to why the PFB is booked solid for one of our days (Thurs June 5th) out of the week we are there - very odd. So I called and made a ressie with HRH, which is ok, I guess, but the gang was REALLLLLLY wanting to stay at PFB this time instead. I have an AP for US/IOA which usually gives us great rates, but perhaps I need to renew the ol' AAA card and call Loews back and try to get the upgrade.

 

[AlexandNessa]

Ok, you're confusing me.

First, what is PFB? Do you mean Portofino? That is PBH for Portofino Bay Hotel. It's possible that the hotel is sold out for one night due to a convention or 2. Happens. RPR has sold out of King Suites only for the first weekend in December. Odd too, but what do I know.

Second, I'm confused as to your dilemma. As Gold, you are entitled to pay the AAA or Supersaver rate for a standard room and they will automatically comp you an upgrade to a Deluxe room. Just tell them you're Gold and you want your upgrade applied when you call. Say HRH is offering $191 for a standard room/AAA rate. You would pay $191 for a Deluxe room. Does that not work for you? Do you want something else? I guess I don't understand your question.

 

[damo]

Ok, you're confusing me.

First, what is PFB? Do you mean Portofino? That is PBH for Portofino Bay Hotel. It's possible that the hotel is sold out for one night due to a convention or 2. Happens. RPR has sold out of King Suites only for the first weekend in December. Odd too, but what do I know.

Second, I'm confused as to your dilemma. As Gold, you are entitled to pay the AAA or Supersaver rate for a standard room and they will automatically comp you an upgrade to a Deluxe room. Just tell them you're Gold and you want your upgrade applied when you call. Say HRH is offering $191 for a standard room/AAA rate. You would pay $191 for a Deluxe room. Does that not work for you? Do you want something else? I guess I don't understand your question.

I don't think she has AAA. So was hoping to use APH but you can't get an upgrade with APH. Instead, she figures she will have to purchase an AAA so she can get the room upgrade.

 

[bubba's mom]

I don't think she has AAA. So was hoping to use APH but you can't get an upgrade with APH. Instead, she figures she will have to purchase an AAA so she can get the room upgrade.

Didn't think it mattered what you booked under, the upgrade perk was with the LF number....now you're confusing me!!! (and I don't need the help cuz I'm blonde )

 

[AlexandNessa]

Didn't think it mattered what you booked under, the upgrade perk was with the LF number....now you're confusing me!!! (and I don't need the help cuz I'm blonde )

Oh .... my .... good .... lord. Didya not read the primer?!

Go back and re-read the first part of the primer. Your LF upgrades go out the window when you book at a non-qualifying rate. A non-qualifying rate is APH, FLO, any 3rd party rate like Expedia, Orbitz, SW Vacations, etc.

So, for your June 2008 ressie, your upgrade to Deluxe goes bye-bye if you change to an APH rate.


P.S. OP, Super Saver rates may be released for your date. You don't need AAA when you book, just when you check-in. So, hold off getting AAA until you're sure you need it.

 

[bubba's mom]

Oh .... my .... good .... lord. Didya not read the primer?!

I failed the test



BTW.... for Feb. 07 trip, I booked AAA rate. Just before we went, switched to AP rate. Still got qualified stay and welcome gift (wrong gift, but they fixed it and left the wrong one...so, we got 2!) Anyhow, I thought I read that whatever rate (AAA, AP, etc..) you originally "book" at, is what it stays at in their system....then again, it may be that "lucky day" thing you mentioned....

 

[gopherit]

First of all, sorry about the acronym thing. I use WAY to many of them in my job, and by the time I post here - I'm alphabetically brain-dead, LOL. At least when ya sound it out (Porto-Fino-Bay) it almost made sense, haha.

Damo is correct - I have had AAA, and wasn't wholly sure I would renew. I understand I can wait until the 11th hour to do that - that's what we did last time. Last trip, we were "blue" peons and the APH rate was just far better than the AAA rate, so it was a no-brainer. To be honest - I think our "gold" status is a complete fluke and I have no clue how we got there. We stayed for 3 nights last trip. It was our first (and only) trip as Loews card-bearers. We used an AP rate. Next thing I knew, they sent me the Gold card. Not sure how that happened.

As for my current ressie for june 08 - I made the ressie without even mentioning Loew's # - didn't have it on me, and honestly, my call began as just an inquiry. Then I was so stunned to find out that PBH (or PFB too, haha) was not available for our trip that I just choked on the moment and made the HRH ressie. I figured I could always "fix it" later after getting some savvy advice here. I think I must have changed my ressie/rate/hotel 4 or 5 times last trip as new APH rates kept popping up, making one hotel or the other more preferable. I'm thinking this time may not be much different....

Anyway - I will give them a call-back tomorrow with card in hand and see what they can do. Told family tonight about PBH - not too happy, but them's the breaks. At least HRH has the perk of being soo nice and close. We stayed there last time and it was great - the fam just preferred the "ambiance" of PBH more. Ds will just have to hope that the "creepy Jimi photo" is NOT in our room this time...maybe I can bring some paper and tape to cover it, haha.

Thanks for the info.

 

[calgarygary]

I failed the test

I sure hope no one was copying of your paper!

 

[bubba's mom]

I sure hope no one was copying of your paper!

me too...if they were, that'll teach 'em

 

[gopherit]

Well, typical for me, all that "education" was to no avail.

Tried to get the upgrade - but it was not available. No AAA rates posted yet, either. So for now, the ressie I made stands.

I think what I will do is set an alarm on my computer to prompt me to check the US/IOA website every 3-4 weeks. I suspect that what may have happened @ PBH is a block-reservation of rooms for a conference or such. Some of those may "free up" as our dates draw nearer. I know the AAA rates and APH rates will eventually get posted - I can always cash in on those. So tell me again - what "gift" do I "miss out on" as a Goldie if I secure an APH rate instead of the AAA? Gotta do the math once those numbers get posted to see what makes more sense. Also - we had considered staying at Club level (5 breakfasts each day can almost make it worthwhile). If we do that, the upgrade wouldn't have mattered anyway, I guess.

Speaking of the Loews gold upgrade - gee, I would have thought 9 mos would be ample time to secure one of those, especially given that the 1st week of June still has lots of schools in session, etc. It doesn't give me much hope for ever getting one, unless it's the sort of thing that becomes MORE available as the time gets nearer? The CM said it was NOT a black-out period - there just weren't any left for my week, or something like that.

I am also toying with moving my dates around - maybe moving our stay up a day or two, ditching the Thur night, and perhaps moving over to a hotel near SW and doing it on the Friday. That way, we could reserve PBH. Who knows - maybe we could even get the upgrade. Too many decisions, but lots of time to consider it all.... too bad I'm not a patient person, LOL.

 

[bubba's mom]

So, you called and booked w/ your Gold LF card, and the room and/or upgrade wasn't available for 1 night?? That sounds weird... Maybe stay at one of the other hotels for that part of the trip, and switch hotels mid-trip? I just reserved PBH for June 26-28 and July 9-12...no problem....upgrade available.

 

[gopherit]

So, you called and booked w/ your Gold LF card, and the room and/or upgrade wasn't available for 1 night?? That sounds weird... Maybe stay at one of the other hotels for that part of the trip, and switch hotels mid-trip? I just reserved PBH for June 26-28 and July 9-12...no problem....upgrade available.

Actually, they didn't tell me how many days out of my trip were "not available" for the upgrade. My "problems" are as follows:

* PBH Deluxe 2Q room is NOT available for one night of our trip.
* HRH does have a 2Q deluxe room available for our trip week - but NOT as a Gold "upgrade" - we would have to pay for it as a Deluxe 2Q.

I guess I could call back and find out if the deluxe upgrade is available for other nights of our trip. If, like the PBH room, the upgrade is available for all but, say, Thurs. night, I will likely consider moving some other dates around on our trip to secure it.

Yet another phone call, and I'm a good 9 mos away from the trip. Whew - this is a lot of work....I am beginning to think just holding my ressie for now and getting the APH rate once available has a LOT going for it!

 

[bubba's mom]

* HRH does have a 2Q deluxe room available for our trip week - but NOT as a Gold "upgrade" - we would have to pay for it as a Deluxe 2Q.

That doesn't make sense.... If you are Gold, the upgrade is from standard TO deluxe....

I am beginning to think just holding my ressie for now and getting the APH rate once available has a LOT going for it!

The important thing is to get the room booked....that way, it's yours to do with what you want. You can switch rates or book a room and cancel current res anytime later (up to 5 days). For June, there might not be a lot of rooms available at AP rate.... AAA comes out first, then AP.....AAA is very popular, so a lot of rooms go w/ that rate.
I'm sure you read the LF thread: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1477443

 

[goofy!]

Actually, they didn't tell me how many days out of my trip were "not available" for the upgrade. My "problems" are as follows:

* PBH Deluxe 2Q room is NOT available for one night of our trip.
* HRH does have a 2Q deluxe room available for our trip week - but NOT as a Gold "upgrade" - we would have to pay for it as a Deluxe 2Q.

I guess I could call back and find out if the deluxe upgrade is available for other nights of our trip. If, like the PBH room, the upgrade is available for all but, say, Thurs. night, I will likely consider moving some other dates around on our trip to secure it.

Yet another phone call, and I'm a good 9 mos away from the trip. Whew - this is a lot of work....I am beginning to think just holding my ressie for now and getting the APH rate once available has a LOT going for it!

I think your problem is not that the rooms are not available this far out, but that your trip is still this far out. All the upgrade codes are not in the system yet for 2008.

We have a big trip planned for March due to our daughter cheering at WDW. We are platinum and I was JUST, this past week, able to get my platinum upgrade of a suite at reservation. I was able to confirm the king bedroom on the parlor, but the computer was showing that all the 2 queen bedrooms on the other side of the parlor were unavailable.

I have been in contact with the rooms mgr at PBH and they have confirmed that not all the upgrade codes for LF are in the system yet. She Just e-mailed me and reserved my rooms for me last week.

So just keep trying and keep calling. Chances are that the rooms are available, the upgrade rate codes are just not showing yet for June of '08.

 

[jmpellet]

OK, now I am totally confused after reading all these posts regarding 5 to a room. I thought all of the Loews hotels in Orlando allowed 5 people to a room. My local aaa.com does not show rates for july of next year yet for RPR.

 

[goofy!]

OK, now I am totally confused after reading all these posts regarding 5 to a room. I thought all of the Loews hotels in Orlando allowed 5 people to a room. My local aaa.com does not show rates for july of next year yet for RPR.

All the double queen rooms allow 5 people. However, the king rooms only allow up to 3 people.

Consequently, the King suites have a stated max. capacity of 3, although some have been able to secure them with 4 people.

AAA rates are indeed not out yet. Keep checking and call to change your rate when they are published.

 

[bubba's mom]

OK, now I am totally confused after reading all these posts regarding 5 to a room. I thought all of the Loews hotels in Orlando allowed 5 people to a room. My local aaa.com does not show rates for july of next year yet for RPR.

Some rooms accomodate 5 (usually the deluxe rooms...you get a pullout sofabed). Your local aaa.com site will not show rates for next year because aaa hasn't "released" the rates yet. We are all still waiting.... You can book the room now at rack rate (to ensure you GET your room), then when AAA rates come out/release, call and switch your rate.

 

[gopherit]

I think your problem is not that the rooms are not available this far out, but that your trip is still this far out. All the upgrade codes are not in the system yet for 2008.....So just keep trying and keep calling. Chances are that the rooms are available, the upgrade rate codes are just not showing yet for June of '08.

I would have thought that too - but others (i.e. Bubbasmom) already stated that the upgrade was available for their trips - in late june and again in july, both after our trip. ANd the fact that PBH is unavailable - at ALL, like, no deluxe available to book on June 5th... actually, on the net, no room availability at ALL shows up - makes me think that my chances are smaller than slim.

But nonetheless, I will try and try again, as time draws on...