Mlife: Booking Comped Rooms... online versus calling

[Multifarious5]

*****update to the below. My offer was incorrect on the Mlife site...it was just showing me as eligible for higher-tier rooms above what I was actually eligible for. (I am eligible or a comped Petite suite with this property, but NOT the Penthouse suite, as the Mlife site was showing.)
Below is my original post, but take it with the grain of salt----I figured out the monkey wrench, and it wasn't phone versus online, it was Mlife's site having a glitch and offering me a comped room I wasn't eligible for, so problem solved!***
Hi All,

Mlife has so many nuances, anytime I hear of a quirk that might help, I like to share. I was going to book my corporate offer online, but wanted to avoid putting in a CC. (I don't always have to since it shows zero due, but this time it asked.)

Long story short, I decided to call and book the room via the Mlife VIP #.

I reached a very nice guy at Mirage Mlife. He said he could definitely book the comped suite, but he didn't specific which type. Liking everything buttoned down, I asked about the type. I told him online it allows me up to XYZ suite. He said he can only assign ABC suite ,with a note of a preference for the upper suite, if booked on the phone.

I then asked if, since on the website, it was letting me book a better suite than what they could lock down on the phone, would I have a better chance of keeping the higher suite if I book online? He laughed nicely and admitted that yes, you usually DO have better control over locking down a specific TYPE of suite, if you book online. He explained that, if you book over the phone (w/o a host) they just do a blanket comp suite reservation, and type in a "preference" versus locking down a specific type. (Think of how you type on room requests, it's a request, but nothing firm.)

Now, I know even online. any reservation is "based on availability", but I really appreciated him sharing that tip that a specific room reservation is a little more concrete online versus making a reservation via the Mlife phone number, as they just book a generic suite over the phone.

As always, rules/trends can change depending on whom you talk to, but this rang a little true, since, online you have a screen shot of the actual room, whereas on the phone, you don't. (And we all know the actual emailed confirmations are very generic on the specific room.) Furthermore, the ONLY time I've been bumped down was on a phone reservation, so who knows, but it's worth keeping in mind.

Now, murphy's law, Mlife wasn't letting me book anything online right now (I tried a few offers), as it's quirky sometimes, so I'll wait a couple of days. But, I will definitely book rooms online whenever possible, based on his helpful feedback!

 

[spicole]

Multifarious5,

Thanks for the post. The only thing I would like to add is that on at least a couple of occasions I have received a better rate than online by calling the Mlife VIP line. In one case for a Thursday-Sunday reservation with two free nights, they applied the free nights to Friday & Saturday and only charged me for Thursday. If I booked online I would have had to pay for Saturday instead of Thursday.

 

[Multifarious5]

Multifarious5,

Thanks for the post. The only thing I would like to add is that on at least a couple of occasions I have received a better rate than online by calling the Mlife VIP line. In one case for a Thursday-Sunday reservation with two free nights, they applied the free nights to Friday & Saturday and only charged me for Thursday. If I booked online I would have had to pay for Saturday instead of Thursday.

Great point Spicole. I HAVE definitely heard of people getting better rates/rooms by calling. I just found it interesting that, at least in this case, the don't lock down a specific room type on a comp on the phone, but they do online

As always though, it seems it always depends on who you talk to. My tip would be, just ask if they're locking down a specific room type, or noting a "preference" if it's on the phone!

 

[Chuck2009x]

You definitely have more leverage (or at least you kind of have the moral high ground) at the front desk if your reservation says "Room Type X" than if it says "Slot Block."

It's been a while since I booked through VIP Services (comp and non-comp), but I've had reservations through them arrive both ways, specified and generic. I don't recall if I ever booked a suite and had the reservation says something different.

I totally do not get why the guy you talked to said he couldn't book you the specific room type in your offer. I can't think of a single good reason why that should be the case. If VIP Services told me that, I'd say no thanks, and book it online.

 

[thecarve]

Good info. Thanks for the post.

MLife definitely has its quirks. I've run into situations when a certain hotel - Bellagio/Aria - appears to be sold out (or not available to me for a comp) online but when I call, they allow me to book it.

 

[Multifarious5]

You definitely have more leverage (or at least you kind of have the moral high ground) at the front desk if your reservation says "Room Type X" than if it says "Slot Block."

It's been a while since I booked through VIP Services (comp and non-comp), but I've had reservations through them arrive both ways, specified and generic. I don't recall if I ever booked a suite and had the reservation says something different.

I totally do not get why the guy you talked to said he couldn't book you the specific room type in your offer. I can't think of a single good reason why that should be the case. If VIP Services told me that, I'd say no thanks, and book it online.

The skeptic in me was thinking the ONE reason he might not have been willing to commit to that specific room, is if it's more of a marketing ploy online to get you in, but that maybe I'm NOT actually eligible for that specific room. (The room was MUCH nicer than I thought it'd get, which was why I was so excited.)

Online it shows me as eligible, I call in, and the guy said that "that is not the type of room they'd put me in if I booked on the phone, they just book for a suite, and then check-in determines which type of suite." He did say that if I can book it online, it would be much more locked down for a specific room type (as much as you can lock down any reservation!) But, again, this could be the reason he wouldn't commit to that specific room... we all know the Mlife site I'd glitchy, and maybe I'm flat not really eligible for it.

Im having some issues booking ANYTHING on the mlife site right now, but Ill update in a few days on whether I can get that specific room or not.

If some of the offerings on Mlife are more teaser offers, then I DEFINITELY want to book online to see if it goes through, versus a "slot block" on the phone. I'm not really fussy on what room I get, UNLESS I reschedule my whole trip around, simply to increase the odds of getting a specific room that I never had a chance of getting it in the first place! Then I'd be annoyed about switching up my schedule for no reason.

So, we'll see! And that is exactly what I told him Chuck, I was very nice, but said I'll book it online.

 

[Fligster]

Good info. Thanks for the post.

MLife definitely has its quirks. I've run into situations when a certain hotel - Bellagio/Aria - appears to be sold out (or not available to me for a comp) online but when I call, they allow me to book it.

Same here, offer for a free night and some FP and RC showed not available online for Bellagio for February trip, called and was able to book and get Saturday night comped. VIP services takes a CC but they don't charge a deposit whereas I always get charged a deposit when booking online. Also rates are usually a couple dollars a night less when I call than rates online.

 

[Multifarious5]

Hi all, quick update! I DID call again, suspecting that maybe the problem was Mlife's website just flat was showing me rooms I wasn't eligible for. I got a nice guy and flat out asked him what room HE was seeing me as eligible for on the corporate offer. He said a petite suite, whereas online it was saying a penthouse suite. (I do get suites here and there at Aria, about the same price as the PS, but it seemed overly generous since I have no rapport with this hotel.)

So, my whole issue wasn't a discrepancy between online versus phone, it was just a mlife website glitch, so disregard my original post.

BUT I would verify what type of room you're eligible for on the phone if they say "suite". I knew a Penthouse was generous, and I was going to rearrange my whole trip just to increase my chances of getting that room. Still a great deal and I am a happy camper, but it's just another case of a mlife site glitch on showing comped rooms above what I am actually comped for.

So Chuck, that's why he wouldn't commit on the room, he COULDN'T book that high of a room

 

[Chuck2009x]

The room was MUCH nicer than I thought it'd get, which was why I was so excited.)

Oh, I see. Yeah if it was that glitch where people were showing comp availability for room types that were actually above what was stated in the offer (like a Bellagio Suite in my case) then I can see where he either couldn't book it because it was a function of a bug in the online site (and he's not using the same exact interface/system to book you), or was told not to because they were aware of the problem.

I didn't bother to book that online because I pretty much knew it was a mistake and I wouldn't end up getting it.

 

[Multifarious5]

Oh, I see. Yeah if it was that glitch where people were showing comp availability for room types that were actually above what was stated in the offer (like a Bellagio Suite in my case) then I can see where he either couldn't book it because it was a function of a bug in the online site (and he's not using the same exact interface/system to book you), or was told not to because they were aware of the problem.

I didn't bother to book that online because I pretty much knew it was a mistake and I wouldn't end up getting it.

I had my doubts when I saw that room available to me, BUT since it's around the same price as a corner suite at Aria, which I do get occassionally, I had to try. (So hopefully that only makes me a semi-moron for hoping, not full moron! )

I have to give the guy props in how he handled it. Instead of being rude/condescending, he let me give it a try on my own!

 

[Nittany1]

The skeptic in me was thinking the ONE reason he might not have been willing to commit to that specific room, is if it's more of a marketing ploy online to get you in, but that maybe I'm NOT actually eligible for that specific room. (The room was MUCH nicer than I thought it'd get, which was why I was so excited.)

Online it shows me as eligible, I call in, and the guy said that "that is not the type of room they'd put me in if I booked on the phone, they just book for a suite, and then check-in determines which type of suite." He did say that if I can book it online, it would be much more locked down for a specific room type (as much as you can lock down any reservation!) But, again, this could be the reason he wouldn't commit to that specific room... we all know the Mlife site I'd glitchy, and maybe I'm flat not really eligible for it.

Im having some issues booking ANYTHING on the mlife site right now, but Ill update in a few days on whether I can get that specific room or not.

If some of the offerings on Mlife are more teaser offers, then I DEFINITELY want to book online to see if it goes through, versus a "slot block" on the phone. I'm not really fussy on what room I get, UNLESS I reschedule my whole trip around, simply to increase the odds of getting a specific room that I never had a chance of getting it in the first place! Then I'd be annoyed about switching up my schedule for no reason.

So, we'll see! And that is exactly what I told him Chuck, I was very nice, but said I'll book it online.

Like you,I always want the details buttoned up prior to arrival.
I know you do not want to deal with a host but that would be your best option.
They have more leverage than the MLife boothlings and if your offer said Penthouse they could book it.
I always call my host with my corporate offer and almost invariably they bump it up with additional RC or more F+B daily.
Why not give it a shot?

 

[Multifarious5]

Like you,I always want the details buttoned up prior to arrival.
I know you do not want to deal with a host but that would be your best option.
They have more leverage than the MLife boothlings and if your offer said Penthouse they could book it.
I always call my host with my corporate offer and almost invariably they bump it up with additional RC or more F+B daily.
Why not give it a shot?

Hi Nittany! Thanks a million for the reply. You know I value your insight greatly, as you know your stuff. I absolutely believe it was a glitch, as it was saying up to a TWO bedroom penthouse, which is way, way above my level. It wasn't just the boothling, it wouldn't let me book online either. (though I am using that name from here on out, that is priceless!) I absolutely believe it was an Mlife website issue.

I DO love "boothlings." You always make me grin Nittany, and I always, always value your insight. I will definitely keep your advice on a host in mind!

Thanks so much Nittany, and have a GREAT trip...8 days and counting! I am hoping it is your BEST trip yet!