Kelly

We purchased a hotel for 4 nights in NYC on hotwire.com but now must change our plans due to my Mother's poor health. Will they allow a cancellation if it is due to health reasons, even though she is not the one who was staying there? or is it not cancellations period? Kelly

Suzy

Hotwire's policy if "final sale." They would not let you cancel the res even if you yourself were dying.

Or, as they put it, "Please note that all Hotwire purchases are final and cannot be cancelled, refunded, changed, exchanged or transferred."

Sam

Hmm, "Kelly" is a common name, perhaps you can sell the time to someone with the same name as you. . . .

kkj

Surely when you made the purchase they told you of their cancellation policy. If it was no refund, what possible difference does it make why you have to cancel? I'm sorry about your mother's poor health, but it really doesn't matter. This is the chance you take when you go to someplace like Hotwire.com to make a reservation. Part of the payoff in getting a good rate is that you lose some privileges.

Your only recourse in the future is book directly with the hotel, use a travel agent or tour operator and get insurance.

Ken

Ok, this might not be the most ethical thing to do, BUT; Call the hotel directly and try to cancel, if it is far enough in advance, maybe they can still sell your rooms, if not and the charge is put through on your credit card, could you dispute the charges? Now don't everyone jump all over me, it was just a thought . . .

Suzy

But Kelly didn't buy the room directly from the hotel, s/he bought it from Hotwire, which has already charged her card.

Sarah

Hope I never have to do business with you, Ken.

xxx

Ken, is your last name Lay?

hmm

The only possible satisfaction I can think of is send your credit card to a friend/family member who can use the hotel and have her flash the card at the desk when she checks in under your name.

<*{{{{{{<

S.O.L Kell

Ed

About a year ago I booked a trip to Hawaii through Hotwire. Well, the NIGHT before I was supposed to leave my mother went in the hospital. I immediately called Hotwire and they were extremely understanding. I did have to have my mother's doctor write a letter confirming my mother was in the hospital and mail it to them. Not a problem. They took the charge off my credit card and it was really no hassle. (They didn't make me change dates; they completely removed the charge!)

In your case, I'm not sure if your mother is in the hospital, but I would call Hotwire directly and see if they will work with you. If that doesn't work out, THEN I would call the hotel to see if they could possibly switch the dates or something. But definitely call Hotwire FIRST.

-Ed

Will

I have used hotwire at least one hundred times. Two times something came up and I was unable to use the rooms I booked. I called hotwire and explained my situations and that I am a regular customer. They credited the money back onto my account, where I could use it for another hotwire purchase in the future.

Greg

If Hotwire starts cancelling reservations for a variety of reasons and has to eat the charge, then their costs will increase and be passed on to its customers.

Do we want that? I say no cancellations for any reason on Hotwire or Priceline!

Flip

If Hotwire can cancel a reservation in a liquid market (NYC) and still offload that room to another Hotwire customer, they have then satisfied 2 customers with one room. Hopefully, the customer who cancelled will be so delighted, he/she will tell the world about how great hotwire is, and more people will look to hotwire and priceline. They will have more volume and be more cost efficient/successful, and the longer they'll be in business for the rest of us.

ken

I too had to cancel a hotel reservation due to medical (my own) made through hotwire.com They were very understanding and I had no problem. Unlike priceline.com, hotwire seems to be much more understanding and you can get a live operator to help you. I had also booked a room (same vacation) through priceline.com and they would not allow me to cancel. I never was able to contact priceline.com but sent them an email explaining my emergency surgery...no go. They wouldn't allow me to cancel as hotwire.com did. I tried unsuccesfully to reach a real person at priceline.com but never did. Maybe the outcome would have been different if I could have talked to a real person but when I called numerous times, I only got automated prompts so finally had to resort to sending an email. My medical emergency was my own, not sure how they will view another family members emergency...? Ken

aaa

Anybody ask or know what they did after 9-11? Refund? Credit for another trip?

Donna

I made reservations through Hotwire in March 2001 for late September in Baltimore and early October 2001 for New York City. Right after 9/11, I received e-mail from Hotwire saying I could receive a full refund upon request should we not wish to travel. We chose to go. Amazingly, the Hotwire rate for Le Parker Meridien in NYC was still considerably lower than the post-9/11 "deals".

aaa

Thank you for the 9-11 information.
Very nice of them. Anybody know if Priceline did the same thing?

kiki

Even as stickler as priceline.com is, I'm sure they had to make exceptions for anything travel related after 9-11. After all, airports were even closed down. I'm sure they offered refunds to everyone. Kiki

Melissa

I am very familiar with Hotwire. If the rep you get on the phone does not give you a refund, ask to speak to a manager. They should be understanding. If not - at least you tried.