I’m curious how my experience on this compares to that of others…
In this post:
A hotel finally asked me to show my AAA card!
One of the easiest ways to save money on a hotel stay is by booking a AAA rate. While it won’t save you a fortune, many of the major hotel chains offer AAA members some percentage discount on the standard rate. In most cases, I also find that this is better than the typical “members only” rate, for those who belong to the loyalty program.
So I always compare rates when I go to book a hotel. When you book a AAA rate, the terms will almost always state that you need to present your membership card at check-in. While that’s technically true, I can’t count the last time I was actually asked to show my card… until a recent Marriott stay.
At check-in, the associate commented how I booked a AAA rate, and asked me to show the card. I was honestly caught off guard, because this was the first time in close to a decade where I was asked to show proof of my AAA membership (at least as far as I can remember).
I looked through my wallet, and the card wasn’t in there (I only keep a select number of cards in my wallet, given the lengths I go to maximize my credit card spending). After looking through my wallet and email for a minute or so and not being able to find it, the associate just said “if you can’t find it, don’t worry about it.”
Lol, that’s sort of a funny (but appreciated) verification process — prove your membership if you have it, but if you don’t, don’t worry about it. To be honest, I’m not even positive that I’m a member right now. I think I am as I always renew when they email me, though I don’t have a valid card on me, and it’s not something that’s really at the top of my mind at any given point.
What’s the worst that can happen in these situations?
Like I said, this was my first time in close to a decade where I was asked to show a card. So at least based on my own experience, odds are pretty good that you won’t be asked to show a AAA card at most hotels, when booking such a rate.
So, what’s the worst that can happen in a situation where you book a AAA rate and can’t show proof of the card? Worst case scenario, I suppose a hotel could attempt to charge you the going rate for the stay, at the time of check-in.
I think it’s unlikely most hotels would try to do that if the rate were materially higher, but it could happen. I suppose hotels could also add some percentage amount to the rate, to reflect what the non-AAA rate would’ve been at the time of booking. This assumes that the AAA rate is a consistent percentage discount off the flexible rate, since otherwise there would be no way to know what the rate was at the time of booking.
Though I imagine that most front desk associates aren’t incentivized enough to actually care, so I imagine the “don’t worry about it” response isn’t that uncommon.
Bottom line
As someone who frequently books AAA rates, I almost never get asked to show proof of membership. However, during a recent Marriott stay, I was asked for the first time in many years. It had been so long that I even forgot that this is something that hotels sometimes ask for.
If you book AAA rates with any frequency, how often are you asked to present proof of membership at check-in?
When I book an AA rate at Marriott hotels lately, I have needed to enter my 16 digit AAA number. I guess Marriott is cracking down on this
I had this happen last week. I was staying at a Canadian hotel chain (Alt Hotels) in Manitoba and booked the CAA rate. They asked for my CAA card and I showed my AAA card (on the AAA app) and they didn't accept it. I guess there's no reciprocity between CAA and AAA. They ended up adjusting the rate up to the regular rate.
Literally the dropdown menu for discounted rates says “aaa/caa rate” implying they’re one and the same. In any case, what a warm welcome, eh. Canadians have some of the biggest sticks up their rear ends.
I've never once been asked. Often the AAA rate is cheaper than my company's negotiated rate and Concur selects the AAA rate for me. I don't even carry a card.
@Ben, you do realize that AAA, AARP, etc., have had digital cards for ages, right? I’m guessing you don’t carry your PP card(s) either.
This is just a guess, but I think they’re more likely to check IDs/business cards for corporate rates, where the discounts can be significant (and to track usage?). These days, the AAA/senior rates aren’t too different from the member only rates, but that’s just IME.
Was just questioned this summer about why I would take my AAA card with me on a long Europe trip. Lo and behold, at the Paris Marriott Charles de Gaulle I was asked during check-in for the card. I think it’s happened at least once previously, but not in a long time.
Maybe they decided to ask you to show your AAA card when you mispronounced "Marriott"?
You can avoid this problem by keeping electronic versions of all of your affinity cards on your phone in an electronic wallet, screenshots, etc. Don't count on using the membership card in an organization's (e.g. Marriott) app since you might need it when your phone does not have connectivity.