If you want a refundable hotel reservation, make sure to book one

Photo of author

By Christopher Elliott

Malka Mandel cancels, what she believes to be, a refundable hotel reservation on Priceline. Then she tries to un-cancel it after finding out it isn’t refundable and losing a credit card dispute. Is there any way to restore her hotel reservation?

Question

I recently visited Priceline.com to book a hotel. I was checking out a few websites and shopping around for prices to see if I could find a good deal.

I put in my dates and location and found a hotel I was interested in, the Waldorf Astoria in Jerusalem. It said in big bold letters, “Reasons to book now. Buy now & cancel anytime.” I took a look at it, and it seemed like a great idea. I could make a reservation now and if I didn’t want it or found a cheaper one, I could cancel. It appeared to be a refundable hotel reservation.

Right before I clicked on the last screen to book the reservation, I was nervous that they would later deny me the cancellation, so I took a screenshot. About two minutes after I booked the hotel, I realized that the hotel’s website had the rooms for significantly less than Priceline. I called to cancel the reservation. A representative told me she was sorry, but they would not refund my reservation because it was nonrefundable. I told her I had a screenshot showing that it says free cancellation available. Priceline refused to help.

Can you help me get a refund from Priceline? — Malka Mandel, Lakewood, N.J.

Answer

If you booked a refundable hotel reservation, then Priceline should refund it. But was it refundable? No, it wasn’t.

But first, you absolutely did the right thing when you took a screenshot. I always say, “When in doubt, take a screenshot.” You were in doubt. You should have been. It turns out Priceline had several room choices, some which allowed refunds, others that didn’t. Priceline should have said that at the top of the screen. (Related: Oh no! Will I ever get my money back from Barcelo?)

You didn’t book a refundable hotel reservation

When you received the confirmation, you immediately noticed that the actual terms were far more restrictive. As in, your room was nonrefundable. Worse, the Waldorf Astoria had a better rate on its website, so Priceline was overcharging you for a nonrefundable room. That doesn’t seem like such a deal. Where’s the Priceline Negotiator when you need him?

Arch RoamRight is one of the fastest-growing, most-highly rated travel insurance companies in the United States. Travel advisors love working with us, and travelers feel protected with our trip cancellation and travel medical insurance coverage. We also make it easy to file a claim online with our fast, paperless claims website. Learn more about RoamRight travel insurance.

Instead of accepting Priceline’s answer, you canceled your reservation and disputed your credit card charges. That’s the nuclear option because it forces an “all or nothing” decision from your credit card company. And, unfortunately, your credit card company sided with Priceline.

End of story? Not quite.

You skipped a step. A brief, polite email to one of the Priceline executive contacts I list on my nonprofit consumer advocacy site might have nudged the company to help you. That can sometimes help, although it’s no guarantee.

After you lost your dispute, you decided to keep your reservation at the Waldorf. But then Priceline informed you that your reservation wasn’t just nonrefundable, but also non-reinstateable. And that’s when I got involved. (Related: My dog needs to have surgery. No, seriously.)

While I agree that Priceline can keep your money, despite the poorly disclosed terms and conditions of your reservation, it can’t just pocket your money. If you want to keep your room, you should be able to.

I contacted Priceline on your behalf. Priceline restored your reservation and offered a $100 refund as a gesture of goodwill.

Photo of author

Christopher Elliott

Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers consumers to solve their problems and helps those who can't. He's the author of numerous books on consumer advocacy and writes three nationally syndicated columns. He also publishes the Elliott Report, a news site for consumers, and Elliott Confidential, a critically acclaimed newsletter about customer service. If you have a consumer problem you can't solve, contact him directly through his advocacy website. You can also follow him on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn, or sign up for his daily newsletter. He is based in Panamá City.

Related Posts