When it comes to travel, one thing you can always count on is that unforeseen circumstances will eventually disrupt your plans. Whether it’s due to unexpected events, weather, or personal reasons, there may come a time when you need to cancel your travel arrangements. Even if you haven’t made any upfront payments or used loyalty points, it’s common for policies to stipulate that last-minute changes could lead to the forfeiture of your points or incurring a cancellation fee.
IHG Free Night Certificate: An Easy Redeem
We’ve run into this situation more than once. For example, I often wait until the last minute to book a hotel when Sharon goes on fishing excursions from Cape Canaveral. The trips are always subject to cancellation due to rough seas or insufficient customer demand. On one occasion, I booked a Holiday Inn Express at noon for that evening using a free night certificate from our IHG Select card.
Later that evening, the fishing trip was canceled due to a mechanical issue. I called the hotel and was told to cancel online, but I had a sinking feeling I might lose the certificate—or even get charged for a night. To my surprise, the certificate reappeared in Sharon’s IHG account almost immediately after I hit “Cancel.” No charge ever showed up on her card. In this case, the hotel’s flexibility and the program’s automation worked in our favor.
Hilton Stay Inside the Cancellation Window
Other times, it’s not as simple. We once booked a discounted cash rate through Hilton that came with a 14-day cancellation policy. Plans changed well inside that window, which meant the app wouldn’t allow me to cancel. I called the hotel directly—one we’ve stayed at many times—and explained the situation.
Thankfully, the agent recognized us as repeat guests and canceled the reservation without penalty. Good customer service still exists, and it was a great reminder that a positive history with a property can sometimes outweigh strict cancellation rules.
Hyatt Concierge to the Rescue
In another case, I had booked a Hyatt stay at the Grand Hyatt on a rate that clearly stated there were no cancellations. However, the government then issued guidance advising people not to travel to that city. I decided to reach out to the Hyatt Concierge team on Twitter (now X) and explained my situation.
They quickly replied, confirmed my details, and reached out to the hotel directly. By the next afternoon, I had an email from the hotel’s operations manager saying the reservation was canceled and my points were back in my account. The concierge even followed up to make sure everything was resolved. Having the loyalty program advocate for you can make all the difference.
Final Thought
Cancellation policies are there for a reason, but they’re not always enforced to the letter. Sometimes the systems work in your favor, sometimes a property will make an exception, and sometimes the loyalty program can step in to help. If you ever find yourself needing to cancel past the deadline, it’s always worth trying—whether that’s through the app, by calling the hotel, or by contacting the loyalty team directly. You might be pleasantly surprised at the result.
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