Get a card at evey hotel you stay in, save them , pull them out at check in.
Hey, today I even got Skymiles.

Similar to others....it's seems to be completely hit or miss. That being said, I typically get the cards and present them to the clerk at check-in. If they take it, great.....if they don't, I'm no worse off.

We certainly spend enough time in these hotels.....might as well try and get a little back from them. Funny thing is, the more they cooperate and try to get me some points, the more likely I'll book w/ that hotel when I'm traveling on my own.

The rewards clubs are for spending "money" in the hotels, not "time."

What exactly would a crew give *to* the hotel that would warrant trying to "get a little back"?

Employment to the front desk clerk(s), cleaning crew, restaurant, van driver, maintenance worker. That is all I can think of..you know..not much :rolleyes:

Oh, so you pay for your hotels out of pocket? None of it is paid for or reimbursed by your employer?

I've had the best luck when staying at unscheduled hotels. I always ask, though, and even if I only hit on 20% of them, it still adds up quickly.

By staying in that Hotel we are giving them business. Doesn't matter who pays the room bill. Those people are employed due to the fact that people or companies rent the room(s). And yes, when I personally have to commute in a day early and rent a room I am in fact "giving to" the hotel also.

The vast majority of business travelers who become Diamond, Platinum, whatever at the large hotel chains are traveling on negotiated corporate rates and staying with chains directed by their employers. Their rooms are either paid by corporate direct-bill or by corporate-issued Credit Cards. They seldom pay rack rates, and the negotiated rates are often similar to our crew rates at the nicer places. The only reason they get points and we don't is the perception that the individual traveler picks their hotel, whereas ours is picked by the company.

Incidentally I am top-tier with one of the hotel chains and am far more likely to give them my leisure business (which is substantial) based on being treated well on my crew stays. Food for thought.

So, again, since it is your *company* that is giving the hotel business, then why is it that you, the individual, should be entitled in any way to "get a little back from them"?

Paid for the hotel on your own dime for your own personal needs? By all means, your business is what keeps them in business, so you're absolutely entitled.

So you would also agree that business travelers whose companies pay their airfare, hotels, rental cars etc should not get the points? Or are you just saying aircrews should not? If so, why the double standard?