Sorry, Not Sorry: The Wild World of Employee Hotel Discounts and the Audacity of Strangers
Picture this: You’re working the front desk at a bustling hotel, running on caffeine, patience, and the hope that tonight’s guests will be, at minimum, not completely unhinged. You’re proud of your job perks—after all, Schmilton (let’s call it that for anonymity’s sake) offers some of the best employee benefits in the biz. Medical, travel discounts, and that coveted Friends & Family (F/F) rate—it’s practically the golden ticket in the hospitality world.
But then, out of nowhere, a guest who just checked in through an online travel agency sidles up and asks, “If I stay another night, can I use your employee F/F rate?” You pause, wondering if you’re on a hidden camera show. Do they really think you’d hand over your precious discount to a total stranger? Spoiler: They absolutely do.
Stranger Danger: Who Gets the Golden Discount?
Let’s get one thing straight: The F/F rate isn’t some magical coupon you hand out like Halloween candy. As the original Reddit poster (u/Thisisurcaptspeaking) explained, it’s a fiercely guarded privilege—only bestowed upon the most trusted inner circle. For them, that means mom, sister (plus her family), and an ex-girlfriend who’s still a good friend (cue the “interesting family tree” jokes from the comments).
The logic is simple: Would you give this person the keys to your home? If the answer is no, they’re not getting your rate. Yet, as the post reveals, some guests have absolutely no shame in asking. And why? As top commenter u/PunfullyObvious humorously speculated, “If this gets asked, I suspect it has worked at least once and scammers will hold onto the lore of that for generations even if it never works again.” The hotel front desk version of urban legend—if you ask enough times, someone somewhere will say yes.
The Art of the Shut Down: Tactics for Turning Down the Entitled
So, how do you say “no” without causing a scene or risking a Yelp review tirade? The community weighed in with strategies that range from subtle to delightfully devious. U/SkwrlTail offered a masterclass in polite deflection: “Sorry, it has to be booked two weeks in advance, via the employee portal on the website, and my manager has to sign off on it.” Is that entirely true? Maybe not. But it’s believable enough that most would-be scammers slink away, dignity barely intact.
Others, like u/Miss_Inkfingers, advocate for the direct approach: “Never hesitate to lie to a guest/customer.” After all, you’re not denying them a human right—you’re protecting your own livelihood. As u/LadybugGirltheFirst succinctly put it, sometimes “No” is all you need. But, as u/SkwrlTail pointed out, a flat “no” can lead to endless whining (“But whyyyyyy not?”), cash bribes, and other creative attempts to wear you down.
The stakes are high. As the OP noted, letting the wrong person use your rate can get your privileges revoked—or even cost you your job. One commenter, u/lady-of-thermidor, nailed it: “You’re asking me to risk my job to save you $25?” The answer, for most sane people, is a hard pass.
When Friends and Family Forget the “Respect” Part
It’s not just strangers who overstep. Sometimes, even legitimate F/F users forget that they’re representing the employee who vouched for them. The OP shared tales of having to call other managers to report bad behavior—like the mother of a director of sales who berated a front desk agent for asking for ID. That call led to a very angry manager reminding his mom that abusing the rate puts HIS job on the line. Lesson learned (and, reportedly, no further incidents).
Veteran hotel staffers in the comments echoed this cautious approach. U/Tall1SF explained, “I protect my rate and heavily limit who I allow to use it… I lecture them when they travel using my F/F rate they are representing me and my property. I’ve never had an issue.” Others, like u/basilfawltywasright, take it a step further, sending a stern, time-stamped email warning that “if I get any complaint about them, I will go in and cancel their existing/future reservations… and they will never, ever get another chance.”
The message is clear: With great power comes great responsibility (and, apparently, a zero-tolerance policy for drama).
Employee Discounts: Not All Perks Are Created Equal
The comments section became a mini-battle of hotel chain perks. Schmilton employees praised their easy booking process and generous discounts, while others—like u/Stace_nomnom97—championed Slhyat’s 12 free nights a year and discounted amenities. There was even some friendly credit card flexing from u/random_name_245, who boasted about hitting Gold status and scoring free breakfast.
But across the board, one theme emerged: No matter how sweet the deal, it’s not worth risking your job or your reputation for someone else’s cheap night’s sleep.
Conclusion: Protect Your Perks, Guard Your Peace
If you ever find yourself tempted to ask a hotel employee for their precious F/F rate, remember this: You’re asking them to risk their job and their peace of mind for your short-term savings. And if you’re lucky enough to have a friend or family member in the industry, treat that privilege with the respect it deserves.
To the front desk warriors out there: Keep those boundaries strong, your stories coming, and your employee discounts safe from the entitled masses. Ever had a bizarre request or a perk-abusing “friend”? Share your tales in the comments below!
Because in the world of hotel perks, the real drama happens long before check-in.
Original Reddit Post: My employee discount