'Sorry, Your Platinum Status Doesn’t Make Me Break the Rules: Confessions from the Hotel Front Desk'
Checking In with Attitude: Why Hotel Front Desk Staff Don’t Care How Many Points You Have
If you’re the kind of traveler who starts every hotel conversation with “I’ve stayed at a lot of hotels,” buckle up—this one’s for you. There’s a certain breed of guest who believes frequent flyer miles, a well-worn suitcase, and a handful of brand loyalty points are a free pass to VIP treatment—and a license to rewrite the rules. But what happens when the front desk staff has heard it all before… and is absolutely not having it?
Recently, a hotel night auditor with over four years of experience took to Reddit’s r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk to vent about the daily drama of dealing with guests who expect staff to bend, break, or outright ignore the rules—just because they’ve checked into a Marriott once or twice. Their post, “I don’t care if you ‘stay at hotels a lot’,” is a hilarious, brutally honest peek behind the reception desk glass. Spoiler: Your status upgrade won’t help you here.
When “But I Stay at Hotels a Lot!” Won’t Cut It
Let’s set the scene. You’re working the night audit shift—a special kind of hotel purgatory where the guests are tired, the phone rings off the hook, and every problem is somehow urgent and entirely your fault. Enter: The Third-Party Booking Guest.
If you’ve ever booked your room through a site that rhymes with “Booking.com” or “Trivago,” you know the drill. The rates are great, but if there’s a hiccup—wrong date, wrong location, wrong planet—guess who has to untangle it? Not the website, not the algorithm, but the weary front desk worker at 1AM.
Our intrepid Redditor lays it out: They’re not unsympathetic to honest booking errors. But when a guest starts the conversation with, “I stay at hotels a lot, and they always just…” or “All you have to do is…”—it’s game over. The employee can’t (and won’t) go rogue, especially when their manager’s job instructions are clear. Not for your convenience, not for your elite status, and definitely not because you “know how it works.”
Why Can’t Front Desk Just “Fix It”?
Here’s the reality: most hotels have both “brand standards” (think: the stuff corporate cares about) and “property-specific rules” (the stuff the local manager cares about). The second the manager says, “Don’t touch third-party reservations,” that’s gospel. Because, as our Redditor points out, “They are in control of my employment. I’m not challenging that!”
Do staff sometimes cut corners to help? Sure. But if you start the call by being condescending, telling them how to do their job, or implying that you’re above the rules, you’ve just guaranteed you’ll get the strictest interpretation of policy. Pro tip: Kindness gets you farther than a rewards number.
The Third-Party Booking Blame Game
One of the biggest headaches? When you book through a third-party and make a mistake, only the third-party can correct it. That means playing “phone tag” to change, cancel, or tweak your reservation. The hotel cannot (and should not) override the rules, especially when it’s your money, your card, and your error.
The kicker? Guests who get snippy about it—especially after being told exactly why the front desk can’t help—are less likely to get a little “rule flexibility.” If you’re polite and understanding, staff might be willing to help (within reason). If not, enjoy your game of late-night call relay.
ID, Please—and No, It’s Not Personal
Another recurring rant: Guests who act like being asked for ID at check-in is some kind of personal offense. It doesn’t matter if you checked in yesterday, last week, or have a tattoo of the hotel logo. The front desk needs your ID to protect you (and your reservation)—especially since third-party bookings are notorious for incorrect or missing info.
Wouldn’t you rather have your identity checked than someone else crashing in your room on your dime? Apparently, not everyone agrees—hence some epic side-eye from guests.
The Golden Rule of Hotel Stays
Here’s the takeaway, straight from the trenches: You know you. The front desk doesn’t. The rules are there for a reason, and if you want a smoother stay, book directly, read the details, and treat the staff like humans—not as obstacles between you and your free breakfast.
Ready to Share Your Hotel Horror Story?
Whether you’re a frequent guest, a front desk warrior, or someone who just loves a good behind-the-scenes rant, we want to hear from you! What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen at check-in? Have you ever tried to bend the rules—and did it work? Drop your stories in the comments below!
And remember: Kindness is the real upgrade.
Original Reddit Post: I don’t care if you “stay at hotels a lot”