Why Early Check-In Requests Make Hotel Staff Want to Scream Into Their Coffee
Working the front desk at a hotel is not for the faint of heart. If you’ve ever checked into a hotel, you’ve probably never thought about the chaos that happens before you swipe your credit card and grab your key. But let me tell you, there are stories—oh, so many stories. And if you ask any seasoned front desk warrior what really makes them twitch, “early check-in” requests will be high on that list.
Picture this: It’s 6:45 am, the sun’s barely up, and instead of sipping your coffee in peace, you’re already fielding voicemails from someone who just can’t wait to get into their room. Strap in for a wild ride through hotel hospitality, influencer entitlement, and the ever-present game of “room jenga.”
The Early Check-In Tango: An Untold Hotel Horror
Let’s set the scene, courtesy of u/Practical_Cobbler165’s viral Reddit post from r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk. It’s the start of their workweek—Monday, before 7am. No night auditor. No time to breathe. Just a blinking voicemail and an immediate phone call from a guest who, despite living only an hour away, needs to check in early. Not “I just landed from a 12-hour flight” early. Just… because.
After some polite but weary back-and-forth, our hero checks the reservation: a last-minute comp from marketing. The guest is an influencer (of course). Not only that, she’s bringing a dog—cue the $75 pet fee conversation. Oh, and what kind of dog? A Husky. If you know, you know.
But wait, there’s more! She’s not even planning to create content for the hotel. The whole reason for her free stay—a missed partnership with an ice cream brand—a month ago. Yet, here she is, asking (with that influencer confidence) to get the pet fee waived. As our front desk friend puts it, “The entitlement is real.”
Room Jenga: The Secret Sport of Hospitality Workers
Anyone who’s worked in hotels knows about room jenga. It’s the delicate, frustrating art of shuffling reservations, housekeeping schedules, and guest requests—all before breakfast is even set up. Early check-in? That means finding a room that was cleaned overnight, making sure it’s not blocked for someone else, and praying it’s not the one with the broken AC that maintenance “will get to soon.”
And here’s the kicker: most early check-in requests aren’t from weary travelers. They’re from people who just don’t want to wait. Sometimes it’s business, sometimes it’s leisure, and sometimes it’s, well, “influencers” who think the rules only apply to regular guests.
The Curious Case of the Comped Influencer
Influencer marketing has rewritten the rules in the hospitality world. Hotels routinely hand out complimentary stays in exchange for exposure—Instagram posts, TikTok dances, YouTube vlogs. But what happens when the influencer doesn’t actually create any content? Or, as in this case, when the comp is granted a full month after the original campaign is over?
It’s a tale as old as time (or, at least, as old as social media): marketing says yes, the front desk does the heavy lifting, and the “influencer” tries to push for every possible perk. Pet fee waived? Sure, why not! (Except, actually, no.)
Huskies, Entitlement, and the Hotel Apocalypse
Of all the dogs to bring to a hotel, a Husky is… a choice. If you’ve ever met one, you know why. They’re loud, they shed enough to knit a sweater in 15 minutes, and they have an uncanny ability to find every single weak spot in a hotel room.
So let’s recap: A last-minute comped stay for a missed promo, an entitled influencer, a Husky, and a request for early check-in and waived pet fees—all before 7am. It’s enough to make any front desk agent question their life choices.
What Can We Learn?
If you’re a guest: Be kind. Be patient. Remember that the person at the front desk is juggling a dozen requests, a handful of keys, and probably running on caffeine fumes. Early check-in is a luxury, not a right—and if you really, really need it, maybe bring a box of donuts as a peace offering.
If you’re an influencer: Actually, maybe just book like everyone else. And if you bring a Husky, tip generously (and bring a lint roller).
Share Your Tales!
Front desk folks, what’s your wildest early check-in story? Travelers, do you have a check-in hack that actually works? Drop your stories in the comments and let’s keep the hospitality hilarity going!
Working in hotels isn’t for everyone—but at least it’s never boring.
Original Reddit Post: I hate early check in