Honestly, it feels like luck half the time... depends who’s working and how strict they are.
I get what you’re saying, but honestly, I kinda get why they do it. If everyone could stack points and coupons, stuff would basically be free sometimes. I mean, yeah, it’s annoying when the system just shuts you down at checkout, but from a business side, I guess it makes sense. That said, I’ve actually had better luck in person—sometimes the cashier will just override it if you ask nicely. Online? Forget it. No wiggle room there.
Yeah, I totally get frustrated by that too. It feels like you’re being penalized for trying to save a few bucks. I’ve found in-store staff are sometimes more flexible, but online systems just don’t budge. Honestly, it’s a bit of a gamble each time…
- Ran into this exact thing last month booking a motel—tried to stack rewards points with a promo code, no luck.
- Ended up calling the front desk, and they actually let me use both, but only after some back and forth.
- Online checkouts just don’t care about loyalty, it seems.
- I get why there are rules, but it feels like they’re just making it harder for folks who plan ahead.
I’ve hit this wall a few times, not just with hotels but also with car rentals. Seems like every site has its own “rules” for what you can and can’t stack, and half the time it’s buried in fine print. I remember last year, I was trying to use some loyalty points from a car rental company—figured I’d finally cash them in on a weekend trip. Added a promo code too, thinking I’d get a real deal. Nope. Website just spit out an error. Ended up calling their customer service, which took forever, and the rep told me flat out: “You can only use one type of discount at a time.” But after some back and forth (and me asking for a supervisor), they actually made an exception and let me use both.
Here’s what’s worked for me when I run into this:
1. Always check the terms for both the points and the promo code—sometimes there’s sneaky language about “cannot be combined.”
2. If online checkout blocks you, don’t give up right away. Call the actual location or customer service.
3. Be polite but persistent on the phone; sometimes they’ll bend the rules if you sound reasonable.
4. If they say no, ask if they can apply one discount now and maybe add a note to your reservation to apply points at check-in (has worked once or twice for me).
5. Worst case, book with just one discount and keep your points for next time.
I get that companies want to protect their bottom line, but it does feel like loyal customers get punished more than helped sometimes. You’d think rewarding folks who plan ahead would be good business... but maybe that’s too optimistic.
Honestly, it’s enough to make you wonder if they’re hoping most people won’t bother to call or push back at all. Maybe that’s just my skeptical side talking, but after enough of these runarounds, you start noticing patterns.
Bottom line: don’t trust the online checkout to give you all your options. Sometimes old-fashioned persistence gets you further than clicking around for hours.
“don’t trust the online checkout to give you all your options. Sometimes old-fashioned persistence gets you further than clicking around for hours.”
That’s been my experience too, especially with family trips where I’m trying to stretch every dollar. Last time I tried to use a coupon and points on a minivan rental, the website just froze up. Ended up calling, and after a lot of “let me check with my manager,” they finally let me stack both. It’s almost like they make it confusing on purpose. My tip: screenshot everything as you go, just in case you need proof later.
