Reader Email: Marriott Charges For Early Check In When The Room Is Ready?

A LoyaltyLobby reader sent us an email about an early check-in charge at 11:30 AM at a Marriott-affiliated hotel when the room is ready and cleaned. Readers are encouraged to send us questions, comments, or opinions by email, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. We’ll cover them here several times a […]

May 26, 2025 - 02:15

A LoyaltyLobby reader sent us an email about an early check-in charge at 11:30 AM at a Marriott-affiliated hotel when the room is ready and cleaned.

Readers are encouraged to send us questions, comments, or opinions by email, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. We’ll cover them here several times a week.

You can access Marriott here.

Reader’s Email:

I encountered a strange case today when I came to check in at Hotel Vance, Portland, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel.
I arrived at the hotel at 11:30 hrs, which is not a check-in time for sure. I did put in the early check-in request when I made the reservation. And I totally understand that it’s subject to hotel availability and you can’t be mad if the room is not ready because technically you have to wait till 4 pm.
In my case, the reception clearly stated that the room is clean and ready to check-in. However, I have to pay an early check-in fee if I want to do it right then and there. Otherwise, the hotel will allow free check-in only after 1 pm.
This, for sure, is not a policy of Marriott. I have never heard of such a thing. And I’m pretty sure if they have a policy like this for check-in, then what about check-out?
What doesn’t make sense is, if this is the case, why do we need to request an early check-in that is subject to availability on the hotel website? Because even if it’s available, it’s still not being granted to the guest.
In this case, it is available and ready to put the guest in. They just simply refuse to let the guest in because it’s too early for them, and they prefer to let the empty room sit there for a few hours, torturing the customer some time before letting the guest in the room.
I’m not sure what is the positive thing about this policy.
Some hotels have a paid early check-in guarantee fee, like if you pay $30, we will guarantee that you can check in at 2 pm instead of 4 pm no matter what. This case, I still understand because it is at least guaranteed.
But in my case, it’s simply checking on the spot if the room is ready at that moment and requiring the fee out of nowhere. If the room is not ready, then the guest has to wait anyway. But if they are lucky to have a room ready, then it’s time to get some money. It’s totally different than the case where they charge a fee with a room guarantee.
And what is the point of letting a client wait for the room when the room is just sitting there, clean and ready, and doing nothing? What can they gain from this?
Do each hotel allow creating their own check-in/out time rules despite being under the associate brand such as Marriott?
If you are gold that have 2 pm late check out benefit on request, or platinum with 4pm late check out on request. Can they force us to pay in this same case?

The 2 PM late check-out for Gold members is based on availability, while the 4 PM one for Platinum and higher is not unless the property is classified as a resort or convention one.

None of the Marriott Bonvoy tiers offer an early check-in benefit, although Ambassador members may use Your24 to confirm check-in/check-out times that may or may not be available.

Hotel Vance, a Tribute Portfolio Marriott-affiliated hotel, wanted, in the reader’s case, to charge an extra 11:30 AM check-in when the official check-in time is 4 PM (very late), but as a Gold member, could have checked in free from 1 PM onwards.

I believe that the hotel has forgotten what business they are in – hospitality.

11:30 AM is NOT unnecessarily early, and the room has already been cleaned and is ready to be checked in.

4 PM, a standard check-in time, is very late, and it is likely done to charge these “early” check-in fees.

Conclusion

I cannot recall ever paying an early check-in fee or being solicited for a cash payment to check in before the “official” check-in time.

However, I have checked in very early without having a guaranteed early check-in and taken the risk of being denied one, but hotels are rarely overbooked or completely full, and, as an elite member, they can usually find you a temporary room.

Hotels try to merchandise early check-ins, late check-outs, and other services, but they should not forget the business they are in.

Charging elite members to check in at 11:30 for a room that has already been prepared is not sound.

What have been your experiences with not-so-early check-ins, and if the hotel has tried to charge you? Please comment below.

Source