A new revenue trend is gaining traction at hotels. It relates to charging fees for early check ins. Recently, a guest was checking into a Newark Courtyard Marriott and was charged $50 for an early check in. Normal check in time at this hotel was 3:00 pm and this guest wanted to check in at 12:00 noon. This practice has become increasingly common, leaving many travelers wondering whether these fees are justified.
Our take on it is that if a room is ready then a guest should be able to check in early without any additional fees. This appears to be another junk fee that hotels are learning towards to generate additional revenue.
Hotel Rationale for Early Check-In Fees?
Hotels highlight that having a standard check-in time allows their housekeeping staff adequate time to clean and prepare rooms for incoming guests. When a guest requests an early check-in, it can disrupt this schedule and may require the hotel to expedite the cleaning process or hold a room that would otherwise be sold to another guest. The answer to this is either hold the guest until the normal check in time or permit early check ins for rooms that were unavailable the night before or are ready to be used.
How Much Are Early Check-In Fees?
Early check-in fees vary widely depending on the hotel, location, and time of arrival. They can range from a nominal fee of $10-$20 to a significant portion of the room rate. Some hotels may also have tiered systems, with higher fees for checking in several hours early. I have seen a Marriott in Rome charge 300 Euros for an early check in fee.
Tips for Avoiding or Minimizing Early Check-In Fees:
- Check Your Hotel Loyalty Program Status: Many hotel loyalty programs offer early check-in as a perk for elite members.
- Call the Hotel in Advance: Contact the hotel before your arrival to inquire about their early check-in policy and fees. Sometimes, if a room is readily available, they may allow you to check in early at no extra charge.
- Book Directly with the Hotel: Booking directly with the hotel rather than through a third-party website may give you more flexibility and increase your chances of getting an early check-in without a fee.
- Consider Alternative Options: If you anticipate arriving early, consider other options such as storing your luggage at the hotel and exploring the area until the standard check-in time.
The Bottom Line
Early check-in fees are just another example of junk fees by hotels (or ancillary revenue opportunities). While hotels argue that these fees compensate for the extra resources required to accommodate early arrivals, guests often view them as an unfair penalty for arriving before the designated time.   Hotels typically argue that they have potential incremental costs associated with early check ins but in most cases these fees are not based in actual costs incurred by the hotels.Â
In my personal experience, if a hotel has an issue with providing a room to a guest whether it is at check in time or early, they will notify that the guest of the delay and provide the required superficial apology. I do not believe that I have seen hotels offer up a cash refund to the guest if the guest has to wait a couple of hours to check in due to some issue with the room.