sriki
Level 2 Member
<POTENTIAL THREAD HIJACK>
I know some people hate speculative bookings. I sometimes blame that when I don't find inventory I need. However, I consider speculative bookings are an essential tool and in fact the sound and right strategy in making many travel plans.
For someone trying to travel with minimal cash cost, i.e. both flights and hotels being paid for by miles and point respectively, I would venture a guess that their travel plans center around the flight (I could be not 100% correct). My reasoning behind it being flight inventory (premier levels) is scarce and changes after ticketing involves costs that people try to avoid. Booking award tickets is a beast of its own kind when involving multi-destinations. It's rare for anyone to start and finish booking such ticket in one go. There could be that one perfect itinerary you want, but, in most cases, there needs to be some compromise either with the dates or with the places or with the airlines. While sorting this out (eg: discussing with travel companion or getting work stuff lined up), I believe it's prudent to book hotels based on the compromise. Sometimes, it's just one set of hotel bookings. Others, it might be more than 1. This more than 1 set of bookings is technically speculative booking, but, I cannot blame anyone for doing it as they are planning their trip with some unknowns and inventory is limited and on a first come first serve basis.
I only did it once when I wasn't sure of my connecting flight and had to cover the possibility of staying back one additional day in Rome. I am not sure if that counts. However, I am thinking about one speculative booking though. I want to go to two places, A & B next year. But, I haven't made up my mind on which one I would go first. It might take me a few weeks to decide (cost, feasibility of using miles & weather conditions). However, the places I want to stay are very aspiring (if I can use that with a little freedom) for quite a few and would hate to see them gone when I finally decide.
There are certain do's and do not in travel community. Some of them are very strict like do not insult the place and culture you are visiting. Some are controversial, like do you do you recline or not. I am not sure how bad speculative bookings is looked down upon. I would like to hear opposing views on it somewhere.
I know some people hate speculative bookings. I sometimes blame that when I don't find inventory I need. However, I consider speculative bookings are an essential tool and in fact the sound and right strategy in making many travel plans.
For someone trying to travel with minimal cash cost, i.e. both flights and hotels being paid for by miles and point respectively, I would venture a guess that their travel plans center around the flight (I could be not 100% correct). My reasoning behind it being flight inventory (premier levels) is scarce and changes after ticketing involves costs that people try to avoid. Booking award tickets is a beast of its own kind when involving multi-destinations. It's rare for anyone to start and finish booking such ticket in one go. There could be that one perfect itinerary you want, but, in most cases, there needs to be some compromise either with the dates or with the places or with the airlines. While sorting this out (eg: discussing with travel companion or getting work stuff lined up), I believe it's prudent to book hotels based on the compromise. Sometimes, it's just one set of hotel bookings. Others, it might be more than 1. This more than 1 set of bookings is technically speculative booking, but, I cannot blame anyone for doing it as they are planning their trip with some unknowns and inventory is limited and on a first come first serve basis.
I only did it once when I wasn't sure of my connecting flight and had to cover the possibility of staying back one additional day in Rome. I am not sure if that counts. However, I am thinking about one speculative booking though. I want to go to two places, A & B next year. But, I haven't made up my mind on which one I would go first. It might take me a few weeks to decide (cost, feasibility of using miles & weather conditions). However, the places I want to stay are very aspiring (if I can use that with a little freedom) for quite a few and would hate to see them gone when I finally decide.
There are certain do's and do not in travel community. Some of them are very strict like do not insult the place and culture you are visiting. Some are controversial, like do you do you recline or not. I am not sure how bad speculative bookings is looked down upon. I would like to hear opposing views on it somewhere.
