Does the $20 Front-Desk Upgrade Trick Really Work?

I keep reading about the $20 trick, i.e. slipping the desk clerk $20 when you check in to receive a room upgrade. Do this actually work or is it an urban myth?

We've heard countless variations on this story: Put a $20 bill between your ID and your credit card when you check in and ask if there are any "complimentary" upgrades available. It often turns out well.

But we've also heard of clerks who simply push the twenty back and indicate that they can't help -- possibly because there's nothing available, they have concerns over propriety, or house rules prohibit it.

There's another factor involved in these days of inflation everywhere: $20 might no longer be enough. It might get a clerk's attention, but perhaps not his or her undivided attention. Of course, a $50 probably would, but then you're in a place where, for that much money, you could've just booked the upgrade and avoided the hassle.

Also, for that kind of money, you can reserve a fully refundable rate directly from the hotel, rather than an OTA (online travel agency). Hotels like guests to book from them, since they get their money immediately and don't have to wait for the OTA to pay up. You often get much more attentive service by doing so.

It helps if you don't flaunt the tip and request. The last thing a front-desk employee wants is to have to try to upgrade a parade of guests, even if it means a bunch of twenties in his or her pocket.

Similarly, if you can time your arrival, the best time to check in is from 5 to 6 p.m. Front desks start getting crowded after 6, when clerks can become a little harried. Before 5, especially if check-in time starts at 4, too many rooms will be unavailable (still being cleaned), so you'll have to take what you can get. After around 8 p.m., too few rooms will be available and you'll have to take what you can get (i.e., no upgrades).

You can also ask to see your room in advance. This is sometimes dicey in Vegas hotels with thousands of rooms, especially if there's a line out the front door waiting to check in. Even if you don't ask to see your room upfront, if you can come up with a good enough reason that you'd like to change rooms, you can call the front desk, or show back up, and ask for a different room. You'll often be upgraded for your trouble.

If you're a frequent guest of the property and/or in a higher players club tier, you can go through the players club/host system without having to do any business with the front desk at all.

Are you there for a special occasion? We don't recommend making one up, but if it's your anniversary, second honeymoon, birthday, etc., you can mention it with your $20; the two combined often hit home with check-in agents.

It ultimately boils down to your chutzpah level and whether or not it will bother you to be declined. If it won't, then you have little to lose by trying.

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Comments

Dave Mar-25-2019

FWIW....

For What It’s Worth...

I’ve tried it multiple times. So have people I’ve talked to. All report the same thing:

Sometime it works, sometimes not. 

But never has any check in clerk kept the money when an upgrade wasn’t available.

jay Mar-25-2019

Upgrade?

I have been “upgraded” but then you question what is an upgrade. 
Is a corner room better ? A view of the strip ? 
Sure there are club floors but if it’s not overtly obvious then I question if it’s really an upgrade.
Sometimes It’s like being upgraded from a mid-sized car to intermediate ?

Randall Ward Mar-25-2019

$20

some of the upgrades are available just by asking, my mlife offers have a range of rooms online, but if you book by phone they just put you in a basic room.

Mikescud Mar-25-2019

It all depends

Great answer on the part of the staff at LVA. One thing I can add to what's been said (and I agree completely with Dave), is that it depends on the hotel. I don't think there's any sense trying to get it to work at Wynn, Venetian, where so many of the rooms are the same. I think if the upgrade is not something reasonable it cannot work. So it depends on the resort/hotel almost as much as the other points mentioned.

Brent Peterson Mar-25-2019

Check In Agents

It would be interesting to hear what current or former check-in agents have to say. Maybe LVA can reach out and get information straight from the source.

Vickar Mar-25-2019

Upgrade

True! Sometimes yes sometimes no.  My experience mostly yes. If no always got my $20 back.  If asking for an upgrade due to a special occasion don't lie. I was checking into Hilton Arlington 2 days before my b'day.  Handed the clerk my credit card, license and a $20 requesting a b'day upgrade. She returned my stuff including the $20. "By the way" she said "you look good for 74".  I thanked her graciously.  She obviously check my driver's license and upgraded me to a concierge floor with complimentary bkfsd and happy hour anyway.   Go figure.

O2bnVegas Mar-25-2019

a couple more tips

Adding my 2 cents to LVA's perfect answers:
EVERYBODY wants an "upgrade."  Decide ahead of time what kind of "upgrade" you would like. 
 - Strip view?  If none available, ask for a pool view.  A pool view anywhere beats a parking garage/air ducts/concrete wall view, and for the most part pool view is an easy request for them to grant, no tip really needed.
 - Suite?:  I've been told by a Host that Friday and Saturday check-ins are more difficult to get upgrades, especially Saturday.  If you offer the $20 (or $50..really?) for a suite and are rejected, act really nice "No problem, I understand, thanks for looking", then ask if perhaps it would be worth it to check the next day (Sunday or Monday) for one.  If you don't mind moving after settling into your room.  Could happen, especially if same clerk is there and might remember you.

Kevin Rough Mar-25-2019

Couldn't do it

I stayed at 2 different Strip hotels during my stay in December.  I couldn't do the $20 trick at either hotel for one simple reason.  You couldn't check-in with a person at either one.  At both Park MGM and Planet Hollywood, my only option was checking in at a kiosk.  Even being MLife Gold didn't help.  While I hate dealing with kiosks instead of people, I think this will be eventually the way things work in the future.

Question of the Day - 25 March 2019

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