Start with the rate name and payment timing in the written terms. Under the cited policy, a flexible rate is charged when the guest checks out at the hotel, while a non-refundable or advance-purchase rate is charged immediately after card verification for the full amount of the stay. Payment timing is a useful clue, but it does not establish every cancellation or amendment condition.
A quick comparison
| Rate type named in the cited policy | When payment is charged |
|---|---|
| Flexible rate | When the guest checks out at the hotel |
| Non-refundable or advance-purchase rate | Immediately after card verification, for the full amount of the stay |
“Restricted” is best treated as shorthand for the non-refundable and advance-purchase categories described above. The payment rule alone does not explain precisely when a booking may be cancelled or whether any part of the payment may be returned.
How to check the booking terms
A traveller should compare the following points:
- Exact rate name: Check whether the booking is labelled as flexible, non-refundable, advance-purchase, or something else.
- Payment timing: Look for when the card is charged and whether the stated charge covers the full stay.
- Cancellation deadline: Find the date and time by which cancellation must be requested.
- Applicable time zone: Confirm which time zone governs the deadline.
- Refund amount and deductions: Check whether cancellation produces a full refund, a partial refund, or no refund under the stated conditions.
- Changes and no-shows: Review any separate rules for date changes, failures to check in, or failure to appear.
What still needs confirmation
The cited payment guidance does not specify cancellation deadlines, refund methods, cancellation deductions, date-change rules, or no-show consequences. Those details cannot safely be inferred from the distinction between checkout payment and immediate payment.
The label “flexible” should therefore not be treated as a blanket promise of free cancellation. The traveller must still verify the exact rate conditions that apply to the specific booking.