An opaque rate is an offer where the provider is revealed only after booking, such as an unnamed hotel of a given class in a given district.
An opaque rate is an offer where the provider is revealed only after booking, such as an unnamed hotel of a given class in a given district.
Also called: Blind booking.
How it works#
The model allows discounting without visibly lowering the published price, protecting the provider’s rate structure. The buyer pays for that: such rates are usually non-refundable, earn no points and are not recognised for elite benefits. For travellers who care about status, that last point is the decisive drawback.
Not to be confused with#
An opaque rate is not the same as a sale price: with a sale price the provider is known, with an opaque rate the identity is deliberately withheld.
In German#
The German term is Opaker Tarif. German version of this term
Related terms#
- Rack rate: The rack rate is a hotel’s official undiscounted room price, used as the reference point from which all other rates are derived.
- Rate parity: Rate parity is the agreement that a hotel offers the same room price across all distribution channels and does not undercut the agencies.
- Fare rules: Fare rules are the conditions attached to a specific airfare covering changes, refunds, validity, stopovers and mileage earning.
Articles that use this term#
TopicEvery article and term onBooking and flight search.