# Radio reservations collect? Waldorf Astoria hotel ad, 1933

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-reservations-collect-waldorf-astoria-hotel-ad-1933/855541>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 12, 2020, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-reservations-collect-waldorf-astoria-hotel-ad-1933/855541 "2020-06-12T15:37:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\
**Post date:** [June 17, 2020, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-reservations-collect-waldorf-astoria-hotel-ad-1933/855541/21 "2020-06-17T15:00:22Z")

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> [@Schnitte](#):
>
> The key difference here is that expensive hotels are often frequented by business travellers, who don’t care if the wifi costs extra because they can expense it. Cheaper hotels are more usually used by tourists who pay out of their own pocket.

I’m not sure about that- I’m on my third company with extensive travel, and I am always expected to stay at the Courtyard-level hotels (it’s based on nightly rate, not actual amenity level, of course). And while I can expense a wifi charge when I have one, it’s pretty uncommon to have one.

The main exception is when I’m at a conference held in a specific hotel (East Overshoe Hilton Convention Center). Then I stay at whatever hotel is attached to the convention center, which is typically more upscale and often does charge a wifi fee.

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**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\
**Post date:** [June 17, 2020, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-reservations-collect-waldorf-astoria-hotel-ad-1933/855541/22 "2020-06-17T15:15:05Z")

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> [@OldOlds](#):
>
> I’m not sure about that- I’m on my third company with extensive travel, and I am always expected to stay at the Courtyard-level hotels (it’s based on nightly rate, not actual amenity level, of course). And while I can expense a wifi charge when I have one, it’s pretty uncommon to have one.
> 
> The main exception is when I’m at a conference held in a specific hotel (East Overshoe Hilton Convention Center). Then I stay at whatever hotel is attached to the convention center, which is typically more upscale and often does charge a wifi fee.

My main point is not that business travellers are necessarily or even in the majority of cases staying at expensive hotels. My main point is that hotels that have a higher proportion of business travellers among their guests are more likely to charge extra for wifi, because they know that even stingy travel expense accountants will usually approve reimbursement of a wifi charge with no further hassle.

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**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-reservations-collect-waldorf-astoria-hotel-ad-1933/855541/23 "2020-06-18T04:04:07Z")

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Telegrams and radiograms could be sent “collect,” just as long-distance phone calls were.

The Waldorf-Astoria no doubt had an account with Western Union or Marconi, but you could also send a collect radiogram to your maiden aunt.

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