Amex Updates FHR Terms with Anti-Gaming Language
The Fine Hotels + Resorts program allows eligible Amex Platinum Card Members to book stays at over a thousand lavish hotels around the world, and receive access to exclusive perks like upgrades, complimentary breakfast, late check-out or even property credit.
You also get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when you use an eligible Basic Platinum Card or Additional Platinum Card to pay for eligible prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts (minimum 1-night stay) and The Hotel Collection bookings (minimum 2-night stay) made through American Express Travel.
But now there’s some new language has been added to the Benefit Terms paragraph, regarding FHR bookings. Here’s the newly added language in the terms:
Back-to-back stays booked by a single Card Member, Card Members staying in the same room or Card Members traveling in the same party within a 24-hour period at the same property are considered one stay and are ineligible for additional FHR benefits (“Prohibited Action”). American Express and the Property reserve the right to modify or revoke FHR benefits at any time without notice if we or they determine, in our or their sole discretion, that you may have engaged in a Prohibited Action, or have engaged in abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with your FHR benefits.
Conclusion
The best FHR deals are often in Las Vegas and a select few other locations. Delano Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay is often a popular choice. With the $200 Amex Platinum credit and the $100 property credit, you can often find good deals.
But if you’re trying to squeeze additional credits into one stay, you should be aware of the new language. Back-to-back stays within a 24-hour period at the same property are considered one stay and are ineligible for additional FHR benefits.
HT: r/amex
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What does this language mean? Is it just saying that you won’t get the property credit multiple times on back to back stays (which is something that the hotel, not the consumer, should be enforcing)? Or is it saying that the consumer isn’t even allowed to book back to back stays? The lawyer who drafted this total train wreck should get a refresher in how to write clearly and effectively.
I assume the way I’ve booked for an upcoming trip with two cardmembers with two separate rooms for 2 nights each (plus our two children), so 2 rooms with 1 adult/1 child each, should be OK even with this change? This seems to specifically target two cardmembers staying in one room trying to stack stays or a single cardmember checking out and then back in.
Yeah you should be fine
You don’t get Hyatt elite night credits so not worth it using at Delano.
Delano is no longer in the program
Is this just referring to the $100 credit per stay on the items it qualifies for? DH and I recently stayed at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco with back to back bookings. We received a $60 credit each morning for breakfast and one $100 credit for both nights (got $100 total even though we used both credits). That’s what she stated when she checked us in and she seemed very familiar with it, so I didn’t question anything.
Or, is it referring to not being able to even do what we did (book one night in my name and one in DH’s name) to get the $200 off the nightly rate?
There are all sorts of threads out there on reddit and flyertalk about people trying to get away with booking 3, 4, 5 days in a row on separate reservations to get the daily credit, mostly in Vegas (go figure). Also a great one by one of your fellow boarding area bloggers (Rene or Chris?) staying at the Delano expecting breakfast on the day of arrival!?!? That was a wild expectation.
I believe this language has been around for a while but not as harsh.
Book one night at Delano then the next night walk across the walkway to Luxor or Exalibur and then the third night go back to Delano, etc. repeat as needed.
Think about it. A person wants an extra $200 + $100 in credit. So, the person is willing to risk the $300 already received. But, the language goes beyond just that $300. “American Express and the Property reserve the right to modify or revoke FHR benefits at any time without notice . . . ” What if one benefit the person receives is a complimentary upgrade . . . that now becomes a paid upgrade . . . check the bill. Beyond that, what if Amex decides to close the person’s Platinum card? Now, the person loses out on all future $300 opportunities. Or, close all other cards? And, forfeit all MR points? Such people deserve getting hosed.