Fairmont President's Club - Has Fairmont downgraded the benefit of Internet access for Presidents' Club members?

I've just signed onto the WiFi at the Royal York in Toronto and it appears that Fairmont has downgraded the benefit of free WiFi to Presidents' Club members.

As a platinum Presidents' Club member, I have become accustomed to receiving free access to the WiFi Internet connection. However, when signing on today, the login screen now tells me that I can only get "standard" access - good for Web surfing - as a free benefit. If I want to watch video or download files, I must pay $10 for "Premium" service.

The Concierge just explained to me that this is a change that Fairmont is testing first at the Royal York before rolling it out chain wide.

If this is true, it's a real disappointment. Free WiFi has been one benefit I really valued. Having this now restricted to a slow, narrow bandwidth "standard" service is a real downgrade in my Presidents' Club benefits.

I don't recall having seen any notice of this change from Fairmont. Did I miss the notice? Or is Fairmont taking the benefit away without notifying members?

Fully agree with you! I´m no fan of this new policy and it´s also spread to a few other Fairmont hotels already according to reports here. :td:

Internet access hasn´t been particularly fast at many Fairmonts anyways, and slowing it down even further if you don´t pay isn´t very impressive.

Oh gees - that's really disappointing. I'm checking into the RY tomorrow...and that's very frustrating.

IMO, if they do it should at least remain free for Premier and Plat members.

Although 3G seems like a far better option all over the world now, given you can get reasonable rates with an iPad data plan in most countries.

ime.. I found that the Fairmont Miramar standard internet access (complimentary to fpc members) to be the same to other hotels offering only one choice, even though there was a second option for $9.99 for high speed internet access.. and worked pretty good for the streaming video

Perhaps, the high speed.. is truly higher speed than the usual standard.. but I can't be 100% sure..

Hopefully it's a short lived experiment as I'm sure Fairmont PC will receive negative feedback on this. Internet (hi-speed) usage is one of the few perks that everyone can appreciate. In today's world, it's akin to charging for local phone calls.

I'm currently staying in Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and have had both standard and premium internet access. I can safely say that there is QUITE a difference.

On standard the speed seems to be limited to around 450Kbps, or 56 kilobytes per second.

On premium the speed seems to be limited to around 3Mbps, or 384 kilobytes per second.

As you can see there is quite a difference, at least at this property.

The Fairmont Vancouver Waterfront also only offered standard internet, with an ~10 CAD upcharge for faster access.

I'm currently staying in Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and have had both standard and premium internet access. I can safely say that there is QUITE a difference.

On standard the speed seems to be limited to around 450Kbps, or 56 kilobytes per second.

On premium the speed seems to be limited to around 3Mbps, or 384 kilobytes per second.

As you can see there is quite a difference, at least at this property.

Welcome to FlyerTalk..

Since you're able to gauge the speed.. what is the speed of Internet at hotels not offering the high speed option.. just the one option..

We can use that speed to compare if Fairmonts are indeed downgrading its internet offerings.. or simply implementing a higher speed option..

This would indeed be a bummer if it moves in this direction and I can only imagine that it is a FBI (fee based income) objective and not to curtail usage or cover operating costs. In most fairmonts I CAN stream video nicely, which is usually taking about 600-1000kps (1mb/s) and not too much more. I would imagine that many hotels are servered by several OC3's or multiple commercial cable solutions and have over 250MB combined and bandwidth allocated out to each user with peaks available. It can't be a revenue NEED, but more a revenue OPPORTUNITY.

I was just at both the fairmont vancouver airport and fairmont whistler chateau last weekend and suffice to say the PC login option was slow and sketchy connections. I real let down.

I didn't actually try to connect at the empress in july this year, just overnighting.

Whileas, Fairmont vancouver gold level room last year was not an issue.

Hope this is not too systemic and just a temporary mis-thought on their part.

I was just at the fairmont whistler chateau last weekend and suffice to say the PC login option was slow and sketchy connections. I real let down.

The connection was pretty good when we visited there years ago.. was the connection on the login similar throughout your stay?

Was there high speed connection offered on top of the regular option?

The connection was pretty good when we visited there years ago.. was the connection on the login similar throughout your stay?

Was there high speed connection offered on top of the regular option?

There were four options to choose from, I chose the PC connection throughout the stay and it was haphazard from sat-mon. I did not try the other four options.

There were four options to choose from, I chose the PC connection throughout the stay and it was haphazard from sat-mon. I did not try the other four options.

Interesting you had four options.. one being PC..

Does that mean the other 3 options has to do with handheld devices, wifi, or speed?

just spent 2 nights at the Banff Springs. Used our suite upgrade and free night stay for a grand total of $294 plus taxes. Didn't log on once, in fact, left the laptop at home !!! couldn't of cared less about the speed :D I was Spa-ing :p

Interesting you had four options.. one being PC..

Does that mean the other 3 options has to do with handheld devices, wifi, or speed?

I never connected to the other three. I believe they were all just different gateway options with different payment forms. You can just call the hotel and ask.

U.S. & Canada Toll-Free Reservations
Global Reservation Centre
Tel: 1 (800) 257-7544
Tel: 1 (888) 610-7575 (Français)
Email: reservations@fairmont.com

I never connected to the other three. I believe they were all just different gateway options with different payment forms.

Indeed, at most hotels there are 3-4 options:

pay per 24h
access for FPC members
pre-paid voucher, group booking etc.
new highspeed internet option

I never connected to the other three. I believe they were all just different gateway options with different payment forms. You can just call the hotel and ask.

U.S. & Canada Toll-Free Reservations
Global Reservation Centre
Tel: 1 (800) 257-7544
Tel: 1 (888) 610-7575 (Français)
Email: reservations@fairmont.com

Indeed, at most hotels there are 3-4 options:

pay per 24h
access for FPC members
pre-paid voucher, group booking etc.
new highspeed internet option

I remember that there are different payment options.. but I've never seen different options connecting to PC, Blackberry, and Wifi..

In Fairmont San Francisco.. I noticed that I had to unplug the cat5 out of my laptop to use the wifi.. it was clunky at that hotel for some reason..

Sometimes, I had to unplug the module and replug again for the internet to work..

Delete

I signed into the Gold Floor WiFi connection at the Royal York last night - and it seems to automatically provide a higher speed connection. Two weeks ago, when I signed into the standard connection, I was unable to watch anything on Netflix. Last night, using the Gold Floor Wifi, I watched a complete program with a high quality picture and not a single interruption for buffering.

So, it appears that Fairmont understands that Gold Floor guests deserve the faster speed. I hope they will also come to understand that their most frequent guests - the Presidents Club members - also deserve the same quality of WiFi connection.

I'm feeling SLIGHTLY less enthusiastic about my lifetime platinum status. ;-)

I was at the hotel last week and got free wifi for my ipad.

Well, I'm currently at the Chateau Whistler, and the internet is fantastic. 12MB down, 650kps up. couldn't be better, slingstreaming "hd", vudu movies on demand, things download in about two seconds. No worries here, logged in as just plat fpc member, on about oh six devices.

Well, I'm currently at the Chateau Whistler, and the internet is fantastic. 12MB down, 650kps up. couldn't be better, slingstreaming "hd", vudu movies on demand, things download in about two seconds. No worries here, logged in as just plat fpc member, on about oh six devices.

Is this on regular internet, or did you pay for the high speed option?

How is whistler this time of year? Glad you made it down.^

Is this on regular internet, or did you pay for the high speed option?

How is whistler this time of year? Glad you made it down.^

this was just regular I think, simply logging in as an FPC with name and room number or name and FPC number. Not sure if they are doing some form of lookup, seeing an FPC or Platinum and then allow traffic through a better network or not. That, while not technically complicated would be much more than I would expect from most hotels IT departments.

Whistler was very nice yesterday, bout 70 degrees, sunny, fresh air. Seems a bit empty, the hotel sure seems to be somewhat empty.

this was just regular I think, simply logging in as an FPC with name and room number or name and FPC number. Not sure if they are doing some form of lookup, seeing an FPC or Platinum and then allow traffic through a better network or not. That, while not technically complicated would be much more than I would expect from most hotels IT departments.

Whistler was very nice yesterday, bout 70 degrees, sunny, fresh air. Seems a bit empty, the hotel sure seems to be somewhat empty.

70 degrees is not overly hot..

I think it gets up into the 90's and I've heard almost a hundred during the height of summer..

On a side note, seems like they upped the free internet bonus for Swissotel Circle status-holders.

Before you would only receive free internet for one 24-h period during your stay, so no biggie if you're only staying for a day, but it was darn annoying if you were staying with them for longer... :)

Now all internet access is completely free for those with status.

I definitely agree. I was just in vancouver and thought these sort of charges are ridiculous. When you pay this amount for these hotels and even more so as a platinum member when you stay here regularly and ultimately build a relationship of loyalty with fairmont and then you see them nickle and dime you in such small matters, it is truly disappointing move that reflects very poorly on them.

After years of frequenting Fairmonts.. I am used to the charges that go on an invoice, and don't question the legitimate charges the least bit..

On a side note, seems like they upped the free internet bonus for Swissotel Circle status-holders.

Before you would only receive free internet for one 24-h period during your stay, so no biggie if you're only staying for a day, but it was darn annoying if you were staying with them for longer... :)

Now all internet access is completely free for those with status.

Did not know that.. This charge would kill future business.. glad to see that they changed their policy..

They are just trying to squeeze every dollar out of their service. All chains are doing it: I checked into IC Paris Le Grand as an Ambassador and still had to pay for wifi in my room.

If people want to test using a consistent benchmark, this is the service I use:

http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/

Don't know how accurately it would measure for Int'l locations... Not sure which city to choose as a reference point...

If people want to test using a consistent benchmark, this is the service I use:

http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/

Don't know how accurately it would measure for Int'l locations... Not sure which city to choose as a reference point...

Problem is the definition of what regular and highspeed is..

For customers who visit, regular isn't easily defined..

Add me to the list of disappointed people. Checked in to the Waterfront in Vancouver last night and was presented with the $10 fee for the higher rate. I chose the lower rate for my personal laptop and it is slow. To download a TV show on iTunes that is 236 Mb, iTunes projects 3 hours to complete.

I also had trouble with the iPad where the login screen went into an infinite loop in Safari and didn't allow the login. Trying to go back to the page results in another infinite loop.

Add me to the list of disappointed people. Checked in to the Waterfront in Vancouver last night and was presented with the $10 fee for the higher rate. I chose the lower rate for my personal laptop and it is slow. To download a TV show on iTunes that is 236 Mb, iTunes projects 3 hours to complete.

I also had trouble with the iPad where the login screen went into an infinite loop in Safari and didn't allow the login. Trying to go back to the page results in another infinite loop.

:eek:

3 hours to complete a 236 mb download?

Fairmont is probably using software to limit the amount of data, creating a bottleneck.. if the same connection is capable of downloading on fast setting in literally minutes..

If people want to test using a consistent benchmark, this is the service I use:

http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/

Don't know how accurately it would measure for Int'l locations... Not sure which city to choose as a reference point...

if one uses speedtest.net, they have pops in many int'l locations.

Was at the Royal York recently. Same thing. The "free" option is 512/512 kbps. Which lets you upload and download at about 64 KB/s. I wouldn't exactly call that "high speed".

The other thing: there isn't any obvious way to upgrade to the paid option if you have already chosen the free option.

if one uses speedtest.net, they have pops in many int'l locations.

Thanks for the link, just checked it out and I like it better than the one I suggested.

So, here at home: Download: 6.51 Mbps, Upload: 6.24Mbps

512/512 kbps for 'free' at Fairmonts is kind of a joke.

How fast is it if you pay the $10 / day for the upgrade to high speed?

Thanks for the link, just checked it out and I like it better than the one I suggested.

So, here at home: Download: 6.51 Mbps, Upload: 6.24Mbps

512/512 kbps for 'free' at Fairmonts is kind of a joke.

How fast is it if you pay the $10 / day for the upgrade to high speed?

Eeps.. less than 1/10th of the download speed it looks.. :eek:

I posted earlier that I was at Whistler earlier in the month and the regular log-in speed were about 9MB down and 4MB up, it was quite fast!

I posted earlier that I was at Whistler earlier in the month and the regular log-in speed were about 9MB down and 4MB up, it was quite fast!

Sounds like the standards of normal and fast internet is different from hotel to hotel..

Sounds like the standards of normal and fast internet is different from hotel to hotel..

it would seem so, and since the US gov't considers "hi-speed" to require MORE than 768kps, I don't think they'll be able to advertise high-speed FREE for plats/FPC members going forward.

but, it probably won't matter.

it would seem so, and since the US gov't considers "hi-speed" to require MORE than 768kps, I don't think they'll be able to advertise high-speed FREE for plats/FPC members going forward.

but, it probably won't matter.

Didn't know that the US regulates advertising of high speed.. good to know..

Didn't know that the US regulates advertising of high speed.. good to know..

I didn't say regulate and it shouldn't be considered that. This was their target for the broadband bill initiative as a minimum target.

it would seem so, and since the US gov't considers "hi-speed" to require MORE than 768kps, I don't think they'll be able to advertise high-speed FREE for plats/FPC members going forward.

but, it probably won't matter.

I didn't say regulate and it shouldn't be considered that. This was their target for the broadband bill initiative as a minimum target.

Ok.. I thought you meant that you didn't think that Fairmont would be able to advertise high-speed free.. as a result of the US gov't considering high speed to require more than 768 kps

Nice Hotel!

Top notch check in experience. I am going to get the guys name and let managment know how pleasant he was to interact with.

I have a very good rate for an awards banquet here tonight. For not that much more money, I upgraded to a King Suite... Great 2 room suite on the 12th floor with city / mountain views.

Anyway, free wireless internet is fast too:

4.31 Mbps download
3.24 Mbps upload

speedtest.net

I am not going to check, but I wonder how much faster the paid service is?

Nice Hotel!

Top notch check in experience. I am going to get the guys name and let managment know how pleasant he was to interact with.

I have a very good rate for an awards banquet here tonight. For not that much more money, I upgraded to a King Suite... Great 2 room suite on the 12th floor with city / mountain views.

Anyway, free wireless internet is fast too:

4.31 Mbps download
3.24 Mbps upload

speedtest.net

I am not going to check, but I wonder how much faster the paid service is?

Seems different hotels within the Fairmont chain offer different internet service.. Just like most hotels offer kids 5 and under eat free, while some don't..
One would think service and product is consistent throughout the chain, but each hotel has its little niche..

I was just at the Fairmont Orchid, not Gold room just using in room internet on a suite floor. Speed was 10MB down and 10MB up, I uploaded a LOT of photos. We streamed HD movies with VUDU, apple tv, and lots of slingplayer streaming from the mainland. No premium options offered, this was quite enough for this LTPCM

You want fast? This was at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler a few months ago. Fastest I've ever seen at any hotel!

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/6177/111fast.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/339/111fast.jpg/)

90.46 down, 52.08 up, in case the image doesn't show.