American Express Membership Rewards - Do I really have to book throught PTS?

Ritz online using the FHR code has a FINE HOTELS & RESORTS: 279$ per night.

But when I called PTS, they said the lowest FHR rate they saw is 329$.

Should I just book online with Ritz and forget the PTS? Anybody had experience this before?!

Thanks!

Cindy

Yes, you have to book through PTS to get the FHR benefits. Call PTS back and speak to a different agent. Something clearly is wrong if you are seeing FHR prices on the AMEX website that the PTS agent isn't. Ask the PTS agent to call the hotel directly if necessary.

If you have the rate code for the property/chain, then technically you do not have to book through PTS. The rate code is what flags your reservation at the hotel as to what benefits/amenities you get.

If you have the rate code for the property/chain, then technically you do not have to book through PTS. The rate code is what flags your reservation at the hotel as to what benefits/amenities you get.
Anyone can look up FHR rates on the ritz carlton website by typing "FHR" into the "corporate/promotional code" on the rate lookup page. You will see and can book the FHR rates on the site, but the rate rules explicity state that the rate are:

AVAILABLE TO PLATINUM CARD MEMBERS WHO BOOK THEIR RESERVATIONS THROUGH A PLATINUM TRAVEL SERVICE OFFICE OR CENTURION TRAVEL SERVICE OFFICE WORLDWIDE AND USE AN AMERICAN EXPRESS CARD PRODUCT. ALL RESERVATION REQUESTS MUST GO THROUGH THIS CHANNEL THE HOTEL CANNOT ACCEPT RESERVATIONS FROM INDIVIDUAL GUESTS OR TRAVEL AGENTS WHO ARE NOT PART OF THE ABOVE BODIES AND WHO WISH TO BOOK THE FINE HOTELS RATE.

Do you want to chance it?

i do it all the time. i am a platinum card holder but i use the centurion code instead(AXC). It gives me more amenities like the automatic upgrade and the extra $50 credit for dining. Plus all the other amenities like the early check in, late check out, brakfast,...
I do not think that the hotels really check that deep if we reserved through american express or not.
They never questioned me.
Anybody else has done it??
I even used the FHR at the Venetian in Las Vegas, i just called directly and asked for the FHR rate, the agent gave it to me. I friend of mine tried the Venetian but the agent that he spoke with the first time told him no. He called again and the second agent did grant him the rate and the amenities.
I guess that the hotels are not very consisten with their FHR policy.

Ok... I had spoke with 2 different PTS agent and Ritz reservation agent. Still confused!!!

1st PTS agent said she did not see the 279$ rate so, so cannot do anything about it.

Ritz agent said she cannot do anything about rate on my PTS reservation and yes the 279$ will include the FHR benifit.

2nd PTS agent said the same thing (don't see rate), but when I told her I have a confirmation booking through the Ritz site, she don't believe this can be done. She also call and talked to the Ritz reservation agent and they both agree that the more expensive is the correct one. So I forward the confirmation e-mail to her and she said she will call me back in 30minutes.

Just cross my finger!

Just book it directly, is a hassle to go through PTS some times. If you are able to book the room with your special code just grab it. Show up at the hotel and they will have the room for you with no problems.
As i said, i do this all the time and never is been a problem.
I am curios now what the hotel and PTS would say when you are able to beat the rates that they have in their res system.
Let us know

Still no call.

Anyway. Interesting that the rate for AXC is cheaper than FHR. Is this normal?

Anyway. Interesting that the rate for AXC is cheaper than FHR. Is this normal?

I might be mistaken but isn't AXC a code for Centurion and PTS obviously knows that you are a Platinum member. Maybe Centurion members get a better rate than Platinum members?

I use the AXC & FHR on Ritz site. The rate is the same, but the level of room is better with AXC.

Still no call from PTS. I think I will just go chance it with the online reservation.

what ritz carlton and when are you going?
You may have to plug one travel agent number in your reservation, that way the hotel would think that PTS put it there.
I always put one from american express(a friend works there and she provided me that number).
But you definetly should be ok showing up at the hotel with your PHR or AXC reservation.
Let us know!

Philadelphia, PA. Feb 17-19.
I never get a call back from the TA last night, but I do have her e-mail address. I will call again today for the last try.

You should try the Bank of america rate for $163(BOA) or the AOL rate for $205(AOL).
Sometimes i used them, if they ask at the front desk how you got the code. Just tell them that your bank gave it to you or that you are a aol user. Simple!
Some times it makes more sense to go cheaper without the FHR amenities.

THANKS A LOT mitchdew. I think I will go with the BOA rate. I am a Bank of america customer any way. :D

No problem!!
Let us know how was your experience with the front desk at Pihilly.

Those rates are contracted corporate rates for travelling employees of those companies. It's a tad unethical to use a BOA or AOL rate if you are not an employee of the company.

Interesting.. when I use the plat and Cent codes for the hotel in SF. The Cent gets you a upgraded room but the plat does not. But I thought the whole point of the program was to get a upgrade?

Interesting.. when I use the plat and Cent codes for the hotel in SF. The Cent gets you a upgraded room but the plat does not. But I thought the whole point of the program was to get a upgrade?

The Ritz Carlton Centurion deal is outside the FHR programme - that is why it has different (usually better) rates and guarantees the upgrade rather than doing it on availability at check-in, as with FHR.

You may want to ponder a) why high earning Amex cardholders get better rates than poorer members of the public and b) why super high-earning Centurions get better rates than their poorer Platinum brethren!

THANKS A LOT mitchdew. I think I will go with the BOA rate. I am a Bank of america customer any way. :D

How was your stay in Philly?
Any problem at the forn desk with the BOA rate or the AXC??
Let us know!!

Well... I was being "rightous" and did not booked the BOA rate, but I did booked the FHR rate online (not through PTS) and was a little messed up. My friend did booked a room for her sister-in-law and everything was ok when she checks in.

Here is my review. (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=528878)

Well... I was being "rightous" and did not booked the BOA rate, but I did booked the FHR rate online (not through PTS) and was a little messed up. My friend did booked a room for her sister-in-law and everything was ok when she checks in.

Here is my review. (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=528878)
Seems like you ran into a bad front desk agent!! In my experience thay can not tell if you booked through PTS or directly through ther RC website. Not sure if they really check if your res had an IATA number from AMEX platinum.
Glad that eventually you got acces to the club!!
You said that your sister in law had a room booked the same way and everything went ok for her. She got the room upgrade?
Did you or her paid with the amex platinum card??

i do it all the time. i am a platinum card holder but i use the centurion code instead(AXC). It gives me more amenities like the automatic upgrade and the extra $50 credit for dining. Plus all the other amenities like the early check in, late check out, brakfast,...
I do not think that the hotels really check that deep if we reserved through american express or not.
They never questioned me.
Anybody else has done it??
.

Very educational thread...thanks!

BUT....if you use the Centurion code, don't you also have to guarantee the reservation with a Centurion card? Seems like a big loophole. What's to stop someone with a green card from using these promo codes?

Last time I tried to book through Centurion their rates were $80-100/night higher than web rates, making the guaranteed upgrade worthless.

QL

Oh... it was my friend SIL. She used the BOA code and checked in ok.

Those rates are contracted corporate rates for travelling employees of those companies. It's a tad unethical to use a BOA or AOL rate if you are not an employee of the company.

As an employee of one of those companies, I find it funny how I seem to get grilled for ID about half the time I use our Marriott rate, yet other people seem to use them without incident.

Go figure...

Does anyone know of FHR / Centurion rates that will work with other hotels beside the RC? Thanks for your help.

Does anyone know of FHR / Centurion rates that will work with other hotels beside the RC? Thanks for your help.

Hyatt is CR60354

SPG (for the few props in it) is 267372

Waldorf Towers and any other Conrads is N9876464

I got these from a scrap of paper in my desk so don't blame me if they no longer work!

Hyatt is CR60354

SPG (for the few props in it) is 267372

Waldorf Towers and any other Conrads is N9876464

I got these from a scrap of paper in my desk so don't blame me if they no longer work!

THANKS Raffles!!

Are these Centurion or Platinum codes?

THANKS Raffles!!

Are these Centurion or Platinum codes?

FHR codes, so either. Only Ritz-Carlton (and possible Mandarin) have special Centurion deals AFAIK.

What benefits do you get with mandarin as compared with the ritz carlton by using your centurion card?