TTT103

I worry that this benefit may be modified down the road, as I'm sure like anything else, people will abuse it. I have made six inquiries through Carlson, and booked all six, but I have a feeling that folks don't do their homework first and then have Carlson price a multitude of options, only for them to not book anything.

Plus, if it doesn't make financial sense to Citi or Carlson, one or the other will drop it. Unless people truly don't use this benefit, I just don't see how it can be profitable. Certainly there is travel agent commission and merchant fees, but those can't possible make up for the free nights.

What does seem to be evident is that Citi has committed to making this a premium card that competes with the AmEx Platinum.

mia

The terms say no:

https://online.citibank.com/US/JRS/p...CTermsBenefits



This benefit is provided by MasterCard, not by Citi:

Overall, I doubt that CWT loses money on this feature, but they may on specific stays.

TTT103

Does this mean that all MC World Elite cards offer the fourth night free benefit? I thought this was just a Citi program.

mia

I am not aware of any other card which offers this benefit. Nonetheless, Citi unambiguously tells us that the benefit is provided by MasterCard. Citi recently agreed to convert all of their own brand cards to MasterCard, maybe this is part of the compensation.

bbmatt

the only way around would be to book for yourself and add them on as a guest.

TTT103

Interesting

Exec_Plat

Thanks much.

Someone else is helping. (Great community)

I do recognize the risk of abuse AND of 'tipping one's hand' with asking about expensive and esoteric places, perhaps when one returns those venues are no longer possible. Im going to be very careful with inquiries.

I did NOT realize this might expire at the end of the is year. that would be a showstopper for me (obviously with travel in March 2016). Need to look into that/monitor


(All in all I am tiring of my AMEX plat. Not much benefit as they dropped the AA club. They are also idiots about the airline credit- all my travel is via agency, so never any charges from an airline- every credit is a battle with them...)

mia

The American Express credit can be used to purchase (for example) AA giftcards. If you could not use these yourself you could use them as, well, gifts.

Flying Kiwi

I've been trying to take advantage of this for some upcoming trips. For two hotels I tried in Greece they weren't able to offer the 4th night free, even though they are available for booking online through other sites. For one in Tucson, AZ they prepared a proposal that was reasonable and included 4th night free, but then when I tried to book it I got an agent at CWT who apparently didn't have a clue how to work their system. She first insisted that the room I wanted was no longer available (it was, both on the CWTVacations system and on other sites, including the hotel's own booking system) then had me on hold for 15 minutes while she tried to contact the property - but when she came back on the line it seemed she hadn't even talked to the right hotel.

So I think it's a decent benefit, but only if you have a lot of time to spend on making the reservations. You can get reservation information by email if you're lucky, but they insist on doing the actual reservation by phone conference and if you get the wrong person at CWT it can be a very frustrating experience.

TTT103

I do not believe the hotel rate is a factor in terms of CWT's ability or willingness to book. Yesterday I booked a property at a rate of $1124 a night. I had to go through the typical routine of waiting for the email quote, but so be it.

I tend to do my homework first by researching where I want to stay, rather than having the agents jump through hoops. Keep it simple, folks.

Kiwi, they should have been able to book the property in Greece if it was available through on-line booking engines. That one has me perplexed.

Flying Kiwi

I think many of the on-line booking engines take less of a cut than traditional travel agents. The ones I wasn't able to book in Greece I also couldn't find on the CWTVacations site.

The one in Tucson they again confirmed via email, but now at a somewhat higher rate from the original quote. The CWTVacations site still shows the original rate available, but at this point I'll be thankful if I can just get it booked through them and be done with it!

TTT103

I had one myself that also had a rate increase by the time I booked. It would be so much easier if we could book hotels on-line versus the hoops one must jump through under the current process. It would save Citi on manpower by not having to go through their Concierge and then a CWT agent. The process is not very streamlined.

After one of my bookings I did receive a survey which contained a question regarding the possibility of booking on-line. Accordingly, I hope this is something they are seriously considering.

maxmnx

I searched this thread, but didn't find any reference to Wyndham hotels- has anybody booked one?

TIA.

pointsaddict3326

I have been using this benefit for several months. When I booked prepaid rates, I would usually see the rebate from mastercard post within ~2 weeks after the date of the stay. However, since I've been booking flexible rates, the rebates have not been posting on the same schedule. Does anyone have any experience booking regular flexible rates at hotels using the 4th night free benefit with regards to when the rebates usually post? The last 4 stays haven't had rebates posted (late April through last week).

esha1

is it possible to book 3 nights we hotel program points and get 4th night free from Citi?
sorry if I missed in discussion