<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by JPNewYork:
Use the companion business class ticket once (which I have) and it is totally worth it. A free $7,500 business class ticket from New York to London seems to be worth $300 a year. And the room upgrades at hotels almost always happen. If you travel it can be worth it. Otherwise probably not.</font>
Ahh but there's the rub... that fare you're paying is quite a bit higher than the normal J/F fare. There is a savings but it normally equals out to 20-30% and the carriers, routings and times can be *very* limiting.
Case in point : I called to check into a J companion ticket to Spain for this summer. AMEX came back with $5600 on Iberia (YECH!) and said that BA wasn't available for the dates I wanted but would be $8,900 in J if I were flexible with dates. I ended up getting a fare of $3600 on AA in J and cashed in miles for the wife.
So, yes if you can use it it'll pay for your yearly fee, but it's not exactly easy to use. As far as the hotels go... the FHRS rate is NOT competitive. I now only use it when there's a guaranteed room upgrade as they are routinely $50-$100 a night higher than a rate I would get on my own or through the TA.
[This message has been edited by kanebear (edited 04-30-2002).]