Hi ... long time stealth reader, first time poster!

Based on a lot of great information in the Luxury Hotels forum, I settled on the recently refreshed FS Los Angeles at Beverly Hills property for an upcoming stay in LA. (Debates about which property is the best in Bev Hills aside, the room and pool refurb - along with the positive comments about the good F&B - pushed me in this direction over other properties.)

Because the new online booking tool for FHR would not let me select a room with two beds (only king showing) I called the Amex 800 number to book the "old" way. After all the name, card number, address, &tc., verification, they were able to book the requested room type and sent me the Amex e-mail confirm as per standard protocol.

I was very surprised, however, to receive in my e-mail inbox this a.m. a Four Seasons confirmation e-mail as well (the standard FS confirm that I have received in the past when I have called FS directly or have booked using their online system) with notations that I'm a Amex Platinum cardholder and detailing the program amenities.

My questions:

1) Is this standard and/or new? I have never received any additional confirmation from a hotel (FS or otherwise) when I have booked via FHR. Note that I did ask the CSR that my FS online booking name be added to the Amex record in the notes field (altho it doesn't show up anywhere on the Amex mail) because I have been a frequent guest at FS properties WW over the past half decade and didn't think it would hurt in terms of customer loyalty and possibly getting a good upgrade. It even notes my Platinum status, listing program details and has a note stating, "Our standard check out time is 12:00 noon, but as you are an American Express Platinum member we are pleased to offer you a check out time of 4:00 pm."

2) The FS confirmation mail lists the property-unique amenity as lunch for two once during the stay - whereas all Amex literature (online, the mailed annual FHR book, &tc.) lists the amenity as a $100 spa credit. Before I inquire directly of the property - I wonder which is more valuable (the lunch or the spa credit) and if this is common (e.g. that what the hotel considers the amenity doesn't jive with what Amex publishes) - and what one does if there's a disconnect. Since I will be both eating as well as scheduling spa treatments here - it's somewhat of a wash ... but wouldn't mind getting the more valuable of the two if I have a choice and can use the discrepency to my advantage.

Thanks, all - have enjoyed all the information on FT and appreciate any insight folks may have.