Originally Posted by
Bucko
If you have the AmEx Platinum (and Centurion, I think) card, you have the ability to book hotels and resorts through American Express that are part of the Fine Hotels and Resorts Program. When booking one of these hotels, you are given add'l benefits when paying with any AmEx (doesn't have to be the card you reserved the stay with). Typical benefits include late checkout, free breakfast or spa credit, etc.
Depending on the property, rates can be very competitive and with the add'l benefits, a very good deal.
Thanks for the explanation. This is actually the one forum on FT where I don't feel particularly elite, being a mere Gold Card holder (since '77!). I actually did have a Platinum card back when they were as rare as the Centurion is today, but eventually realized that most of the benefits were simply not aligned with my own travel habits (like the wrong airline partners). Now that Platinum seems to be the new Gold, I'm starting to give it another look (although they still seem to have the wrong travel partners).