Maybe its the Brunello, but I think I am missing something bhrubin....my query is that I have trouble understanding how someone can be disappointed about the value of the FHR continental breakfast at a Four Seasons hotel, especially when you are acutely aware of a superior way to secure your booking which will solve the "breakfast issue".
I have no doubt as an SPG Plat you have wonderful arrangements on a Global basis in the whole *Wood/Marriott world. I'm specifically curious about this FS London Hotel.
I'm not sure what's confusing? I'm not taking about SPG hotels. When we stay at Aman or FS or Pen or other luxury boutique hotels offering FHR or Virtuoso benefits, I always negotiate those for myself without needing a TA. I often can negotiate even better benefits if it's low or shoulder season. For hotels that don't offer such benefits, I've usually been able to negotiate comparable benefits, regardless.
This is running off topic from my original criticism of this FS London for offering a pitiful continental breakfast benefit requiring a $10 upcharge for a full breakfast. It's FS being cheap and stupid IMO, since they can and should offer full breakfast benefit anyway. I stand by my criticism. That isn't "great service" by FS no matter how anyone slices it IMO.