I got two surprises today from Amex. First one was a very nice, expensive Sferra blanket/throw with a thank you note for 50 years of card membership.

Then an email arrived urging me to explore the benefits for spring.

”FINE HOTELS + RESORTS® GET MORE OUT OF YOUR SPRING TRAVEL With premium hotel perks, your stay is one of luxury and value. At Fine Hotels + Resorts, you can receive a suite of benefits with an average total value of $600¹ in perks, including breakfast for two, guaranteed 4pmlate checkout, and more when you make a prepaid booking through American Express Travel®.*

I only use the FHR program once or twice a year and have NEVER paid in advance and always got the above perks. I had just booked a weeks stay at the Paris Ritz for October and obviously would not consider tying up that amount of cash for 6 months. I didn’t really any difference in the amenities from previous stays, but was a bit surprised to see that the website showed identical prices for prepaid and pay at hotel bookings.

The perks at the Ritz add up to way more than the aforementioned $600. 7 nights upgrade, breakfast for two, private car transfers to and from the airport or train, easily pay for one nights stay in very nice accommodations, so this is a very big deal for us.

Anybody else seen this change at booking?