Amex is refusing to honor the credit and I'm wondering if I have a leg to stand on or if anyone else has experienced this.
I booked through amextravel.com - I am pretty sure I selected "Pay Now" on the pop-up, and this is what the booking summary showed (also you can go try booking this hotel right now and see that the pay now option still puts you in a booking that requires a deposit just like this):
The issue seems to be that verbiage at the bottom that this is a hotel deposit charged by the hotel (even though its due at the time of the booking so IDK how that's different from prepay). I was of the understanding this is common for vegas resort hotels.
However, its been over a week and the only charge I have on my card is posted & directly from the hotel (not from amex fine hotels & resorts) for $253.97 - and thus the FHR credit is not going to trigger.
The terms on the FHR credit state "To receive the statement credits, an eligible Card Member must make a new booking using their eligible Card through American Express Travel on or after July 1st, 2021, that is prepaid (
referred to as "Pay Now" on amextravel.com and the Amex App), for a qualifying stay at an available, participating Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection property."
I asked an amextravel rep about this, and they said EVEN if you click "Pay Now" the booking can still change to a non-prepaid one - this is my only guess what is going on here. But this is insane that you follow the terms as best you can and still get screwed by amex. If I click pay now, how is this my fault? Am I being unreasonable about this?