Accor should start introduce online SNU requests.
Just like Bonvoy. SNA.

That would make these SNU more useful overall.

The list of exclusion for hotels/SNU has just been updated
https://all.accor.com/loyalty-progra...pdf-snu.en.pdf

The following hotels have been added to the exclusion list :
- Mexico : Hacienda Xcanatun By Angsana
- Thailand : Grand Mercure Khao Lak Bangsak; Mövenpick Resort Khao Yai
- USA : Berkeley Park MGallery Hotel Collection

First booking attempt with SNU
 

I plan to visit Napoli next november and I tried to use SNU for one booking (It is almost impossible to use SNU in France).
I knew that booking with SNU is only possible on phone, but I first check the rates on Accor's website.
For MGallery Habita79 Hotel and Spa Pompeii, I found only 2 types of bookable rooms :

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...50d7505a30.jpg

Superior room : 316€ flexible rate with breakfast
Junio Suite : 487€ flexible rate with breakfast

It may not be the best use for my SNU, but I think this trip will be the only one where I can use SNU before the end of the year.

So I called Accor to use my SNU and I hoped to book a superior room rate
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...acffa64df1.jpg


The best rate I was given was 354€ (flexible rate with breakfast).
When I said I could book a room for 316€ on Accor's website, I was told that 316€ was for a superior room, and that I needed to book a Deluxe room (354€) to use SNU...
No deluxe rooms are available for the moment at MGallery Habita79 whatever the date... MGallery Habita79 just opened and only superior room or junior suite are bookable until end 2021....

So If I want to use SNU at MGallery Habita79, I need to book a rate that doesn't exist...

This first attempt does not really give me the impression that SNUs are easy to use nor really worth much...

This is typical of the problem we encounter when trying to use a SNU, although I have seen many progress for several months. In addition to what you have said, if Deluxe exists at this property, it is likely just below the junior suite so as Plat/Diamond, you are normally entitled a free upgrade to the junior suite without SNU.
As you rightly said, the situation in France is really bad if you want to use SNU : almost impossible as all MGallery are excluded. Those hotels have not understood that it is a way to attract good customers to their hotel, even having them staying for the sole purpose of using a SNU (and having a good time of course). So typical of the French Accor hotels who refuse to grant ALL benefits :td:

I'd tried using the suite nights on a few occasions at Fairmont hotels in Canada and have run into similar problems. The Suite Night awards sound good in theory, and I'm sure there are some hotels where they could be used, but it seems like Accor has got so many strings attached that they have made these worthless in many markets.

On two occasions when I tried to use them, the rate they quoted for using a Suite Night Award was higher than just booking a suite outright. Turns out the rate basis for using a Suite Night award in one instance was the flexible rate on a Junior Suite, which was higher than the promotional rate on the One-Bedroom Suite.

The old Fairmont Suite Night award program was great, as you could actually book a normal room and then as long as a suite was available for upgrade, you could get the upgrade confirmed. Accor has effectively killed what used to be a great loyalty benefit.

That the SNUs are mostly only bookable on the full Daily Rate, is the biggest problem them. I'm not sure if it's intentional, or yet another systems problem that Accor is hopeless to fix. Even when not using a SNU, if you book a Fairmont hotel on the Accor ALL website, you may well end up overpaying compared to what you would pay booking on the Fairmont brand website. The hotels advertise many different promotions, and those promo codes don't work on the ALL booking site. The ALL site seems to just have a Daily Rate and maybe a prepaid rate, and maybe a breakfast-included rate, but that's about all I typically see. I wouldn't typically ever book any of those rate options. There have been a rare few notable exceptions, where Fairmont promos were available through ALL, and the biggest one was the BOGO offer they introduced around June of last year. It was bookable through Accor. And as a result, I was able to use some SNUs on a BOGO booking. Maybe, just maybe, if the ALL booking site is eventually able to access the hotel offers, the usability of SNUs at Fairmont hotels will fix itself. It's bloody stupid that Accor can't book a rate that's easily available to anybody calling the hotel directly, or calling the Fairmont call centre, or using the Fairmont website.

I am not sure I am following. You are paying taxes on 34k JPY instead of paying taxes on 12k JPY? If true, the value of the SNAs is even lower than I thought.

Also, are you sure your advice to use Accor points is doable? It seems in contradiction with the wiki above:

Suite Night Upgrade | Fairmont
 

Using SNU with Fairmont is a huge nightmare....

The Hotel is not able to assist as it needs to be done via Accor Customer Care, however the team can only book PRE-paid rates, however FULL-flex rates are available.
Several agents I spoke only confirmed that they can book PRE-paid rates.... guess my 15 SNU will just expire as either the rates quoted are overcharged, they never take a standard room but just a category below the Suite or else want to book a pre-paid rate which of course is cheaper but the risk is higher.

Just tried using a SNA for an upcoming stay at the Pullman Timi Ama Sardegna, apparently whilst not in the exclusions list they do not work with SNA's, due to being a 'seasonal hotel' I was told.

Booked myself regardless as we have a trip to Sardinia planned. Curious about this one...

Hm, that's rather unimpressive!

I have a fair amount of experience dealing with SNU bookings at Fairmont hotels within North America, and there has always been a flexible rate option.

May I ask which hotel you were looking at?

Fairmont - Montreux Palace

There are Full flex rates available on ACCOR website, hence I can't understand why they only sell non-refundable ones.
I spoke to 8 agents by now and always same message, only pre-paid they can book for SNU's

I have always seen a flexible rate available. I would agree that Accor rarely seems able to book the many promos offered by the hotel directly, but a flex rate was always an option.

I might suggest you call the North American booking line directly, which will incur some long distance charges, but the agents in the Moncton call center have always found flex rates. If they still see only prepaid rates for you, then maybe something is just loaded incorrectly in the ALL system for that particular property.

After reading the wiki I was led to believe that Virtuoso bookings were eligible for Suite Upgrades because those reservations earn Accor points therefore it's an Accor qualifying rate (unlike Expedia, etc.). Also Virtuoso use the (highest) standard rate so I thought why would suite upgrade not be eligible? Well my travel agent was told no, because it's not the "correct rate code". He was quoted a lower price if I wanted to use a suite upgrade, but then I don't get the Virtuoso benefits such as 100 USD credit. So it's effectively making me choose between having a suite or having the Virtuoso benefits.

Unfortunately that's the exact response I've received repeatedly from Accor, even when escalating to senior management.

With any other loyalty program, upgrade certs are combinable with Virtuoso / Travel Leaders Select / etc. (with rates typically being equal to the "flexible rate" / BAR), but for whatever reason Accor has taken the decision to make customers choose between applying an upgrade cert and receiving the usual added perks.

What's odd is that we can combine Virtuoso with any other Accor Diamond benefit (earning points, welcome drink vouchers, many times upgrade better than +1, etc.) but not the suite upgrade. It sticks out like a sore thumb!