Fairmont Mother's Day Gift Card Sale Returns (May 5, 2021)
May 10, 2021, 9:37 am
#16
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Belgium
Programs: ALL Black Limitless | Hilton Diamond | Hyatt Globalist | Marriott Ambassador | Avis President's Club
Posts: 212
Ever since the Costco deal to buy LifeExperience certificates at a 25% discount stopped with the start of COVID, I'm been using the Fairmont gift cards as my exclusive method of payment. I'm still hopeful that Costco will resume selling travel and experience gift certificates on their website, once travel becomes popular again. As much of a pain as it is to redeem LE certificates in $100 denominations, the 25% discount vs. a 17% discount made it worth the effort.
Not many Fairmonts this part of the globe unfortunately
May 10, 2021, 11:43 am
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: Accor ALL Diamond, AC Aeroplan 25K, Nexus/GE
Posts: 2,731
They used to do gift card discounts on Swissotel and Raffles in the past. If you search through their facebook posts, you can probably pull them up. I don't remember anything other than a 10% discount on Raffles. We don't have any Raffles and only 1 Swissotel on this side of the pond, so I've never taken advantage of those deals. These deals have historically been brand-specific, and not corporate-wide.
May 14, 2021, 3:37 pm
#18
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: yvr
Posts: 108
that's awesome!, brings a smile to my face at what $18k can buy at a Fairmont, but really if you are consuming that type of product, might as well get 17%off
I use to book the Whistler Fairmont with Amex FHR, one of the terms of FHR you have to pay with Amex card, i have since canceled the Amex Platinum because i didn't want to pay the annual fee during Covid times. I switched to a Virtuoso booking, so i can freely use the gift cards as payment. I do miss being able to check rates with the Amex site, with Virtuoso, i have to contact a human travel agent, they have to check and get back to me, etc...
I use to book the Whistler Fairmont with Amex FHR, one of the terms of FHR you have to pay with Amex card, i have since canceled the Amex Platinum because i didn't want to pay the annual fee during Covid times. I switched to a Virtuoso booking, so i can freely use the gift cards as payment. I do miss being able to check rates with the Amex site, with Virtuoso, i have to contact a human travel agent, they have to check and get back to me, etc...
Mar 24, 2024, 3:16 pm
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: Accor ALL Diamond, AC Aeroplan 25K, Nexus/GE
Posts: 2,731
I wish! But, it seems to be a dead offer. I'd seen similar discounts on gift cards with other chains, and they appear dead too. I guess the travel market is still too heated.
Mar 28, 2024, 9:10 am
#22
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Spain
Programs: ALL Plat, HH Gold, Marriott GE
Posts: 1,142
It is "interesting|", in some markets some high end chains seem to be "dumping|" some rooms rates through some credit cards or booking sites.
I found Raffels in Siem Reap for 150 usd on Booking last week cf the web site rate of 300 usd ( obs no points etc ) but thats 150 saving
I found Raffels in Siem Reap for 150 usd on Booking last week cf the web site rate of 300 usd ( obs no points etc ) but thats 150 saving
Mar 28, 2024, 9:33 am
#24
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Spain
Programs: ALL Plat, HH Gold, Marriott GE
Posts: 1,142
Sorry - it will be a room type that is only avalible on Booking or other websites and not Accor ( and no free apple )
However my point was that I am noticing some softness in the "secondary" reselling market and some offers that are only avalible to cards such as Amex Plat ( spend 700$ and get $100 back as a statement credit )
Without going into detail ( not the place for it ) IMHO things like Japan inflation and recession talk in Eurpoe and USA elections are like a line of dominions waiting. I hope I am wrong.
Mar 28, 2024, 10:39 pm
#25
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Homeless
Programs: Hyatt Glob; Hilton Dia; Marriott AMB; Accor Dia; IHG Dia Amb; GHA Tit
Posts: 4,835
Yeah but nonetheless, generally speaking if rooms become more frequently cheaper on various third party websites than on Accor, we can (theoretically) exploit it.