kennyg1966

Can canadian based platinum cards use FHR ?

mia

Yes, see here:

http://www.americanexpress.com/canad...inum-card#sub3

tyberius

I joined Amex in the beginning because of FHR and went from Plat to Centurion basically because I was using FHR so much.

Now that I'm Centurion I rarely use it at all. The reasons are:

1. in Canada have to book everything over the phone. This means errors in rates, dates, etc. Can't get around this since there is some manual work on the part of the agent and no matter how good they are they will eventually make an error. So do computers but computers are very good at transcription and humans are not.

2. "You have to pay the FHR rate" and in the last two years I've been seeing the FHR rate coming in much higher than discounted rates through Expedia, etc. If I can get the Venetian at $128 with no amenities on hotwire, then for four days I will save $100 (plus tax) vs. the FHR rate I am given of $228. I have done just this in booking two rooms, one FHR and the other not. The value of the FHR amenities on the Venetian is as follows:

1. "View Room Upgrade" ... so I am higher up in the building now. It's also noisier and the view is not great anyway and I'm not really using the view. Value is small and possibly negative since I'd rather have a quiet room.

2. $100 food/spa credit you refer to, for Venetian this is a $50 two part coupon that has to be used by two people. You are entitled to $25 for yourself. This is supposed to cover dinner at one of the restaurants. I didn't use it since a breakfast bagel was $27 and I didn't want to even bother coming into this place coupon in hand. So $100 was really $25 and $25 was not useful enough for me to bother trying to use.

3. 4pm checkout (when available) is always great. However, if you have hotel status you already get this so FHR is not adding any benefit.

4. Free Continental Breakfast for Two. I am just one person by myself, and the continental breakfast means I can't really have what I want, which is a normal breakfast. Two years ago 95% of the time hotels were giving a normal breakfast though they were on the hook only for Continental. Example: MO in Las Vegas let you order whatever you want for two people, room service or eat in the restaurant. Today MO in Las Vegas is: eat in the restaurant only, only have the set continental breakfast on the menu. At Venetian, they sent me a tea (value 25 cents), an orange juice (value one dollar), and a bagel (value 25 cents). The bill associated with this was $27.00. I am also forced to order it in-room and on the last day they said there would be a 90 minute wait to have my bagel delivered. For me, this is a "punishment amenity" ... they don't expect you to take it every day and it looks better on paper than in practice. I am better off going and buying my bagel from Starbucks and getting better quality without waiting for 90 minutes. So the real value to me of this amenity is zero. Plus if I want a real breakfast I am going to pay for it anyway.

So in comparing the two: for a four day stay I am paying $400 extra to go to FHR. I am getting a very minor room upgrade which might be a downgrade, or not available anyway. I am getting four bagel breakfasts with a true value of about $20 and a replacement value of maybe $30 along with having to wait an hour and more to get them, so another "negative benefit", and I am getting a $25 dining coupon. The total real world value of this to me is less than $100 and I am paying $400 for it. The big bonus of a 4pm checkout, I can get because I'm Hyatt Diamond, Fairmont Platinum, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold, etc.

The FHR "specials" that are book 2 days, stay three and so on are generally available on the hotel websites and not exclusive to FHR.

In the end, I am better off shopping for price unless:

1. the hotel actually offers a good upgrade... for this you need to have a hotel who hasn't micro-graded their rooms: Basic, Standard, Standard Plus, Luxury, Deluxe, Premium, Premium Deluxe with the differences in price being $10... and gives you a reasonable chance to obtain it.

2. the breakfast option is liberally interpreted by the hotel

3. the hotel is actually giving a $100 amenity, and not as in the case of Venetian a $50 amenity broken into two so you get $25 in value... or in the case of the Rosewood Mayakoba, is giving a $15 half-bottle of Tequila and claiming it to be $100 in value because if you were to buy it from the hotel at inflated hotel prices then it would be $100 ... all hotel prices are somewhat inflated because of convenience charges but in this case it was extreme.

And there you have it... my opinion of FHR is that in bad economic times it is a way that these properties have to lure in customers who can still afford to spend and there are real benefits to it. As the economy gets better it approaches the zero sum game where you pay a higher rate then get some amenities that you use. In good economic times it's victimized by the marketing people who try to set up the amenities so that statistically not everyone will use them and play a shell game on value for what is used, so that now you're paying extra in order to receive much less than the value you've paid in.

I think FHR is a tool then to use on a case by case basis, you can get burned or you can see benefits, but you need to examine what you're doing and getting with the booking.

For me as well there's a huge convenience factor over being able to browse what a hotel has available and book it online, and have access to my reservation on the hotel website. I know what I am getting and what I am paying for. In the case of Amex if they make errors you are subject to them.

xray

I find FHR in Vegas quite useful. I'm almost 100% for upgrades. I usually stay at the Wynn or Encore in Tower Suites. The rates are a percentage off BAR so you never pay more than the online price.

Skylofts used to be great too when it was newer and also included the 1 BR to 2BR loft upgrade. Mandarin Oriental is also good for the breakfast and upgrade. I would personally avoid the Venetian as there are better properties.

I agree that FHR for Canadians isn't as convenient but I always make them send me an e-mail confirmation or give me a reference so I can double check online.

projectalpha

Are these upgrades just automatic when you book through FHR? or do you have to ask?

Yahtzee

In theory automatic. If they don't tell you at check in that you have been upgraded, then one should ask for it.

projectalpha

Ok. Thanks for the info.

spectrablue96

All Wynn & Encore Tower Suites are exempt from the resort fee.

From the terms and conditions seen when booking online:

RESORT FEE:
In response to guest feedback, we have eliminated several incidental charges in favor of a nightly $25 resort fee, an automatic nightly charge per room, plus applicable taxes.
The resort fee services include in-room internet access, unlimited local and domestic long-distance calls and fitness center passes (2 per day).
The resort fee is only applicable to reservations for the following room types: Wynn Las Vegas Resort King, Wynn Las Vegas Panoramic View, Wynn Las Vegas Deluxe Double Room, Encore Las Vegas Panoramic Suite King, Encore Las Vegas Panoramic Suite Double Queen, Encore Las Vegas Resort Suite King and Encore Las Vegas Resort Suite Double Queen.

spectrablue96

Wynn's website now lists new amenities for Tower room categories:
Wynn Tower, Exec, Parlor, Salon Suites rooms show: Enjoy complimentary breakfast or lunch for two at Tableau
Encore Tower, Parlor, Salon Suites rooms show: Enjoy daily in-room breakfast for two

Further digging on a separate website revealed:
All (Wynn) Tower Room guests will also enjoy these amenities as part of the hotel’s Tower Suites program:
Daily Breakfast (Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.) or chef-selected lunch (Monday - Friday, 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.) menu for two (2) guests at the Tower Suite Café (Tableau). Weekend Brunch available Saturday - Sunday from 7 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
In-room internet access.
Local/domestic long distance/toll free calls.
Pressing (4 items per day).
Choice of two (2) daily newspapers.
Fitness Center access.
Boarding pass printing.

All (Encore) Tower Suite guests will also enjoy these amenities as part of the hotel’s Tower Suites program:
In-room breakfast (chef-selected American Plan menu) by the In-Room Dining department. Guests will select one complimentary entrée per person, including coffee and tea.
In-room internet access.
Local/domestic long distance/toll-free calls.
Pressing (4 items per day).
Choice of two (2) daily newspapers.
Fitness Center access.
Boarding pass printing.

Has anyone had experience with a Wynn Tower Suites room booked through FHR using the complimentary lunch (Tower Suites benefit) and the complimentary breakfast (FHR benefit)?

CloudsBelow

THE Hotel M Bay.

value on the FHR -


ug to V suite
$40 food vouchers
Resort fee waived
50 min massage that cost me $35 + tip
4p checkout


Value.

rich0215

Just got back for a stay at the MO las vegas.

• No upgrade (interestingly this wasn't listed as a benefit in the letter they gave me).
• Continental breakfast was a $24 per person per day credit. The credit didn't automatically post one day as we ate in our cabana but on checkout they took off an additional $48 without my asking.
• I used the spa credit.
• Received early check-in (1pm) which is listed as a benefit and the 4pm late checkout.

Overall I felt I had a better deal at the Wynn Tower with the upgrade to an executive suite and a larger breakfast credit but still enjoyed the MO and the fact it is separate from the casino in the Aria.

fluffydot

This is not an FHR property, but for those looking for hotel perks in vegas should definitely consider the current promo at the Aria.

Based on recommendations in this thread I was ready to book a suite at THEhotel for the usual perks. BUT the rep at PTS informed me that there is a $500 resort credit with no restrictions at Aria. I think this was formerly a Cent benefit. Anyhow, the $500 can be applied to the room as well. Since I only need it for 1 night, I booked myself a corner suite and still have $250 left over for food & spa. Its gonna be a pretty suite deal! (and no need to beg for upgrades or get upset over $27 bagels)

brosnan6

Is there a promo code or anything? CTS travel rep is unaware of this promo

fluffydot

Just received my confirmation email, I believe this is the official promo name:
ARIA RESORT WOW OFFER FOR AMEX PLATINUM

I was very surprised to hear about this offer and called back a couple of times just make sure the rep wasn't reading it wrong or some kind of typo!

tomy77

i called twice. they never heard about it. They keep saying Aria is not FHR.
Isn't Wow offer usually for centurion?
What # you call?