5x points and FHR?
Nov 1, 2018, 11:44 pm
#18
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I was just offered 5x on an FHR booking (Four Seasons Singapore). Given a choice between pay now, with 5x, or pay at hotel, without. The "pay now" option still allows cancellation per hotel cancel policy.
FHR web booking has been down past couple days, I suspect they were adding this functionality.
Really a fantastic deal on top of the already excellent FHR benefits.
Thinking I probably need to rebook my existing FHR reservations
FHR web booking has been down past couple days, I suspect they were adding this functionality.
Really a fantastic deal on top of the already excellent FHR benefits.
Thinking I probably need to rebook my existing FHR reservations
Nov 2, 2018, 5:45 pm
#19
Join Date: Nov 2013
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I was just offered 5x on an FHR booking (Four Seasons Singapore). Given a choice between pay now, with 5x, or pay at hotel, without. The "pay now" option still allows cancellation per hotel cancel policy.
FHR web booking has been down past couple days, I suspect they were adding this functionality.
Really a fantastic deal on top of the already excellent FHR benefits.
Thinking I probably need to rebook my existing FHR reservations
FHR web booking has been down past couple days, I suspect they were adding this functionality.
Really a fantastic deal on top of the already excellent FHR benefits.
Thinking I probably need to rebook my existing FHR reservations
And if your existing reservations haven't gone up in price, why not rebook and cancel? (I'd do it in that order in case your cancellation affects inventory and rates).
Edit: Something to watch out for is elite benefits at hotels. When you post-pay with FHR it (usually) counts as a direct bill reservation and so you earn your bennies and hotel points. I haven't tried yet so any reports on if they're billed by the hotel or by AmexTravel "the OTA" would be useful info.
Nov 2, 2018, 11:24 pm
#20
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Edit: Something to watch out for is elite benefits at hotels. When you post-pay with FHR it (usually) counts as a direct bill reservation and so you earn your bennies and hotel points. I haven't tried yet so any reports on if they're billed by the hotel or by AmexTravel "the OTA" would be useful info.
ETA: Just booked one, and charge shows as "AMEX Fine Hotels & Resorts" rather than property name, which means may not work as eligible rate.
This is a Four Seasons booking, so I really don't care.
Last edited by Kacee; Nov 3, 2018 at 12:13 am
Nov 3, 2018, 2:02 pm
#22
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I do not think we can know how if existing post-paid booking can be converted without cancelling and rebooking, because this benefit has only existed for three days. Perhaps you could contact FHR to ask, and then report back in the bonus points do (or not) actually post.
Nov 3, 2018, 11:57 pm
#23
Join Date: Nov 2013
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I'm thinking it's still the rack rate, and will continue to count as an eligible stay. But looking forward to some data points on this.
ETA: Just booked one, and charge shows as "AMEX Fine Hotels & Resorts" rather than property name, which means may not work as eligible rate.
This is a Four Seasons booking, so I really don't care.
ETA: Just booked one, and charge shows as "AMEX Fine Hotels & Resorts" rather than property name, which means may not work as eligible rate.
This is a Four Seasons booking, so I really don't care.
Nov 4, 2018, 1:34 am
#24
Join Date: Jul 2008
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Ironically, it disincentivizes keeping around other AMEX cards like the SPG or Hilton just for the purposes of gaining bonus points on FHR bookings.
Nov 4, 2018, 8:27 am
#25
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While on the surface I like this change, and don't mind pre-paying, I usually book these at places where I have status, or an Amex offer, or both.... if those aren't going to work then I guess I'll have to forgo the 5x in most cases.
Nov 4, 2018, 10:03 am
#26
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I typically don't do normal pre-paid rates either due to loyalty benefit issues. However, this doesn't seem to be a normal pre-paid rate. You can pre-pay this FHR rate and still cancel. It seems all benefits will get honored. For example, when booking one of these rates AMEX Travel let's you input a loyalty number. When booking a normal pre-paid rate that isn't an option (and they call out that most chains don't provide benefits to pre-paid rates).
Nov 4, 2018, 8:05 pm
#27
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I mostly use FHR at chains or properties where I don't have top tier status, so from my perspective this significantly eases the pain of not getting stay credit and bonus points with Marriott, Hilton, etc.
Nov 7, 2018, 2:50 pm
#28
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: SFO
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Offered 5x points at FS Singapore for a stay later in November. Waiting for transaction to "settle", but the merchant is listed as Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts. I prepaid in full. First FHR booking for me - excited! 
Nov 8, 2018, 3:49 am
#29
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lol that's what I have booked for next week. It's a very reasonable rate during a week where even mediocre properties are charging $700+ SGD night. FinTech conference filling all the rooms.
Nov 10, 2018, 1:23 pm
#30
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US travel agents are also allowed to book US FHR for their plat/cent clients
this may be genius, they may be able to get a lot of people from chain hotels
if only the property credit increased as stay spend increased, oh well
this may be genius, they may be able to get a lot of people from chain hotels
if only the property credit increased as stay spend increased, oh well