FHR 3rd /4th Free Night - How does it work?
May 23, 2018, 1:16 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,790
FHR 3rd /4th Free Night - How does it work?
I've never booked FHR with complimentary free night offers, but I remembered reading that the free night was applied at checked out. However, recently I noticed that these hotels have a separate rate with the free night offer listed and the wording is now "Special Offer: Complimentary third night (included in avg nightly rate). Is that a change? Does that mean that you have to book these rooms in order to get the free night? The other FHR rates don't apply?
What's interesting is that the free night rate is sometimes higher than the non-offer rate x 3 (or 4) then divide by 2 (or 3).
For example, Conrad Seoul 9/9-12, the rate that does not show the complimentary third night is ₩280000. The rate with the 3rd night free is ₩205333. Am I missing something?
What's interesting is that the free night rate is sometimes higher than the non-offer rate x 3 (or 4) then divide by 2 (or 3).
For example, Conrad Seoul 9/9-12, the rate that does not show the complimentary third night is ₩280000. The rate with the 3rd night free is ₩205333. Am I missing something?
May 23, 2018, 5:00 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 600
I've never booked FHR with complimentary free night offers, but I remembered reading that the free night was applied at checked out. However, recently I noticed that these hotels have a separate rate with the free night offer listed and the wording is now "Special Offer: Complimentary third night (included in avg nightly rate). Is that a change? Does that mean that you have to book these rooms in order to get the free night? The other FHR rates don't apply?
What's interesting is that the free night rate is sometimes higher than the non-offer rate x 3 (or 4) then divide by 2 (or 3).
For example, Conrad Seoul 9/9-12, the rate that does not show the complimentary third night is ₩280000. The rate with the 3rd night free is ₩205333. Am I missing something?
What's interesting is that the free night rate is sometimes higher than the non-offer rate x 3 (or 4) then divide by 2 (or 3).
For example, Conrad Seoul 9/9-12, the rate that does not show the complimentary third night is ₩280000. The rate with the 3rd night free is ₩205333. Am I missing something?
Note that you still have to pay taxes and fees on the free third night which is why the quoted nightly rate on the FHR website is ₩280000 rather than ₩186000.
May 23, 2018, 9:08 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,790
The ₩2205333 FHR rate you are seeing includes the 3rd night free. Thus in your example, if you booked 3 nights at the regular nightly rate of ₩280000, you'd pay a total of ₩840000. Since you are getting the 3rd night free booking the FHR rate, you'd pay ₩560000 total for a nightly rate of ₩186000 (i.e., ₩560000/3).
Note that you still have to pay taxes and fees on the free third night which is why the quoted nightly rate on the FHR website is ₩280000 rather than ₩186000.
Note that you still have to pay taxes and fees on the free third night which is why the quoted nightly rate on the FHR website is ₩280000 rather than ₩186000.
May 24, 2018, 5:48 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 80
an example is i have 4th night free booked at eden roc cap cana..
The normal rate is $750 a night (plus taxes) the best available rate is 20% off that.
on the FHR site, you can book at the BAR rate ($595) or you can book at the base rate with the 4th night free which shows up as $562 which is 25% off.
so while 4th night free sounds great, in this case i'm only saving 5%
i don't think i've ever seen fhr rates on the website include taxes and fees..
The normal rate is $750 a night (plus taxes) the best available rate is 20% off that.
on the FHR site, you can book at the BAR rate ($595) or you can book at the base rate with the 4th night free which shows up as $562 which is 25% off.
so while 4th night free sounds great, in this case i'm only saving 5%
i don't think i've ever seen fhr rates on the website include taxes and fees..
May 24, 2018, 6:47 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,790
an example is i have 4th night free booked at eden roc cap cana..
The normal rate is $750 a night (plus taxes) the best available rate is 20% off that.
on the FHR site, you can book at the BAR rate ($595) or you can book at the base rate with the 4th night free which shows up as $562 which is 25% off.
so while 4th night free sounds great, in this case i'm only saving 5%
i don't think i've ever seen fhr rates on the website include taxes and fees..
The normal rate is $750 a night (plus taxes) the best available rate is 20% off that.
on the FHR site, you can book at the BAR rate ($595) or you can book at the base rate with the 4th night free which shows up as $562 which is 25% off.
so while 4th night free sounds great, in this case i'm only saving 5%
i don't think i've ever seen fhr rates on the website include taxes and fees..
Is this a new change? If it is, then seems like a devaluation of the 3rd/4th night free benefit
Last edited by SP03; May 24, 2018 at 6:47 am Reason: typo
May 24, 2018, 10:05 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 80
So If you book the BAR, do you get the 4th night deducted at check out? That is you pay $595 *3 for the 4 nights, which averages to $446 instead of $562? Or do you have to book the 4th night free rate
Is this a new change? If it is, then seems like a devaluation of the 3rd/4th night free benefit
Is this a new change? If it is, then seems like a devaluation of the 3rd/4th night free benefit
Update: just got off the phone with amex travel, they called the hotel and 4th night is only on the BAR rate as they consider that a promotion and you can't stack them (as expected).. the way this is presented on americanexpressfhr.com is pretty misleading
Last edited by geoffk; May 24, 2018 at 10:22 am Reason: update
May 25, 2018, 5:02 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Watergate
Posts: 94
I'm always impressed at the lack of basic math and reading comprehension skills...
The FHR site says the free night is included in the nightly rates. That means that the rate they display is the rate per night you're staying, including the night that you are staying for 'free'. Typically you'd expect the '4th night free' rate to be (rate*.75) but, as geoffk points out, the non-discounted rate on the FHR site isn't always the base rate upon which the 4th night discount is based.
In short, if the site says you get a night free that's included in the rate, then just consider the posted rate as the nightly cost for every night of your trip.
The FHR site says the free night is included in the nightly rates. That means that the rate they display is the rate per night you're staying, including the night that you are staying for 'free'. Typically you'd expect the '4th night free' rate to be (rate*.75) but, as geoffk points out, the non-discounted rate on the FHR site isn't always the base rate upon which the 4th night discount is based.
In short, if the site says you get a night free that's included in the rate, then just consider the posted rate as the nightly cost for every night of your trip.
May 25, 2018, 5:12 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,790
I'm always impressed at the lack of basic math and reading comprehension skills...
The FHR site says the free night is included in the nightly rates. That means that the rate they display is the rate per night you're staying, including the night that you are staying for 'free'. Typically you'd expect the '4th night free' rate to be (rate*.75) but, as geoffk points out, the non-discounted rate on the FHR site isn't always the base rate upon which the 4th night discount is based.
In short, if the site says you get a night free that's included in the rate, then just consider the posted rate as the nightly cost for every night of your trip.
The FHR site says the free night is included in the nightly rates. That means that the rate they display is the rate per night you're staying, including the night that you are staying for 'free'. Typically you'd expect the '4th night free' rate to be (rate*.75) but, as geoffk points out, the non-discounted rate on the FHR site isn't always the base rate upon which the 4th night discount is based.
In short, if the site says you get a night free that's included in the rate, then just consider the posted rate as the nightly cost for every night of your trip.
Prior to this change, the free 3rd or 4th night was always taken off at check out and the rate you see on the website was the rate you paid. You were not charged a different BAR for the free night.
However, this has been a change. The way it's displayed on FHR site is confusing.
May 26, 2018, 3:17 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 51
First of all this was an incredibly rude response. No need to question people's reading or math skills. If the Amex is clearer, then this wouldn't be an question.
Prior to this change, the free 3rd or 4th night was always taken off at check out and the rate you see on the website was the rate you paid. You were not charged a different BAR for the free night.
However, this has been a change. The way it's displayed on FHR site is confusing.
Prior to this change, the free 3rd or 4th night was always taken off at check out and the rate you see on the website was the rate you paid. You were not charged a different BAR for the free night.
However, this has been a change. The way it's displayed on FHR site is confusing.
How would you suggest Amex communicate the promotional rate more clearly?
May 26, 2018, 4:57 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,790
The way the free night is applied has changed, but the method by which it's applied is clearly stated on the website. I don't find it confusing at all. Also, in the past the standard rate applicable for free night promotions can certainly be different from the BAR. It's possible you have never noticed or maybe the BAR and free night rate just happened to be the same for the stays you booked.
How would you suggest Amex communicate the promotional rate more clearly?
How would you suggest Amex communicate the promotional rate more clearly?
the FHR website is incredibly vague in fact at showing the cost breakdown for these nights. There is no nightly rate for these offers. It doesn’t show how the taxes will be calculated.
Maybe they think people who book FHR don’t care much about the costs but I would like to know how the cost is calculated to prevent any confusion at the hotel check out.
May 26, 2018, 5:49 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 51
It clearly states that the complimentary 3rd/4th night free is "included in the avg nightly rate" and right underneath the pricing it says "avg/night."
Agreed that tax is not included, which I also dislike. However, that is not unique to promotional rates. Tax is not included on any of the rates.
Maybe I can’t read, but where exactly does it say on the website how the free night is applied?
the FHR website is incredibly vague in fact at showing the cost breakdown for these nights. There is no nightly rate for these offers. It doesn’t show how the taxes will be calculated.
Maybe they think people who book FHR don’t care much about the costs but I would like to know how the cost is calculated to prevent any confusion at the hotel check out.
Agreed that tax is not included, which I also dislike. However, that is not unique to promotional rates. Tax is not included on any of the rates.
Maybe I can’t read, but where exactly does it say on the website how the free night is applied?
the FHR website is incredibly vague in fact at showing the cost breakdown for these nights. There is no nightly rate for these offers. It doesn’t show how the taxes will be calculated.
Maybe they think people who book FHR don’t care much about the costs but I would like to know how the cost is calculated to prevent any confusion at the hotel check out.