Jun 8, 2015, 11:36 am
Last edit by: swag
Reimbursement times vary but seem to have improved in 2017, now about 2 weeks is most common. See this thread for details.
Starting for reservations made on or after July 23, 2017, this benefit will give you the average nightly rate on stays of 4+ nights, and will NOT include taxes.
FAQ
Will I be able to earn points on rooms booked via the Concierge?
Yes
What rates can the Concierge book?
Any rate you can book online at the hotel website should be bookable by the Concierge.
Are taxes included in the 4th night refund?
Currently yes. For reservations made on or after July 23, 2017, this will change and taxes will not be included.
How to book.
By phone: 1-561-922-0158 (concierge direct), or call the toll free number on the back of your card.
By email: Send to [email protected].
Include:
Terms & Conditions: https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/additional-info/citi.action?ID=AdditionalInfo-CitiPrestige
Starting for reservations made on or after July 23, 2017, this benefit will give you the average nightly rate on stays of 4+ nights, and will NOT include taxes.
FAQ
Will I be able to earn points on rooms booked via the Concierge?
Yes
What rates can the Concierge book?
Any rate you can book online at the hotel website should be bookable by the Concierge.
Are taxes included in the 4th night refund?
Currently yes. For reservations made on or after July 23, 2017, this will change and taxes will not be included.
How to book.
By phone: 1-561-922-0158 (concierge direct), or call the toll free number on the back of your card.
By email: Send to [email protected].
Include:
- Your name & email
- Last 4 digits of your card number
- Hotel name (plus address or link if it may be confused with a similar named property)
- Stay dates
- Number of guests in the room
- Any rate type requests (AAA, AARP, etc)
- Your hotel chain loyalty number, if applicable
Terms & Conditions: https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/additional-info/citi.action?ID=AdditionalInfo-CitiPrestige
Anybody used the Citi Prestige 4th night free hotel benefit? (Dec 2014 - Jul 22,2017)
Nov 3, 2015, 9:27 pm
#631
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,639
I completely disagree. If they are giving a 4th night free benefit on hotels, then they need to do that. There's no fine print that says "not applicable if it's a small hotel". I completely understand how the service works, I read the fine print, researched this topic on the FlyerTalk, and did my due-diligence.
In any case, they initially told me no hotels were available. Most likely because these small hotels don't have websites. So instead of doing their due-diligence and calling, they resorted to laziness and said "no". When I pressed and asked about a specific hotel because I saw that there WAS availability, they called, then backtracked and said "Oh yes, we can get you a room there." This happened multiple times, with multiple hotels. I probably spoke to 10 different employees, and was told different things from each employee. There was no consistency to anything throughout the entire process.
What's the point in having a concierge service, if I have to do all the work? I'm not expecting outlandish things, but concierge depts are supposed to take the hassle out things like this, otherwise you can just book on your own.
I hope in the future my stays are as efficient and easy as you yours are, but this one was not. I have no sympathy or empathy for lazy customer service reps.
In any case, they initially told me no hotels were available. Most likely because these small hotels don't have websites. So instead of doing their due-diligence and calling, they resorted to laziness and said "no". When I pressed and asked about a specific hotel because I saw that there WAS availability, they called, then backtracked and said "Oh yes, we can get you a room there." This happened multiple times, with multiple hotels. I probably spoke to 10 different employees, and was told different things from each employee. There was no consistency to anything throughout the entire process.
What's the point in having a concierge service, if I have to do all the work? I'm not expecting outlandish things, but concierge depts are supposed to take the hassle out things like this, otherwise you can just book on your own.
I hope in the future my stays are as efficient and easy as you yours are, but this one was not. I have no sympathy or empathy for lazy customer service reps.
Nov 3, 2015, 9:37 pm
#632
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 2,781
Judging by reports here, that isn't necessarily relevant, as there have been cases where agents have booked rooms by phoning properties or through the hotel's website when the desired property/rate wasn't available to them in their GDS.
Whether or not agents are willing to take that extra step is a different matter.
Whether or not agents are willing to take that extra step is a different matter.
Nov 4, 2015, 8:01 am
#633
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,639
Judging by reports here, that isn't necessarily relevant, as there have been cases where agents have booked rooms by phoning properties or through the hotel's website when the desired property/rate wasn't available to them in their GDS.
Whether or not agents are willing to take that extra step is a different matter.
Whether or not agents are willing to take that extra step is a different matter.
The rate doesn't have to be available on GDS but the property will most likely have to be on it. Inability to tracking commission aside, at a minimum, you are going to need the GDS to validate the business is legit vs. me creating a website for my five star boutique property (aka Casa Seawolf) and have Citi book four nights where each night goes for $2,000 USD
by going to my website and calling to book.
Nov 4, 2015, 8:52 am
#634
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 2,781
Let me start off by saying I'm speculating.
The rate doesn't have to be available on GDS but the property will most likely have to be on it. Inability to tracking commission aside, at a minimum, you are going to need the GDS to validate the business is legit vs. me creating a website for my five star boutique property (aka Casa Seawolf) and have Citi book four nights where each night goes for $2,000 USD by going to my website and calling to book.
The rate doesn't have to be available on GDS but the property will most likely have to be on it. Inability to tracking commission aside, at a minimum, you are going to need the GDS to validate the business is legit vs. me creating a website for my five star boutique property (aka Casa Seawolf) and have Citi book four nights where each night goes for $2,000 USD
by going to my website and calling to book.
Nov 4, 2015, 9:19 am
#635
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: HH Diamond, IHG Plat, SPG & Marriott Gold, CC Silver
Posts: 541
I noticed that instead of billing all 4 nights as one charge, my hotel billed my card every 2 nights. (We had to move rooms after the first night due to an HVAC issue, so if anything it should have been 1+3.)
Should I assume this will not trigger the 4th night free? I'm not clear on whether the charge to the card is the trigger or if there is something in the system that knows the stay has occurred and that is the trigger for the credit.
Should I assume this will not trigger the 4th night free? I'm not clear on whether the charge to the card is the trigger or if there is something in the system that knows the stay has occurred and that is the trigger for the credit.
Nov 4, 2015, 9:36 am
#636
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 2,781
I believe it's done based on the copy of your folio that they receive from the hotel.
Nov 4, 2015, 9:40 am
#637
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: HH Diamond, IHG Plat, SPG & Marriott Gold, CC Silver
Posts: 541
Nov 4, 2015, 12:10 pm
#638
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: LAX
Posts: 16
Let me start off by saying I'm speculating.
The rate doesn't have to be available on GDS but the property will most likely have to be on it. Inability to tracking commission aside, at a minimum, you are going to need the GDS to validate the business is legit vs. me creating a website for my five star boutique property (aka Casa Seawolf) and have Citi book four nights where each night goes for $2,000 USD by going to my website and calling to book.
The rate doesn't have to be available on GDS but the property will most likely have to be on it. Inability to tracking commission aside, at a minimum, you are going to need the GDS to validate the business is legit vs. me creating a website for my five star boutique property (aka Casa Seawolf) and have Citi book four nights where each night goes for $2,000 USD
by going to my website and calling to book.
Nov 5, 2015, 5:11 am
#639
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,949
Having booked numerous 4 night free reservations, my experience has been that even if a hotel does not display through CWT, it may still be available for booking. The last two reservations I made required the agent to phone the hotel directly.
Nov 6, 2015, 5:31 pm
#640
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Louisiana, MSY
Programs: Hyatt Plat, SPG Gold, Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Elite
Posts: 139
Again, like I said, booking at "smaller" hotels is just more tedious, if at all possible. The way I read the T&Cs is that you only get the 4th night free if you make the reservation through CWT. This does not exclude the possibility that CWT may not be able to book a hotel at all. Although, I would think it is usually in their favor to book any and all hotels that they can, as long as the hotel is willing to co-operate (aka pay a comish?)
Nov 8, 2015, 11:00 am
#641
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: OC, southern California
Posts: 33
When emailing the concierge, what information do I need to put to identify myself? Simply my name and last 4 of card?
Nov 8, 2015, 3:09 pm
#642
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: IND
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, National Exec Elite
Posts: 586
I email them all the time and never put any part of my card number. I think they recognize you by name and email as long as you use the email that you have associated with the card.
Nov 11, 2015, 2:13 pm
#643
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: 718
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, IHG Diamond
Posts: 967
I made a 4th nt free booking two days ago on a prepaid rate. CWT made the booking with me via phone. Citi Prestige has also sent me the confirmation of the booking stating prepaid rate as well. My citi prestige cc still has not been charged (As of today, still do not see a pending charge in activity nor has CL been deducted).
Anyone have any experience on this? Booking a prepaid rate and not being charged ASAP upon booking? I am just worried/hesitant that come 6 months, when I get to the hotel, there is no booking -__-
Anyone have any experience on this? Booking a prepaid rate and not being charged ASAP upon booking? I am just worried/hesitant that come 6 months, when I get to the hotel, there is no booking -__-
Nov 11, 2015, 4:37 pm
#644
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 2,781
I have not experienced this personally, but quite a few people on the thread have reported that they were not immediately charged, but had no problems with their booking. AFAIK, though, everyone was eventually charged.
Nov 12, 2015, 1:12 am
#645
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: United Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 284
I made a 4th nt free booking two days ago on a prepaid rate. CWT made the booking with me via phone. Citi Prestige has also sent me the confirmation of the booking stating prepaid rate as well. My citi prestige cc still has not been charged (As of today, still do not see a pending charge in activity nor has CL been deducted).
Anyone have any experience on this? Booking a prepaid rate and not being charged ASAP upon booking? I am just worried/hesitant that come 6 months, when I get to the hotel, there is no booking -__-
Anyone have any experience on this? Booking a prepaid rate and not being charged ASAP upon booking? I am just worried/hesitant that come 6 months, when I get to the hotel, there is no booking -__-
I booked a 4 night non-refundable supposedly "prepaid" room in Cape Town through CWT/Citi Concierge. Booked in August, and I never got charged until I checked in in October. (I'm sure I would have been charged if I was a no-show as well...)
Oddly enough, I got my 4th night rebate in early September...before I stayed or paid! And because the dollar strengthened against the South African rand between the time of making the reservation, I got back the 4th night AND about $23 extra!