Both were US stays

It was showing up as sold out on Expedia but the hotel website showed availability. Agent confirmed that he was booking directly through Hotel website and even commented that their reservation system was one that he had not encountered before.

Looking at my traveling patterns last year, the 4th night free really didn't work out for me last year. I used perhaps twice. I think something like every 3rd night at 50% off may come out better. I think I had about 8 trips where I stayed 3 nights at a hotel. darn.....

would prepaying a res after it's been booked by the citi reps turn off the triggers?

thanks

why not just stfu, sherlock?

I can't believe the extent to which people are scamming a benefit that's already one of the greatest benefits available on a CC.

I'm still missing a rebate from a stay that concluded and was charged on 12/31/15.

Like the AJ, I too had a (non-US) stay completed 01/09/16 that has not yet posted. This stay involved the use of a third night free certificate, so I'm keen to see if it posts at all.

meh.

I guess some people wait for light to turn green before crossing the street.

the benefit is to the primary cardholder. As such, i see no problem if the reservation matches the primary cardholder and the charges go on the card. T&Cs of the benefit are clearly met.

There is the spirit of the rules and there is the language. Sort of like using offshore subsidiaries for transfer pricing in order to reduce corporate tax burden. if the benefit is there then use it. You can be a chump and "pay your fair share" or you can use the tools within the boundaries to maximize value.

now, onto the T&Cs:

.....
INTERNATIONAL COMPLIMENTARY NIGHT HOTELS AND RESORTS PROGRAM TERMS AND CONDITIONS
You will enjoy a complimentary fourth night with no black-out dates, when you book four consecutive nights at any hotel booked by a personal travel advisor designated by MasterCard (the "designated travel advisor" is Carlson Wagonlit Travel). Bookings made through other methods such as, travel agents, websites or directly with a hotel will not qualify.

To receive your complimentary night (via a statement credit) you must:


• Make a reservation for a minimum, consecutive four-night stay by contacting the Citi Prestige Concierge, to book directly with a designated travel advisor
• Fully pay for your stay with a Citi Prestige Card
Receive one complimentary night (room rate for the fourth night and applicable taxes only) for any consecutive four-night hotel stay booked directly with a MasterCard designated travel advisor. Hotel imposed fees and incidental guest charges are the Cardmember's responsibility. The value of the complimentary night will be the actual rate, as provided by the designated travel advisor, on that fourth night of the reservation, even if the rate is different from the rate on other nights. Cardmember will be charged the total cost of the stay at checkout and will receive a credit to the credit card statement for the cost of the fourth night (and the applicable taxes). If the cardmember books a special "pre-paid" rate this may require upfront payment in full, at time of booking. Payment in full is defined as pre-payment for the total of all four consecutive nights. Only one complimentary night is eligible per each stay. A stay is consecutive nights booked and stayed on one reservation and does not include back-to back stays. Back-to back stays are stays at the same hotel booked on two reservations (as an example, you book four nights at a hotel on one reservation for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and book another four nights on another reservation for Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. In this situation, you would only be eligible for one complimentary night for the 8 night stay). Rates provided will be equal to or lower than the lowest publicly-available fare at the hotel's official website. The benefit can only be used by the primary account cardholder.

Statement Credit for Hotel Program
Fulfillment
All statement credits will be reflected on the Citi Prestige card statement as being a result of the Program and will appear within two billing periods following the month in which travel was completed; or in the case of promotional "pre-paid" that are paid in full as described above, rates the credit will be reflected within two billing periods following the date of payment in full of the "pre-paid" rate. Foreign exchange conversion rates may fluctuate resulting in slight differences in amount credited.

Sure they are.

I guess this is where we pretend that you're "staying" at the hotel simply by paying for the booking.

By your "interpretation," using the term loosely, every Prestige cardholder would be entitled to book 91 4-night stays per year for up to 91 different people of their choosing, so long as the cardholder's name appears on the reservation.

a stay is a check-in. Not unlike doing mattress runs without even unlocking your hotel room or going to the front desk.

That's funny, since this reservation and check-in both plainly violate the Hyatt T&Cs.

You're missing the key part: paying with the card. So yes, your name is the primary on the res, you are the one who pays for the bill. But i imagine Citi would shut you down once they notice you're churning your co-guests.

Do the four nights have to be booked as a single four-night reservation, or can it be done as four consecutive one-night reservations?

Here's an example where it might make a difference. (These are actual rates for four nights a Las Vegas hotel in mid-February, with Day 4 being a Saturday night, often the most expensive night of the week.)

Booked as four one-night reservations:
Day 1: 109
Day 2: 129
Day 3: 139
Day 4: 229

Total = 109 + 129 + 139 = 377

Booked as a four-night reservation:
Day 1: 139
Day 2: 139
Day 3: 139
Day 4: 139

Total would be 139 * 3 = 417

Regular pricing would favor the four-night reservation (556 vs 606), but the 4th night free tips the balance the other way if consecutive one-nights are allowed.

One four-night (or more) reservation.