Aug 9, 2017, 11:10 am
Last edit by: SanDiego1K
This is a continuation of the original discussion HERE.
Book online at thankyou.com or by phone at 1-877-288-2484 7/24.
Starting September 1, 2019 the complimentary 4th night benefit can be used up to two times per calendar year. Bookings made prior to September 1, 2019, will not count toward your two-stay cap for 2019. Starting September 1, 2019 bookings for the 4th night benefit must be made exclusively by visiting thankyou.com or calling 1 800 THANKYOU. Citi Concierge will no longer handle new 4th night benefit bookings but will continue to support bookings made prior to September 1, 2019. To utilize your benefit through our online travel site, and/or have the option to use your ThankYou points, please visit thankyou.com, select travel in the top menu bar, select hotels, choose hotel designated as “Complimentary 4th Night Eligible”, book at least 4 nights, see savings at checkout. 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.
Reimbursement times vary but seem to have improved in 2017, now about 2 weeks is most common. See this thread for details.
Book online at thankyou.com or by phone at 1-877-288-2484 7/24.
Starting September 1, 2019 the complimentary 4th night benefit can be used up to two times per calendar year. Bookings made prior to September 1, 2019, will not count toward your two-stay cap for 2019. Starting September 1, 2019 bookings for the 4th night benefit must be made exclusively by visiting thankyou.com or calling 1 800 THANKYOU. Citi Concierge will no longer handle new 4th night benefit bookings but will continue to support bookings made prior to September 1, 2019. To utilize your benefit through our online travel site, and/or have the option to use your ThankYou points, please visit thankyou.com, select travel in the top menu bar, select hotels, choose hotel designated as “Complimentary 4th Night Eligible”, book at least 4 nights, see savings at checkout.
Reimbursement times vary but seem to have improved in 2017, now about 2 weeks is most common. See this thread for details.
Citi Prestige 4th night free hotel benefit July 2017 - August 2019
Mar 8, 2019, 10:13 am
#721
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Marriott Amb; Hyatt Globalist; Shangri-la Diamond; IHG SpireAmb; Hilton D; Accor G
Posts: 3,319
I haven't received a credit email in forever. I should look into where they are because I'm pretty sure I have missed like 5+ at this point.
Mar 9, 2019, 1:01 pm
#723
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Western US
Programs: Costco Executive Member, Amazon Optimus Prime
Posts: 1,251
Well, there's a difference between verifying that the stay happened versus looking through every single aspect to see if there's some way they can weasel out of the rebate.
I don't get the sense that they did that in prior years, but something seems to have changed after they nerfed the benefit in the stated terms on a go forward basis from 9/19, yet its been buggy starting far earlier.
I'm waiting on a credit from October/November prepayment, when in the past we would sometimes even get the rebate before the stay.
Yes there's been some abuse of the perk (not by me, we only use 2 times a year anyways), but I don't think it was outside their stated T&C. Those were just incredibly poorly designed to begin with. Especially in that first year, when they had the literal 4th night be wholly reimbursed. (go look up that legendary NYC NYE story!).
I don't get the sense that they did that in prior years, but something seems to have changed after they nerfed the benefit in the stated terms on a go forward basis from 9/19, yet its been buggy starting far earlier.
I'm waiting on a credit from October/November prepayment, when in the past we would sometimes even get the rebate before the stay.
Yes there's been some abuse of the perk (not by me, we only use 2 times a year anyways), but I don't think it was outside their stated T&C. Those were just incredibly poorly designed to begin with. Especially in that first year, when they had the literal 4th night be wholly reimbursed. (go look up that legendary NYC NYE story!).
Mar 11, 2019, 8:14 am
#725
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Bear in mind that the original benefit was designed and funded by MasterCard, not by Citi.
Mar 11, 2019, 9:28 am
#726
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,031
Is there any evidence that this is happening? Any pattern of declined reimbursements? It seems more probable that the staffing level has been reduced to lower expenses, and this causes delays.
Bear in mind that the original benefit was designed and funded by MasterCard, not by Citi.
Bear in mind that the original benefit was designed and funded by MasterCard, not by Citi.
Mar 11, 2019, 10:32 am
#727
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: AA EXP, DL-Plat, WN-CP | Hotels: Choice-Gld, IHG-Plt, Rad-Gld, HH-Dia, Hyatt-Glob, Marriott-LtPlt
Posts: 2,889
Mar 11, 2019, 2:06 pm
#728
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 2,028
Mar 11, 2019, 3:09 pm
#729
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Diamond, IC Amb
Posts: 5,510
Oh boy....here’s a new one.
Called to book a 4-night stay for November about an hour ago. No issues.
Called back just now to make another reservation for the same month and this new gal took all my info and then said, “Ok now they have changed some things around here and our fulfillment staff will get back to you within 24hrs for rates and to help you book this stay.”
I told her that wasn’t acceptable and she told me that that are only now supposed to book 1-2 day out stays immediately and everything else goes to the fulfillment team.
She ended up booking the hotel for me but I think this is another sign of the degradation of customer service for us Prestige holders while we still have access to call in.
Called to book a 4-night stay for November about an hour ago. No issues.
Called back just now to make another reservation for the same month and this new gal took all my info and then said, “Ok now they have changed some things around here and our fulfillment staff will get back to you within 24hrs for rates and to help you book this stay.”
I told her that wasn’t acceptable and she told me that that are only now supposed to book 1-2 day out stays immediately and everything else goes to the fulfillment team.
She ended up booking the hotel for me but I think this is another sign of the degradation of customer service for us Prestige holders while we still have access to call in.
Mar 12, 2019, 10:26 pm
#730
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
Oh boy....here’s a new one.
Called to book a 4-night stay for November about an hour ago. No issues.
Called back just now to make another reservation for the same month and this new gal took all my info and then said, “Ok now they have changed some things around here and our fulfillment staff will get back to you within 24hrs for rates and to help you book this stay.”
I told her that wasn’t acceptable and she told me that that are only now supposed to book 1-2 day out stays immediately and everything else goes to the fulfillment team.
She ended up booking the hotel for me but I think this is another sign of the degradation of customer service for us Prestige holders while we still have access to call in.
Called to book a 4-night stay for November about an hour ago. No issues.
Called back just now to make another reservation for the same month and this new gal took all my info and then said, “Ok now they have changed some things around here and our fulfillment staff will get back to you within 24hrs for rates and to help you book this stay.”
I told her that wasn’t acceptable and she told me that that are only now supposed to book 1-2 day out stays immediately and everything else goes to the fulfillment team.
She ended up booking the hotel for me but I think this is another sign of the degradation of customer service for us Prestige holders while we still have access to call in.
I guess there is no more point to calling (and waiting). Just email. If no response (other than the lame "we are working on it, wait a few days", try again.
Mar 13, 2019, 9:44 am
#731
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Diamond, IC Amb
Posts: 5,510
I didn't get such luck. I emailed them and was told they would respond by yesterday. Obviously, yesterday came and went. But she said she could only "expedite" my request.
I guess there is no more point to calling (and waiting). Just email. If no response (other than the lame "we are working on it, wait a few days", try again.
I guess there is no more point to calling (and waiting). Just email. If no response (other than the lame "we are working on it, wait a few days", try again.
WHen I called back the reservation was completed.
Mar 13, 2019, 9:52 am
#732
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Western US
Programs: Costco Executive Member, Amazon Optimus Prime
Posts: 1,251
It's not really in their interest to do a good job. If they do -- people continue to use the function, and the PnL bleeding continues.
If they soft default on the Sep 19 concierge cutoff, and effectively make it very hard to book now, they can stop the losses, and maybe avoid a violation of the CARD act.
If they soft default on the Sep 19 concierge cutoff, and effectively make it very hard to book now, they can stop the losses, and maybe avoid a violation of the CARD act.
Mar 13, 2019, 5:02 pm
#733
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 10
I'm still a bit confused as to the wording of the new terms. The terms now state..."Bookings made prior to September 1, 2019, will not count toward your two-stay cap for 2019."
What happens if I make several Bookings prior to September 1, for stays after September 1? Shouldn't these Bookings qualify for 4NF? According to these terms, as long as we have a Booking that was made prior to September 1, we should receive our 4NF credit regardless of the Booking stay date.
Also, what if I prepay the Bookings now for stays after September 2019? (Assuming there's an attractive prepay rate to go with firm dates)
Any thoughts?
What happens if I make several Bookings prior to September 1, for stays after September 1? Shouldn't these Bookings qualify for 4NF? According to these terms, as long as we have a Booking that was made prior to September 1, we should receive our 4NF credit regardless of the Booking stay date.
Also, what if I prepay the Bookings now for stays after September 2019? (Assuming there's an attractive prepay rate to go with firm dates)
Any thoughts?
Last edited by worldfreqtrav; Mar 13, 2019 at 5:14 pm Reason: adding a second thought
Mar 13, 2019, 5:19 pm
#734
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,545
the wording is clear.
your brain is inserting confusion where none exists.
book dozens of stays with Citi Concierge prior to Sept 1 2019 and no 2019 stay will count towards the cap of two 4-night-free rebates.
every one of these 2019 stays will be rebated for the 4th night free.
the wording is silent on 2020 stays, so one assumes Citi is intending to rebate only the first two 2020 stays.
these 2020 stays would still have to be booked through the concierge by Sept 1 2019.
for all bookings from Sept 1 2019 onwards, Citi Concierge is no longer an option.
your brain is inserting confusion where none exists.
book dozens of stays with Citi Concierge prior to Sept 1 2019 and no 2019 stay will count towards the cap of two 4-night-free rebates.
every one of these 2019 stays will be rebated for the 4th night free.
the wording is silent on 2020 stays, so one assumes Citi is intending to rebate only the first two 2020 stays.
these 2020 stays would still have to be booked through the concierge by Sept 1 2019.
for all bookings from Sept 1 2019 onwards, Citi Concierge is no longer an option.
Last edited by Colin; Mar 14, 2019 at 4:43 am
Mar 13, 2019, 5:35 pm
#735
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,031
Oh boy....here’s a new one.
Called to book a 4-night stay for November about an hour ago. No issues.
Called back just now to make another reservation for the same month and this new gal took all my info and then said, “Ok now they have changed some things around here and our fulfillment staff will get back to you within 24hrs for rates and to help you book this stay.”
I told her that wasn’t acceptable and she told me that that are only now supposed to book 1-2 day out stays immediately and everything else goes to the fulfillment team.
She ended up booking the hotel for me but I think this is another sign of the degradation of customer service for us Prestige holders while we still have access to call in.
Called to book a 4-night stay for November about an hour ago. No issues.
Called back just now to make another reservation for the same month and this new gal took all my info and then said, “Ok now they have changed some things around here and our fulfillment staff will get back to you within 24hrs for rates and to help you book this stay.”
I told her that wasn’t acceptable and she told me that that are only now supposed to book 1-2 day out stays immediately and everything else goes to the fulfillment team.
She ended up booking the hotel for me but I think this is another sign of the degradation of customer service for us Prestige holders while we still have access to call in.