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 13, 2019, 7:57 pm
#736
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: WN A-List Pref, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat
Posts: 460
Like every new, shiny object in the miles/points game, we really can never have nice things without some overdoing it and ruining it for everyone.
Mar 13, 2019, 8:01 pm
#737
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,031
$4k over nearly 3 years doesn't strike me as ridiculous if you take into account the fact they probably get 15% from travel agent commissions and 3% interchange that offset most of the cost of the free fourth night. Oh, and it is a $450 card.
Mar 14, 2019, 6:17 am
#738
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: WN A-List Pref, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat
Posts: 460
In a vacuum, you're probably right. But their move to cap the benefit speaks volumes to the outsized benefits that were gained by enough people. There's no chance that Citi completely offset the cost of 4NF or they wouldn't have capped it.
Mar 14, 2019, 6:55 am
#739
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: MD/DC
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, TK Gold
Posts: 1,536
That benefit was never self sustaining. It was Citi business decisions to offer it, they should not be surprised people are using it.
I would agree that it was badly designed from the onset, and not unexpectedly caused a financial bleeding to Citi - but it was not because it was abused, rather it was used as intended (just badly designed to begin with).
Mar 14, 2019, 8:17 am
#740
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,041
Regards
Mar 14, 2019, 8:41 am
#741
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,955
Mar 14, 2019, 9:15 am
#742
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: MD/DC
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, TK Gold
Posts: 1,536
What I don't agree is the talk of "abuse". The benefit was used as designed, it just was poorly designed and was bound to be changed. Yes there were "edge cases" but I doubt that those are the one who broke the system. The card was promoted using this benefit; no one should be surprised it is heavily used. In other words, a card cannot be mass marketed and still offer open ended premium heavy benefits. It was bound to change from the get go.
Mar 14, 2019, 10:05 am
#743
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,031
Frankly I am surprised it lasted as long as it did.
Mar 18, 2019, 12:45 pm
#744
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Western US
Programs: Costco Executive Member, Amazon Optimus Prime
Posts: 1,251
Yay! I had very troublesome stay (wrong name for booking, hotel dropped arrival day and turned it a deposit forfeit, travel delay, blah blah) finally get credited. We paid for it in October but didn't complete stay til January. Got the "credit is arriving" email 73 days after checkout ... and 157 days after paying for the prepaid/non-cancellable stay.
I didn't want any eyes on the transaction, so did 'do not call the bank' strategy, which was painful to wait through.
I didn't want any eyes on the transaction, so did 'do not call the bank' strategy, which was painful to wait through.
Mar 23, 2019, 3:52 pm
#745
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: Virgin Atlantic Silver, IHG Diamond, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Diamond, AA Platinum Pro
Posts: 1,386
I just made a booking and here's how it went:
I sent a detailed e-mail with exactly what I wanted and when, and within 30 minutes I had a rate quote. I then called up to complete the booking - and that was it!
Quite hassle free in my opinion and the concierge had a wonderful attitude.
I sent a detailed e-mail with exactly what I wanted and when, and within 30 minutes I had a rate quote. I then called up to complete the booking - and that was it!
Quite hassle free in my opinion and the concierge had a wonderful attitude.
Mar 23, 2019, 4:55 pm
#746
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
I just made a booking and here's how it went:
I sent a detailed e-mail with exactly what I wanted and when, and within 30 minutes I had a rate quote. I then called up to complete the booking - and that was it!
Quite hassle free in my opinion and the concierge had a wonderful attitude.
I sent a detailed e-mail with exactly what I wanted and when, and within 30 minutes I had a rate quote. I then called up to complete the booking - and that was it!
Quite hassle free in my opinion and the concierge had a wonderful attitude.
Mar 23, 2019, 4:59 pm
#747
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: Virgin Atlantic Silver, IHG Diamond, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Diamond, AA Platinum Pro
Posts: 1,386
My stay was for late August, and I know it was booked on the spot as I was given a confirmation number and snagged the last room available for my dates (availability on hotel's site immediately changed from 'last room remaining' to 'none' as soon as the room was booked).
Mar 23, 2019, 5:24 pm
#748
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
They do book on the spot, but only after you send that initial e-mail. In their response (which came within 30 minutes), they request that you call in to complete the booking.
My stay was for late August, and I know it was booked on the spot as I was given a confirmation number and snagged the last room available for my dates (availability on hotel's site immediately changed from 'last room remaining' to 'none' as soon as the room was booked).
My stay was for late August, and I know it was booked on the spot as I was given a confirmation number and snagged the last room available for my dates (availability on hotel's site immediately changed from 'last room remaining' to 'none' as soon as the room was booked).
I've emailed prior, and they said they'd have it done, and then it wasn't done, and they said they couldn't book it cause they had to put in their queue, but this was the weekend when that transition happened.
I guess I'll try again.
Mar 23, 2019, 7:01 pm
#749
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,031
I had a reservation booked on the spot recently while two others couldn't be. It's very YMMV it seems.
Mar 24, 2019, 8:02 am
#750
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: Virgin Atlantic Silver, IHG Diamond, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Diamond, AA Platinum Pro
Posts: 1,386
Hmm, can you explain your exact process?
I've emailed prior, and they said they'd have it done, and then it wasn't done, and they said they couldn't book it cause they had to put in their queue, but this was the weekend when that transition happened.
I guess I'll try again.
I've emailed prior, and they said they'd have it done, and then it wasn't done, and they said they couldn't book it cause they had to put in their queue, but this was the weekend when that transition happened.
I guess I'll try again.
A half an hour later, I received a reply confirming the rate and rebate amount, with a phone number to call if I wished to proceed with the booking.
I called, they reconfirmed the details, gave my card info and it was booked with confirmation number given on the spot. This was around 3PM Eastern time...