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
Jul 12, 2019, 8:16 am
#901
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 268
So I used my new Citi Prestige to make a booking with the concierge (the hotel direct website was a better offer vs. the thankyou hotel listing). The Concierge lady read the terms, it's an "advance purchase" rate, where you pay 50% now and 50% at check-in. The lady said that it should post the 4th night free credit in the next 1-2 billing cycles since this was pre-purchase rate.
Later that day, got the email from Citi with the booking confirmation with the *estimated* savings with 4th night free.
That was 3 days ago and there's still no charge on the Citi card (not even pending)
Is there usually a delay like this? I'm not referring to the credit (4th night free)--that I understand fully won't show up for a few months. I'm more concerned that the card hasn't been charged, so I wonder if my booking is really/truly confirmed.
Later that day, got the email from Citi with the booking confirmation with the *estimated* savings with 4th night free.
That was 3 days ago and there's still no charge on the Citi card (not even pending)
Is there usually a delay like this? I'm not referring to the credit (4th night free)--that I understand fully won't show up for a few months. I'm more concerned that the card hasn't been charged, so I wonder if my booking is really/truly confirmed.
Jul 12, 2019, 8:33 am
#902
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Jul 12, 2019, 9:56 am
#904
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Western US
Programs: Costco Executive Member, Amazon Optimus Prime
Posts: 1,251
So I used my new Citi Prestige to make a booking with the concierge (the hotel direct website was a better offer vs. the thankyou hotel listing). The Concierge lady read the terms, it's an "advance purchase" rate, where you pay 50% now and 50% at check-in. The lady said that it should post the 4th night free credit in the next 1-2 billing cycles since this was pre-purchase rate.
Later that day, got the email from Citi with the booking confirmation with the *estimated* savings with 4th night free.
That was 3 days ago and there's still no charge on the Citi card (not even pending)
Is there usually a delay like this? I'm not referring to the credit (4th night free)--that I understand fully won't show up for a few months. I'm more concerned that the card hasn't been charged, so I wonder if my booking is really/truly confirmed.
Later that day, got the email from Citi with the booking confirmation with the *estimated* savings with 4th night free.
That was 3 days ago and there's still no charge on the Citi card (not even pending)
Is there usually a delay like this? I'm not referring to the credit (4th night free)--that I understand fully won't show up for a few months. I'm more concerned that the card hasn't been charged, so I wonder if my booking is really/truly confirmed.
And yes, sometimes properties don't run pre-paid or high deposit stays ahead of time, or they might do it on one day of the week, or a few days prior to arrival. If needed you can call ahead to push it through (if you were meeting an MSR, or wanted to get a travel credit burned up before a certain date, or whatever reason).
Jul 13, 2019, 1:01 pm
#905
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Diamond, IC Amb
Posts: 5,510
Not sure why some people are having issues with booking.
Just called in like always.....booked an 8-night stay for December in Vietnam.
No issues at all.
I stay in hotels about 200 nights per year and will definitely miss the concierge for all of my bookings (save for the 2 I get per year as of Sep 1).
Just called in like always.....booked an 8-night stay for December in Vietnam.
No issues at all.
I stay in hotels about 200 nights per year and will definitely miss the concierge for all of my bookings (save for the 2 I get per year as of Sep 1).
Jul 13, 2019, 5:40 pm
#906
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Long Island, NY
Programs: United 1K, AA Plat Exec, DL Plat, Marriott Titanium Lifetime Elite, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,872
This is a first. I called and got a concierge who saw a rate higher than the full rack rate on the marriott web page. Its now been 45+ minutes of holding with them trying to figure out why their rate is HIGHER than full rack. :-(
Jul 18, 2019, 9:04 am
#907
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 268
I would call the hotel, and make sure they have your booking in THEIR system. I once had a situation where even though the concierge sent me a confirmed rezzy from their system, it wasn't in the hotel's system. In that situation it was because the hotel had somehow booked it under the travel agent/concierge's name. We eventually figured out what happened, but I'm glad we did that a few weeks before checking in, rather than standing around the front desk wondering why a fully prepaid rez was not in their system on a sold out Xmas week. This is especially important at independent / non chain properties that don't have slick websites where you can see all your upcoming / prior stays at one place.
And yes, sometimes properties don't run pre-paid or high deposit stays ahead of time, or they might do it on one day of the week, or a few days prior to arrival. If needed you can call ahead to push it through (if you were meeting an MSR, or wanted to get a travel credit burned up before a certain date, or whatever reason).
And yes, sometimes properties don't run pre-paid or high deposit stays ahead of time, or they might do it on one day of the week, or a few days prior to arrival. If needed you can call ahead to push it through (if you were meeting an MSR, or wanted to get a travel credit burned up before a certain date, or whatever reason).
1) Citibank already credited me the one night stay.
2) Credit card has not been charged a thing
I emailed the resort with the booking # and apparently they don't charge the card,but rather, send you a payment link (which i never received probably because it went to the concierge email) and you use THAT to pay.
Glad I asked/checked.
Jul 20, 2019, 1:31 pm
#908
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: Hyatt Glb, MR Plat
Posts: 2,577
OK, so update on this:
1) Citibank already credited me the one night stay.
2) Credit card has not been charged a thing
I emailed the resort with the booking # and apparently they don't charge the card,but rather, send you a payment link (which i never received probably because it went to the concierge email) and you use THAT to pay.
Glad I asked/checked.
1) Citibank already credited me the one night stay.
2) Credit card has not been charged a thing
I emailed the resort with the booking # and apparently they don't charge the card,but rather, send you a payment link (which i never received probably because it went to the concierge email) and you use THAT to pay.
Glad I asked/checked.
Jul 22, 2019, 12:54 am
#909
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: AA, Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton
Posts: 501
wish i saw this thread before booking on the phone.
Looks like i got routed to Connexions, made booking, couldn't pick rate code, or add membership number.
Called hotel to add several times, couldn't find booking at all. Called Citi back, gave me a confirmation number. They were also confident that I would be able to add my membership number at checkin, and that I'd receive my benefits that way.
Called hotel again, still couldn't find it. So looks like I will have to find out tomorrow on check-in...not my favorite experience.
Looks like i got routed to Connexions, made booking, couldn't pick rate code, or add membership number.
Called hotel to add several times, couldn't find booking at all. Called Citi back, gave me a confirmation number. They were also confident that I would be able to add my membership number at checkin, and that I'd receive my benefits that way.
Called hotel again, still couldn't find it. So looks like I will have to find out tomorrow on check-in...not my favorite experience.
Jul 22, 2019, 7:46 am
#910
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 268
Although it was booked via the concierge as they had to match the online hotel website.
I think because it was a pre-purchase rate and booked online that day ((I had the confirmation within a few hours), that's maybe why?
But I was shocked when I got the email a few days later that said I'd get the credit within 10 days.
And then it showed up 2 days later.
Jul 22, 2019, 9:57 am
#911
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 59
Same here - called yesterday to make a booking and was routed to a new agent (not the concierge) who gave me the rates off of the thankyou.com page. One annoying bit is that everything is prepaid now - even rates that are cancellable / refundable (as this one was). She also gave me incorrect information by stating that this would count against my 2 4th night free stays for the year (thought that didn’t start until bookings made after September) - even if so this is a $600 / night stay so a good one to use against the limit of two. The one good thing is that under the new system since it is prepaid the rebate is immediate (essentially it’s just a discounted rate since you don’t pay the extra and then get it rebated). Considering the last few I’ve booked have taken 3 months or so that’s a good thing I suppose. Either way the rate was a few dollars less than what was on the hotel website, somehow.
One oddity - In the confirmation email it says that the hotel may not have complete booking details of my itinerary until 24 hours in advance of our travel. So, does this mean there is no way for me to confirm our reservation with the hotel directly? Given I’ve had a few problems with bookings made via the concierge getting lost in the past that’s a bit disquieting.
One oddity - In the confirmation email it says that the hotel may not have complete booking details of my itinerary until 24 hours in advance of our travel. So, does this mean there is no way for me to confirm our reservation with the hotel directly? Given I’ve had a few problems with bookings made via the concierge getting lost in the past that’s a bit disquieting.
Jul 22, 2019, 10:03 am
#912
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
This caution has long appeared in the ThankYou terms, and we have many reports that it is often true in practice. You can still try to verify the booking with the property, but if they do not have it there is not necessarily a problem.
Jul 22, 2019, 10:08 am
#913
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 59
Thanks MIA-
I hadn’t noticed it before with regular concierge bookings. Still in the case that the hotel doesn’t have the booking I guess there is no way to know whether there is a problem or not.
I hadn’t noticed it before with regular concierge bookings. Still in the case that the hotel doesn’t have the booking I guess there is no way to know whether there is a problem or not.
Jul 22, 2019, 10:43 am
#914
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
I don't think it was likely with a Concierge booking because those were processed as traditional travel agency transactions. If this booking was done by a Connexions employee it would be a consolidator booking, and they may still be shopping it around for the lowest cost. This won't affect your rate, only their margin.
Jul 22, 2019, 11:00 am
#915
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 59
All makes sense. Has anyone had a difficult time cancelling a reservation made via connexions that is prepaid but refundable?