Next 20% Bonus on FPC Gift Cards
Apr 4, 2017, 10:17 am
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2009
Location: FRA / YEG
Programs: AC Super Elite, Radisson Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 11,874
Those GCs are non-personalized / fully transferable.
Note that for using the Lifeexperiences GC there's technically a limit of using 10 certs per stay according to the T&C (though this doesn't seem to be consistently enforced); and since the largest GC denomination is $100, that's somewhat limiting.
For the regular GCs (sold by Fairmont), there's no limit and there are also much higher GC denominations (up to $5k IIRC)
Note that for using the Lifeexperiences GC there's technically a limit of using 10 certs per stay according to the T&C (though this doesn't seem to be consistently enforced); and since the largest GC denomination is $100, that's somewhat limiting.
For the regular GCs (sold by Fairmont), there's no limit and there are also much higher GC denominations (up to $5k IIRC)
Apr 4, 2017, 1:58 pm
#17
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: Accor ALL Diamond, AC Aeroplan 25K, Nexus/GE
Posts: 2,729
So if the GCs are like cash, I do not see any reason to use anything but GCs to pay at Canadian properties? I guess paying with the Chase credit card gives you 5 pts per dollar spent but the value of the points is nowhere near 20%.
If buying from Lifeexperiences, is there a name on the vouchers? I am not a canadian resident but I could ask someone else to buy on costco.ca on my behalf, right?
Those GCs will end up saving me quite a bit of money!
If buying from Lifeexperiences, is there a name on the vouchers? I am not a canadian resident but I could ask someone else to buy on costco.ca on my behalf, right?
Those GCs will end up saving me quite a bit of money!
Maybe a mix of 10 lifeexperience certs with the rest on discounted Fairmont certs would give a good discount but not be too difficult to redeem.
I think the largest certificate is $2,000. They let you purchase up to $5,000 in a single order transaction. I normally order 2 x $2,000 and 1 x $1,000 during the facebook sales. And because they limit you to one discounted purchase, I put $5K on one credit card and $5K on another one, and have always received the full bonus.
Apr 6, 2017, 5:52 am
#18
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 7
That's not entirely true. I've booked rates that included a prepayment before, and was able to get the hotel to refund the prepayment to my credit card on check-out so I can then use gift cards. Each time, I've had the hotel confirm in writing in advance that they will do this, but I haven't run into problems.
At some hotels, this is unavoidable. I think Chateau Whistler requires a full prepayment of the entire stay 2 weeks before check-in, even when booking BAR. If they didn't allow refunds of prepayments, gift cards would be pretty much useless there, except for food and incidental purchases.
However, you might not want to do this, if refunding a charge for a stay in a different currency than your credit card. You may end up with a loss on exchange conversion, due to the spread on the purchase and refund exchange rates used by your bank.
At some hotels, this is unavoidable. I think Chateau Whistler requires a full prepayment of the entire stay 2 weeks before check-in, even when booking BAR. If they didn't allow refunds of prepayments, gift cards would be pretty much useless there, except for food and incidental purchases.
However, you might not want to do this, if refunding a charge for a stay in a different currency than your credit card. You may end up with a loss on exchange conversion, due to the spread on the purchase and refund exchange rates used by your bank.
Apr 6, 2017, 8:58 am
#19
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: YYC
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Fairmont Plat, IHG Spire, SPG Gold, WS Gold, Hertz PC, National E Elite,
Posts: 2,766
Just as a suggestion, I give my GC's to the agent at check-in and let them apply them to the account. Otherwise, at checkout, it can take some time.
Apr 6, 2017, 10:04 am
#20
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: PHX
Posts: 4,787
I was able to buy a life experience gift card on Costco.ca by registering using my USA membership number. It asked for a Canada shipping address. Since it is email delivery, I just used a Canada hotel. For payment it allowed me to use a USA card with a USA billing address.
I tried immediately to buy the Fairmont card on le, but the Costco purchased gift card apparently takes a day or two to be activated.
I tried immediately to buy the Fairmont card on le, but the Costco purchased gift card apparently takes a day or two to be activated.
Apr 6, 2017, 10:14 am
#21
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 7
I was able to buy a life experience gift card on Costco.ca by registering using my USA membership number. It asked for a Canada shipping address. Since it is email delivery, I just used a Canada hotel. For payment it allowed me to use a USA card with a USA billing address.
I tried immediately to buy the Fairmont card on le, but the Costco purchased gift card apparently takes a day or two to be activated.
I tried immediately to buy the Fairmont card on le, but the Costco purchased gift card apparently takes a day or two to be activated.
Apr 6, 2017, 12:32 pm
#22
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: PHX
Posts: 4,787
I bought it earlier today. It is not active yet. The voucher says 24-48 hours though.
Apr 6, 2017, 1:38 pm
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2009
Location: FRA / YEG
Programs: AC Super Elite, Radisson Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 11,874
So what type of discounted GCs are currently being sold by Costco.ca?
Apr 7, 2017, 2:32 pm
#25
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: PHX
Posts: 4,787
Just an update -- was able to buy the Fairmont cert no problem after waiting a day and a half. I received it by e-mail immediately. Not bad -- a 100 CAD cert for $74.99.
Apr 7, 2017, 2:46 pm
#26
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: YVR, HNL
Programs: AS 75k, UA peon, BA Bronze, AC E50k, Marriott Plat, HH Diamond, Fairmont Plat (RIP)
Posts: 7,830
Is there any restriction on the Fairmont GC that you bought with the LE/Costco cert that it has to be used at a Canadian hotel? If not, is this a way around using Costco LE at US Fairmonts?
Apr 7, 2017, 3:03 pm
#27
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: PHX
Posts: 4,787
It also says on the cert it cannot be used for a convention or group rate, which is something I didn't pay attention to when I bought the Costco cert. I am planning to use it for a convention, so we'll see how that goes. Glad I only bought one, but I'm sure I'll be able to use it anyway eventually even if they don't take it.
Apr 17, 2017, 10:02 pm
#28
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 7
If you are looking at Canadian properties, one is available right now via Life Experiences and CostCo. These certificates don't work for non-Canadian properties though.
I felt bad handing over 10 then 8 certificates to the front desks, but they had no issues applying them. One recommended that I could turn in the gift certificates the morning of check out, then they could apply them over the next few hours vs. me waiting about 20 mins. Each property accounted for them differently.
All in all, a positive experience.... especially to my wallet when I was able to combine these with a great date great rate promotion :-).
May 9, 2017, 10:50 pm
#29
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Charleston, SC, USA
Programs: Avis Pref+, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Life Gold, Honors Silver, IHG Plat via MC.
Posts: 6,786
!
May 20, 2017, 4:38 pm
#30
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 849
Is the Lifeexperiences website down? I'm trying to load it, but it doesn't load for me.
Also, does anyone know if I buy the gc via costco and redeem on the Lifeexperiences website, can I use that for payment if I made a Virtuoso/Amex Fine Hotels booking? I'm assuming no for the Amex Fine Hotels since I will need to pay with an Amex, but what about Virtuoso? Thank you.
Also, does anyone know if I buy the gc via costco and redeem on the Lifeexperiences website, can I use that for payment if I made a Virtuoso/Amex Fine Hotels booking? I'm assuming no for the Amex Fine Hotels since I will need to pay with an Amex, but what about Virtuoso? Thank you.