Important Change to Your Fairmont President's Club Membership
Feb 26, 2018, 5:28 pm
#181
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
Feb 27, 2018, 1:56 pm
#182
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: New York, NY, USA
Programs: BAGold; AA3MMPlat; UA1MMGold; FBGold; MarriottAmb; AccorPlat; HHGold; ICPlatAmb; HyattDiscoverist
Posts: 4,378
That is funny I was talking to the bartenders at the Chateau Montebello where we were this weekend (great stay and property) about what they thought of the Accor take-over. I was talking about the differences between the two programs and how the certificates let me stay in some really great rooms, how everything will change yada yada yada and an another employee (front office I think) must of overheard me. She came a few minutes later with the same brochure "in case I didn't know how the new program worked". I told her I was Accor plat and I knew how it worked 
.
.As for the ;limitations on using those Accor certs, my recollection is that they cannot be used on any of the lowest rates, even if no advertised "sale" is occurring. But perhaps I'm wrong.
Feb 28, 2018, 1:35 am
#183
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
Programs: AC 75K, Hertz President’s Circle, Accor Gold, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 10,069
New certificates?
Have folks had next year’s certificates deposited in their accounts already? I have none as of yet.
Feb 28, 2018, 1:45 am
#184
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2009
Location: FRA / YEG
Programs: AC Super Elite, Radisson Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 11,874
Feb 28, 2018, 10:11 pm
#185
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: Accor ALL Diamond, AC Aeroplan 25K, Nexus/GE
Posts: 2,735
Well, it's now after midnight EST, on March 1. My old certs are gone from my account, no new ones yet, but the system is ready for me to choose my 2 additional benefits. Options appear to be the same as last year. Nice to see they didn't do away with that yet. My wife's account is showing the same. Will probably choose the additional dining certificates and the gift card for each of us. No point in picking any additional upgrade certificates this time, with double sets coming this year.
Last edited by CanadaDH; Feb 28, 2018 at 10:16 pm
Mar 1, 2018, 12:25 am
#186
Join Date: Oct 2012
Programs: Dynasty Frequent Flyer (Elite Plus),Accor Platinum
Posts: 1,866
Didn't the above posters realise the rooms with the view of dumpsters or a brick wall is the most exciting to be had.
I find it is only the deep discounted sales of like 40-50% that usually are not applicable for using the 2000 point certs as you like to say.
I have before used points for 30% discounts (sometimes and especially a rate called "suite experience" which is very common when there is no big sale around).
Plus accor is getting rid of the physical certs and so points should only be redeemed online , one should look for the symbol when looking at the rates to see if points can be used.
I find it is only the deep discounted sales of like 40-50% that usually are not applicable for using the 2000 point certs as you like to say.
I have before used points for 30% discounts (sometimes and especially a rate called "suite experience" which is very common when there is no big sale around).
Plus accor is getting rid of the physical certs and so points should only be redeemed online , one should look for the symbol when looking at the rates to see if points can be used.
Mar 1, 2018, 1:48 am
#187
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
Programs: AC 75K, Hertz President’s Circle, Accor Gold, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 10,069
All my certificates are in my account! Woohoo!
Mar 1, 2018, 7:38 am
#188
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Menlo Park, CA, USA
Programs: UA 1MM 0P, AA, DL, *wood, Lifetime FPC Plat., IHG, HHD
Posts: 6,912
Saw them in the account on the app at about 4:00 pst
Mar 1, 2018, 9:01 pm
#189
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 88
So what alternative rewards programs is everyone switching towards to, that offers the best value?
Mar 2, 2018, 8:14 am
#190
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Quebec and Ontario, Canada
Programs: AC*E50, SPG/Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,917
Lol. Thanks for posting! ^
That page is both hilarious and sad.
So let's see: The best example the marketing team could come up with was earning points worth ~$600USD (though one would probably have to discount that figure due to the various restrictions such as not being able to apply the points towards certain "sale" rates).
As a FPC Plat she would've received $200USD in dining certs, a free night cert (with minimal restrictions) and a confirmed upgrade to a suite at time of booking on up to 15 nights per year.
I'm pretty sure a semi-smart 5th grader would be able to figure out which option is better.
While they're publishing such nonsense, maybe they could add the following:
"Maryam really enjoys the excitement that comes with the uncertainty of each stay: Will she get upgraded from the room overlooking the dumpster to the room overlooking the parking lot this time? Or even a room on a higher floor? The predictable benefits of the FPC program never gave her this level of excitement.
Furthermore, the Accor program has allowed her to develop her soft skills: Arguing with front desk staff during each stay whether or not a late check-out is available has improved her negotiation skills and boosted her self-esteem."
That page is both hilarious and sad.
So let's see: The best example the marketing team could come up with was earning points worth ~$600USD (though one would probably have to discount that figure due to the various restrictions such as not being able to apply the points towards certain "sale" rates).
As a FPC Plat she would've received $200USD in dining certs, a free night cert (with minimal restrictions) and a confirmed upgrade to a suite at time of booking on up to 15 nights per year.
I'm pretty sure a semi-smart 5th grader would be able to figure out which option is better.
While they're publishing such nonsense, maybe they could add the following:
"Maryam really enjoys the excitement that comes with the uncertainty of each stay: Will she get upgraded from the room overlooking the dumpster to the room overlooking the parking lot this time? Or even a room on a higher floor? The predictable benefits of the FPC program never gave her this level of excitement.
Furthermore, the Accor program has allowed her to develop her soft skills: Arguing with front desk staff during each stay whether or not a late check-out is available has improved her negotiation skills and boosted her self-esteem."
Mar 2, 2018, 8:18 am
#191
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Quebec and Ontario, Canada
Programs: AC*E50, SPG/Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,917
"upgrade to the next best room or room category"
Well they are not even capable to offer the best room available period, like SPG, Hyatt or even HH and Marriott, and they want us to buy that... Even Best Western offers better upgrades I believe....
Well they are not even capable to offer the best room available period, like SPG, Hyatt or even HH and Marriott, and they want us to buy that... Even Best Western offers better upgrades I believe....
Mar 7, 2018, 1:26 pm
#192
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: YYC
Programs: Aeroplan E50K, Marriott Titanium/Lifetime Platinum, Accor Diamond
Posts: 274
Does anyone know if the 'doubling down' on certificates if you complete 2 stays in the first half of the year applies to the two additional benefits? If it does, that could impact what I choose as I don't think I would need 6 suite upgrade certs, yet I could easily take advantage of the Plat local dining experience which I have good experiences with in the past.
Mar 7, 2018, 1:40 pm
#193
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: Accor ALL Diamond, AC Aeroplan 25K, Nexus/GE
Posts: 2,735
Does anyone know if the 'doubling down' on certificates if you complete 2 stays in the first half of the year applies to the two additional benefits? If it does, that could impact what I choose as I don't think I would need 6 suite upgrade certs, yet I could easily take advantage of the Plat local dining experience which I have good experiences with in the past.
Mar 7, 2018, 3:54 pm
#194
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Plat, 1 MM; SPG LT Plat (RIP); Marriott LT Titanium; Fairmont Plat (RIP), DL Kryptonium Medallion
Posts: 1,791
Does anyone know if the 'doubling down' on certificates if you complete 2 stays in the first half of the year applies to the two additional benefits? If it does, that could impact what I choose as I don't think I would need 6 suite upgrade certs, yet I could easily take advantage of the Plat local dining experience which I have good experiences with in the past.
To me, the biggest remaining source of uncertainty is whether, once Accor is fully running the show, coupons set to expire Feb 2019 can be extended to April 2019 - Fairmont has been very good about letting Platinums get a few extra months (one year, I extended them to May). I have had a fair number of March-April stays, and not knowing whether I will be able to use coupons in March-April 2019 is complicating my decision-making about the choices.
Mar 7, 2018, 5:08 pm
#195
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 1,178
Wouldn't it be awesome if we can also use certificates towards all Accor brands? I can only hope..