ElmhurstNick

Thanks, my rate is not prepaid. The brilliant web site won't let one change the credit card, which I put on my AMEX through force of habit.

Time to take my stupid MC out of the drawer for the next few months. It only gets used at this time of the year as it yields no other meaningful rewards.

mmgm

And if you left a deposit, you could offer to check out after the deposit is used up and check in again. The hotel might arrange to count it as a MC stay if you did that or maybe without doing that if most of the charges are on MC. I would suggest asking at the front desk upon check in.

Mary2e

My pleasure

One difference though - they may have taken a deposit even if it's not a prepaid stay (ie., an LTO). Most of the Hyatts I go to take a 1 night deposit for the stay.

Oh, and Hyatt is not known for their outstanding website. We're just happy it works

SethLevy

Are we really sure FFN starts on 9/1 and that you can use any credit card? The 2 CS agents I spoke with indicated that there were no plans that they knew of for FFN to start on 9/1, and given that it was past 8/15/08 and 9/1 is a holiday, they would have announced it by now.

I hope the information the OP and others have is accurate.

mmgm

Guaranteed accurate, including the credit card info.

sscott77

I called and confirmed yesterday, earn b/w 9-1 and 12/30, spend 9/15 to 2/28.

Does anyone have any idea what the Starwood promotion is going to be to compete with this? Another poster indicated it was going to be very competitive with FFN. I can't get anything out of Platinum concierge other than innuendo.

Beckles

I don't recall any single promotion offered by any hotel chain that has ever been anywhere near comparable to FFN, but that's just my opinion. I'd be surprised if Starwood can come close to this, it would have to be along the lines of 10,000 point bonus for every two stays, and I just don't see that happening.

ngalliance

In English, can someone please explain this promotion to me. What is FFN? I am a Diamond member with Hyatt. Should I be trying to stay with Hyatt more during this promo time?

SASfan

FFN is a promotion that we all wait for Hyatt to offer every year where you normally have 2-3 months to stay in most Hyatt properties in order to earn a faster free night (FFN). Two stays gets you a free night.

Strategy is to stay in relatively cheap(er) Hyatts and earn the FFN certs to burn in exoctic locales like Tokyo, Kauai, Sydney, Melbourne, Hong Kong, etc.

See the threads in FT...

The Weekly Flyer

Is the 1 Month Diamond Allowance confirmed?

What does a person have to do to invoke this +1 allowance in booking FFNs?

paytonc

No. It is an informal policy and, as such, should not be counted on. However, Diamonds (and even non-Diamonds with good reason -- in my case, a paralyzing snowstorm standing between me and my award stay) have in the past had telephone customer service book FFN stays after FFN had officially ended.

@SScott77: Starwood's fourth-quarter promo will be announced on 15 September.

@srodr: see my post above, #23, with regard to booking award stays before FFN starts. Book with points now, call later.

trueblu

Hi,

I'm a relative hyatt newbie (only a few stays). However, I was planning on going on a trip in mid September. So far, have booked 2 nights at one hotel (i.e. 1 stay). However, if I were to change that to one night at the currently booked hotel, and the subsequent night at a nearby hyatt, would that count as two separate stays AND thus qualify for a free night certificate? Are all internet rates eligible (including, e.g. the non-refundable 'best' rates)?

Secondly, how easy are the certificates to redeem? In October, wouldn't mind redeeming the certificate for hyatt Newport, RI. Since I don't have many hyatt points (insufficient to book a night), is there any way of making sure (or even determining now) whether there would be availability by the time I would get my certificate? I don't mind reserving a room with my CC (refundable rate) if that makes a difference.

Any advice and help appreciated.

tb

peteropny

trueblu - yes switching properties the second ight would earn you the FFN (also known as Hotel Hopping here on Flyertalk). The non-refundable hyatt.com definitely qualifies.

FFNs are relatively easy to redeem except for the most expensive properties around (eg Park Tokyo, Park Paris Vendome etc). October I would guess is not peak time for Newport RI, so I would think it you should be ok. There is no way to pre-book this (unless you have enough points to "hold" the award - works for Diamonds usually). Reserving a revenue room will not help since its different inventory.

srodr

Who are you guys calling? I called the plat line last night and the girl knew nothing about it?

MattTaiwan

FFN = Fast Free Night