flightline

I was about to buy the max points with the current 2x deal ($2,500 for 250,000 x 2), but with this going on, I think I'll hold off and see how it plays out.

christianj

I agree that it likely is an IT issue with their system not recognizing the reduced award rates to allow the booking. The CS agent I spoke to said she needed to call the hotel which seemed odd since to me this definitely looks like an IT issue. She said she would get back to me.

Enigma368

I noticed this for Phoenix too. Hotels like a pretty nice looking Crowne Plaza for 12.5k a night. Most properties available for between 10k and 17.5k a night.

If you have Chase credit card, you get 4th night free and 10% points rebate so could get a 4 night stay at a decent property for maybe 34k all in. Pretty close to pointsbreak level deals.

demue

Checked some places where we have bookings in the next 6+ months playing with various dates and none of them seem to have the dynamic pricing yet. Reward prices are still like they used to be - Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Switzerland. YMMV.

jpdx

CH has at least some hotels that show up with variable pricing, e.g., Geneva:



In Asia, I've only seen it in TW (Indigo Taipei as low as 15k, Regent as low as 30k) and Vietnam (IC Danang at 40k, bookable until EOS ... sweeeeet!)

tassojunior

Did you try social media or calling? SM gets me what I want 90% of the time.

tassojunior

It was a glitch on the Clearwater Beach that's normally 35K. When I was arranging 10 days they would price out variously from 20 to 25 K but if I put a 20K as the free night it cost more total. Small tweet that ppl need be aware of.

There are no deals in California, Florida Panhandle or the Maryland beach coast. There are in the rest of FL, NYC, DC, Chicago, and Europe. Be sure to check discount cash prices also. Ex: The Klimpon Surfcomber in South Beach is 25K but cash prices are under $125. My Clearwater Beach is averaging 16K with 4th free and it's lowest cash is $150 so over 2cpp even before 12% tax savings.

Dynamic pricing will eventually work against us but during pandemics when hotels are empty we'll save 40%.

strayersong

Switzerland is in there, for example IC Geneva starting at 30000 points.
Also mainland China, Taiwan, South Korea and a few European countries.

Deez Nutz

Just nabbed Budapest for 25,000. 4th night free worked, so after the 10%+10% back will be 60,000 points for 4 nights.

asdfghjk

None of the Caribbean destinations are on sale .

ninjalad

I just saw that the IC Berlin is at 20 k points in June, I have booked but at a paid rate for a suite which is at normal rates. Sadly the club rooms are no longer bookable until Sept.

newdaybegin

Are you able to book IC Danang with free night? it keep give me an error message when I try to redeem my free night? thanks!

King Chung Huang

Points rewards here in Calgary are also exceptionally low. Most properties are 10000 to 12500 per night.

demue

Thanks, interesting for Switzerland. As mentioned, I only checked a few countries where I have travel planned or need a hotel room at some point - Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Switzerland. In CH, I looked at Davos and Zurich, not Geneva and only a few days across a few months in Aug - Dec 2020 range. YMMV.

Definitely not an exhaustive sampling and likely my chosen days were not discounted. I had a look at Davos in 2021 now and can see some dates at 45k or 47.5k when rates around 450-550 CHF base rate.

Either way, interesting to see what we uncover. The power of FT crowd sourcing will help.

shoven

Interesting I just checked Danang for some dates I have booked later in the year and points is 40k per night, I have booked a suite and so far all that's been applied is an upgrade to the club version which as an RA is not needed and a bit meh to be honest, 40k is tempting but I have read they are not to generous with points booking, but food for thought anyway maybe some room to negotiate as the paid rate has come down a fair bit also....