I´d almost be 100% positive you could use the two free nights at the Fairmont Empress. Based on the info I´ve received you´ll be able to redeem points for ovation certs (of which there are four main categories; A-D), and I´d assume the two free nights for signing up would also be Ovation certs (though possibly slightly more restrictive, e.g. Ovation cert C category).

The Empress currently is in the lowest Ovation cert category (A), so I´d be very surprised if you couldn´t easily redeem the free nights there.

Thanks !
Parents spent their honeymoon there in 1950,
this could support a repeat event !

Now I have to do my homework on Ovation Certs ...@:-),
particularly if there is some way to "support" an upgrade.

Yes, you can upgrade stays booked using Ovation certs by appliying room or suite upgrade certs. (see the master FAQ in the Fairmont forum for details)

However, upgrade certs are non-transferable except to immediate family (incl. parents) if you´re a Platinum member.

There are also Ovation certs which book into higher room categories or even suites, but I have no idea whether those would be part of the CC deal. (I´d guess not, but you never know)

Btw, rates at the Empress can be very affordable (at least for Fairmont standards), you just need to follow the various promos, sign up for the monthly Great Rates Great Dates newsletter etc. I´ve seen rates for standard room as low as $99/night during off-season and quite often you can find a rate in the $150-$200 range.

Hey Jasper,

Do you know which catergory the Fairmont Masai Mara is? I tried a google search and couldn't seem to find anything about it. thanks

http://www.fairmont.com/marasafariclub

Edit: did a search for ovation certs and it came up. Looks like catergory B, so that's good news since the hotel runs at least $600/night for two people.

http://www.frhi.com/corporateincenti...ds/collections

I wonder if Chase will figure out a way to add Fairmont as a UR transfer partner. If they don't create a points program, it would have to be X points = 1 cert., which is different than their other partners.

It is indeed a category B property, however I´m not 100% sure how the ovation certs would work at the Masai Mara Safari Club.

The Masai Mara typically has two kind of rates:

1) overnight accommodation only (usually in the $100-$300 range, park entrance fees not included)
2) rates which include overnight accommodation, three meals and two daily game drives (and possibly some other stuff) which tend to be in the $600-$1000 range

I´m no expert on the Ultimate Rewards program, but unless something has changed you can already redeem UR points for Fairmont Ovation certs. At least when they ran the 100k points sign-up bonus that was one of the better redemption options (along with Fairmont and Hyatt GCs).

The same is true for many countries´ AMEX MR program and many mileage program, however it´s rarely a good deal with those programs IMO.

You can always use Chase's travel booking engine to book flights and hotels and pay with points - and you can presently buy Fairmont gift cards in a similar manner as well. I haven't seen anything about buying ovation certs (though I'm not saying it isn't there somewhere).

My real question is if they would find a way to incorporate it more succinctly - in the way Chase currently allows 1:1 points transfer to a number of partners (united, hyatt, etc). All of their credit card partners (to my knowledge) allow this transfer. Korean air is the only transfer partner that they allow direct transfer to who they are not the affinity card provider for.

I'm not familiar with Fairmont at all - but since they don't have a "points" program per se in the way that other airline and hotel programs do, I am curious if they would find a way to streamline this into UR as a "transfer" partner of sorts.

Are you sure you don't mean CapitalOne Rewards? They briefly offered Ovation certificates as well as Fairmont and Hyatt GCs.

I'm not that familiar with UR either, but this sounds a lot like CapitalOne shortly after last year's 100k bonus.

You´re right CapitalOne no longer offers ovation certs. For some reason I had Chase Ultimate Rewards listed as offering both ovation certs and GCs in my spreadsheet, but I can´t seem to find it anywhere on the website, so maybe indeed I´m wrong and mixed up the two.

Now that would be nice!

David
Flyalog

Link in first post is now active again!

If all else fails, www.fairmontcard.com will work just fine.

Data Point
 

Just applied for my wife, who has been self employed for the last three years, She has another Chase card (Disney visa) with a good history.

Instant approval - looking forward to a couple of free nights in Hawaii this winter!

Thanks for the lead!

Are you using it at the Maui or big island fairmont? Thinking of applying and using at the maui property. Looks more expensive...