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I have booked a Fine Hotel with my Amex Platinum with a 4pm checkout and $100 hotel credit for the first time. I assume the hotel will be aware of the booking when I check in and that I will not have to remind them of the benefits? How does the $100 credit work, do I just spend and will it be deducted on checkout? Do I have to use the Platinum card to settle my account on departure?
I assume the hotel will be aware of the booking when I check in and that I will not have to remind them of the benefits?
Fair assumption, but if there’s anything critically important it doesn’t hurt to email ahead of check in. I hate negotiating/reminding at check in.
How does the $100 credit work, do I just spend and will it be deducted on checkout?
That’s been my experience.
Do I have to use the Platinum card to settle my account on departure?
Yes, but you might get lucky if you offer a different card to settle the checkout bill. I’ve not chanced it for the sake of 3% FX fee, would be embarrassing to be corrected. I’ve used a different card for “extras” charged to the room.
Some hotels have restrictions on what you can spend $100 on, for example no mini bar spend or certain third-party restaurants or outlets might be excluded.
I stayed at the WA in Dubai (DIFC) and the welcome letter explicitly said you had to settle with an AMEX card.
Typically in my experience anyway, you get a letter at check in (or already in the room) that details the benefits. because there’s a whole bunch of quasi-hidden deals like this at hotels.
The use of the credit can vary by hotel. We have one FHR booking coming up and the hotel have confirmed it can only be used in the main restaurant, food only, no alcohol, and must be spent in one go. Odd, but it is what it is.
We stayed at The Fairmont Empress in Victoria three weeks ago on an FHR rate and were advised on check in that the $100 credit could only be used on food, drink and spa services. There may have been additional services included in that (can’t exactly remember), but I specifically remember the front desk agent saying it couldn’t be used to cover car parking or laundry fees.
It was also made clear at check in that the pre authorisation needed to be put through on my Amex Plat. On checkout, I was advised that the bill needed to be paid on either the Amex Plat or another Amex – they were very clear and checked the card both times. The front desk agent even commented that he regularly has to tell guests trying to pay on other card types that they are required by the terms of the programme to pay on Amex. The hotel were very clued up on the whole scheme, I assume because they also have high numbers of American Amex cardholder guests on holiday there who book via FHR.
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