Amex Reserve Free Flight

[k3nnis]

Hi,

If I use a free night that comes with the reserve card, i.e. Hilton Sydney, and I am HH Gold, am I entitled to the Hilton Honors GOLD benefits?

Cheers,
K.

 

[serfty]

Assuming it's treated as a third party booking then I doubt it ... although an untrained agent may provide them.

Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[k3nnis]

Ok thanks.

 

[k3nnis]

Hi,

Has anyone booked the reserve free flight and also have a child under 2 accompanying yourself? Is there a charge for the infant?

 

[k3nnis]

Hi All,

Am I right in saying I need to pay $25 per checked bag for SYD-ZQN on a Saver fare? i.e. the one that AMEX booked into and also a normal saver fare booked on VA website?

Thanks,
K.

 

[serfty]

Not on the AMEX free flight. You get 23kg.

You will need a copy of your AMEX supplied e-ticket with you each time you check in as without intervention the agent's computer "says no".

Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks serfty. Can we book our free flight for another party or does the ticket need to be under my name (primary card holder) ?

 

[Cynicor]

Another party is fine. Not sure of the exact rules, but my partner is fine (different name completely), so anyone could be 'your partner' if required

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks for the info

 

[Mal]

Another party is fine. Not sure of the exact rules, but my partner is fine (different name completely), so anyone could be 'your partner' if required

It can be booked for anyone, just not for reward/resold etc. A couple of years ago I used it for a friend as I was out of the country, certainly it is allowed.

 

[thehound]

Hi,

If I use a free night that comes with the reserve card, i.e. Hilton Sydney, and I am HH Gold, am I entitled to the Hilton Honors GOLD benefits?

Contrary to the other reply to your question, I think that you will actually get the HHonors Gold treatment. The last time I looked it didn't matter whetehr you paid for it or not. Last night I stayed at the Adelaide Hilton by a booking made for me by an external company on my behalf, and I was upgraded to the Executive Floor and given breakfast/internet for free.

 

[serfty]

Contrary to the other reply to your question, I think that you will actually get the HHonors Gold treatment. ...

What I posted was not opinion, it's gleaned from the HHonors T&C's.

However as I inferred, sometimes you get more than the T&C's provide. Sometimes by individual hotel policy, sometimes by error.

YMMV - don't count on it in these cases.



Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[coolsteps]

Hi,

Has anyone booked the reserve free flight and also have a child under 2 accompanying yourself? Is there a charge for the infant?

yes i have. since they are both under 2 you need two adult tickets. they only allowed 1 infant booking per adult. thus we simply waited until when my annual fee was due and called up on the day and redeemed both last years and this years free flight and booked 2 x 1 infant booking per adult tickets together to NZ. it was a great family free flight trip . the food is not free. I got it free on the way there as flight stewardess weren't sure but on the way back they made us pay. now just have to wait another 2 years before we travel again lol. however i think both kids aged over 2 will have to pay a percentage of the fare? anyone know how much for kids aged over 2 ?

 

[k3nnis]

Hi,

With the free flight with the reserve card, I actually have the plat charge that comes with the reserve, is the travel insurance activated on the free flights? Also will it activate the insurance on the plat charge or my complimentary reserve card insurance? Technically I did not purchase the flights as it's "free"???

Thanks,
K.

 

[Foreigner]

Not on the AMEX free flight. You get 23kg.

You will need a copy of your AMEX supplied e-ticket with you each time you check in as without intervention the agent's computer "says no".

Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

Good advice but i'd call Virgin to ensure there's no miscommunication between Amex system and theirs. I'd bad experience at airport earlier this year with booking for my parents...the agent insisted baggage wasn't included, despite my showing itinerary (she insisted the itinerary was from Amex, not them.)

 

[kamchatsky]

Hi,

If I use a free night that comes with the reserve card, i.e. Hilton Sydney, and I am HH Gold, am I entitled to the Hilton Honors GOLD benefits?

Cheers,
K.

So the answer is ......



















NO for entitled, but YES for actual benefits received (stayed there last night). I did send email to Hilton Sydney before hand, but they did not guarantee upgrade for me at that time (subject to availability etc).

I have posted the below on Hilton treatment to Gold/Diamond members thread, but repeat here as this is a special case and relevant info:

Status: Hilton Gold
Hotel: Hilton Sydney
Room Booked: Hilton Deluxe Room King
Room Rate Booked: American Express Platinum Reserve Credit Card Free Night (Wholesale rate from AOT Holidays)
Room Received: Hilton Deluxe Room Queen @ Executive Level
Other Benefits Received: Early check-in at 11:30am, Access to Exec Lounge, Free full buffet breakfast at Glass Brasserie, late checkout at 1pm, free internet.

Given that I didn't pay for this room, and it was a free night offer from Amex, I wasn't sure whether I get any benefits. But to their credit, they did upgrade me to Exec level with access to the lounge as well as free buffet breakfast. I was very impressed. Having said that I think the canapes can be improved (I like Hilton Adelaide canapes) even though there is some variety on food and drink. We stayed there on Sat night and the lounge is packed during canapes hours.

Very impressed with Glass Brasserie for both dinner and breakfast, great service, fantastic atmosphere and top food.

The only thing is that the room is small, but I am not too fussed about it due to all the upgrades I got.

 

[k3nnis]

Thx for letting us know.

 

[greenfrog86]

Not sure if this has already been mentioned somewhere, but I just rang Amex to find out the expiry date for my free flight with this card...

She also advised me that the destinations had been 'enhanced' so I was naturally sceptical. Was pleased to see an EXPANSION of options however! One can now fly to Perth or Darwin (as well as Mildura...:shock if any of these destinations take your fancy.

Makes the card better value if you can get a $400 flight out of it!

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks for the info. But I always thought the reserve had SYD-PER ???

 

[lobo76]

They don't seem to have updated the map yet...

American Express Australia - Platinum Edge Destination Guide

EDIT: Oh wait, reserve.. not edge...