New Option for Plat Credit Card - Free Hotel night

[serfty]

... is actually more about trial and error rather than actual figures.

That's what Actuary's are for ...

"The underwriter's bookmaker ..."

 

[Mal]

Received a bit more info from Amex today about this:

Night is for 2 people at a range of Sebel/Citigate/Hilton/Peppers hotels.
Must be booked 2 weeks in advance of stay.
Blackout periods apply.
No cancellations or changes within 7 days of stay.
Can book for other people (who are over 18).
Charges apply for changes to the booking.

Full list of hotels is supposed to be on www.americanexpress.com.au/platinumcreditcard - but obviously the web content folks havn't been told that yet

 

[cssaus]

Well, I thought I'd put the "Free Hotel Night" offer to the test.

Rang AMEX to request Sunday nite, December 7 at the Sydney Hilton. The response came back to say that there wasn't any availability despite the fact that I had gone onto the Hilton web site and could have booked any number of standard rooms at various rates.

At least with the free flight offer you could quite often have the option of getting the flight on the day you want to fly albeit not necessarily at the time you might want to fly.

This has definitely convinced me not renew my AMEX platinum credit card next month when it's due next month. I'm actually going to get a business accelerator card for $160 pa which gives me 2 points for $1 spent (capped to $100,000 pa). As for travel insurance I can get a 12 months policy which added to the cost of the business accelerator card works out to be only a few dollars more and I've get half a point more for each dollar I spend.

Thanks for nothing AMEX:evil:

 

[gibspmuh]

. I'm actually going to get a business accelerator card for $160 pa which gives me 2 points for $1 spent (capped to $100,000 pa). As for travel insurance I can get a 12 months policy which added to the cost of the business accelerator card works out to be only a few dollars more and I've get half a point more for each dollar I spend.

Just keep in mind that the Business Accelerator card only has the option of earning points in Choices, rather than Ascent. So if you're a user of Travelkey then it's a good option, but if you're wanting to transfer points to a FF program then it's not going to be much use.

 

[Mal]

The list of hotels is now available online:

http://www.americanexpress.com/australia/pdfs/hotels_platinum_credit.pdf

Currently:

Hotels Included in the American Express® Platinum Credit Card
Free Hotel Night Stay Offer*

New South Wales
Hilton Sydney
Citigate Central Sydney
Citigate Sebel Sydney (Surry Hills)
The Sebel Residence Chatswood
The Sebel Parramatta
The Sebel Manly Beach
Kingscliff Peppers Balè Salt
Port Stephens Peppers Anchorage
Byron Hinterland Peppers Casuarina Lodge
Hunter Valley Peppers Guesthouse
Bowral Craigieburn Peppers Resort
The Sebel Kirkton Park Hunter Valley
The Sebel Resort & Spa Hawkesbury Valley
The Sebel Aqualuna Beach Resort Coffs Harbour

Victoria
Hilton Melbourne International Airport
Hilton On The Park Melbourne
Citigate Melbourne
The Como Melbourne
The Sebel Melbourne
Mornington Peninsula Peppers Moonah Links
The Sebel Albert Park Melbourne
Citigate Albert Park Melbourne
The Sebel Heritage Yarra Valley
Hepburn Spring, Peppers Springs Retreat & Spa

Queensland
Gold Coast Q1 Resort & Spa
Hilton Brisbane
Citigate King George Square Brisbane
The Sebel Suites Brisbane
The Sebel Suites King George Square Brisbane
The Sebel Resort Noosa
The Sebel Maroochydore
Hilton Cairns
Cairns International Hotel
The Sebel Harbour Lights Cairns
The Sebel Reef House & Spa Palm Cove
Palm Cove Peppers Beach Club & Spa
Hervey Bay Peppers Pier Resort

South Australia
Hilton Adelaide
The Sebel Playford Adelaide

Western Australia
Parmelia Hilton Perth
The Sebel Residence East Perth
Citigate Perth

Tasmania
Launceston Peppers Seaport Hotel
The Sebel Launceston

*Hotel Night Stay is subject to availability and blackout dates may apply. Hotel Night Stay is based on
a standard room with two people sharing and must be booked two weeks in advance of stay. List of
eligible properties is correct as at August 2008 and subject to change.

Of course you also need to refer to the rules of redemption, which are listed in the revised T&C's : http://www.americanexpress.com/australia/pdfs/platinum_credit_terms_condition.pdf

Currently:

American Express Hotel Night Stay Conditions.
This offer can not be used in conjunction with the Qantas Economy
domestic return flight.
1. The Hotel Night Stay is available to American Express Platinum
Credit Card members.
2. These Conditions set out the terms on which American Express
Platinum Credit Card members become eligible for the Hotel
Night Stay in each year of Card membership. By keeping or
using your American Express Platinum Credit Card, you are
agreeing to these Conditions.
3. In these Conditions:
• American Express means American Express Australia Limited.
• Hotel or Hotels means selected properties at one of the
following Hotels – Hilton, Peppers, The Sebel and Citigate.
A full list of the participating hotels can be found on:
americanexpress.com.au/platinumcreditcard
or by calling 1800 059 388.
• Hotel Night Stay means one night's stay in a standard hotel
room provided on these conditions based on 2 people sharing.
• You and Your mean the Basic American Express Platinum
Credit Card member.
4. Subject to all applicable laws, American Express reserves the
right to change these Conditions or the offer of a Hotel Night
Stay from time to time without notice, including but not
limited to the right to charge fees for a Hotel Night Stay or
to stop offering a Hotel Night Stay. American Express will
inform you of any changes to these Conditions on
americanexpress.com.au/platinumcreditcard
5. You are entitled to one night stay in each full year of Platinum
Credit Card membership. A year is 365 consecutive days,
starting on the date your Platinum Credit Card is issued or any
anniversary of that date. Your Hotel Night Stay must be booked
before the end of each year. The Hotel Night Stay cannot be
carried forward to any subsequent year.
6. The Hotel Night Stay must be booked two weeks prior to your stay.
No changes or cancellations are permitted within 7 days of your stay.
7. You may book your Hotel Night Stay in the name of another individual,
but not for unaccompanied minor/s under the age of 18 years.
8. To qualify for the Hotel Night Stay, you must have paid the
Minimum Amount on your first and most recent Platinum
Credit Card statements by the due date and have maintained
your account with American Express in good standing. The
minimum amount is calculated as set out in the Financial Table.
9. All Hotels are subject to availability and neither American Express
nor the Hotel guarantee that rooms will be available on the
dates or at the times you may wish to stay. Availability may be
limited to certain dates and it may be more difficult to book
accommodation around public holidays, school holidays or
special events as determined by the hotels. Some nights may
also be subject to other restrictions. The Hotels included in
the offer are subject to change without notice.
10. All accommodation is subject to the individual Hotel conditions.
For conditions not pertaining to reservations, changes and
cancellation, please view the Hotel website.
11. Bookings for the Hotel Night Stay may not be transferred,
endorsed, refunded or exchanged for cash, credits on an
American Express Platinum Credit Card, any other credits
or vouchers.
12. The Hotel Night Stay under these Conditions may not be
combined or taken with any other promotion, discount,
negotiated or corporate rate.
13. You agree to follow booking procedures for the Hotel Night
Stay as advised by American Express from time to time.
To redeem the Hotel Night Stay American Express can be
contacted on 1800 059 388 between 0900–1800 EST
Monday to Friday. Once your eligibility has been confirmed,
American Express Membership Travel Services will process your
booking. Please note that these times are subject to change.
14. If you wish to change the date and/or location of a booked
Hotel, changes are at the Hotel’s discretion, and at the time
of making the change the Card member must pay:
i. The standard American Express Vacations change and
rebooking fee (currently AUD33 including GST per person);
ii. The difference between the booked Hotel value and the
value for the new booking, plus applicable GST and new
or increased, fees and taxes payable;
iii. Any other applicable surcharges, fees and taxes plus
applicable GST as charged by Membership Travel Services,
or the Hotel. Currently the reissue fee is AUD27 including
GST per booking.
15. Only the Hotel Night Stay is covered by American Express. The
Hotel Night Stay does not cover additional extras including but
not limited to: upgrades, dinner, breakfast or minibar expenses.
16. American Express does not own or operate any Hotels.
American Express is not liable for service deficiencies on the
part of Hotels or other service providers, including but not
limited to: accidents, injuries, infections and illnesses, loss,
theft or damage to possessions.
17. You authorise American Express to provide your personal
information to the Hotel whenever you wish to book a room
under these Conditions.
18. American Express reserves the right to refuse the Hotel Night
Stay where there is reasonable suspicion of attempted or
actual fraud or misuse. If you obtain a Hotel Night Stay to
which you are not entitled, you agree to pay us the normal
rate for that Hotel plus all applicable taxes.
19. These Conditions are governed by the laws of New South Wales.

 

[gibspmuh]

Well they certainly managed to include a comprehensive array of terms and conditions with the free hotel night at least.

 

[straitman]

Well they certainly managed to include a comprehensive array of terms and conditions with the free hotel night at least.

Though I do know of another thread where they would get hammered to death :!:

 

[Mal]

Well they certainly managed to include a comprehensive array of terms and conditions with the free hotel night at least.

There's a reason I copied them from the PDF's

 

[waltervp]

I thought Luisa said 18% but in any case it's still a very low percentage. I'm sure the idea of a free night would work well for some.

Personally I'll still use the flight.

Yes, I can imagine. People need to remember themselves to use it, there are no prompts or references to it to remind people. For me the flights are inconvenient as the routes are very limited; I live in Devonport Tasmania so I need to tag it on to another trip... But what I have done these past two years I have given it away to my mother in Canberra! She thought it terrific to get a freebie to Brisbane last night to visit friends, and this year a flight to Sydney to go on a cruise with me (she'd happily catch the bus but loves the luxury of flying at 76 yrs of age!).

Now I need to keep searching for an alternative card offer to replace my Plat.Amex as they are stopping the QF points transfer!

Walt----