The terms and conditions of booking Fine Hotels have changed. Fine Hotels & Resorts can't be booked in the name of the same guest or someone else in the same party. The bad news is that there is now an official policy to deny benefits on the second night of back to back reservations.
The language on the offer terms has been changed.
Back-to-back stays booked by a single Card Member, Card Members staying in the same room or Card Members traveling in the same party within a 24-hour period at the same property are considered one stay and are ineligible for additional FHR benefits (“Prohibited Action”). American Express and the Property reserve the right to modify or revoke FHR benefits at any time without notice if we or they determine, in our or their sole discretion, that you may have engaged in a Prohibited Action, or have engaged in abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with your FHR benefits.
A number of times my wife and I have booked back-to-back nights at Fine Hotels & Resorts when we both had Platinum cards. My wife would book a night in my name and I would book a night in hers. Explaining at the front desk that you would like to keep the same room was often enough to not have to move and we have never had an issue with getting full Fine Hotels & Resorts benefits.
The new benefit terms make it clear that Amex doesn't support that practice. I am sure that there are instances where you could still play this and get the benefits for both nights, but Amex is not pleased with that behavior and is giving properties carte blanche to deny benefits.
Even though this is disappointing, it is not shocking news. If you only want to use the consumer Platinum card to make back-to-back reservations, and you don't expect a $100 local amenity on the second reservation, you should be fine. If you don't try to get the $100 local amenity a second time, your back-to-back stays should be okay.
Danny the deal guru is mentioned.
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