Is It Unethical to Exploit the American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) Rate and Benefits at Hotels?

The American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts Benefit is one of my favourte aspects of The Platinum Card. When booking an eligible FHR rate, card members will get to enjoy a range of exclusive benefits (e.g. complimentary breakfast, guaranteed 4:00 PM late check-out and dining credits) across all participating FHR properties around the world. Since the unique amenity (e.g. USD 100 property credit) is awarded only once per stay, the value of this benefit is at its highest on one-night (or at least very short) stays. While this is a publicised benefit for all eligible Centurion and Platinum Members, is it unethical to do one-night stays at hotels with a low flexible rate?

Click HERE to check out the full list of FHR benefits for all American Express Platinum members!

Photo Credit: Cordis, Auckland

I was fairly unimpressed with The Langham, Auckland when I stayed back in 2016 - the rooms were old and dated, the location of the property was not great and the service was mediocre at best. After a series of renovations, The Langham, Auckland has been re-branded into Cordis, Auckland by Langham Hospitality Group and it is now a member of the American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts Program. If you are not familiar with the FHR program, these are the benefits that you will get at the Cordis, Auckland when you stay on a FHR booking:

• USD 100 Property Credit (once per stay)

• Daily Buffet Breakfast for Two

• 4:00 PM Late Check-out

• Room Upgrade (subject to availability)

• Noon Check-in (subject to availability)

Photo Credit: Cordis, Auckland

Every hotel under the American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts Program may offer a different unique amenity. In the case of the Cordis, Auckland, it is a USD 100 property credit which can be utilised during the stay. As mentioned earlier, this amenity is only offered once per stay so you get USD 100 property credit regardless of whether you are staying here for one night or ten nights. Generally speaking, the FHR Rate is typically the same as the Best Available Rate or the Best Flexible Rate - these rates typically allow you to cancel your reservation up to 48 hours prior to the stay.

Photo Credit: Cordis, Auckland

When I looked at a random weekend for the Cordis, Auckland, the Flexible Rate (room-only) was going for NZD 269 Nett and the Bed and Breakfast Rate was going for NZD 329 Nett. The FHR Rate for the Cordis, Auckland on the very same weekend was NZD 269 Nett, but it comes with buffet breakfast inclusive for two staying guests - it is therefore very worthwhile to book the FHR Rate if you require flexibility and breakfast since it works out cheaper (saving you NZD 60 Nett per night!). Now, you might remember that Platinum Members will get to enjoy a USD 100 (approximately NZD 150 Nett based on today's exchange rate) Property Credit during their stay and this brings the total room (with breakfast!) cost to just NZD 119 Nett. Now if you were to adjust this further with the cost of breakfast (NZD 60 Nett), the room (with a guaranteed late checkout of 4:00 PM) costs only NZD 59 Nett which is ridiculous! Obviously the property will not be able to sustain this if everyone was staying just one night as a Platinum Member. In cities where the room rates are comparatively lower (e.g. Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia), a USD 100 spa credit or a complimentary lunch/dinner for two is typically offered in place of a property credit.

What are your thoughts on booking these rates and do you think that Platinum Members should exercise caution when booking these rates if they think that a property may "make a loss" from their actions? While it is certainly difficult to pass up on a "good deal", where should we draw the line when it comes to this?