You Can Now Use AMEX Membership Rewards Points to Book Fine Hotels & Resorts Stays

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If you’ve got any version of an AMEX Platinum card you’ll have access to the American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts program (FHR).  When you make a booking through FHR you’ll get a variety of perks like early check-in, late check-out, upgrades, and dining credits.  The specific benefits vary by hotel, but it’s similar to what you would get if you have elite status. (Enrollment required).

As of late last year both The Business Platinum Card® from American Express and The Platinum Card® from American Express earn 5X AMEX Membership Rewards points on prepaid FHR bookings made with American Express Travel.  And now you can use AMEX’s Pay with Points feature to book FHR hotel stays.  Pay with Points allows you to pay for travel booked through the AMEX travel site at a rate of 1 cent per AMEX point.

It’s nice to have this option, but this isn’t likely to be a great deal very often.

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Use AMEX Membership Rewards Points for FHR Stays

In most cases, using Pay with Points is going to get you less travel than other options, like transferring your AMEX Membership Rewards points to travel partners.  But some FHR locations offer a 3rd or 4th night free when you book through AMEX.  And if you can find a cheap nightly rate you might end up using fewer points than other options.

In general, AMEX Membership Rewards points aren’t the best for booking free hotels nights.  So having an extra option is nice.  Plus with FHR hotels you’ll get these perks:

• 12:00 pm check-in, when available
• Guaranteed 4:00 pm late checkout
• Room upgrades when available
• Free daily breakfast for 2
• Free in-room Wi-Fi when available
• A benefit unique to your hotel, like a $100 dining credit, free meal, or spa service (Enrollment required).
• 3rd or 4th night free at certain hotels

Right now the ability to use Pay with Points is just being rolled out and isn’t available for every FHR hotel just yet.  Also, FHR bookings normally earn hotel points as well.  But I’m not sure if that will be the case if you book using Pay with Points.  If you have made an FHR booking using Pay with Points, let me know your experience.

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Hat tip:  The Points Guy