When is a free night certificate not a free night certificate?

[jwalk03]

The fee is charged for the upcoming year. It is not in arrears. Typically if you cancel within 30 days of it being charged you get a full refund. Then prorated by month after that.

 

[Superchief]

I've had this one. It wants to use the cert that expires first even if that one isn't ideal. If you make a dummy reservation for the 85k one it will allow you to use the 35k one and then you can cancel the 85k one. You can call and have them do it but the call took so long, I think they had to do a dummy reservation too and then use the lower point one. The system will always default to use the eligible cert that expires first.

Thanks. I made a reservation for NY eve using the 85 k certificate and then was able to select the 35 k option on my next reservation.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I don't think I will ever cancel the Bonvoy Brilliant, as long as I can get the night for the dollar value of at least $350. Except for one month, when we didn't go out to eat at all, I have received the dining credit. I use it for all restaurants, even fast food when I get McD's for the grandkids.

I get 6X points on my Marriott MF's, which now includes Sheratons/ Westins, and I get another bonus night, when I spend $60K on the card. Rick may get the card as well, as long as he can get the bonus points. He has the old Starwood card, which gives us one hotel night every year, which more than pays for the fee.

My problem is that I called Amex to ask what my spend from my anniversary date to today is, so I know how close I am to the $60K, and I got transferred to Marriott, and they couldn't answer my question. American Expres customer service doesn't impress me after that call.

 

[BigDawgTUG]

My problem is that I called Amex to ask what my spend from my anniversary date to today is, so I know how close I am to the $60K, and I got transferred to Marriott, and they couldn't answer my question. American Expres customer service doesn't impress me after that call.

When you are logged into your AmX account, click on "Statements & Activity." You should then see the following, and click on "View Spending Report," at which time you can add a custom date range (you'll need, of course, your anniversary date):

NEW!NEW!​

Interact with charts made just for you that help you track spending by businesses, tags, months, and more.View Your Spending Report

 

[JIMinNC]

I'm pretty sure that you are paying for the next 12 months - that's why they give you a pro-rated refund for the length of time you didn't use the Brilliant card. Though I don't remember if they gave me $650 / (number of days left / 365) or $650-$95 / (number of days left / 365). And I had already used my FNC so I can't advise you on that.

I’m still confused. Not sure what I’m missing.

My last fee charge was December 2022 for $450 - the old fee. So if that fee is for the following 12 months, why would they prorate $650? I won’t be charged $650 for the first time until December 2023.

In a nutshell my questions are these:

1) Since my wife already has the standard Marriott BonVoy Chase Visa, our first choice would probably be to just cancel the Amex Brilliant. If we did so this month, what happens? Is the $450 fee refunded on a prorated basis or is it lost? What happens to the 85k certificate in our account? We paid the $450 last December, so the first $650 charge won’t be assessed until December 2023.

2) if instead of canceling totally, we just downgraded to the $95 Amex, how does that change the answer to #1?

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I’m still confused. Not sure what I’m missing.

My last fee charge was December 2022 for $450 - the old fee. So if that fee is for the following 12 months, why would they prorate $650? I won’t be charged $650 for the first time until December 2023.

In a nutshell my questions are these:

1) Since my wife already has the standard Marriott BonVoy Chase Visa, our first choice would probably be to just cancel the Amex Brilliant. If we did so this month, what happens? Is the $450 fee refunded on a prorated basis or is it lost? What happens to the 85k certificate in our account? We paid the $450 last December, so the first $650 charge won’t be assessed until December 2023.

2) if instead of canceling totally, we just downgraded to the $95 Amex, how does that change the answer to #1?

If you cancel you are out the annual fee. You benefitted from the 85k for $450. They will not claw that back once posted because it was earned for prior year.

If you downgrade you will be prorated $450 from Dec 22 anniversary up to current and the refunded the net difference for $95 fee to anniversary

Since it is already July and I recall you have Dec anniversary (< 5 mos to next cert) if it were me, I would take it to anniversary, pay $650, Then wait 2 mos to get another 85k cert. Once cert received, then downgrade immediately to $95 card to recoup 10 months of $650 minus $95 AF. You've almost earned the next 85k cert for $450 (plus 2 mos of $650 until next 85k cert arrives) so IMO worth it.

Once you downgrade, you can then decide when to drop the $95 card when the 35k cert is not worth the AF.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I can now confirm that we received a $540 credit on the $650 AF after downgrading upon receiving the 85k anniversary cert 2 months after AF payment. We also were able to receive $50 in meal credits so $590 prorated net refund.

If you include the prior year of net $150 ($450 - $300 meal credits) + Net $60 ($650 - $590 refund) = Net $210 for an 85k cert. Not bad!

FWIW I wasn't expecting to get an 85k cert as we were on the 50k plan, so this made exiting even sweeter. We replaced the Brilliant card with the $450 Aspire with an uncapped cert. Not only did it provide 150k Honors points but it gave a free night cert upon signup. We are 2 player so we get 2 free Hilton nights in a Waldorf or Conrad every year. Plus we get $250 airfare credit which we use on Southwest. Hopefully this doesn't get devalued in the near future.

 

[JIMinNC]

If you cancel you are out the annual fee. You benefitted from the 85k for $450. They will not claw that back once posted because it was earned for prior year.

If you downgrade you will be prorated $450 from Dec 22 anniversary up to current and the refunded the net difference for $95 fee to anniversary

Since it is already July and I recall you have Dec anniversary (< 5 mos to next cert) if it were me, I would take it to anniversary, pay $650, Then wait 2 mos to get another 85k cert. Once cert received, then downgrade immediately to $95 card to recoup 10 months of $650 minus $95 AF. You've almost earned the next 85k cert for $450 (plus 2 mos of $650 until next 85k cert arrives) so IMO worth it.

Once you downgrade, you can then decide when to drop the $95 card when the 35k cert is not worth the AF.

Thanks. That makes it clear. I now understand.