Two years after it was announced that Accor would be buying Fairmont, we have details on the demise of the Fairmont Presidents Club program. If you want to familiarize yourself with Accor, three years ago I uploaded the chain’s secret loyalty manual.
Fairmont Royal York Toronto
Fairmont Elite Status Becomes Accor Status
Fairmont elite status will be matched to Accor status as follows:
However they also have a more complicated chart for folks who have status with both Accor and Fairmont:
Be sure that your name and address match on both of your accounts, they do not have a ‘linking’ process in place but appear to just be doing data matching of lists on their own.
Back in April I was assured that Lifetime Fairmont Platinum status earned from a mistake will be honored.
Earning in the Accor Program
Fairmont Presidents Club e-certificates awarded March 1 will expire February 28, 2019.
Transitioning to the Le Club Accorhotels program will mean earning points based on spending at Fairmont hotels as well as across the Accor portfolio of hotels.
Accor earning is generally weak. Each Accor point is generally worth 2.35 cents.
- Classic members earn 25 points per €10 (roughly 4.7% rebate)
- Silver members earn 31 points per €10 (roughly 6.1% rebate)
- Gold members earn 37 points per €10 (roughly 7.52% rebate)
- Platinum members earn 44 points per €10 (roughly 8.7% rebate)
In contrast, other major programs offer at least a 6% rebate for general members and up to a 12% rebate for top tier elites for their spend.
Elite Benefits Under the Accor Program
Even for top tier Platinums late checkout is subject to availability and upgrades are to next room category if available. Club lounge access is a benefit at the Platinum level.
Fairmont’s guaranteed late check-out or suite upgrade certificates go away. The loss of confirmed suites stings a great deal.
While elite Fairmont President’s Club members receive annual e-certificates to use for room and suite upgrades, Gold and Platinum members of Le Club AccorHotels receive an automatic upgrade to the next best room or room category available, with every single stay – subject only to availability at the time of check-in. No e-certificates required!
Here’s the Q&A on program changes.
wonder if they’ll continue to back the highest status Fairmont lifetime memberships they made available at bargain prices a few years back?
What happens to lifetime Platinum? Should I ask for a refund?
@Gene @Tim O’Brien – as I mention I assume it is being honored just not published since it affects only about 100 people.
@Gary — Sorry, I tend to skim…so, I get a lifetime of crappy benefits! Kinda reminds me of my AA and DL MM statuses. The only useful lifetime status I have is UA MM, since they allow you to share with your spouse.
Why do the European programs take a punchcard approach to loyalty? Are there cultural factors at play?
Gary, who did confirm, that Fairmont Lifetime Platinums will have Accor Platinums for lifetime? I contacted Fairmont Guest Services today and they told me status will stay only until December 2019…I need to convince them otherwise.
Best,
Mk
@Mk you do not need to convince them of anything, you just need to wait and see that your status doesn’t disappear, call centers do not know anything about this. and the person who told me was accor’s sr vp of loyalty..
What about the loss of Fairmont Platinum free night when you requalify. What about the loss of the $100 lunch or dinner credit when you requalify. I think those will be missed.
Frankly, looking at Accor Platinum, the benefits look pretty weak to me. I will be cancelling my upcoming Fairmont stays. No sense in trying to qualify for Platinum now.
What about the two $25 Willow Stream / Dining Certs I just received for this years benefits?
This is total crap. I’ve been a loyal FPC member for years and we are getting the shaft with this merger. This Accor program doesn’t hold nearly the value that the FPC does and they don’t seem to care at all. They’ll be losing my loyalty.