Lifetime Platinum status for $2,000 and a free night in the SF Fairmont Prez suite

So have people had success calling up Living Social to switch over referrals from an account with more than 3 to an account of less than 3?

Here's hoping that Fairmont doesn't back out. Rumors are swirling coming from Fairmont bigwigs that this was only supposed to have been for 1 year of Plat status...let's hope they honor it for the 112 lucky folks!

If anyone is still looking for one more to complete their group for the $500 savings, let me know. I've already signed up and ready to join...

Where did you hear that fairmont only meant to post it for a year of plat status ?

I spoke with Susanne at Fairmont central reservations in Moncton this evening. She confirmed all of the details listed on the living social website, including the permanent platinum status. I asked her if this was a scam, and she assured me it was purely legitimate and was emailed to all reservationists this morning.

When i asked, she said that she had never seen a lifetime platinum offer like this before...but said it wasn't unthinkable either.

She also said the status worked at raffles and swissotels (ive had such bad experiences at the old plaza in NY and the Toronto property that I've never paid attention to the fairmont program - so this was news to me).

Bookings need to be made through the hotel, who will then activate the platinum status.

What she didn't know was whether the bookings were changeable once made or not. This will need to be asked of the hotel when you pick your night(s).

Finally, she said there is a presidential suite, and that this isn't for the diplomatic suite. The presidential suite, she reports, was completely renovated last year and that the pictures that were shared internally were "absolutely lovely." She said the room is not featured on the hotel's website.

Hopefully there isn't a decrease in our Plat benefits... it'd significantly decrease your valuations.

It is being discussed on Dan's deals. It clearly appears to be a screwup.

In light of this comment, let me revise my earlier comment to say that I hope this mix-up doesn't inadvertently affect our current plat benefits in a negative manner ...

Yes, central reservations and the hotel had the offer details and both confirmed it. But multiple people are reporting in the comments on DansDeals that the deal was prematurely pulled as it was only supposed to have for a year.

Fairmont will have a very hard time arguing that as the deal was very explicit, so we'll see what happens!

Dans deals has conflicting info. Several people on that site say they spoke with the hotel who confirmed the details and one (or maybe two) said the hotel said that the lifetime platinum was a mistake.

I took a screen shot of the living social page on my iPad which clearly states the permanent platinum/lifetime platinum aspect of the deal. Others should do that too. It is still visible.

I called out to property by on-site reservations is closed. I will call back tomorrow to talk further. I will report back.

Even central res confirmed the lifetime status when i called ... And the lady said she was reading an email from the local hotel ... We shall see!

I got an $89.90 per night booking in a club room (actually booked three club rooms for a week) over Christmas week at the ritz in palm beach in '08 ... Rooms that were supposed to be $899.00 per night...and hotel honored it. I am a regular guest at the property, but that was a $15,000 stuff up on their part which they honored.

Fingers crossed.

In the spirit of full disclosure I happen to run DansDeals
Yes, Fairmont PC CS and the hotel sales staff confirmed to me the details of the promo when I contacted them, but they were just reading from the exact same email. From what people are reporting now it seems like the lifetime part may have been a mistake. Notice how the "counter" was stuck on 112 all day and then said sold out many hours later while still on 112. That would indicate that it was prematurly pulled as it was supposed to run through 03/01.

I'm still very hopeful that Fairmont will honor it as there's just 112 of us. I don't think it will be worth the bad publicity that LS and Fairmont will get if they try to weasel out of it...

I hope they honor it and if not I hope they do it VERY soon so we can cancel our purchase in livingsocial! If they honor it, we should have a Fairmont 112 Plat DO Hotel rooms go unsold every night...Before this I would never consider Fairmont hotels...now I certainly will!!

Mistake or not, it will be hard for them to just say "sorry we made a mistake", not only there is legal implications, but they will suffer such a bad press because of this. With only 112 on board, it's probably wiser for them to eat it and make these 112 Fairmont ambassadors.

Of course, I may be biased because I am one of the 112.

I will be interested to see the e-mail tomorrow with the instructions. I guess one of the big questions is if Fairmont never intended to have a lifetime elite program, what infrastructure might be needed to implement such a program for 112 people.

I don't want to be the pessimist but my speculation is that they will offer 1 year of Platinum status and some other good will gesture (perhaps a couple of free nights) for the misunderstanding.

Finally, I think it will also be interesting to see how the hotel handles the fact that there are now 112 free night certs for the presidential suite that must be used in 10 months, unless they have more than 1 presidential suite.

I don't see why they wouldn't honor it. Centurion card members get automatic Platinum free for as long as they have the card, and AMEX Plats get it pretty easily, too. I'm sure there are more than 112 of these floating around. Interesting that they featured a room with no photos on the website, and that livingsocial just used pictures from another suite. Misleading advertising?

Hopefully all will be well. As some have stated, I have never seriously considered staying at Fairmont, but with this deal, I definitely have them down for a few stays a year. And since Platinum doesn't really give you extra points or anything to redeem for free nights (except for the one), basically people have to buy the base rooms anyway. It's a net positive money maker for them, and a PR campaign nightmare if they cancel...

The plot thickens. Do you have a Trade Practices Act in the US like Australia? Pretty easy to argue this in Australia but I have no idea about the legal system in the US.

Lets hope the honour it. Let us know how it goes.

+1

heads up to the lucky 112 :
check your inbox .. your voucher is ready

Now it may get tricky because the voucher made no mention of the plat status.

Not too tricky -- either they honor the offer, voluntarily give a 100% refund, or my credit card will give them an involuntary refund!

FWIW, there is no record on the AMEX website about Centurion's getting any status at all with Fairmont. Called in and the rep confirmed that. The ARE part of the FHR but the confer no status.

Anyone know if the free annual night can be used at the Plaza in NYC? That might seal it!

Yes you can use the free night there, but you cannot use the suite upgrade.

But CA is still closed, voicemail only.

What is everyone planning to do. Proceed to call and make the reservation?