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The Fairmont credit card is back. And now there’s no annual fee, sort of.
You can enjoy 2 free nights at the Fairmont Kea Lani in Maui with the Fairmont credit card
Fairmont Credit Card
You can earn 2 free nights at any Fairmont hotel worldwide without paying an annual fee for the first year after spending $3,000 in purchases in the first three months of opening your account with the Chase Fairmont card.
With this card you also get:
- Free night at any Fairmont hotel (blackout dates apply) after spending $12,000 each card year
- Fairmont President’s Club Premier Elite status (1 room and 1 suite upgrade, $50 dining credit, third night free on a three-night stay)
- Stay credits per calendar year toward Platinum Elite status when you spend $7,500 on the card (maximum of 2 credits)
- 5 Fairmont points for every $1 spent at Fairmont
- 2 Fairmont points for every $1 spent on airfare purchased directly from airlines, car rental agencies, and local transit / commuting
- 1 Fairmont point for every $1 spent on other purchases
And this card has no foreign transaction fees. So it’s a great card to use outside the US. It even has a Chip & Pin.
Because Fairmont can’t give it all away, the free nights, dining credits, and upgrades have blackout dates at some hotels. So be sure to check before you book your stay.
But it’s not all peaches and cream. The Fairmont card might be good for some people, but for most, you might want to think twice.
Why You Should Not Get the Fairmont Card
I love Hyatt hotels, but had an amazing stay at the Fairmont Chateau Lauier Hotel. I’d stay there again in a heartbeat as I would any other Fairmont hotel. And while the 2 free nights is an enticing offer, here’s why you might want to pass on the Fairmont card.
Yikes. You have to redeem a lot of points to stay at Fairmont hotels
1. High Redemption Rates & Secret Award Chart
Hidden away like the Ark of the Covenant or the Fountain of Youth, there is no published Fairmont award chart. It’s only available if you have the Fairmont card. But, if you Google search you can find one on Flyertalk.
And redemption rates aren’t cheap. At 25,000 points a night for the lowest level Fairmont property, that’s a lot of spending. Wait, what? Check out #2 below.
2. No Points Earned For Stays
You do NOT earn Fairmont points for hotel stays. Yep, you read that right. WTH is right!
Stays at Fairmont hotels earn airline miles.
And the only way to earn Fairmont points is through credit card spending. Awesome if spend a lot of money. Not so great, if you’re an average Joe (or Josephina) who’s frugal or doesn’t have the opportunities to spend a lot.
But apparently you can also redeem Fairmont points for airline tickets, car rentals, and gift cards.
If you don’t already have a hotel card and are looking for two free nights with no annual fee for the first year, I’d get the World of Hyatt credit card. You don’t have a minimum spending requirement, redemptions are clear and easy with no blackout dates, and there are more Hyatt hotels than Fairmont hotels. Plus you get a 20% rebate when you use your Hyatt points.
Conclusion
You can earn 2 free nights at any Fairmont hotel worldwide when you spend $3,000 in the first three months of opening your Chase Fairmont card. And the $95 annual fee is waived the first year.
Fairmont hotels are outstanding and the food. Oh, the food. If you like food, dining at Fairmont is a pleasure in itself. But I don’t like the opaqueness of the President’s Club loyalty program.
But the award chart is hidden. It’s totally expensive to redeem Fairmont points for a stay. And you only earn Fairmont points through credit card spending.
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