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Bilt’s Launched Its Answer to Amex FHR — But There’s a Catch
Earlier this week, I got an email from Bilt announcing a new offering called Home Away from Home. It was kind of a weird name that didn’t tell me a whole lot — but, after briefly scanning the message, I quickly determined that it was essentially Bilt’s version of the American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts program. Immediately, I headed to the site to see what sort of options were part of this new “Home Away from Home” collection.
If you’re not familiar with Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts, it’s a program exclusively for Platinum and Centurion cardholders that entitles them to special perks at certain properties. For example, you can expect a $100 property credit — usually dining or spa services but it varies by resort — guaranteed late check out, complimentary breakfast for two (up to $60) each day, and more. There’s also the similar Hotel Collection, which is also open to Gold Card customers.
As for Bilt’s Home Away from Home, it advertises a $100 property credit, late check out, daily free breakfast for two, and more. Sound familiar? Of course, there is then the matter of pricing.
Knowing that Las Vegas is a particularly good Amex FHR town, I searched Sin City on Bilt Travel to see what came up. Sure enough, several Home Away from Home options popped up at the top of the search, including Wynn, Bellagio, Skylofts at MGM Grand, and more. I also pulled up FHR to compare pricing and found that, where there was overlap, the pricing was largely identical. That is until I came across a Bilt listing for Crockfords at Resorts World, which was nearly $100 cheaper per night than was advertised on Amex FHR.
Even though I wasn’t really intending to book this deal, I did click all the way through — up until the point where I’d actually have to pay — just to make sure the price was right. I guess it was… but I noticed something else in the meantime. Apparently, the Home Away from Home collection perks are just for Bilt Gold or Platinum level members.
Currently, I’m just a lowly Blue member, so it seemed strange that I was seemingly able to book this. After all, I understand including the listing in results to show people what’s out there, but I would have assumed it would verify my status before letting me proceed. This begs the question: What would have happened if I had booked it as a Blue or Silver member? Would I pay the same price as the higher-status people and expect a dining credit, only for the hotel itself to have to break the news to me?
Honestly, the way the site is currently set up, this sounds like a potential nightmare for properties. Yes, the notes on the side do note that Home Away from Home perks are for Gold and Platinum elites… but all I saw was free breakfast and a $100 credit! I can’t imagine I’m alone in making that mistake.
The moral of the story is while I appreciate that programs like this are expanding, since I do find value in them, I’m a little disappointed in the way Bilt has rolled this one out so far. That’s not even just because I’m excluded, but because I believe it’s going to cause confusion. So, hopefully, they find a reasonable fix so that this hotel perks program can be beneficial to all — even if it does still have a pretty silly name.
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