For a few years Chase issued a co-branded Fairmont Visa Card. It was a bit more niche than some of their other hotel card offerings, like the World of Hyatt Credit Card, IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card, etc. However, it’s a card that many liked, and it had a great welcome bonus and generous ongoing perks.
Unfortunately they stopped accepting new applications for the card earlier this year. I’m not sure why exactly the card was discontinued. Perhaps it wasn’t popular enough for it to make sense, or perhaps it had to do with Accor’s acquisition of Fairmont.
While Chase stopped accepting new applications for the card, at the time there wasn’t yet any news about what would happen to existing cardmembers.
Well, Chase has now sent out a letter to those with the Fairmont Card, informing them that the card is being discontinued as of August 15, 2017, and will automatically be converted into the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. Members should receive their new card within 6-8 weeks of August 15, and when they do, the card number will remain the same.
Furthermore, unredeemed points earned through the card will be converted into Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which I’d actually consider to be a net positive.
The card has offered an annual free night certificate when you spend $12,000 on the card, so that will be honored through August, but obviously that benefit will be discontinued when the card is converted. For those who haven’t had the card for an entire year, you can earn a free night certificate by spending at least $6,000 by August 14.
Fairmont Maui
The potentially good news here is that if you already have the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you should eventually be able to convert this card into another Chase card, like the Chase Freedom Flex® or Chase Freedom Unlimited®. These are great no annual fee cards that can help you maximize the number of Ultimate Rewards points you earn. Given that they’re subjected to Chase’s 5/24 rule, these are cards that some might not otherwise be eligible for.
To those with the Fairmont Visa Card, how do you feel about this change?
(Tip of the hat to Doctor Of Credit)
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