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We had lunch at Kushikatsu Bon Ginza yesterday using the credit. We had a really enjoyable experience and staff were great with our 5-year-old son. I’d recommend this option for families looking to avail of the credit in the Tokyo area. They apparently also have a location in Osaka too.
Have a question for using pocket concierge so hopefully someone could answer.
Will they allow you to change the time of booking once confirmed? Found you can only make the booking less than 3 months in advance. Our trip is next March so we will have to book one a bit earlier than intended if we would like to use credit for 2023.
I’m heading to Japan this week and have been looking at everyone’s previous recommendations. Is there anywhere else anyone has had a good experience at? I’ll be visiting Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima.
Hi @RO8926 we are planning to go to this steak house soon. Is the payment will automatically charged to your AMEX through PC and you do not need to pay anything on spot in the restaurant?
we enjoyed Makiyaki Ginza Onodera in Tokyo (Ginza).
that was January – I presume its still on Pocket Concierge.
Have a question for using pocket concierge so hopefully someone could answer.
Will they allow you to change the time of booking once confirmed? Found you can only make the booking less than 3 months in advance. Our trip is next March so we will have to book one a bit earlier than intended if we would like to use credit for 2023.
Just wanted to follow up does anyone know if we can change dates? I wil arrive in Japan 31st March. Today is 24th Dec and the furthest date I can book is 23rd March so I assume I won’t be able to use the 2023 credit by one day. Unless I can book, get charged and move the reservation by one day?
No, it will be cancelled, refunded and charged again.
No, it will be cancelled, refunded and charged again.
Thanks, shame.
No, it will be cancelled, refunded and charged again.
@meta Do you know if the credit will be removed? I.e. what if I booked, get credited, then change the date of the reservation – if they cancel and refund and re-book. Will they take back the 2023 credit and use the 2024 credit?Yes. It will go from 2024 credit.
If you wait until say 31st 3-4pm, the calendar will open for 1st April due to time difference, but if not charged instantly then it will come from your 2024 credit. Not all reservations via Pocket Concierge are instant. There is a label which ones are, so be careful.
Just booked two reservations for Kyoto. What was your experience like? Did you add any food/drinks, and were these charged smoothly?
Yes. It will go from 2024 credit.
If you wait until say 31st 3-4pm, the calendar will open for 1st April due to time difference, but if not charged instantly then it will come from your 2024 credit. Not all reservations via Pocket Concierge are instant. There is a label which ones are, so be careful.
Thanks for the tip, I noticed yesterday that if I create an account and sign in, I get one day more booking allowance. So it must be the landing page was on UK time or something. In that case I might book 30 Dec for 31 March to avoid not being charged on time.
Not many restaurant choices for that far out, we’ll either stay in Hyatt centric at Ginza or at the String. I suspect we will be very tired so don’t want to venture too far. The few restaurant recommended by others don’t come up in the search at the moment. Will take another look later. Thanks @meta
Just booked two reservations for Kyoto. What was your experience like? Did you add any food/drinks, and were these charged smoothly?
I did Pocket Concierge / Dining Credit last year at a restaurant in Japan, had a couple of glasses of wine as extra. I assumed I’d have to pay for this at the restaurant directly but it was actually charged via Pocket Concierge to my Amex Platinum and came out of my remaining dining credit. If I remember correctly, the restaurant bought me the bill but told me I don’t need to pay now as it will go via PC.
Just wanted to report back. Utter failure, went on pocket concierge at 3pm UK time on 31 Dec. Booked a place that was labelled instant booking. Notification appeared on my iphone that payment has been taken. I can see it on my wallet app. But it did not appear as pending on my account.
Today it turned up in my account fully charged not as pending for 1 January 🤨. I wouldn’t have booked that restaurant if I knew this. As there was only two that were instant booking (the other one was far) and they only had a lunch slot which is 3 hours after I land!
What is my option? Argue my case with amex to get it under 2023 credit? I can show screenshot of my wallet and email confirmation. Cancel and let them crawl back the credit and re book and hope I get the credit again?
We were in Japan early 2023 and then again in Dec, and used Pocket Concierge for Imoto in Fukuoka. The price might be high, but compared to the ones on pocket concierge for Tokyo etc. it was more bang for your buck (similar thing can be said about Fukuoka and other cities compared to Tokyo and Osaka where most tourist would go.
We had a couple of drinks during the meal and that was charged directly with the restaurant, whilst the rest was paid for already via PocketConcierge, seemed seemless enough.
If possible, I’d suggest hitting up the restaurants that are outside the major tourist cities as they are likely more catered to tourist and quality whilst good, may not be extremely authentic. (that said, I learnt basic conversational Japanese just to travel more locally so can understand not everyone is willing to do that).Just wanted to report back. Utter failure, went on pocket concierge at 3pm UK time on 31 Dec. Booked a place that was labelled instant booking. Notification appeared on my iphone that payment has been taken. I can see it on my wallet app. But it did not appear as pending on my account.
Today it turned up in my account fully charged not as pending for 1 January 🤨. I wouldn’t have booked that restaurant if I knew this. As there was only two that were instant booking (the other one was far) and they only had a lunch slot which is 3 hours after I land!
What is my option? Argue my case with amex to get it under 2023 credit? I can show screenshot of my wallet and email confirmation. Cancel and let them crawl back the credit and re book and hope I get the credit again?
Just to empathise, we are in the exact same situation, and the charge marked 1st Jan has already been credited under the offer – presumably from the 2024 allowance. It’s a little frustrating. Am tempted to make another booking and see what happens in terms of credit, and make the case to Amex with transaction screenshot – and if I don’t get anywhere, cancel the 2nd booking and take the hit as a lost ‘free’ meal due to leaving it so late. Keep me updated if you get any further on your approach of just simply ‘swapping’ the booking. Others may be able to advise what happens with credit claw back, but be careful as you may end up in a situation where you get 0 credits instead of 2….!
@nath4n I worry I end up with no credit, so not keen to cancel unless someone assured me this has worked for them. Can’t imagine many people tried it as normally you eat and pay after! So I think my first plan is to call Amex and see what happen. Will report back.
I still have £30 ish credit left so can book a small lunch in addition.
Just checking again if anyone else has recommendations for restaurants in Kyoto, Tokyo or Hiroshima that works with pocket concierge pls.
Want to check I’ve understood this correctly.
According to my search on pocket concierge, there’s literally one vegetarian restaurant available in Japan.
It’s called Minoya. Appears to be in Akihabara, Tokyo.
Not particularly pricey – the set course is about £40pp but would be well covered by the international dining credit.Firstly, that can’t be right? There must surely be other vegetarian restaurants accessible through pocket concierge? What am I doing wrong?
If I make the booking (it says instant booking against the restaurant name) will PC immediately charge me £80 for two persons up front (I think that’s the only thing they sell other than drinks)? Or some other amount, with a true-up to follow after I’ve left the restaurant?
What about drinks? Would I pay for them directly to the restaurant, or would they be added to the meal cost and charged to my Amex Platinum after I leave?Thanks
You’ve chosen the wrong country for vegeterian/vegan restaurants I’m afraid. While there are certainly vegeterian/vegan restaurants they are nothing to write home about and also could be quite pricey as they cater mainly for foreign residents/tourists.
I suggest you look at tempura restaurants and in dietary requirements state that you have meat (fish) allergy. They will then just prepare vegetable tempura, though be aware that it might be fried in the same oil as meat/fish. Japan is a country of rules and you can’t just tell them to remove one ingredient if it has been done that way for decades.
You are charged as soon as reservation is confirmed. Some are not instant.
Drinks are charged after the meal by Pocket Concierge to the same card you registered in the account (i.e. Amex Plat). You don’t pay for anything at restaurant, they will show you the total bill at the restaurant for verification purposes only and then it’s charged through Pocket Concierge.
No, it will be cancelled, refunded and charged again.
This is wrong. You contact the restaurant and ask for a change of date. I’ve done it and you don’t lose the credit.
Thanks Meta.
Cross contamination is a problem everywhere outside of Western Europe and North America I think.
I’m not vegetarian but Mrs Aston goes through these vibes periodically. Not sure why.No, it will be cancelled, refunded and charged again.
This is wrong. You contact the restaurant and ask for a change of date. I’ve done it and you don’t lose the credit.
I have done it too and Pocket Concierge cancelled, refunded and rebooked.
No, it will be cancelled, refunded and charged again.
This is wrong. You contact the restaurant and ask for a change of date. I’ve done it and you don’t lose the credit.
I have done it too and Pocket Concierge cancelled, refunded and rebooked.
I contacted the restaurant directly, via the message functionality and it worked perfectly.
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