Stays that do/don't Qualify for points

[maureeng]

Over xmas we stayed in Hilton Properties in Hawaii, Hilton Waikoloa Village on Big Island, Grand Wailea on Maui (Over $1000.00 per night for standard room) and Hilton Hawaiian village in Waikiki.
I thought i'd get lots of points for this but when I checked my account and the hotel stays had not been credited, I contacted Hilton Honours only to be told to get points you must book direct, not through an agency .

 

[anat0l]

Re: Hilton honours

maureeng, this is often the case with Hilton HHonors, or indeed some other hotel loyalty programs. Easy trap to fall into, especially if the agency's rate seems better than what is offered by Hilton directly on their website (although you could try and play the two of them against each other).

The exceptions are deals that you can get from some agencies or websites that give you a rate code that you enter into Hilton's search engine to give you a special rate. (A good example was last year when Travelzoo had a deal going with Hilton Cairns; they gave you a code which you entered on the Hilton website). You still have to check the fine print in some cases as these special rates may be ineligible for points earning.

 

[maureeng]

Re: Hilton honours

maureeng, this is often the case with Hilton HHonors, or indeed some other hotel loyalty programs. Easy trap to fall into, especially if the agency's rate seems better than what is offered by Hilton directly on their website (although you could try and play the two of them against each other).

Thanks. I'll try that in the future as I booked through Hotel Club which was cheaper than booking direct.

 

[Alanslegal]

Re: Hilton honours

Thanks. I'll try that in the future as I booked through Hotel Club which was cheaper than booking direct.

The general rule with most loyalty programs is to book 'directly' with them, to earn the points and enjoy the benefits that come with it.

As you said HotelClub was cheaper, but just remember for next time that Hilton Honors (and like alot of the larger hotel groups) have a Best Rate Guarantee where they can give you a reward (eg. beat the price by x%) if you find a better deal elsewhere.

As I pay for my own hotels, I like Swissotel's BRG where they will beat the price by 50% but they have limited properties for where I travel to, then Marriott's Look No Further promise where they will beat it by 25% are a good deal as well ... but I do stick alot with Starwood and elect to take the points rewward which to me, is worth $60-80.

 

[anat0l]

Re: Hilton honours

As you said HotelClub was cheaper, but just remember for next time that Hilton Honors (and like alot of the larger hotel groups) have a Best Rate Guarantee where they can give you a reward (eg. beat the price by x%) if you find a better deal elsewhere.

I guess one problem is that sometimes HotelClub has blanket sales, e.g. 10% off all prices. If it so happened that this 10% undercut the hotel's direct prices (not because of a better rate, but because of a blanket sale), would they match it?

I have no experience in this regard, but my gut feeling is 'no'. In which case you would have to reason if sacrificing a 10% saving is worth obtaining loyalty points.

 

[Alanslegal]

Re: Hilton honours

I guess one problem is that sometimes HotelClub has blanket sales, e.g. 10% off all prices. If it so happened that this 10% undercut the hotel's direct prices (not because of a better rate, but because of a blanket sale), would they match it?

I have no experience with HH but I would think if everything was equal (room type, duration etc) I expect that they honour the BRG.

For example, recently (14/4/10) expedia(dot)com(dot)au had a 48hour sale for Sydney where rooms were half price. The Westin Sydney was asking $330 per night and expedia due to the sale had it at $165. Starwood accepted my BRG claim.

 

[serfty]

Re: Hilton honours

HH BRG agents seem to have an SOP of initially denying every claim.

The T&C's are strict and the room/facilities/date/property booked needs to be an exact match.

For more see this FlyerTalk thread:

• Hilton Best Rate Guarantee: The Definitive Thread - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[JohnK]

Re: Hilton honours

Thanks. I'll try that in the future as I booked through Hotel Club which was cheaper than booking direct.

If you booked through a travel agent you may have received credit for the stays.

From memory bookings on third party websites such as HotelClub are specifically excluded from earning HHonors points.

 

[Alanslegal]

Re: Hilton honours

Given the OP was spending $1,000 pn ... that could have been alot of HH points earnt, and depending on how many total nights possibly enough base points to qualify for HH Diamond Status.

 

[Danger]

Re: Hilton honours

In the HHonors Double Dip options, which is the selection to earn HHonors points and 1000 QFF points:

• HHonors Points and HHonors Points [assume not]
• HHonors Points and Variable Miles
• HHonors Points and Fixed Miles

 

[straitman]

Re: Hilton honours

In the HHonors Double Dip options, which is the selection to earn HHonors points and 1000 QFF points:

• HHonors Points and HHonors Points [assume not]
• HHonors Points and Variable Miles
• HHonors Points and Fixed Miles

HHonors Points and Fixed Miles.

The fixed amount just happens to be 1000 points in the QF case.

 

[Danger]

Re: Hilton honours

I'm certain that on the occasions when I have previously stayed at a Hilton property where at least one night has been an award night that has backed onto a revenue night, I have earned points (for the revenue night) and a stay credit. However, I've just noticed this under point three of the T&Cs (accrual of points):

If at least one night of the Member's stay is consumed with the use of HHonors Rewards points, the entire stay is considered a "Reward Stay" and no HHonors points may be earned, except that if Member is using Room Upgrade Rewards, any money spent on the original reservation will earn points and/or miles consistent with these Terms.

​

1) Has anyone had experience with a mixed reward/revenue stay not earning any points?
2) It's been a while since I've had an award stay but could someone please confirm that, despite the above T&Cs, (i) award nights still count towards the annual stays requirement (eg. 16 stays for Gold tier) and (ii) even on an award stay, all the benefits of a particular membership level apply (eg. complimentary internet, room upgrade (when set to that benefit) etc.)?
4) I assume the answers to two, above, are the same whether a points stay or a points plus dollars stay, correct?
3) What is meant by 'room upgrade rewards' in the T&Cs, above? Is it using points to upgrade?

(Hilton HHonors® - HHonors® Terms & Conditions)

 

[serfty]

It's true, but it's generally moot as the earn/benefits are the same - aside from not earning fixed airline miles.

It may be an issue with the current 2011 Q4 promotion as (unusually) award stays don't count towards the free nights.

 

[Danger]

Re: Hilton honours

It's true, but it's generally moot as the earn/benifits are the same - as from not earning fixed airline miles.

It may be an issue with the current 2011 Q4 promotion as (unusually) award stays don't count towards the free nights.

Somehow I missed the email notification that there'd been a reply to this thread.

Serfty, what exactly is "true"?

 

[serfty]

It's "True" that award stays/nights count for elite tier qualification. Moreover, points can be earned for incidentals during a reward stay. Arline miles are typically not earned for reward stays.

The unusual thing is that with the current 4 stay/10 night promotion, reward stays/night do not count toward earning a free night certificate.

 

[Danger]

Re: Hilton honours

Okay. So if I book a four night stay at the Hilton Cairns using points for one night and paying dollars for the other three, I'll earn a stay credit but no points for the dollars paid on the room (just incidentals)?

 

[serfty]

You earn points on the total folio (less tax :-|).

That should include the paid rate for that one night. (You should set your myway to points + points as Airline miles may not be earned.)

 

[straitman]

Re: Hilton honours

I should know this but what date does a stay count? The checkin day or the checkout day?

 

[Moopere]

Re: Hilton honours

I should know this but what date does a stay count? The checkin day or the checkout day?

Seems to be checkout date. I asked hhonors in Sydney recently a similar question for a stay thats going to cross over from 2011 to 2012 ... wanted my nights to accrue in 2012 and their response, with appropriate wriggle room (as always) led me to believe that base points + stay would accrue as of the checkout date.

Probably worth another contact to hhonors to see if their opinion is likely to vary with the CSR though.

 

[serfty]

Checkout date!

A 10 night stay with checkout on 3rd January 2012 will post as 1 stay, 10 nights and (probably) plenty of base points towards 2012 re-qualification - nothing would post for 2011.