HHonors to change Cancel Policy to Prior Day - Jan 1st [was 6pm day of arrival]

[serfty]

From FT - it means that for many new bookings (including rewards) that you have until 11:59pm the day before arrival to cancel Bookings and incur no charge. Until this change it had generally been 4pm or 6pm ...

Originally Posted by HHonorsRepresentative Hi all,

I wanted to share a quick update with you. We are updating our reservation cancellation guidelines to a minimum of 11:59 p.m. local hotel time the day prior to arrival, and you will be required to provide a credit card at the time of booking.

These changes will go into effect on January 1, 2015. As always, cancellation policies may still vary depending on the rate or dates of your reservation, and some hotels have more restrictive policies in place, so please refer to your individual confirmations to verify their policy.

We’re making this change so that we can provide you with a more consistent booking process and make more rooms available for when you need last minute travel accommodations.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out within this thread or through PM and I will do my best to share updates with you all.

Thanks!
Erin

 

[kpc]

Hmmm....I guess Hilton are losing money on last minute cancellations.

 

[Cynicor]

I can't say that this is unfair. The minimal price premium for absolute flexibility meant they must lose a few room nights. I don't think it's too much to ask in 99% of cases.

 

[boomy]

That's bad!
So many times I found a cheaper rate on the day and changed it. Managed to save a lot of money doing that over the years.

 

[anat0l]

There are a lot more vitriolic comments on the Flyertalk thread, but the main thrusts have been (a) a principle-based loss of benefit, and (b) higher risk of being stranded with a useless, irrevocable reservation in cases where air travel goes awry.

As is quite common with the announcement of an enhancement, many people are spitting contemptuously on the welcome mat, slamming the door and plotting their move to greener pastures.

 

[ftm]

The day prior would still suit most people, I would imagine. I have always wondered how hotels manage their inventory efficiently with a 6pm same day cancel policy. Is their not going to be a "fully flex" option where you can keep the 6pm cancel, just pay for the option?

 

[hydrabyss]

Sydney Hilton has been day before cancellation policy for sometime now.Cant remember when it started but was around the middle of the year.Booking would change on the day of arrival to state a cancellation fee may be charged and to contact the hotel.

 

[serfty]

My one experience with a cancelled flight causing the need for a cancellation was they asked for the XLD flight number to verify - but they cancelled at no fee after having done so.

This was a reward stay -it was 5pm in PHX but 7pm in FLL (Where I was booked with a 6pm deadline).

 

[boomy]

I guess that's also the end of the option to reserve a room until 4pm on the day with automatic cancellation in case of no show.
This was a great benefit, especially when the system didn't cancel the reservation exactly at 4pm and usually allowed an extra 1-2 hours to check in.

 

[anat0l]

The day prior would still suit most people, I would imagine.

Don't forget that the cancellation time is based on local time zone of property, not your local time zone.

Without doubt, the predominant membership of HHonors - or at least the most vocal - is concentrated in the USA. And as we know - at least temporally - the USA is behind the time. In their own country that's not likely a big deal. When they travel overseas, then it gets a bit more interesting.

All said and done, most are really just complaining that a feature has become more restrictive. There appear to be quite a few people who travel on "standby", which means they need maximum flexibility including if they need to cancel a hotel reservation right up to the last minute. So apparently now they are hosed.

For me, it never really had much of a bearing as the majority of my rates I book are advance purchase, so I bear the full risk associated with IRROPs etc right from the get-go.

 

[DAC1]

Interesting observation for my reservation at HSP later this year is that the cancellation policy is three days before. Ordinarily, it was either 4pm or 6pm day of check-in.

Anyone else noticed this?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

There appear to be quite a few people who travel on "standby", which means they need maximum flexibility including if they need to cancel a hotel reservation right up to the last minute. So apparently now they are hosed.

Good point. As we haven't had common "standby" airfares for many years in Oz, this is less a problem. Although the vast majority of my hotel bookings are flexible, I must admit that I cannot ever remember needing to cancel on the day of check-in (there may have been one or two, but I honestly cannot recall one). Obviously Hilton are struggling to manage this benefit (most likely predominantly in the US) so I don't really have an issue with it. Even with the change, it's chalk and cheese with the airlines so-called flexibility so let's not mention that to Hilton!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Please note, Jan 1 seems to fall at a different time for Hilton than for the rest of the world.

I just logged into a reservation of have for check in today (not to cancel, more to check if I had an upgrade) and I note a warning

 

[turtlemichael]

Please note, Jan 1 seems to fall at a different time for Hilton than for the rest of the world.

I just logged into a reservation of have for check in today (not to cancel, more to check if I had an upgrade) and I note a warning

View attachment 38066

I'm not saying it is the situation in your case but there are some (many?) Hilton family hotels which had more restrictive cancellation policies than "4.00pm on the day" even before this change.