Hilton Honors® "2nd GUEST [formerly SPOUSE] STAYS FREE" - How to use

[beardoc]

re: Hilton HHonors® "2nd GUEST [formerly SPOUSE] STAYS FREE" - How to use

I did look that up and the only reference I can see refers to a guest that is registered to your room. Is this what you mean?

I thought that was the case as well - functionally, this just means they need a name. In some places, it does mean they have to see the person at check in.

 

[QF WP]

Hmmm, whilst my spouse rarely travels with me, I've never had a problem on the price (with HPC discount) and the property honoring the Gold benefits - rarely have I not been upgraded to Exec Floor.

Worth knowing however for AFF/FT Do's

 

[serfty]

The executive lounge access with guest policy for Diamonds is not a "Spouse stays free" amenity.

It is available as indicated:

• If you are a Diamond HHonors guest, you and up to one additional registered guest in the same room will always enjoy complimentary access to the Executive Floor Lounge, even if you do not receive a room upgrade to the Executive Floor.

 

[dfcatch]

The executive lounge access for Diamonds is not a "Spouse stays free" amenity.

It is available as indicated:

I always took this to be that if I had done "spouse stays free" that they then counted as a registered guest for the purpose of lounge access..??

 

[serfty]

Absolutely.

For the "Hilton HHonors® SPOUSE STAYS FREE" amenity, the person sharing your room needs to be the HHonors member's "spouse"; male, female, de-facto or otherwise.

With the Diamond benny the guest can be a mate sharing a twin room with you.

Just to differentiate, if the room rate (for example) includes full breakfast then the former does not apply, but the latter does.

"SPOUSE STAYS FREE" is really only beneficial in that it may save on room rate by booking for one guest rather than two.

 

[beardoc]

re: Hilton HHonors® "2nd GUEST [formerly SPOUSE] STAYS FREE" - How to use

For the "Hilton HHonors® SPOUSE STAYS FREE" amenity, the person sharing your room needs to be the HHonors member's "spouse"; male, female, de-facto or otherwise.

With the Diamond benny the guest can be a mate sharing a twin room with you.

Just to differentiate, if the room rate (for example) includes full breakfast then the former does not apply, but the latter does.

"SPOUSE STAYS FREE" is really only beneficial in that it may save on room rate by booking for one guest rather than two.

If you have a friend (even of the same sex), just call them your spouse. Hilton won't ask to confirm.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I did look that up and the only reference I can see refers to a guest that is registered to your room. Is this what you mean?

I thought I read it as guest but missed the registered to your room part

 

[Deleted member 29185]

re: Hilton HHonors® "2nd GUEST [formerly SPOUSE] STAYS FREE" - How to use

They've always just done a count with me. No request for name of guest.

 

[QF WP]

re: Hilton HHonors® "2nd GUEST [formerly SPOUSE] STAYS FREE" - How to use

Many thanks serfty, used your tips for booking the Surfers Paradise for the AFF Mid-Year Meet. There was a difference in price (more for 2 guests than 1), so think I saved ~$70. Put in your suggested comment in the booking field.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

re: Hilton HHonors® "2nd GUEST [formerly SPOUSE] STAYS FREE" - How to use

I just checked the rate (without breakfast) on 1 vs 2 adults and the price is the same, so may as well just book for the 2!

This is what I do now as standard proceedure. Sometimes 2 stay for the same price, some only one. If it's two for the same price I book for two, if not I book for 1 and add the suggested text to the comments box. Never had an issue yet.


This also applies to kids. Just recently, I made a booking where 2 adults were extra, but an adult and child was the same price, so I booked for 1 adult, 1 child and added the "Spouse Stays Free" text to the comments box (3 of us are staying).

 

[beardoc]

re: Hilton HHonors® "2nd GUEST [formerly SPOUSE] STAYS FREE" - How to use

This is what I do now as standard proceedure. Sometimes 2 stay for the same price, some only one. If it's two for the same price I book for two, if not I book for 1 and add the suggested text to the comments box. Never had an issue yet.


This also applies to kids. Just recently, I made a booking where 2 adults were extra, but an adult and child was the same price, so I booked for 1 adult, 1 child and added the "Spouse Stays Free" text to the comments box (3 of us are staying).

To be honest, in many cases the booking for 1 adult and then writing "Two Guests: HHonors Spouse Stays Free" in the booking does nothing - on the lists that the hotels like HSP and HSW keep, they don't update it from 1 adult, and when two come for breakfast, they look at the sheet, see "1" for breakfast, look at my status, and then let 2 people come for breakfast - same with Executive Lounge access. Functionally it's the same, but I'm not certain that actually telling them that a 2nd adult will be in the room actually does anything.

 

[serfty]

... Functionally it's the same, but I'm not certain that actually telling them that a 2nd adult will be in the room actually does anything.

As implied in post #13 of this very thread back in February - and as I replied back then I did have an issue in Brisbane with this - since I have been following the above process all is good.

 

[straitman]

re: Hilton HHonors® "2nd GUEST [formerly SPOUSE] STAYS FREE" - How to use

This is what I do now as standard proceedure. Sometimes 2 stay for the same price, some only one. If it's two for the same price I book for two, if not I book for 1 and add the suggested text to the comments box. Never had an issue yet.


This also applies to kids. Just recently, I made a booking where 2 adults were extra, but an adult and child was the same price, so I booked for 1 adult, 1 child and added the "Spouse Stays Free" text to the comments box (3 of us are staying).

I was about to ask what people do when there are three adults in a booking.

Do you book for two and add the spouse stays free comment with a note about three staying :?:

 

[beardoc]

re: Hilton HHonors® "2nd GUEST [formerly SPOUSE] STAYS FREE" - How to use

As implied in post #13 of this very thread back in February - and as I replied back then I did have an issue in Brisbane with this - since I have been following the above process all is good.

I understand that - what I'm looking for is evidence that if you have booked a "one adult" room and written "Spouse Stays Free" in the notes, that they actually change the booking to reflect two adults. On all the bookings I have done, even when I have booked one adult and mentioned "Spouse Stays Free" in the notes, all the Executive Lounge lists and breakfast lists still only say that one person is staying in the room - and yet I've received benefits for two people without a fuss. I agree that by and large the system works for two people, and I'm sure that people are putting "Spouse Stays Free" in the comments - I'm just not sure that it is doing anything. The booking remains for one adult.

I suspect your incident in Brisbane was a fairly isolated one - I have stopped notifying them of two guests and I am still getting all the benefits. So I am not convinced that writing in the comments is actually of benefit.

But seriously, I am glad it's working for you - I don't know that I would enjoy having the incident that you had. But if I have to go to the T&Cs ever, I will do so.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

re: Hilton HHonors® "2nd GUEST [formerly SPOUSE] STAYS FREE" - How to use

I was about to ask what people do when there are three adults in a booking.

Do you book for two and add the spouse stays free comment with a note about three staying :?:

In the past, I've added a child, added the "Spouse Stays Free" text and taken our other 15 YO in. Never an issue with the lounge and in BNE when my eldest and her BF also decided to stay (freeload is also an apt description), I added a room which didn't get an upgrade (good....kids miles away from us) but they did allow exec access for all (6) and full breakfast for all (6) and I was very upfront with H-BNE about it and I even offered to pay for the additional breakfasts (the offer was declined as "that won't be necessary, Sir. Your custom is valued by us and the least we can do is offer you breakfasts on us". Actual response!! VA should take note!). Mind you, the exec lounge experience was so embarrassing I felt like crawling under the table (as opposed to my noraml demeanour of sliding under the table). My eldests BF wore volleys, pastel shorts and a singlet. We were already there and I was horrified when they actually let him in.....more because of the fact he'd be sitting with US! A very stern lecture on lounge dress standards followed and he was most apologetic......he just didn't think.....nor did have any other clothes with him.

I have a three bedroom residence booked for Christmas with only 2A+2C listed. I might call them on Monday and ask what difference would an additional 2 adults be (I only booked a three bedroom to leave our options open). I'll report back what the response is.

 

[serfty]

re: Hilton HHonors® "2nd GUEST [formerly SPOUSE] STAYS FREE" - How to use

...

But seriously, I am glad it's working for you - I don't know that I would enjoy having the incident that you had. But if I have to go to the T&Cs ever, I will do so.

Cheers ... for a little extra typing it's a bit of insurance - and for more than just to avoid the 'towel fee" (cf "Guest registered to Room" in bennies T&C's). A bit like what one does when booking as a Maqarie premium card holder.

 

[k3nnis]

re: Hilton HHonors® "2nd GUEST [formerly SPOUSE] STAYS FREE" - How to use

Is this spouse stays free thing, a moot point if booking an award stay? assuming no difference with 1 or 2 adults in points redemption?

 

[QF WP]

No difference in points cost, but does allow both people in room to eat for free if Gold or Diamond

 

[k3nnis]

re: Hilton HHonors® "2nd GUEST [formerly SPOUSE] STAYS FREE" - How to use

Ok thanks. I am hh gold and also my wife. But booking is under my name and I booked under 2 adults. Its a p+c stay.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

re: Hilton HHonors® "2nd GUEST [formerly SPOUSE] STAYS FREE" - How to use

Ok thanks. I am hh gold and also my wife. But booking is under my name and I booked under 2 adults. Its a p+c stay.

Same thing. Occasionally two adults are the same price as one adult per room and sometimes not. It does take extra time, but I usually do dummy bookings with the combinations I intend to have and choose then which way to book. What's an even bigger pain is sometimes the hotel will tell us the room can take 4, but the on-line booking engine will only let three! In those instances, I book three and use the "Spouse stays free" text, so it's usable on many levels. Of late though, I'm tending to think there is a benefit it contacting reservations to seek out the obscure specials which don't appear on-line.