How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

[serfty]

HOTP lounge check in is quite achievable at 645pm ...

 

[JessicaTam]

HOTP lounge check in is quite achievable at 645pm ...

As long as you tap on the glass! The lounge is usually unattended before about 5 as well.

 

[coolumbla]

thought about the lounge but was only about 10 mins in the end
watched 2 front desk become 3 become 4
dont understand why the crew were checking out there

 

[dfcatch]

That's interesting, because my upgrades have always shown (usually early) during the night prior to arrival, and well before morning. Maybe it's whenever it suits them.

I had a Relaxation Suite showing at HSP from 24 hours prior, then en-route to HSP I noticed I had been downgraded back to the booked room (despite plenty of decent rooms showing), so I promptly cancelled and rebooked into the residences.

Failed to get any upgrade though.

Was a pretty substandard stay I have to admit. The HSP isn't what it was.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

The HSP isn't what it was.

Considering what it was, that's a worry.

 

[Moopere]

thought about the lounge but was only about 10 mins in the end
watched 2 front desk become 3 become 4
dont understand why the crew were checking out there

This was the Etihad crew right?

I've seen this too. A big bunch all at once with the front desk details being worked out by one of the guys. I must admit, I have absolutely no idea how these types of things are handled by any hotel, but assumed it would be a high level corporate arrangement with invoices and payments being made in a normal corporate billing type of way - but I'm not so sure after watching the goings on last time, seemed to be money changing hands right there at the desk, and I mean money, folding stuff + fistful of coins.

 

[markis10]

This was the Etihad crew right?

I've seen this too. A big bunch all at once with the front desk details being worked out by one of the guys. I must admit, I have absolutely no idea how these types of things are handled by any hotel, but assumed it would be a high level corporate arrangement with invoices and payments being made in a normal corporate billing type of way - but I'm not so sure after watching the goings on last time, seemed to be money changing hands right there at the desk, and I mean money, folding stuff + fistful of coins.

Some me airlines pay an allowance and the crew pay accommodation from that, makes sense if their crew base is mostly expat as it's likely to be seen as a bonus if they can stay with a relo.

 

[Moopere]

Some me airlines pay an allowance and the crew pay accommodation from that, makes sense if their crew base is mostly expat as it's likely to be seen as a bonus if they can stay with a relo.

Oh ok, sure. I can see how that would work. I'd likely prefer it myself too.

Seemed pretty funny as I waited to check out ... watching this guy digging around in his pocket for a big fistful of coins and then counting them out at the desk. Presumably what happened here was that the crew as a whole have some sort of meeting before check out and all pull their individual wallets out - like splitting a bill at a restaurant.

 

[JessicaTam]

May be payment for use of the mini bar? Unlikely, but possible.

 

[Aeolus]

Hilton Sydney has always been good to me. Only a lowly Gold but almost 100% upgrade success rate and received a really pleasant surprise tonight. Booked Deluxe Room, was upgraded to King Suite! For a change I was minimising my time at the EL to ensure quality time is spent in the room!

 

[Princess Fiona]

Hilton Sydney has always been good to me. Only a lowly Gold but almost 100% upgrade success rate and received a really pleasant surprise tonight. Booked Deluxe Room, was upgraded to King Suite! For a change I was minimising my time at the EL to ensure quality time is spent in the room!

That's fantastic I usually find SYD hit and miss, more often the latter

 

[boomy]

That's fantastic I usually find SYD hit and miss, more often the latter

+1
I wish to spend less time in the lounge

 

[Aeolus]

That's fantastic I usually find SYD hit and miss, more often the latter

I got to say, it's very difficult to tell the diff between Deluxe room and Exec Deluxe at Hilton Sydney with the exception of the size of the bathroom amenities (larger bottles). For a standard offering, beds in HSW are definitely more comfortable.

 

[drross]

I got to say, it's very difficult to tell the diff between Deluxe room and Exec Deluxe at Hilton Sydney with the exception of the size of the bathroom amenities (larger bottles). For a standard offering, beds in HSW are definitely more comfortable.

Love the HSW beds!

 

[JMFK]

Hilton Sydney has always been good to me. Only a lowly Gold but almost 100% upgrade success rate and received a really pleasant surprise tonight. Booked Deluxe Room, was upgraded to King Suite! For a change I was minimising my time at the EL to ensure quality time is spent in the room!

What sorcery is this!?!?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I got to say, it's very difficult to tell the diff between Deluxe room and Exec Deluxe at Hilton Sydney

I think this is why many of say HSYD is poor with upgrades. They may upgrade every booking on paper, but most of the rooms are the same so really, it's not a genuine upgrade. When you get a King Suite, now that is an upgrade.....but they're few and far between in my experience.

 

[Daver6]

I find all Hilton brand hotels so vague on their websites in explaining the difference between various rooms. Some mention size, some don't. Personally I love seeing a floor plan!

I'm pretty confident some of the rooms are identical with different names and inflated prices.

 

[Aeolus]

What sorcery is this!?!?

Attend next week's Simplification dinner in Mel and I'll tell you

 

[JMFK]

Attend next week's Simplification dinner in Mel and I'll tell you

You have my attention!

Where does one find the details?

 

[Moopere]

I find all Hilton brand hotels so vague on their websites in explaining the difference between various rooms. Some mention size, some don't.

Yes, indeed. It didn't used to be this way. Over the years things have become more and more vague I've noticed. Some hotels that used to put up room size (at least!) now don't, this info is gone. Rather then guess, I'll email a new hotel before I even book and get a full breakdown of different room types and the benefits of each. If enough customers start doing this, and taking up admin time, perhaps they will re-think the idea of putting this important info back into their web sites.

Personally I love seeing a floor plan!

Me too.

I'm pretty confident some of the rooms are identical with different names and inflated prices.

Hilton SYD coming to mind with this comment. I guess being vague means that the hotel has the maximum flexibility when you check in. They can put you almost anywhere, give that room a fancy title (if they like) and there you go, you've been upgraded (or whatever).

Even some seemingly good info is still too vague in my opinion - "high floor" is often seen written up as a benefit for example, I do value being higher up as I'm a light sleeper and the higher I go, generally, the quieter things get, yet where do "high floors" start? The hotel could argue almost anything here. High as in ... its pretty high, you wouldn't want to jump from here, to high being 50.1% of the total residential floors, or high being the very top.