How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

[xt_20]

Hhonors Gold (thanks to this forum!)

Saturday 29 April2012
Property: Hilton Perth
Room booked: Queen guest room (cheapest)
Rate: Cheapest, booked on lastminute.com.au for around $360.
Received: Upgrade to King guest room and was told hotel was full. I went up and was quite disappointed. So I went back to the reception and asked if I can pay a little extra for a larger room. Got the King Deluxe (I think) and was very happy. It was a surprise to my wife for our anniversary, and she was impressed.
Also got free internet, champagne and breakfast for 2 (I chose breakfast over points).

 

[beardoc]

Hhonors Gold (thanks to this forum!)

Saturday 29 April2012
Property: Hilton Perth
Room booked: Queen guest room (cheapest)
Rate: Cheapest, booked on lastminute.com.au for around $360.
Received: Upgrade to King guest room and was told hotel was full. I went up and was quite disappointed. So I went back to the reception and asked if I can pay a little extra for a larger room. Got the King Deluxe (I think) and was very happy. It was a surprise to my wife for our anniversary, and she was impressed.
Also got free internet, champagne and breakfast for 2 (I chose breakfast over points).

The management's explanation makes no sense. The hotel was unable to do an upgrade because the hotel was full, but if you paid for an upgrade, the hotel was now not full? Admittedly it was booked through a 3rd-party channel so wasn't entitled to benefits, but really, then the hotel should say that's the reason they didn't give the upgrade, not because the hotel was "full" when it wasn't.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Hhonors Gold (thanks to this forum!)

Saturday 29 April2012
Property: Hilton Perth
Room booked: Queen guest room (cheapest)
Rate: Cheapest, booked on lastminute.com.au for around $360.
Received: Upgrade to King guest room and was told hotel was full. I went up and was quite disappointed. So I went back to the reception and asked if I can pay a little extra for a larger room. Got the King Deluxe (I think) and was very happy. It was a surprise to my wife for our anniversary, and she was impressed.
Also got free internet, champagne and breakfast for 2 (I chose breakfast over points).

Thats the problem with the West, pay a lot,get little IMHO. $360 and you still paid more!! Should not have been necessary really.

 

[xt_20]

Thats the problem with the West, pay a lot,get little IMHO. $360 and you still paid more!! Should not have been necessary really.

Sorry, I should mention - I offered to pay more, but was given the upgrade for free. However I was prepared to pay a little more if it meant a much much better room.

The Hilton rooms were about $100 more expensive on that day compared to Hyatt and Duxton, which was why I expected a bit more.

 

[ric_melb]

I am curious. Presumably you booked through lastminute.com as the price was cheaper than the Hilton website. However you would not get Hilton Gold points, or presumably stay credit. Was the price difference substantial?

 

[xt_20]

I am curious. Presumably you booked through lastminute.com as the price was cheaper than the Hilton website. However you would not get Hilton Gold points, or presumably stay credit. Was the price difference substantial?

I booked through lastminute.com.au as they were cheaper and had no credit card surcharge. Price difference was over $60 from memory ($360 vs $420 + 1.5%)

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I booked through lastminute.com.au as they were cheaper and had no credit card surcharge. Price difference was over $60 from memory ($360 vs $420 + 1.5%)

Did you try the Hilton Best Rate Guarantee, which would have awarded points/nights/stays?

 

[ric_melb]

Hi xt-20. Thanks for the reply. Given that I am a points junkie I hate to lose points, but each to their own. But I figure you could have earned 11,550 points on a bill of $420. That is base points 4,200 plus 4,200 under current double points offer. Then 2,100 points if you chose the 50% extra points, under points and points, plus 1,050 for being Gold. Value of points is debateable but if you value them at 0.5 to 1.0 cents each that's an equivalent cash value of $57.75 to $115.50.

 

[xt_20]

Did you try the Hilton Best Rate Guarantee, which would have awarded points/nights/stays?

Nope, didn't know about that.

 

[xt_20]

Hi xt-20. Thanks for the reply. Given that I am a points junkie I hate to lose points, but each to their own. But I figure you could have earned 11,550 points on a bill of $420. That is base points 4,200 plus 4,200 under current double points offer. Then 2,100 points if you chose the 50% extra points, under points and points, plus 1,050 for being Gold. Value of points is debateable but if you value them at 0.5 to 1.0 cents each that's an equivalent cash value of $57.75 to $115.50.

Good point - I didn't know that either. I only know about airline points, no clue about Hhonors points as I don't stay at hotel chains much (although I should start)
Thanks for the reply and your insight ric_melb

 

[Fifa]

Status: HH Diamond
Property: Hilton Sydney
Dates: 25-27 April 2012
Rate: $157 AP
Booked: King Hilton Guest room
Received: King Hilton Executive Room (I enquired about an upgrade to a better room but was told they didn't have availability, but their website showed they did)
Miscellaneous: Access to Exec Lounge, free internet, free buffet breakfast for 2 at Glass (one of the best breakfasts I have ever had). I love this hotel for the location, price and staff are very friendly and professional.

 

[Fifa]

Status: HH Diamond
Property: Hilton Auckland
Dates: 27-29 April 2012 (for Bossreggie's famous lunch)
Rate: NZ$232.50 Any Weekend Anywhere
Booked: King Hilton Guestroom
Received: King Deluxe Harbour View on level 7
Miscellaneous: Free internet, free full buffet breakfast for 2 at Fish, 2 drink vouchers per day, fruit plate, 1 litre bottle of water in a gorgeous squat bottle which was too heavy to bring home (even when empty) , late checkout to 1pm. Staff were extremely accommodating when AFF stragglers arrived for breakfast and chairs and cutlery were added to tables with a minimum of fuss. Unfortunately the bar closed at around midnight on Friday and Saturday night and there were customers spending money!

 

[lovestotravel]

(I enquired about an upgrade to a better room but was told they didn't have availability, but their website showed they did)

That old trick...... :shock:

 

[DeKa]

Status: HH Gold
Property: Hilton On The Park, Melbourne
Dates: 30 April 2012
Rate: $186
Booked: King Hilton Guest room
Received: King Executive Room

 

[beardoc]

Received: King Hilton Executive Room (I enquired about an upgrade to a better room but was told they didn't have availability, but their website showed they did)

I am wondering, has anyone ever mentioned that they know that Suites are available when they're told (incorrectly) that they know they're full and had success with an Upgrade beyond what they've been given as a Gold or Diamond?

 

[tuapekastar]

Status: HH Diamond
Property: Hilton Sydney
Dates: 25-27 April 2012
Rate: $157 AP
Booked: King Hilton Guest room
Received: King Hilton Executive Room (I enquired about an upgrade to a better room but was told they didn't have availability, but their website showed they did)
Miscellaneous: Access to Exec Lounge, free internet, free buffet breakfast for 2 at Glass (one of the best breakfasts I have ever had). I love this hotel for the location, price and staff are very friendly and professional.

I am wondering, has anyone ever mentioned that they know that Suites are available when they're told (incorrectly) that they know they're full and had success with an Upgrade beyond what they've been given as a Gold or Diamond?

What should they be providing under their T&Cs? My expectation would have been a one-level upgrade, but it seems they offer more, even if on a reluctant and inconsistent basis?

 

[cgoh]

I did once in Hilton KL and they promptly shifted me into a suite.

 

[froggerADL]

Status: HH Diamond
Property: Doubletree Dunblane Hydro
Dates: 1 May 2012
Rate: GBP 66 Any Weekend Anywhere
Booked: Double Guestroom
Received: Junior Suite
Miscellaneous: Free internet, free full buffet breakfast for 2, very nice box of 8 chocolates. This is a beautiful property which has had a GPB 12 million upgrade.
​

 

[anat0l]

Status: HH Diamond
Property: Hilton Auckland
Rate: NZ$232.50/night Any Weekend Anywhere (booked as two separate stays on consecutive nights, but with two different names as Person 1 on each booking)
Booked: Twin Hilton Guestroom
Received: Twin Deluxe Harbour View on level 2 with a huge outdoor entertainment area (more space than we could do better with)
Miscellaneous: Free full buffet breakfast at Fish each day, 2 drink vouchers at Bellini bar each day, 1 L bottle of antipodes water, 6 small bottles of Waiwera natural water (4 on the first day and an additional 2 the next day), 3 chocolate truffles, plate of fruit, late checkout to 2 pm.

Plus, the staff were very accommodating affording me a shower, internet and breakfast when I arrived on check-in day at about 6.30am or so, until the room was ready at 12pm. The porters should be commended - very courteous and welcoming, plus when the room was ready they offered to move my bags to my room (it did take a while, but that was my fault).

Despite the fact that we were on separate bookings / names, the hotel didn't make us move rooms on the second day.

 

[simongr]

Hhonors Diamond
Wed 2 May (sort of - actually checked in at 12:05 Thursday morning)
Property: Hilton On The Park Melbourne
Room booked: King Guest
Rate: $227 (AAA rate)
Received: Relaxation suite 1901

My shortest stay at a hotel ever I think - 8 hours from check in to check out.