Re: How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?
Then it wouldn't be a benefit for diamond level customers. It would just be another fee for service. While there are occasional upsets the hotel should be able move rooms if a diamond is advised they can use an advertised benefit such as late check out.
If there is going to be a very full hotel and the hotel is advised that a lot of people will be arriving at 2.00pm then maybe late check in is denied and another solution offered such as lounge access etc.
I completely agree, but I think it is important to note that it is a Diamond benefit subject to availability.
I have also had to wait for a room before. Last stay at Conrad HKG, told they had a lesser room available now (still an upgrade) or I could wait for a Harbour Suite as the guests were Diamond and checking out at 5pm for an evening flight.
I wasn't in a hurry so took the later option, bags with the concierge and off up to the Exec Lounge.
So do I. Late check out is a great diamond perk and I know this thread is generic but in my case (mentioned above) the front desk told me the people in the room did request late checkout but were unfortunately denied as the place was chocker block full over Christmas (I can certainly attest to that as the hotel facilities not coping with guest numbers was one of my complaints at the time), but the prevous diamond (front desk also told me that) member ignored all requests and over stayed regardless....not by 1/2 hour or so (which I certainly don't mind too much) but by over 4 hours and in doing so inconvenienced the next diamond guests (me and my family). They didn't overly inconvenience the hotel.....they still got paid and possibly got paid extra......I'm the only one that was inconvenienced and it certainly didn't help make my Christmas break enjoyable (which was further compounded by a litany of HSP issues). That diamond guest was in the wrong, most certainly should have been charged another day and the hotel could have used that to express some good will to us (free drinks in the lounge perhaps, movies on the house for the duration of the stay, a complementary meal in Salt or better still, a reduction in our room rate due to it not being available from when we started paying for it). Given a 3 bedroom residence over Christmas runs out at about $600-$700/night, the previous delinquent diamond should have been many hundreds of dollars worse off for their self-centred actions (IMHO).
See this is what I understood from your original recount. This isn't about a coup against Diamonds for late check out and I'm not sure why the further posts had to ensure that one recognises that it is a benefit available to members.
It's simply about if you want a late checkout, you request it. The hotel will make its judgement as to whether to grant you one or not, and if so how late. Irrespective of what the decision is, you adhere to it or potentially cop extra charges (half-day or full day), and preferably don't be a DYKWIA about it all. If you're not happy with your late checkout time, take it up with the Diamond desk. (I'm sure others have resorted to jumping onto hilton.com and seeing how many rooms they could book that night as a "counter" to the denial of a particular late checkout time, but that's another story.)
I've also been caught out by a room not being ready, despite being after 3 pm or so. I was invited to use the Exec Lounge facilities until the room was made, which took just over an hour. It was a suite (upgrade) and I suppose I could've got another room (perhaps only Exec) straight away if I put my foot down. Like
Princess Fiona, I wasn't in any particular hurry, however. Later that night the duty manager left a personally written card apologising for the delay in having my room prepared (along with a couple of gifts). To add to the shock horror, this was at the HSW.
I would like to think that most hotels can make allowances for things like an elite checking in whose room is not ready and allowing them access to the lounge or gym/showers (if their room is not ready and they arrive after the nominal check-in time); or on checkout day allowing them use of the Exec Lounge until the end of the day. That is a hotel discretion however and certainly is not in any rules. It's just a nice gesture, though I do agree that it does still put out people significantly, as evidenced by
swanning_it.
Finally, just to be completely pedantic, late checkout is
not a Diamond benefit. It is actually a benefit which can be requested by any HHonors member, including Blue members. (Notwithstanding the propensity of success of requests)
