What are Hhonors points worth?

[Moopere]

What do you consider these points worth?

I see you can buy them at 1c / point for 10K or more. Conversion from Hhonors to QFF looks to be at about 6.67 : 1 - this alone is indicating to me a possible value of about $0.0015 / point up to maybe 0.0059c / point as I see my QFF points as being worth something from 1c -> 4c a point depending on how they are used.

Opportunities to redeem for points paid rooms are apparently pretty limited with only a small selection of room types up for grabs.

I did a random check against redemption of rooms at Hilton South Wharf Melbourne - King Guest room is the only one offered and its 50,000 Hhonors points. To book the same room as a pre-payment (no refund) its AUD$314 indicating a value of maybe $0.0063 / point.

Booking this same room via the Hilton web site, thus opening the possibility to accrue HH points gives the following:

4710 points if points+more points are chosen
3140 + 500 miles for points + fixed miles
3140 + 314 miles for points + variable miles

Assuming US$1=AUD$1 and I think we're still pretty close to that at the moment for rough calculation purposes

The miles can go to a myriad mostly US partners, I'm probably only interested in Velocity and QFF at the moment. QFF can't receive miles in this way (according to Hilton) so its Velocity I guess. Not convinced yet I've worked out what a Velocity points is really worth.

For arguments sake lets say a velocity point = 1c of value. This would look like (Blue status HH):

4710 hh points = $29.67 of room redemption. Convert to QFF at 6.67 = 706 points. Maybe AU$7.06 through $28.24 depending on how you value your QFF points. Hilton offers no conversion to Velocity from HHonors points.

3140 + 500 miles = 21.67 of room redemption + 500 velocity points worth maybe $5 = 26.67 (and you can't apparently use QFF as the recipient of the miles)

Its a worse for the variable miles of course.

Now, I realise I've only done a few dummy bookings and have only provided one example of that above (South Wharf). Do I need to keep looking for the real value or does this sort of value calculation sound about right to long time HHonors people?

Interestingly, if I book this same hilton room via QFF I'll get the same daily rate, $314, but earn 942 QFF points worth $9.42 through $37.68. I'd presumably still obtain the status under HH because I'm still staying there and status appears to be linked to stays not points accrual/earning

So, I'm struggling a bit to see the value in keeping and bothering with Hhonours points. But, like all these sorts of programs, there will be some hidden value in here I'm sure which long time users will know about.

Anyone care to help me understand what I'm missing?

 

[serfty]

There's a good thread of FT in relation to this, but ½¢ per point is reasonable ball park value:

• What is the Value of Hilton HHonors Points? - Page 4 - FlyerTalk Forums

I recently redeemed 2 nights for 80K Honours points at the Hilton Tokyo. Best available rate was ¥35,000 per night (~$420) so that's over 1¢ per point.

For tips on the best value, this thread from FT has some good discussion:

• Paying for a Stay: Hilton HHonors Points versus Money or Cash - Page 3 - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[JohnK]

HHonors points do not appear to be worth very much.

I don't feel the need to waste 40,000 Hhonors points on a room that is potentially worth ~AUD300-400.

I would be interested to see if there are cheaper ways of redeeming HHonors points to get more value (i.e more nights) out of my HHonors points.

The other alternative as you mention is 10,000 HHonors points = 1,500 QFF points which I value at ~AUD37.50 (possibly higher) so 40,000 Hhonors points would convert to ~AUD150 value with QFF which would be a lot more useful to me than a ~AUD400 a night room.

 

[serfty]

Another way to look at things is the earn/burn ratio.

Let's say you are HHonors Gold. (Easy to get, check the MVP thread)

As a gold you can earn 17.5 HHonors points per $* spent, so that 40,000 points would take an expenditure of $2290 so it would take 5½ nights to earn one free night at the rate I mentioned.


*USD - it's at parity with the Aussie currently.

 

[JohnK]

I understand but what someone like me looks for is a way to be able to redeem 40,000 Hhonors points for 2 nights worth ~AUD150/night or even better 3 nights worth ~AUD100/night.

I definitely know it is not possible in Australia but may well be possible in USA or Europe.

 

[serfty]

I understand but what someone like me looks for is a way to be able to redeem 40,000 Hhonors points for 2 nights worth ~AUD150/night or even better 3 nights worth ~AUD100/night.

I definitely know it is not possible in Australia but may well be possible in USA or Europe.

It seems HHonors is not for you, such is life.

 

[JohnK]

It seems HHonors is not for you, such is life.

Not a great loss. There is always Priority Club and crack the case.

 

[Moopere]

Thanks for the responses guys. Always great to get other perspectives. As you may have inferred, I am a new HH member and dove straight for the bottom line

Such loyalty schemes don't always have to be about points, but its good to do some calculations to find out where the best value lies. As I stay at Hiltons regardless (when possible) I'll go and investigate the other thread for gaining a fast track to HH Gold for the perks that allows you - for now though it appears that FF points are best earned at the QFF or Velocity end rather than the HH end of the booking business (for my circumstances anyway).

 

[drron]

I always redeem my HH points on GLON awards-available to Gold and Diamond members.These are for top category hotels.I usually do this for European hotels eg Molino Stucky in Venice which was ~$A1000 a night when i wanted to stay so at that time cost 175000 points for $5000 value.Others have been the former Paris Hilton and the Cavalieri,Rome.

 

[Moopere]

I always redeem my HH points on GLON awards-available to Gold and Diamond members.These are for top category hotels.I usually do this for European hotels eg Molino Stucky in Venice which was ~$A1000 a night when i wanted to stay so at that time cost 175000 points for $5000 value.Others have been the former Paris Hilton and the Cavalieri,Rome.

I had a suspicion this might be the case which is what prompted my initial post.

As with FF redemptions against flights, the best value is in the top end, J and F class - redeeming for middle to bottom end services seems barely worth the points spend.

If I understand you correctly though, I need to be at least Gold status to even see these redemptions for rooms though? Does anyone know if Gold or above generally makes 'suites' available for redemption at otherwise standard Hilton Hotels?

 

[serfty]

There is no "Suite" upgrade or award/redemption provisions with HHonors.

That does not mean you wont get a suite upgrade - we did last year as Gold with a 3 night stay in Vienna.

Silver HHonors and above gives access to GLON awards. These are multi night stays at reduced rates. (Reward Codes and Points)

e.g. a 4 night stay at a category 6 hotel ( The above Hilton Tokyo is Cat 6) would cost 136,000 points rather than 160,000.