Hilton HHonors - WARNING: Hilton Taking Points Away

FF Friends,

I am in a dispute with Hilton currently about them taking points out of my account because they are telling me that some of the rates associated with my stays did not qualify for points. I was told by the operator that when you check into a hotel, you need to have the rules of your stay explained and confirm the rate qualifies for HHONORS points. What kills me is that there were cheaper rates for the night I stayed that qualified. According to the operator, it does not matter how much you pay only the code associated with the stay. Also, I was told that several hotels are no longer part of the HHONORS program. This is news to me.

So team, apparently when you check in at a Hilton Hotel you need to have a verbal confirmation that your stay qualifies for HHONORS and that the hotel participates in the HHONORS program. Hilton is becoming difficult to work with over the last several months. I don't know if they are having financial problems but I continue having problems with them posting my base points and bonus miles/points. The thing that makes it hard to understand for me is that I am also Diamond.

I have never had this problem with Marriott or Hyatt. All points post fast and accurate.

Just a warning and update. Having fun traveling.

crju

Hope this is a misunderstanding. I have never had a problem with a stay where I didn't use a discount coupon in addition to revenue. As a matter of fact, I usually get points and credit for my award stays.

Was this for a conference, where you were staying at a group rate? That is the only other situation where I know you don't get points.

Good luck getting it resolved. You might just try calling back and talking to a different person.

The Hilton website has the following language:

"Eligible Rate stays are stays at all rates except wholesale/tour operator packages, contracted airline crew rates, complimentary or barter rooms, stays on NET Group, Series Group or IT Group rates, Contracted Entertainment or Encore rates, or stays using airline percent-off award certificates."

http://www.hilton.com/en/hhonors/points/points.jhtml

Of course, it really isn't clear what "NET Group, Series Group, or IT Group rates" are.

Kathy

This is interesting because I had booked a very cheap Internet Special rate off of Hilton.com for a stay a few weeks ago. I called and they told me it earned points but NOT miles - which is NOWHERE in their rules (atleast, not last time I checked).

There "rates" aren't clear at all.

I was being told something similar twice when checking into a Hilton - both were hilton.com internet-only rates. No mentioning about the mileage earning restriction anywhere. The miles posted accurately though.

crju,

You message lacks details. Which Hilton, what rate, how was it booked, etc? The more information we have the better we can collect our efforts.

For MikeM

Hotel: Hilton Pleasanton Club
Dates: December 10 to 13
Booked: Via Hilton Website and then a Walk Up to Recheck-in when meeting added additional day.

Requested best rate for the night. Copy of CC was made and I was off. No explaination on rules or anything.

Hope this helps.

I seem to remember that at one time there were certain discount leisure rates that didn't qualify for Honors points, but they s**tcanned that.. and that except for contract rates, or stays prepaid via some websites,etc. that they all qualify? I'd email Adam or Kristy...

I've booked the Homestead Suites in San Jose for April via Expedia. There is a disclaimer on the Expedia site saying that I won't get points or miles for the visit. At about half the going rate for the area around the airport, I'm not too disaponted, but I wouldn't be surprised to see points post anyhow.

JP

Yes - that's true of stays booked via expedia, travelocity, etc. MOST of the time.. why some slip thru I couldn't tell you, but I never book through them for that reason. I have called the property, explain that I'm looking at a rate on expedia of $X, but I'm just "too afraid" to book it online and can I just book it directly w/ them... I get it about 95% of the time..

Why book the cheapest when you can book a lot of these rates on the hilton site, get a 1000 point booking bonus, double dip for airline miles etc. I figure the value to me is about $30 in Hilton points (1000 booking, 1000 as part of the 4000 bonus for every 4 paid stays, and at least 1000 points for the hilton at 1 cent per point value) and $15 in airline points (500 miles at 3 cents per mile value) for every Hilton stay (not Hamptons) and I have always been able to get as cheap a rate on the Hilton site as Expedia (but haven't looked lately). Unless it is over $30 cheaper (at least), then I'd rather get the points.

crju,

You're getting hosed! This seems to as "by-the-book" as you can get. Fight on.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by MIKEM:
crju,

You're getting hosed! This seems to as "by-the-book" as you can get. Fight on.</font>

crju -- From what I've read so far, I concur.

Would AA "1 night free following each paid night at participating hotels" certificate stays qualify for earning HH points? They are not exactly an "airline percent-off award" certificate as the Hilton language directly excludes.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by KathyWdrf:
The Hilton website has the following language:

"Eligible Rate stays are stays at all rates except wholesale/tour operator packages, contracted airline crew rates, complimentary or barter rooms, stays on NET Group, Series Group or IT Group rates, Contracted Entertainment or Encore rates, or stays using airline percent-off award certificates."

Kathy</font>