Hilton HHonors - Bonus Partner Point Question

In the past I have always been kind of negligent about requesting (during check-in) the points for using Hilton partners. I always just handed them my Honors and FF card thinking I was getting what I was entitled to. I then started noticing the blanks for "bonus" AL and car on my checkout statements. I started requesting for this to be filled in during my last checkout. The Embassy Suites clerk said my information was already in there. I explained to her that it needed to be in both places and she copied the numbers into the bonus blank (didn't ask to see a ticket stub or anything). My question is this: For my future reference what is required to be shown in order to get the bonuses? I assume they probably want to see a boarding pass or something. What do they need to see from the car rental agency? The rental agreement? Also, since many of the clerks seem oblivious to all this what information should they be putting in the bonus car field? Is that a rental agreement number or Wizzard number (I'm use Avis) or what? Thanks in advance, Stan

All the requirements are here:
http://www.hilton.com/en/hhonors/points/points.jhtml#travel

But doesn't the airline bonus go away as of April 1 anyway?

So, if airline bonuses are going away April 1st (has this been confirmed?), then I guess we should just start putting down our National or Thrifty car rental numbers in it's place?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by StanTheMan:
My question is this: For my future reference what is required to be shown in order to get the bonuses? I assume they probably want to see a boarding pass or something. What do they need to see from the car rental agency? The rental agreement? Also, since many of the clerks seem oblivious to all this what information should they be putting in the bonus car field? Is that a rental agreement number or Wizzard number (I'm use Avis) or what? Thanks in advance, Stan</font>

With AVIS it's different than with the rest of car rental partners, as you need to designate HHonors for your miles/points choices at the AVIS counter (you can't have both HH points and airline miles for the same AVIS rental).

With other car rental partners (e.g., National), you can get both miles (requested at the car rental counter) and HH bonus points (requested at the Hilton check-in, formally car rental agreement or car keys are required, but usually just asking the front desk person to put "NA" in the "CR" field on your folio does the trick).

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by E:
So, if airline bonuses are going away April 1st (has this been confirmed?), then I guess we should just start putting down our National or Thrifty car rental numbers in it's place?</font>

Yes, 250 HH points bonus for flying a partner airline within 24 hours of your HH stay is scheduled to be gone at the end of this quarter. It has been confirmed.

But car rental bonus has never been "competing" with airline partner bonus, as you could've always gotten both (if using both). Separate fields - "CR" field for car rental bonus, and "AL Bonus" field for airline partner.

When I posted the original question the main thing I wanted to know was what goes in the bonus car rental field (at the Hilton property) if you are using Avis? Is this an actual rental agreement number or just a code like AV or something? I understand that the bonus AL is going away. Thanks in advance. Stan

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by StanTheMan:
When I posted the original question the main thing I wanted to know was what goes in the bonus car rental field (at the Hilton property) if you are using Avis? Is this an actual rental agreement number or just a code like AV or something? I understand that the bonus AL is going away. Thanks in advance. Stan</font>

Stan -- If you read carefully my response to your post above, you'll see the answer to your question... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

But I'll repeat, just in case:

With AVIS it's different than with the rest of car rental partners, as you need to designate HHonors for your miles/points choices at the AVIS counter instead of at the HH check-in (you can't have both HH points and airline miles for the same AVIS rental).

It's different with the other rental car partners (e.g., National, Thrifty, etc.) though when you can request both miles (at the car rental counter) and bonus HH points at the hotel check-in.

Eugene, if I follow you correctly does that mean that if I use Avis I need to weigh whether it is better to get 50 airline miles per day (from Avis) or to get 250 Honors points per rental (from Avis) and I will get nothing additional through Hilton? I think that's what you are telling me. Thanks, sorry if I'm being slow. :-)

Stan

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by StanTheMan:
Eugene, if I follow you correctly does that mean that if I use Avis I need to weigh whether it is better to get 50 airline miles per day (from Avis) or to get 250 Honors points per rental (from Avis) and I will get nothing additional through Hilton? I think that's what you are telling me. </font>

Exactly. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

OK..correct me if I'm wrong here.

You should get 250 points directly from Avis.

You should ALSO get 250 in the stay summary (when you reciew it online) from HHonors.

I think we're confusing bonuses.

National also gives you the choice of 50 miles or 250 HHonors points. But, you ALSO get 250 HHonors points DIRECTLY from HHonors for making sure that one of the partner companies are in the folio.

When you review your stay online, and click on the details link, it should say something like this for the stay:

Delta Double Dip 500*
Base Points 1,206**
Diamond VIP - 2002 603**
DL PARTNER 250**
National Car Rental 250**

*these are miles
**all of these are HHonors points

The points that you get directly from the car comapny that will post under Non-Hotel Activity.

If I'm mistaken, please do not take offense. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by dbmaury:
OK..correct me if I'm wrong here.

You should get 250 points directly from Avis.

You should ALSO get 250 in the stay summary (when you reciew it online) from HHonors.
</font>

I'm going to correct you. Avis can give you 250 HHonors points or 50 miles/day at their counter. HHonors cannot give you points for Avis at checkin in the same that they can give the National partner bonus.

From the HHonors TOS:
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">
Avis - For rentals during stays at any HHonors hotel, Members earn 500* Partner Bonus Points. Members must present a valid HHonors membership card at a participating Avis rental counter to earn points.
National Car Rentals - For rentals during stays at any HHonors hotels. Members earn 250 Partner Bonus Points. Members must present a valid car rental agreement or keys at hotel check-in.

*500 bonus points valid through December 31st, 2001. Traditional 250 bonus points to apply thereafter.
</font>

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by dbmaury:
OK..correct me if I'm wrong here.

You should get 250 points directly from Avis.

You should ALSO get 250 in the stay summary (when you reciew it online) from HHonors.

&lt;snip&gt;

If I'm mistaken, please do not take offense. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif</font>

dbmaury -- Absolutely no offense, but you are indeed mistaken, as it works differently with AVIS (compared to the rest of car rental partners). You only receive 250 HH points (it was 500 last year though) directly from AVIS.

My bad!

this is really a moot point from April 1 on...

like Eugene said, there will be no more travel partner bonuses for the HHonors program at check in. Fellas, use these last few days wisely, b/c there's a bunch of new changes that will be in effect beginning April 1, 2002.

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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by mitquack:
like Eugene said, there will be no more travel partner bonuses for the HHonors program at check in. </font>

That's not exactly what I said... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

While airline partner bonus (250 HH points) will disappear as of April 1, 2002, car rental partner bonus (e.g, 250 HH points for renting from AVIS in conjunction with your HH stay) will still be available. And while when renting from AVIS this bonus needs to be requested at the AVIS counter, you will be able to request it at Hilton check-in when renting from Thrifty and National.


[This message has been edited by Eugene (edited 03-21-2002).]

once again, Eugene, you're the man!

I've checked with HHonors, and it's confirmed that the Airline Partners bonus AND the Amtrak bonus will be gone. However, the car rental bonuses are still there.

By the way, the standard procedure for the front clerks is to ask for your rental agreement for verification purposes.

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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by mitquack:
By the way, the standard procedure for the front clerks is to ask for your rental agreement for verification purposes.
</font>

Do they ever do this? The majority of my stays are at one hotel and I always just tell 'em "mark down National".

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by FlyByMike:
Do they ever do this?</font>

Not in my experience. Rules require you to show either rental contract or car keys indicating your rental from one of the partners, but usually your word is good enough. Hopefully, not too many people abuse it.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Eugene:
...Hopefully, not too many people abuse it.</font>

my sentiments exactly. HHonors has been good to me and I'm sure a lot of other FlyerTalkers.
As far as procedure goes, I'm almost certain that it also depends on your status too; for instance, Diamonds may be given a bit more latitude simply because they've proven to be the most frequent travelers. I guess that's just another way to please the elite customers. See, one more incentive to be a Diamond, I'll get there soon.


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share the knowledge = share the wealth

Just a Duck in a Pond Quacking Away!