Hilton HHonors - Air Only Rewards

I'm thinking about reedeming some Hilton points for two FF6B certficates (RT US to UK) hopefully on Continental. Haven't down this before and a few questions: 1) once I get the certificates do I book throught Hilton or CO?; 2) any experience with actual availability (severe capacity controls?; 3)would tickets earn FF miles?

Any help gratefully appreciated....

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by milesmilesmiles:
I'm thinking about reedeming some Hilton points for two FF6B certficates (RT US to UK) hopefully on Continental. Haven't down this before and a few questions: 1) once I get the certificates do I book throught Hilton or CO?; 2) any experience with actual availability (severe capacity controls?; 3)would tickets earn FF miles?

Any help gratefully appreciated....</font>

First of all, FF6b can not be used on CO. For more details, see http://www.hilton.com/en/hhonors/rewards/airline.jhtml .

If you decide to go on AA instead, you will earn miles (there are other options, including BA, UA and US, but you are not supposed to earn miles with those). Availability on AA is based on N class. Once you get the certs, you'll book through AA (you'll have to call the meeting desk, as they are handling HH-issued AA certs).

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Eugene:
First of all, FF6b can not be used on CO. </font>

Darn... but thanks.

Wow. That means AA is a no-brainer.

Are you saying you could potentially buy something like:

SFO-MIA-LHR-MIA-SFO using this reward, earning 14,020 base miles (and possibly 14,020 status bonus) = 28,040 miles. Then convert them to back to HH for 56,080 HH points?

If so, that brings the net cost of this award to under 100K HH points.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by channa:
If so, that brings the net cost of this award to under 100K HH points.</font>

Yep. Look at this as a very nice rebate... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Or, for someone thinking about exchanging 150,000 HH points into AA miles, the scenario you've presented will yield more AA miles (counting elite bonuses), give a free ticket to Europe, and on top of that, pad their YTD q-miles an extra 14K and q-points an extra 7K!

Can you upgrade to F on AA with an "N" fare. Using a VIPOW?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by chix:
Can you upgrade to F on AA with an "N" fare. Using a VIPOW?</font>

Not on this kind of fare. The ticket designator is for a promo fare, and, since it is unpublished, it can't be upgraded with a VIPOW or with miles. I was told, however, that you could upgrade just the domestic portion using 500 e-upgrade segments.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Eugene:
....pad their YTD q-miles an extra 14K....</font>

And their cumulative program miles by 14K as well, if they're on AA. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

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The perfect ladies' man is a perfect gentleman.

[This message has been edited by studley (edited 01-20-2003).]