Hilton HHonors - Air Rewards with GLON/GLO9, TEEN/TEAO

Below I've listed some questions regarding TEAO (and TEEN), but here's the background that led to them:

First, Eugene (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum57/HTML/004181.html) posted that the GLO9 award, which combines GLON's 6 nights at any non-premium property plus RT air for two, has separate coupons for air and hotel, meaning you don't have to use them on the same trip.

Then dhacker (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum57/HTML/002570.html) mentioned that the TEEN award is a nice way to get 6 nights at a limited number of premium level properties in the US for only 100,000 points.

Finally, the Hilton website (http://www.hilton.com/en/hhonors/rewards/vip.jhtml) lists TEAO, which is to TEEN what GLO9 is to GLON, i.e., TEAO = TEEN + RT for two within the continental US.

So here are my questions:

1) Is TEAO like GLO9 with separately usable awards for Air and Hotel?

2) Assuming yes, are there destination restrictions on the TEAO Air coupon, other than RT anywhere in the US?

3) Has anyone had success using TEEN somewhere other than the 8 golf resort properties listed (or, more specifically, the hotel portion of the TEAO)? If so, where and how?

4) Do you think I could talk a GM at some other property into accepting the TEAO hotel coupon? If the property honors it will HHonors honor it? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cool.gif

Thanks in advance for your help.

[This message has been edited by Rut Dog (edited 10-03-2002).]

1) Is TEAO like GLO9 with separately usable awards for Air and Hotel? yes. it appears so, but one would assume only to the continental US destinations participating in TEEN

2) Assuming yes, are there destination restrictions on the TEAO Air coupon, other than RT anywhere in the US? I would guess not, but check with HHonors to make sure

3) Has anyone had success using TEEN somewhere other than the 8 golf resort properties listed (or, more specifically, the hotel portion of the TEAO)? If so, where and how? I haven't tried, but I doubt you can

4) Do you think I could talk a GM at some other property into accepting the TEAO hotel coupon? If the property honors it will HHonors honor it? doubtful but you never know!

Personally, I've never used TEEN or TEAO, but I don't believe you can use them at any other properties but those listed on the HH website as participating in this particular award. Remember, that HHonors reimburses individual properties for all award stays, and they would
have no justification to request such reimbursement for an award that is not supposed to be valid at their particular property.

On the brighter side, I'd be very surprised if the air part of the TEAO award was limited to locations of these specific properties. But
to be sure, call HH and request Star-files of the appropriate air awards and call airlines to confirm for sure.

I just found out that the air portion of these VIP awards seems to be exactly the same as the standard air rewards (but at a points discount!).

For example, the agent told me that a TEAO was simply a TEEN and an FF2. The relevance of this is that the booking process is the same (same codes, etc.).

Even as a non-golfer, I'm sure I could find something to do at these eight fine properties:

Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort, AZ
Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort, AZ
Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines, CA
Doubletree Hotel Golf Resort San Diego, CA
Hilton in the Walt Disney World Resort, FL
Hilton Sandestin Beach & Golf Resort, FL
Hilton Oceanfront Resort Hilton Head Island, SC
Hilton Waikoloa Village, HI

If the same point inflation applies to the TEEN as the GLON, one would be well advised to make arrangements by June 2003.

A year in the planning, and this is all coming to pass quite nicely thanks to FlyerTalk.

Since I knew (only from FT) that I could split the air and hotel, the original plan had been to use the air to see family in Corpus Christi, TX (a small market that never goes on sale, at least from my town) then drive to La Jolla in May to visit a dear friend in Del Mar while staying at the Torrey Pines. Because he was quite ill, we were looking forward to not having to impose on his hospitality -- he's the type who would never say "no".

Unfortunately, he passed on in November 02. So I used my FT knowledge to fly to San Diego on the cheap, staying two reward nights at the DT Del Mar in an upgraded room (thanks again, FT) that became a welcome haven that weekend. The other out of town mourners were all crammed in regular hotel rooms, which are just fine for sleeping, but certainly not very good for social interaction to say the least. My room quickly became the de facto hospitality suite, allowing for some rather memorable and touching moments. I have never been so grateful for my status, and more importanly, knowing how to work it for an upgrade. Thank you again, FT.

Then, in December 02 it was revealed here (with nary an announcment from Hilton!) that the VIP combo air rewards were to disappear on January 1st, not to mention that the points price would go up on 6/1/03. Again, I surely would have missed the tiny little note on the Hilton website without FT (holiday season and all), so I quickly redeemed my TEA0.

We used the flight portion for the family trip to TX, and will be redeeming the hotel portion in a few weeks, Oct 5-11, at Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak.

Armed with lots of good FT information on the Pointes, I'm greatly looking forward to the trip. Hopefully I can, in the words of Mrs. Rut Dog, "outdo myself again". http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

If I do, it's all because of you (plural). Thank you FT.

- Rut Dog

[This message has been edited by Rut Dog (edited 09-11-2003).]