Hilton HHonors - Hilton = FRAUD!

Called today to redeem some of my 160,000 points for a stay. Told two Orlando properties I am interested are not available "at all" for the entire next year!

Was told "forget about trying to redeem points" at these properties, they "have no available dates for HHonors stays for next 365 days"

WHAT A *&$!#@ joke, I was loyal to these *******s for past 2 years and now I get this BS. They've not only lost a loyal customer forever but will get a nice letter or two from my states attorney general. I FULLY understand limited availability and limits but 1 year plus and told that. That is fraud plain and simple. I NEVER have this type of dead end problem redeeming airline miles ever! Granted it's hard to do, but never IMPOSSBILE like Hilton is.

HILTON YOU SUCK, plain and simple, your crooks!

wow...maybe some posters here will have some advice on how to free up some dates...

What are the two Orlando properties?

By going to beta.hilton.com I was able to find availability (at a random date) in August at nearly all the hotels in Orlando (the only two that were not available were the Grand Vacations Clubs). Call back or book your stay online (if you want to use a VIP award book it online, and then call them to change it).

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Rocket-Man:
Called today to redeem some of my 160,000 points for a stay. Told two Orlando properties I am interested are not available "at all" for the entire next year!

Was told "forget about trying to redeem points" at these properties, they "have no available dates for HHonors stays for next 365 days"

WHAT A *&$!#@ joke, I was loyal to these *******s for past 2 years and now I get this BS. They've not only lost a loyal customer forever but will get a nice letter or two from my states attorney general. I FULLY understand limited availability and limits but 1 year plus and told that. That is fraud plain and simple. I NEVER have this type of dead end problem redeeming airline miles ever! Granted it's hard to do, but never IMPOSSBILE like Hilton is.

HILTON YOU SUCK, plain and simple, your crooks!</font>

Don't buy it. Call back. Play the agent game till you get what you want or real close.

So many nice replies to a guy that sounds like a total ......... We'll see if he says thanks for the advice.

Have a feeling his eyes are set on the Vacation Clubs. Are Vacation Clubs timeshares?

Does Priceline work for Orlando?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by hedoman:
Have a feeling his eyes are set on the Vacation Clubs. Are Vacation Clubs timeshares?</font>
Yes they are. Does Hilton reserve some units for cash reservations or do they sell the whole property into the timeshare? If the latter, then there would only be availability in a particular year when members traded out of Hilton timeshare properties with their points.

OP, what is the basis for the claim of fraud?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Rocket-Man:
I NEVER have this type of dead end problem redeeming airline miles ever</font>

This guy should be recruited to argue to AA to allow choosing CX when QF isn't booking North America to SYD or MEL. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Rocket-Man:
Called today to redeem some of my 160,000 points for a stay. Told two Orlando properties I am interested are not available "at all" for the entire next year!

Was told "forget about trying to redeem points" at these properties, they "have no available dates for HHonors stays for next 365 days"

WHAT A *&$!#@ joke, I was loyal to these *******s for past 2 years and now I get this BS. They've not only lost a loyal customer forever but will get a nice letter or two from my states attorney general. I FULLY understand limited availability and limits but 1 year plus and told that. That is fraud plain and simple. I NEVER have this type of dead end problem redeeming airline miles ever! Granted it's hard to do, but never IMPOSSBILE like Hilton is.

HILTON YOU SUCK, plain and simple, your crooks!</font>

I can understand your frustration, but this hardly amounts to fraud or anything like that. And it hardly makes them crooks. Look its two properties out of the entire hilton chain. I've never had problems booking awards.. have done so in Paris and Hong Kong in the last year.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by squeakr:
wow...maybe some posters here will have some advice on how to free up some dates...

</font>

I think he needs to quit being so nice and be more assertive. Oh, and maybe TYPE SOME STUFF IN CAPS too...or throw around some baseless accusations.

I remember running into a similar situation when we were trying to book a free stay at a nondescript Hilton. Problem was we wanted that particular Hilton because of a 3 day event taking place there that we were attending. I called HHonors on and off for months and was told "nothing available". Finally, someone there mentioned that the hotel needed to free up or release some rooms for award stays and notify HHonors about it.

So, I called the hotel directly and they did just that. Got the award stay but after much anxiety. If only I'd spoken to that rep earlier.

Fraud.... Attorney General.... Crooks....
Wow. Rocket Man, I am sure Hilton will miss your business. You supported them for two full years. Wow. They should have stood at attention when you wanted the specific properties, no ifs or buts.
There are ways to work with the hotel stays using points. One must just have to be patient and flexible. Calling them crooks and accusing them of fraud (what basis? This is a perk they don't have to offer) and dropping the state Attorney General's office must really have the global organization shaking... :-)

Not really sure that the Hilton thread is the best place to be complaining about Hilton, most of here are fairly loyal to them.

I wouldn't call two unnamed hotels not having any availability as fraud, but I'm one of the loyal Hilton people who must not have a clue as to what I'm talking about.

I have never, ever, not once, had trouble redeeming points for hotels with Hilton, but then again I'm fairly flexible too.

Hilton, I'm sure once you threaten them, will back down and give you the president's suite at any of their hotels for free as long as you need it. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I'm sure your State's Attorney General will be more then happy to take on your case. The case about the points you got for nothing that are not available at two properties in the counrty but probably every other location in the United States.

In response to previous post, Priceline works great in Orlando. I don't remember the exact specifics off hand, but I stayed in the Swan hotel on Disney property for ~$75/night when the Expedia / Orbitz rate was $250/night.

Rocket-Man:

GO AHEAD: Tell us how you really feel about Hilton/HHonors! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

You sure the agent didn't say:

And I think it's gone be a long long time...........

pmcg

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Rocket-Man:
Called today to redeem some of my 160,000 points for a stay. Told two Orlando properties I am interested are not available "at all" for the entire next year!

Was told "forget about trying to redeem points" at these properties, they "have no available dates for HHonors stays for next 365 days"</font>

It took a while, but I think I figured out the problem: the two properties are Holiday Inns http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

--Grog--

Facts-
2 Properties are HGVC sites,they are clearly listed as options that simply aren't available, thats fraud and mis-representation.

I called 3 seperate times very politely, and spoke to rude supervisor final time who said the "forget it" BS.

Hedoman, I don't need your insults douchebag. Just wait you'll be *****ing next as Honors is OBVIOUSLY false advertising. When the airlines have much better availability Honors is in a downword spiral.

Finally, how much more flexable can I be, openly asked for "any next available date, regardless of date" and was told that BS...UNACCEPTABLE plain and simple.

I hope you 3 critics (thank you to others) also get screwed royally cause Hiltons obviously severely devaluing the program unannounced. At least the airlines have the balls to be honest.

When I say loyal to Hilton over 27 stays in 2003 so you critics can blow me frankly.

My point to some of you nicer folks who responded - watch them, don't blindly think Honors is what it use to be. I'd have no problem IF they announced limits/changes/downgrades to program but the sneaky *******s haven't!

Hey ... love the spelling.

Bye Bye .............................

Use the same language with the Attorney General, it will help to get their attention.



[This message has been edited by cordelli (edited Feb 02, 2004).]

Although I could care less whether you get your rooms or not...I too am surprised that people took the time to answer your tirade.

Are you always this angry about matters that really are not that important? I would hope your A.G.'s have more pressing matters to tend to than whether you get to stay at a Hilton.

But...hey... it is the most interesting post on this forum at the moment....thanks for the entertainment.

I'm not even going to dignify Rocket Man's BS with a response ... and with the attitude he's shown here, well, I find it hard to believe he was very nice on the phone with CS, which makes it a not-so-big stretch of the imagination that they wouldn't want to be helpful.

Anyway, the only times I've called to book award rooms, CS told me that I had to give them specific dates to check on availability at a hotel. For example, I was looking for a GLON2 anytime in calendar year 2004 at the HGI Napa, and they said I had to give them specific dates, and they would check if rooms were available. I asked if they couldn't just run a check on available six-night stays, and they said that's not possible -- that Hilton didn't have a mechanism to be able to search for availability except with specific dates. For future reference, was that wrong? Believe me, it would be great if they could tell me what availability they had all year -- it would make me feel less like I was picking dates out of the dark.

Jeez, calm down and lighten up. I bet you have a road rage problem too http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

If you go to either of the Orlando HGVC sites directly and click on the "HHonors" link, you will find out that these properties are not assigned with any category number. I have assumer that this meant that I would not be able to book these using reward certs.

I once stayed at HGVC Sea World using my parents' timeshare swapping deal. It is a nice place, but I would not burn my points on it especially with those super-cheap timeshare promotion deals they are having.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Rocket-Man:
When I say loyal to Hilton over 27 stays in 2003 ...</font>Does this mean you're a Diamond HH member? If so, did you ask HH Diamond desk to make your award reservation? They can bypass the standard capacity controls in most situations. Of course, if these properties are not available for awards then they won't be able to help you.

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


When I say loyal to Hilton over 27 stays in 2003 so you critics can blow me frankly.

</font>

Wow. Just one more stay and you could've been a diamond. Diamond has no restrictions. Guess you messed that one up.

Or try Sanka...it takes the edge off.

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

When I say loyal to Hilton over 27 stays in 2003 so you critics can blow me frankly.

My point to some of you nicer folks who responded - watch them, don't blindly think Honors is what it use to be. I'd have no problem IF they announced limits/changes/downgrades to program but the sneaky *******s haven't!

</font>
Rocket Man
I will not comment on your choice of language - however since you write that you had more than 27 stays in 2003 you have reached the Diamond level - which you maybe already have had.
I do not know if you had it before - but did you ever call Diamond Special Services - because I can not recall when they could NOT help me - albeight I have only had that card since 1997.

Then again, not all Hilton properties are part of HH - hence you might not be able to redeem by way of consequence - as another poster pointed out above in fact is the case with the location you were looking at.

That might be disappointing - however it does not warrant for such a behaviour as you display.

Cheers

Thomas

Yes Priceline does work for Orlando properties. I have used it successfully. The successfull bidding info is available on BFT site.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Rocket-Man:
Facts-When I say loyal to Hilton over 27 stays in 2003 so you critics can blow me frankly.</font>

I guess, over 27 stays is 28?

I'm quite frankly amazed that this thread has been allowed to go on as is without being either vaporized completely or locked.

RocketMan, sorry you didn't get what you wanted, but there's absolutely no reason to rave on irrationally and use the language towards other members that you did. It sounds as if when you don't get or hear what you want, it's off to the races with personal attacks. Isn't it easier to just ignore the remarks that would tend to irk you and move on?

I hope you either take or receive a well deserved vacation from FT after posting this. I'll raise a pint of Guinness in toast to you from the Conrad Dublin, which Hilton was kind enough to secure the last award room for me on an upcoming stay.

I'd just like to emphasize the Rocket-Man and I (Rocketman) are not the same person. Please no one hate me in the future.

Rocketman (no hyphen)

closed for obvious reasons..I had hoped ROcket-Man could take some advice and finish his vent w/ the first post but...alas, not true.

thanks for your cooperation

squeakr
MOD UAL Hilton

I got p*ssed off when I was venting and was called a "........", so I reacted. Don't like it TS. Blindly follow Hilton as they screw you, remember this quote and watch!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Rocket-Man:
I got p*ssed off when I was venting and was called a "........", so I reacted. Don't like it TS. Blindly follow Hilton as they screw you, remember this quote and watch!

</font>

Let it go. Move on. Whatever it takes.

Your life is too short to worry about the little things. Smell the coffee. Life is beautiful. You are a perfect candidate for the BIG one.

It didn't work for you. S*it happens in life. None of us get everything we want. It sounds to me like you need to talk to a professional and soon!!!

Did you see any of the advice in the other thread? If you had more than 27 stays last year you qualified as an HH diamond, which wipes out most all capacity controls on awards. If the properties you wish to stay at allow award redemption then you should call the diamond desk and have them make a reservation for you.

Whether you take the above advice depends on whether you are here to bash Hilton or to figure out how to redeem an award.

How much free, friendly advice do you want? If you read thru the posts properly, you would have figured out the problem in booking the Vacation Clubs. Had you read my post, you would have noticed that I said you sound like a ......... Never did I call you a ......... But I think we all know the shape of your hats.

You also would have noticed that I was trying to get you to think of viable alternatives because nobody on this board will be booking these properties with points. At the time, I was just guessing what you were attempting to do.

Finally, it ain't cool putting up another thread to continue one that has been shut down.

[This message has been edited by hedoman (edited Feb 02, 2004).]

Rocket-Man -- You are just doing it wrong. HGVC properties require a different kind of award. See http://www.hilton.com/en/hhonors/rewards/hgvc.jhtml for more information, and be sure to ask for that specific award you need when calling HH (e.g., HGVOS for a one night at a studio, HGVO1 for a one-bedroom, etc). Keep in mind that VIP-only rewards are not valid for HGVC, thus your 160,000 points would barely get you 4 nights. And yes, I just called HH, and there is plenty of availability for Orlando (I asked for some random dates in May).

Now, that language you are using, is completely inappropriate. If nothing else, you show disrespect to the host of this board who already warned you once (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum134/HTML/000292.html).

what Eugene said.
and thanks for the info too - I'm sure it will help many folks.


squeakr
MOD UAL

Ok, some people don't seem to get it.

Anybody want in on my pool as to when this thread will be locked?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Rocket-Man:
I got p*ssed off when I was venting and was called a "........", so I reacted. Don't like it TS. Blindly follow Hilton as they screw you, remember this quote and watch!

</font>
I like Hilton and their many properties. I am thankful for the perks that HHonors gives loyal members. But, most of all, knowing that you are so upset with Hilton, I am very, very thankful that there will be NO WAY I would ever run into you at one of their beautiful properties. Amen.

I'm also one of the people who enjoy Hilton very much and have had very good luck with the awards process.

I think you feel everyone should just give you what you want, when you want it, and right now. Well this will never happen in this world with an attitude like the one you are displaying both here and the other thread that was closed down.

I say go somewhere else and see what happens. You will see it's not always better anywhere else, just about the same if you ask me.

OH yea, the airlines are very different and there are times I couldn't get a free ticket but could get a free room.

You really need a vacation dude. I heard Florida is wonderfully calming.

I have always been treated with respect by Hilton.As a gold level member,I get a lot of room upgrades.A week ago I was politely told that they recognize my status ,however,there were no rooms available to upgrade me to.
Fair enough,from my viewpoint.
Give it a break.Hilton may not be perfect,but I doubt they are as bad as you project them to be.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by dingo:
You really need a vacation dude. I heard Florida is wonderfully calming.</font>

There are already too many whiny, cranky people in Florida (especially in the winter) who think that they are the center of the universe and everyone should accomodate them, regardless of whether they are entitled to it. Don't send us another one!

Rocketman,

You are low on fuel.

Another option is to buy a HGVC timeshare and get access to the those properties that way. I own HGVC and love it. No problem getting into FL properties. Always last minute availability that you can rent for cash. I just booked 2 nights in a 2 BR at Hilton Hawaiian Village, $160 because I am an HGVC member and there was availaibility in open season. Book through Hilton.com and these units are $600 a night, if you can even find them.

Now you might get more out of HGVC with HGVC points and perhaps easy up on trying to get HGVC out of your Hilton points.

Just my experience.

I read the first post with great interest, but felt that the answers posted addressed the issue. Now this.

I for one, enjoy the Hilton Programs, especially as it compares to the Marriott or Holiday Inn programs. Breakfasts, upgrades, and more. Can't see where the complaints are, especially when trying for awards at non-participating properties.

Remember, Hilton, just like Delta includes a clause that allows them to limit award nights, and the amount may be zero.

Lesson, read the fine print.

asked and answered.

closed

thanks

squeakr
MOD Hilton