Hilton HHonors - Definitive Answer Please: Do Award Stays Really Earn ACAQ/ACAT Promo Bonus Points?

Am considering using HHonors points to "earn" back bonus points so "point" cost per night at these properties is de minimus.

Can anyone actually confirm -- not what a HHonors rep told you -- that you have actually earned the escalating bonuses -- 5,000; 10,000; 15,000; 20,000 points -- on your award stays up to a maximum of 50,000 points for 4 stays?

Thank you!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by NJUPINTHEAIR:
Am considering using HHonors points to "earn" back bonus points so "point" cost per night at these properties is de minimus.

Can anyone actually confirm -- not what a HHonors rep told you -- that you have actually earned the escalating bonuses -- 5,000; 10,000; 15,000; 20,000 points -- on your award stays up to a maximum of 50,000 points for 4 stays?

Thank you!</font>

I can confirm it. I had an award stay at a hotel in this hemisphere and had an insignificant amount in incidentals. The bonus kicked in.

As long as you have some incidental - even a $1.00 phone charge, you will definitly be ok...

Wow, GU Wonder and Private Pilot, that was real quick!!

Many thanks to both of you.

Another question, so long as I have at least one incidental charge, I know I will earn HHonors points on the charge -- besides the bonus promo points -- but does one earn their FF miles "stay" bonus, as well, provided that they do not choose to earn "double" HHonors points in lieu of the FF miles?

Thank you, again, I hope!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by NJUPINTHEAIR:
Wow, GU Wonder and Private Pilot, that was real quick!!

Many thanks to both of you.

Another question, so long as I have at least one incidental charge, I know I will earn HHonors points on the charge -- besides the bonus promo points -- but does one earn their FF miles "stay" bonus, as well, provided that they do not choose to earn "double" HHonors points in lieu of the FF miles?

Thank you, again, I hope!</font>

No FF miles.

What about stays at Scandic hotels ? Any definitive answer ?

Thanks.

I had 2 award stays in 12/03 that earned the bonuses, with very small incidentals charges.

I also had HHonors points and bonuses given at a rate that must reflect the amount that the hotel charged HHonors for the room, i.e. $32.40 for the Lyon Hilton and $50.71 for the Frankfurt Hilton, each a one nite stay. I definitely had no more than EUR6 in incidentals.

I did not receive miles to my airline program, though.

[This message has been edited by rbAA (edited Feb 03, 2004).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by yann:
What about stays at Scandic hotels ? Any definitive answer ?

Thanks.</font>

OK, did my homework. As per rule 14 (see below), it should be no different in Scandic hotels than elsewhere.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">14. Points and airline frequent-flyer mileage credit may not be earned when redeeming an HHonors Reward, frequent-flyer award, awards of travel Partners or other promotional offerings using discount or free certificates, unless otherwise stated on the Certificate. When redeeming an HHonors reward, the member may earn points for incidental charges for the stay at Hilton, Conrad, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Grand Vacation Club hotels and Hilton Garden Inn hotels. Reward stays at all HHonors hotels will count towards VIP tier qualification. However, night credits may not be earned. Members will not earn airline frequent-flyer mileage credit for HHonors hotel reward stays. </font>

Anyway, I'll be doing my last 2 ACAQ stays as awards in Scandic hotels, and post my findings here.

On one of promo paid stays at a Hilton using the best rate guarantee (76.50 rate, dropped to 26.50 after the Amex check), I had a customer service & billing problem (they upgraded me, yet charged me 400.00 for the room & charged me for the comped breakfast & when I was checked in, I was checked into an occupied room) so as an apology, they gave me my choice of a free future night at their hotel or my 76.50 back. I took the free night, was given a very nice suite & gave it to a friend & his girlfriend who were in from out of town, and before checking out, I told them to call me and the 95 cent phone call on a free stay netted me my third stay's points. Free stays count.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Another question, so long as I have at least one incidental charge, I know I will earn HHonors points on the charge -- besides the bonus promo points -- but does one earn their FF miles "stay" bonus, as well, provided that they do not choose to earn "double" HHonors points in lieu of the FF miles?

Thank you, again, I hope![/B]</font>

I received 500 miles each on award stays at Hilton Hanoi and Conrad HK.

So, does a reward stay with incidental charges at a Hampton Inn risk not getting the ACAQ bonus?

I got night & stay credit & ACAQ bonuses on my award stays, but not FF miles, so I switched to the 50% bonus to get it on my incidentals on later award stays.

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