Hilton HHonors - Hilton Points -----> Airline Ticket = Airline Miles??

I am aware that Hilton Points can be redeemed for airline tickets. However, on the Southwest Forum, the discussion of redeeming Hilton Points in exchange for a Southwest airlines ticket has been stated to be not a free ticket, but actually 16 credits, which equates to a free ticket, and thus can be redeemed for a free ticket (see quote below). Is this the method that Hilton uses for redemption for tickets on all airlines, or just Southwest?


Quote from Southwest Form:
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Does anyone know if the southwest award from hilton (ticket) is a voucher or do they actually deposit 16 credits to your southwest account?
Thanks!

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They actually deposit 16 credits into your account. These credits also count toward your "Companion Pass" status. Call Rapid Rewards to confirm, but I believe this information is accurate.

assume this is what you're looking for:
http://www.hilton.com/en/hhonors/rewards/exchange_2.jhtml

unfortunately, the exchange rate is pretty weak

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

assume this is what you're looking for:
http://www.hilton.com/en/hhonors/rewards/exchange_2.jhtml

unfortunately, the exchange rate is pretty weak</font>

Actually, I believe that rack him is talking about HH Airline Rewards (http://www.hilton.com/en/hhonors/rewards/airline.jhtml), and not Reward Exchange (http://www.hilton.com/en/hhonors/rewards/exchange.jhtml) (Southwest doesn't participate in the Reward Exchange to begin with).

And to answer the original question, it depends on the airline. As an example, HH rewards on AA are issued as Incentive TrAAvel (http://www.americanairlinesincentivetraavel.com/) Certificates, thus earning miles on "award" travel. Some other airlines issue more or less regular award certificates through their frequent flier program.

Thanks Landspeed. Actually, the issue is a little different than directly exchanging Hilton points for airline miles. My question surrounds the issue of exchanging points for airline tickets, which Hilton also does with a variety of airlines, and in particular, if the exchange gives a ticket/voucher or a deposit of miles (or in the case of Southwest, credits). I figured it would be a ticket/voucher, but the Southwest discussion I saw seems to indicate it is a deposit of credits.

Thanks Eugene. So, it seems like Southwest gives credits and American Airlines gives a tickect/voucher. Anyone know how the other airlines handle the exchange?

Hi- glad Eugene could help- I get what you were asking now (the format of HH airline awards; not whether it was possible to get straight miles instead of the "direct" airline awards)

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by rack him:
My question surrounds the issue of exchanging points for airline tickets, which Hilton also does with a variety of airlines, and in particular, if the exchange gives a ticket/voucher or a deposit of miles (or in the case of Southwest, credits). I figured it would be a ticket/voucher, but the Southwest discussion I saw seems to indicate it is a deposit of credits.</font>

The deposit of 16 credits on SWA is basically the exact same thing as being issued an award ticket. Once the 16 credits are posted to your account, an award ticket is AUTOMATICALLY issued IMMEDIATELY (which is then valid for travel for 1 year). You cannot hold off on claiming your award ticket from SWA until you desire as you can with your FF miles on other airlines. Hope this helps.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by gregorygrady:
The deposit of 16 credits on SWA is basically the exact same thing as being issued an award ticket. Once the 16 credits are posted to your account, an award ticket is AUTOMATICALLY issued IMMEDIATELY (which is then valid for travel for 1 year). You cannot hold off on claiming your award ticket from SWA until you desire as you can with your FF miles on other airlines. Hope this helps.

</font>


so do these count toward companion status?
thanks

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by gregorygrady:
The deposit of 16 credits on SWA is basically the exact same thing as being issued an award ticket. Once the 16 credits are posted to your account, an award ticket is AUTOMATICALLY issued IMMEDIATELY (which is then valid for travel for 1 year). You cannot hold off on claiming your award ticket from SWA until you desire as you can with your FF miles on other airlines. Hope this helps.

</font>

Actually, it appears that there IS a difference between SW and AA's procedures. On AA it appears that you would receive miles for your flight but under SW's procedure you would not.

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

so do these count toward companion status?
thanks</font>

Yes, they count toward companion status. It's a good way to add RR credits to get to 100 if you are close. This has been discussed several times in the SWA forum on FT. Do a search for Hilton on that forum for the past year and you'll find a few threads that deal with this topic as well as purchasing the Companion Pass from Hilton for 350,000 (?) HHonors points. What's interesting is that if you use your points for the companion pass, you are issued 100 Rapid Rewards credits (which actually means you get a companion pass AND 6 free RT tickets). So if you use the companion pass and the 6 free tix together, that is 12 free tix for 350,000 points. Not a bad deal!!

This is an interesting topic since I have just encountered a situation deciding whether to use AA miles or Hilton points.

AA - 25,000 miles for a domestic award.
same 25,000 miles = 50,000 Hilton points

Hilton - 100,000 points for an AA ticket.
same 100,000 points = 15,000 AA miles.

It doesn't seem that transfer is worthwhile in either direction. I have too many Hilton points relative to my AA miles. So I decided to issue a Hilton/AA ticket which also earns miles.

Any other opinions or considerations?



[This message has been edited by ChaseTheMiles (edited Feb 19, 2004).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ChaseTheMiles:
This is an interesting topic since I have just encountered a situation deciding whether to use AA miles or Hilton points.

AA - 25,000 miles for a domestic award.
same 25,000 miles = 50,000 Hilton points

Hilton - 100,000 points for an AA ticket.
same 100,000 points = 15,000 AA miles.

It doesn't seem that transfer is worthwhile in either direction. I have too many Hilton points relative to my AA miles. So I decided to issue a Hilton/AA ticket which also earns miles.

Any other opinions or considerations?

[This message has been edited by ChaseTheMiles (edited Feb 19, 2004).]</font>

I do not think that I could bring myself to pay the 50,000 mile equivalent for an otherwise 25,000 mile attainable ticket.

I would have to be FLUSHwith points.