Hilton HHonors - No more AAA rates?

Looks like Hilton has done away w/AAA rates, at least at Hilton.com. I was searching several cities and different brands this morning but saw only AARP & Gov't offered.

A front desk person at the DT Dana Point mentioned this last Jan but I hoped he had the info wrong since I was still see AAA rates up until today. He told me the rack rate would be set to match the rates previously offered for AAA...yeah, right.

Look further down the rate request page and you will see a AAA field under the "Special Accounts" section. Just enter your AAA number and the rates will appear if they are available. I just tried it this morning. Good luck.

What AAA number do they want, the club number or the whole number on my card? I've never been asked to show my AAA card. Perhaps they are tightening the rules...

Look further down the rate request page and you will see a AAA field under the "Special Accounts" section. Just enter your AAA number and the rates will appear if they are available. I just tried it this morning. Good luck.
How much of the number did you enter? I tried various portions -- the whole thing, without the state code, etc., and it didn't recognize it. Thanks.

Some properties don't offer AAA rates, but make sure you check the box marked AAA to see the AAA rates. Then when you are in the rate page, look up top and click on See ALL rates. Sometimes you an snag a better rate than even AAA, especially using the prepaid rates. Of course if you don't show, you still pay for prepaid rates. I have never had to put my AAA number in, just show my card once in a while at the desk at check in, but not very often.

Thanks yoimceo. You'd think I'd learn to wait for the entire page to load!

After trying several variations of the AAA number (most error msgs referred to validation of the AAA#) I got it to work with the entire number on my card. It's 3 digits that are not labeled, the 3 digit club code, 9 digit acct number and single digit at the far right. What a pain!

It doesn't seem HH validates the AAA # to a name tho'...since I hadn't logged in.

After a few times trying, I realized that you have to add the entire string of 13 numbers on the front of the AAA card. What a big pain. There needs to be a field in the profile where you can add your AAA number so it comes up automatically during the reservation process. Were there that many folks claiming to be AAA members that were not really members to require such a hassle?

My Southern PA AAA club card has 16 digits and it needed all of them to validate.

Making the AAA number a field in the profile isn't quite the solution - I have a habit of not identifying myself (e.g. logging in to HHonors) when I'm shopping rates.

Obviously there's been an issue with abuse of the AAA rate and/or the failure of the desk clerks to verify membership at checkin. And apparently fewer people falsely claim to be members of AARP.

This new "enhancement" is a royal pain in the behind. It's hard enough for me to remember my HHonors number!

And for me, its the 3untiltled+3club+9membership+1random that does the trick.

Again - what a pain!!!!!! :( :( :(

Why doesn't Hilton just allow AAA to be input (like Marriott does) & then verify the card at check-in? No way any of us will ever remember our AAA #s, and it's a hassle to pull out card etc (ok, not an outrageous one, but you'd think they'd want to make it easier for us - no wait, then they'd list a range of rates on the site when you first put in location to allow you to narrow down your search - sorry, I digress).

Why doesn't Hilton just allow AAA to be input (like Marriott does) & then verify the card at check-in? No way any of us will ever remember our AAA #s, and it's a hassle to pull out card etc.
That's exactly what Hilton USED to do.

They've gone in the wrong direction now, it seems. :(

My Southern PA AAA club card has 16 digits and it needed all of them to validate.


Likewise for Canadian cards - 16 digits. You'd think it would be consistent with other applications. Amtrak, for example, needs only Club number and the basic part of your member number. I'm storing the number on my desktop for convenience, then just doing a copy & paste for Hilton... saves time.

Why are you guys going though all this trouble?
The AAA rates are exactly the same as the AARP rates.
Just book the AARP rates and off you go.
I have NEVER EVER ONCE been asked to present a AAA or AARP card on check in.

mike

Why are you guys going though all this trouble?
The AAA rates are exactly the same as the AARP rates.
Just book the AARP rates and off you go.
I have NEVER EVER ONCE been asked to present a AAA or AARP card on check in.

mike

Well, you have to at least look SOMEWHAT like you're 50 years old. If you're a 20-something (or a lucky young-looking non-AARP senior citizen), it ain't likely to fly. Also, there are times when I have found AAA rates to be available but not AARP rates, and vice versa.

I agree with the other posters. This new "enhancement" is a real pain. Of course, this just might discourage us from looking for the lower AAA rate and just go with the rack rate............ Think that could be one motive for the change? naw.............

I think the answer can be found in MIKESILV's post - too much abuse of the rate by non-members. As soon as everyone piles onto the AARP rate expect the same thing to happen there.

Why Hilton can't just tighten the requirement to show AAA ID at check-in, I'll never know...

I think the answer can be found in MIKESILV's post - too much abuse of the rate by non-members. As soon as everyone piles onto the AARP rate expect the same thing to happen there.

Why Hilton can't just tighten the requirement to show AAA ID at check-in, I'll never know...

You dont know right you are. I do agree that this probably due to abuse of these rates ( though some here will surely say its Hilton's own fault for allowing it)
By my way of thinking if you want to get the AAA rate join the AAA it only costs about $30.00 a year, or risk being asked by an on the ball CSR ( there are not very many of those) for a card.
Would one be more embarrassed by being asked for an AAA card than an AARP card?
Is it not easier to just put the AAA # in at booking than losing those rate completely?

Incidentally I always have my AAA and my AARP cards with me (I just dont get asked to produce them yet I am always told I dont look a day over 35 :) )

mike

I just called the Diamond Desk about this and they said mine is not the first call they've gotten, but all they can do is forward the request to have a field added where it will store the AAA number.

Meanwhile, I've found a PARTIAL workaround: If/while you already have a future reservation at a hotel that's at the AAA rate, if you go to view that reservation from My Travel Planner, then click on "make another reservation at this hotel", the screen you get is different than the "start from scratch" one and has a AAA box which is pre-checked. This doesn't work if you need to book at a different hotel, though.

join the AAA it only costs about $30.00 a year

Off-topic, but you folks in Florida are getting a great deal!

Amtrak has required the card to be put in for ages, you get use to it. I believe they are making us put it in up front now because it's easier for them then if they have to do it on the other end.

$30, I'd kill for that.

Off-topic, but you folks in Florida are getting a great deal!

You post had me go check the annual fee and I am sorry to report that I posted incorrect info. Its $60/year for the primary member and $30.00 for all others.
Maybe we're not so lucky after all.
mike

I couldn't find a AAA rate when I tried booking for tonight (and didn't find this thread), so I'm staying at the FFI. Good thing, though. The HI here only has high speed internet in the lobby, and the FFI has it in-room.

Well, I can't even get logged in tonight. Anybody else having problems? I tried Hilton.com, Hampton's site, and the HiltonHHonors site, but all failed to let me in.

Yes, all the sites are down, including the beta.

Yes, it's a pain and annoying that they can't train front-desk staff to look at the cards if that's such a big concern.
But what's even more annoying is typing in any variation on your membership number and to keep getting error messages. If I knew the correct one, the computer would remember it and I wouldn't. But if Hilton keeps spitting it out, I'm sunk.
Right now, the best I can do is check to see if there's an AARP rate. If so, then I know a AAA rate lurks and I do the phone thing. I'm going to check with HH to see about getting my number fixed.
A pain, but sometimes worth the hassle. Once stayed at an ES in Phoenix North and was quoted a $99 rate. When I asked about AAA, it plunged to $55. And they didn't ask me for my card at check-in.

Only once in my Diamond or Gold life with Hiltonm have I ever been asked for my card at check-in. This was at the Pointe Hilton - Tapatio.

The change may be a request from AAA. They are the big losers when people get the discounts without the membership.

I keep my membership mostly for the 10% off all my Hilton stays. I think I've only had to show the card twice.

As far as AAA's other benefits, I've found that the few times I've needed a tow truck that it's quicker to call a local company with no AAA affiliation than to wait for AAA to send someone. I am not that patient!

Yes, it's a pain and annoying that they can't train front-desk staff to look at the cards if that's such a big concern.True story - last night I stayed at a (Non Hilton) hotel in Princeton, NJ. This morning the bill was slid under the door. It had my name, in the address field it showed (GET ADDRESS AT CHECK-IN).

A user should be able to see the AAA rate without doing anything, and then input the AAA number if they go to book it, IMHO.

Why are you guys going though all this trouble?
The AAA rates are exactly the same as the AARP rates.
Just book the AARP rates and off you go.
I have NEVER EVER ONCE been asked to present a AAA or AARP card on check in.

mike

Not always Mike. When I was making this evenings reservation, the AAA rate was considerably lower than the AARP rate. This was the first time I have ever noticed such a drastic difference between the two.

Not always Mike. When I was making this evenings reservation, the AAA rate was considerably lower than the AARP rate. This was the first time I have ever noticed such a drastic difference between the two.
And sometimes the AARP rate is lower than the AAA rate. And sometimes one rate is available, but the other isn't.

Amtrak has required the card to be put in for ages, you get use to it. I believe they are making us put it in up front now because it's easier for them then if they have to do it on the other end.


Mike,

You're correct that Amtrak has required that the number be entered on-line for a very long time. However, Amtrak at least is a little nicer with their procedure than Hilton is now being. At Amtrak's site, you only need to enter your number to actually complete the reservation. Anyone can check the AAA rate though, without needing to enter the number first.

The Amtrak method to me seems to make a lot more sense, than the new Hilton method. One shouldn't need the number just to check the rates, only to actually book that rate should require entering your AAA number.

I agree with Alan. You should be able to check the AAA rates without putting in your AAA number. Putting in the number should ONLY be required if you are actually reserving rooms at the AAA rate.

I suspect what happened is that HHonors took the easy way out in programming the website. I.e., this change was easier to make and so that's how it was done. The consequences for the user were probably not top priority, unfortunately.

Obviously there's been an issue with abuse of the AAA rate and/or the failure of the desk clerks to verify membership at checkin. And apparently fewer people falsely claim to be members of AARP.

According to the Terms and Conditions of the AARP rate, it is
"Plan Description:
AARP MEMBERS AND SENIORS OVER 50+ ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RATE.
NO BLACKOUT DATES OR SPECIAL EVENTS."
As I read it, there is no requirement of AARP membership.

The loophole (for me, anyway) is that there's no requirement to be 50 for AARP membership if your spouse is over 50. So I've been an AARP member since I was 41 or 42 and availing myself of the AARP rate for most of that time. :D

How much of the number did you enter? I tried various portions -- the whole thing, without the state code, etc., and it didn't recognize it. Thanks.
Some (older? west coast? both? other?) cards don't have 16 digits ANYWHERE on them (lableled or unlabeled). (I just requested a new card from AAA but it'll be a week or so before I get it, I'm told.)

If you only have a 13-digit number (including club code) on your card, like I have on my couple-year-old Auto Club of Southern California AAA membership card, here's what you need to do:

1. Add 429 before it. AAA told me that 429 is the code to distinguish AAA numbers apart from other 16-digit numbers (like credit card numbers).

2. Then comes the 3-digit club code.

3. Then comes your 8-digit membership number.

4. Then comes the FIRST of the two digits that's separated by a space from your membership number.

5. You've now got 15 digits. The last one is random (well, at least AAA themsevles can't tell me what that digit is!). Fortunately, there's only 10 possibilities. So try them one by one. Note: Try only two possibilities at a time, then try a rate lookup without ANY AAA number. (If you try three wrong possiblities in a row, it starts telling you to call for help instead of just telling you your AAA number was invalid! But that's reset by a successful non-AAA rate lookup.)

I used a labeler to add the "429" and my last digit onto the front of my card, until I get a card which has all 16 digits on there "from the factory".

(If instead you think you only have 13 digits but you have "429" before that but unlabeled, just use the "429" followed by the 13 digits you do have. The last "extra" digit in THAT case is probably already correct.)

A user should be able to see the AAA rate without doing anything, and then input the AAA number if they go to book it, IMHO.

It may be AAA's idea and if it is, I think it's faulty logic. You should be able to see the AAA rate and think, "I should join AAA to save some money." or "I wish I was over 50 so I could qualify for the AARP rate." OK, maybe not the last.

It took a call to HH to get the 16 numbers figured out. I swear the field was only 15 digits when I first tried it. I ended up making a reservation through AAA.com to find the rate and then booked through Hilton when the AARP was the same.

Actually, that is OFTEN the case, but not always.

I was just booking 2Tree in San Jose, and there is a difference in the AAA and AARP rates: $179 AAA, $161 AARP, in an instance where someone was deciding to stay tonight in a Premium King (or 2 Queens) NS room.

I've found this to occur on other bookings as well, and I always check to see ALL rates, 'cause you never know. And I have been asked once or twice for my AAA card (hmm, I wonder why they never ask for my AARP card? Or card me at the bar? :o )

Why are you guys going though all this trouble?
The AAA rates are exactly the same as the AARP rates.
Just book the AARP rates and off you go.
I have NEVER EVER ONCE been asked to present a AAA or AARP card on check in.

mike

I discovered this problem this week and I am hopefull that Hilton will move quickly to allow us to store our AAA membership numbers in our profiles to avoid having to type the 16 digit number every time we come back to the Hilton site. I don't have a problem with giving my number, I just don't want to have to get my wallet every time I need to reserve a hotel room.

Another disturbing trend I have been seeing recently is "AAA RATES" that are the SAME as "STANDARD RATES" on the hotel site. I can understand that if a property is getting full, they might make the AAA rate unavailable, but to post up the AAA rate when it is no different from the standard rate seems like a violation of the relationship between Hilton and AAA. My understanding is that my AAA membership is supposed to give me 10% off the "standard rate" at Hilton properties. Anyone have a theory on this one? I saw it several times this week.

........My understanding is that my AAA membership is supposed to give me 10% off the "standard rate" at Hilton properties......

I have seen this quoted also. The AAA web site is a goofy one so I rarely use it. As for the AAA rates on the HH web site, the AAA rates typically vary from 0-20% less than the hotels web "BEST AVAILABLE RATE BEST UNRESTRICTED RATE" rate, ie SEA Hilton May 3 2004 for 1 night 1 person:

-----------------------------------------------------------
AAA RATE I.D. CARD REQUIRED

149.00 USD BED TYPE ASSIGNED AT CHECK-IN
159.00 USD 2 KING BEDS POOL VIEW
159.00 USD 1 KING BED
149.00 USD HILTON GUEST ROOM
149.00 USD 2 DOUBLE BEDS


AARP RATE AARP I.D. CARD REQUIRED AT CHECK-IN (details)

142.00 USD BED TYPE ASSIGNED AT CHECK-IN
151.00 USD 2 KING BEDS POOL VIEW
151.00 USD 1 KING BED
142.00 USD HILTON GUEST ROOM
142.00 USD 2 DOUBLE BEDS


BEST AVAILABLE RATE BEST UNRESTRICTED RATE (details)

159.00 USD 1 KING BED
149.00 USD 2 DOUBLE BEDS
149.00 USD HILTON GUEST ROOM
------------------------------------------------------------

MisterNice

If you have the "auto complete" feature enabled on your browser then you only have to type in the AAA number once. From then on, just click on the empty box and a drop town will appear with the number in it. Click on the number and voila!, you saved yourself about 15 keystrokes.

I typically find AAA rates are the cheapest, but tonight I was looking for a room at the HGI Calabasas, CA and the AAA rate was $119 and std rate was $114. Whatever.

I did have to put in ALL the digits on my AAA card to get rates (irritating). It kep them when I kept going back to click on new hotel (ok). It was very irritating that i had to click on individual hotels to get rate quotes at all. It took me forever (actually a lot more!) to friggin' get rates for Freddies & dhammer tour for Hilton site than on Marriott site. Marriott brings up the codes at ALL qualifying hotels (or is that hotels that have qualifyiing rates?) - bottom line - why would I go to Hilton if I was a member of both programs when Hilton is SUCH a pain & Marriott isn't. I'm not saying Marriott's perfect (let's head off that argument at the pass), but their ability to bring up a range of rates for every hotel is a BIG PLUS!!! And they bring it up for every hotel when I plug in codes - for friggin Hilton I have to go in to each individual hotel again & plug in rates to get them listed (I list one rate for Marriott & it will bring up 15 hotels that qualify - for example - can narrow it down) - Hilton, are you listening? Nope you're not - I've written about this a # of times..

Stefan :-:

You get a gold star for posting useful information - from this FTer, anyway! Thanks! :D

johnkey - thanks! too. ^ Some folks forget the auto complete feature...

Some (older? west coast? both? other?) cards don't have 16 digits ANYWHERE on them (lableled or unlabeled). (I just requested a new card from AAA but it'll be a week or so before I get it, I'm told.)

If you only have a 13-digit number (including club code) on your card, like I have on my couple-year-old Auto Club of Southern California AAA membership card, here's what you need to do:

1. Add 429 before it. AAA told me that 429 is the code to distinguish AAA numbers apart from other 16-digit numbers (like credit card numbers).

2. Then comes the 3-digit club code.

3. Then comes your 8-digit membership number.

4. Then comes the FIRST of the two digits that's separated by a space from your membership number.

5. You've now got 15 digits. The last one is random (well, at least AAA themsevles can't tell me what that digit is!). Fortunately, there's only 10 possibilities. So try them one by one. Note: Try only two possibilities at a time, then try a rate lookup without ANY AAA number. (If you try three wrong possiblities in a row, it starts telling you to call for help instead of just telling you your AAA number was invalid! But that's reset by a successful non-AAA rate lookup.)

I used a labeler to add the "429" and my last digit onto the front of my card, until I get a card which has all 16 digits on there "from the factory".

(If instead you think you only have 13 digits but you have "429" before that but unlabeled, just use the "429" followed by the 13 digits you do have. The last "extra" digit in THAT case is probably already correct.)

5. You've now got 15 digits. The last one is random (well, at least AAA themsevles can't tell me what that digit is!)

My AAA card has 16 numbers. Type in all of them, or just add 0 at the end. Do what Stefan says, couldn't have said it better.

After many attempts to enter my Canadian 16 digit number, I gave up. I found a much easier method to get the AAA rates. A method, that if everyone uses, is likely to be much more effective in getting Hilton to correct this problem. (And it is a problem.)

I book using Travelocity.

After many attempts to enter my Canadian 16 digit number, I gave up.

I wonder why it's not working right for you? I have no trouble with an expired BCAA (presumably your affiliate too?) card.

I just use
620 273 XXXXXXX XXX without the spaces.

I book using Travelocity.But you won't get HHonors points... :(

Really? When did that start?

From http://www.hilton.com/en/hhonors/points/points.jhtml#points_for_hotel_stays

Eligible Rate stays are stays at all rates except wholesale/tour operator packages, contracted airline crew rates, complimentary or barter rooms, stays on NET Group, Series Group or IT Group rates, contracted Entertainment or Encore rates and stays using airline percent-off award certificates. Stays that are booked via third party websites other than the websites of Hilton HHonors airline partners are not Eligible Stays irrespective of rate paid, for the purpose of earning points, miles or stay credit toward VIP tier status.

So you should not make any assumptions that you will get stay credits when it's booked on Travelocity as the rule states that you don't. So even though you can enter the AAA number there, it's pointless unless you don't want to earn points.

My AAA card has 16 numbers. Type in all of them, or just add 0 at the end.
In my case, the last digit does NOT work if I put in 0 (for that last digit that AAA couldn't tell me). I tried almost every one of the 10 possible digits before I found one that worked. I thus assume it may some kind of "check" digit which has to match up in some way with all the other digits.

More confusion: I got a "AAA Premier" (new level above AAA Plus, where for $26/year above AAA Plus they'll tow you 200 miles instead of just 100) temporary add-on card in the mail the other day, and it's got my membership number in a different format that my main card! It's got an extra 0 between the club code and my membership number, and it's only got 15 digits total on the card (since it's missing both the extra digits after my membership number). How confusing!

(I still waiting to get my replacement "normal" AAA membership card.)

Really? When did that start?
A few months ago, I think. It's been often mentioned here on FlyerTalk, but usually buried within discussions on other subjects (such as this one :) ).

See the post from Empress above where the exact rule is quoted from the HHonors website.

Really? When did that start?
More than a year ago. It's been discussed in numerous threads, most prominently, this one (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=130656).

What a pain this now is. :(

I don't always have access to my AAA number and I just now needed it to check rates and I'm shut out.

Can't they make this something we enter into our HHonors profile like our frequent flyer numbers, and that just automatically pulls it from there and loads it when we log in?

I just click once on the AAA box and there's drop down with my AAA number there; I assume that has something to do with a setting in Internet Explorer.

I assume that has something to do with a setting in Internet Explorer.

Thanks. But that doesn't work for me. You must have auto-fill turned on with IE. I don't and don't want to for security reasons. Not to mention the fact that I use public computers quite often while on the road, and it wouldn't work in those situations either.

I've just checked a bunch of hotel rates using my AAA number. In nearly every case, the AAA rate matched the Best Available Rate. In the past, there seemed to be more discrepancies. Likewise, I haven't been able to find a better third party rate lately for the Best Rate Guaranteed.

Perhaps we aren't missing out as much as one thinks. At least in my world, everything has gotten a little bit more tightened up ratewise.

My CAA number now appears to be working.

But it seems I got credit for the Travelocity bookings in any case.

I'm trying to check if there's a AAA rate at the Rome Airport Hilton - but I don't see a AAA box to input my AAA number.

Last time I did this I'm pretty sure there was a AAA box....

Anyone know anything about this? Thanks.

I'm trying to check if there's a AAA rate at the Rome Airport Hilton - but I don't see a AAA box to input my AAA number.


Never seen it for non-U.S/Canada Hiltons (since they're Hilton International, or don't have AAA/CAA in country).

I've gotten AAA rates with Marriott hotels in UK. Renaissance LHR in particular - and I don't have to plug in the # when making the res, just check that box. I do have to show the card, though, upon check-in.

Hilton, that would be better - I'm w/ Premex - I don't always have it & I certainly don't have the # memorized. Let us check it as a category & then make us produce the card. That I don't have a problem w/.

Never seen it for non-U.S/Canada Hiltons (since they're Hilton International, or don't have AAA/CAA in country).
I have! Numerous times, in fact! Though certainly not on ALL overseas Hiltons/Conrads.

I have! Numerous times, in fact! Though certainly not on ALL overseas Hiltons/Conrads.

So would y'all assume if I don't see a triple A option on the Rome Airport Hilton's booking page - it's because that property doesn't have those rates anymore? :(

Deleted. I misread something.

So would y'all assume if I don't see a triple A option on the Rome Airport Hilton's booking page - it's because that property doesn't have those rates anymore? :(

That would be my assumption.

You can normally count on AAA rates when AARP rates are offered and both are usually identical. Before I fumble for my AAA card, I'll check off AARP to see what's on offer.
Alas, the SF Hilton recently proved to be the exception to the rule. I guess I should at least be glad I'm a ways from being eligible for AARP rates.

The rates may indeed vary - either AAA or AARP may prove to be the most eaconomical, and sometimes package rates. It's a good idea to search ALL rates initially (within parameters that are important to you personally - e.g. specific bedding, smoking vs. non-smoking, etc.)

There are worse things than being eligible to join AARP (age 50,) by the way. Dead is one that comes to mind... ;)


You can normally count on AAA rates when AARP rates are offered and both are usually identical. Before I fumble for my AAA card, I'll check off AARP to see what's on offer.
Alas, the SF Hilton recently proved to be the exception to the rule. I guess I should at least be glad I'm a ways from being eligible for AARP rates.