Hilton HHonors - "Express Registration" at W=A

My confirmation for an upcoming stay at the Waldorf=Astoria suggests calling an 866 number for "Express Registration":

"For Express Registration, simply call our Arrival Coordinator at least 30 minutes prior to your anticipated arrival. Your keys will be ready and waiting for you at The Express Registration Desk, located in the Main Lobby. Hours of operation: 7am - 11pm, seven days a week."

Has anyone used this service? (A search for "Express" with other related terms didn't provide any insight.) Or is it more advantageous to wait and check-in at Diamond Reception?

I use the Diamond reception and have always received upgrades.

I was there in December and used the Diamond Desk. It's part of the "package" of being a diamond. When checking in at the Waldorf=Astoria you don't want express check-in you want exclusive check-in :rolleyes:

I would go to the diomond reception - why have a dog and bark yourself - howmany other hotels have diamond reception? - Although sometimes the que is just as big as people dont understand what it is for plus I see golds use it too - (im a gold myself but was diamond last stay there by the way - just so you dont think im a card snob)

The Waldorf are usually good with upgrades but never ever to the executive / consierge lounge. Ask for a suite and work down to a nice room with a big dressing room and bathroom and a view of the crysler building. They always say they are busy and its difficult but this is just a thing they say.

Thanks for pointing out the blindingly obvious: I do want exclusive check-in, not express check-in! ... and I will let my "dog" do the barking. :D

(However, as much as I like the "dog" analogy, to date, Diamond status has definitely NOT been a "dog"! ;) )

The Waldorf are usually good with upgrades but never ever to the executive / consierge lounge.

This is not true. In the past, they often upgraded to the lounge level (called the Astoria Lounge). Recently, they have cut that benefit back, as well as what floors get access to it.

OK, while we're at it, I've got a question about Diamond upgrades.

Many threads (and this one too) have indicated that using the Diamond Check-in service yields upgrades, and that using regular check-in usually yields regular rooms (the horror!).

I'm arriving for 4 nights and 6 nights respectively, from the west coast that usually means I will end up at the hotel around 10PM-12AM, by which time the Diamond Reception is long closed. Am I SOL for an upgrade (to suite)?

Also, it appears occupancy levels dictate the upgrades given. I'll be checking in on a Monday for 4 nights, then a Thursday for 6 nights. Under what circumstances do most Diamonds get "extraordinary" upgrades, not counting for the additional sums they paid?

Not to sound spoiled or jaded, but the regular rooms at this hotel is really nothing special. At 250 sq ft, they are among the smallest rooms I've ever stayed in, and certainly not worthy of commanding the $350 rates recently. I'd rather pay the same for the IC Barclay......anyway, I thought I'd give the W=A another try as a Diamond.....never had any luck there as Gold.

This is not true. In the past, they often upgraded to the lounge level (called the Astoria Lounge). Recently, they have cut that benefit back, as well as what floors get access to it.

I have stayed there on paid bookings 7 times and awards once in the past 6 years with most stays one or 2 nights and a couple on 6
. and NEVER been given accress to any lounge of any sort.
I have always asked and been told that that is DEFINITELY NOT their policy to upgrade to astoria level or give access to the lounge. :(
I have always been diamond and checked n at the diamond desk. :mad:

Before 2004, they would routinely upgrade me to a suite on 25-27, which also granted lounge access (on 26). Otherwise, no - upgrades to floors other than 25-27 did not get lounge access. Since 2004, however, their policy has changed so that you *may* get upgraded to a suite on those floors, you still would not get lounge access. Frankly, I think the Oscar's breakfast coupons are pretty good anyway.

OK, while we're at it, I've got a question about Diamond upgrades.
.....
I'm arriving for 4 nights and 6 nights respectively, from the west coast that usually means I will end up at the hotel around 10PM-12AM, by which time the Diamond Reception is long closed. Am I SOL for an upgrade (to suite)?

Longer term stays are harder to get upgraded since there may be enough paid reservations coming in to nulliy an upgrade sometime during your stay.

What you should do is contact the hotel now at 212-355-3000, ask for the diamond desk. Ask them to fax you a diamond guest profile that you can send back. Explain your late arrivals and that you would just like to make sure your room preferences are taken care of.

When you arrive, they should have an envelope prepared and waiting with your keys and coupons.

Frankly, I think the Oscar's breakfast coupons are pretty good anyway.
The breakfast coupons are good only for the "cold" breakfast at Oscar's. You need to spend an additional $4 per person to upgrade to the full breakfast buffet.

The breakfast coupons are good only for the "cold" breakfast at Oscar's. You need to spend an additional $4 per person to upgrade to the full breakfast buffet.If the hot stuff tickles your fancy, that's $4 well spent. I've found that often they don't bother to charge the $4 difference.

If the hot stuff tickles your fancy, that's $4 well spent. I've found that often they don't bother to charge the $4 difference.

I was there recently and the waiter wasn't interested what we had (hot or cold), as long as we had a voucher. In fact one day he took the voucher and said we should eat hot food as it was snowing outside.

If the hot stuff tickles your fancy, that's $4 well spent. I've found that often they don't bother to charge the $4 difference.

Even if they do charge the $4, given the location, that's still an amazing deal.

I've never, ever, been up charged as either a Gold or Diamond for a hot breakfast at Oscars. I would guess over eight stays.

the last stay I had at the Waldorf=Astoria I went to the Diamond desk, at the recommendation of someone, and they gave me an upgrade. The previous time I stayed there, I went to the regular check-in and "no-upgrade." Go figure.

also forgot... the coupons to Oscars is definitely worth it... the waiters don't bother if it's cold/hot.

also forgot... the coupons to Oscars is definitely worth it... the waiters don't bother if it's cold/hot.
The last time my wife and I were at the Waldorf, our waiter definitely monitored what we ate from the buffet. The waiter had not come over right away when we were seated; so we decided to get up to help ourselves to the buffet. Almost immediately, the waiter ran over to us as we were walking over to the buffet to point out that the hot buffet cost $4. I told the waiter we would look over the buffet items to decide whether we wanted the hot or cold buffet. Later, while we were seated again, the waiter came over to peruse what we were eating, and commented, "I see you chose the hot breakfast." I remarked that I had selected hot breakfast items, but my wife had decided to stick with the cold items. Although I can't be sure of this, it seemed as if the waiter constantly monitored us to make sure that my wife did not eat anything off my plate because she hadn't paid $4 to "upgrade" her breakfast. :rolleyes:

If the hot stuff tickles your fancy, that's $4 well spent. I've found that often they don't bother to charge the $4 difference.
I agree that $4 is quite inexpensive, particularly in Manhattan. And the breakfast buffet at Oscar's is quite good and undoubtedly worth more than $4. I just find it irksome and a tad misleading to advertise that they are providing "free" breakfast as an amenity but have the "fine print" state that the free items are limited to certain items, and there is a charge for the full breakast. :td:

Longer term stays are harder to get upgraded since there may be enough paid reservations coming in to nulliy an upgrade sometime during your stay....

Thanks for all the advice. My first stay at the W=A as a Diamond went relatively well. I was given a "letter" suite on the 25th floor. Very spacious and had a nice arrangement of foyer, living room, bedroom, dressing room, and washroom....but the washroom could be larger... All in all, the upgrade was much more tangible than when I stayed here as Gold....

Service was great from the Diamond Reception ladies. Requests were promptly attended to, even though I was staying over a busy weekend (weddings that closed off the Park Entrance).

The newly renovated and reopened Peacock Alley was wonderful.....service was faultless, and food was meticulously prepared, and the very big surprise....portions are HUGE! :eek: Price is reasonable for comparable restaurants in NYC.....

However, I must say this hotel is disadvantaged in its sheer size. The staff simply could not offer the level of attention to the guests in a supposedly "upper upscale" hotel (I won't even go as far as listing the W=A as "luxury"). The rooms (suites) are charming and comfortable, but they are far from luxury (at least in terms of modern world standards....the rooms would have definitely been considered as "luxurious" back in the 20's..... :D ). They are lacking all the modern amenities and the simplest an in room safe!

For around $200 this place is a good deal with a decent upgrade. Anything over $300 I'd seriously be looking elsewhere. The Towers is an option, but I've rarely seen rates dipped below $500.....

I stayed at the W=A over the summer. When I arrived the queue for the Diamond Desk (I'm a Diamond) was longer than for the normal desk(!). So I went to the normal desk and was given an upgrade to a larger room in the Waldorf Towers. It wasn't a suite but then again the hotel was very busy. And so it is wrong to say that you don't get upgraded unless you got to the Diamond Desk.

I just find it irksome and a tad misleading to advertise that they are providing "free" breakfast as an amenity but have the "fine print" state that the free items are limited to certain items, and there is a charge for the full breakast. :td:This is not at all unusual. HGIs and lots of other hotels do this as well. Worrying about $4 seems absurd at the W=A, though. I think that a lot of the time the waiters in Oscar's tell you not to worry about the $4 in the hopes that you'll leave a bit more for them in the form of a tip.

This is not at all unusual. HGIs and lots of other hotels do this as well. Worrying about $4 seems absurd at the W=A, though. I think that a lot of the time the waiters in Oscar's tell you not to worry about the $4 in the hopes that you'll leave a bit more for them in the form of a tip.

Something must have changed.... during my stay last week the breakfast coupons I received stated "...kindly present this invitation to receive complimentary American Breakfast for two guests..."

Could there be another type of coupon? :confused:

Full breakfast coupons (HOT buffet) are now standard for Golds/Diamonds at the W=A. In lieu of those, you may also choose just 2 drink coupons.

Wow, can't imagine not being upgraded. Last time I stayed at the Waldorf=Astoria was upgraded to a corner room with the Crysler Building in site on the 27th floor with access to the lounge, breakfast certificates and all. Thank you Diamond desk!

I forget when it happened (a year or two back), W=A took away access for those on the 25th floor to the lounge. Those staying in the Waldorf Towers have access to the lounge as well.

Staying there again over Easter... the place is going to be packed as always I bet, and this year I'm a lowly Gold status. LOL, so much for upgrades probably.

S/F
-John