Hilton HHonors - Upgrade only allowed one night of your stay???

I'm at the HGI in McAllen, TX -- reservation for 4 nights. Arrived late on the first night, got a standard room on the 3rd floor of a 4 floor building.

Next morning I asked about an upgrade, and was told that I could only get upgraded one night of my stay. So if I elected to use my upgrade before my last night, I'd have to move out of the upgraded room after one night.

Anyone ever heard a policy like this? Seems ridiculous to me.

Sounds like they didn't have an available upgraded room for the next two nights. That's the risk of booking a longer stay - they have to be willing to sacrifice availability of the upgraded room for your entire stay. Was it explained to you as a policy or as an availability issue? I've never heard it as a policy.

I've never heard of such a policy. But then again your details are kind of sketchy.

This was the same hotel that told me they didn't owe me miles if they couldn't upgrade me. I would have to call the hhonors line and talk to them...

If you don't get an upgrade, you get a 5.00 voucher to spend in the rediculously priced pantry pavilion. Enjoy your 5.00!!!!

Sounds like they wrote their own playbook. Avoid in the future.

That said, I get a better upgrade when I stay 1 night than when I stay a week. It stands to reason. But, there's no HH rule about 1 u/g night per stay.

I think that the longer you stay the less of the chance of an upgrade. Less chance that a specialty room type is available right on through.

I bet that on your date of arrival an upgraded room type was not available. Sounds to me like they were simply trying to accommodate your request after the fact.

I think that the longer you stay the less of the chance of an upgrade. Less chance that a specialty room type is available right on through.

I bet that on your date of arrival an upgraded room type was not available. Sounds to me like they were simply trying to accommodate your request after the fact.


Agreed. Besides, What does this property consider and "upgrade"? Are you sure that this property has more than one upgradable room?

There are too many details left out.

From the Hilton Honors website
At Hilton Garden Inn hotels, Diamond VIP members will receive their choice of either 750 HHonors bonus points OR complimentary continental breakfast each morning for the member and one additional person throughout the stay and upgraded room accommodations (subject to availability upon check-in) . If upgrade is not available, member will receive a $5.00 coupon* for use during stay at the Pavilion Pantry® (excludes alcohol). *Coupon cannot be redeemed for cash

Agreed. Besides, What does this property consider and "upgrade"? Are you sure that this property has more than one upgradable room?

There are too many details left out.

From the Hilton Honors website
At Hilton Garden Inn hotels, Diamond VIP members will receive their choice of either 750 HHonors bonus points OR complimentary continental breakfast each morning for the member and one additional person throughout the stay and upgraded room accommodations (subject to availability upon check-in) . If upgrade is not available, member will receive a $5.00 coupon* for use during stay at the Pavilion Pantry® (excludes alcohol). *Coupon cannot be redeemed for cash

My question is: What is an upgrade at a HGI? HGIs are pretty cookie cutter.

My question is: What is an upgrade at a HGI? HGIs are pretty cookie cutter.

Many (most?) HGI's have at least a couple of "parlor suites".

My question is: What is an upgrade at a HGI? HGIs are pretty cookie cutter.


I would say it depends on the property. I don't normally stay at HGI's, but the few I've been at and were upgraded, had two room suites. The suites had a floor plan like regular Embassy Suites "two room suites" with HGI furniture.

I would say it depends on the property. I don't normally stay at HGI's, but the few I've been at and were upgraded, had two room suites. The suites had a floor plan like regular Embassy Suites "two room suites" with HGI furniture.

When I stayed at the newly built HGI Ithaca NY last fall, they gave me an upgrade to a one bedroom corner suite. Not much of a view, but it had a huge bathroom (about the size of a typical hilton hotel room!).

Many (most?) HGI's have at least a couple of "parlor suites". Yup. I was at the HGI Overland Park, KS this week and was boosted into one. It was down at the end of the corridor, though, and the hotel's tepid wi-fi zone didn't reach that far. I gave up my parlor suite and moved into a standard room near the elevator shaft so I could log on and work.

if its a question of policy, i think its a question of the hotel trying to take advantage of members and i have been a victim.

I was screwed over at HGI Franklin Square, Washington DC. They absolutely refused to upgrade my room and when asked later for a room away from elevator or higher floor, they refused to even bother to check. Just no without checking.
I really think that hotels that do such a thing should be penalised further than just a 5.00 pantry voucher.

if its a question of policy, i think its a question of the hotel trying to take advantage of members and i have been a victim.

I was screwed over at HGI Franklin Square, Washington DC. They absolutely refused to upgrade my room and when asked later for a room away from elevator or higher floor, they refused to even bother to check. Just no without checking.
I really think that hotels that do such a thing should be penalised further than just a 5.00 pantry voucher.


Oh please. How do you know that the person checking didn't already know the status of the hotel. That property is pretty busy. Look how many FlyerTalkers give that property good remarks!

The night in questioin, they may have had a high occupancy rate (whether it appeared to busy busy or not) and did not need to check the occupancy. Or the "upgraded" rooms (a) however many there are and b) whatever room type they designate "upgradable") might have already been occupied. Also, your interaction with the person on the other side of the counter, could be a huge reason why you received no service.... I mean be a "victim".

How can you be a victim when "upgrades" are based on occupancy and SUITES (not that you said you wanted one) are not a published benefit.

Was it explained to you as a policy or as an availability issue? I've never heard it as a policy.

Thanks for your responses.

What caught my attention was the fact that this is their policy, not an availability issue. I rarely ask for upgrades, but then I almost always stay at Hampton Inns. Was told that I would be upgraded on the last night of my stay, unless I chose an earlier night -- after which I'd have to move back to a standard room. I said "Wow, I didn't think that was how upgrades worked", to which she replied that it was their policy.

Yesterday morning I told her I was ready for my upgrade. She gave me the room number and said they would move my belongings. Upon returning last night, I tried to get my key card for the new room. Was told that someone else was already occupying the room, and that my belongings had not been moved. I remained cool, and ended up in the "Presidential Suite" (ie, 2-bedroom suite adjacent to the noisy elevators).

For this reason, along with frustration over their ridiculously restrictive low-flow shower heads, I am moving to the nearby Embassy.

I'm beginning to think that the points offering, in lieu of upgrades, is a wise choice.

For this reason, along with frustration over their ridiculously restrictive low-flow shower heads, I am moving to the nearby Embassy.

Hopefully as you are leaving you will mention something at least to the front desk, if not the manager, of why you are leaving. I mean, besides the low-flow shower heads. ;)

I was screwed over at HGI Franklin Square, Washington DC. They absolutely refused to upgrade my room and when asked later for a room away from elevator or higher floor, they refused to even bother to check. Just no without checking.

Just as another point of reference, that particular property has been very good to me when it comes to upgrades. I have been put in a parlor suite just about every time I've stayed with them. Always received full breakfast coupons as a Diamond (although I had to remind them at check-in the last time), and staff has always been very helpful.

The only problem with parlor suites at that property is that they are located at far ends on both sides of the hallway, and cell phone reception in the room is atrocious.