Hilton HHonors - VIP Hotel Benefit Preferences

For those who opt for miles instead of upgrades-snacks-etc, how long does it typically take for the bonus points to post? Thanks for your help. :-:

48-72 hours after checkout.

Same for me (at HGI Milpitas): bonus posted together with regular stay points.

Are the bonus points in lieu of the VIP benefit per night or per stay?

When HH first introduced VIP benefit preferences for Diamonds, you could pretty much count on "extra double dipping" - you'd get your free internet, upgrade, cookies & water, whatever - and the points (if you selected the points).

My last couple HH stays, it appears that's in the past. I realized this as I checked into a 5 night stay last night at an ES that has almost always lavished goodies on me. No water, no cookies, no fruit and cheese. I will take the 1,000 points, but it looks like the system changes are starting to take hold. I blame on them expanding the program to include Gold VIPS. There's only so much largesse to go around. :D

When HH first introduced VIP benefit preferences for Diamonds, you could pretty much count on "extra double dipping" - you'd get your free internet, upgrade, cookies & water, whatever - and the points (if you selected the points).

Yes, I've noticed the very same thing over the course of the last month or so. Well, it was nice while it lasted.

Last week an an HGI, I got the coupons for water but no b'fast chit or pantry coupon. Since I normally just grab a bagel and coffee and run, it's not a big deal. I've never sprung for the full hot b'fast anyhow.

I'll be back there again tonight, and I've already got the Jr. Suite, so I'm happy, as well as being 750 points richer.

I think tonight's the last stay on my Fast Track, so we'll see how it goes next week when I go back as a Diamond. :)

I also was a bit surprised by my stay last week at the SF Hilton Financial District. They charged me for internet. As a Gold, I had never previously been charged for internet.

Moreover, when I found out, a couple of days in advance, that I was going to have to extend my stay by one night, I went down to the front desk to do so. I was told that the hotel had sold out for that upcoming night. I inquired about the guaranteed room benefit for Diamonds. I was told, "That only applies when there are available rooms."

In other words, the "guaranteed room" benefit is now useless. I wound up booking a night at the Mark Hopkins, which was quite nice (and I was upgraded to an Exec. Room, unlike at Hilton, where I just got a regular room, no upgrade). Then, at 3 pm on the day that I had wanted to stay the extra day, the internet showed room availability at the SF Hilton Financial District.

I assumed it was a problem with this particular hotel, and I cancelled my next three stays there and transferred them to the SF Hilton near Union Square. But, it could very well be that this is just a sign of diminishing elite benefits in Hilton as a whole.

Edit: I also will be staying the weekend over the 4th of July in SF after staying at the Hilton this week, with my girlfriend flying in Friday night. I liked the Mark Hopkins so much that I wound up booking it starting Saturday for the weekend. Had the Hilton given me the room for the night, I probably would have continued to stay there for the weekend, as well. Just goes to show the consequences of poor service and broken promises to elites.

I actually was thinking the same thing, until last week. Three separate HGIs full-breakfast coupon, 2 bottles of water - and my 750 My Way points.

I inquired about the guaranteed room benefit for Diamonds. I was told, "That only applies when there are available rooms."

In other words, the "guaranteed room" benefit is now useless.No, it just means that someone needs more training.

You do need to request 48 hours in advance of the day of arrival though (which generally means up to 72 hours before checkin), and probably go via the Diamond Desk instead of the new-hires at the front desk.

Unless you were looking for a guaranteed award room at a sold-out hotel. In that case the hotel needs to have standard room availability for the DD to force an award.

Unless you were looking for a guaranteed award room at a sold-out hotel. In that case the hotel needs to have standard room availability for the DD to force an award.

No, we were looking to pay for the room, and at what rate was really irrelevant. I had asked on Tuesday morning for a Thursday-Friday room, so I thought I was complying with the 48 hour requirement, but my math skills aren't the greatest, so I could be wrong.

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I have noticed the same, I am at the Salt Lake City ES tonight, and no special water or cookies waiting for me.....

I assumed it was a problem with this particular hotel, and I cancelled my next three stays there and transferred them to the SF Hilton near Union Square. But, it could very well be that this is just a sign of diminishing elite benefits in Hilton as a whole.

Edit: I also will be staying the weekend over the 4th of July in SF after staying at the Hilton this week, with my girlfriend flying in Friday night. I liked the Mark Hopkins so much that I wound up booking it starting Saturday for the weekend. Had the Hilton given me the room for the night, I probably would have continued to stay there for the weekend, as well. Just goes to show the consequences of poor service and broken promises to elites.

Hopefully you mail the above information to someone at the hotel or cut and paste and send them a snail mail. I think it is issues like this where we have the opportunity to help HH train their employees as well as let them know of the business they lost.

I have found the My Way Preference to be inconsistent in my last couple of stays. Two of my last three stays, I got the points but not the water/cookies but then on my last stay I did get both.

I have noticed the same, I am at the Salt Lake City ES tonight, and no special water or cookies waiting for me.....

Varies by property - cookies & water in room at Hampton Seattle Airport two nights ago.

[QUOTE=Points Scrounger]Varies by property -

Still inconsistent. I checked into a HIS Monday night and was handed a water and chips - but the clerk admitted it was his second day on the job. I did like his version of Diamond respect and hope he never loses it. :)

I looked at the bill on the way out yesterday and the est. point total included the 250 My Way points. :cool:

Hi all,

I am a new HH Gold member, when I edit HH preferences, this comes up.

VIP Hotel Benefit Preferences

New For Gold or Diamond VIPs!

Now you can choose to earn HHonors bonus points for your stays at participating hotels instead of your current in-hotel Gold or Diamond VIP benefit.


I am curious how other member choose what to choose. Is bonus points or VIP benefit more valuable?

thanks,

I just go for the bonus points... In most cases I get one or two perks for free anyway. :D

I think you'll find the majority of us take the bonus points. ES, for example, usually puts some fruit/water in my room anyway, plus I get the 1,000 bonus points for Diamond.

Pretty much the only thing I leave for non-points is Hiltons ... I just don't want to miss the executive lounge...

Pretty much the only thing I leave for non-points is Hiltons ... I just don't want to miss the executive lounge...
... and some you get lounge access just for beeing a Diamond :D

... and some you get lounge access just for beeing a Diamond :D


most of us do... only some lonlly who dont... ;)

I take the points at HI, HS and ES which offer a free breakfast for everyone. At Hilton, DT and HGI, I want lounge access or breakfast coupons.

Points and miles,except at places I really want to be upgraded at.

I used to get the bennies (breakfast coupons, snacks/water, upgrades, etc) but changed over to the bonus points 6 months ago. But whenever I check in, I always get the bennies. YMMV.

Now curious--what hotels have comped free bennies based on Gold/Diamond status and not preferences? I have a feeling this is more common in N.America than elsewhere...

Is it a no-brainer to get more points instead of room upgrades as part of the VIP Hotel Benefit Preferences?

I searched and could not find any threads on that. Sorry if this has been beaten to death before!

It all depends on what you value, more points or potentially more / a better room.

When I am traveling alone I do not care that much if I am in an upgraded room, so opt for the points. When I am traveling with family I would prefer a larger room so many times when staying in places where I have not already reserved a suite, I opt for the upgrade (which, keep in mind, is not guaranteed). I will usually only do this at properties where I know I will be upgraded.

I would say that I opt for points 85% of the time.

Sometimes you get both, the upgraded room and the points, I was at the HHV in September, selected the points rather than the upgrade and was still upgraded to a partial ocean view room (had booked the garden view) and I still got the extra points. ^

I think I get so many points anyway, that the few extra points I can get doesn't make much difference. Plus for a multi-night stay an upgrade is certainly much better than a single payout of some points (which is the same regardless of the length of your stay).

Make sure you check your 'My Way' preferences immediately after changing statuses. I made Diamond at the end of November, and I was looking at my preferences for the various Hilton properties, and I still had Gold bonus points applied to my preferences instead of Diamond bonus points, but the Diamond option for the points was now available for me to select. I couldn't believe that they didn't just bump it up for me. Ah, just another glitch in the Hilton website...
I checked the other day, and I still have the option to select the Gold level bonus points.:confused:

Thanks for all your responses.

Make sure you check your 'My Way' preferences immediately after changing statuses. I made Diamond at the end of November, and I was looking at my preferences for the various Hilton properties, and I still had Gold bonus points applied to my preferences instead of Diamond bonus points, but the Diamond option for the points was now available for me to select. I couldn't believe that they didn't just bump it up for me. Ah, just another glitch in the Hilton website...
I checked the other day, and I still have the option to select the Gold level bonus points.:confused:


Good Catch Judge! I just became Diamond and same as you, still had to go in and maunally change my MyWay options to Diamond from Gold.... also got screwed out of 500 points on my last stay at Embasy Suites. Wil give them a call today and complain... Hopefully they'll offer something to keep me happy as well!

There's no specific selection for Conrad - anyone find that it's the same as the "Hilton benefits" you checked off as a Diamond?