Hilton HHonors - No HH Credit for stay booked on Hotels.com

I was wondering if anyone knows if you book a room with any chain (but a hilton in this particular case) via www.hotels.com, (http://www.hotels.com,) if you get:
* points
and/or
* nights stayed credit for requalifying for Gold/Diamond status?

Thanks

I believe the answer is, "no".

Stays booked thru Travelocity and Priceline definitely do not count. It seems that only if you pay the bill directly to the hotel at end of stay do you get credit. The booking engine you are asking about immediately charges you, therefore you do not make payment to the hotel.

Edited to correct your URL

http://www.hotels.com/

[This message has been edited by opushomes (edited 05-18-2002).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by opushomes:
Stays booked thru Travelocity and Priceline definitely do not count.</font>

That's not quite correct. Regular (non-prepaid) reservations, even those made through Travelocity, do earn both points and miles, as well as stay credit. At the same time, "Travelocity GoodBuy Rates" are not supposed to earn points/miles, as they are prepaid, and in fact booked through the consolidator, Hotel Reservations Network.

Newbie question -- Are stays booked via Hotels.com credited toward status and do they receive HHonors points. I did a search and found nothing substantive. Thanks in advance.

The general rule seems to be that if you pay for the hotel room ahead of time, you don't get points, and often don't get VIP privileges.

So Priceline, Hotwire, and Expedia "package" rates fit this... does Hotels.com require prepayment? I think so, so you shouldn't get points.

I have sometimes found that these rates -- or cheaper -- can be had from the hotel directly. Add to that the fact that I hate non-cancellable plans, and I avoid them like the plague.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by roadusaf:
Newbie question -- Are stays booked via Hotels.com credited toward status and do they receive HHonors points. I did a search and found nothing substantive. Thanks in advance.</font>

The information on www.hiltonhonors.com (http://www.hiltonhonors.com) is fairly misleading. It says:

"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, stays using airline percent-off award certificates, or stays booked via Priceline.com, Hotwire.com or similar booking channels where the hotel brand is unknown at time of purchase. "

In fact pre paid Expedia special rates don't get credit but since the brand is known prior to purchase you might think that the exclusions noted above would not apply. Time HH's web site gave more accurate info. I suspect that other pre-paid rates are treated as per Expedia rates.

Hotels.com are the old HRN and are owned by expedia/USAi so they probably operate under the same rules as Expedia. I know they buy their inventory wholesale like Expedia and since wholesale rooms are not eligible usually, then I bet you are out of luck.

The Cap'n

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by CelticFlyer:
The information on www.hiltonhonors.com (http://www.hiltonhonors.com) is fairly misleading. It says:

"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, stays using airline percent-off award certificates, or stays booked via Priceline.com, Hotwire.com or similar booking channels where the hotel brand is unknown at time of purchase. "

In fact pre paid Expedia special rates don't get credit but since the brand is known prior to purchase you might think that the exclusions noted above would not apply. Time HH's web site gave more accurate info. I suspect that other pre-paid rates are treated as per Expedia rates.

</font>

Expedia's Special (i.e., prepaid) rates are considered wholesale (not just by Hilton, but by Starwood as well), and as such, covered in the disclaimer you quoted above.

My limited experience with Hoteldiscount.com and Hilton indicated that if the stay was prepaid, you wouldn't get points for the room rate, but by charging some incidentals (one restaurant breakfast tab was sufficient) you could get stay and night credit, as well as points for the $ value of the incidentals.

Somehow, I have always received stay credit and full base points on a stay booked through Hotels.Com/Expedia.

You can get points/credit for incidentals on these stays, however. So nab something from the minibar or eat at the restaurant.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Eugene:
Expedia's Special (i.e., prepaid) rates are considered wholesale (not just by Hilton, but by Starwood as well), and as such, covered in the disclaimer you quoted above.

</font>

My point was that expecting the customer to know what is wholesale is not reasonable especially given that they make specific reference to other forms of online purchase. They should list the main wholesale sources e.g. "Expedia Special Rates" and/or make a statement about discounted pre-paid rates.

Quick question - i was planning a one-night stay at the Hilton Dulles, and saw the room available for $99 on hotels.com.

As a diamond, will I get upgraded on this room, and will I get stay credit/points? Or, is this considered a discounted rate a la priceline that is ineligible?

Thanks!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Rut Dog:
Add to that the fact that I hate non-cancellable plans, and I avoid them like the plague.</font>

Hotel.com reservations are cancellable. Depending on the amount of the reservation there is a $10-25 cancellation fee.

Will I still get points if I book through hotels.com

No points for the room per night charge, however, you get points for incidentals, stay, and nights.

If you do not see the above credits posted to your account within a reasonable time, then you can either fax, or send HH the info through their website.

Ghayas

------------------

Stayed at the Doubletree Club SNA last week on a hotels.com prepaid reservation. Although I believed that I would not get points for the room (and the front desk agreed that point), I discovered today that the stay posted, with points credited to the room prepayment and Gold bonus (and double dip airline miles). When I checked in, the desk clerk said that the only discount site awarding points for the room was Orbitz.

I too stayed at the Doubletree SNA, actually just two days ago, on a priceline stay. This morning I checked my email and found this: "From August 1, 2003, HHonors points, airline miles and stay credit toward tier status are not awarded for stays booked through third party online sites. However, we have made an exception for your recent stay at the Doubletree Santa Ana/Orange County Airport." I checked the Hilton account and sure enough the stay credit was there, no points but then I didn't expect any. I didn't think about it until I was reading through this thread but the interesting thing is the Doubletree didn't have my Hilton Honors number and it was my first time there so it wasn't in their database from a previous stay. Interesting. I guess in this case "big brother watching" is a good thing.

Still can't find anything in the online Ts&Cs regarding the "third party" prohibition. The only thing that comes close is the old rule about wholesale rates and "blind" bookings. But this rule has 'always' been there, hasn't it? Nothing changed on August 1 to affect discounter stays (unless they now classify them as "wholesale" rates).

I tried to book a 5 day stay at Homewood Suites, Troy Michigan directly through the hotel but was told they were sold out for two of the five days.

In looking for other rooms on Hotels.com I noticed that they listed Homewood Suites as available, so I got a confirmed but non-refundable, non-changeable reservation through them.

Today, in looking up my HH stays on the HH web site I noticed a "fine print" footnote that excludes awarding points or counting stays on reservations booked on third party sites.

I spoke to the GM at Homewood Suites, Troy and she confirmed this. Even though I stay there 10-14 days a year, she said there was nothing she could do to influence HH. She also defended her own local reservation department's quoting "no availability" by stating that many different organizations had control of her room inventory.

HH Customer Service said it was the policy and there is nothing that they can do.

Hotels.com does not mention the exclusion of HH points or stays on its listing for the hotel, but steadfastly refuses to change or cancel the reservation.

This five day stay means the difference between my reaching HH Gold or not. Any suggestions?

This five day stay means the difference between my reaching HH Gold or not. Any suggestions?

HHonors is known to make "one-time" exceptions to the third-party-bookings rule if the HHonors number is placed in the reservation. It's not the most reliable way to do it (as there is no guarantee they'll make the exception for you or anyone else), but it's the best shot you have.

Mike

I tried to book a 5 day stay at Homewood Suites, Troy Michigan directly through the hotel but was told they were sold out for two of the five days.

In looking for other rooms on Hotels.com I noticed that they listed Homewood Suites as available, so I got a confirmed but non-refundable, non-changeable reservation through them.

Today, in looking up my HH stays on the HH web site I noticed a "fine print" footnote that excludes awarding points or counting stays on reservations booked on third party sites.

I spoke to the GM at Homewood Suites, Troy and she confirmed this. Even though I stay there 10-14 days a year, she said there was nothing she could do to influence HH. She also defended her own local reservation department's quoting "no availability" by stating that many different organizations had control of her room inventory.

HH Customer Service said it was the policy and there is nothing that they can do.

Hotels.com does not mention the exclusion of HH points or stays on its listing for the hotel, but steadfastly refuses to change or cancel the reservation.

This five day stay means the difference between my reaching HH Gold or not. Any suggestions?


Honestly, this has been discussed here on FT to death. This is your own fault for not knowing or not familiarizing yourself with Hilton's terms and conditions.

Each person you spoke with was correct and I don't think you'll get much sympathy from folks here on the Hilton forum. You are not entitled to the points because this is not an "eligible" booking. Just because Hilton has run out of rooms at a certain property and that property "contracted" a block of rooms to an "opaque" wholesaler doesn't mean you should get the points. Chalk this one up to a hard lesson learned.

http://hhonors1.hilton.com/en_US/hh/points/hotels.do

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. Stays booked via "opaque" channels where the brand is unknown at the time of purchase are not Eligible Stays for the purpose of earning points, miles or stay credit toward VIP tier status, or the receipt of VIP tier benefits such as upgraded accommodations / amenities or access to health clubs. At Scandic hotels, only qualifying nights count toward Silver VIP status; only qualifying nights and HHonors Base point earnings count toward Gold and Diamond VIP status. No point or stay credit, airline frequent flyer mileage credit or credit toward tier status will be awarded for "no show" situations when a member has made a reservation guaranteed with a credit card but then does not check in to the hotel — irrespective of whether or not the member's credit card is charged for any portion of the reserved stay per the hotel's "no show" policy.

HHonors is known to make "one-time" exceptions to the third-party-bookings rule if the HHonors number is placed in the reservation. It's not the most reliable way to do it (as there is no guarantee they'll make the exception for you or anyone else), but it's the best shot you have.

Mike

As witnessed on various FT forums, most programs haven't been "forgiving" since about 2002, 2003 at the latest. You can try, but I wouldn't get the OPs hopes up.

As witnessed on various FT forums, most programs haven't been "forgiving" since about 2002, 2003 at the latest. You can try, but I wouldn't get the OPs hopes up.

With all due respect, a simple search would indicate that the exceptions have been made more recently than that -- such as this thread from April of 2006:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=549931&highlight=third+party+exception

Mike

With all due respect, a simple search would indicate that the exceptions have been made more recently than that -- such as this thread from April of 2006:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=549931&highlight=third+party+exception

Mike

With even more respect. :p

I never said they don't make exceptions, I wanted to point out that the rate of successful exceptions has declined significantly since the "no points/no stay credit" rule on non Hilton family bookings went into affect sometime in 2001/2002 (or 2002/2003).

With even more respect. :p

I never said they don't make exceptions, I wanted to point out that the rate of successful exceptions has declined significantly since the "no points/no stay credit" rule on non Hilton family bookings went into affect sometime in 2001/2002 (or 2002/2003).

:rolleyes: This is one of the most ludicrous things I've read on FT in a while, because it completely defies logic. When Hilton didn't have the "no third-party booking" rule, they didn't make exceptions, because there was no rule to except. Third-party bookings, in other words, were allowed for credit.

How could the number of exceptions, then, decrease from that point, when Hilton would actually have a policy that they would need to make exceptions for?

Mike

Marriott irritated me once, booked it through Expedia, they would only give me $68 work of credit on a $129 room. It wouldnt surprise me if HHonors was the same way.

The bottom line, if you want points book through their website!

:rolleyes: This is one of the most ludicrous things I've read on FT in a while, because it completely defies logic. When Hilton didn't have the "no third-party booking" rule, they didn't make exceptions, because there was no rule to except. Third-party bookings, in other words, were allowed for credit.

How could the number of exceptions, then, decrease from that point, when Hilton would actually have a policy that they would need to make exceptions for?

Mike

LOL....^...;)

Thanks, Nako for your suggestion to request a one time exception. I did that and HH has agreed to give me credit for the stay.

I appreciate your constructive feedback.

Mahalo nui loa!

Wow! Good self-advocacy - that was a nice makana!

Thanks, Nako for your suggestion to request a one time exception. I did that and HH has agreed to give me credit for the stay.

I appreciate your constructive feedback.

Mahalo nui loa!

Thanks, Nako for your suggestion to request a one time exception. I did that and HH has agreed to give me credit for the stay.

I appreciate your constructive feedback.

Mahalo nui loa!

You got lucky!

You got lucky! I have to agree, since it has become rare.

I experienced a similar situation with zero availability showing up on HHonors and through the hotel directly. Hotels. com showed availability so I booked through them. I knew that the stay would not be eligible for HHonors points, but called customer service anyway, and was told that they would contact the hotel and make an exception this one time. My staye was credited for the full point value shortly after my stay. This happened about two years ago so they may be less forging now.

Hotels.com is advertising one free night anywhere for every 10 nights booked (at rate atleast $40/night to book, redeem for rate up to $400/night).

EDITED: Can't double up the programs due to HH terms and conditions.

My plan was to be loyal to HH in order to earn points and status, but I'm really not seeing the point anymore.

I have 14 nights completed on HH (Silver), and about 21,000 points. I went to look to book a reward stay, and the selection available to me for 21,000 points or less is pitiful.



Positives with HH as I see them:
- flexibility to use points for other things (not sure I would ever do that though)
- status / chance for upgraded rooms
- complimentary items / access at some hotels

Positives about Hotels.com program:
- flexibility to stay at any hotel chain wherever I travel
- earn free rooms quicker
- presumably easier to book a reward room (greater selection, plus each free stay earned is up to $400/night instead of on a points basis)


I'm just not sure the status benefits really matter to me enough to make up for the benefits of the Hotels.com program.

Can anyone make a case for me staying with HH?

Hi,

If you book your Hilton hotel through Hotels.com ( third party website) then I think you will not be able to get any beneifts or points through Hilton Hhonors
( same with sites as Expedia)- you may get some benefits at check in with your HH card but it may not be guaranteed.

Regards

TBS

I wrote an analysis of the Hotels.com free night after 10 paid nights in this July 25 post (http://boardingarea.com/blogs/loyaltytraveler/2008/07/25/hotelscom-welcomerewards-loyalty-program/) for readers wanting more details about their hotel loyalty program.

For someone without elite status and the potential for complimentary upgrades there is no particular reason for hotel brand loyalty unless you are signed up for a good promotional bonus for lots of points or free nights.

Thanks Satori for that link. Great review. I travel to a lot of "out of the way" towns, so loyalty for Hilton means I'm not staying in the top notch hotels a lot of the time anyway. Even when I've gotten upgrades, I haven't noticed a big difference in the rooms anyway.

Have you had any experience redeeming your Hotels.com rewards? There is something in the T&C about only being able to use 1 reward night per booking. Can you get around this by using 2 reward nights at the same hotel as separate bookings for back-to-back days?

Also, they limit it to 10 free nights earned per year. I might end up going back to HH once I reach the limit if that's the case.

Is it possible to earn Hhonors points (and benefits as a Diamond member) if you make your reservations on hotels.com?

Benefits probably, depending on the property. Points, no (per the HHonors T&C)

Is it possible to earn Hhonors points (and benefits as a Diamond member) if you make your reservations on hotels.com? This thread is like "Groundhog Day" -- people keep asking this question as if it wasn't answered six posts ago. No, no, no.

This thread is like "Groundhog Day" -- people keep asking this question as if it wasn't answered six posts ago. No, no, no.
Most likely because this thread is the result of lots of merges, e.g. "SOBE ER DOC" didn't post here but opened a new thread.