American Express Membership Rewards - Amex, hilton hawaiian village, embassy suites

Just got back from Ohau for 9 nights and have the following comments and suggestions. Centurion paid for itself 3 folds. Recieved upgrades for myself and my wife on continental both ways. I did pay waitlist but do not believe I could have recieved upgrades without status. Used elite lines and the clubs at all stops and with a family of 5 was greatly appreciated. Stayed at hhv 6 nights with 175000 hilton points and 1 paid room for ali tower through centurion fine hotels. Price paid through fine hotels was greatly discounted and recieved normal benefits. Friendly attitude at main checkin and having one paid room rewarded me with upgrade of reward room to ali tower. The two continental breakfast was best benefits in that 2 kids wanted the additional cerial on the free breakfast. The rest of us would eat at the vip diamond and gold honors rainbow breakfast. Had never been to Hawaii and enjoyed the beach and pools at hhv although we mainly left to go to north beach during the days(shark cove and three rocks is by far the best snorkling and non crowded beaches in Ohau). note: parking at the marina next to the lagoon is .25 cents an hour up to 24 hours and is very close to the village if you walk through the beach in front of rainbow and it is best to rent hertz cars from activity booth were one catches the buses close to but not next to the hertz booth. Hertz had no cars but the other booth was able to get one for week. Centurion upgrades of midsize to large suv came into play. Moved to the Embassy Suits for 4 days on 2 140000 hilton rewards. It is a very nice hotel with great breakfasts. It also allowed us to see the true wakiki beach shopping and experiences. Staff is extremely nice in that they realize that they will be competing against the trump hotel next door and are trying to make a great impression on the guest prior to the trump opening. Enjoyed both hotels and do not believe that i would have changed my itenuary. The best part of the trip is that the plane tickets were refund tickets paid for by the heads up recieved from flyertalk about the lose of the citi fixed flght rewards promotion. So once again flyertalk comes through.

Was the front cabin full on the CO flights? If not the upgrade would have happened even without the status. Co is very good about processing the upgrades in sequence on those flights, even for non-status folks. And they will not let the seats go out empty if there is someone on a waitlist.

It is hard for me to think that the value you realized (FHR @ HHV and Hertz Upgrade) was really worth the annual fee of the Centurion card, but I am glad that you got some benefit out of it.

Is HHV really considered a FHR? That seems rather out of place based on my previous stay there and the surrounding options.

Is HHV really considered a FHR?

From what I remember, the Alii Tower is, but not the property as a whole. The Alii Tower operates as a "hotel within a hotel" with a separate check-in, separate pool, and so on, in addition to access to the rest of the property.

From what I remember, the Alii Tower is, but not the property as a whole. The Alii Tower operates as a "hotel within a hotel" with a separate check-in, separate pool, and so on, in addition to access to the rest of the property.

Gotcha. I definitely didn't stay in that tower when there.

I purchased the last 5 seats in coach and we were scattered in the back. There were 3 first class seats week prior to departure and we recieved upgrade notice approximately 3 days prior. From earlier post read in flyertalk, I had booked my wife and I on seperate tickets and also for waitlist. They treated her as being on my status. I do not know if this is normal or because I had used part of my citi refund to pay for the ticket. I can not say that status was why we received the upgrades but I do not think that I would have received without status. Difference in price(subtracting points and cash for waitlist) was approximatley $3398.00. Price difference between bed and breakfast and what I booked through Cent. was $150.00 per day or $936.00 total. Price for upgrade from reward resort room was $150.00 per day or $900.00 total. Saved $149.00 for car upgrade. Luggage savings was $100.00 each way.

Left off the 2 free complete lunches which in the village was about $76.00.

I can not say that status was why we received the upgrades but I do not think that I would have received without status.

:confused: You cannot have it both ways. That being said, if the miles came from your account then your wife was considered an elite for the waitlist for the upgrades.

I wouldn't count the $3400 "saved" on the fare difference as value provided by Centurion but that's just me. The other stuff definitely was value added, though I doubt I'd have paid the $150/day for breakfast if it weren't included. I'd walk across the street from the HHV to eggs'n'things or something.

You certainly received real value from the FHR and the upgraded room, but it is hard to assign retail price value to other things in some cases since you wouldn't necessarily pay retail for those things.

$150.00 was the price difference for a double bed and breakfast ocean view checking prices from all sources. I am aware of the standing position that an upgrade is not the price for a ticket that I would not have paid and I would probably not have paid the first class price, however, the almost full recline lazyboy as apposed to a straight back chair for 9 hours allowing one to attempt to sleep, the almost elegant 5 course meal as apposed to the sandwich and chips, the hot towells and last and most important the smile on mothers face should probably convince me that I should have been willing to pay the first class price.