Guaranteed reservations availability, subject to the restrictions stated herein, at hotels within the Hilton Worldwide portfolio when paid reservations are made before midnight hotel local time, two or more days (48 hours) prior to intended arrival. RESTRICTIONS: This guarantee does not apply to reservations paid for in part or in full by HHonors points, free night certificates issued by Hilton Worldwide.
While this had already been effectively removed by the premium room reward nonsense at a number of highly desirable properties, it seems to me to be yet another way our Hilton points are being devalued.
Programs: Hilton HHonors Diamond, British Airways Silver, Aer Lingus Gold, Priority Club Platinum, ABP
Posts: 9,433
HHonors T&Cs changed effective July 19 2012
There are new HHonors T&Cs at http://hhonors1.hilton.com/en_US/hh/terms.do marked effective last Thursday. I really should start keeping old versions so I can compare. The immediate things I see are:
there's a new company Hilton HHonors Worldwide LLC which now operates the scheme
upgrades now exclude "executive suites", "villas", and "vista accommodation types"
Upgrades are officially excluded at every brand except DT/Hilton/Conrad/W=A (and the T&Cs contradict other parts of the site by saying Golds don't get upgraded at W=A)
Diamond Force is excluded at Maldives, Seychelles, Ho'olei, and a few others (don't know if that was there all along)
Gold and Diamond upgrades are restricted to one room per booking even if it is a multi-room booking
Gold members get an upgrade if available and then choose 1000 points or breakfast (in-room movie rather than breakfast at W=A); previously they had to choose upgrade + breakfast or 1000 points.
Programs: BA Gold, BA Lounge Rats, BA Audit Survivors, CW Kitchen Defender, CX Noodle Connoisseurs Club
Posts: 5,955
Quote:
Originally Posted by stifle
[*]Upgrades are officially excluded at every brand except DT/Hilton/Conrad/W=A (and the T&Cs contradict other parts of the site by saying Golds don't get upgraded at W=A)
It's still showing on the My Way options
Quote:
Waldorf Astoria® Hotels & Resorts
As a Gold member, you receive the following benefit:
One category, space-available room upgrade*
(Excludes suites, Napua Tower at Grand Wailea and the Imperial Floor at Rome Cavalieri)
And choose ONE of the following:
1,000 Hilton HHonors® Bonus Points
One in-room movie included with your stay (where locally available).
* Note: If a room upgrade is not available, you will receive both of the remaining benefits.
It is disappointing, but not really surprising, given the way things are going. There really doesn't seem to be much benefit to being Diamond anymore over Gold.
Gold and Diamond upgrades are restricted to one room per booking even if it is a multi-room booking
Is this really a change, I think this has been this way in the last t&c as well, but was handled to our (i.e. the customers) advantage by the most hotels in the past (i.e. upgrading all rooms)?
Programs: United Mileage Plus Premier, HH Gold, SPG
Posts: 551
Quote:
Originally Posted by stifle
[*]Gold members get an upgrade if available and then choose 1000 points or breakfast (in-room movie rather than breakfast at W=A); previously they had to choose upgrade + breakfast or 1000 points.[/list]
So, if I book a rate that includes breakfast, should I now select points? (I still want an Executive Lounge room.) Another way to put the question: am I at risk of being denied the full restaurant breakfast if I select points but I have booked a rate that includes breakfast?
Programs: Hilton HHonors Diamond, British Airways Silver, Aer Lingus Gold, Priority Club Platinum, ABP
Posts: 9,433
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChinaShrek
So, if I book a rate that includes breakfast, should I now select points? (I still want an Executive Lounge room.) Another way to put the question: am I at risk of being denied the full restaurant breakfast if I select points but I have booked a rate that includes breakfast?
To the first question, it seems yes. To the second, I cannot imagine a hotel reasonably denying you a breakfast that you have paid for in your rate, irrespective of what HHonors choices you may have made.
Programs: Hilton HHonors Diamond, British Airways Silver, Aer Lingus Gold, Priority Club Platinum, ABP
Posts: 9,433
Quote:
Originally Posted by FLYGVA
Is this really a change, I think this has been this way in the last t&c as well, but was handled to our (i.e. the customers) advantage by the most hotels in the past (i.e. upgrading all rooms)?
I don't have the last T&C to hand, but I don't think it was quite this unambiguous.
Programs: Hilton HHonors Diamond, British Airways Silver, Aer Lingus Gold, Priority Club Platinum, ABP
Posts: 9,433
The only useful benefit is guaranteed lounge access whether upgraded or not. Certainly I don't consider being able to force a room at £369 a night (or whatever the rack rate is) to be a benefit. And in any case, it's probably an extraordinary demand date.
Programs: United Mileage Plus Premier, HH Gold, SPG
Posts: 551
Quote:
Originally Posted by stifle
To the first question, it seems yes. To the second, I cannot imagine a hotel reasonably denying you a breakfast that you have paid for in your rate, irrespective of what HHonors choices you may have made.
Thanks for the opinion. It seems that they have improved Gold while devaluing Diamond.
Programs: HHonors / SPG / Marriott / IHG / UA / AA / DL / US
Posts: 1,208
Quote:
Originally Posted by stifle
[*]Upgrades are officially excluded at every brand except DT/Hilton/Conrad/W=A (and the T&Cs contradict other parts of the site by saying Golds don't get upgraded at W=A)
It doesn't say gold members have upgrade at W=A, only DT/Hilton/Conrad.
