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Changes to free WiFi Elite benefit

Changes to free WiFi Elite benefit

Old Nov 21, 2014, 8:57 am
  #121  
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: UA 1K, EL Al ???, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 182
I spoke with the night manager at the HGI I was at. I'm not sure he had all the details correct. I told him it was hard for me to work and asked him if this is a new Hilton policy. At first he wasn't forthcoming about this, but later admitted that it each property has the choice to enroll in this program or not and then he promptly offered to wave the charges for my stay.

He said he thought it was rolled out 2 months ago, but I think he is incorrect. He further stated, they wanted to charge less, but Hilton controls the pricing based on speeds offered.
ElieW is offline  
Old Nov 21, 2014, 9:48 am
  #122  
 
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Waiving this premium fee for Diamonds would be a nice palliative given the upcoming, onerous cessation of same-day cancellation come Jan. 1.

Come to think of it, allowing continuation of same-day cancellation for Diamonds would be a nice palliative, also.
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Old Nov 21, 2014, 9:50 am
  #123  
havnfn
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
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Originally Posted by dave1013
Waiving this premium fee for Diamonds would be a nice palliative given the upcoming, onerous cessation of same-day cancellation come Jan. 1.

Come to think of it, allowing continuation of same-day cancellation for Diamonds would be a nice palliative, also.
Agreed!

^
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Old Nov 21, 2014, 9:54 am
  #124  
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: UA 1K, EL Al ???, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 182
Originally Posted by dave1013
Waiving this premium fee for Diamonds would be a nice palliative given the upcoming, onerous cessation of same-day cancellation come Jan. 1.

Come to think of it, allowing continuation of same-day cancellation for Diamonds would be a nice palliative, also.
^
Another way to hit your most frequent guests the hardest. Frequent travelers tend to also be the ones with most last minute changes.
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Old Nov 21, 2014, 9:59 am
  #125  
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: UA 1K, EL Al ???, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 182
There were additional changes this morning to the premium offers. Sorry I wasn't able to screen capture.

1. The language was changed from "For VPN" to "For Best VPN experience" use premium.
2. The price for premium was no longer displayed on the initial options list. Instead you were taken to a second page where you had the ability to chose to prepay for more than 1 day of premium use.
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Old Dec 4, 2014, 11:40 am
  #126  
Company Representative - Honors by Hilton
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Programs: Hilton Honors
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Hi all,

We provide Gold and Diamond members at all of our hotels that do not require a resort charge complimentary standard internet. We've added a paid premium tier for those who require more bandwidth to download large files and stream high definition media. The price for Premium Internet access will vary by property.

We expect that guests should be able to access VPN using all levels of internet service, however Premium access would likely provide an optimal user experience because of the volume of data that is transmitted via VPN and other similar applications.

Please let me know if you have any other questions!

Cheers,
Erin
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Old Dec 4, 2014, 12:16 pm
  #127  
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Originally Posted by HHonorsRepresentative
Hi all,

We provide Gold and Diamond members at all of our hotels that do not require a resort charge complimentary standard internet. We've added a paid premium tier for those who require more bandwidth to download large files and stream high definition media. The price for Premium Internet access will vary by property.

We expect that guests should be able to access VPN using all levels of internet service, however Premium access would likely provide an optimal user experience because of the volume of data that is transmitted via VPN and other similar applications.

Please let me know if you have any other questions!

Cheers,
Erin
How disappointing that elites are now relegated to standard slow internet for email and basic web browsing only. I thought things had changed recently as I FaceTime with my wife every night and the last month or so it barely works if at all when before was no problem on the complimentary internet. I also noticed on my last stay that if I sign in with my HHonors login I go to a page to have to pay instead of directly to the internet so if want complimentary have to use the hotel code which seems to give the slow old dial up speeds. Yet another reduction in benefits.
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Old Dec 5, 2014, 1:00 am
  #128  
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
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They should offer Golds and Diamonds the free enhanced speed Internet. Marriott does that for their elites. The Marriott I stayed at in China, where they offer free Internet to all Rewards Members regardless of status, told me that any option is complimentary as long as you are a Rewards Member.

Hilton is REALLY fumbling lately in my book. This downgrade in free Internet speeds, the change in cancellation policy, and some run ins I've had with them regarding improperly denied Best Rate Guarantees which I ought to report to the state attorney general have really been let downs for me.

Perhaps they can do a points devaluation in the next few months to add to it all.
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Old Dec 5, 2014, 1:13 am
  #129  
Suspended
 
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Cool

Originally Posted by HHonorsRepresentative
Hi all,

We provide Gold and Diamond members at all of our hotels that do not require a resort charge complimentary standard internet. We've added a paid premium tier for those who require more bandwidth to download large files and stream high definition media. The price for Premium Internet access will vary by property.

We expect that guests should be able to access VPN using all levels of internet service, however Premium access would likely provide an optimal user experience because of the volume of data that is transmitted via VPN and other similar applications.

Please let me know if you have any other questions!

Cheers,
Erin
Why does Hilton levy large charges on services that less expensive chains provide for free?

Let your Corporate Overlords know the customers are very unhappy
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Old Dec 5, 2014, 1:38 am
  #130  
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Amsterdam, Asia, UK
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Posts: 5,072
Room rates have really firmed up (ie increased) in last 9months since April

as such there is absolutely no need to gouge loyal elites for another incidental

If I can not have premium and basic I sun-suitable as is often the case, since I can not recover a premium fee I will stay elsewhere

I noted Hilton park lane only give premium to HHDs now but the fact diamonds can choose for free is not mentioned to me in either checkin or a welcome letter
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Old Dec 5, 2014, 2:12 am
  #131  
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: HH Diamond
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What do I need on most stays in a hotel?
1) A clean comfortable room
2) working internet.

Full stop.

Internet that does not allow me to make a skype video call for free in today's day and age is plain uncompetitive for someone staying at hotels as regular as a HH Diamond.
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Old Dec 5, 2014, 8:12 am
  #132  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
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Originally Posted by HHonorsRepresentative
Hi all,

We provide Gold and Diamond members at all of our hotels that do not require a resort charge complimentary standard internet. We've added a paid premium tier for those who require more bandwidth to download large files and stream high definition media. The price for Premium Internet access will vary by property.

We expect that guests should be able to access VPN using all levels of internet service, however Premium access would likely provide an optimal user experience because of the volume of data that is transmitted via VPN and other similar applications.

Please let me know if you have any other questions!

Cheers,
Erin
Erin,

This policy is devoid of all sense. Before: Internet (specified in T&Cs as being faster/higher bandwidth) FREE to Gold and Diamond. Everyone else has to pay, not my problem. NOW: Gold & Diamond get free Basic Internet that every Tom, Dick & Harry now gets for free. How is this anything other than a downgrade of the benefits? To get the Internet access one was entitled to before we have to PAY.

It may interest year that the hotels I have stayed at so far are providing the free faster Internet for Diamond and FD staff I've spoken to find the new policy as bizarre as I do.
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Old Dec 5, 2014, 10:31 am
  #133  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Originally Posted by hugolover
Erin,

This policy is devoid of all sense. Before: Internet (specified in T&Cs as being faster/higher bandwidth) FREE to Gold and Diamond. Everyone else has to pay, not my problem. NOW: Gold & Diamond get free Basic Internet that every Tom, Dick & Harry now gets for free. How is this anything other than a downgrade of the benefits? To get the Internet access one was entitled to before we have to PAY.

It may interest year that the hotels I have stayed at so far are providing the free faster Internet for Diamond and FD staff I've spoken to find the new policy as bizarre as I do.
Agree 100% this new policy is just disjointed from any logic. Unless Hilton wanted to make sure they did not have any competitive advantage. Internet speed is very important when picking a hotel.
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Old Dec 5, 2014, 12:19 pm
  #134  
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Originally Posted by little_dc
Agree 100% this new policy is just disjointed from any logic. Unless Hilton wanted to make sure they did not have any competitive advantage. Internet speed is very important when picking a hotel.
This coupled with the no more same-day cancellation policy may move some Gold/Diamond members to Starwood and their SPG program.

Many, but not all, Starwood properties continue to offer same-day cancellation.

All Starwood properties offer the highest speed internet complimentary to their Platinum (highest level) members and Gold members may select it as one of their amenities in lieu of points.
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Old Dec 5, 2014, 8:58 pm
  #135  
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, Hilton Dia, SPG PT, National Exec Elite, MAR Silver, Ex UA 1K
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As a Diamond I have been disappointed by the reductions in benefits. VPN is a requirement for my stays. Starwood actually is a much better program. I am only a lifetime gold member but get same day cancellations, great internet, upgrades, etc. Wish HHonors had a lifetime program as well. May be time to switch back to achieve lifetime platinum on SPG.
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