Cancellation Guidelines Update
Nov 10, 2014, 11:40 am
#16
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: JNU
Programs: HH D, AS MM/MVPG for life/AL, Awesome Wipes VIP Club, NEXUS, Hertz 5-Star Gold
Posts: 2,893
I may be missing something here, and I am far from being an apologist for Hilton, but I can fully understand their stance on no longer allowing same-day cancellations if the practice of booking a room just in case there are flight or other travel problems is as widespread as it seems from the above comments. While they can overbook, just like airlines, if there is inclement weather they would end up not only having to accommodate more bookings than there are rooms, but they also have no rooms for all the other travellers affected by the weather.
On the other hand, this practice, for al I know, may only affect airport properties, so perhaps there is room for Hilton to finesse the requirement by limiting it to certain hotels only.
On the other hand, this practice, for al I know, may only affect airport properties, so perhaps there is room for Hilton to finesse the requirement by limiting it to certain hotels only.
Nov 10, 2014, 11:44 am
#17
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
Since me and my girlfriend mostly fly on a standby basis, I will no longer consider Hilton on the first night of my intended arrival. Both me and my girlfriend are former Diamonds, now Gold, so I will inform her (she loves Hilton) also. It's too bad, as Hilton is our preferred chain.
I have found lately that www.booking.com generally has the most lenient cancellaton policies.
I have found lately that www.booking.com generally has the most lenient cancellaton policies.
Just another DUMB Greedy move on Hiltons part
Sorry but I dont believe a single word of the Spin Doc (HHRep) its simply just anyway Hilton has thought up of adding to its bottom line. Time to move on from Hilton and never look back, seeing 135,298,298,298 pts per night for an award stay wont be missed. Ever since they took away the Diamond force and then teh fixed amount of miles Ive been staying with Marriott where Im about to cross into LTP status.Not that MR hasnt had its share of negations but no where IMO as Hilton has done
Nov 10, 2014, 11:44 am
#18
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: CLE
Programs: UA Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,661
I may be missing something here, and I am far from being an apologist for Hilton, but I can fully understand their stance on no longer allowing same-day cancellations if the practice of booking a room just in case there are flight or other travel problems is as widespread as it seems from the above comments.
I've missed connections and had to cancel right before the deadline. Not an airport hotel.
Nov 10, 2014, 11:51 am
#20
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
I don't think the above comments reflect a practice of booking a room in case of travel problems. At least for me, I book a room intending to stay at my destination. It is almost never an airport hotel. (If I am overnighting, then I do book an airport hotel). But if something goes wrong and I can't get there, then under the new policy, I can't cancel and I'm stuck.
I've missed connections and had to cancel right before the deadline. Not an airport hotel.
I've missed connections and had to cancel right before the deadline. Not an airport hotel.
Nov 10, 2014, 11:54 am
#21
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: AA LT PLT; HH Diamond; AS 75K
Posts: 2,879
I guess it it's past the 11:59PM, day before cancellation, no need to call and cancel if I am going to be charged for it anyway. The hotel can just keep the reservation until check out the next morning. A win-win for Hilton as still get the money for the room, and not have to clean it or provide services/meals that night.
Meanwhile, a traveler who just got their plans cancelled, can't stay there, because there are no rooms available. Not that Hilton will care, as see above......
Meanwhile, a traveler who just got their plans cancelled, can't stay there, because there are no rooms available. Not that Hilton will care, as see above......
The reason someone can't stay there is because "YOU" opted not to call not because Hilton wants it go go empty.
Nov 10, 2014, 12:01 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,719
Hilton should contemplate the law of unintended consequences. Adversarial stance begets more of the same.
They always do.
But if you buy trip insurance for, say, 20 trips per year and use it once, it's going to be far more costly than eating one night's lodging. Especially if you bought it for cheap on Priceline. 
Nov 10, 2014, 12:37 pm
#23
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: UK
Programs: BA Silver, AA Gold, A3 Gold, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 1,251
to Hilton for this move!
Nov 10, 2014, 12:42 pm
#24
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 67
I have never had to cancel a room the same day in 25+ years of road warrior & leisure travel. My point is if this is the stance Hilton is going to take, there is the flip side of it. Maybe I "thought" I was not going to make it to the hotel, and it was past cancellation. Then, 5-6 hours later, the plans change and I get there. Since I am stuck paying for a reservation, then I expect to be able to check in, all the way up until one minute before check out. Now if I cancelled the reservation that morning under the current rules, and my plans changed, then my own fault and I have to take what I can get.
The hotel could be losing more money because I did not physically check in. What if I decided to eat dinner or spend $$ at the bar with friends. They kept the room rate, and lost other revenue that might have been spent by someone actually staying.
It's not cut & dry, just two different views of what they are doing and I am sure in their mind, it's what profits the most.
Nov 10, 2014, 1:06 pm
#26
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: SFO/STS
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond
Posts: 396
My Diamond Status will be in Jeopardy
My only cancellations have been because I could not physically get to the hotel, primarily because of flight disruptions. I will have to take this policy into consideration when travelling next year and look for more travel friendly accommodations. Anyone know offhand which chains do not have this archaic policy?
Nov 10, 2014, 1:43 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,719
Whereas if a Diamond or other high-value customer is the victim of this policy once, and takes his/her business elsewhere as a result, the hotel has squandered thousands in future revenue to hang onto a few bucks here and now. Screw-the-customer policies like this never seem to account for the lifetime value of some of the customers on the receiving end.
Nov 10, 2014, 1:47 pm
#28
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: AS MVPG 75K, HH Diamond
Posts: 144
Whereas if a Diamond or other high-value customer is the victim of this policy once, and takes his/her business elsewhere as a result, the hotel has squandered thousands in future revenue to hang onto a few bucks here and now. Screw-the-customer policies like this never seem to account for the lifetime value of some of the customers on the receiving end.
Sometimes factors make it so you can't get to the city where the hotel is. Usually, I call the property directly or the Diamond desk. Hilton will be shooting themselves in the foot with frequent business travelers.
Nov 10, 2014, 1:56 pm
#29
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: AMS
Programs: LH FTL, HH ♢, HGP P, Accor P
Posts: 840
Hi all,
I wanted to share a quick update with you. We are updating our reservation cancellation guidelines to a minimum of 11:59 p.m. local hotel time the day prior to arrival, and you will be required to provide a credit card at the time of booking.
These changes will go into effect on January 1, 2015. As always, cancellation policies may still vary depending on the rate or dates of your reservation, and some hotels have more restrictive policies in place, so please refer to your individual confirmations to verify their policy.
We’re making this change so that we can provide you with a more consistent booking process and make more rooms available for when you need last minute travel accommodations.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out within this thread or through PM and I will do my best to share updates with you all.
Thanks!
Erin
I wanted to share a quick update with you. We are updating our reservation cancellation guidelines to a minimum of 11:59 p.m. local hotel time the day prior to arrival, and you will be required to provide a credit card at the time of booking.
These changes will go into effect on January 1, 2015. As always, cancellation policies may still vary depending on the rate or dates of your reservation, and some hotels have more restrictive policies in place, so please refer to your individual confirmations to verify their policy.
We’re making this change so that we can provide you with a more consistent booking process and make more rooms available for when you need last minute travel accommodations.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out within this thread or through PM and I will do my best to share updates with you all.
Thanks!
Erin
Just wondering what 'enhancements' will be next....
So the price of the Easy cancellation rate will go down? Since it's less special as it is less flexible? .... I bet not
Nov 10, 2014, 1:57 pm
#30
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: AMS
Programs: LH FTL, HH ♢, HGP P, Accor P
Posts: 840
I wonder if this even applies to Diamond members. If so, Starwood here I come.
Sometimes factors make it so you can't get to the city where the hotel is. Usually, I call the property directly or the Diamond desk. Hilton will be shooting themselves in the foot with frequent business travelers.
Sometimes factors make it so you can't get to the city where the hotel is. Usually, I call the property directly or the Diamond desk. Hilton will be shooting themselves in the foot with frequent business travelers.