Cancellation Guidelines Update
#61
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA EXP, UA former 1K (1.9MM and gone), Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 1,111
I'm thoroughly confused about who this policy is supposed to be helping. In the past, any hotel that wanted to set a one-day cancellation policy was free to do so, and many did. Now Hilton is limiting a property's ability to react to the local market conditions with a more lenient cancellation policy. More restrictions can't be good for the hotel and don't seem to be good for the guests either, so what's the point?
#62
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: OKC
Programs: Delta Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 16
This sucks for me. As someone who's made Diamond staying on my own dime while storm chasing, it will make justifying a Hilton property that much harder. Weather can change on a whim and I find myself changing which property I'm staying at a lot during storm chases. I've booked a room in Dodge City, KS and ended up at the North Platte, NE Hampton Inn before by the end of the night.
Not having cancellation flexibility pretty much means I need to go find another hotel chain. Hilton will not suffice for me, which is a shame because I do like staying in their properties.
Not having cancellation flexibility pretty much means I need to go find another hotel chain. Hilton will not suffice for me, which is a shame because I do like staying in their properties.
#63
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
#64
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA EXP, UA former 1K (1.9MM and gone), Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 1,111
Not sure how it helps Hilton's revenue. If any property thought it would increase their own revenue to have an early cancellation policy, they were already free to do so. What does Hilton gain by making it mandatory?
#65
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Hilton HHonors, Marriott Bonvoy, IHG, Delta SkyMiles
Posts: 216
I'll let the Hilton's track record in various activities help others decide which one is the main motivator.
#66
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: AMS
Programs: LH FTL, HH ♢, HGP P, Accor P
Posts: 840
Hi all,
I understand your concerns about issues that are out of your control when traveling. These situations will be handled on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the property where the reservation has been made.
Please feel free to send me a PM if you have any questions!
Thanks,
Erin
I understand your concerns about issues that are out of your control when traveling. These situations will be handled on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the property where the reservation has been made.
Please feel free to send me a PM if you have any questions!
Thanks,
Erin
After all, we pay for the option of being able to cancel at the last moment if necessary and these rates are no longer very (practically) flexible.
#67
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 118
Originally Posted by FlyinDutchman
IMHO this means that Hilton will have to decrease the price of the Easy cancellation rates.
Agreed. This new policy IMO makes the term, ‘Easy Cancellation’ for choice of a room rate option, farcical.
IMHO this means that Hilton will have to decrease the price of the Easy cancellation rates.
Agreed. This new policy IMO makes the term, ‘Easy Cancellation’ for choice of a room rate option, farcical.
Last edited by OnTheCentreline; Nov 12, 2014 at 1:03 pm
#68
Join Date: May 2008
Location: San Francisco, where else?
Programs: EXP,EX-CK 2.5mm, now lifetime Platinum, ex-UA1K, Marriott- Platinum, Hertz 5*
Posts: 991
Hilton just became my "never book" hotel chain.... I'll stick with Marriott, thank you. What a terrible policy change.
#69
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA EXP, UA former 1K (1.9MM and gone), Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 1,111
They are thinking that by casting a wide net, they will a)get people to actually stay the hotel and pay rather than have those people hear "no rooms" and look elsewhere prior to cancellations, and b) "gotcha" on the people who don't cancel in time.
I'll let the Hilton's track record in various activities help others decide which one is the main motivator.
I'll let the Hilton's track record in various activities help others decide which one is the main motivator.
#71
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,391
http://travelupdate.boardingarea.com...w-policy-says/
#73
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
It's interesting that Hilton can't herd its properties into line on anything that benefits the customer (quarterly promo compliance, breakfast / lounge policies, etc.) but has no trouble getting wall-to-wall compliance on something that hurts the customer.
#74
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: AA (PPro/3MM/Admirals Club), AS, UA, Marriott (Gold), HHonors (Gold), Accor (Plat)
Posts: 2,602
This.
While I understand why this policy is being changed, not all of us are trying to game the system. The 6pm cancellation policy has helped me on more occasions than I would like given flight cancellations - situations outside of my control.
I also thank you for the heads up, but count me as one who will be looking elsewhere.
While I understand why this policy is being changed, not all of us are trying to game the system. The 6pm cancellation policy has helped me on more occasions than I would like given flight cancellations - situations outside of my control.
I also thank you for the heads up, but count me as one who will be looking elsewhere.
#75
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Programs: BA Gold (ex-GGL, maybe future Silver), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,199
While I have no problems with hotels being able to select more restrictive cancellation policies than the standard (within reason and as long as they're notified), I'm surprised that there is no flexibility to allow same-day cancellation if the hotel feels it is right for market conditions.
It won't affect me much - I have travel insurance that would deal with airline delays but I do/did travel from time to time with my elderly father and if he's not well enough on the day the late cancellation would have been very helpful. Those kind of bookings are made on the basis that if we travel, it will be that day - but we've been happy to pay the higher, flexible rate.
Now though the balance of risk is weighted much more in favor of pre-paid where there is a substantial saving.
It won't affect me much - I have travel insurance that would deal with airline delays but I do/did travel from time to time with my elderly father and if he's not well enough on the day the late cancellation would have been very helpful. Those kind of bookings are made on the basis that if we travel, it will be that day - but we've been happy to pay the higher, flexible rate.
Now though the balance of risk is weighted much more in favor of pre-paid where there is a substantial saving.