Honors T&Cs changed effective July 19 2012: No Diamond Force on Reward Stays
Jul 23, 2012, 1:36 am
#1
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Honors T&Cs changed effective July 19 2012: No Diamond Force on Reward Stays
Buried in the T&C update of 19 July is this sentence:
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.
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.
Jul 23, 2012, 1:44 am
#2
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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"
- Diamond Force is officially excluded on reward stays (points and certs)
- 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.
Jul 23, 2012, 5:42 am
#6
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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.
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.
Jul 23, 2012, 6:55 am
#8
Moderator: InterContinental Hotels and Germany
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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)?
Jul 23, 2012, 7:00 am
#9
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Norway, Maine
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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?
Jul 23, 2012, 7:08 am
#10
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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?
Jul 23, 2012, 7:09 am
#11
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I don't have the last T&C to hand, but I don't think it was quite this unambiguous.
Jul 23, 2012, 7:11 am
#12
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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.
Jul 23, 2012, 9:43 am
#14
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Thanks for the opinion. It seems that they have improved Gold while devaluing Diamond.^
Jul 23, 2012, 10:14 am
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