48 Hour Cancelation Coming - no Diamond exceptions
#77
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MAN and LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC LT Gold, HH Dia, MR LT Plat, IHG Diamond Amb, Amex Plat
Posts: 13,772
Most Corp rates come with negotiated cancellation terms so irrespective of what Hilton does with public rates, negotiated rates may well carry distinct cancellation terms (typically I find that is 6pm on the day of arrival).
#78
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: Amtrak Guest Rewards (SE), Virgin America Elevate, Hyatt Gold Passport (Platinum), VIA Preference
Posts: 3,134
That may be true and this is similar to the "solutions" that the airlines instituted. However, with the airlines I can use status or cash to purchase the ability to refund or at least hold funds for future purchases. Best is status gets 24 hours or day of arrival. I could live with inside 48 hours I have to pay but if I can cancel before 6 p.m. local time, the old deadline, I get a percentage of the funds that can be used within a year. (Yes, I understand that creates a bookkeeping nightmare for a company that occasionally has a difficult time calculating points.)
This is the big thing IMO: For a one-night stay, you're not hit for 10% or 25% of the stay and you're not given a voucher, you're just dinged for the whole thing. I don't think we'd be thrilled by it, but it wouldn't be unreasonable.
One thing this ironically does is disincentivize bothering to cancel within a week. With due respect to other travelers, if a given hotel is solidly inflexible I now have no reason to even let the hotel know anywhere close-in if I'm a no-show.
Another thought: If you're having to cancel within a week (going with the even worse policy), why not re-sell your reservation (by adding someone else's name to it)? I see a business opportunity (albeit fraught with issues) for someone in the Airbnb/Hotwire field (since if I'm going to be out, say, $150 why shouldn't I just sell the room to someone actually going to where I am for $75 and call it a day?).
#79
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,399
A week is absurd, 48 hours is absurd.
If they are going to require a week cancel then they should do what amazon does with a prerelease purchase and if the rate goes down between the time of booking and the time you arrive they have to honor the lowest rate.
It's almost like Hilton is screwing with their most valuable customers. They are awful about breakfast and upgrades and late check outs for diamonds.
And the late cancel policy is effecting mainly business travelers who they make a lot more off of than the occasion weekend leisure traveler.
If they do make this change I hope they offer a diamond benefit of something like a 48 hour cancel policy on all reservations (except prepaid).
If they are going to require a week cancel then they should do what amazon does with a prerelease purchase and if the rate goes down between the time of booking and the time you arrive they have to honor the lowest rate.
It's almost like Hilton is screwing with their most valuable customers. They are awful about breakfast and upgrades and late check outs for diamonds.
And the late cancel policy is effecting mainly business travelers who they make a lot more off of than the occasion weekend leisure traveler.
If they do make this change I hope they offer a diamond benefit of something like a 48 hour cancel policy on all reservations (except prepaid).
#80
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
This. Hilton knows they won't upset most of the big guys booking on corp rates.
#81
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 9,740
1) Anyone who is inside of the week advise the hotel that they are not arriving; or
2) Anyone who isn't 100% assured that they will be X place on Y date book anything more than a day or two out?
It seems to me that such a policy would cause inventory management problems for hotels, but if Hilton wants to be so customer unfriendly, then why should I care about their potential problems?
#82
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,399
I don't know why anyone would cancel if they are less than 7-days out and something comes up. If Hilton is going to be petty enough to have a 7-day cancel policy I'll go on the app and check in just so they can't resell the room.
#83
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
#84
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Houston, TX
Programs: HHonors Diamond, AA Executive Platinum, National Executive Elite, Avis First
Posts: 494
I changed my reservation same day twice this week because of cancelled flights and had no issues. Maybe the difference was I just pushed back my arrival by 1 day instead of cancelling? I called the property directly.
Originally had a Sunday-Thursday night stay but my flight cancelled Sunday, then cancelled on Monday.
Originally had a Sunday-Thursday night stay but my flight cancelled Sunday, then cancelled on Monday.
#85
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
With a one-week non-refundable cancellation policy, why would:
1) Anyone who is inside of the week advise the hotel that they are not arriving; or
2) Anyone who isn't 100% assured that they will be X place on Y date book anything more than a day or two out?
It seems to me that such a policy would cause inventory management problems for hotels, but if Hilton wants to be so customer unfriendly, then why should I care about their potential problems?
1) Anyone who is inside of the week advise the hotel that they are not arriving; or
2) Anyone who isn't 100% assured that they will be X place on Y date book anything more than a day or two out?
It seems to me that such a policy would cause inventory management problems for hotels, but if Hilton wants to be so customer unfriendly, then why should I care about their potential problems?
On a recent trip, I just waited until the last minute to book when certain that the trip would happen. I kept checking prices for the HGI that I wanted and in the three day window that I was looking, it ranged from a high of $179 to a low of $103 (briefly). I pulled the trigger at $113. I was ready to book at $135 when I started looking but was put off by cancellation policy. I decided that if bad came to worse, there was a Candlewood and a Comfort Suites (among others) in the area. The policy cost them $20 this time. They will get that back and more.
#86
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: Hilton Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 1,266
I am now seeing most of most bookings have a 3 day cancellation policy. Gosh forbid I get sick, have travel issues, or a business trip gets cancelled. Maybe I can play the Diamond card, but why even change the policy
#87
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,399
I just did a booking at the Hilton Fashion District and looked at the cancel policy. 2 day for AAA or AARP or 6 p.m. day of arrival for my corporate rate which was fortunately the lowest rate. Some stays though my corporate rate isn't available
#88
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Venice, Florida
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,607
I do a lot of one night stays,but like to book ahead and occassionaly will have to cancel and rebook based on traffic, etc. Even a 48 hour cancellation will be a hardship for me, 7 days impossible!! I will not book until day before which will be more expensive which seems to be what hilton wants. Im not happy about it.
#89
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
For those of us with the CC and no corporate account, this is a good area for a new Surpass benefit. Can schlubs like me get a corporate account?
I have been booking a bunch of one day stays lately and this policy is really beginning to bug me. If I have a potential Wednesday appointment and need to travel Tuesday, I need to cancel by Sunday night. However, who plans or cancels business meetings on the weekend? The effect is that I need to know on the last business day, Friday. That makes it five days before the meeting. Monday is a common trip rearrangement day as the week's schedule actually comes into focus, but almost nothing happens on Friday, particularly after lunch.
I understand the need to do this from a yield management perspective. However, even the airlines offer refundable reservations for a higher cost. This is not even an option. Furthermore, even non-refundable flights have a part of the payment that can be applied to future flights.
So, how close are we to seeing prepaid only with the cash taken at the time of reservation? I guess inside of five years.
I have been booking a bunch of one day stays lately and this policy is really beginning to bug me. If I have a potential Wednesday appointment and need to travel Tuesday, I need to cancel by Sunday night. However, who plans or cancels business meetings on the weekend? The effect is that I need to know on the last business day, Friday. That makes it five days before the meeting. Monday is a common trip rearrangement day as the week's schedule actually comes into focus, but almost nothing happens on Friday, particularly after lunch.
I understand the need to do this from a yield management perspective. However, even the airlines offer refundable reservations for a higher cost. This is not even an option. Furthermore, even non-refundable flights have a part of the payment that can be applied to future flights.
So, how close are we to seeing prepaid only with the cash taken at the time of reservation? I guess inside of five years.
#90
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: PDX
Programs: AA LT PLT (3.6+ MM), UA 1K LT Gold, Hilton LT Diamond, Bonvoy Gold.
Posts: 1,662
I just booked the Hilton Warsaw for a stay in Oct, directly on hilton.com. T&C's say 24 hours. Confirmation says 24 hours. No mention of 48 hours. At. All.
Hilton needs to clean this mess up, in a net-positive way.
Hilton needs to clean this mess up, in a net-positive way.