The owner of the free night cert can call Hilton to make a reservation in anyone else's name.
Only that named person will be able to stay at the hotel and the name cannot be changed.
Of course the reservation can be cancelled and the owner of the cert can then call Hilton to make a new booking in yet another name.
(And someone could impersonate the owner of the cert when calling Hilton, and if in a country where ID is not requested at check in, anyone could actually stay as long as their appearance appears to match the name.)
Note that making a reservation in someone else's name cannot be done online. It is not the same as just putting a second name in the booking (which can be done online, and in some cases will be accepted by the hotel even if the first named member doesn't show).
Originally Posted by
frudd38
Have you done this recently for the certificates? It seems to have changed sometime in 2021 as I have not been able to make the reservation for someone else (I have done it many times in the past, but denied numerous times starting in 2021).
So what's the scoop on this? Has anyone booked a FNC officially in someone else's name rather than as an additional guest?
Also, Hilton is claiming they can only use 4 FNCs in a block, i.e. a 7 night booking has to be split into 4+3? That sounds stupid and wrong. How is one supposed to book properties with a 5 night minimum like the Conrad Maldives or something?