Originally Posted by
Dr Jabadski
Would like to clarify. Just booked JFK-LHR-JFK award on American (website and airline) for December. Last booking pages (AA Hotels, RocketMiles) offered my preferred Hilton hotel at a rate ~25% less than available at Hilton website, requiring full payment now, 5 day “free cancellation”. I’m Hilton Diamond.
Is it correct that if I book the hotel that way, I would not receive Hilton Diamond benefits and not earn Honors points and if I used my Hilton Aspire card to pay I would not receive 14 points/mile? Thank you.
That is correct, if you book through a third party, you will not officially receive those benefits (or via Aspire either). However, at check in you can show your diamond # and sometimes properties will offer you some limited menu of soft benefits (late check out, two bottles of water, etc.). Up to you to decide of the 25% cash savings +Loyalty Points earned via AA Hotels is worth the trade.
I too have recently found booking Hilton direct to be a more expensive proposition and as such have been using OTAs for 2/3s of my upcoming stays to save $$.