Upgrade, how do you know???
 

Let me preface by saying that I have read some of the threads on upgrades for Diamonds, etc.

I’ve stayed at 4 different Hiltons in Las Vegas since I achieved Diamond status last month, and as far as I can tell I have not received any type of an upgrade. How exactly do I know if I received an upgrade or not?

For starters, when your room is at the end of the hall rather than next to the elevator -- or when you need to use your key on the elevator to get to your floor -- or when it's a suite and you get a room that's much bigger than what you need etc etc.

Bob H

Granted, the question is somewhat naive, I’ll give you that, and also chalk some of your response up to deserving it, but come on, wouldn’t they want to try and impress a little; this vs. leaving the guest up to themselves to decide whether they were upgraded or not? Am I missing something? How about, “welcome to the Hilton Mr. Smith, we see that you are a Silver, Gold, Diamond, or whatever, and have upgraded you to X, this based on your status with us”. I am in no way complaining, I could stay most anywhere within reason, I just choose to stay with Hilton because they meet my expectations. Perhaps I am just rambling…

AF

In some cases your booking changes to indicate such when you dig it up online before arrving at the hotel. Generally this sticks, although sometimes it may not and you get the booked room upon check-in.

In reaility, it is only when you check in that you can be sure an apgrade had been applied.

Some places do not train staff well, others are "guts" where employees pass through quickly - you may have to be assertive and inquire as to whether yu have been upgraded and let them respond to what.

I know in Europe most of the newer Hiltons have floors called "Business floor", "Executive floor", and so on. These floors tend to have the upgraded rooms.

Sometimes Deluxe/Deluxe Plus rooms qualifies as upgrades in hotels with no Executive/Business/HH floors.

UTA

In my recent experience staff will acknowledge an upgrade upon check-in. I'm a Gold (about to be Diamond), and I've never requested upgrades (nor do I really know how).

Let's call a spade a spade. In reality, on in rare circumstances are Exec floors or business floors actual upgrades, about 95% of the time the rooms are the same you're just on a different supposedly exclusive floor.

As for Deluxe and Deluxe plus, sometimes that just means higher floors or have deluxe bathroom amenities. To be honest, until I get a suite it's not an UG (yes I know suites are not a benefit for upgrades).

Which is why, to answer the OP's question: Upgrade, how do you know???

The answer is: you're most likely not staying at a Hilton affiliated property.

Is the standing recommendation to simply ask the front desk if I received an upgrade when I check in?

What I have noticed is most hotels already have my paperwork together when I get there, as in the keys are ready to go in the folder, etc.

AF

Of course, that's not the answer for many of us. As of a few months ago I was 12 for 15.

Since then out of six stays, four have been upgraded (including two whirlpool suites at supposedly non-upgradable Hamptons, and one whirlpool suite at a lovely HGI).

Unless it's a huge change - Standard room to a four room suite for example, if they don't mention it and you don't ask, in many cases you do not know.

Part of the problem is defining upgrade. Is it simply moving across the hall to the same room just with a better view? Moving you away from the ice machine to the same room down the hall?

But it's one of the issues with Hilton (though in no way unique to them) an upgrade can be not all that much different from the room you were in.

Unless it's one of those big changes, it really doesn't matter all that much to me if there's an upgrade or not.

While your upgrades truly sound like upgrades, I'm sure if Hilton were to go back into my history they would say that on two or three occasions I've actually received an upgrade because they put me on a floor that had a little sign next to the elevator bank that said "HHonors". I assign no value to that.

Problem is in the definition of an upgrade. I take not being assigned a room next to an elevator / ice machine for granted as a frequent traveler of any loyalty program. The fact that Hilton says "take 1,000 points or risk not being able to sleep because we're going to assign you the shlub room next to the elevator and ice machine" makes their definition of upgrade ludicrous.

With programs like Starwood it's pretty easy to know if you've received an upgrade as their upgradable rooms are actually different than standard rooms. And when they can't accommodate an upgrade the front desk agents 90% of the time verbally tell you that they tried, but due to bookings, couldn't.

This thread is indeed progressing. As it stands, an upgrade is somewhat subjective to the individual guest, and for sure to Hilton. In retrospect, and mainly given the responses I have received in this thread, I believe I have been upgraded, where as I originally thought I had not.

I guess I go back to my opinion of if Hilton is giving you an upgrade, they should flaunt it a bit. I’d certainly want my most valuable customers to know when they have gotten something extra, as a way to further solidify loyalty…right???

Listen, getting the upgrade isn’t paramount to me at all, the rooms I get are usually just fine. But, if I am upgraded, I’d sure like to know, and as a HH member, loyal customer, etc. there some entitlement, they market it to us that way.

I think I got it in my head that once I hit Diamond, I would see a bigger difference…

AF