2013 Changes to HH Reward Stays, new cat., more pts needed
Mar 23, 2013, 12:28 pm
#1036
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: West Coast, USA
Programs: Skywards Platinum
Posts: 3,747
The question is whether it will be honored. I called HHonors and told them of my reservation late next year, they looked at it and told me if I have a confirmed reservation it will be honored.
It would be nice to get this in writing but not sure how to go about that.
There are plenty of people in this thread that will tell you it won't be honored, but none of them have any experience of awards not being honored.
Mar 23, 2013, 6:04 pm
#1037
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: BOS
Posts: 1,461
Well, the answer is yes, they can be booked, many of us have.
The question is whether it will be honored. I called HHonors and told them of my reservation late next year, they looked at it and told me if I have a confirmed reservation it will be honored.
It would be nice to get this in writing but not sure how to go about that.
There are plenty of people in this thread that will tell you it won't be honored, but none of them have any experience of awards not being honored.
The question is whether it will be honored. I called HHonors and told them of my reservation late next year, they looked at it and told me if I have a confirmed reservation it will be honored.
It would be nice to get this in writing but not sure how to go about that.
There are plenty of people in this thread that will tell you it won't be honored, but none of them have any experience of awards not being honored.
Mar 24, 2013, 3:19 pm
#1038
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 66
Starting to "panic" a little and want to book rooms with points before the change. Any ideas, in the US, where I can get the best value for points? I've already booked a hotel in NY for 5 nights using fewer points that I would have for 2 nights after the change. Any ideas are greatly appreciated!
Mar 25, 2013, 8:21 am
#1039
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 6
Regarding plus 1 year bookings
For what its worth - I spent well over an hour on the phone yesterday with HHonors re: bookings past 1 year. I was "lucky" enough to win a 7 night stay in the contest last October, and received 7 one night award certs, valid for one year from date of issue.
I actually called in to burn points through an axon award starting 3/24/2014 - the woman on the diamond desk specifically said she could do it, but that likely I would arrive in Tokyo without a valid certificate, and hence a reservation that hasn't been paid for. I said thank you, hung up, and then got scared about my 7 night certificates (which I was also planning on burning in the same trip end of march next year).
Called, spoke to the 1st level support, said there was nothing they could do, could not be extended. Spoke with supervisor, who said they absolutely never extend these certificates. He told me if I made a booking past the expiry date, that I would arrive at the hotel with an invalid certificate; i.e., the room wouldn't be paid for.
As I absolutely can't use these certificates this year, and have paid a far amount of tax to receive them, he sent me up another level higher in HHonors, and am waiting to see if they will extend them for me; the supervisor said it was a waste of both of our time, as they simply never do it.
Point being, regardless of what happens to my e-certs, both the woman at the diamond desk and the supervisor at HHonors both told me that if I made a booking past 365 days, it would probably be a big problem. The woman at the diamond desk WOULD make a booking if the arrival date was within the expiration date.
I actually called in to burn points through an axon award starting 3/24/2014 - the woman on the diamond desk specifically said she could do it, but that likely I would arrive in Tokyo without a valid certificate, and hence a reservation that hasn't been paid for. I said thank you, hung up, and then got scared about my 7 night certificates (which I was also planning on burning in the same trip end of march next year).
Called, spoke to the 1st level support, said there was nothing they could do, could not be extended. Spoke with supervisor, who said they absolutely never extend these certificates. He told me if I made a booking past the expiry date, that I would arrive at the hotel with an invalid certificate; i.e., the room wouldn't be paid for.
As I absolutely can't use these certificates this year, and have paid a far amount of tax to receive them, he sent me up another level higher in HHonors, and am waiting to see if they will extend them for me; the supervisor said it was a waste of both of our time, as they simply never do it.
Point being, regardless of what happens to my e-certs, both the woman at the diamond desk and the supervisor at HHonors both told me that if I made a booking past 365 days, it would probably be a big problem. The woman at the diamond desk WOULD make a booking if the arrival date was within the expiration date.
Mar 25, 2013, 8:49 am
#1040
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Charleston, SC, USA
Programs: Avis Pref+, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Life Gold, Honors Silver, IHG Plat via MC.
Posts: 6,786
Just book a (dummy if need be) non-AXON reservation for which UR points short. IIRC it will sell exact odd amounts up to 30 or 40K at 1cpp vs. 1.25cpp for buying 'em by the thousand separately. Then cancel in a few hours & call to book your AXON! This system worked fine for me in early March. I even got 6 points per $ for charging the points purchase to my HH Amex!
Mar 25, 2013, 10:02 am
#1041
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: BOS
Posts: 1,461
For what its worth - I spent well over an hour on the phone yesterday with HHonors re: bookings past 1 year. I was "lucky" enough to win a 7 night stay in the contest last October, and received 7 one night award certs, valid for one year from date of issue.
I actually called in to burn points through an axon award starting 3/24/2014 - the woman on the diamond desk specifically said she could do it, but that likely I would arrive in Tokyo without a valid certificate, and hence a reservation that hasn't been paid for. I said thank you, hung up, and then got scared about my 7 night certificates (which I was also planning on burning in the same trip end of march next year).
Called, spoke to the 1st level support, said there was nothing they could do, could not be extended. Spoke with supervisor, who said they absolutely never extend these certificates. He told me if I made a booking past the expiry date, that I would arrive at the hotel with an invalid certificate; i.e., the room wouldn't be paid for.
As I absolutely can't use these certificates this year, and have paid a far amount of tax to receive them, he sent me up another level higher in HHonors, and am waiting to see if they will extend them for me; the supervisor said it was a waste of both of our time, as they simply never do it.
Point being, regardless of what happens to my e-certs, both the woman at the diamond desk and the supervisor at HHonors both told me that if I made a booking past 365 days, it would probably be a big problem. The woman at the diamond desk WOULD make a booking if the arrival date was within the expiration date.
I actually called in to burn points through an axon award starting 3/24/2014 - the woman on the diamond desk specifically said she could do it, but that likely I would arrive in Tokyo without a valid certificate, and hence a reservation that hasn't been paid for. I said thank you, hung up, and then got scared about my 7 night certificates (which I was also planning on burning in the same trip end of march next year).
Called, spoke to the 1st level support, said there was nothing they could do, could not be extended. Spoke with supervisor, who said they absolutely never extend these certificates. He told me if I made a booking past the expiry date, that I would arrive at the hotel with an invalid certificate; i.e., the room wouldn't be paid for.
As I absolutely can't use these certificates this year, and have paid a far amount of tax to receive them, he sent me up another level higher in HHonors, and am waiting to see if they will extend them for me; the supervisor said it was a waste of both of our time, as they simply never do it.
Point being, regardless of what happens to my e-certs, both the woman at the diamond desk and the supervisor at HHonors both told me that if I made a booking past 365 days, it would probably be a big problem. The woman at the diamond desk WOULD make a booking if the arrival date was within the expiration date.
Last edited by mareh; Mar 25, 2013 at 10:13 am
Mar 25, 2013, 10:31 am
#1042
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: DUB-BOS
Programs: various
Posts: 3,690
Reservations that require certs are a different story.
Mar 25, 2013, 6:53 pm
#1043
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,548
Sorry if this was covered previously, but what will happen to the 2 FWN awarded with the Citibank HH Visa card? The certificate says up to category 7 - will the current category 7 (soon to be 10) be honored after March 28?
Mar 26, 2013, 1:22 pm
#1044
Join Date: Feb 2009
Programs: SPG, HH, Avis, United
Posts: 64
So, I'm getting news of this devaluation just now. I'd like to book while I can.
Is this the site to see the changes in points needed?:
http://hhonorspointssearchtool.com
I'm not finding any differences in points required for the sites I've looked up?
Is this the site to see the changes in points needed?:
http://hhonorspointssearchtool.com
I'm not finding any differences in points required for the sites I've looked up?
Mar 26, 2013, 1:26 pm
#1045
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: UK
Programs: BA S, VS S, SQ G, HH D, IHG D/A, Marriott G, Radisson G, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,945
Yes, that's the site - it shows you the post-31/3 points required, complete with seasonal variation. For current points just do a normal HHonors points search - some may be better/same post 31/3/13, but many will be worse!
Mar 26, 2013, 1:53 pm
#1046
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Always going...
Posts: 13
This is the inevitable result of "earning" points for cable TV, credit card purchases, meals, etc, etc, etc....
Loyalty rewards programs are "supposed" to reward loyalty, duh!
I actually STAY at Hilton properties. It really steams me to have the rewards diluted because there are billions of points outstanding for non-hotel purchases.
Loyalty rewards programs are "supposed" to reward loyalty, duh!
I actually STAY at Hilton properties. It really steams me to have the rewards diluted because there are billions of points outstanding for non-hotel purchases.
Mar 26, 2013, 6:30 pm
#1047
Formerly known as cagalindo
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: MCO TPA
Programs: Citi AA/HH/TYP Amex SPG/HH & Chase SP/PC
Posts: 1,335
30k left :/
Mar 27, 2013, 7:02 am
#1048
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: ANP
Programs: UA 1k, Marriott Plat, HH gold, Avis/Hertz Pres
Posts: 1,408
IHG free internet for all elites....
Will HH pick this up?
Will HH pick this up?
Mar 27, 2013, 7:10 am
#1049
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: From ORK, live LCY
Programs: BA Silver, EI Silver, HH Gold, BW Gold, ABP, Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci
Posts: 14,216
HH already gives free Internet to gold and up, same as ICHG will be from July.
Mar 27, 2013, 9:33 am
#1050
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: ORD (formerly SAN)
Programs: Hilton Diamond; IHG Platinum; Bonvoy Gold; AA Platinum Pro and United Premier Silver (DH = AA EXP)
Posts: 1,929
Starting to "panic" a little and want to book rooms with points before the change. Any ideas, in the US, where I can get the best value for points? I've already booked a hotel in NY for 5 nights using fewer points that I would have for 2 nights after the change. Any ideas are greatly appreciated!
