Comp Upgrades for Golds - What are your experiences?
Jun 19, 2013 | 2:59 pm
#166
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 53,002
To those who know more than I about HH's systems: am I seeing an award that other people aren't? I noticed this a Dublin stay I have booked for a weekend in August when lots of hotels are booking at high paid rates or already sold out.
Kimpton keeps looking better and better for my NYC, Chicago and NYC stays.
Jun 20, 2013 | 1:14 pm
#167
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: UA 1MM/1K, HH Diamond
Posts: 7,285
In either the diamond suite upgrade or suite failure thread someone said they were told by the staff that Hilton told their properties that starting very soon they are to only upgrade diamonds and golds one room level from what was booked. Hopefully that isn't the case. If it is that means even less difference than there already is between gold and diamond. About the only additional benefits we would have is the diamond force and lounge access at properties that enforce it and the additional points which aren't worth much anymore.
I've been told precisely this (one category only) by at least two Hiltons: Conrad Hong Kong and the Arizona Biltmore. I assume that FT'ers had confirmed that it's far beyond a rumor and now the normal operating procedure for many/most Hiltons.
At the Conrad HK, the upgrade was from "standard" to Exec Level mountain view. That was a very nice room and certainly no complaints from me, but when I specifically asked about either a corner room or a harbor view, I was told that was not allowed because it was a 2nd category. (e.g., The response was not "Sorry, those rooms are sold out." The response was the HHonors rule, almost to the letter.)
At the Arizona Biltmore, we received a terrible room that couldn't be conceivably considered an upgrade by any reasonable person except perhaps a smoker. But apparently their "run of house" rooms are even worse, and ours was a few square feet larger than that.
I'll go back to Conrad HK, even though I know they enforce the new Diamond rules. It has great service and is a wonderful hotel. Won't be back at the Arizona Biltmore unless I find a good deal to confirm one of their better room types, thus expecting no elite privileges at all beyond the free drink coupon.
In general, I think the new expectation is that we should use NOR1 if we want "real" upgrades...or just book the room we expect to receive outright.
At the Conrad HK, the upgrade was from "standard" to Exec Level mountain view. That was a very nice room and certainly no complaints from me, but when I specifically asked about either a corner room or a harbor view, I was told that was not allowed because it was a 2nd category. (e.g., The response was not "Sorry, those rooms are sold out." The response was the HHonors rule, almost to the letter.)
At the Arizona Biltmore, we received a terrible room that couldn't be conceivably considered an upgrade by any reasonable person except perhaps a smoker. But apparently their "run of house" rooms are even worse, and ours was a few square feet larger than that.
I'll go back to Conrad HK, even though I know they enforce the new Diamond rules. It has great service and is a wonderful hotel. Won't be back at the Arizona Biltmore unless I find a good deal to confirm one of their better room types, thus expecting no elite privileges at all beyond the free drink coupon.
In general, I think the new expectation is that we should use NOR1 if we want "real" upgrades...or just book the room we expect to receive outright.
Jun 20, 2013 | 1:53 pm
#168
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 53,002
The wild card is what is supposed to happen when a Gold books one level below a suite. Are we in line for nothing or for a suite? (Note: I am not saying by any means that Golds should trump Diamonds. Obviously not.)
Can Diamonds "leap over" intermediate room classes and be upgraded to the highest level of accommodation available?
Jun 21, 2013 | 4:20 pm
#170
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: PHX
Programs: US Airways Plat, Hilton Diamond, National Exec, Delta Silver
Posts: 18
This should be good news to those who do ask as there is one less person occupying a nicer room
Jun 25, 2013 | 8:57 am
#171
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta DM, 4MM, SC, AmEx Reserve, UA Plat, SPG/Marriott Platinum, Hertz Gold
Posts: 2,383
Why not? In my experience (or more precisely, my wife's experience), she has gotten almost as many upgrades this year as I have as a Diamond. The reality is that many of us who routinely travel and stay in hotels have grown accustomed to asking for upgrades when they are not automatically bestowed upon us. There is nothing wrong with asking and in hotel parlance it is a common occurrence. It really has nothing to do with whether or not Hilton values you as a Gold, sometimes the property just doesn't upgrade freely unless they are asked.
Jun 25, 2013 | 9:18 am
#172
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: AAdvantage, HHonors Diamond, WN RR A-list+
Posts: 584
Booked a standard room at the Double Tree Hazard Center/Mission Valley in San Diego and was upgraded to the executive floor. But I don't count it as an upgrade because one of the features of the executive floor is rooms with balconies and ours had none and the EL was closed.
Jun 25, 2013 | 9:56 am
#173
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Dubai
Programs: BAEC Gold, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,558
In the last couple of months I have had......
Hilton Reading - Paid - Standard room to Exec Room - at Check in
Hilton Newbury - Paid - Standard room to Deluxe - At check in
Hilton Edinburgh Grosvenor- Paid (2x twin rooms) no upgrade but given 30,000 points comp which I didn't ask for but was very welcome
Hilton Manchester Deansgate - Paid Queen Room to Exec floor on all 4 of my last stays all at check in
Hilton Glasgow - Paid - Twin room to Exec floor at check in
Hilton Syon Park - Paid - Queen Room to King Syon Exec (and a very nice one too) at check in
All of the rooms have showed as upgraded the day before when I view the reservation online.
Hilton Reading - Paid - Standard room to Exec Room - at Check in
Hilton Newbury - Paid - Standard room to Deluxe - At check in
Hilton Edinburgh Grosvenor- Paid (2x twin rooms) no upgrade but given 30,000 points comp which I didn't ask for but was very welcome
Hilton Manchester Deansgate - Paid Queen Room to Exec floor on all 4 of my last stays all at check in
Hilton Glasgow - Paid - Twin room to Exec floor at check in
Hilton Syon Park - Paid - Queen Room to King Syon Exec (and a very nice one too) at check in
All of the rooms have showed as upgraded the day before when I view the reservation online.
Last edited by Gomac; Jun 25, 2013 at 11:41 am
Jun 25, 2013 | 10:57 am
#174
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 72,260
I got at least as many upgrades as a Gold as I have as a Diamond; this isn't a complaint about Diamond as much as it is saying I did pretty well as a Gold.
Jun 25, 2013 | 11:21 am
#175
Used to be bulldoggolfer05
Join Date: May 2007
Location: So Paulo, BR/Miami Beach, FL/NYC/DXB
Programs: HGP DMD, HHonors DMD, SPG PLT, MR PLT
Posts: 2,295
Why not? In my experience (or more precisely, my wife's experience), she has gotten almost as many upgrades this year as I have as a Diamond. The reality is that many of us who routinely travel and stay in hotels have grown accustomed to asking for upgrades when they are not automatically bestowed upon us. There is nothing wrong with asking and in hotel parlance it is a common occurrence. It really has nothing to do with whether or not Hilton values you as a Gold, sometimes the property just doesn't upgrade freely unless they are asked.
Jun 25, 2013 | 2:54 pm
#176
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Oslo, Norway
Programs: BA Gold, HH Gold, United Gold Elite, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 36
Hilton Olympia London
Hilton Olympia London Jun 25
Booked standard single. Recognized as gold at check in. Requested upgrade but was told they were unfortunately fully booked and they were unable to upgrade me. No complaints with the service but the hotel itself is looking a little tired.
Booked standard single. Recognized as gold at check in. Requested upgrade but was told they were unfortunately fully booked and they were unable to upgrade me. No complaints with the service but the hotel itself is looking a little tired.
Jul 1, 2013 | 11:45 am
#180
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA, AA, US, DL, PC Plat, Dollar, Avis, National, SPG, HH Gold, CC Gold
Posts: 1,212
Athens Hilton
Athens Hilton
Booked two standard award rooms for 3 nights each. Received upgrade to Executive Floor. Received a bottle of wine and fruit in each room and daily bottle of sparkling water in each. Executive lounge was great, overlooking the Parthenon and Executive Lounge selections were fabulous.
Booked two standard award rooms for 3 nights each. Received upgrade to Executive Floor. Received a bottle of wine and fruit in each room and daily bottle of sparkling water in each. Executive lounge was great, overlooking the Parthenon and Executive Lounge selections were fabulous.